Realigning the proper course (remade)

Well, this is something.

'Never have I seen papers stacked so high before.'

It was twice my height. And there isn't just one stack I'm talking about. Multiple stacks were lined up, and each has a sign that clearly states its deadline.

"So, wanna rethink your sentence?"

I was accompanied by the Warden of this prison-like place. She wore a very risque outfit, and yet she's so brazen in her actions that it's hard to believe she's a woman. I did catch some whispers on my way to this office space though, it's that some of the guards and laborers in this place apparently held her in high regards. But, not on being a wonderful boss or anything, but as a woman.

'So… she's a slut.'

Simple terms often are the best way to describe something. In this case, the woman beside me right now is a bonafide slut. She still has pride, yes, but apparently she spreads quite easily. Loose, easily sweet-talked, and seemingly always on the prowl for some people in particular, and she's also referred to by the people here as the Crimson White Warden, because apparently she could be spotted having unsavory stains on her work uniform in some parts of the day.

'...Well, my first impression is ruined.'

I thought she was a very dignified woman, and she still is, but I wonder how long that'll last. Right now, it's the afternoon. My work as administration starts now for about an hour, and then when nightfall my guard duty starts.

'Welp, better get to work.'

"Hang in there, Elf. Maybe if you work hard, I might even consider something special for you."

From what I've heard, her 'special' is probably something only she finds enjoying. Her stamina, from what I've heard on my fairly long way here actually, seems to be bottomless. It was to the point that I doubt she's even human and not some kind of off-shoot Succubus.

'Several days on nothing but… milk.'

It was harder and harder to believe, to the point that I couldn't possibly believe such a thing actually is plausible. A stamina able to last that long with nothing but what's shoved down her throat and pumped into her belly backwards. It's too much of a stretch no matter how and what angle you examine it in.

''Get to work, Elf. The quicker you do that, the faster you're able to enjoy your break."

Something about her nature, it bugs me a little.

She sat at her own table, while I seemed to be the only one on duty with her. She's working on a pretty sizable stack of paper herself, and she was able to pass it on at a steady pace.

'...'

I was expecting her to be a slacker, but it didn't seem to be the case. She's working fairly well, and her speed is nothing to scoff at.

'Let's get the stack that has a close deadline.'

Deadlines are dreadful, I've had my fair share of them in my time as a WSO Player as well. Quests that have a Deadline usually are very rewarding, but have a tough punishment upon failure. Some are instant death, while some cost a great deal of emotional pain and anguish. Deadline Quests are some of the most brutal types of encounters you could have, but also some of the most game-changing ones.

'My successes also came from completing these sorts of Quests.'

So, as a test to my knowledge, adaptability, and a bit of luck, I grab half of a stack that had the closest deadline.

'Let's get to work!'

......

The paperwork consists of background checks and personal information. Their Race, age, and even facial appearance sketched by a fairly good artist was filled in one form. Administration's job is to look over them, check a few details to see if the document is forged, and pass it with a special stamp that has a specific Mana frequency that's hard to be replicated.

Merlin, with his high Intelligence and Wisdom Stats, was able to blitz through the documents at rapid speed. He discerned them at a glance, after reading through a manual about some of the processes, and gave them a stamp each passing ten seconds. It was a rapid speed that one doubts if he's seriously looking through it or not.

Merlin's rapid speed examination caught the Warden's attention, and she looked at him and his working speed for some time before resuming her own. She wasn't particularly picky, but if the documents were to be falsely given a pass, then punishment is to be followed. It was as simple as that.

The documents do vary though, as some are application forms for trading routes from the Races outside the wall, and some are group documents of an entire group of people wishing to be immigrated into the Empire. These were harder to deal with since they also needed the administration to fill in a criteria form, then attach it to the special document as a bundle which then is sent to the party in question. After some time, the bundle will return after it has reached them, a signature of approval signed on the paper.

These sorts of documents also require academic knowledge of basic elementary math. Plus and minuses, divisions and multiplications, it's quite hard for anyone without a base level of modern children's knowledge, which is quite possibly this entire place.

The stack of documents, which was twice Merlin's height, was done in roughly about an hour, a little bit over for a few minutes.

......…

"You work pretty fast, Elf. A whole stack of them in one sitting, were they just done on the fly?"

"Of course not, what do you take me for? I learn fast, and I can also apply it faster."

"No mistakes, I presume?"

"Not even a difference in handwriting. Check it thoroughly if you want to waste some time. For now, I believe it's my breaktime."

I stood up to stretch my body. After a little mind exercise, I was now refreshed with a quick Spell called Clarify Mind. The little amount of stress I accumulated was washed away like taking a bath, and I feel mentally lighter as well.

'I should use this Spell more often now that I'm not an Undead anymore.'

