In the royal castle at the end of Firsten noble street where the royal family resided, there's an out of place room that looked like a modern conference room. A carpeted big room with a long table in the middle. The room ran in real time that matched with IRL. Important looking middle-aged people in office attire sat on high backrest office chairs around the table. At the end of the table was a large holographic screen controlled by a woman slightly younger than everyone else.

 

They were the MANCOM members¹Management Committee. In a company, the MANCOM consists of those among the highest positions. They are the ones that make the big decisions in an organization. of the company that owns DWO and the secretariat of the meeting they're currently having.

 

[In today's peak hours, we experienced no major technical issues whatsoever. There were a few minor bugs discovered, and 97% of those were automatically fixed by our AI before any of the players were affected.] Chief technology officer - CTO

[So there's 3% that affected someone. How did it affect them? Would it affect our image?] Marketing department head

[Technically speaking, someone got affected, but they didn't even realize it, so with regards to our image, it's fine.] CTO

 

They were having their regular meetings that they do every after peak hours of DWO.

 

[Moving on, we received multiple potential cheat or exploit detection in today's peak hours. The AI judged the detections to be false positives. We also had actual people check the logs and we found nothing unusual. Within the system, at least.] CTO

[So unrelated to the system, you found it unusual?] CEO

[Yes. Ms. Nora, please play the video.] CTO

 

The secretariat controlled the holographic screen, then it displayed videos of Elle. It showed the shortened versions of her activities in both Firsten and Seconden training grounds, the way she made her gear, how she obtained her attributes and race, and the way she fought.

 

[All these in just today's peak hours, plus an extra hour at the end. Within a time an average new player could reach 20 to 30, she got to level 68. Then, she created an entirely new attribute that the AI just registered to the system, which was followed by the appearance of new race options. She immediately evolved into one of those new race options, and it was an S rank race. As reference, our current high level players have rank C races only, and the top players have B.] CTO

 

The meeting participants were in awe at Elle's achievements that the CTO described.

 

[I'd like to use some of those clips for marketing opportunities. Please send the full version of those videos to us, and that player's contact details.] Marketing department head

[Wait. Before you make her the face of DWO, let's consider what happened in Seconden's event first. It looks like a lot of players were dissatisfied with her actions.] Customer experience department head

[Also, don't you guys think she's advancing too fast? Is it possible for your technology team to slow her down somehow, Dan? I'm afraid she might negatively impact the events my project team is planning.] Project management department head - PMD head

 

The CTO took all the inputs the other participants had about Elle, then gave his own input.

 

[The mechanics of magic in this virtual world was perfected by our AI, which is the current leading and most advanced AI in the world. Nerfing this player, who merely used the perfected mechanics of magic much better than others, is like saying the mechanics are flawed. We already compromised when we implemented AI assisted skills and spells. We'll lose face, not just to the players, but to the investors and the world, if we nerf her.] CTO Dan

 

The CTO was adamant in defending not Elle, but the magic system created by their AI that Elle made full use of. The magic system of DWO that was similar with Elle's previous life's was the result of the best AI doing thousands of simulations to create what could be the most plausible system if magic existed.

 

[There you go again, Dan. How many years would our customers take to reach even Thirden level of sufficiency in magic if we didn't implement skills and spells? Even your core devs don't understand it completely.] PMD head

[Which brings us to another point. I’ll admit it helped the players start in DWO, but they seem to have stagnated in Sixthen because of skills and spells. I don't think they'll be ready for Nightmareia expansion if things stay like this. This player might be the catalyst we need to push the players to improve and let go of their dependence on skills and spells, otherwise we'll be stuck releasing content that are up to Sixten only.] CTO Dan

 

While the implementation of skills and spells helped players start in DWO and familiarize themselves with the magic system the AI has created, they had become dependent on it, which hindered their further development after reaching a certain point.

 

[I agree with Dan. This is also to provide results to our investors. They're not here just for the success of DWO and its revenue, we also need to show what our AI has achieved in the creation of DWO.] CEO

 

The MANCOM members nodded to the CEO, including the project management head.

