Mururunsoft
Online/Offline Compatible Roguelike MO Action + Online Versus Action.
Maya's Memory
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The Devil Summoner – Chapter 1
I spread a piece of parchment on the table. Its edges were blackened as if burnt, and brown stains appeared here and there. The paper itself gave off a dry, yellowed smell, as though it had aged with time. Sitting in front of it, I took a deep breath. A sharp knife glinted in the candlelight, flickering in my hand. Carefully, I pressed the blade to my fingertip and slid it. A sharp sting shot through me for just a moment, followed by a slow trickle of deep crimson blood. I let the blood drip onto the parchment and began tracing a magic circle with my finger.
* * *
I didn't have any specific dreams, but I desperately wanted to get away from my parents. After a tough job hunt, I barely managed to slip into a mid-sized company's office in the city. What awaited me there, however, was a life of utter monotony.
Every day was just organizing papers and inputting data. My coworkers chatted cheerfully with each other, but I never managed to join their circle.
I've always been like that since I was a child—separated from others by an invisible wall, like unbreakable glass. I couldn't shatter that wall, no matter how much I wanted to.
Always alone, unable to truly connect with anyone. Each time I heard their laughter, a growing sense of isolation filled my heart.
One day, I was harshly reprimanded by my boss. I didn't recall making any mistake, but I lacked the will to argue. I just lowered my head and let it pass. The boss's words stabbed into my chest, replaying over and over in my mind. In the end, I couldn't fit in and decided to quit.
I collapsed onto my bed without even changing clothes. I couldn't bring myself to do anything anymore. Soon, my life flipped day and night, meals became irregular, and I spent my days in a trash-strewn room, drowning in emptiness. The world outside the window felt distant, like a place that had nothing to do with me. Everything felt meaningless—like I was sinking into darkness.
As my bank balance dwindled, resentment and anger toward my former workplace began to swirl inside me. It was then that I stumbled upon a website about black magic.
At first, I was skeptical, but the information about curses and demon-summoning rituals intrigued me. Gradually, I became completely obsessed with that world.
The internet wasn't enough—I spent the last of my money collecting old books and magical tools. I cleaned up my room for the first time in ages. In its place, the floor was now scattered with handmade books covered in ancient symbols, and papers filled with spells and notes in red-black ink. A large wooden table stood in the center, stacked with books and ritual implements. Candlesticks lined its surface, flames flickering gently. Bundles of incense wrapped in black cloth released a heavy, bittersweet aroma. My life became completely devoted to black magic.
I no longer cared about my old job. I redirected the chaotic energy of my anger into messy drawings and rambling text, posting them online for some income. No need to meet people. If the magic worked, a demon would appear—and it would save me. I was certain of it.
My only real annoyance was the occasional noise from the nearby construction site.
As I arranged the tools, chanted incantations, and repeated rituals, I began to feel a power welling up inside me. Immersed in the world of magic, I felt like I had finally found my true self.
One twilight evening, I decided to perform a full-fledged summoning ritual. I spread a piece of parchment on the table. Its edges were blackened as if burnt, and brown stains appeared here and there. The paper itself gave off a dry, yellowed smell, as though it had aged with time. Sitting in front of it, I took a deep breath. A sharp knife flickered faintly in the wavering candlelight. Carefully, I pressed the blade to my fingertip and slid it. A sharp sting shot through me for just a moment, followed by a slow trickle of deep crimson blood. I let the blood drip onto the parchment and began tracing a magic circle with my finger. When the blood ran out, I cut again. Eventually, I made wounds on my wrist and continued drawing, ignoring the pain. As the smell of iron mixed with the incense, I focused with all my might on completing the ritual.
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The Devil Summoner – Chapter 2
I trembled with ecstasy, convinced the ritual had succeeded. Darkness swirled, space warped—I felt I had gained new power.
Suddenly, a small demon appeared atop the magic circle. It looked like a little girl with blonde hair and an oversized head. Dressed in a black robe and floating with flapping wings, I decided to call it a "little devil" for now.
The devil hovered toward me, scanned my face intently, and then grimaced—clearly unimpressed.
"I don't wanna make a pact with a gloomy girl like you!"
"Sure, I can sense the power of an Arcana, but…"
"My Demon Lord should be a big, buff macho guy who looks super strong!"
As the demon rolled around on the magic circle whining about muscles, I pointed toward the construction site visible far out the window. Noisy machinery buzzed beneath the twilight sky.
"If you like muscleheads so much, I bet you'll find one around there."
"You're right!"
With a cheerful squeal, the demon zipped out the window.
The next day, news of a gruesome mass murder at a construction site would shake the nation.
But I never watched the news, so I knew nothing about it. My only concern was preparing for the next summoning.
Disappointed by the little devil, I immersed myself even more deeply in the study of black magic. I devoured books about demons, devised my own rituals, and devoted my days to the practice of magic.
I was certain that somewhere beyond this path of darkness, I would find a new light. One day, the demon I had always dreamed of would appear and save me... For that, I was willing to spend however long it took.
