Chapter 219

Protagonist.

I unknowingly repeated that word.

It was truly strange.

It was a word I used casually in daily life, and yet, as it slipped from my lips now, the resonance it carried felt… different.

It was as if something sensitive deep inside my heart had been touched — at least, that’s how it felt to me in this moment.

A faint chill ran down my spine.

What surfaced in my mind were the long-sealed memories — the scenes of the life I had once lived… or rather, the life I had been forced to endure before coming to this world.

People often say this:

Everyone is the protagonist of their own life.

But that sentence — once revered as truth, once something that encouraged and uplifted people — had long since turned trite.

It had crossed the line from cliché into something so hollow that merely speaking it aloud felt repulsive.

That was what being a “protagonist” had become.

Maybe someone out there was indeed a chosen one.

But I wasn’t.

At least, that’s what I believed.

It was a strange sense of inferiority — something that never faded even after I became Aaron Stingray.

— I wanted to be the protagonist!

Araya.

That man — the one I had to eliminate with my own hands — must have held similar thoughts.

The only difference was that I never obsessed over a thorny crown with no real merit… but Araya did.

“……”

I barely managed to swallow the strange heat rising to my throat, then slowly organized my thoughts and moved my lips.

“What exactly is it that you want from me?”

“……As expected, you’re cautious.”

“I’m not saying I’ll refuse, though.”

“No, no. That was a compliment. I appreciate your prudence. I might be the one proposing this, but if you were to accept without a second thought, I’d be the one feeling uneasy.”

The Author laughed awkwardly before continuing.

“As you already know, Shade Wells is dead in this world. It has become a world without a protagonist. Because of that, I’m aware of the hardships you’ve endured trying to carry the episodes forward according to the original plot.”

“……”

“But after all, your role — that of Aaron Stingray — is a supporting one. And that’s where the decisive difference lies. Let me explain it from a GM’s perspective, shall we?”

In that instant, a card appeared before the Author.

It wasn’t a tangible object — rather, light gathered and took the shape of one.

“This is your character card — Aaron Stingray. Since your role here is that of a ‘villain,’ the episodes you can access through this card are somewhat limited. But if we were to change that setting from ‘villain’ to ‘protagonist’…”

“The restrictions would disappear, right?”

“Exactly.”

With a wave of his hand, the cluster of light in the shape of multiple cards vanished — leaving only one behind.

He enlarged that single card and showed it to me as he continued his explanation.

“Once you truly inherit the role of ‘protagonist,’ you’ll be able to play through a wide range of episodes. Ordinary NPCs will treat you with more favor, while the ‘villains’ will become more hostile.”

“And besides that?”

“With the episode restrictions lifted, you’ll gain access to scenarios that could make you much stronger. But of course, that also means things will become… more dangerous.”

“No protagonist’s protection of any sort?”

You know — the kind where the protagonist never dies.

“It would be nice if there were… but let’s be honest, this is still a board game.

Think about how Shade died right from the start, and you’ll understand what I mean.”

“……”

So that’s how it was.

As I organized my thoughts, I realized there was still one thing that didn’t quite sit right with me.

“I already possess two Lv.6 Arcane Modules. I’m likely stronger now than Shade ever was by the end of the story. So what reason do I have to become even stronger?”

“Ah, I knew you’d ask that.”

The Author nodded.

“For now, all I can say is — ‘there probably will be one.’ Even as a GM, I can’t control everything at will.”

“‘Probably’? That’s rather vague.”

“If I interfere too much, the ‘world’ itself might try to correct the errors in ways neither of us would want.”

The Author’s expression twisted slightly.

His lips twitched — as if there was something he wanted to say, but couldn’t.

“This is your only chance. As time passes, the GM authority I possess will gradually fade, limiting how much I can interfere with the story. Before that happens, I want to adjust your role to that of ‘protagonist’ and assign you the necessary episodes and rewards I deem appropriate. In narrative terms, it’s like granting you the ‘Fate of the Protagonist.’”

The Author seemed to be doing his best to restrain his emotions.

“You’ll face more crises than ever before, but if you overcome them, you’ll experience explosive growth. Of course, if you fail, there’s a very real chance you’ll be broken.

Especially since you’re Aaron Stingray — the difficulty of your scenarios will be calibrated accordingly.”

“……”

“The choice is yours—or rather, saying that as the one making the request sounds irresponsible, doesn’t it? So let me be honest.”

Our eyes met.

Beyond his glasses, I could sense a strange kind of earnestness hidden in his gaze.

“I’d like you to become the protagonist. And I want you to take full responsibility for this game—to lead it all the way to the ending.”

“……”

I stayed silent, lost in thought.

The protagonist.

I would become the protagonist.

A strange sense of weight seemed to settle on my shoulders. Yet, before long, I realized that it wasn’t something worth pondering for too long.