 

[I'll allow using this player for marketing purposes, with her consent, of course. Make her out as an antagonist so that the players dissatisfied with her won't complain. Coordinate with the legal team as usual to avoid possible lawsuits.] CEO

[Okay, sir.] Marketing department head

 

[Project team should coordinate with the technology team with regards to this player's current and predicted future capabilities so that we can anticipate it and make preparations for our events.] CEO

[Got it, boss.] PMD head

 

[Technology team will not nerf her, but monitor her continuously and make reports that the project team will need. Make reports as well on how she makes use of the mechanics of magic for the core devs to analyze.] CEO

[Okay, sir Terry] CTO Dan

 

[Ms Linda, let's have your HR team get a stealth GM who will directly interact with her in-game. Someone with qualifications in psychology. We'll have him or her make reports on this player's psychological state. He or she can also act as a usual stealth GM when the player is logged off.] CEO Terry

[Will do.] HR division head Linda

 

The CEO made decisions based on the inputs and with the investors in mind.

 

[As for the stagnancy of the players, hmm..] CEO Terry

 

The CEO looked at the screen where details of Elle's actions were shown.

 

[I got it. Let's use that new attribute she created to make a new set of monsters on latter fiefdoms. Make them able to jam the skills and spells of players, but don't mute it completely.] CEO

[That's a great idea! I’ll have the core devs prompt the AI with instructions after this meeting.] CTO Dan

 

When there didn't seem to be any more inputs regarding the topic, the CEO went to conclude it.

 

[Did you catch that, Ms. Nora?] CEO Terry

[Yes, sir. It's all in the minutes.²Minutes of Meeting. Notes that serve as the official record of the meeting contents..] Secretariat Nora

[Alright. Please continue, Dan.] CEO Terry

[Okay, for our next report…] CTO Dan

 

Their meeting continued. They discussed various things not only related to Elle and DWO, but the company’s other activities as well.

 

---

 

After a few hours, the meeting concluded and everyone logged off except the CTO and the project management head who remained in the meeting room.

 

[The meeting ended a little late.] CTO Dan

[The topic related to that overpowered player dragged too long.] PMD head

 

Despite frequently having opposing opinions in running the company, the two were actually friendly with each other outside work.

 

[So Marco, you mentioned that your daughter will also play DWO. How is it?] CTO Dan

[I don’t know, she only started last night.] PMD head Marco

[I’m surprised that overly timid girl decided to play it. You didn’t force her, did you?] CTO Dan

[She decided on her own, saying it’ll help her become braver.] PMD head Marco

[Wow! My goddaughter. Tell her she has my support.] CTO Dan

 

The project management head had a proud look on his face, and the CTO was genuinely supportive of the girl.

 

[This morning before I went to work, she mentioned meeting another girl who looked strong and confident. Maybe it’ll be a good influence on her. It was obvious she was idolizing the girl.] PMD head Marco

[Haha, I look forward to it.] CTO Dan

 

The two enjoyed the remainder of their meeting meals with high expectations regarding the timid daughter and the game. Little did they know what terrible influence awaited her.

 

---

 

It’s been 15 years since the death of the former demon lord. For the past 10 years after the demons had withdrawn and isolated themselves from the non-demons, they have significantly prospered as they focused on economic growth no longer hindered by war. The same could not be said to humans who, without a common enemy, started to fight amongst themselves and other races just 5 years after the isolation of demons.

 

*Bang* [Lisa, help us~]

[What are you doing in my castle without an appointment??. Also, it’s ELIZABETH!]

 

In a drawing room, a young looking woman who had long white hair, yellow cat-like eyes, and two black horns, was processing documents when the door burst open and a blonde woman in a white habit came running and whined at her.

 

[If you’re here about the letters the pope sent to me, you’re wasting your time.] Elizabeth

[I don’t give a damn about that old fart! No, help us with Roderick.] White Habit Girl

[That’s not something a saint should say. Is that why you dragged me here?] ?

