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On the last day of my part-time job at the company, thanks to Park Se-hee’s help, I was able to visit the special ward located in the basement of the company building. The purpose of the visit was, of course… to meet my younger sister.

Lying on the bed, my sister, Jeong So-ra, was asleep, relying on an oxygen mask.

With less than a month left until the service launch, there were still many issues to resolve before the players flooded in. It seemed unlikely I’d have time to visit my sister again…

“Director Choi Jae-man said that…?”

“Yes.”

Hearing an unexpected story from Park Se-hee, I fell deep into thought. Director Choi Jae-man is known to be a close associate of CEO Park. Yet, he was planning to act against CEO Park’s wishes.

“So, it’s an internal conflict, huh…”

CEO Park Joon-hyuk and Director Choi Jae-man. The two who founded Stella Corp together. They were seniors and juniors from university and had worked together on the Remina Project. To me, both were adversaries.

Though I don’t know what friction existed between them, it was certainly a troublesome situation for me in this world. If Director Choi succeeded in halting the game service and monopolizing this world, it would be a bad ending.

“Director Choi seems to be planning to take control of the system. He’s already hired skilled programmers and hackers to seize the Milky Way system.”

“Hmm…”

“And he plans to have me access the system. Ji-hwan and I are the only employees who have accessed it during testing. That’s probably why Director Choi brought me on as his secretary.”

Perhaps Director Choi had been eyeing the potential of this world for longer than I thought. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have gathered people to secretly work on the project behind CEO Park’s back. I thought he was just an incompetent man who only knew how to spend money recklessly, but this was unexpected.

“Don’t worry too much. Knowing this in advance is a golden opportunity. As long as I’m here, I won’t let things go according to CEO Park or Director Choi’s plans.”

Park Se-hee puffed out her chest as if telling me to trust her. As she said, finding out first was indeed an opportunity. Director Choi not knowing that Park Se-hee is on my side was advantageous.

However, there was one strange thing.

Since becoming Tristan, I’ve experienced multiple regressions. But in all those futures, the game service was never halted.

I wish I knew what was happening outside at the time, but back then, I didn’t even know about Director Choi’s existence and was completely cut off from the outside world. I could only speculate. Did my involvement in the trials change the future of the outside world? Did Director Choi’s plan fail? Or… did something I don’t know about happen?

Either way, it would be good to warn Park Se-hee.

“…I think it’s best to be cautious.”

“Huh?”

“Both CEO Park and Director Choi are not to be underestimated. Even if you’ve gained his trust, he’s a greedy man. He won’t hesitate to use any means to satisfy his greed. Maybe… he’s pretending to trust you to use you.”

“Hmm… That makes sense. I’ve also seen a different side of Director Choi through this.”

Park Se-hee stretched and then waved her hand at me.

“Still, don’t worry. I’m not an easy woman. Want to try me?”

“…Try you?”

“Yeah. I know self-defense. I can easily take down a man.”

Confident Park Se-hee. But I didn’t want to cause a commotion in the ward where my sister was.

“No…”

“Yah!”

I waved my hand to refuse, but Park Se-hee didn’t miss it and grabbed my wrist, trying to pin me down… or so she thought.

“…Uh… what?”

“…What are you doing?”

“Why aren’t you falling?”

“…Isn’t it because your self-defense skills are lacking?”

“Ah, what’s this… weird.”

Park Se-hee kept trying to push me down, but it was useless. No, her butt kept touching my thigh, making me feel a bit strange. Even though I’m in Trinity’s form, it’s just the appearance. Inside, I’m still a man.

“That’s enough.”

“It should have worked… Ji-hwan, be honest. You resisted, didn’t you?”

“You just couldn’t do it. I’ll ask Bella or Helga to teach you proper self-defense later, so learn it then.”

“Ugh… frustrating, but what can I do… okay…”

Park Se-hee, dejected, stepped back.

She quietly left the room for me. Thanks to her, I could finally greet my sister.

“So-ra…”

I held So-ra’s hand, which was warm. She was alive. That was the proof and the reason I never gave up despite 526 failures.

