[Note: In Secret Mode, the save function cannot be used, but other functions are provided.]
What is this again?
Presepe made a stupid face at the notification window that suddenly popped up.
And not long after, a notification window popped up once again over Presepe's violently shaking eyes.
[Notice: Would you like to enable the new feature?]
...And even a strange screen that had never been seen before.
<Case log>
A thick notebook that appeared to be made of leather was displayed on the screen.
"Case... log?"
Along with Presepe's dazed muttering, a large screen appeared.
[Note: In the Case Log, you can look back on events from Normal Mode.]
"..."
[Note: Additionally, character information newly discovered in Secret Mode is also recorded.]
There is such a thing?
It was something she hadn't expected at all, but it seemed like it would definitely be helpful.
"Show me information about the real male lead."
Presepe said urgently.
[Notice: Information that could not be found cannot be viewed.]
"Crazy..."
Are you seriously kidding me?
She felt like she had been toyed with, as they weren't even going to give jer the information she really needed.
“So this is it?”
"If it can't be saved and we can't find out the information we couldn't, shouldn't you at least give us something else?"
Presepe asked back in an angry voice.
[Note: In Secret Mode, you can view the Case Log, look back on past memories, and browse the Book of Memories.]
...Looking back on past memories?
Past memories?
It was truly a ridiculous thing to say.
Regardless of what emotions Presepe felt, something resembling an album appeared next to the notebook.
"Ha... Seriously, all sorts of useless things..."
Presepe let out a sigh that was close to a lament. Then, composing herself again, she looked at the screen.
"First, please explain what the Book of Memories is."
[Note: If you view the Book of Memories, you can use system functions in areas other than the West Tower.]
This was a somewhat intriguing sound.
[The Case Log and Looking Back at Past Memories are also immediately available for use, and above all, you can find out hints about the character you are currently pursuing.]
In reality, the Tower was the only place where system settings like the save function could be utilized. Although saving was no longer possible, it meant that the Case Log and Looking Back on Past Memories could still be used even after leaving the Tower. And on top of that, hints?
"The real male lead too?"
[Note: You must unlock the password to view this.]
"..."
[Note: The password is the real male protagonist's name.]
I think I know the reason. If you're capable of pursuing the real male protagonist, it means you've seen all the endings with every character in the game, so I suppose they think it doesn't matter if they give you a hint.
Furthermore, since even the save function cannot be used in Secret Mode, it means that finding the real male protagonist would grant some benefits.
On the other hand, one could also look at that book and try it out as a password whenever there was someone suspected.
I can't check the details right now, but shouldn't I at least take a look at what it is? Or maybe just give me any name.
"Then show me the Book of Memories."
[Notice: Summoning the Book of Memories.]
However, something was strange. After displaying only that short phrase, the notification window showed nothing.
[Notice: You have viewed the Book of Memories.]
...I didn't view it? I couldn't even see it?
Presepe, wearing a bewildered expression, asked to see the Book of Memories several times, but the result was the same.
Where and how did you access it? Is something wrong with this too?
For now, she had to look into other things first. Presepe let out a sigh, cleared her throat, and parted her lips again.
"Look up the case log for me."
[Notice: Which character's case log would you like to view?]
Presepe, wearing a very serious expression, was lost in thought for a moment.
The people she met after switching to secret mode were Dietrich Ateloia and Attar Hanan.
Dietrich's attitude had also changed, albeit subtly, but what weighed on his mind was still Attar.
It felt as though it were still vividly appearing before her eyes. Attar's affection window, which had turned into a question mark when she chose that ridiculous option...
"Attar Hanan."
[Notice: Viewing Attar Hanan's Case Log.]
"..."
[Note: Attar Hanan, the 4th Prince of the Tain Empire, located north of the Ateloia Empire]
"It's hitting well this time...."
However, Presepe already knew all of this. There was nothing wrong with it.
...Then was that strange affection window just an error?
[Note: Special Notes - Light pink hair and eyes. Strong desire for conquest, sadistic sexual preference]
However...
[Notice: Spring of Imperial Year 999, after attending Dietrich Ateloia's coronation celebration and meeting Presepe for the first time, Summer of Imperial Year 999...]
Just as she was about to feel relieved, an incomprehensible notification window popped up.
[Guide Presepe??? Behind, Attar?????]
"...Uh?"
[Guide: ???????? ??????]
After that, incomprehensible question marks and typos bordering on alien language ran rampant.
[Notice: Attar Hanan's Case Log inquiry has been completed.]
"What's this...?"
A flustered Presepe opened Attar's case log once again, but nothing had changed.
The fact that the notification window confirming the inquiry was completed popped up properly means there is a problem with Attar's case log itself. If there were a problem with the system, the notification window would have appeared like that.
"I've never heard of or seen anything like this..."
Presepe muttered to herself with a blank expression.
After a considerable amount of time had passed, Presepe struggled to hold onto her sanity. Then, she parted her lips once again.