It was a utility Spell that almost all Mages back in the game had. They commonly use it to keep up their momentum when studying Spells or Magecraft blueprints, clearing unnecessary muddy thoughts to make way for the organized ones. It's a rather essential Spell for a Mage, as it allows one to progress slightly faster, and in a competitive game like World Saga Online, faster can mean being better than everyone else.

'Now, since I'm done with one stack, I'll try and look over the others when I got the time to on my upcoming guard duty.'

I walked towards the door to the outside, but was blocked by a hand on my shoulder.

"You know, since you got work done so quickly, I might just think about reassigning you to the administration job permanently during your stay here."

"Will the time be shortened, then?"

"No, but it would help with the workload I have."

Her voice, and her head, was sultry and very close to my ear. I already read and play through a lot of eroge games to know how this plays out. And with my stamina in consideration, I would only shame myself if I fight her like that.

''Then I would have to decline, warden. Now, I believe I have a break to spend."

"You can spend it here, no need to go outside. Besides, there's nothing much outside anyways."

"I take any job very seriously, warden. I hope that you of all people will be able to keep your pride and dignity as the person in charge. Now, hand, please?"

"Hmmm… you're one hard cookie, aren't you?"

"Well, not a hard one, but just not interested in the act."

"Oh? Then are you perhaps interested in the same gender?"

"What? Where did that impression come from? Quite rude of you to just presume my preferences."

"Then, I apologize for the rash comment. It's just a woman's intuition."

"Then you must haven't been using it much lately. I just want to spend my breaktime in peace, so please, can you allow that?"

''....Hmmm, quite the hard cookie indeed. Fine, enjoy your break time, Elf."

I felt like I just escaped the clutches of my own demise. I briskly made my way to the door and exit the office space.

......

The immigration gate tunnel. Due to the very large scale of the wall that protects the Empire, this structure was made possible because of that.

'It's very wide and large…'

From the ground to the ceiling, it was roughly 32 meters or something. There's four floors, each with cells from one end to another.

The two entrances, one to the outside and the other to the inside of the wall, were closed now by a large metal gate. One quick look would already make it very clear that it wouldn't be opened by normal means. It was because four intricate symbols were etched onto four corners of the metal door, radiating a soft yellowish glow and pulsing slightly.

"Command Sorcery, interestingly made too.''

Merlin's curiosity was rising. Since I'm assimilated with Merlin's Soul now, some of my emotions were also inlaid with his, mixed and mingled.

"Oi, you're done?"

"No, as I've said before, you're welcome to complete my mission on your own. Why aren't you?"

"You know, for someone who seemed to be very hasty when we first met, you sure are taking your time with this. Where did that haste go? Or were you just acting all along?"

"Haha, don't be ridiculous, my companion Albern. I am merely trying to lay low, and… it's been a long time."

"That doesn't excuse delaying the prevention of the soon to be apocalypse and Dark Age that'll descend upon us. If we waste more time than necessary, then I'm afraid I'll need to abandon you and label you as untrustworthy."

"Hoh? Interesting, and why do you say that?"

"..."

"Joking, joking. Alright, let's go."

With one word, the elf was taken aback in shock.

"Wait, don't you have…?"

"Nah, she won't suspect anything."

I smirked and began casting. First, I stop the time in this place specifically, avoiding a huge instant Mana consumption. Albern was naturally in the affected range. Everything turned grey and colorless, while I cast another Spell.

"Forms as many as whispers, deception without end, reality muddled to unrecognition — Perfect Replication!"

A little flare for the theatrics, I always like some even if it's insignificant and serves no purpose.

Then, a dark, swirling and violently spewing lightning of an orb emerges from my chest. This was a Dark Spell, one that requires the caster having a Stat called Demonic Energy to cast. The orb eventually formed, spreading and shaping into a very similar silhouette, then becoming an almost identical me without any distinguishable quality.

"....."

"....."

We stared at each other at first, but the copy version of me was the one to speak afterwards.

"So, what is this one's command?"

"Pretend to be me, that isn't hard, right?"

"Understood."

A brief interchange, but needless to say it's enough to make the clone smile a wickedly wide smile.

"Then, may I kill everyone here after you're done?"

"No… well, except for one, you can kill the rest."

"The lust-filled woman, I presume?"

"Bingo, then, see ya~."

The clone disappeared as I said that, and I return this place's Time to natural progression. Albern looked on with confusion, certainly feeling something was wrong and amiss.

"What…"

"Let's go, we've wasted enough time."

And so, my short job here was reassigned to the demonic clone, while I continue on with my roleplaying.

"Teleport."

In the dead of night, where almost every person in this place is asleep, two people escape silently with an explosion of blue light.

......

'...'

