"Ruby."
Frey blankly stood up from the chair after forcefully breaking the rope that bound him.
"Ruby, answer me."
"..."
Until now, she had always responded immediately to Frey's words. But now, Ruby simply remained silent, bowing her head deeply.
"Shit."
Frey cursed under his breath, sweat dripping coldly.
"Why..."
Ruby's soul was shattering in real-time.
It wasn't like the time Frey had artificially shattered his soul, and then used Ferloche's abilities to take it away from his physical body.
Her soul was genuinely crumbling.
Normally, it would be a good thing.
Something to applaud and be happy about.
After all, she was the most dreadful and repulsive existence in the world, the total opposite of Frey as the Hero.
That existence's soul was completely crumbling.
- Drip...
But Frey's expression as he looked at Ruby, who was sitting on the cold floor shedding tears, wasn't pleasant.
"...This isn't right."
The initial plan to attack Ruby using the Fourth Ordeal had been put on hold for a long time.
A quest appeared a few days before entering the Fourth Ordeal.
Frey had intended to observe the situation of the ordeal and decide on the way to deal with her afterward.
But he had never expected her to take the initiative to make a 'sacrifice.'
"..."
If things continued like this, Ruby would either become a demonic monster or turn into a soulless husk.
That was the fate that awaited her until the final battle scheduled by the 'system’ arrived.
When that day came, he would pierce her husk with the Hero’s Armament and end this tragedy.
Then everything would be over, and his desired 'happy ending' would come.
Sudden Quest - Ruby's Salvation
Details: Accept the Sudden Quest - Corruption.
[Reward: Fixing the Fourth Ordeal Bug...]
However, there was another reason why Frey had put the choice on hold.
[... Opening the True Ending Route]
The system mentioned a ‘True Ending’.
Something that had never been mentioned anywhere, not by the prophecy, nor by the system... until now.
If it truly existed, they had to reach it by any means necessary.
He had immediately accepted the quest upon seeing it, probably because of that reward.
Probably.
- Shaaaa...
Ruby's soul in front of him was now crumbling uncontrollably.
If it continued to crumble, the existence known as 'Ruby' would disappear.
- Rustle...
So, after standing blankly for a while, Frey quietly placed the ring he had been wearing onto Ruby's finger.
When Frey’s soul was shattered, Ruby, in a panic, took everything that had the possibility to recover a soul, even if it was just a rumor.
Among those items, this ring, which was also mentioned in the prophecy's setting book, was actually a rare item that had the effect of holding onto souls.
"Hmm..."
As he put on the ring, Ruby's crumbling soul began to stabilize slightly.
But that wasn't enough.
Ruby's soul, which had been going through Retry to the limits like Frey and Ferloche, was too much of a mess to stabilize with just one ring.
- Drip...
So, as Frey pondered with his lips bitten, he soon grabbed a sharp stone rolling on the ground and drew it across his own arm.
- Drip...
It was to make the most effective way to stabilize the soul, by making a blood oath.
"Drink, Ruby."
"Gulp."
For humans to make a blood oath to each other was an unprecedented event for millennia.
Even more uncommon was the scenario in which someone who had received a blood oath from another person then returned it to that same individual.
"Gulp, gulp."
For the first time, Frey, who had always been on the receiving end of blood oaths, felt a dizzying sensation as he gave one, that too to the Demon King.
- Shaaaa...
Was it the side effect of the dual contract? Or was it because of the contradiction that they had dedicated their souls to each other?
Their souls briefly mingled for a split second.
"Ugh..."
At the same time, Ruby’s memories began to flood into Frey's mind.
Scenes that he had vaguely recalled over the past few days began to replay vividly before his eyes.
"..."
As Frey watched those scenes, his expression began to harden.
"What is this..."
Gradually, with a pale face, he muttered incredulously.
"What in the world..."
Like blood flowing from Frey's arm into Ruby's mouth, time flowed and continued to flow.
"Ugh..."
And so, some time passed.
"...Frey?"
Ruby slowly opened her eyes and began to gaze at Frey.
Retry Quest
[2 - 01]
[Recover Frey's Memories (1/1)]
[You have cleared Stage 2 of the quest!]
"Huh?"
In front of her eyes, the message of quest completion appeared.
"....As expected of Frey."
Ruby, who momentarily stared blankly at the message, then muttered with an expression that said she knew that this would happen.
"So, you've managed to do something again, huh...?"
