Chapter 2: The DLC Begins

“Out of nowhere… DLC?”

DLC—short for Downloadable Content. It typically refers to expansion packs or additional content that bring new stories or explore alternate scenarios in a game.

At the very end, he had injected some data related to an unreleased DLC into the main server.

But that was just his little act of rebellion—born from the disappointment of the project being scrapped. He had simply wanted to tuck the unused data into one place, complete it, and delete it later.

But that little act had brought about this.

If I’d known I was going to get possessed, I wouldn’t have done something this idiotic…

As always, the regret came too late.

Who could have guessed that a game developer would be possessed into his own game?

And not just that—he possessed an extra character in a dark fantasy world, one whose fate was now tied to multiple mystery DLCs that could unleash all kinds of unpredictable variables.

It was a turn of events no one could have foreseen.

He was about to organize his jumbled thoughts and memories when—

[To progress the hidden DLC, ‘Requiem of Annihilation’, the Traveler’s vision will be expanded.]

[5… 4… 3… 2… Link Start.]

[Starting ‘Prologue’.]

A chain of system messages appeared before him.

The moment he blinked, his field of view changed entirely.

Kain quickly looked around.

“Here… Is this the Grand Hall?”

He, now in the body of Prince Kain Felberg, had been exiled far away to Canossa Fortress.

But what he was seeing now was the Grand Hall of the imperial palace.

This was a location impossibly far from his current body. Unless someone used high-tier space-time magic, no one in this world—or game—could instantaneously cross such a distance.

And to make matters stranger—

“…?”

The crowd filling the Grand Hall didn’t seem aware of his presence at all.

But judging from the system message, Kain immediately understood what was happening. He hadn’t physically come here—his vision had simply been expanded.

He looked down, but his body wasn’t there.

Most likely, it was still lying in Canossa Fortress.

Remaining composed, he observed the situation. The DLC had clearly begun. This must be the prologue sequence—sort of like the opening cutscene of a game.

So… at this point, the main storyline’s prologue hasn’t diverged yet?

As the main developer, Ji-hoon knew exactly where this DLC began.

What he wanted to know was—how this half-finished content was now being realized in a world that had become reality.

The original main story’s prologue starts with the Empire’s Founding Anniversary celebration…

In the base game, the playable protagonist—Veil Sunchaser—was invited to the Founding Ceremony and bestowed the honor of becoming the youngest Meister in history, marking the start of the main story.

Looking around, this scene was indeed the Empire’s Founding Anniversary celebration. The same day the game originally began.

So far, everything is intact.

The event proceeded without incident. Boring speeches, ceremonial pomp, and then—the grand finale.

The moment Veil Sunchaser was to be honored as the youngest Meister…

If this DLC is active… this is when they show up.

And just as he thought it—

From the deepest shadows, unfamiliar figures emerged into the Grand Hall.

And the massacre began.

***

“E-enemy attack! Assassins!”

“Knights, protect His Majesty!”

“Golden Eagles, to the front! Defend the Imperial House!”

“Call for reinforcements!”

Dark-clad assassins, cloaked in mysterious techniques that obscured their forms, tore through the hall like specters from the abyss.

Knights rushed in to protect the Emperor and other high-ranking officials. But it was futile.

A storm of black steel filled the room, and blood splattered across the marble floor.

Even Veil Sunchaser, the main protagonist, was pierced through the chest—his body staggering as blood bubbled from his mouth.

The head of the Empire’s Sword Saint rolled lifelessly across the floor.

Where were the famed Imperial Mage Corps, and their chief court mage?

Not spared.

Even the Grand Mage lay collapsed in the distance, covered in blood before he could finish a spell.

It was carnage.

“Kn-knights, form rank—”

“Grahh!”

Before defenses could be raised, the assassins swept in like a hurricane, slashing down anyone in their path.

Shhhhk—!

Blood sprayed in bursts each time their shadowy movements flickered.

“Stop them! Don’t let them reach His Majesty!”

But despite desperate sacrifice, the assassins reached the Emperor.

Blood burst from his lips as the blade plunged into his heart.

“Ghrrrk—!”

With the Emperor fallen, the assassins turned to the remaining royals—those who were barely clinging to life.

“P-please… spare— Gah!”

Even the youngest prince was mercilessly cut down as he tried to crawl away.

After completing their mission, the assassins faded silently into the darkness.

But one man remained—barely.

Veil, the original protagonist.

Drawing on the last of his strength, he infused his sword with pure mana. His life flickering, but his blade glowing brighter than ever.

But the assassins no longer cared—already in full retreat.

As the final one was enveloped by a swirl of darkness, Veil unleashed everything he had left.

KA-BOOOM!

A blinding flash swept the Grand Hall.

But the assassins were already gone.

Moments later, the reinforcements arrived—only to find a hall full of corpses.

***

“This… this is madness.”

“What do we do, Commander…?”

Even the hardened knights faltered at the sea of blood and death.

“The entire Imperial Family of Felberg… has perished.”

All the royals had attended the celebration.

Many loyal nobles were present too—apart from the faction known as the Empire’s Five Pillars.

Behind the reporting knight, the Emperor’s corpse lay shrouded in blood-stained gold velvet.

“This is treason! The Five Pillars must be behind this! We must rally the Imperial Army and—”

A knight shouted in rage, but the Commander of the Whitewing Assault Knights—Count Steiner Landerk—shook his head.

There was no evidence yet.

And above all, he didn’t have the authority to muster the Imperial Army.

“Only His Majesty can issue a military command.”

But His Majesty was dead.

That meant the army could not be deployed.

“Are we to just… let this stand?”

His deputy, trembling with anger, spoke up.

“We can request defensive mobilization to protect the capital… but attacking the Five Pillars is beyond my authority.”

And even then—the Imperial Army alone wasn’t enough to take on the Five Pillars. Too many banners, too many noble houses followed them.

“The Empire needs an Emperor…”

At that moment, Steiner Landerk recalled something.

There was one prince who had not attended the celebration.

Kain.

The youngest prince of Felberg, known to be a shameless wastrel exiled to the frontier.

With a voice still uncertain, he spoke.

“His Highness the Third Prince—the one in exile—he must yet live.”

“To protect the Felberg Empire… he must be crowned Emperor.”

As he said it, conviction crept into his voice.

The Empire needed an heir. And there was only one royal left.

That meant his mission was clear.

The wastrel in exile had now become the Empire’s last hope.

But—

Kain, watching this grim scene unfold through expanded vision, let out a hollow laugh.

He could already see the thorny road ahead.

But he didn’t even have time to dwell on it.

[Prologue complete.]

[Next—memories of ‘Kain Felberg’ will be forcibly synchronized. The Traveler has no right to refuse.]

The moment he witnessed the Empire’s downfall, a wave of foreign memories crashed into him, accompanied by a dizzy spell.

“Ghh—!”

Kang Ji-hoon—now fully becoming Kain Felberg, the soon-to-be Emperor of a crumbling Empire—bit down on his lip.

Things had gone wrong.

Terribly wrong.