I Became a Raid Boss-Chapter 235: Demonins (2)

"Celia is a game, but it is also a world created to resemble an existing world."

And she revealed that she herself was the apostle of God sent to cooperate with Earth. She also disclosed that Celia was a world destroyed by dimensional beasts.

Strictly speaking, the world wasn’t exactly destroyed, but it was barely hanging on, oxygen being pumped into it as it struggled to breathe.

But it's not too different, so there’s no need to argue about it.

"'A divine arrangement to help Earthlings adapt'..."

“From the start, it was made to be in [N O V E L I G H T] the form of a game, so it’s not a lie, right?”

“That’s true. But... is it really okay to reveal that?”

Now that they knew it wasn’t just a game for fun, there would be people who feel uncomfortable.

Wasn’t the purpose to help Earthlings get used to fighting and to weaken the power of the dimensional beasts? By revealing this, wouldn’t the purpose become unclear?

“It’s fine, don’t worry.”

Edel smiled lightly.

“It seems like they’re not interested in my world anymore. After all, fresh apples taste better than half-eaten ones, right? They won’t be able to interfere until they conquer this place anyway.”

“...Is it really okay? Doesn’t that just mean they’re focusing on here?”

“We’ve already been attacked, so what’s the point of worrying now?”

“...Ah, I see.”

In a way, it seemed like Earth was being used as a shield, but it wasn’t necessarily a bad thing for Earth.

Now that Celia had been exposed, it was obvious that those who had devoured it would aim for Earth next.

The invasion had been moved up, but it would be easier to fend off with two rather than one.

“I was worried about whether people would feel uncomfortable. But that’s not a problem either.”

Edel said this and showed me a screen full of seemingly meaningless numbers.

“What’s this?”

“It’s the number of visitors. The numbers on the left are the dates.”

“Heh...”

“See how it was fairly consistent at first, but then suddenly spiked? Do you know when that happened?”

“...It was when I appeared on Da-eun’s broadcast.”

“Right. And it spiked again when the announcement was made.”

Edel nodded her head enthusiastically and took back the tablet she had been showing me.

“Basically, it means that more people became intrigued than felt discomfort.”

The unknown definitely causes fear, but it also sparks a sense of adventure.

“That’s why I said it was made to resemble a real world. Because no one plays a game thinking they’ll die in it.”

“So, since there’s no danger to their life, they can enjoy it purely out of interest.”

“Exactly.”

“...”

“What’s with the sudden serious expression? Is there something on your mind?”

“No, nothing.”

It was a real world, a world made to resemble one, a game...

Thinking about how people would react and how they would take it all in made my head ache, so I decided to stop thinking about it.

“Well, it must be true since it’s the so-called apostle of God who said it.”

“...”

After the sudden public announcement and the unexpected statements she had written, I thought she had finally lost it, but it seemed like she had her reasons.

Of course, it was causing a massive stir both online and in the real world.

“So now, you and that girl can go out freely without any hesitation. But don’t go saying things you shouldn’t.”

“Oh! I have a question!”

For some reason, Da-eun, who had been quietly listening, suddenly raised her hand.

“What is it?”

“Can I appear on TV shows?”

“TV? Do whatever you want. Like I just said, as long as you don’t say anything you shouldn’t, it doesn’t matter.”

“Wow!”

Edel answered without hesitation to Da-eun's unexpected question.

The person who was truly surprised was me, standing next to her.

“Da-eun.”

“Yeah?”

“The broadcast... Do you want to go on it?”

After the incident, I knew there were interview and appearance requests coming from everywhere.

I had thought that she wasn’t too interested since she had rejected every offer, but was it because she was afraid of affecting the bigger picture?

“If you wanted to go, you should’ve said it sooner.”

Had she not been able to do what she wanted because of me?

When I thought that, I felt a frown coming on, but then...

“Ah... it’s not that.”

Da-eun’s next words made her usual self return.

“To be exact, it’s not a TV show, but an OTT. But the broadcasting company is a cable station... hmm...”

“...What are you talking about?”

Da-eun rambled as if she didn’t even know what she was saying.

“There was a show I appeared on before, and it did quite well, so I signed a contract to appear for the next season.”

New novel chapters are published on freewёbn૦νeɭ.com.

“Okay.”

“I turned down the recent offers because I wasn’t interested... but this one is hard to back out of since it’s a contract.”

Well, then just appear on it, right?

I didn’t ask that question because I could tell she might think it was my fault she was hesitating about it.

Although I had said otherwise, I could still tell it had affected her.

Edel, who had been sipping her cold coffee, frowned.

“I think you’re misunderstanding something. Let me make it clear now.”

Tap.

Edel put down her cup.

