Chapter 76

In the midst of cherry blossoms dancing in the wind, Misaki opened the old diary and read the words of the promise written there.

---

Actually, I was given the character design for the book version to promote, but the timing to show it...

If it were to be released right after "Bam! It was a guy!" the readers would probably have a straight face, wouldn't they?

Well, I thought it might be funny for a moment, but still...

"---Rex!"

With utmost grace, yet showing the joy of meeting me, Lily came running over, her footsteps echoing.

It's a terrifying trick.

If I didn't know that she is a guy and a complete bastard, I might have been deceived even now.

However, I calmly received her smile and cast <Pierce> on the "her" running towards me.

---

Lily

LV 8

HP 150

MP 62

Strength 39 (D-)

Vitality 52 (D)

Magic 39 (D-)

Spirit 91 (D+)

Agility 39 (D-)

Focus 91 (D+)

---

(I see, level eight.)

Lily's initial level was five, so it has increased a little.

Although two months have passed, this growth is very slow by player standards. Moreover, as an NPC, Lily's growth rate has always been slow.

Additionally, since she is a <Bard>, a class not suited for combat, this level is appropriate.

Her Spirit and Focus are indeed high, but even so, all her stats are less than half of mine.

With this difference in abilities, I can confidently say that even if Lily were to surprise attack me, I wouldn't lose.

"Sorry. Did I keep you waiting?"

"No, I was so excited today that I came too early."

Lily, unaware that her combat abilities were being evaluated, continued to act perfectly, showing me a friendly smile.

I was inwardly impressed by her thoroughness but outwardly responded calmly.

"Oh, I see. By the way, the place we're going today is..."

"Yes! It's the <Swinging Moon Cave>, where my parents went on their last journey!"

---

(Things have gone smoothly so far. Now...)

Our exploration of the <Swinging Moon Cave> has been going smoothly, perhaps too smoothly.

The difficulty of searching the <Swinging Moon Cave> is low, and there are no elements that would make it challenging, either in terms of skill or traps.

Moreover, I know Lily's "secret" and have a significant advantage over her.

--- But, no, because of that, I have no intention of letting my guard down here.

I am just an ordinary person with knowledge.

On the other hand, she is a demon who has driven many gamers to the depths of hell, even through the screen.

Approaching her as a challenger is just right.

Originally, everything up to this point has been a series of failures.

Encountering Lily was not something I had planned from the beginning, and my response after making contact was not commendable.

Especially yesterday, I, or rather "Rex," got drunk too quickly and passed out, which was completely unexpected, and it was even worse after that.

Lily left a kiss mark on my cheek that night.

The fact that a man kissed me on the cheek was quite shocking, but the worst part was what came after.

Seeing the kiss mark, Reesia mistakenly thought I had gone to the pleasure district to "verify an event" and lied about it.

"I'm not angry that you went to such a place. I'm disappointed that you lied to me for that reason," she said, looking very upset.

Whether the kiss mark was just a prank or a deep, calculated move that even anticipated Reesia's reaction, I don't know, but she certainly did something terrible.

The intensity of Reesia's reaction still sends shivers down my spine, but I managed to clear up the misunderstanding with sincere persuasion.

I had thwarted Lily's interference.

(Well, "event verification" isn't a lie, though.)

During these two months, I didn't just train.

I also verified events and continuously confirmed the "specifications" of this world.

Although my guild-related work became unexpectedly busy and "certain circumstances" delayed the verification, I had one thing I was certain about.

(---After all, events do happen in this world!)

To be precise, I found that when I set up situations similar to events, things move in the same flow as the events.

That's why this time, I'm using this property to take one step further.

"But I was really surprised. I never thought you would invite me to search this dungeon..."

And as we navigated through the traps and approached the long corridor, Lily, walking beside me, looked up and smiled happily.

"If you're this happy, it was worth inviting you."

...That's right.

The one who suggested exploring this dungeon was not Lily but "me."

I approached Lily to help with a job and wanted to see how she handled herself as an adventurer, so I proposed a "joint dungeon exploration."

I included the <Swinging Moon Cave> as one of the options.

As a result, Lily took the bait.

She readily agreed to explore the <Swinging Moon Cave> with me.

(The <Swinging Moon Cave> event is supposed to happen after more conversations and time spent with Lily.)

If today's exploration follows the same flow as the game's <Swinging Moon Cave> event, it will prove that "event preemption" is possible in this world.

And...

"Actually, my parents traveled around the world when they were young."

The proof was right in front of me.

"They told me many stories about their travels and the beautiful places they visited."

As she spoke, her steps seemed to bounce, and anyone who didn't know would easily believe that "she" was genuinely enjoying the exploration.

However, I responded to her smile with a "genuine" smile.

"The most passionate story they told was about the scenery at the deepest part of this dungeon."

As she spoke, the recording crystal, which had once plunged me into misery, was visible in her hand.

But even seeing it, my heart remained calm.

"At the end of their journey, my parents visited this dungeon alone and, in the most beautiful scenery, my father proposed to my mother."

She looked at me and smiled, saying, "Romantic, isn't it?"

"But it's terrible. When I asked, 'What kind of scenery was it?' my parents just smiled and wouldn't answer. Then they always said, 'You have to see it with your own eyes.'"

