“Haa… You finally arrived.”

Thanks to the power of our world’s tale devils, we were able to catch up to Mephistopheles.

He sighed as he blocked our path again.

“It seems the tale devils bought you some time.”

He complained that they were just things he had prepared to reduce variables, but it became really annoying.

He seemed to recognize the hope in my eyes.

He smirked unpleasantly.

“…Did you think you could do anything if they bought you time?”

Mephistopheles changed his attitude and began to exude an overwhelming pressure.

It was a violent malice that would be impossible to face if one lacked courage.

One of the fundamental devils, different from the tale devils.

The weight it carried was heavy.

“It seems a few brats are mistaking the adventure Alice’s power achieved as their own.”

He poked where it hurts.

The enemies we faced were on a stage too big for us to handle.

But it was all thanks to Alice that we were able to drag them down and overcome it together.

Mephistopheles is a devil.

Unlike Alice’s monsters, there are no gimmicks, and he is an enemy that must be faced with pure strength.

We don’t even have proper tools right now.

It was safe to say there was no way to beat him.

Despite that, Suho pulled out his shield in front of us.

He hadn’t let go of his shield even while running up the stairs.

That too was Alice’s tool, so it had lost its power and was nothing more than an ordinary iron plate.

Even knowing it wouldn’t work, Suho doesn’t let go of the shield.

…And I also grasped the assault knife in my hand, which had lost its function.

Eun-jeong, her bell.

Kyeong-min, the grimoire of chains that couldn’t be used.

Even knowing we couldn’t win, we don’t discard our weapons.

Mephistopheles sneered at that sight.

“Well then… Farewell.”

Mephistopheles swings his arm.

It brought an enormous wind pressure, and we…

…

…

Weren’t hurt.

“Hoo…”

“What’s wrong? Weren’t you guys supposed to move forward?”

It was Dorothy who blocked Mephistopheles’ arm.

Dorothy was still smiling as she looked at us.

She leaped at us who had fell and stood by our side.

Dorothy seemed to concentrate for a moment, then opened her eyes wide.

“It’s not just Alice who seeks adventure. Because I’m her prototype.”

“Right. You’re quite special.”

Dorothy’s power flowed into us, and things familiar from playing games appeared before our eyes.

Beepㅡ!

[Mephistopheles Level 163]

[Dorothy Level 15]

The rising level values.

The difference in power was despairingly obvious at a glance, but this allowed us to stand up again.

Because no matter how powerful the opponent, the fact that a fight was established was a characteristic of a game.

Even if we can’t see ahead, if we can move forward… we can stand up as many times as needed.

“I’m sorry if I disappointed you. But I hope at least the fight can become a bit easier.”

“No. Thank you very much.”

I can’t say it’s enough, but at least we’ve gained the strength to stand.

Yes. Let’s try clashing again!

Mephistopheles, not liking the fact that we hadn’t lost hope, immediately began to attack.

It was a really fast attack.

Normally, we wouldn’t have been able to dodge it.

Beep!

[Malicious Claws]: A whip-like attack with five prongs.

The blue window that appeared before our eyes allowed us to predict and dodge Mephistopheles’ attack.

Barely!

“I can see…!”

We focused on evasion.

If Dorothy kept Mephistopheles in check, we could barely evade the suppressed attacks.

And

Beep!

[Gretchen’s Sin]: An unavoidable neck-severing attack.

A guillotine that pursues us is summoned, aiming for our necks.

Even if we try to run and dodge, it was impossible to evade the precisely chasing sin.

If an attack that cannot be received like this comes.

[Golden Road Home]: Nullifies attacks to the protected target.

A golden road appeared at our feet, and bricks blocked the attack.

Dorothy also blocked the attack that was almost fatal, even though she was injured.

“You’re just a failure who fell while coveting the upper world. You coward!”

“Will you shut up?”

Dorothy is being pushed back.

It’s obvious at a glance that this can’t continue.

Even though we’ve learned the pattern and are trying our best to avoid it, if things continue like this, neither Dorothy nor we will be able to hold out!

“Ah, it’s a new feeling to be the target of a strategy.”

He seemed to be enjoying this situation, without showing his true intentions.

As he lightly thrusts his hand, crescent-shaped slashes rush towards us.

“Duck!”

As the slashes passed, we became half-convinced.

That we couldn’t break through his attack and succeed in a counterattack.

He’s not fighting seriously.

If we show an opening, the attack will intensify, making it difficult to even dodge.

The choice we can make at this time is…

[Attack]

[Talk]

Beep.

“It’s not uncommon to talk during battle. Let me match your rhythm.”

[About Our End]

“You were originally destined to meet a despairing end. Because I wrote the scenario that way. I found a naturally occurring derived world using Oz. I made Alice descend there and twisted the story… but Alice won’t be able to help you now.”

Beep!

[Black Hell Thorns]: Thorns that sprout at 1-meter intervals.

“But even without Alice, you think you can survive this time?”

Thorns sprout.

We guessed where the thorn would pop up and dodged it with half luck.

A thorn grazed Eun-jeong’s leg, who was slow to act, leaving a scratch.

My heart sinks at the sight of blood flowing.

“If the creator from outside the world lifts a finger, arms are severed, necks fly off, and you can even be erased. But you can’t complain even if you suffer such things. Because you’re nothing more than fake humans in a story.”

Beep!

[Stop, O Moment, Thou Art So Fair!: A skill that causes instant death if not stopped in time.]

[Lure of Desire: A target-designated slash that flies at 5-second intervals.]

Our minds were being pushed to their limits by the increasingly diverse and complex patterns.

Mephistopheles continues his story, as if mocking us.

“It’s common for devils to try to corrupt humans and commit evil deeds and then punished. But in a world without God, who cares? An ownerless world can be infinitely cruel.”

Mephistopheles kicked Dorothy away and continued to attack us.

A flurry of powerful attacks that Dorothy had been blocking come crashing down.

We tried our best to avoid it.

Each of us gasped for breath as we looked at Mephistopheles.

He shook his head as if there was nothing he could do.

Mephistopheles: (Approaching without the children noticing) Now, why shouldn’t you end your adventure in pain?

“?!”

I didn’t perceive his movement at all.

However, he was suddenly in front of me, grabbing my neck and lifting me up.

Mephistopheles: (With a laughing tone) Can you answer my question? Tell me.

Fake humans in a story.

Is there any reason why you shouldn’t meet a painful death in a creation?

(Reaches out to kill Shin Ha-rim immediately after)

I thought as I looked at the slowly approaching hand.

About the question Mephistopheles posed.

I recalled the keyword “faith”.

Faith.

What do I believe in?

Believe in God? This world is a creation. There was no God.

Then believe in Alice? No. If I believe that Alice will save us like a god, that would be what that devil intended.

Then what should we believe in.

If we are just creations, what do we believe in.

Mephistopheles: Timeout. If God existed, he would have saved those who endlessly try. But your adventure in a creation… That’s all the value it had. Just like this. It’s just a story that can disappear if the author lifts a finger.

No!!!!!!!

As always, if you spot any mistakes, feel free to let me know—and I hope you enjoyed the read!

—Chi