- Night Will Soon Come
No matter how great a hero may be, if an ordinary human were trapped in hell for an unimaginably long time, their mind couldn’t possibly remain intact. Even ‘Orma’ would be no exception.
As the price for reaching out to the chalice of God and coveting the golden liquor in order to save a world heading toward destruction, he had to lose everything. The brilliant and joyful future he might have had, the wealth and honor anyone would covet, his beloved lover, and even the rest that would someday come.
When a crisis arose and people supported Orma’s choice, saying it would be fine, that it couldn’t be helped—but the moment an enraged god appeared, the humans were busy hiding, leaving only Orma behind. No, they even pushed him forward, shouting for him to be punished, then prostrated themselves flat before the god, begging for divine mercy.
However, when the god actually faced Orma and spoke with him, no punishment was given at all. As if asking when they had ever been angry, the god once again hid their existence and changed to an attitude of observation. And yet the humans who had driven Orma away appointed themselves as the god’s representatives and punished Orma instead.
“Silence! We now open the trial of the criminal Orma.”
Even as all sorts of strange charges were added to him during the trial, Orma remained silently tight-lipped. Perhaps because opening his mouth now wouldn’t change anything, and it would be better to spend that time taking in earthly sights for even one more day.
“……Therefore, we sentence the criminal Orma, who dared to covet the domain of God, to lifelong imprisonment in hell.”
Well, when the person in question wouldn’t say a single word, the humans persistently asked if he had any last words before going to hell, as if they desperately wanted to provoke a reaction. Orma, who had gained brilliant golden eyes from swallowing the liquor of God, slowly surveyed the assembly. Unfortunately, it seemed his lover who had betrayed him hadn’t attended the trial.
‘……Hmm, so they do have some guilt after all.’
Orma inwardly spat out a sentiment mixed with love and hate, then cunningly curved his sharply raised eye corners like a fox.
The humans who had expected him to pour out resentment asking what crime he had committed, or to struggle desperately saying he didn’t want to be trapped in hell with a body that couldn’t even die, were flustered and stared blankly at the one who had once been their hero.
“I……”
Gulp. In an instant it became so quiet that one could hear the sound of the human next to him nervously swallowing, and a voice suppressing boiling emotions spoke prophecy-like sentiments mixed with giggles.
“I look forward to the day I return to the surface.”
Though there were no specific words about what he would do or how, the humans hurriedly shoved Orma into hell with pale faces. Desperately praying that the day he spoke of—when he would return to the surface—would never come.
But unfortunately for the humans, that day inevitably arrived.
***
“Mm, potions…… packed, equipment repairs all done…… then shall I enter?”
The atmosphere was as if the world would end at any moment.
In the sky, the sun that had always revealed its presence so brightly it could burn everything was now hiding completely. Even that seemed like an omen of disaster, announcing that the Evil God buried deep in hell had crawled up to the surface.
On a strange piece of land that stood alone in midair, black sand continuously poured down below, and those grains soon fell into the murky sea like ink, surged upward, then sank.
Befitting the hazy sky, the sound of splash splash…… crashing waves could be heard, and salty winds blew in this place that was the final battleground of this game.
After observing the game world in the monitor for a while, Ban carefully placed his hand on the mouse and moved his character one step forward. Soon the faintly audible orchestral music grew louder, boasting grandeur and magnificence, while a system notification window appeared.
[Will you enter?]
Beyond this, the Final Boss of this game, Orma, was waiting.
Orma, who had been stuck in hell for such a long time that he had finally become an Evil God.
MOX NOX, a game with a profound title meaning ‘Night Will Soon Come’ in Latin, was a highly anticipated title that Ban had eagerly awaited for release. The day he happened to see the game trailer, for the first time in his life Ban took interest in a game and searched for the release schedule and game information.
Gorgeous and cool game art, magnificent BGM, addictive impact feel and gameplay, unique worldview and settings. Already claiming that this year’s Game of the Year (GOTY) award belonged to MOX NOX, not just Ban but gamers around the world were enthusiastically anticipating this game.
True to being a Soulslike, the difficulty was also very high, and thanks to that notorious reputation, quite a few people dropped out crying that it was too spicy, but it was a game that boasted such a spicy flavor that they would crawl back and play while crying.
Though it was a high-difficulty game for Ban, who was deeply immersed in gaming for the first time in his life, he reached the final chapter earlier than expected.
