Carl was not discriminating against female writers.
The problem was… being a "female writer" still required actually being a writer.
Thinking of this, Carl quickly shifted his gaze to Kuro's expression.
Sure enough, the mont the woman stepped onto the podium, Kuro's face darkened.
It twisted into sothing unmistakably unpleasant.
That expression alone told Carl everything.
It's over… it's completely over.
Forget whether she had any credentials, what university she attended, whether she studied writing, what works she had published, or how many years of experience she had.
This person was clearly just a privileged young lady here to take credit.
The other banner characters had not yet realized what was about to happen. They applauded politely to welco the new writer.
Even though Version 1.0's main story had been a ss full of vague riddles, Oath still had an enormous player base.
The banner characters rembered very clearly how many Saviors they had received in just one month.
A full ten million.
And most of those players had praised this world.
As a result, the Elysium Academy Board of Directors, including the academy head and the writers, had beco unquestioned authorities in the eyes of the banner characters.
Even that terrible Version 1.0 story now seed like a "perfect script that players happened to enjoy."
So naturally, they believed this Version 1.1 writer would also deliver sothing amazing.
While Carl and the others waited with completely different expectations,
The mont the female writer opened her mouth, her first sentence confird every one of Carl's fears.
"According to Version 1.0's financial report, the percentage of female players in Oath has increased from the typical ten percent in online gas to twenty percent."
"At the sa ti, their willingness to spend is strong. Therefore, based on my proposal, we need to adjust both the story and banners to attract more female players."
Adjust? Adjust what?
Can you please stop speaking on behalf of all female players?
Players like Mio and Crimson Night,
Any reasonable person,
Would never support sothing that ruins others' enjoynt just to satisfy themselves, especially when it does not even benefit them in the long run.
The mont she said this, Carl already knew exactly where this was going.
"So, we've decided to include one of this version's villains, Noir from the Council of the End, as a future banner character."
As Koi spoke, she pointed toward a new character seated in the Holy Nation's section.
So that was one of Version 1.1's villains.
Carl looked over.
Sitting there was an exceptionally handso male character.
His appearance alone qualified him for the gacha pool.
But what mattered was what he did in the story and his role.
The Council of the End was one of the largest villain organizations in Oath.
Its goal was to spread the Calamity Plague across the entire world.
Of course, this organization only existed in the script. In the real Elysium world, it did not exist at all.
It was simply a narrative device created to raise tension and emphasize the horror of the plague.
But before Carl could even respond,
Hasumi suddenly raised her hand in objection.
"I rember that in the first draft, he spreads the Calamity Virus throughout Saint Rite, causing many innocent residents to die. Soone like that… a mass murderer… can still beco a banner character?"
There was even a hint of restraint in Hasumi's tone.
She was clearly trying to be respectful.
At the very least, she hoped the writer would reconsider that part of the story.
If Noir had to be included in the banner, then at least change the part where he slaughters innocent villagers.
"Hasumi… I did not give you permission to speak."
At that mont, the academy head's authoritative voice cut her off instantly.
She froze.
Carl clicked his tongue internally.
Once your banner ends, your value drops imdiately.
Looking at Hasumi's stunned expression, Carl almost felt like telling her,
You should get used to this now.
Your days of being admired by everyone are over.
You might still get so attention during reruns, but as ti passes, a launch-era limited character like you will beco one of the most overlooked and forgotten.
Koi, however, paid no attention to Hasumi's concern.
More accurately, she was completely absorbed in her own ideas.
Her next sentence was shocking.
"Then we can simply say the residents of Saint Rite were already infected with the Calamity Virus beforehand. Their transformation into monsters was only a matter of ti."
"Noir killed them to prevent the virus from spreading further. anwhile, the Saintess stubbornly insisted on saving them."
"In the end, the two sides clash. After the Saintess and the player defeat Noir, they discover that the plague truly cannot be contained. Noir was right all along, so they have no choice but to burn the entire town."
"See? Isn't that much deeper than the earlier version where the player and the Saintess were just growing close?"
"After finishing the main story, players will definitely understand and even like Noir! It's the perfect combination of beauty, strength, and tragedy!"
"And at the end, we'll add a line from the Saintess, 'Noir must have had his reasons, right?' to set up his banner debut. Perfect!"
After hearing this confident explanation, Carl's face flushed red with anger.
"L-Lord Carl?!"
Irene was the first to notice. She grabbed his wrist, barely stopping him from losing control.
Otherwise, Carl might have actually,
Hold it in.
Even if you punch her now, nothing will change.
This is not your battlefield.
Carl forced himself to calm down and looked toward Kuro.
At that mont, the academy head spoke again.
"Writer Kuro, what do you think of this revised draft?"
Kuro froze.
He wanted to curse.
What kind of absurd revision was this?
But,
He was just an ordinary employee.
How could he possibly challenge the boss's daughter?
"…Yes. I think… it's quite good."
After a long silence, Kuro forced the words out through clenched teeth.
It was painful.
Nothing was more painful than watching your own work be taken and ruined.
Carl felt frustrated, but he could not bla Kuro.
Make things difficult for anyone, but do not make things difficult for soone just trying to keep their job.
So Carl turned to look at the Saintess.
Anyone could see this version of the story would completely ruin her character.
With Kuro's original draft, her popularity could easily have surpassed Hasumi's.
A character who appeared cheerful and lively, but was actually hiding deep sadness,
Soone who made people feel protective.
Add in all the sweet interactions with the player, and she would have been incredibly appealing.
Carl himself would have pulled for her without hesitation.
But the revised version turned her into sothing else entirely,
A rigid, almost fanatical figure.
And the Saintess herself simply looked confused, but still nodded.
As if thinking,
If the Board says so, then this must be what players prefer.
It was hopeless.
She had been completely misled.
After all, the official side still held absolute authority in this world.
And Noir,
He was the real problem.
Whether in the first draft or the second, he was exactly the type of character players hated the most.
The kind that made people think,
"Even killing him a thousand tis wouldn't be enough, why would he ever be a playable character?"
But the truly troubling part was not that players would hate him.
In most gas, hated villains are defeated at the end of their arc.
Players vent their frustration, and the character disappears.
That is normal.
But Oath did the opposite.
A villain like Noir, internally favored, would continue appearing in future versions, repeatedly frustrating players.
And that was not even the worst part.
The worst part was that other well-written female characters, like the Saintess, would have their personalities twisted just to elevate him.
"…Sigh."
For the first ti, Carl felt genuine sympathy for Oath's future players.
And just like that, Version 1.1's story was finalized.
The academy head stepped forward and casually delivered Carl's fate.
"At the sa ti, Version 1.1 will mark the exit of one character: Carl Agata."
"However, the Elysium Board has granted you permission to write your own side story. This is a privilege you were never entitled to. You should be grateful."
After that, he continued outlining the update schedule.
"Once Version 1.1 launches, most of the main story will be available in the first week. Carl's side story will unlock in the second week."
"Then, two days after that, the final battle will begin. Carl, you will exit as the final boss."
A brief announcent.
But Carl's expression turned terrifying.
With a main story like this?
Just wait.
I'll settle this properly.
Even if I'm going down, I'll show you exactly how a gacha ga story should be written.
(To be continued.)
User Comments
0 comments from readers