The Forest of Tears.
A woodland located in the central continent, serving as a wooden curtain separating the western and eastern continents.
While some revered it as sacred, others avoided it as ominous.
However, the assessment of its extreme danger was absolute.
On a quiet noon, no different from any other day.
For some reason, a single light shimmered in the forest that remained dark even at midday.
Like gold glittering even in mud, it brightly illuminated the lifeless space.
Crunch, crunch.
The spherical light continuously moved forward. It passed by rabbit-like magical beasts with horns and black-spotted poisonous mushrooms.
The habitat of magical beasts, the base of bandits, a high-rank dungeon.
Leaving everything behind, the light’s destination was the southernmost point of the Forest of Tears.
The light, which had been moving only forward, eventually had to stop. It bumped into a fortress blocking its path. The light trembled as if startled. Though it had easily passed through magical barriers, this seemed like a bolt from the blue.
It was a stone wall that didn’t match the forest, which was nature itself.
A crude wall made of layers of rocks and mud. However, its height and thickness were overwhelming, like the walls of a capital city.
The light circled around the fortress several times.
Oddly, there was no entrance. It was like a barrier built solely to block intruders.
But it was strange that there wasn’t even a hole for food supply.
The fortress owner must have either died of starvation due to stupidity or be confident in climbing over the stone walls.
The light finally chose to go up.
To enter the fortress, it had to rise for quite some time. Ascending and ascending, it eventually passed the summit.
It was the moment the light reached what the crude fortress was trying to protect.
The World Tree.
It was truly a single, majestic giant tree. As if representing the years it had stood in one place, the circumference of its base was enormous.
The sight of seven branches stretching out was also impressive. The rainbow colors seeping into each branch in turn created a dreamlike atmosphere.
But it was by no means the appearance of a healthy tree.
As if it had endured a terrible fire, the World Tree was completely scorched.
Leaves that had lost their color and turned black drooped their heads.
There were traces of ropes tied to mend the split and open branches.
The light, circling around the World Tree, headed towards a corner of the blackened base. There was a door, cute in size compared to the giant tree.
Once inside, a space much larger than it appeared from the outside unfolded.
The unique light illuminated the dark interior. It passed countless rooms along winding passages.
The final destination was particularly wide and deep, cozy like an animal’s den for hibernation.
It was the space where the Well of Origin was located.
The light, rotating in circles around the well, gradually slowed its speed.
Finally, it leaped up and then sank into the well with a plop.
The well water, which had swallowed the brilliant light, emitted a golden glow.
But soon, as if there was an error, the color began to change rapidly.
Green, red, blue, brown, purple, black.
After changing chaotically for a moment, it eventually returned to a soft golden hue.
It was then that the surface of the well began to ripple. The gentle waves soon turned into fierce swells.
Splash.
“Huk…!”
As the turbulent waves parted, someone crawled out of the well.
Stumbling.
Though his steps were slow, it was a man with a smooth body without a single wound.
Chestnut-brown hair, shaggy bangs, pumpkin-colored eyes, pointed ears….
However, his skin was as pale as cream.
<system>
Welcome, Hero [Egru]
Glowing letters spread like the Milky Way before the man with a confused expression.
<system>
Doomsday Quest: Hero, prevent the end of Apocalypse
Clear Reward: Power crystal for returning to timeline [6891–J7–F53G]
***
Having forgotten everything, Egru was playing with a dog in a white space. It was a moment when he was just living happily, forgetting the flow of time and pain.
“Doggy…!”
“Woof!”
Suddenly, a giant hand descended from the sky with light. It took the big dog they were playing with upwards in an instant.
“Uu….”
Egru, looking around at the pitch-black surroundings, sat down heavily and sniffled. He was left alone in a space where the passage of time was imperceptible.
‘Did Doggy go to… heaven?’
I hope so.
Egru buried his face between his knees, hugging his shins. Time that felt like eternity flowed indifferently, neither fast nor slow.
“W-what’s this?”
It was then that a faint beam of light seeped into his dark vision.
It was strange. Even though his eyes were clearly closed, the light was intense enough for colors to shine through.