Alone in the darkness, I continued preparing for the next ritual. By the flickering candlelight, I checked each incantation one by one and redrew the magic circle again and again. My hands were stained with blood, my body was exhausted, yet a strange sense of fulfillment filled my heart.
The dark power overflowing from the magic circle seemed to promise another meeting with a new demon...
* * *
A black silhouette rose at the center of the magic circle. It gradually took on color, and the towering form of a werewolf began to appear. But in the next instant, it evaporated, leaving nothing behind.
"Did I fail...?"
I murmured in confusion.
At that moment, the window suddenly flew open, and wind rushed into the room. Something shot inside.
"Phew! Made it in time! Hey, you can't just go around summoning things on your own like that!"
A silver cat floated in the air, lazily beating four transparent wings.
It was a catlike creature with four fluffy tails and mismatched eyes, one gold and one light blue. The golden eye was framed by a mask of the same color. There was nothing sinister or demonic about it. If anything, it gave the impression of a cat-shaped fairy, so for the time being, I decided to call it the Cat Fairy.
The Cat Fairy carried a staff longer than its own body, and from the large crimson gem set into its tip, I sensed the lingering trace of some powerful force that had just been used.
"Do you ever watch the news? That demon you summoned before teamed up with a human man, and things have gotten seriously out of hand!"
As it spoke, the Cat Fairy began flying circles around me.
"Sorry, but I had to erase the one you were just trying to summon. I can't overlook this anymore."
"It was hard enough just tracking this place down, so please don't cause any more trouble, okay?"
The Cat Fairy flew close to my face and stared at me with its golden eye.
"Hmm? You're pretty impressive. Originally, you probably had the Arcana of Barriers... but it looks like your ability has changed recently."
The Arcana of Barriers? My ability had changed?
"Oh, right. I'm taking you with me. Sorry, but you won't be coming back to this room. I can't just leave someone like you alone."
"If you resist, I'll erase you just like that werewolf. So behave, okay?"
At the Cat Fairy's words, I remembered the demon I had summoned being erased in an instant, and I understood that resisting recklessly would be impossible. Besides, I was beginning to wonder where this fairy would take me. I had long since lost interest in human society, and if anything, I was starting to feel excited.
"Fine. I'll obey. So where are you taking me?"
The Cat Fairy grinned and gave its staff a wave.
"You'll find out when we get there. Come on, let's go!"
And so, led by the Cat Fairy, I stepped onto a new path of fate.
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The Devil Summoner – Chapter 3
Still blindfolded, I was most likely placed into a car. After what felt like a long drive, I was led out and made to walk through a narrow corridor where every footstep echoed sharply against metal.
The cold floor beneath my feet and the distant hum of machinery heightened my tension. I could hear the faint flutter of the Cat Fairy's wings close to my ear, reminding me that he never strayed far.
A soft electronic chime sounded, followed by what seemed to be the doors of an elevator opening. A gentle push against my back urged me forward. After taking a few steps, I heard the doors close behind me, and soon felt the unmistakable sensation of descending.
In the silence, the Cat Fairy let out a small sigh.
"Sorry about this. Normally I'd have brought you here in a much smoother way."
His tone remained light.
"But this was an emergency. We weren't prepared."
After a brief pause, he added,
"Well... someone like you doesn't really deserve better anyway."
Another electronic chime rang out, and the doors opened.
I was led farther along a corridor where my footsteps now echoed across stone slabs. Eventually the sensation beneath my feet changed again, this time to the softness of a thin carpet. Then the blindfold was removed.
Squinting against the sudden brightness, I looked around.
The room was about eight tatami mats in size. A semi-double bed stood against one wall, beside it a small desk and what looked like a tablet. A sliding door, probably leading to a washroom, was set into another wall. The room itself was plain, with nothing in the center. Yet what immediately drew my attention was the enormous monitor hanging from the ceiling at the far end.
"Starting today, this is your room!"
the Cat Fairy announced cheerfully.
"It's only got the basics right now, so if you need anything, just enter it into that tablet over there! Well... no guns or anything weird."
His words eased my mind slightly, but I still couldn't fully grasp the situation.
"Oh, why don't you sit on the bed first? I'll explain everything."
I sat down as instructed. I'd probably have to request a proper desk and chair later. Maybe a trash can too... and a few other things.
"Anyway, before anything else, take a look at that monitor. That's the quickest way to explain."
Following his instruction, I turned toward the screen. The monitor slowly rotated into position. The room darkened, and the display came to life.
The image showed what looked like a deserted subtropical island at night. Though it was dark, powerful lights illuminated the landscape clearly.
A gleaming white floating platform drifted gracefully into view, adorned with numerous white feathers glowing with a faint golden light. The feathers flapped with mechanical precision, yet the platform itself floated so smoothly that it seemed to melt into the air.
That wasn't human technology.
Something from another world existed there.
Standing atop the platform was a glamorous woman who looked like a showgirl. Her reddish-purple dress exposed her shoulders boldly, while a black lace-up corset emphasized her waist. She wore thigh-high stockings, heeled boots, an ornate mask, and a large flower ornament swaying in her hair.
Everything about her appearance seemed designed to capture an audience's attention—flashy, extravagant, and unforgettable.
With heavy makeup and a radiant smile, she spun a floating microphone through the air as though controlling it with telekinesis. Then she drew in a dramatic breath and shouted,
"Hey there, everyone watching! Did you miss me? You did, didn't you!? Then let's kick off another night of madness and excitement! Showtime!!"
"The rules are super simple! Battle royale! Last one standing wins! Everyone here is your enemy! Best friend, lover—it doesn't matter! Teeth, fists, Arcana, anything goes!!"
Throwing both arms high into the air, she pointed toward the star-filled sky.
"Come on now, beneath this sky full of stars! The Masquerade of Madness begins!! Fight, Arcana users! Bare your desires, your way of life, and your very souls!!"
Her voice echoed across the island, transforming the silent night in an instant.
The scene shifted, revealing five different people scattered across the island. Their ages, genders, and clothing varied wildly, but they all shared one thing in common.
Each wore a different mask that concealed their face.
"They're all Arcana users, just like you. You see, an Arcana is—"
"Be quiet."
I cut the Cat Fairy off.
The camera zoomed in on two fighters.
One was an enormous, heavily muscled man wearing a black balaclava marked with a red inverted triangle painted across the forehead. His entire body bulged with muscle, and every movement sent thick fibers rippling beneath his skin. He looked like a man built for nothing but combat.
Standing opposite him was a tiny girl barely half his height. A simple black mask covered the lower half of her face, but her eyes were unnaturally calm... utterly devoid of emotion.
The giant smiled confidently, his arms folded as he looked down at her like a child. Slowly, he unfolded them.
The instant he moved, the girl silently kicked off the ground.
She floated lightly through the air, reached without hesitation toward his chest, and touched him over the heart.
The giant collapsed instantly.
Like a puppet whose strings had been cut, he crumpled face-first onto the ground and never moved again.
I was beginning to understand.
This wasn't simply a fight.
It was a clash of supernatural powers.
And someone was broadcasting it as entertainment.
The scene changed again.
The same girl was suddenly impaled through the abdomen from behind by a silver knife that flew in from outside the frame. The blade twisted through the air like a serpent, following an impossible path toward her.
The attacker was a slender woman dressed entirely in black, wearing a plain white mask that covered only her eyes. Her face remained hidden, but a cold smile curled across her lips.
The next instant, however, a violent gust erupted from deep within the jungle.
The wind tore through banana trees and palm leaves before splitting into countless invisible blades that rushed straight toward the woman.
She instinctively raised an arm to defend herself.
It wasn't enough.
Her face—and the mask covering it—were slashed apart.
The camera shifted again, revealing a man hidden among the foliage. He wore a tengu mask—a wind user.
Then, at the edge of the screen, something caught the moonlight.
Bang.
A single gunshot echoed across the island.
Without so much as reacting, the man slowly pitched forward, and his tengu mask rolled across the ground.
The camera zoomed in one final time.
Standing beneath the moonlight was a woman with long, fluffy pink hair and thick goggles covering her eyes.
She possessed the delicate appearance of a young girl, yet carried the cold, mechanical presence of a soldier.
"Looks like it's over again. It's her... again. That human wins way too often."
The Cat Fairy frowned in obvious annoyance.
The video ended, and the lights returned to the room.
"You get the idea now, right? It's an underground spectacle where humans with supernatural powers kill one another."
He continued,
"PSI Masquerade. Our Queen loves watching battles. She teamed up with some of the powerful people in the human world, and that's how it all began."
"So... you're telling me I have to participate in that?"
I asked quietly.
"Yep, that's right! Your summoning ability is incredibly rare. I think you'll put on quite a show."
I couldn't imagine someone like me surviving a place like that.
It wasn't a competition.
It was an execution.
I was going to die.
"And what do I get in return if I enter?"
I asked, suppressing both my fear and irritation.
"Of course there's a reward! The winner receives an incredible magical item from the Fairy Realm. And enough prize money to live comfortably for the rest of your life—as long as you don't waste it on anything ridiculous."
"We've even been spreading rumors about it. Some Arcana users manage to find the tournament on their own and ask to join without me ever recruiting them."
"And if you survive even once, you're free to go home. You'll just have to keep everything here a secret."
I had no idea what kind of magical item he meant, but that amount of money certainly didn't sound bad.
"I can't escape anyway, can I? But honestly... I don't think I stand any chance of surviving a battle like that."
There was no point hiding it, so I answered truthfully.
"Well, yeah. If we threw you in now, you'd definitely die!"
He said it so casually that I grimaced.
"So... I'm giving you about three months. Use that time to learn how to use your Arcana properly."
"Work like your life depends on it."
"Hm? You look unhappy."
The Cat Fairy pointed the tip of his staff directly at me.
"One hundred twenty-eight."
"Know what that number means? That's how many humans have died so far because of the demon you summoned."