 

Another person entered the drawing room. A slim young man with glasses. He would've been quite handsome if not for the deep bags under his eyes, unkempt gray hair, and messy clothes.

 

[Pardon us for the intrusion, your highnesses.] Unkempt man

[No need for that, it's just us here. Come, take a seat.] Elizabeth

 

The man closed the door behind him and went to sit on a sofa in front of Elizabeth’s desk. The girl in white habit, who was supposedly the saint, sat on another sofa opposite of the unkempt man.

 

[So, what does the hero need that the saint and the sage would come running to the demon lord for help?] Elizabeth

 

Elizabeth spoke sarcastically at the irony of the situation.

 

[FORMER saint. It's such a fussy position.] White habit girl

[Ask Lorna. She just dragged me here.] Unkempt man

*Clink* [Ooh, thanks!] White habit girl - Lorna

 

A maid with a thin presence who's been there from the start placed confectioneries and tea on the table between the white habit girl and unkempt man.

 

*Sip* [Mmmm..] Lorna

[If you have time to relax, then I guess the hero doesn't need help after all.] Elizabeth

[Nooo!] Lorna

 

Elizabeth gave a fed up look at Lorna.

 

[It's terrible, look!] Lorna

 

Lorna held her hand out, then a crystal ball the size of a basketball appeared on top of it. The orb floated, then it shone faintly. When the shine faded, an image appeared in it. In the image shown, there's a dandy middle-aged man in white armor on a castle balcony waving at people who cheered for him. His arms were held by two identical young women in expensive looking dresses.

 

[How's that terrible? He's got the twin princesses all for himself.] Unkempt man

[Damn manwhore.] Elizabeth

[I agree. No, look!] Lorna

 

Lorna tapped on the ball, then the image zoomed into the face of the man.

 

[Wow, haha. Is he still in there?] Unkempt man

[That's..terrible, indeed.] Elizabeth

 

What they saw was a colorless, lifeless face of a man, whose eyes no longer shone and smile as if forcefully plastered on his face.

 

[He's dead inside, being passed around by the princesses and other noble girls while being made to fight in wars against other humans by the empire.] Lorna

[It's not like he's being forced to comply, right?] Elizabeth

[Maybe not, but we all know he's an idiot who's completely faithful to the empire.] Unkempt man

[Right.. Then, let's just wait until he breaks. Maybe he'll finally accept becoming mine if he becomes sick of humans.] Elizabeth

[That's even worse! Didn't you say you were already over him?] Lorna

 

Whether Elizabeth was over the hero or not, for the benefit of the demons, nobody would be able to oppose them if the demon lord and the hero joined forces on the demons' side. Also, it couldn't be denied that Elizabeth no longer had lingering feelings for the hero.

 

[Then, what should we do? We can't make Elizabeth interfere with the politics within the empire.] Unkempt man

[Mernjorl is right. At worst, those empire idiots might find a reason to start another demon-human great war. The demons are satisfied for now, but I know they'll happily accept if humans declare war on us.] Elizabeth

 

After the former demon lord's death, Elizabeth had to wrestle control over the demon territory. Though she had allies that knew the demons would prosper under her, it was difficult to control the evil nature of the majority of the demons. For years after she took the throne, she had to destroy rebels loyal to the former demon lord and their nature while proving that her way is better. While the demon country she built was not fragile, she's not gonna take a risk by interacting with the empire's leaders. She also had to deal with demons loyal to the former demon lord that currently laid low.

 

[Ugh.. you know, I hate to admit it, but Roderick shone the brightest when he fought Elena.] Lorna

[I hated that fact.] Elizabeth

 

Elizabeth and Lorna had reminiscence of the bright and shining young man that they fell for. His shine faded when he defeated his arch rival, the former demon lord.

 

[Aren't you ladies too old to still be fangirling over the past hero?] Unkempt man - Mernjorl

[In demon years, I could still be considered a young girl. The same can't be said to Lorna, who's using her gods' blessings to keep herself young, though.] Elizabeth

[SHUT UP, YOU TWO! You're also keeping yourself look young.] Lorna

[Not really. It's a mutation that happens to all sages.] Mernjorl

 

They were already in their early thirties when they defeated the former demon lord years after the hero party started their journey.

 

[I’m just taking back from the gods the youth I lost while working for them as a saint.] Lorna

[We’re getting sidetracked. Any ideas on how we can fix Roderick?] Elizabeth

[It’s not like we have to pull him out of the empire. Just restoring his psyche should be enough.] Mernjorl

 

Dealing with the empire was troublesome enough that the three preferred to look for a different solution than to deal with the root cause.

 

[Some of my succubi demons would be happy to give him enjoyable dreams.] Elizabeth

[Rejected! The twin princesses also wouldn’t be happy to have succubi hanging around him. Don’t you have any dungeons he could dive into?] Lorna

[None that can come close to challenging him.] Elizabeth

 

The two girls thought of various possible solutions, but none satisfied them.

 

[Hey Mernjorl, quit sleeping! You’re not even helping.] Lorna

[I’m not sleeping. I have an idea. I’m just thinking if it could work..] Mernjorl

[Ooh!] Lorna

[What do you have in mind?] Elizabeth

 

Mernjorl, who had his eyes closed for a while already, opened his eyes and looked at Elizabeth with a serious expression. Lorna and Elizabeth held their breaths in anticipation.

 

[First, I’m gonna need to borrow some of your succubi.] Mernjorl

[PERVERT!] Lorna

 

*Splat* A creamy confection that was thrown towards Mernjorl hit the sofa as he dodged.

 

[I’m serious! It’s part of my idea.] Mernjorl

[Explain, before I kick both of you out.] Elizabeth

[Huh, why me too?] Lorna

[You’re noisy, and you're ruining my sofa!] Elizabeth

 

Lorna calmed down, then Mernjorl went to explain his idea further. The maid came to clean up the mess.

 

[I never told this to anyone, but I actually put a tracker on Elena’s soul on her death.] Mernjorl

[Huh, why?] Elizabeth

[It’s so that we can capture her once she reincarnated.] Mernjorl

[Would she even keep her memories on reincarnation? Don’t tell me, are you keeping a fifteen year old girl captive? I knew it, you secretly liked her, you masochist!] Lorna

 

Lorna accused Mernjorl. Elizabeth also had a convinced look on her face.

 

[N-no, I’m, I didn’t! She reincarnated in a different dimension, so she’s not our problem anymore and I stopped paying attention to the tracking already.] Mernjorl

[Alright, alright. So, what’s that got to do with succubi?] Elizabeth

 

Elizabeth, who didn’t seem convinced of Mernjorl’s excuse, urged him to continue with his idea.

 

[I thought of the idea when you two mentioned succubi and that Roderick was much better when he fought Elena. I just need to analyze the dream magic of succubi. I could track Elena again, then maybe I could connect hers and Roderick’s dreams with a modified dream magic.] Mernjorl

[And when they meet in their dreams,] Elizabeth

[Roderick will return to his lively past self!] Lorna

 

Their unplanned meetup finally bore fruit. The three made plans with Mernjorl’s idea as the base. Elizabeth wasn’t completely fond of the idea, though.

 

[Say, can we not get big sister involved? We can just remake her in Roderick’s dreams. Also, what if she returns to this world?] Elizabeth

[Well, can you, or anyone, even make a convincing Elena? I doubt it, especially after all these years.] Mernjorl

[Same.] Lorna

 

They could only recall bits and pieces of the previous demon lord, mostly just the highlights. Even those loyal to the previous demon lord that stuck closely to her would not remember everything about her completely.

 

[I analyzed what kind of world it was she reincarnated in. I didn't find out much, but it seems magic doesn't exist there, so there's no way she'll be able to return to this world even if we establish a connection in dreams.] Mernjorl

[Alright, let’s proceed with this. Here, take a communication crystal. Contact me if you two need anything else for this plan.] Elizabeth

 

Elizabeth gave a baseball sized crystal ball to Lorna and Mernjorl, then she wrote a letter and magically stamped it.

 

[Millia, please escort the sage to the succubus leader and give her this letter.] Elizabeth

[Yes, your majesty.] Maid - Millia

[Ugh, does it have to be Brittany?] Mernjorl

 

Mernjorl reluctantly left the drawing room with the maid, then a different maid entered as a replacement.

 

[It’s a good idea, but..] Lorna

[I know. I can’t believe we’re gonna be relying on big sister for this.] Elizabeth

[I’m curious, though. If that world didn't have magic like Mernjorl said, how powerless could she be in there, and what kind of barbaric world would that even be? Haha!] Lorna

[Yes, yes. So, when are you gonna leave?] Elizabeth

[How mean!] Lorna

[You got too much free time. Just return to the human side already, I still got work to do.] Elizabeth

 

Elizabeth resumed her paperwork while Lorna continued to lounge in her office.

 

---

 

*Bang* [Is that true?!]

 

In a room smaller and less luxurious than Elizabeth’s drawing room, a large man with a single horn on his forehead who was sitting behind a desk slammed it as he stood suddenly.

 

[Yes, general Maxen] Millia

 

Millia, the maid in front of the large man a distance on the other side of the desk, confirmed.

 

[That means the former, no, the TRUE demon lord is..] ?

[Lord Elena! We’ll be able to meet her again!] Maxen

[And maybe even bring her back!] ?

 

A young man sat on a chair in front of the desk. He looked like a slim, young version of Maxen.

 

[This is great news!] Maxen

[No, calm down, father. We can’t let the current demon lord find out we know of this.] Maxen’s Son

[Ugh, you’re right.] Maxen

 

Maxen stood his chair back, which had fallen when he suddenly stood up, then he sat back down.

 

[For now, let’s keep this to ourselves. Lord Elena’s most loyal subordinates might get too excited if they find out.] Maxen’s son

[You’re right. Then, I’ll leave this up to you. You’re better with sneaky stuff than I am. Millia, you are to follow Maximilian’s instructions for his plans regarding lord Elena.] Maxen

[Yes, general Maxen.] Millia

[Thank you, father. For now, I’ll meet up with trustworthy demons that can keep their mouths shut.] Maxen’s son - Maximilian

[How about the shadow maids?] Maxen

 

The father and son pair looked at Millia.

 

[I don’t know, it seems the newer generation maids are loyal to the current demon lord.] Maximilian

[Some of the ones that served during lord Elena’s time have acknowledged lord Elizabeth and her achievements, but most are still loyal to lord Elena. I can prepare a list of those that can be trusted. As for the newer generation, they seem to admire lord Elena from stories they’ve heard. The newer generation can’t be trusted for now, but they might side with us once they witness lord Elena’s greatness first hand.] Millia

[Let’s leave the newer generation maids for when we establish regular contact with lord Elena, then. I’ll take your list of the older generation into account for our plans.] Maximilian

 

Maximilian, who was known as a child genius that held great admiration towards the previous demon lord before her death, was now a full fledged adult who made full use of his genius for various schemes. He’s already thinking up multiple plans despite not knowing much about the sage’s activities with the succubi. All that’s left was to finalize things once he meets with the demons he trusted, and depending on the sage’s actions.

 

[The succubi, huh? Brittany’s daughter seems to be fond of you.] Maxen

[Ugh, I hate dealing with Tiffany..but if that’s what it takes..] Maximilian

 

Succubi were carefree demons. It didn’t matter to them who was the demon lord. Maximilian, who was an upright person, didn’t blend well with the succubi.

 

[Alright, let’s continue where we left off with these documents.] Maximilian

[B-but, Millia still has more to report, right?] Maxen

[That is all, general Maxen. I will take my leave, then.] Millia

[Traitor!] Maxen

 

The father and son pair continued to process documents on the desk, though Maxen hated to do it.