"Looking back on past memories. Attar Hanan."
[Notice: Looking back on memories with Attar Hanan.]
With a rustling sound, the album sitting next to the case log opened.
<Album of Memories>
Beneath the boldly written text, there were several delicate and beautiful illustrations.
These are all scenes seen in Normal mode.
Attar, who politely approached and kindly greeted Presepe as she strolled alone in the garden at Dietrich's celebration, as Presepe had no acquaintances or people to socialize with comfortably.
[Attar Hanan greets Lady Presepe.]
A dinner on a certain day when everyone ate together, even though she would not have been able to attend due to Dietrich, because Attar insisted that Presepe be allowed to attend.
[You have a small appetite, Presepe.]
Attar smiled affectionately as he gifted books brought from the Tain Empire to Presepe, who said she liked books.
[There are plenty of books like this in the Tain Empire. If you wish, Lady Presepe, I will bring them to you. Whatever they may be.]
Night Date, which was the first event you could see when Attar's affection level exceeded a certain threshold.
Also, Attar's large hand that tightly grasped Presepe's small hand at the moment he promised to take you to the Tain Empire without fail.
[Lady Presepe, your wrists are very slender. I know exactly what kind of jewelry suits wrists like this.]
Then, returning to the Tain Empire together, the aspects of Attar that were gradually revealing his true nature.
[I’ll shackle your neck, ankles, and wrists, and lock you up in a cage with mirrors. That would be quite magnificent.]
And the last time.
[Attar, it hurts...]
Up until the ending, when he laughed sinisterly while watching Presepe writhing in pain with shackles all over her body.
These are all things she knows.
However, Presepe covered her mouth and slumped into her seat.
"Uh. Your face..."
Presepe, sprawled on the cold floor where chill was rising, muttered stammeringly.
"Why..."
Presepe's face remained exactly as it was in the illustration, but Attar's could not.
Attar's face was painted pitch black, as if black ink had been poured haphazardly.
"...Noah."
A voice close to a moan escaped from between Presepe's blankly parted lips.
"Noah DeVern's Case Log... or rather, Looking Back on Past Memories."
What about the other characters? Could there be a problem overall?
Anyway, what could be confirmed at a glance was the illustration.
[Notice: Looking back on memories with Noah DeVern.]
Soon, the illustrations with Noah that had been seen in Normal Mode spread out before him.
"This is exactly the same."
Everything was intact. Completely different from Attar.
"..."
Presepe's gaze suddenly fell upon the illustration located at the very end.
I mean, the ending illustration.
The ending with Noah is...
After being confined, Noah, who had been playing with Presepe, soon finds a new toy.
After that, he fell in love. Noah completely forgets Presepe's existence. Like his own stuffed animals, which he had cherished and then carelessly shoved into a warehouse after losing interest.
Exhausted by loneliness, hunger, and pain, Presepe—who was emaciated to the point of being nothing but skin and bones because she hadn't even taken care of food—hangs herself and commits suicide.
And until that very last moment, Noah did not even show a shadow.
[...]
Amidst the stuffed animals, Presepe, gazing at her own illustration of herself hanging by a thick, sturdy rope, clenched her trembling fists tightly.
"...Show me the other characters in order."
[Guide: We will revisit the memories of Dietrich Ateloia, Ivan, and Siegfried in order.]
Dietrich, Ivan, and Siegfried were all the same.
Not long after, Presepe soon realized that only Attar had a problem.
"...That’s enough. Please turn it off now."
[Notice: Ending the Memory Lookout.]
As the information window containing brief details disappeared, the screen displaying the notebook and album also vanished shortly afterward.
And inside the narrow, cold tower, a heavy silence settled.
...Something was definitely wrong.
"It's because of the choices..."
There was only one thing she could guess.
[◆ Would you be okay with that? You stupid bastard.]
Could it be that choosing that led to this? That Attar looks like that.
"I knew it was a bug..."
So what happens to Attar now?
Could it be that I might disappear from the game?
Will that affect me too?
Presepe bit her nails with a pale face.
However, no matter how much she thought about it, she couldn't figure out a single thing. Besides, this was the first time a bug like this had ever appeared.
Furthermore, that strange option also appeared when talking to Dietrich. This meant that such things could continue to happen in the future.
"First of all... you must avoid that option."
Now that she can't even save it, she couldn't even guess how this would affect jer.
In the end, the only thing that could be done now was to be careful to ensure that nothing more happened that Presepe herself was unaware of.
Yes, that will work.
Presepe hugged her own shoulders tightly as if to comfort herself, but the anxiety showed no signs of easily disappearing.
Furthermore, she couldn't figure it out. Why wasn't the Book of Memories even visible? That was its most useful function right now, so if it were because of the password, wouldn't there have been an explanation for it?
She agonized all night, but there was no way to find the answer anywhere.
...And the very next day, the game's first event began.
Dietrich's coronation celebration.
All characters except Archmage Ivan are present.
Support Novellate!
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