"So don't expect the path to salvation to be easy."
"You're already a murderer."
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The Devil Summoner – Chapter 4
My training began some time after I was confined to the white room.
The first thing I did was recreate the black magic rituals I had performed over and over in my own room. Parchment, blades, blood, circles, and symbols. Whenever I requested something through the tablet, the Cat Fairy supplied exactly what I needed. The quality of the materials and their condition were far superior to anything I had gathered myself. By every measure, I should have been in a much better environment than before.
Even so, it took time. I drew magic circles, let my blood fall, and focused my mind. Sometimes it worked. Sometimes nothing happened at all. Even when something appeared, it was incomplete—its form distorted, its reactions sluggish. I summoned them, dismissed them, then summoned them again. Repeating the process over and over, I blacked out more than once and found myself sitting on the floor when I came to.
Eventually, something began to feel wrong. Drawing the circle itself started to seem unnecessary. More important than the symbols beneath my fingertips was the sensation that lay deeper within me.
So I tried without drawing a magic circle. I cut my finger, let my blood drip onto the floor, and focused my thoughts. Nothing happened for a while. Then the air grew heavy, and the shadow on the floor slowly began to take shape.
When I saw what emerged, I smiled faintly.
Just as I thought.
The ritual wasn't the essence of it. It was only a tool—a framework to help me concentrate. The Cat Fairy didn't seem particularly surprised. He simply watched me with quiet amusement.
From then on, I relied only on blood. No magic circles. No incantations. I let the blood fall and sank my consciousness into the darkness. My success rate became consistent, the time required to summon my demons grew shorter, and I blacked out less often. Before long, I could even dismiss them whenever I wished. After enough repetition, none of it felt unusual anymore.
Later, I decided to try without using blood at all. I focused on my own shadow stretching across the floor. Its outline, elongated by the room's lighting, seemed to sway a fraction of a second behind me. Grasping that subtle delay, I pulled—and something emerged from within the darkness.
Keeping the first one manifested, I summoned another. My shadow split into two, each taking shape upon the floor. My mind grew slightly heavier, but not enough to lose control. Two was manageable. The instant I reached for a third, a sharp pain echoed through the back of my mind, and I understood that I had reached my limit.
Even while maintaining two demons, my breathing remained steady. My thoughts felt a little heavier, but there was no fear. If anything, it felt as though something inside me was gradually becoming more organized.
It was much easier than dealing with people. They moved when I ordered them to. When they were no longer needed, they disappeared. There were no expectations, no disappointments—only results.
I accepted that fact without hesitation.
If I could do this...
I would survive.
By the time my power had stabilized, I entered the Arcana Masquerade as the Cat Fairy instructed.
Real combat was far easier to understand than training. The beings I summoned slaughtered my enemies while I watched people break apart before my eyes. Watching it happen felt even better than I had imagined. The frustration that had built up during the years when nothing in society had ever gone my way quietly unraveled in exchange for the destruction of others.
Apparently, the audience watching through their monitors had started calling me the Demon Lord of Observation.
I thought the name suited me perfectly.
I didn't need to step forward.
I didn't need to touch anyone.
All I had to do was watch people fall apart from a distance.
I still remember the match that gave birth to that name.
* * *
A vast abandoned factory stretched beneath a high ceiling, filled with pale green mist.
I stood at its center, still wearing my black negligee. It had no particular meaning. It was simply my nightwear. Changing clothes had seemed like too much trouble.
Instead of a mask, I wore a thin black cloth over my face. It resembled the soft, translucent fabric used by stagehands behind the scenes, draping loosely over the contours of my face. It concealed my expression without the annoyance of wearing a rigid mask, and I liked it that way.
High above the factory floor, the air rippled slightly.
A floating platform adorned with numerous white feathers glowing with a faint golden light drifted silently into view. The feathers flapped with mechanical precision as the platform came to a stop above the center of the factory.
Standing upon it was the same extravagantly dressed woman. She wore a reddish-purple dress-like top, a tightly laced corset, an ornate mask, and enough decoration to look absurdly out of place in the abandoned factory. With a casual flick of her finger, she sent the floating microphone spinning.
"Hey there, everyone watching! Did you miss me? You did, didn't you!?
Then let's kick off another night of madness and excitement! Showtime!!"
Her high-pitched voice echoed through the steel beams overhead.
There was no audience here.
Yet I knew they were watching from somewhere beyond the screen.
"The rules are super simple! Battle royale! Last one standing wins! Everyone here is your enemy! Best friend, lover—it doesn't matter! Teeth, fists, Arcana, anything goes!!"
At her words, the floodlights hidden throughout the mist burst to life all at once. White beams swept across the factory floor, stretching long shadows beneath the steel framework overhead. I watched absentmindedly as the stage was set.
Bathed in the lights, two figures gradually came into view.
One was a man wearing an angular welding mask. Beneath his heavy jacket he wore what looked like a stab-resistant vest, with protective gear fastened to his elbows and knees. Everything about his equipment was purely practical, and even the way he stood revealed someone thoroughly accustomed to combat.