She turned forward again, her eyes looking ahead.

"So I..."

With those words, the bitter-sweet, hidden time came to an end.

"...It seems the time to 'see it with my own eyes' has come."

Lily smiled like an angel in response to my words.

"I'm excited... But I'm a little disappointed. I wish we could have adventured together a little longer."

A perfect ten in words and smiles.

Pretending to be swayed by her better-than-in-game flattery, I prepared for the final trap.

"Should I touch this?"

Lily's hesitant words.

The moment we both touched the device, the floor gave way, and we were transported to the decisive place.

"Ah..."

What we saw was a scene of unimaginable beauty.

In the depths of the dungeon, in a place no one had ever entered, white flowers bloomed, filling the space with a soft light.

It was like a paradise of flowers.

Delicate white flowers bloomed densely, and a gentle light rose from them.

"Th, that's right. That's why..."

Tears rolled down Lily's cheeks as she whispered, as if in a dream.

"Ah, what? I'm sorry, that's not... Ah!"

I tightly embraced her shoulder.

Her face, confused and still beautiful despite the tears, was in close-up.

"Rex...?"

The transparent droplets ran down, and she looked up at me with a surprised face.

I genuinely thought she was beautiful.

Men and women are fundamentally different creatures.

Their skeletons, muscle quality, and even posture and movements are different.

For example, in a single photo, it's easy to fake a specific posture or angle, but it's difficult to convincingly fake one's gender in daily life.

Of course, the reason Lily looks like a woman is because her design, including her skeleton, is that of a woman.

However, the fact that she has continued to make unimaginable efforts to appear female is also true.

Perhaps it is something to be praised.

But...

--- Sorry, but it's time to wake up from the dream.

No matter what excuses or reasons are given, the fact that Lily has deceived and hurt people for her own selfish desires cannot be changed!

(...Finally, finally.)

To be honest, I think I could have destroyed Lily from the moment we met.

In the game, I was at Lily's mercy because I was blackmailed with the confession video, but I have no such constraints now.

She has probably deceived many other men, and if I expose that Lily is a man using the "Rex" name, that would be the end of her.

Yet, I took the time to set everything up and come to this place to overwrite the bitter memories of the past!

--- To follow the same flow as the event and overturn it at the moment of her greatest triumph!

I have been frustrated for a long time.

Not just because I was deceived and manipulated by Lily and received harsh words, but also because I was frustrated with the "me" in the game who could do nothing, say nothing, and could only cower.

If the real "me" were here, there would be many things I could do!

If I could freely speak, I wouldn't be defenseless against such an unreasonable guy and such unreasonable lines!

If...

--- If this weren't a game!

A wish that everyone thinks about but can never come true.

But fate, in a strange twist, turned this impossible wish into reality.

--- This world is a god game.

If there is a being who created this world, they certainly know.

A world that allows me to do what I couldn't in the game while preserving what I could do in the game.

A world that suits me.

So I will "alter" it.

I will change the unchangeable events, the curse-like past, my own black history...

--- I will repaint it here and now!

I made up my mind, looked directly at Lily, who was looking up at me with moist eyes, and instead of a confession, I threw a condemnation at her!

--- "I know your 'secret.'"

The response was confusion.

"...What?"

But that doesn't matter.

It's expected.

This is one of the many reactions I simulated in my imagination in that dark room.

Such a thing won't stop me.

"Lily Harmonics. Bard. Initial level five. Skilled in <Performance>, <Singing>, <Dark Magic>. Unique skill is <Lorelei Voice>."

At my calm recitation, Lily showed her first signs of unease.

"N, no! It's true that my voice has mysterious power! But to use it for evil..."

Lily was chirping, but it didn't matter.

I wasn't interested.

"Born in the fortress city of Linesta, nineteen years old. Parents were former travelers. The name 'Lily' was originally meant for a sister who miscarried. She was bullied and had an unfortunate childhood because she was given a girl's name, but in the process, she discovered cross-dressing."

"What? J, just...? W, what are you saying..."

She couldn't maintain her calm act anymore.

"You don't have to act anymore."

"Act...?"

"I know! That you're a guy..."

Lily was flustered as if she had been falsely accused of a crime she didn't commit.

"W, what are you saying? It's a misunderstanding! I, I mean, my, my chest..."

Desperately trying to avoid being exposed as a guy, Lily started making appeals that a "perfect woman" wouldn't.

"A, ah!"

I silently grabbed the "chest" Lily mentioned.

The softness and unrealistic volume confirmed my suspicions.

"S, stop! Stop it...!"

But I wouldn't let her off.

"I'll prove that your chest is fake!"

"Ah!"

Ignoring Lily's continued acting, I reached for her clothes.

I didn't bother with buttons.

Using Rex's stats, I ripped Lily's clothes off...

"..."

I froze, unable to move.

Because what I saw was not what I had expected.

"W, what? H...?"

There was no padding.

Instead, two large, well-shaped "things" were exposed, as if proudly declaring their existence...

"...That's terrible."

The thin voice reached my ears, and I snapped back to reality.

Lily, her face flushed red, covered her chest as if protecting herself from me.

"A, ah..."

I didn't understand what had happened.

But I knew exactly what I should do.

--- "I'm so sorryyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy