Chapter 115

  this is a fictional story by realTensai

  Alvis opened his eyes, and an ocean of books greeted him. He clutched his chest, trying to breathe; however, it was surprisingly easy. The scent of old paper and ink, and that faint sweetness only books had, trickled his nostrils, making it obvious that his senses worked again. He balled his fist and opened it again, the poison that had paralyzed him gone.

  I’ve respawned.

  However, his stomach twisted, and with his brain working again, he could process what he had just experienced. Only now could he comprehend the meaning behind everything he had just heard.

  The Priest of Knowledge is Elise’s twin, and Mr. Woltzer works for the Devil Cult.

  These words hit harder than any punch. Images of Mr. Woltzer’s goofy personality he used to love got shattered by the cold gaze of the man who had betrayed them. Alvis grabbed his head, yet his heart refused to believe that someone like Mr. Woltzer was part of the organization he swore to destroy. However, his brain reminded him of those cold eyes that stared at Alvis filled with conviction. It wasn’t an act. He was part of the Devil Cult!

  Then, which one is the real Mr. Woltzer?

  His behavior didn’t make sense at all. If Mr. Woltzer had been a part of the Devil Cult the entire time and even accepted Alvis to this school just because he thought he was the vessel for the Devil, then was everything they knew about him false? Were his character, his behavior, his ideals, and his hatred for racism just an act?

  No, it couldn’t have been an act. Alvis just knew that this Mr. Woltzer, the one who always fought for equality, the one who refused to yield to injustice, the one who helped them keep their morality even within a survival game, was real too. Yet this Mr. Woltzer had always been part of the Devil Cult.

  He was a walking contradiction.

  However, Alvis’ brain immediately presented him with the following problem.

  If Mr. Woltzer works for the Devil Cult, no matter what I do, his disappearance can’t be stopped. And if that’s the case, the chaos that follows can’t be stopped either.

  Alvis gritted his teeth, his mana fuming at his own helplessness. Even if he stopped the fight like in his last loop, it wouldn’t make any difference. The hatred had already settled in everyone’s hearts. His checkpoint had been set too late. No matter what he would do, nothing would change.

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  As Alvis drowned in his uselessness, a notification popped up.

  [Notification: Only 1 Respawn left!]

  Alvis’ eyes trembled, his body slowly starting to tremble too. Primal fear crept up his spine, and his brain didn’t hesitate to crush any sort of hope he still carried in his heart.

  You can only fail once more; after that, every mistake, every death, is final.

  Images of Gilsymbato’s rampage, Dane’s and Maya’s deaths, and Lia’s breakdown were served to the last shred of his sanity on a silver platter—served by the Devil himself, laughing at Alvis’ misery as he did so.

  “Bloughhh!”

  “Eww, what’re you doing? Are you alright?” the librarian asked, disgust and worry displayed on her face as she saw Alvis vomiting. “Gosh, go visit a healer if you’re sick. Now I have to clean up this mess.”

  “I-I’m sorry,” Alvis said, cold sweat trickling down his face. He exited the library but waited right at the entrance.

  I need to calm down.

  This was easier said than done, and Alvis’ body didn’t want to stop shaking. However, he took deep breaths in and out, forcing his racing heart to calm down and his body too. An icy wind brushed past his face, helping to cool his burning head.

  I can’t give up yet. I have to keep moving forward. I’m the only one who can save everyone. I have to carry that burden.

  Think it through. No panic. Just logic.

  The gears in Alvis’ head grinded, starting their overtime session.

  Mr. Woltzer’s disappearance can’t be stopped, but is that really the case?

  I only saw everything from a negative perspective, but I could just see it from a different angle. Mr. Woltzer works for the Devil Cult. He will betray us and hide with Elric. That means he knows where Elric, the game master, is hiding!

  Alvis knew it too, but he could never find the secret passage on his own. And even if he would, he didn’t know the spell to enter it. But that didn’t matter because Mr. Woltzer knew it. If Mr. Woltzer were to betray the Devil Cult, he could lead them to Elric and force him to end this game.

  They could end this horror.

  Alvis’ phone rang, forcing him out of his thoughts. He clicked his tongue, seeing that Lyon was calling him.

  Already?

  However, Alvis didn’t realize how much time had passed since he had respawned. Still, he just put it on mute.

  Not now. I’ve almost found the solution. I’ll help you soon enough, but I can’t let go of this train of thought. If I did that, everything would just repeat itself.

  Alvis focused back on his thought process.

  All I’ve to do is convince Mr. Woltzer to betray the Devil Cult. But how?

  Alvis already knew the answer.

  Mr. Woltzer’s character wasn’t an act. He hated racism and fought for equality and peace. The reason he had betrayed the school and decided to abandon them was because he saw how his own students couldn’t set aside their hatred. Mr. Woltzer saw how they were willing to kill each other and decided that they couldn’t be saved anymore. He didn’t believe he could reach his goals following this path.

  The reason Mr. Woltzer joined the Devil Cult rang in Alvis’ ears.

  “For my ideal world and for my goals to come true,” Alvis repeated.

  Alvis guessed that his ideal world had to be one where everyone could get along without racism. And for some reason, Mr. Woltzer believed that he could reach this goal by being a Devil Cultist.

  “So, I have to convince him that he can reach his goals without the Devil Cult,” Alvis said, his mission getting clearer. “It’ll be a battle of ideals. But if I win this, I will beat this level.”

  Alvis clenched his fists, strengthening his resolve. He released mana from his core and cycled it through his body. In the next second, he started sprinting to the battlefield.

  This time I have to make it!