The other was a woman wearing a distorted, asymmetrical mask. Its strange shape made her expression impossible to read. Her clothing was light, clearly chosen for mobility. Her calm eyes darted around the factory, searching for escape routes and anything that might serve as a weapon.
Both of them looked at me only once.
Then they immediately looked away.
"Come on now, right here in the middle of this ruined factory! The Masquerade of Madness begins!! Fight, Arcana users! Bare your desires, your way of life, and your very souls!!"
The woman cried joyfully, raising her microphone high.
"It's showtime!!"
At that moment, I took a single step backward.
The hem of my negligee brushed gently through the mist.
I had no intention of stepping onto the front lines.
From this point onward...
It was no longer my turn.
* * *
The two demons advanced.
The man in the welding mask drove himself forward with a powerful kick against the floor. As he thrust both arms out, a pale blue wall of light sprang into existence before him. It resembled a flat barrier, shimmering faintly as it blocked the path ahead.
Without the slightest hesitation, the Dread Spear drove its lance straight into the glowing wall. The spearhead struck with a dull crash that echoed throughout the factory. The barrier held, but the impact forced the man backward. He hadn't been able to absorb the blow completely.
Clenching his teeth, he somehow held his ground. As he did, the color of his hands began to change. It wasn't merely the reflection of the glowing barrier. A murky discoloration spread slowly from his wrists.
The spearhead must have pierced the barrier by only the slightest amount.
That was enough.
The Dread Spear's poison steadily spread through his body. Even so, the man continued maintaining the wall of light. His movements, however, were becoming noticeably slower.
Behind him, the woman with the distorted mask was moving through the mist. She was too far away to see clearly, but I could hear the sound of cardboard boxes being kicked aside. While the man held the front line, she was probably gathering anything around the factory that might prove useful.
She finally stood after picking something up.
At that instant, the scenery wavered.
The factory floor rippled outward from her position, and the surrounding walls shifted ever so slightly. Both the Dread Spear and the Succubus froze for a brief moment. The height of the floor no longer matched what their eyes perceived. Walls and obstacles that hadn't existed moments before suddenly stood throughout the factory.
A gunshot rang out.
Sparks burst from the Succubus's shoulder.
Then came a second shot.
A third.
Bullets flew from behind one of the walls that had appeared moments earlier—a position where there should have been no line of fire. Even so, each shot struck true, tearing into the Succubus's flesh.
The Succubus retaliated by firing pale pink orbs of light from her fingertips, but they simply collided with walls and vanished. Real walls and false ones had become indistinguishable. It seemed to be an ability that created convincing illusions, blurring the line between reality and deception until neither friend nor foe could tell them apart.
Even while this unfolded, the front line remained intact.
The man in the welding mask had dropped to one knee, yet the glowing barrier still stood firmly before him. Again and again the Dread Spear's lance crashed against it, each impact sending faint ripples across its surface. The man's arms had turned almost completely discolored, trembling violently, and his breathing had grown ragged.
Still...
He refused to fall.
Another gunshot echoed through the factory.
This one struck deep into the Succubus's torso. Her massive body staggered backward.
At that exact moment, the man in the welding mask relaxed his stance.
Only for an instant.
...What's that look?
Don't tell me you think you've already won.
Don't get carried away.
The Succubus steadied herself and slowly extended both arms forward. She drew back her elbows, lowered her shoulders, and pressed her index fingers together.
This stance was different.
Completely different.
Come on, Succubus.
You're capable of much more than this.
Kill them already.
The light gathering at her fingertips possessed no clear shape. It pulsed like a heartbeat, twisting the very space around it as it remained suspended in place.
Then—
she fired.
Leaving behind a strange impression, as though it dragged the surrounding air along with it, the formless projectile surged forward. It passed straight through the barrier without breaking it and touched the body of the woman holding the gun.
The instant it made contact...
Something peeled away.
The distortion surrounding her unraveled like countless strands being pulled free. The rippling floor grew still. The displaced walls slid back into their proper positions. In moments, the factory returned to normal.
At the same time, a pale sphere of light separated itself from the woman's body. It reversed course along the exact path the projectile had traveled and drifted back toward the Succubus.
Opening her mouth, the Succubus swallowed the returning light whole.
The next instant, her body pulsed violently.
The gunshot wounds closed.
The contours of her muscles became more defined.
The small bat-like wings at her waist spread wider, taking on a far clearer shape than before.
The next blast she released from her fingertips was nothing like the ones that had come before.
The woman with the distorted mask, still kneeling with her pistol raised, had no time to react. The illusionary walls that had concealed her firing position were already gone. The blast struck her directly, hurling her backward before she crashed onto the factory floor without moving again.
The moment the man in the welding mask saw her fall, the strength finally left his body. His poisoned arms collapsed, and the glowing barrier before him faded away without a sound.
The Dread Spear swung its lance only once more.
The man fell beside her...
...and never moved again.
No one else remained standing inside the factory.