Egru slowly lifted his eyelids.
<system>
[Hero] has been detected in the [Well of Origin].
A sentence glowing magically in golden light. Countless letters floated in a box suspended in mid-air.
<system>
Welcome, User: [D’Élysée Belered]
It was an extraordinary object he had never seen before. But there was something even stranger.
<system>
[Well of Origin] Repair Rate (100/100%).
Resurrection in the [Central Continent] is possible.
Do you want to construct a new [High-performance Body] by consuming one of the remaining lives [2/5]? (Y/N)
(Y) will be automatically selected after 10 seconds. 10, 9, 8….
Strange. Egru, who was half-illiterate, had no trouble understanding the content.
<system>
Resurrection start.
The meaning and significance of the words were easily understood. It felt as if the interpretation was flowing directly into his mind.
<system>
[High-performance Body] reconstruction… Failed.
[High-performance Body] is currently in use.
Resurrection into [High-performance Body] is not possible.
Egru slowly reached out to the status window.
<system>
‘Unknown’ error. Attempt to delete the error code… Failed.
The status window blinked busily on its own.
<system>
Please wait a moment. Identifying the problem….
Egru’s slightly trembling hand passed gently through the hologram.
<system>
Quest direction has been determined.
Recovery of key data destroyed by ‘Unknown’ error will be carried out as top priority.
Egru’s feet floated up.
<system>
Welcome, User: [Nils Reislow]
“Ah, no, my name…”
<system>
Correction. Welcome, User: [Egru]
Wow.
“M-my name…!”
Egru felt as if he had made a new friend.
It seemed like this entity, neither life nor object, understood his words perfectly.
But this was a fleeting thought.
<system>
Starting [Temporary Body] reconstruction.
[Long-term Memory] backup… Failed.
Providing [Reason to become a Hero]… Success.
Reconstructing [Original] simulation based on current memories.
Episode 1, Episode 2… Episode 352… Episode 1986….
The wonderful excitement didn’t last long.
The background surrounding Egru began to flicker. The shimmering hologram pieces instantly illuminated the surroundings.
Blinking his eyes, Egru found himself standing in the middle of a battlefield. He hadn’t moved to a different space. It was as if the space itself had been created.
And then.
“D-D’Élysée…!”
The brother he had longed to see was right before his eyes. But Egru’s expression was far from joyful.
<system>
Starting playback of 3,000 episodes of [Reason to become a Hero] simulation.
Egru ran past the status window. He had no choice.
“N-no, this isn’t right…!”
D’Élysée collapsed, coughing up blood. As the Holy Knight Commander, he met his death protecting everyone until the very end.
The sky was crimson.
Doomsday. It was a disaster that could only be described as horrific.
But Egru couldn’t touch or embrace his brother. Just as he was crying, swiping at the air with earnest hands.
<system>
Episode 1 playback complete. Starting Episode 2.
Egru looked around in surprise. D’Élysée, who had disappeared with static, was now fighting perfectly fine behind him. Egru sprang up, following his brother.
“D’Élysée! Over here! Brother is here!”
He jumped up and down, waving his hands. But D’Élysée didn’t seem to see him at all.
“D-dodge! D’Élysée, please!”
Egru tried to block it with his own body. But he was too short. The javelin thrown from the cliff pierced straight through D’Élysée’s forehead. Egru cried even harder.
<system>
Episode 2 playback complete. Starting Episode 3……
The next scene played without delay.
“No!”
A swarm of small magical beasts clung to D’Élysée’s entire body. Egru hurriedly reached out to try to remove them, but still, he couldn’t grasp anything.
“Stop it! No! Let go of my brother!”
D’Élysée’s flesh was being torn apart. The sharp teeth of the small magical beasts kept digging in relentlessly. Soon, nothing remained on the ground except for an empty suit of armor.
“Ah, aah…!”
His brother’s deaths continued endlessly. The more he tried to prevent them with all his might, the more brutal deaths befell him.
<system>
…3,000 episodes playback complete.
The tears didn’t dry up, and a long time passed.
<system>
Simulation viewing has ended.
Egru lay motionless next to his brother’s corpse, as if dead himself.