The Frey in front of her, wearing a bewildered expression, was confused.
Due to the temporary mixing of their souls as a side effect of their mutual blood oath, Ruby's precious memories resurfaced and were transmitted to him as they were.
"What are these memories...?"
Thanks to that, the system was able to recognize this situation as 'cleared,' but for Frey, it was quite a shock.
"These memories... are they real? That's impossible. There's no way."
"Frey..."
"There was no such cycle!!"
What Frey saw were scenes from the original first cycle.
Similar scene he had drawn countless times back in the Demon King Castle.
In a cave that looked familiar, two young people were staring at each other.
Ruby conversed with Frey and the five main heroines in Sunrise Academy uniform.
Sharing wheat bread and potato soup Ruby had brought during the academy's field trip to the desert region of the Western Continent.
Watching a play, buying clothes, eating ice cream.
Holding hands and looking at the starry sky from the rooftop.
"Are all these memories... real?"
Not just the drawings, but also the false acts of affection Frey had performed with the intention of destroying Ruby.
And Ruby's acts of affection toward him were also mixed in.
"Impossible."
It was natural for Frey to panic.
"The subconscious... is a terrifying thing."
Looking at him with a sympathetic gaze, Ruby forced herself to stand up, despite feeling as if her soul might tear apart at any moment.
Retry Quest
[Final Quest]
As the 'Final Quest' appeared before her, she abruptly stopped in her tracks.
"..."
Then came the silence.
"A-Ahahaha!!!"
Breaking the silence that had lasted for minutes, Ruby burst into awkward laughter and spread her arms wide.
"It's all going according to my plan!"
"... Plan?"
And then, Ruby shouted loudly at the bewildered Frey.
"You fell for the false memories I planted and ended up sacrificing your soul in the end! You really are foolish, Frey."
At those words, Frey's gaze began to waver.
.
.
.
.
.
"What is this? Did you actually believe that those were our memories? You're more naive than I thought!"
Ruby wore a contemptuous expression as he unleashed her attacks on Frey.
"You fool! Every action I've taken so far has been nothing but 'deception!'"
"Deception... you say?"
"All the backgrounds I've mentioned so far have been lies. You were almost the victorious Hero, and I was the defeated Demon King. I only guided you to sacrifice your soul to me!"
"..."
"Even explaining how to make a blood oath was all according to my plan!"
Ruby sneered.
"Now you can't command me anymore. We can only fight each other with our strength!"
The smiling Ruby and the cold-faced Frey clashed their demonic energy simultaneously.
As a result, the basement began to shake wildly, almost collapsing.
"You are..."
- It's been a while.
Frey, who looked at the suddenly appearing eyeball with a shocked expression, soon cooled his mind and asked.
"...Who are you?"
- I don't think I can give you an answer you'd understand.
Upon hearing that, Frey, with a puzzled expression, took a step back.
A power that even he could not fathom was blooming from the eyeball.
- If I had to provide an answer that you could understand... I’m the one behind the Demon God.
"...Are you the mastermind?"
- Nothing is as displeasing as being questioned by an insignificant existence.
"What do you want here?"
Instinctively realizing that the eyeball before him might be the mastermind behind all this, Frey questioned it with a tense expression.
- I've come to reveal the truth on behalf of the main body.
"Why? Why now?"
- It's the highlight we’ve prepared most diligently for you. It would be a waste if the truth never sees the light.
Responding in a leisurely tone, the eyeball continued.
"Frey, kill me."
As soon as those words were spoken, Ruby suddenly stood up and shouted.
"Kill me now!!"
- I won't stop you. I'll respect your free will.
"Don't listen to that bastard! Just kill me!!"
- However, could you at least listen to what I have to whisper?
As Frey stared at Ruby with a sword in hand, seemingly poised to strike, he found himself inadvertently tuning into the murmurs of the eyeball.
- You hated rye bread with a passion, yet what made you start liking it?
"That's...! Those were implanted false memories... Ugh!?"
As she was about to interrupt the eyeball's question, Ruby was struck by a tentacle and collapsed to the ground.
"R-Ruby..."
- Why did the former Demon Lord, once stripped of her position due to your actions, suddenly develop a 'girl' disposition?
As Frey reached out to Ruby, his gaze began to waver.
"What exactly are you trying to say–"
- Why was Isolet Arham Bywalker eliminated as the 6th main heroine?
"...!"
Initially raising his voice in anger, Frey froze upon hearing the question.
