The Diary of the Starlight Prince, the village chief's ninth son.
He was a modest young man, well-liked by everyone in the village. Both adults and kids spoke of him with fond smiles. His manners were gentle and graceful, almost like a fairy-tale prince. That's why everyone called him the Starlight Prince.
Early morning draped the village in a thin mist. The first sunlight barely touched the horizon, and the faint smell of damp earth lingered in the air.
Elric woke up in the quiet of morning. Though he was exhausted, he got up quickly. He wanted to solve the lingering mystery. Honestly, while sleeping, he recalled someone had knocked last night. The rule said don't open the door unless there are three knocks, but the knock was five. That meant he should have opened it. Maybe he could have found clues then, but now it seemed too late.
The clock showed exactly six.
Elric didn't waste time. He dressed fast and left. He was after information, especially about the village chief's ninth son.
This was the first time he decided to talk to someone who wasn't part of the main narrative but just a regular villager.
"Oh, good morning, Hunter. You seem deep in thought."
Elric turned slowly toward the voice. An old man with a kind smile stood there, someone he didn't recognize but who looked friendly.
"I've been thinking about the village chief… and his children."
The rules didn't forbid talking to villagers. This was an opportunity he had to use.
In six hours, I'll have to go hunting again. But I don't have any bullets left. So these six hours feel like a countdown to the end.
"That's sad… The village chief lost his ninth son a few months ago. He was a good guy."
"Just lost him?" Elric asked bitterly.
He was starting to understand the narrative that demons talked about. It had a story structure: Setup, Confrontation, and Resolution. It seemed he'd been dropped in the middle part.
Maybe finishing it meant reaching the story's end.
"You didn't hear? You should visit the church. They probably have the info you need."
Elric's eyes widened slightly. His lips moved but no sound came out.
Instead of going straight to the church, he decided to ask other villagers for more details. He also shared what he learned with other trusted participants in the narrative.
…
After gathering what he could, Elric went back to the church.
The smell of blood and remains from yesterday's explosion had faded, but the memory stayed quietly in his mind.
Inside, he sat quietly, hands clasped. Though born after the demon invasion and knowing little about religion, and even though he himself didn't believe in any god, he prayed—quietly and sincerely.
In the stillness, he pieced together the clues, searching for the ending.
Soft footsteps came behind him. A man in black robes approached.
He was the priest.
A faint smile appeared on the priest's face. Without much talk, he led Elric down to the basement.
"Um… I want information about Sun Village," Elric said as he followed.
He wondered why demons would build a sacred place if they hated religion. Now he realized the church wasn't for prayer—it was a secret spot for sharing information, things only regular villagers knew, not us.
Maybe Level 1 difficulty wasn't about fighting, but about uncovering truth through small talks.
They went deeper underground. The torchlight gave a weak glow, casting uneasy shadows on old stone walls.
They stopped in a small, simple square room with a worn wooden table in the center.
The priest sat on one side and motioned for Elric to take the seat opposite.
Elric sat carefully, serious.
"What do you want in exchange for the information?"
The priest didn't answer right away. He chuckled softly, a cold smile, as if he already knew.
"Can you bring me a cerulean stone?"
"A cerulean stone?"
The priest nodded slightly and explained flatly.
"At about ten o'clock, an envoy from another village will come asking for help."
Elric frowned. Pieces started fitting together.
"That envoy… is from Sun Village, right?"
The priest nodded.
…
After Elric left the church, he found someone waiting by a wooden pillar near the gravel path. The man wore a long, dull robe and a dark gray metal mask covering his face, hiding any emotion.
"I have a favor to ask."
The low, rough voice carried weight; Elric stiffened. The man was tall but not bulky, steady in posture. One hand was in his robe pocket, the other adjusted the mask.
"Who are you?"
The man sighed deeply through the mask, sounding tired and worried.
"I'm the village chief… I don't know where the other hunters went. You're the only one left, so I thought I'd meet you."
Elric's heart raced with surprise.
The Hunter role had eight members. Since Mia disappeared, he was alone. He didn't fully understand the narrative mechanics, but something was about to start.
"All right, then. Let's meet at your house at 11 a.m."