The Kakchul Immigration Gate, a one of many gates where the immigrating Demi-humans gather to enter the Empire.

The sector that Kakchul is located is the Eastern Wall Part, reinforced to the max with Magic and Magecraft. It is to defend against the beasts that have proficient Magic knowledge and power, and to also demonstrate their Magical might to the Elves, their enigmatic neighbors.

This place is also home to many of the more prominent and potentially dangerous Demi-humans, one of such is an Elf by the name of Alnix, no last name. A true prisoner that's locked and confined to his own dedicated cell, not freely roaming anywhere as he pleases.

'...Someone unexpected is here.'

He could sense it, a slight disturbance like something was taken from him. Like he had blinked, but instead he fell asleep rather than spend one moment.

'Chrono Magic?'

An Elf that has escaped and seeks refuge inside here, inside the Empire if possible, because if he's outside. Then Death is the only thing that'll meet him.

'...They teleported.'

Two, he could sense two presences that had just disappeared via Magic.

'Teleportation, must be a High Elf.'

A snicker escapes his mouth with dried lips. Disdain fills his eyes, distant memories flooded back to him in waves of anguish.

"KUh…"

"Oi, don't make any noise."

The guards standing outside banged on the metal door that only has an eye slit. The bang was loud, and it made the Elf slightly irritated. But, he regained his composure from the memories and relaxed once more.

'I don't need to worry anymore… Death won't come for me, and neither will she.'

He had abandoned it a long, long time ago. Now, he's just a simple being with a wish to rot away just a little bit faster. He has lived long, long enough for him to be satisfied, and would rather die with nothing but peace than to die in that ditch he was sent to.

......

The teleport location wasn't that far away, near a lone tree that had wide spreading branches. It shaded them from the moon's light, and made a rather beautiful, mysterious scene.

"Let's resume, shall we? Apologies for the delay."

"...Well, it's fine I guess. Sorry, I didn't mean to be rude to you before."

"It's perfectly fine, my companion. It was your duty, and you didn't disappoint.''

I just spewed nonsense since I was about to stay there and work until the time I'm released. But, I got some interesting information nonetheless.

'Now, let's hope that the clone doesn't fuck up everything.'

I wasn't very hopeful about that prospect. I used Demonic Energy in the formation of its existence, so it'll definitely run rogue soon after I'm gone from sight.

'Well, not a problem yet so it's fine.'

A very peculiar thing for me to say… well, whatever.

"So, where to next, companion?"

"Her house… she said it's near the wall. So we'll walk somewhere near the wall until we've arrived. Does that sound good?"

"You don't know the exact location?"

"Unfortunately, she didn't specifically tell me any details to look out for, so we're going blind with this. Apologies for my incompetence."

"No need to devalue yourself like that, it's unnecessary. Since we're looking for something, why don't we do it from above."

With that, I cast Flight on the both of us and took to the night sky. Albern seems familiar with flying, as he didn't seem nervous on the outside.

"So, we're just gonna go along the wall?"

"Yep."

"...This isn't gonna be easy."

There's two directions, left and right, and depending on luck we could go the wrong way.

"Are you sure there's no other clue this person gave you?"

"No, she just said it'll be near the wall… how about we split up?"

"No, no need for that. I'll do the split up, now, this'll be weird for you."

I look at him for a second, and aim a Magic Eye at his face.

"Wha-"

"Vision Link, Neural Shift, Optic Altering."

Several remodeling Spells were casted on him, changing his brain functions for what's to come.

"Maximize Magic: Clone."

A very simplified version of Perfect Replication, a tier-2 Spell at most. Its effects are in its name, creating a clone of oneself to give out orders. It can do simple tasks and with a powerful Magecraft, one can even give the clone the ability to use Skills and Magic.

"ArghhH!!"

Albern must've felt a pretty nasty shock to his brain, as it links with the designated target. The clone formed pretty easily, and immaculately close to resemblance with me. Its head tilted, likely from feeling the strange brain waves connecting it with Albern.

"Aurghhh… what, did you do?"

"I connected your consciousness with my clone here. It'll go the other way while we go on ours, it'll make it so that we won't need to go back and forth and to not split up."

"Why? Splitting up is fine, you didn't need to do this you know?"

"It's not that I think it's a bad idea, but something might happen to you and you won't be able to respond. I'm just taking precautions."

"What? You underestimate me, Grand Mage. I am more than capable of protecting myself from outside forces. I'm not some kid."

"I know… but precautions can never hurt."

"It isn't just about precautions, it's also trust in another's ability. Do you trust me?"

"No."

It was a forward answer without hesitation. It made Albern freeze completely due to the shocking answer, and he almost screamed out of fury in his next sentence.