It was over.
I simply stood there, watching everything without lifting a single finger.
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The Devil Summoner – Chapter 5
After that, several more matches played out in much the same way.
Only the location and the opponents changed. Everything else stayed the same. Once the signal was given, I would take a single step back, draw two demons from the shadows, and leave the rest to them. That was all there was to it.
At first, I watched people being torn apart as though it were nothing more than a natural phenomenon. But after enough matches, something else began to creep in. I found myself enjoying it.
If I had wanted to, I probably could have gone home. The Cat Fairy had told me I would be free to leave after surviving a single match.
But before I realized it, I had stopped turning down the next one. Besides, what would going back accomplish? All that awaited me was that same dull, meaningless world.
That day, too, was supposed to begin like every other match...
...and end the same way.
* * *
"Alright, everyone in front of the screen! Thanks for waiting!"
The enormous abandoned factory, shrouded in its now-familiar pale green mist, stretched out before me. From the white floating platform suspended overhead came the equally familiar voice of the showgirl. It was high-pitched and carried well, though there was still something oddly off about the way she spoke. As always, she was dressed in the same gaudy costume.
"Tonight's challengers are this pair!"
With an exaggerated flourish, she pointed toward the two figures standing within my field of view. They were perhaps fifteen meters away. The mist blurred the details, but I could make out their general appearance.
"On one side, a girl whose thoughts are impossible to read! On the other, a super-motivated young hero!"
...This showgirl had gotten sloppier since the last time I saw her.
Even her movements seemed a little more mechanical.
"Now then! Standing before you is the monster that ends everything without touching you or even coming close... the Demon Lord of Observation! Do you two have the guts to challenge tonight's star?!"
High school students, probably. A boy and a girl in school uniforms. They seemed to be saying something to each other, but I couldn't make out the words. Perhaps they were discussing a strategy.
It didn't matter.
"It's showtime!!"
The lights throughout the factory went out all at once. A heartbeat later, brilliant floodlights illuminated the entire building.
As always, my role was simple. Take one step back while summoning two demons from my shadow. That alone should have been enough—
Bang!
...Huh?
Wh—
It hurts!
It hurts!
It hurts!
An unexpected gunshot rang out, and searing pain tore through my right thigh, forcing me down onto one knee.
What...?
What just happened?
What did they do to me?
Grinding my teeth, I forced myself to focus.
The boy was holding a handgun.
Why!?
The match just started!
Bringing weapons isn't part of the rules!
Did that damn cat give him special treatment!?
Damn it.
Damn it!
He's going to fire again!
I have to get away—
I threw myself sideways without a second thought. Another gunshot slammed into the floor where I had been an instant before. Rolling clumsily across the concrete, I summoned my demons all the same. From the shadow spreading across the floor like a sticky stain mixed with my blood, the Succubus and the Dread Spear crawled into existence.
* * *
Medicine.
I need medicine. I'd never used one myself, but I'd seen other contestants heal their wounds with a green vial hidden inside one of the cardboard boxes scattered around the factory.
The demons could deal with those little bastards. Dragging my useless leg behind me, I crawled through the darkness with both hands and my remaining foot.
Why...
Why did this have to happen to me?
Pressing myself against the shadow of a steel beam, I gasped for breath. Every movement of my leg sent burning pain through my body, and blood continued dripping onto the floor.
Damn it. Damn it! Damn those little bastards. I'm going to kill them. Every last one of them.
I never did anything wrong.
They were the ones who cast me out of society. It was always the same—at work, at school, everywhere I went. Nobody accepted me. They decided I was creepy, kept their distance, and once I was left all alone, they started calling me gloomy and frightening, as though I were the problem. If that's what people are like, wasn't I better off expecting nothing from them?
That's why I turned to demons. What's so wrong about that? They obeyed my orders. They never betrayed me. They never looked at me with disgust. They were far easier to deal with than people. At the very least, they wouldn't suddenly pull out a gun and shoot me like that brat.
I drew a shaky breath. My lungs burned.
...No.
It wasn't just that kid.
It was that cat.
He'd planned this from the very beginning.
One hundred twenty-eight people? I don't care. What does that have to do with me? The one who killed them was that little devil. I didn't know. There was nothing I could have done to stop it. And yet he acted as though it were all my fault, lectured me, and threw me into this place.
PSI Masquerade... call it whatever you want. It was nothing but a spectacle from the start. He just wanted to watch me die. That damn cat had intended to kill me all along.
Blood spread across the floor beneath me.
My vision began to blur.
Damn...
I'm losing more blood than I thought.
Medicine. I have to find it. If I don't... I'm really going to die.
Grinding my teeth, I dragged my injured leg behind me and crawled deeper into the darkness.
* * *
I finally found one.
Medicine.
But...
It wasn't green.
The liquid inside the small glass vial was a vivid blue. Whatever. I didn't care anymore. I'd use it anyway.
I had no idea how it was supposed to work, but I twisted off the cap and poured the liquid directly over the mangled wound in my blood-soaked thigh.
