* * *

If one were to trace the Holy Emperor’s downfall, there were largely two factors.

First, he failed to properly read ‘Chris’s’ character.

Granted, ‘Chris’ was sensitive to the keyword “disciple,” and if forced to name her closest companions, it would indeed be the X-Class kids.

But what was ‘Chris’? A veteran of the Demon Lord’s army who had weathered every kind of battle—land, sea, and sky alike.

Allies being taken hostage? That must have happened countless times before.

And what did ‘Chris’ learn from all those countless experiences?

‘Those bastards who take hostages and make threats never keep their damn promises.’

A proper negotiator might accommodate the opponent’s demands and achieve the best possible outcome, but ‘Chris’ knew nothing of such things.

Even if it cost her life, she would never do that bastard any favors.

Above all, the X-Class kids she had observed were more than capable of escaping on their own.

In other words, they were far removed from the melodramatic tropes of “Professor, you mustn’t break!” or “Ugh, I’ll do as you ask, just keep your hands off my students!”

In short, what happened on the execution platform…

‘Was all a show.’

It began in the underground torture chamber beneath the Grand Temple.

* * *

“Hah, hah. So this level of mental torture doesn’t even tickle anymore…?! Try enduring this curse, then!”

“Urgh~”

I let out a groan that had grown somewhat perfunctory and pressed a hand to my forehead.

It couldn’t be helped.

‘Chris’ had amnesia, so she could safely ignore magic that dredged up past trauma, but when it came to the kind that scratched at the soul to inflict pain, she had to at least feign suffering.

But as a Roleplay Addict, her pride wouldn’t allow her to give the same reaction to every mental torture, so she even added slightly different details each time.

Her repertoire was gradually running dry, though. That priest in charge of torture—couldn’t he call it a day and leave…?

That was when I was lamenting inwardly.

“How are things progressing?”

“Ah, Father!”

A priest walked into the torture chamber.

Judging by the ornate robes that trailed along the floor, he was likely a high priest.

‘Sent by the Holy Emperor’s orders, perhaps.’

In this world, a high priest was essentially a frequent errand boy for the Holy Emperor.

He waved his hand as if shooing away flies and spoke.

“Tch! Never mind. Looks like a lost cause from what I can see.”

“…M-my apologies.”

“I’ll take over here. You may go up.”

“But sir, is that alright…?”

“It is His Holiness the Holy Emperor’s command.”

The hesitant priest nodded at the high priest’s firm addition and left the room.

And then, a brief silence.

‘What, no more torture? Fine by me—I could use the breather.’

How much time passed like that, I couldn’t tell.

The high priest broke the silence.

“You haven’t eaten…”

It was an entirely unprompted remark.

“You must not have been eating well. You’ve gotten quite thin.”

What was this? Had the whip proved ineffective, so he decided to switch tactics and try the carrot?

His tone was gentle enough to raise that very suspicion.

For now, I responded in character.

“They don’t exactly feed you well here. Are you friends with whoever’s in charge of meals?”

“No, it’s just… I thought I’d have so much to say when we met again, but this just slipped out reflexively.”

His voice trembled at the end. Then he turned his head toward me—

‘Huh?’

Something was strange.

His features were difficult to make out. No—they clearly existed, but I couldn’t properly perceive them.

Hazy. His presence was incredibly hazy. If he turned away now, I would soon forget we had even been face to face.

This sensation… I hadn’t experienced it in this round.

In other words, it was the first time since the first round, before I had given Narrow Eyes the name “Yujin.”

“Chris. No—Keu-ssaem. Do you remember my name?”

“……”

I should say I didn’t. That was ‘Chris’s’ roleplay, after all.

But.

I had already completely forgotten him once before. Even when we reunited, I hadn’t recognized it as a reunion.

So shouldn’t I call him by name this time?

Not as the roleplay ‘Chris’… but as myself from the first round.

“Yujin.”

This time, even calling his name didn’t make his face any clearer.

But somehow, I felt I knew. That he was smiling brightly right now.

* * *

“But how did you end up as a priest?”

Narrow Eyes knew what I was like in the first round when I wasn’t roleplay-acting, so I could be honest around him.

But speech patterns grown accustomed to roleplay-acting weren’t easily corrected.

“Oh, I didn’t become a priest. It’s just cosplay?”

“Where did you learn a word like that.”

“From Keu-ssaem in the first round?”

I wanted to slap my forehead.