“You said there are special episodes for the protagonist, right?”

“Yes? Ah, yes… that’s right, but…”

“Then my answer’s already decided.”

Ever since I came to this world, I’d always wanted this.

After all, I only had one goal.

There was no need to overthink concepts like the will of the world or the fate of the protagonist.

“I’ll do it.”

So there were episodes I couldn’t see unless I accepted the role of ‘protagonist’?

How unpleasant.

Fandom.

For me, that was what this world was all about.

At my answer, the Author’s lips curved into a deep smile — as if he had expected this all along.

“Thank you. And… I’m sorry.”

“Being dragged into it — it’s the same for both of us, isn’t it?”

“Well, that’s true.”

The Author bowed his head to me.

“I’ll change the setting soon. Once the modification is complete, you’ll notice it right away.

It’ll be difficult in many ways… but please, hang in there.”

“I’ll do my best.”

“Yes. I’ll do everything I can to support you.

If it’s you, I’m sure you’ll clear the episodes and earn the rewards according to my design.

To borrow a phrase from internet memes, I suppose it goes like this—”

Then, with a mischievous grin, he added:

“Open wide. Here comes the reward.”

“Aaron! Wake up, Aaron!”

Evangeline shook him desperately.

She slapped his cheeks and tapped his head, but Aaron showed no sign of waking.

As if paralyzed, he just stared blankly at The River of Source Power, eyes open yet unfocused.

“It’s… it’s my fault…!”

No matter how strong Aaron was, he was still an ordinary person without any real knowledge of magic.

And often, those without proper training lost their sanity when they carelessly came into contact with Source Power.

Too careless.

She had assumed that since Aaron’s soul and mana circuits were connected to hers, he would be fine—as long as he didn’t get too close.

What should I do… what should I do!?

Tears began to well up in Evangeline’s eyes.

In a situation like this, she couldn’t even recall what kind of magic would help.

To think she had become this powerless—her small body and brain now only brought her suffering.

“Ugh… ugh-huk…”

Just as Evangeline was about to break down in tears, Aaron finally regained consciousness.

“Urgh… mm…”

“Aaron! You’ve come to your senses!”

“I lost consciousness, didn’t I?”

“Yes!”

Evangeline quickly explained everything that had just happened—and how worried she had been.

“This is the first time I’ve seen you like this! Do you know how terrified I was?”

“My apologies. But you need not worry. I’m fine now.”

“Huh?”

Evangeline noticed that Aaron’s expression was slightly different from usual.

He seemed… oddly cheerful.

Almost energized.

“Aaron. What happened when you faced the Source Power?”

“Nothing in particular.”

“…Be honest.”

“Nothing at all. Anyway, we should head back now. We’ve stayed long enough.”

It felt as though Aaron was trying to change the subject.

Evangeline didn’t like that, but she decided to let it go—for now.

The fact that he had safely regained consciousness was already enough to be grateful for.

“……Fine. If you say you’re alright.”

“Ah, before that.”

Just as they were about to leave, Aaron suddenly turned his gaze toward an unexpected direction.

Evangeline followed his line of sight—but saw nothing.

“Is there something over there?”

“Wait a moment.”

“Hm.”

Was Aaron truly in his right mind?

She was just beginning to feel anxious when something appeared from that direction.

The moment she saw them, Evangeline immediately recognized what they were.

“Dwarven Guards!?”

Dwarven Guards.

Mechanical sentinels said to have been created by the ancient Dwarves themselves—

Constructs with bodies forged from enchanted steel and artificial hearts burning with magic.

They appeared suddenly before Aaron and Evangeline.

“W–Why are they here all of a sudden!? That makes no sense…!”

There was no need to explain how powerful Dwarven Guards were.

Their fire-breath powered by magical hearts and their nearly indestructible bodies had earned them the nickname — Nightmares.

But those constructs should have been lost long ago, ever since the fall of the Dwarven Kingdom.

As a witch, Evangeline had longed to study one—

But even broken samples were impossible to find.

Yet here they stood, perfectly functional, right before her eyes.

There were around fifty of them.

And those crimson glowing eyes—

No doubt about it.

The Dwarven Guards clearly regarded Aaron and Evangeline as enemies.

“Wh–What in the world is going on!?”

“Ah… I see how it is.”

“You know something?”

“Who knows.”

He clearly did.

Yet Aaron only feigned ignorance—and for some reason, there was even a faint smile on his lips.

“Evangeline.”

“Yes?”

“Don’t fall behind.”

“W–Wait. You’re not thinking of fighting them, are you!?”

“I am.”

Aaron nodded lightly, flexing his hands as if to warm up.

And then, in the next instant—

“Hup!”

The strongest human charged at the Dwarves’ greatest machines.

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