- Why is your shop's ultimate skill is 'Mind Control' while Ruby's is ‘Absolute Love'?
"..."
- Why did you accept the Salvation Quest as soon as you saw it?
"...What."
After remaining frozen for a while, Frey, with a trembling expression, finally opened his mouth.
"That's... to see the True Ending..."
- Just by seeing 'Ruby's Salvation’ and immediately accepting it? Your mind was filled with the thought that it must be done, even without knowing the reason.
"...Huh."
It was only then that Frey realized he had pressed accept upon seeing the words 'Ruby's Salvation' without knowing anything. He then put his trembling arm into his pocket
- You still have that pendant, don't you?
The Easter Egg pendant given to him by the Star God was in his hand.
- Sha...
For some reason, he felt like it would open wide if he were to open it now.
- Inside, the truth is recorded.
"...What truth?"
"Frey. Don't. Please. Just kill me. Don't listen to that."
"Tell me. What truth is inside?"
As Frey asked with a tense feeling, the eyeball answered with narrowed eyes.
- The initial draft.
"What...?"
Without even touching it, the pendant opened wide with those words, filling the surroundings with light.
"What's happening..."
- Let's say... Yes, it's like the Zeroth Cycle.
"...!"
Frey, who was disappearing into the light, looked at Ruby, who was bowing her head with a devastated expression. The eyeball continued with narrowed eyes.
- It was a long wait indeed. We are very much looking forward to it.
- Bzzzzzz...!!
At the same time, Frey vanished with the light.
- Sometimes, the truth is harsher than falsehoods.
The last voice he heard in his ears was a sarcastic tone full of anticipation from the eyeball.
.
.
.
.
.
"Haah, haah...?"
Struggling as if his whole body was being torn apart, Frey finally regained his senses and looked around.
"This place...?"
What he saw was a familiar scene.
"It's... the Demon King's Castle..."
He was on none other than the top floor of the Demon King's Castle.
"Hmm..."
Frey, still trying to adapt to the sudden situation, looked around, then sighed as he realized his predicament.
"Is this spectator mode again?"
His body was transparent.
It felt just like when he observed the world during the 2nd and 3rd ordeals.
"First... I need to confirm what's happening inside..."
Realizing his situation, Frey pondered whether he should enter the top floor.
- Bang!!!
"...!?"
But the need for that soon vanished.
"Kek... Kek..."
"You useless wench. Your talent diminishes as you grow."
The door of the Demon King's room on the top floor shattered, and a girl was flung out, tumbling down the corridor. Someone with a cold expression emerged from the broken door.
"...Huh."
Frey, noticing the pale and icy face through the cracked door, muttered in bewilderment.
"The First Demon King."
He was already familiar with the image from the prophecy.
Before him stood none other than the First Demon King.
He was a demon king from a thousand years ago who was said to have been brutally defeated by the First Hero Han-Byeol and the First Hero Party.
"Then... is this... a thousand years ago...?"
Thinking so, Frey turned his gaze to the girl rolling down the corridor.
"...Huh."
Soon after, his eyes widened.
"Ugh, uuugh..."
"Running away again will only result in a worse fate."
The face before him was too familiar.
"...Lulu?"
Pink hair.
Obedient, lifeless eyes.
It was unmistakably young Lulu.
"...What's going on?"
"Lulu."
Caught up in the sudden turn of events, Frey's gaze shifted to someone who quietly emerged from the adjacent room a few minutes later.
"Are you okay...?"
"..."
A girl with ruby-colored eyes was cradling the seemingly lifeless Lulu in her arms.
"What the hell..."
It was unmistakably young Ruby.
"Sis... I don't think I can take it anymore..."
"Ugh..."
After embracing Ruby, Lulu began to murmur in a trembling voice.
Observing her, young Ruby, with an anxious look, whispered in her ear while glancing around.
"Lulu, let's run away."
"Hu-huh?"
"Shh, be quiet."
As Ruby urgently covered Lulu's mouth, the latter quieted down. But her eyes still looked anxious.
"If Dad and Mom find out... we'll both be killed."
"It's okay, there's a way."
Patting her on the back, Ruby whispered again.
"Let's go to a future where they can't find us."
"...What?"
"A thousand years later. Let's go to a place where no one can interfere with us."
"Ugh, ugh..."
The young Lulu's eyes began to waver at those words.
"What is this..."
And Frey felt the same.
"What the hell is this?"
The redacted truth was unfolding before his own eyes.