That first-round bastard—me—just because she knew a bit of magic, she must have lived completely recklessly. Recklessly indeed.

Narrow Eyes let out a laugh and continued.

“I sent Keu-ssaem back to the memories of the first round, and nearly got deleted from this world in exchange. I think most of my presence vanished then. On the bright side, I didn’t have to worry about that thing anymore.”

Narrow Eyes raised his index finger and pointed at the ceiling. He was referring to the Gaze.

In other words, Narrow Eyes had become an invisible extra again. Losing all his elements as an ‘error.’

“Fortunately, whether the System had a change of heart or Keu-ssaem did something, I managed to return before my sense of self disappeared. There are actually quite a few perks. Since no one can perceive me properly, I could become the greatest assassin in this world. I can infiltrate anywhere.”

A joke that almost drew a scoff.

Since the Gaze would make it look like I was talking to myself, I lightly covered my mouth.

“So how many have you taken out so far?”

“Zero. I don’t have my dagger, remember?”

“Then why go around dropping your precious weapon.”

“Because I was hoping Keu-ssaem would pick it up and keep it for me? If I’d had a ring, I would’ve dropped that instead. What a shame.”

“You bastard… did you run your mouth this much in the first round too?”

“Dying and coming back a few times improved my way with words. I learned that when you can be honest, you should say things honestly.”

The high priest—no, Narrow Eyes, dressed in a high priest’s robes—said shamelessly.

Damn it. This was affecting me too.

It hurt my pride. I was the one who named that kid, and now I’d gone and forgotten?

“Anyway, I rushed in when I heard Keu-ssaem had been captured. If you’re with me, we can get out of here in no time.”

He extended his hand.

But I thought it over carefully and shook my head.

“Escaping here is meaningless if the Holy Emperor keeps chasing us. Since I’m already here, I might as well see this through to the end.”

“By ‘the end,’ you mean?”

If the news had reached Narrow Eyes, the X-Class kids must have known too.

Given their nature—they’d even rushed to the Demon Realm—they would surely gather here.

Combat personnel were sufficient, and with the excellent pigeon that was Narrow Eyes, the stage’s actors were all assembled.

“We bring down the Holy Emperor. We need to shatter the false authority and divinity he claims.”

The Holy Emperor’s power stemmed from the absolute trust that he was the Creator God’s representative.

That was also why he deliberately manipulated monster corpses.

As long as monsters rampaged, people would rely even more on the Holy Emperor, God’s messenger.

But what would happen if the truth came out—that he was the mastermind behind everything?

“We drag him from the audience seats onto the stage. We make that perverted saint who enjoys puppet shows experience the exact opposite position. This time, it’s his turn to dance…!”

“Keu-ssaem.”

“Hmm?”

“That just now—that was a roleplay, right? Wow, I’ve never seen someone speak in character out loud before. Fascinating.”

“……”

One good thing about Narrow Eyes becoming invisible.

Even if I punched him, to anyone else it would just look like I was gesturing at thin air.

What, you say that’s not the case? That the punching itself is visible?

Endure it. F-Rank strength is only at the level of a massage.

Skill ‘Tukpak-tukpak I Don’t Care, Wanna Die? (F-Rank)’ activated.

* * *

The second factor in the Holy Emperor’s downfall.

He was trapped in a situation that left him no choice but to grow desperate.

“It seems the Holy Emperor doesn’t have much time left. Normally he uses the power of the Holy Relics to hide it, but… when he’s alone, the magical power he emanates is noticeably diminished.”

Excellent intelligence indeed.

The Holy Emperor was now in the same state of mind as Qin Shi Huang searching for the elixir of immortality.

Just recalling what mad deeds Qin Shi Huang had committed in pursuit of the elixir was enough to understand the Holy Emperor’s erratic behavior.

Ambition for power combined with the instinct for survival…

It would be more surprising if he didn’t lose sight of everything else.

Furthermore.

“Which means, Narrow Eyes, you can enter the Holy Emperor’s private chambers when he’s alone? You’ve observed him in that state too?”

“……”

After a brief silence.

“I-it’s not like I deliberately spied on the Holy Emperor or anything. I may look like this, but I’m not actually an assassin or a criminal, and I wouldn’t do anything so depraved…”

Narrow Eyes’ excuse came tumbling out.

Wait, who said anything about that?

“I was actually about to say that’s a good thing.”

“Huh?”