"No. I'm only free at one in the morning."
The short answer made Elric frown. Suspicion crept in like fog. He clenched his hand and gritted his teeth.
He had at most until noon, so how could he make it to one in the morning?
He thought for a moment, then nodded slightly, sensing a chance.
"All right."
Once the conversation ended, Elric rushed to the village entrance. No time to hesitate. He had to clear the narrative before noon, and less than two hours remained.
Some rules could be used multiple times. For example, the rule said starting bullets were two. That word, starting, suggested there was a way to get more bullets and survive.
Pressure tightened around him like a heavy rope. He felt something hidden in the narrative watching him.
Stress built in his chest, making breathing hard.
No, stay calm… I'm the only Hunter left… I can't die here…
Suddenly, the group from Sun Village arrived.
The sound of many footsteps pressed the dirt path. Elric squinted and counted over twenty people. They wore neat, high-quality clothes—simple in color but elegant.
What blurred Elric's vision wasn't their number or weapons…
It was how absurdly handsome and beautiful they were, like a group of celebrities on a red carpet, not just a relief team.
Forcing a smile as his heart pounded, Elric raised a hand.
"Hello, people of Sun Village."
Though not assigned to welcome them, he'd learned enough to guess their route.
"Who are you? Are you from Starlight Village?"
"Yes. I'm from Starlight Village. I want to speak and ask some questions."
One man frowned in irritation and snapped sharply.
"Get lost! We don't have time. Wolves attacked our village. We need reinforcements."
Elric raised an eyebrow and thought hard.
"I'm a Hunter… and the only one left here. If you want, I can help, but I need some extra bullets."
The group exchanged glances, then agreed.
"All right, but first we meet the village chief. We'll give you bullets once we return."
Elric breathed out in relief.
"Okay."
The group moved into Starlight Village under watchful, unwelcoming eyes.
Elric moved quietly, asking questions here and there. The villagers shared information he hadn't known before.
That changed his view entirely.
Finally, they reached the village chief's house.
The masked man came out and spoke politely but firmly refused anyone entry.
The Sun Village envoys grew angry.
"Are you kidding? You're disrespectful!"
Some shouted in anger.
The village chief stayed calm. Behind the mask, his face showed nothing.
"If this weren't urgent, we'd never beg help from a plain village like this."
His words dripped with contempt, making the air tense.
Elric watched quietly from a hidden spot, eyes sharp.
He was impressed by the chief's calm.
Even when insulted, the man stayed steady.
"Hand over the cerulean stone. I'll keep my promise and help. But most of our hunters are missing, so replacements will take time."
The envoys looked dissatisfied but handed over the stone at last.
"You're disgusting. You cover your face because you're ugly, huh? Filthy. Just like that kid we drove out."
The insult was direct and malicious this time.
The village chief was silent for a moment. The expression behind the mask seemed frozen as he considered something deeply. His breathing was still.
"Damn those Sun Village bastards."
The curse was low but clearly full of anger.
He stepped forward, slow and steady. Each step heavier, charged with will. His right hand lifted, fingers flexing like he might strike. No weapon yet, but the mood shifted instantly.
Behind that mask, something twisted was boiling.
Nearby, Elric hid silently but felt danger rise, giving him goosebumps. Instinct told him to leave hiding immediately. He stepped out quietly.
He moved between the two groups, trying to calm the tension with his gaze and stance. The conflict, ready to explode, somehow eased without more words. Even without acting, the tension lessened.
Elric quietly stood with the Sun Village group.
"You're going with Sun Village" the village chief said flatly, handing Elric a sheet of paper.
Elric took it silently, tucked it away, then turned to the Sun Village side.
"Let's go. I don't want to stay here with these plain people."
The group said it without looking at anyone in particular.
Elric's face stayed calm, though inside he felt a touch of irritation at their attitude.
Then, as he walked away, he stopped. He looked back at the village chief.
The man still stood there quietly, watching until Elric disappeared from sight.
Elric realized the village chief must be a key NPC.
Looking back, their last moment felt strange—no simple anger, but something deeper, cold yet fierce.
More strangely, Elric felt a disturbing familiarity with it.
What was the village chief hiding under that mask just now…?