As long as my sister was alive, I could keep trying. If she could wake up, I could become the villain, the Demon Lord, anything. I could do anything.

There’s less than a month left until the service launch.

Protecting the world created by So-ra’s imagination, saving her, and breaking the wall between the two worlds are the tasks left for me.

Can I do it? Honestly, I’m still anxious. No matter how much I prepared, I failed 526 times. I died 526 times.

I’ve faced endless frustration and despair.

The old me… Jeong Ji-hwan, might have given up. Exhausted and broken.

The reason I could stand up again was because So-ra was alive… but now that I think about it, maybe it was because I had completely assimilated with Tristan.

Becoming the ruthless Tristan, who never lost his arrogance in any situation, was why I never gave up. 526 failures also meant I never gave up 526 times. Of course, without the help of those who believed in and followed this Tristan, I wouldn’t have come this far.

I held So-ra’s hand and made a promise. No, I swore.

“The day you wake up, I’ll be by your side.”

***

“Following your orders, we have returned from the north.”

Dismounting were four Annihilation Maids and Rian, dressed in Aslan’s uniform. They had stayed in the north under my command, subduing the Demon Forest and the demons and monsters around it. Under the name of Demon Lord Trinity, they had united.

Thanks to their hard work in the north, the Empire remained vigilant. Although an alliance had been formed, they were prepared for war, thinking the Demon Lord might betray them at any moment.

In truth, it was all part of my plan to prepare for the final battle with the players. Maintaining this tension until the service launch would eliminate the need to prepare for a fight with the players. Now that the north was somewhat settled, I called back the Annihilation Maids and Rian. The Black Earth Clan, my first followers, would handle the demons well.

“You worked hard staying behind to finish up.”

“No, we’re just happy to be of help to you, Master.”

Muiry, the leader of the Annihilation Maids, smiled brightly. Then she noticed the woman beside me and her eyes widened.

“Oh my. Princess?”

“You’ve worked hard on your long journey. Everyone.”

Last time we visited the Izakhel Mansion, we decided to postpone the marriage. We considered marrying before the impending chaos, but it seemed better to wait until everything was over. Bella was dissatisfied but thankfully understood.

However, the day we met Duke Fred, Bella packed her bags and moved into my mansion. She followed me everywhere, acting like the lady of the house. Now, anyone would think we were married.

“Ah, hello…”

“Long time no see, Wendy.”

“Wow, Wendy. You’ve grown, haven’t you?”

“Ehehe… a, a little?”

Cynthia and Rika of the Annihilation Maids patted Wendy’s head and laughed. Wendy seems to be everyone’s favorite.

“Um… belated congratulations on your marriage, Count.”

“Co, congratulations…”

The remaining two, Rian and Bess, congratulated me. Strictly speaking, we’re not married yet. Maybe they misunderstood.

The Annihilation Maids and Rian had been looking around for someone.

“But… Master.”

“?”

“Has your wife stepped out?”

“…Wife?”

Bella’s eyes narrowed. She looked at me, expecting an explanation, but I was just as clueless. I couldn’t understand why they were asking about my wife when Bella was right beside me.

But that was just the beginning.

“Ah, is she resting after childbirth?”

“Postpartum care is important for mothers.”

“Master, when will you show us your son, who looks just like you?”

“Ah, young lady!”

In an instant, Bella staggered. If Blanshe hadn’t caught her quickly, she might have collapsed from shock.

“A, a son… Tristan… you…”

“That’s impossible.”

“Then a daughter…”

No.

I pressed my fingers to my temples, thinking about the source of this ridiculous rumor.

The answer was simpler than I thought.

Why were the Annihilation Maids and Rian misunderstanding? To communicate with them while they were in the north, we used crystal balls. And the one who delivered the news was… the deputy commander of Aslan and my bodyguard knight…

“I always believed you would choose Helga, Count.”

“Helga was the only one who remained consistent to you, Count, so it’s only natural.”

“……”

Of course.

There was no need to deduce. The only person who would spread such a ridiculous rumor was her.

“You must be tired from just returning, but you all…”

I took a deep breath and ordered the Annihilation Maids.

“…go and capture Helga alive.”

 

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