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“Priest.”

Princess Seraphina’s red eyes, which usually seemed dignified, now glinted ominously.

Gilbert almost instinctively took a step back under her suffocating gaze. If it weren’t for the system message window blocking his view, he was certain he would have retreated.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“You’re not acting like yourself.”

“Ah. Priest, you’re making an amusing joke. I am no different from usual.”

Seraphina chuckled softly and stood up. As she began to walk gracefully, as if strolling through the imperial garden, her golden hair swayed with her movements.

The command post barracks were quite large, capable of accommodating many people, but it took only a dozen seconds for Seraphina to reach Gilbert. She stopped just close enough for their breaths to mingle and gently brushed her finger across his chest.

“Let me say it again. I am no different from usual. I merely expressed that I desire you. That is all.”

“Priest.”

“Isn’t it you who is acting unusual? Are you saying that my expression of desire burdens you?”

“No. But I believe I have already given my answer.”

Gilbert recalled the message window that had blocked his view earlier.

The sub-scenario, which had remained unchanged until now, had suddenly shifted dramatically. The trigger was Seraphina’s unfiltered display of possessiveness toward him. This confirmed his hypothesis about one of the Possessors of Twisted Desire.

But that wasn’t the important thing right now.

He had hastily closed the message window, but the phrase indicating the first branching point was etched in his memory.

Here, he could grasp how the sub-scenario “Possessors of Twisted Desire” would unfold. This sub-scenario was a multi-ending type, where the direction of the story depended on the choices he made.

Gilbert personally didn’t care much for multi-ending scenarios.

They often required multiple playthroughs, sometimes doubling or tripling the time needed to unlock all achievements. While he enjoyed the challenge of unlocking achievements, the repetitive nature of changing choices in sub-scenarios often led to severe game fatigue. There was no guarantee of clearing the scenario, which sometimes resulted in tedious grinding.

Even Gilbert, after several such playthroughs, would grow tired of the game and take a break for a few days. So, he couldn’t bring himself to like multi-ending sub-scenarios.

Moreover, this wasn’t a game—it was reality. A sub-scenario with a name as ominous as “Possessors of Twisted Desire” likely had a high chance of leading to a bad ending. That’s why Gilbert suspected the message window had explicitly mentioned the first branching point.

Frankly, Seraphina’s current gaze was far from normal.

He had always known about her possessiveness, but this level of obsession was unprecedented. She had always been ambitious about talent but maintained her elegance as a member of the imperial family.

She had always tried to remain composed, and all these factors combined had made her an unattainable character. Even the developers had officially stated that a romantic route with Seraphina was unrealistic due to her background.

But now, Seraphina was openly displaying her possessiveness, trying to ensnare him. It was impossible not to feel a sense of crisis. Despite all the time he had invested in the game, he had never seen her in such an obsessive state.

Gilbert knew he couldn’t stay like this. He needed to change the atmosphere.

He quickly knelt before Seraphina, who was still brushing his chest.

“Your Majesty.”

“Priest. Kneeling so suddenly—are you ready to become mine?”

“I am deeply grateful for your high regard. However, my loyalty has always been to the Empire.”

“You keep saying the same thing. Priest—no, Sir Gilbert. Why do you push me away?”

The coquettish demeanor she had shown earlier, as if she could ensnare any man, had vanished. What remained was the fragmented image of an empress who would rule the Empire.

Gilbert knew this was a crucial turning point.

At the very least, now that information about the sub-scenario had been revealed, his priority was to delay making any decisions.

He needed time.

Time to sort through the information.

“Your Majesty, look beyond me. Why are you so fixated on me?”

“You speak strangely. I am not fixated on you. I merely wish to possess what I desire. You are destined to be a shining star in the Empire. I will make it so, and the Empire will make it so. Therefore, to reach the highest place in the Empire, it is only natural that I should claim that star.”

Seraphina’s words weren’t wrong.

His colossal mech piloting technique, honed through countless hours of gameplay, was indeed special. Even if it was just a game, the vast experience he had accumulated through numerous deaths and trials had seeped into Gilbert.

And he was a veteran who could use that experience better than anyone.

“Let me say it again. I desire you.”

“And I will say it again. My loyalty has always been to the Empire.”

“Are you saying that unless I become the heir, I cannot have you?”

“My answer remains the same. My loyalty has always been to the Empire.”