My mind suddenly became clearer.
...No.
Who cares?
The bleeding hasn't stopped.
Even so, I felt as though some of my strength had returned. Only then did I realize what I'd forgotten in my panic.
Right.
I had to stop the bleeding first.
I tore a strip from the hem of my negligee and tied it tightly around my thigh.
The sounds of battle still echoed from somewhere in the distance.
What are those idiots doing?
Fine.
I'll pull out one more.
Placing one hand on the floor, I let my consciousness sink into the darkness beneath me. I searched the depths of the shadows, choosing a form, discarding everything unnecessary, and began pulling it upward.
I just needed something...
Something that could charge straight into the fight and tear them apart.
The shadow spread across the floor.
Like a pool of black ink, it crawled over the concrete, swallowing the surrounding rubble as it swelled. It was heavy. Much heavier than usual. It felt as though something deep below had become caught, refusing to rise.
Damn it...
Move!
I forced it upward.
The next instant, the shadows burst apart.
A gigantic arm emerged first, covered in black fur. Massive claws slammed into the floor, shattering the concrete. Then a long, beast-like snout pushed its way out of the darkness.
A deep growl echoed through the factory.
Huge.
Nearly twice the height of a human. Its shoulders and chest resembled solid rock beneath light-brown fur, while a white cloak swayed slowly across its back. Thick metal gauntlets covered both forearms, each fitted with two long, curved blades.
The creature that crawled from the shadows was something halfway between beast and man. Its massive frame planted itself firmly on the floor as glowing crimson eyes slowly swept across the surroundings.
A werewolf.
That was the only name that seemed to fit.
But it was no ordinary werewolf.
It looked strong.
That was all that mattered.
The werewolf let out a snort. In the very next instant, it kicked off the floor and vanished into the darkness with a thunderous roar.
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The Devil Summoner – Chapter 6 (Final)
A thunderous crash echoed from somewhere in the distance, followed by the screech of twisting metal. Even the floor beneath me trembled. The werewolf must have been tearing the place apart.
Too slow.
What the hell are those idiots doing?
I summoned them because they looked strong. How was it not over yet? The Succubus and the Dread Spear... they were both completely useless.
Even after my makeshift bandage, blood was still seeping from my right thigh. If I didn't patch it up soon, I'd be finished either way.
Leaning against the wall, I forced myself to breathe while searching for medicine. I kicked aside every cardboard box I found, but all I turned up were small throwing knives and strange L-shaped chunks of metal. The medicine I needed was nowhere to be found.
Damn it. My vision was starting to blur. At this rate, I was really going to die.
Then I saw it.
A small green vial lay beneath a steel support a short distance away.
...Huh?
I narrowed my eyes.
I'd already checked there. There had been a cardboard box, and I'd kicked it away. There was nothing.
But now it was definitely there.
...Whatever. I must have overlooked it in my panic.
I practically threw myself at it and snatched up the vial.
Please... let this be the real thing.
I unscrewed the cap with a silent prayer and poured the liquid over the wound in my thigh.
Heat.
The next instant, something writhed deep inside the wound. The torn flesh forced itself back together from within. The pain was searing, but the bleeding stopped. The mangled flesh visibly knitted itself back together.
It's healing.
I sat there for a while, letting out a long breath. It still hurt, but it was nothing like before. Even the haze clouding my mind was beginning to lift.
I made it.
I actually made it.
Holding back a laugh of relief, I pushed myself to my feet with one hand against the wall. My right leg still wasn't fully recovered, but I could walk. I didn't have to crawl anymore.
Feeling much lighter, I started searching the area again, kicking over boxes and rummaging through shelves for anything that might be useful.
Then I spotted a black object wedged beneath a toppled metal shelf.
A handgun.
Heh. My luck was finally turning around. That brat had been using one too. So what was wrong with me using it?
I picked up the handgun. It felt heavy in my hand, yet strangely, I wasn't afraid. If anything, it felt oddly natural. I rested my finger on the trigger, and a faint smile crept across my face.
The PSI Masquerade had been more entertaining than I'd expected, but this match had come far too close. I'd call it quits after this one. By now I'd probably earned a decent reward. Once I got out of here, what should I do with the money? Maybe I'd never have to work again.
Casually spinning the handgun in my hand, I headed toward the sounds of battle. The noise had already begun to die down. Maybe it was almost over. At this rate, I might not even need the gun.
Keeping half my body hidden behind a shipping container, I peered into the battlefield. The first things I saw were a huge corpse and the thin corpse.
...You've got to be kidding me. They're losing.
The Succubus, whose hair had somehow turned pale pink, was being split clean in half by the boy's katana.
The werewolf. The Dread Spear. The Succubus. Every last one of them had lost.
Still, it didn't look like they'd accomplished nothing. A few meters behind the boy and slightly ahead of me, the girl sat on the floor, apparently wounded. Judging from her profile, she looked barely conscious.
Then I'll have to finish this myself.
Keeping to the cover of the container, I raised the handgun.
Don't shake.
