326 Failing to be awarded Worst Game of the Year

Arghhhh! Dammit all! She really got me! I thought that she might do something, but she sure did interfere in a big way. Well, from Ds point of view I guess it wouldnt have been too interesting if things had continued as they were. So this result is within expectations. Its within expectations, but its not like it doesnt piss me off though. Im gonna punch you now! Ill punch you! if someone said that to you, took a stance and then actually hit you, well, obviously it would hurt and piss you off wouldnt it.

It would have been ideal for me to be able to take secret manoeuvres behind the scenes and achieve results directly. Well, in short, it would be my win if I could smash the System before anybody could realise what I was doing. The System would have already collapsed by the time people had noticed, but well, in the aftermath theyd be dying like crazy though the world and the Goddess would be saved instead. From the point of view of humanity suffering enormous damage it would be an outrageous disaster that occured without any sort of advance warning, but for me that would be the easiest as thered be no opposition.

However, would D actually allow such a situation? No chance. That was a rhetorical question. Consider this as a game where the Last Boss performs secret manoeuvres and the protagonist doesnt get any hints or realise that something is wrong and then suddenly it becomes Game Over. That would be a shitty game. At least give a hint that Somewhere unknown, the Last Boss is performing secret manoeuvres! You better prevent that else itd be bad! That way the protagonists could rise up to crush the Last Bosss plans! No matter how you look at it, if a scenario is created with a time limit but no hint of that and that if you go adventuring in an unrelated area youll quickly reach Game Over, then that wouldnt be viable as a game.

However, from the point of view of the Last Boss, doing things that way would obviously be easier. Why the heck should you go out of your way to give hints to a potential antagonist? Its obviously better to keep quiet and perform those secret manoeuvres. I think games overly disadvantage the villain.

In addition, even if this world has status values and other game-like elements its still reality. So, theres no need to actually treat it like a game, right? Secret manoeuvres, secret manoeuvres. Muhaha, by the time its noticed its already too late!

Well, thats what Id wanted to do at least. This world is no game. However, for gods it is basically a game board. In terms of being a nuisance to others. As such, the conditions are fulfilled for this to be a viable game.

Now then. If we take it that I am the games Last Boss, then who are the powers that are hostile to me? Firstly, the pope. The pope will take action for the sake of the people and especially for the humans amongst them. It wouldnt be an exaggeration to call him The Guardian of the People. Considering that I am attempting to bring harm upon the people, he will certainly be hostile to me. It would be futile to try to persuade him otherwise. Consider that the Demon King herself admitted that mentally he is a monster its impossible that he would lose his nerve. Even an old man with a long history of being stubborn would be more likely to listen.

Whats troublesome about the pope, in addition to the fact that hell absolutely be hostile, is that he has one of the Ruler skills Temperance. In the Systems hidden menu, Ruler Authority is one of the keys required to trigger the collapse of the System. With how I am now, its not like I couldnt force open that key with brute strength. However, its also the case that I cant predict what downsides there would be that if I did that. Therefore, if I want to play it safe, then I want to gain control over all the Ruler Authorities. Considering that one of those is in enemy hands, its troublesome in the extreme. In order to gain the Ruler Authority of Temperance, I either have to persuade the pope to hand it over, or otherwise I have to eliminate him. So, like Ive been saying, since itll be impossible to persuade him, well, that settles the popes future.

The other one who will certainly take a hostile stance, is Balto. Until now, he has been serving as the Demon Kings aide all this time. Surprised? Not particularly. Balto has been working himself to the bone for the sake of the demons. Their course of action has been different, but he has something in common with the pope and also Argnar who likewise struggled hard for the sake of the demons. Balto obeyed the Demon King because he had determined that it was the best option for the demons. Rather than becoming hostile to the absolute threat that was the Demon King, he simply accommodated her so that the demons would be spared from the brunt of her attack. Considering that the existence of the demons now hangs in the balance, he would likely resolve himself to be hostile to me as the one causing that. After all, this is the same Balto who made the difficult decision that it was better to go to war with the humans while suffering great casualties and survive, rather than challenge the Demon King and be annihilated. It might have caused a huge hole in his stomach though.

Finally, the biggest problem, Kuro. He might be a loser but hell likely be hostile to me. After all, what I am attempting to do is against the wishes of the Goddess who is the person were trying to save. Since Kuro is only living for the sake of that Goddess, it shouldnt be possible for him to go against the Goddesss desires.

Hrmm. Thats true. The trickiest problem is that Goddess, actually. Despite the fact that were going to all these lengths to save the Goddess, the Goddess is disregarding herself for the sake of humanity, destroying her own existence. The person we are trying to save, doesnt wish to be saved. In addition, the method we are using to try to save her is the massacre of humanity, going against the Goddesss will. Naturally, our little Goddess is not best pleased.

To bystanders, what we are trying to do would likely be considered evil. However, were going to do it anyway. After all, thats what the Demon King desires. The Demon King has decided that even if it will turn the entire world against her, that even if the person she saves will resent her, that shell do it anyway. I felt that it would be nice to be the ally of such a Demon King.

Thats why, I had made up my mind. Regardless of what D stirred up, regardless of who became our enemy. But, still. Isnt this timing a bit much? Sensei is glaring at me with a severe expression. Yep. Arghhhh! Dammit all! She really got me!

What am I going to do about this?

Translation notes:

Im gonna punch you now! possibly a reference to a TV drama called School Wars.

Shameless : Memes aren't something one considers when writing isekai novels...But this...hehehe...does put a smile on my face