Gilbert declared firmly. The moment he sided with any faction, the scales would tip. The image of the Empire’s hero would also reflect on the master he served.

Yet, his refusal to choose a side was due to the existence of the sub-scenario and Prince Richard. He couldn’t predict how the sub-scenario would unfold if he sided with Seraphina, nor could he anticipate Prince Richard’s reaction.

At the very least, observing the situation and biding his time would make it easier to handle.

“You are the only one who makes me so restless. I don’t understand why you refuse to acknowledge my feelings.”

“I am deeply sorry.”

“Very well. Even I realize this is unlike me. If you insist on pushing me away, then I have no choice but to resort to extreme measures.”

Gilbert felt uneasy. He had tried to ignore the situation, but Seraphina’s obsession seemed far more severe than he had thought.

“However, I have duties to attend to now. Commander Gilbert, you may leave.”

Though he had been waiting for this dismissal, Gilbert couldn’t easily leave due to the lingering unease.

But he couldn’t stay kneeling forever, so he bowed and exited the command post.

[Sub-scenario “Possessors of Twisted Desire” – First branching point selected.]

[Sub-scenario “Possessors of Twisted Desire” information updated.]

As soon as he stepped out of the command post, the message window appeared, and Gilbert couldn’t help but let out a long sigh.

Somehow, he felt afraid to look.

***

Returning to his quarters, Gilbert hastily opened the note window.

It was time to check the contents of the sub-scenario he had been so curious about for over half a year.

<Sub-scenario - Possessors of Twisted Desire>

Type: Sub

Clear Condition: Guide the seekers to the right path.

Seekers: Seraphina, ???, ???

Reward: Reward grade determined by progress (F~S)

– ???

Progress: 20%

Information:

– The seekers have lost their way due to twisted hearts.

1. Seraphina – Twisted Index 60%

– One of the seekers, Princess Seraphina, has become twisted due to her overwhelming possessiveness.

– Her once-clear eyes have turned into eyes of insatiable desire.

– The first branching point has been selected.

You refused to become hers. (Twisted Index increased by 30%)

* You must guide her back to the right path.

* If the Twisted Index reaches 100%, a destruction ending will begin.

2. ???

3. ???

Gilbert’s expression twisted as he read the mission window, which was filled with question marks.

As expected, Seraphina was one of the seekers. While it was good that his hypothesis was confirmed, there was nothing else positive in the details.

Especially the Twisted Index, a new metric, was already at 60%, and if it reached 100%, a destruction ending would occur.

This was also the first time he had seen such an ending name in all the multi-ending scenarios he had played.

Usually, the worst endings were called “bad endings,” but a “destruction ending”? That was something else.

The situation was undeniably serious. The very name “destruction ending” was chilling. Unlike bad endings, where death or disability was the worst outcome, this ending carried the grandiose title of “destruction.”

Perhaps death would be a mercy compared to what awaited in this ending.

This is too much.

Gilbert shook his head and closed the mission window.

Lately, things had been going well.

Briana, who had died in every route, was alive, and many people had been spared from the terrorist attacks.

He had made peace with the Sigurd clan, so at this point, Gilbert had done his best.

But now, he had been blindsided.

While the ending wasn’t decided yet, he recognized that the situation was dangerous enough.

The emergence of a “destruction ending” had heightened Gilbert’s tension to the maximum. He had forgotten that this world was a place where one could be taken out in an instant if they let their guard down.

– Clap clap

Gilbert slapped his face hard enough to jolt himself awake. His face turned red from the force.

First, he decided to focus on lowering Seraphina’s Twisted Index in the sub-scenario, postponing any major actions. The punitive force battle was imminent.

If he died in the battle, the destruction ending wouldn’t matter—it would all be over.

Moreover, this world had already diverged from the tactical combat world he knew. The appearance of a sub-scenario he had never seen in the game was proof of that.

With the possibility of anything happening in the punitive force battle, it was crucial to survive it first. Getting too caught up in the sub-scenario and neglecting the battle could lead to disaster.

Having roamed countless chaotic battlefields, Gilbert could easily calm his mind.

Quickly regaining his composure was his specialty.

As always, if his mind was cluttered, he just needed to tackle the immediate problems one by one.

***

“Gilbert. It’s a tradition of the Sigurd clan for men and women to… the night before battle.”

Ah, let’s not talk about that.

 

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