The distance wasn't far. She was sitting perfectly still. Missing would be harder than hitting.
I lined up the sights on her chest and squeezed the trigger.
Bang.
The girl's body jerked. A dark crimson stain spread across her chest, and she collapsed forward.
Good.
A grin spread across my face.
That was the moment.
The boy turned toward me.
The air changed. It wasn't like when he'd been fighting the Succubus. This was quieter. Far quieter. And far more dangerous.
This is bad.
Instinctively, I pulled the trigger again.
Bang.
The bullet tore through his shoulder. His uniform ripped open, blood spraying into the air.
But he didn't stop.
...What?
I fired again.
His stomach.
His chest.
One more shot.
Every round hit. Flesh tore open. Blood flew. Yet he refused to fall. The wounds closed before my eyes at an impossible speed.
What the hell is that?
What the hell is wrong with you?!
A cry escaped my throat as I kept pulling the trigger.
Again.
Again.
Again.
Empty casings clattered across the floor, the gunshots pounding inside my skull.
Still, the boy never stopped. He walked straight toward me with slow, deliberate steps.
No...
No, no, no...
I staggered backward and pulled the trigger once more.
Click.
Out of bullets.
The instant I realized it, the boy vanished from sight.
Before I could even process what had happened, his fist slammed into my face.
My vision exploded white.
I crashed onto the floor. Before I could understand what had happened, a crushing impact drove into my stomach, stealing my breath. By the time I realized he'd kicked me, I was already tumbling across the concrete.
It hurt.
No...
It was far beyond pain.
My bones groaned. I thought I heard teeth crack. The world spun, and I couldn't get back to my feet.
The boy never drew his katana.
He simply walked toward me in silence.
The moment I saw his face, I felt genuine fear for the first time.
He was furious.
It wasn't the rage of battle. It wasn't even pure killing intent.
It was something far more primitive.
A tangled, formless mass of emotion.
"W... wai..."
The words wouldn't come.
His silent fist came down again.
I felt my cheekbone shatter. Blood splattered across the floor. He grabbed me by the hair, yanked my head up, and drove another punch into my face. Something deep inside my skull crunched.
Why?
Why me?
I didn't do anything wrong.
They're the ones who—
The cat.
The little devil.
You started—
A kick buried itself in my stomach. Bitter fluid surged up my throat, spilling onto the floor together with blood.
The boy was breathing hard, but he never stopped. Every punch only darkened the look in his eyes.
This is bad.
I'm really going to die.
My trembling hand reached across the floor until my fingertips touched a pool of blood.
There's still some left.
I can still use it.
"A... aa..."
My throat was too crushed to form words.
Even so, I pressed my fingers into the blood.
The shadows rippled.
A black stain slowly spread across the floor.
For the first time, the boy stopped moving.
I smiled.
It was a smile so broken that even I could tell.
"S... serves... you... right..."
Blood continued to pour onto the floor.
The shadow spread with it.
Something impossibly deep and impossibly dark stirred beneath its surface.
Heavy.
Deep.
What...
What is this...?
Something opened its eyes in the depths of the shadow.
The Devil Summoner
The End
The End
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The Devil Summoner – Chapter 6 (Digest)
The sounds of battle echoed through the factory as I crawled through the darkness, finally finding a green healing potion. My wound closed, and I was able to walk again. I even picked up a handgun. That was enough. It was time to end my time in the PSI Masquerade, collect my reward, and leave.
Following the sounds of the fighting, I returned to the battlefield. The werewolf was dead. The Dread Spear was dead. Even the Succubus, whose hair had somehow turned pale pink, was in the middle of being cut down by the boy. Every last one of my demons had lost.
Still, it seemed they hadn't fought for nothing. A short distance away, slightly ahead and off to my left, the wounded girl was sitting on the ground. Judging from the vacant look on her profile, she was barely conscious.
Hidden behind cover, I took aim at her and pulled the trigger. The bullet pierced her chest, and she collapsed forward.
The very next moment, the boy turned toward me.
I fired again and again. But for some reason, his wounds closed almost as fast as they opened, and he never stopped advancing. The instant my gun ran dry, he was already in front of me. He beat me down with his bare fists, striking me over and over until I was completely broken.
I hadn't done anything wrong. The ones to blame were the Cat Fairy and those damned demons. Clinging to that thought, I reached toward the pool of blood beneath me.
"S... serves... you... right..."
The blood-soaked shadow spread deeper than ever before.
And in its depths, something slowly opened its eyes.
Read the full version in the game.
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To be continued...
Most Memorable Story
Total Votes 36
Ai
10
Shin
7
Maya
7
Taka
4
Saki
4
Kai
3
Ritsu
1
Ryu
0
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This page is updated irregularly.
Unauthorized reproduction or redistribution of this work’s text or images is prohibited.
Author: Akiyoshi Hanaoka
© Musurunsoft – PSI Masquerade DW Project
Author: Akiyoshi Hanaoka
© Musurunsoft – PSI Masquerade DW Project
The English version uses AI-generated translation.