"For what reason! I just lost to you, so you think you're better than me and I'm no better than a defenseless rabbit?! Is that it?!!"

"Yes, but no. I have a grasp of your potential, an estimate of your power to the upper limits, not the maximum, and I could positively be reassured if you just roam around within a 500 meter radius from me, but still, no.''

"...Why?"

Confusion, doubt, and dejection filled Albern's heart and plagued his mind. I could feel it radiating from him, faintly taking roots.

'Well… it's a sacrifice I suppose.'

This was the aftermath of me coating my Soul with Merlin's, his personality which is skeptical, doubtful, careful and meticulous mingled with my ruthless, immaculate, and terrible scheming personality. The combination of this merge is not the worst, as the others may be far worse in comparison.

'Especially that ugly bastard…'

That Shogun, it just pains me that I'll need to one day merge myself with his appearance. His ferocious thirst for battle, his single-minded drive for a glorious 'death', contradicts and is very unfavorable with me, who is a very safe person that doesn't like taking unnecessary risks.

'But, that'll be the story for the future, so let it be dealt with in the future.'

We flew slowly, with Albern analyzing everything underneath while also looking through the vision of the clone who went the opposite way. The silence of the night was very peaceful, and the cold air with the soft moonlight was very refreshing to feel on the skin.

'Ahhh, such nights like these are the best… it reminds me of the past.'

A sudden trip down memory lane, but not until Albern let out a loud pained shout.

"Argh! F-Found it. It's the clone's location, she killed it quickly too."

"Hoh… yes, I just received its last location. 897 meters away, let's hurry, shall we?"

"Of course."

We hurriedly flew there, with me putting more Mana to push the Flight Spell faster. Soon, we arrived at where the clone recently died, and on the ground not far from there, a house made of wood and stone was out of place amongst the large green plains and hills, with a patch of farmland raising many vegetables.

''She became a vegetarian… surprising."

"Is she a Demi-human?"

"Yes, how did you-"

"Her speed was abnormal, taking out a clone that's flying nearly 60 meters above ground without so much as alerting its response, she also managed to dispatch it with one swift blow. That is close to impossible in my calculations, unless of course, she is someone from your era and also possesses incredible physical prowess."

''...You're very insightful on these things."

''If you have lived my life, then you would need to be insightful to be able to stay afloat."

It was advice from both Saurosh Koravek Solomon, and Merlin Abigail Avalon. They weren't that different when it came to playing the game known as World Saga Online, and their dedication to its crafts is unrivaled amongst the massive Player base it has.

"What's she like, this friend of yours that we're about to meet."

"You'll know soon enough. Now, let's go before she thinks we're intruders. She must've recognized my scent if she hadn't immediately run out here."

We land on the ground shortly after and Albern cautiously approaches the crude building. His hand was raised and directed towards the house, and an eerie silence made its presence known.

"I know you're in there, Sher. Come out, I've returned."

"......"

There wasn't a door, just a skin of some beast that acts as covers for the inside. Then, suddenly, it violently got tossed up and out came a flash of red.

Albern, with a surprise look, backed away a bit. But, the flash wasn't aimed at him, but it was aimed towards me.

......…

Fun Fact:

-After the grand battle that was Ragnarok, Humanity along with the other Races have gained liberty from the controls of Absolute Death. The first one to act upon it was naturally the humans, who rallied the dwarves with them as they rebuilt and stripped away the old days of fear. Their life span was short, so this was to be expected. They grasped at the opportunity and improved their livelihood beyond what was once allowed, and Humanity progressed to completely take over the Central Continent, pushing the other Races out of their territory except the dwarves, who they recognize as benefactors and allowed them to coexist with each other.

-But, for one thing to flourish there must also be something to affect it negatively. Crime, violence, and inhumane acts were established and made known to the public's mind 30 years after Ragnarok, when humanity was still recovering. The crime rates skyrocketed to unbelievable heights that it was hard to fully control and suppress. Most of these crimes were committed by nobles, who were restricted more than the normal folks. They had to obey Death, so they didn't have much leeway when it came to their own enjoyment. No slaves, no great food, nothing. They only had a fancier house than peasants and that's about it. So, it's understandable, from their viewpoint at least, that they wanted to let out some steam.

-Though, as if to make matters worse, following one disaster with another, a devout follower came out of the shadows and proclaimed himself a 'messenger of Absolute Death'. He decimated Humanity in a short time, putting a full stop on their technological progress and forced them to wield military might to face him. He was a formidable opponent, one that numbers couldn't fend off after 3 years of desperate dog-fighting. So, they resorted to the thing that should work. A prophecy maker, one that they activated to create a prophecy of a Hero that will defeat their enemy. And that Hero was the Golden Hero, someone that doesn't belong to this World.