“I wonder how long it’ll take to beat?”
It would be troublesome if it took too long……
But based on the game information and reviews he’d looked at, he seemed to have more talent for this game than he thought, so maybe he wouldn’t spend days and nights on it like others. Having made his decision, Ban clicked ‘Yes’ under the entrance confirmation window without hesitation.
Soon the reason he had started this game—the cutscene where Orma appeared—began and instantly captured his attention.
Orma’s exclusive BGM Night Shall Come majestically foretold the end, and amidst the space covered in black and white, golden threads and mist imbued with divine power elegantly declared the player’s death.
While Ban took in that scene as if entranced, the sacred evil finally revealed itself. It was the first duel where Ban’s character faced that evil. Thinking he should first learn the attack patterns, he moved lightly one step, but the moment Orma swung their weapon.
“Huh?”
With just one hit, Ban’s character died.
“……Does this even make sense?”
Ban found himself muttering in a dazed voice. This had never happened before…… dying from getting hit once. His spine tingled while his competitive spirit was rather stimulated.
So they’re not the Final Boss for nothing. Right, it’s more thrilling when you clear it like this. Well, there’s not much holiday left…… but let’s give it a try.
If you die, you revive. You fight again. As long as this is a game, Ban absolutely won’t die.
So……
“Mmm……”
Ah, what day of the week is it today? Ban, who had pulled the blanket all the way up to the top of his head, groaned as he tried to think.
Did the holidays already pass? He only remembered that at some dawn when the sun was rising, he had finally defeated Orma.
Mm…… but why does my whole body ache like this? It hurt here and there as if he’d developed muscle soreness after intense exercise.
“……Behold. The white night…… have mercy on us…… only……”
But what’s that sound? Someone with a young voice was earnestly yet desperately offering a prayer, but somehow the content was strange.
Because they kept repeating it as if reciting a spell rather than a prayer, Ban unconsciously perked up his ears.
“Behold the calamity. The white night shall come. As God has mercy on us, do not tremble in eternal fear, forgive our sins and only……”
Ban knew the words that would follow that prayer. Even half-asleep, his lips moved unconsciously.
“Only deliver us from evil……”
As if hearing that murmur, the person who had been praying flinched. Then they carefully lifted the blanket covering Ban and spoke to him with sparkling eyes.
“Ban! You’re awake? Did I wake you up?”
Ban barely opened his still bleary eyes and looked around.
With hazy eyes, he scanned the room too small for two people, the old wooden furniture, and the simple yet neat priestly clothing, and only then did Ban grasp reality and slowly opened his mouth.
“No…… I just woke up.”
“That’s a relief. I was worried my dawn prayer might have disturbed your sleep.”
“……Mm.”
Well, to some extent it did. Ban exhaled a languid breath and swallowed the truth for the sake of his innocent and kind roommate. And slowly sitting up, he recalled that he’d dreamed of his past life for the first time in a very long while and pressed both eyes firmly with his hands.
Twenty years had already passed since he had been reborn in the world inside the game.
Right, the world inside the game.
The last thing Ban remembered was the brief conversation and choice options that followed after defeating Orma, the Final Boss in the game.
After that, his vision suddenly went dark and he lost consciousness…… and at some point Ban had been reborn with a new body in the world inside the game. At first he thought it couldn’t be true, that it must surely be a dream, but when this much time passes, one comes to resign themselves and accept it.
“Uh, where are you going?”
“Since I woke up early anyway, I thought I’d do some dawn training.”
Even in this place, Ban was born an orphan. The child who didn’t know his parents was taken in by the temple, and there Ban grew up as an outstanding Holy Knight while receiving plenty of affection from the high priests.
With talent that was clearly loved by God, a mysterious and beautiful appearance, and a kind and gentle personality, someone might think it was a good thing. But for Ban, who knew all the future and circumstances of this world, it was hardly a welcome situation.
No matter how much of an orphan of unknown identity he was, when circumstances flowed along this perfectly as if everything was predetermined, he couldn’t help but figure out who he was.
The one and only hope to save this world, the seeker who would punish or guide Orma—the player.
‘……Right, that’s me.’
Ban swallowed a curse inwardly and stood up with a calm expression as if accepting his fate, glancing at the system message that reminded him of his identity.
[Month of the Sheep, Day 6, 06:17 You have a new notification!]