“Everything I tell you is a suggestion, not an order. Whether you listen or not is up to you.”

“...?”

“‘But’ is not the issue. If it were really important, I would’ve used my power to stop it, not just tell you. So, don’t worry about me. If you want to do something, just go ahead and do it.”

It was the kind of words that respected and encouraged free will, like a parent pushing their child forward.

But something about it felt off to me, so I asked Edel.

“So, what’s the real intention?”

“I don’t care, but giving orders to Earthlings like that can be seen as an abuse of power. This is a world controlled by that guy, after all.”

“...Well, yeah.”

She had said something surprisingly kind, but it seemed like she was afraid of upsetting the 'worldmaster'.

We weren’t going to be kicked out, but it wasn’t wise to upset the person in charge.

“Actually, no matter what humans say or do, it doesn’t affect the plan much. If there were a nuclear war, maybe, but I don’t think that’s going to happen, right?”

“They say ‘Never say never.’”

“Are you hoping for that to happen?”

“No, that’s not it.”

I retorted sarcastically to Edel, then turned to Da-eun.

“Well, it seems like it’s up to you. What are you going to do?”

“...Then, I want to do it.”

Da-eun loosened her previously stiff expression and smiled brightly.

“I don’t want to cancel, even though there’s a penalty. I’ve had a favor to repay with the PD, so I didn’t want to back out. The recording date is coming up soon, so it would be awkward if I canceled now.”

“Coming up soon? When’s the recording?”

Without a word, Da-eun raised one finger.

“In a month? At least that’s enough time.”

“Hmm.”

Da-eun shook her head.

“It’s not in a month. It’s in a week.”

“...A week?”

She nodded.

A week? Not exactly tomorrow, but still not enough time to brush off the decision without thinking about it.

“...Isn’t it too late to be hesitating now?”

“Hehe... I was so happy living with Kana, I forgot about it.”

“Ah, I see.”

I understood why Da-eun had been so distracted, but I couldn’t exactly say anything about it.

It wasn’t really my place to comment, so I just shot her a playful look.

“It’s all settled then? If you don’t mind the trouble, you can go ahead with it. But, can you leave now? It would be great if you could clean up while you’re at it.”

Edel cast a dismissal spell and gently pushed the empty cup toward us.

The cup, which had a little coffee left, was now completely empty.

“Of course, Chairman.”

“And stop pretending to be my secretary. By the way, this is an order.”

We left the office, half-ushered out.

There was a crowd gathered at the front door, so we got into the elevator at the back, as usual.

I glanced at the decreasing numbers on the screen while I thought about the conversation we just had.

Actually, there wasn’t much to reflect on.

I thought, If that’s the case, I should’ve just had it over the phone, since we didn’t have much of a conversation.

I thought about what Da-eun had said just before we left the office.

“TV...”

If I pieced together Da-eun’s rambling, it seemed like she had signed up to appear on an OTT program made by a cable station.

Since I usually saw her in a carefree light, it didn’t feel real, but considering they were calling her for such things, it seemed Da-eun really was famous.

“Yeah.”

“...?”

Da-eun looked at me curiously as I nodded.

“Why are you suddenly saying that?”

“Da-eun, you’re famous.”

“...Why are you saying that all of a sudden?”

Da-eun, awkward with compliments, repeated the same thing like she was malfunctioning.

“Famous Da-eun... Amazing.”

“...It’s embarrassing to hear that from Kana, who’s way more famous than me.”

“Hmm. You worked hard to get famous. It’s different from me.”

In this situation, with all the special circumstances, I might have more recognition, but Da-eun had built her fame herself, making it more valuable than mine.

“Eh. If we’re talking about it that way, Kana must have worked hard too, to get here. So, Kana’s amazing too.”

“....”

“....”

“...Pfft.”

“Hehe.”

As Da-eun and I looked at each other, we both burst out laughing at the same time.

It wasn’t like we were flattering each other, but it felt nice.

In the lighter mood, we kept giggling until the elevator reached the first floor.

“So, what kind of program is it?”

When we got into the car to head home, I asked, and Da-eun, who was starting the engine, replied.

“The one I’m best at.”

“...Talking nonsense?”

No matter how I thought about it, making a program out of nonsense was a bit much.

Ah, well. If the host could speak smoothly, it might be possible.

“...Kana thought the thing I’m best at is talking nonsense?”

“...Wasn’t it?”

There’s no way...

“No!”

Da-eun shouted as I gave her a suspicious look.

“You already told me why my nickname is Journey, and what I like.”

“...Ah?”

Right, she did.

The things Da-eun liked, and the thing that led to our connection.

“It’s a travel program.”

Da-eun said with a puffed-up face.