Chapter 1: Give us your word(1)

[Deus Ex Machina]
A character collection game that crosses platforms for mobile.

My favorite game.
It was a game.
Nevertheless, [Deus Ex Machina]’s worldview was very densely woven, and because of the attractive characters within the worldview, [Deus Ex Machina] became a sensation as soon as it was released.
I was also swept up in its popularity and devoted everything to the game for years.
Since it was possible to collect characters, the problem was that it was a game that required a lot of money, with the ceiling for selecting a single character exceeding 300,000 won.
But I believed this game would last forever, and I loved it so much that I poured all my money into it.
The ceiling of 300,000.
And I thought my choice wasn’t wrong.
Until virtual reality emerged.

A big American company introduced a simple and cheap virtual reality game that can be played with just a pair of glasses.
When virtual reality came, the same was true for my [Deus Ex Machina], which seemed to last forever.
This game, which once thrived.
In reality, I couldn’t leave because virtual reality games didn’t suit me, so I stayed in this game.
Well, even if virtual reality games had been right for me, I wouldn’t have left [Deus Ex Machina].

And then it finally came.
[Deus Ex Machina]’s death sentence day.
It wasn’t a declaration of the game’s immediate end.
It wasn’t a game that was small enough to warrant such a fate.

The announcement from the developer was a cessation of updates.
No more updates.
They thanked us for loving [Deus Ex Machina] all this time.

…The story updates weren’t even finished yet.
My protagonist and the characters’ adventures hadn’t ended, and yet the game was over like this.
All my adventures up to now…

The developer said they would only stop updates and keep the game running, but the service would likely end soon.
No one would play a game in a frozen world with no ending and no updates.

And when that happens, my money, my passion… my memories would all turn to nothing.
The adventures with the characters I loved…

That can’t happen.
I can’t lose my life like this.

In despair, I suddenly opened my phone and accessed the [Deus Ex Machina] community.
This game had once swept the world.
Surely, there were still users who loved this game as much as I did.
Maybe they, like me, were pleading with the game company to resume updates?

But when I opened the community page…
An empty, desolate community screen greeted me.
The last post was from ten days ago.
And even that was an irrelevant, trivial post.
The community was dead.

Even though I hadn’t visited the [Deus Ex Machina] community in a long time, I couldn’t believe it had become this lifeless.
When I used to visit, it was more vibrant than any other game community…

Having lost my last hope, I collapsed onto my bed.
The game I had dedicated everything to…
Drained of strength, I fell asleep, dreaming of a better future, a future where [Deus Ex Machina] would come back to life.

And when I opened my eyes, a completely unfamiliar, luxurious ceiling greeted me.

—

“Young master. The Lord has summoned you.”
“My father? Alright, just a moment.”

Fifteen years ago.
I opened my eyes in the world of [Deus Ex Machina].
In the world I loved so dearly.

When I first awoke in this world, I didn’t even realize I was in [Deus Ex Machina].
But after meeting “my” family, I was certain.

This was the world of [Deus Ex Machina]. The world of memories I loved so much.
To think I’d be reincarnated as a character in this world.
A character in the frozen world I loved.

It suddenly occurred to me that this was an opportunity given by some divine being.
I don’t know who, but to give me such a chance. This isn’t a dream, is it?
To be able to adventure with the characters I loved in this world!
I couldn’t be happier.

The problem was that I had reincarnated as a four-year-old child, unable to do anything.
Still, I resolved not to be impatient.
Though I was an extra, I was a character the same age as the protagonist.
There were still over ten years left before the game’s story began.
It wouldn’t be too late to meet them after I grew up.

And so, adapting to this world and the character I had become, fifteen years passed, and I was on the verge of adulthood.
Once I became an adult, I could officially attend the Academy.
And at the Academy, I’d be able to meet the main characters of [Deus Ex Machina], the characters I loved so much, in person!

Knock, knock.

“Father. It’s Luke.”
“Come in.”

Gently opening the door and stepping inside, I saw a white-haired, ruggedly handsome middle-aged man sitting at a desk, handling documents.

“Sit down, Luke.”

The father of the extra I had reincarnated into, Luke.
Leopar Purlsraino, the Grand Duke of the North of the Empire.
The Sword of the Empire, guarding the northern borders against the chaotic forces beyond the northern mountains.
A man with such immense power that, even at the point where [Deus Ex Machina]’s story updates stopped, he was among the strongest in the world.

“Luke, the reason I called you today…”

Father set down the glasses he was wearing while handling documents and spoke.

“Is it about the coming-of-age ceremony?”

“Yes, the coming-of-age ceremony. That’s part of it. But the reason I called you today is about the Academy.”

The Academy.
The Empire’s premier institution of higher education, where all nobles were expected to attend.
Of course, some talented commoners were also permitted to enroll, but it was primarily a social venue for nobles.
It was also the stage where the main events of [Deus Ex Machina] unfolded and where the characters shone.

“You probably know, but… the book you wrote is shaking the continent right now.”

“Ah… yes, that’s right?”

The book I wrote.
He’s talking about that book.

I wrote it hoping to shake the continent…
But I didn’t expect it to go this far.

Who would’ve thought a book I wrote without much thought would spark a new religion and sweep the continent?

“Fortunately, no one knows yet that you wrote that book, but the entire continent is searching for you. Luke, if you go to the Academy and get caught, it could be dangerous. Religion can be that dangerous.”

He’s right—it could be dangerous.
This continent isn’t like medieval Europe, consumed by monotheistic faith where I’d face an inquisition or be accused of blasphemy, but I’ve heard that leaders across the continent are frantically searching for the author of my book.

“So, Luke… have you considered staying home instead of going to the Academy?”

“…What? But all nobles of the Empire have a duty to attend the Academy…”

“Of course, I have that duty. But who is this father? His name is Leopar, the Grand Duke of the North. That guy—no, that’s not it. He’s also close with His Majesty the Emperor. So, I’ll make sure to speak to His Majesty the Emperor. Then you don’t have to go to the Academy. What do you think?”

My father, Leopar, has been friends with the current Emperor since childhood.
Even now, they maintain a close enough relationship that they speak informally to each other in private.
Perhaps, if it were his request, it would be possible to cover up my going to the Academy.

“I’m sorry, Father.”
But even so, I will go to the Academy.
“…Huh?”
I’ve waited for fifteen years.
The time I’ve finally reached.
And yet, I can’t say I won’t go to the Academy because of possible danger.
That can’t be happening.

“…Yes. It’s always possible, so you can tell me again if you change your mind later.”

“Understood, Father. Then I’ll go now.”

“I’ll see.”

Creak.
Thud.

“Phew.”

I closed the door to my father’s office.
And as I walked to my room, I ran into her.

“…Get out, trash. Stop dirtying my eyes so early in the morning.”

My sister.
My family that despised me.
She was obsessed with the religion my book had created