[Deus Ex Machina].
It was the machine of the gods. The name came from the olden days when plays of the Greek gods would use machines to lower from the ceiling to represent the gods. That, or when divine intervention would occur and be embodied through a mechanism similar to that.
Of course, in modern times, it was mostly used to mean authorial fiat in a way. When the story is written into a corner and there are no solutions, something unprecedent, unfounded, and lacking sufficient basis was utilized to force the story back on track.
I'd used it in that alternate history as an Art. A technique that allowed me to pull off a 'miracle' that had no basis in reality.
That was how I knew I could use it if I had sufficient SP. Enough Story Points to affect the flow of the world.
The problem was that I didn't have enough.
At least, not at first.
So, I made a bet.
The System helped me obtain story points by highlighting areas where the world naturally wanted to flow. And judging from its analysis, tragedy was the inevitable directions.
So I went along with it.
I deliberately walked towards the bad ending. I 'wrote' an abrupt conclusion to the shitty situation that was unfolding because of the bullshit outer interference in this world...
And then I revised it.
The reason I could...
---
[Unique Talent: He Who Deletes Tragedy]
You are an author of tales, and an author who despises tragedy. Throughout your life, you have experienced countless setbacks and overcome them to continue your life. No matter how dark things look, a 'happy ending' is the only conclusion you allow.
However, this is dangerous. Your nature opposes gods and villains who would bring the world to chaos and your abilities are sufficient to shatter the world.
When faced with an absolute ending that does not align your vision, you are able to forcibly turn the world back to a previous state. However, individuals of a sufficient caliber will remember this fact and those who are outside of the world at the time are excluded.
This is 'deletion' to allow revision. But it is not rewriting.
Utilizing this will reset accumulated SP to zero.
Utilizing this will draw the attention of outerplanetary beings.
Utilizing this will begin to shed your human nature.
Note: It is recommended to utilize your knowledge and information instead of relying upon authorial fiat.
---
...Was because of this.
[He Who Deletes Tragedy]...
It had been partially revealed in that trial with the alternate history. And it was something I suspected this entire time.
The reason why it bothered me that Rob was trying to change the plot. The reason why I initially wanted to not get involved with Eve. The reason why the original plan was to let Roland handle things.
...I wasn't someone who could allow it.
If I knew someone personally, I couldn't let them be unhappy. I couldn't let them have a bad ending.
It was fine if I had a 'side' I was rooting for. Like in the original 3D-ED, I could keep writing through it despite the tragedies that unfolded around Roland and Marisa because THEY were the protagonists. It was THEIR story, so it was fine if other people suffered a bit or were lost.
But it was different now.
I was here.
This was a world I lived in.
I had faces to names. I had memories and experiences with even the 'extras' in the background. And I knew all of that while ALSO knowing what was waiting up ahead. How many would be killed in the unfolding chaos.
'...And that is why you brought me here, isn't it, Rob?'
I still wasn't sure if this was a world I created, or a world that I happened to just hold a great deal of influence over. But I DID know that Rob had dropped me here deliberately.
Because that guy knew.
If I lived in this world, I would be unwilling to let anyone die-
Ah, correction.
Fuck Issac in particular. I never did like him, even when I was writing him. And after all this mess... yeah. There might be a guy who could redeem him, that ain't me.
But anyway...
I had confirmed it.
A few different things.
One, the natural inclination of this world was towards despair. Death, ruin, and chaos... that was the default. Whether that was because the Demon God and Void Sovereign were rigging things, or because there was some metaphysical pull at play, I didn't know.
But I DID know that the world didn't play fair.
I had rigged things in my favor up to a 90% win-rate at the Winter Solstice Ball, and then the 10% came to wreck everything anyway.
'Luck' was not on my side.
Just like an author who had written himself into a corner, the world was trying to corner me into submission. To just let things play out.
It was understandable.
Even if Eve died, and even if Marisa died, the 'win condition' for the world to be saved was Roland awakening to Durandal.
And after the previous night, he DEFINITELY did.
So if I had just allowed events to unfold, the world would trend towards despair, but he'd pull a way out of it at the last minute by killing the Demon God.
But it was unacceptable.
That would be a pyrrhic victory. The war would be won at the cost of everything else.
And that was something I refused to allow to come to pass.
So...
===
When I opened my eyes, I saw a stellar expanse with the infinite cosmos unfolding all around me.
Darkness, interspersed with countless pinpoints of light, swirling galaxies, and more.
But my eyes were drawn to a table nearby. One that seemed to be made of azure light.
And one where a figure was already sitting.
A familiar person.
One who I never would have expected.
I could tell instinctively. The person there was 'Rob.' The mysterious extradimensional entity who had brought me to this world, who had given me the system, and who had tasked me to change everything.
That much was apparent. After all, this was such a showy and flashy setting that it was impossible for that person to be anyone BUT Rob. Especially after what I just did.
Even so... walking over to that person, I couldn't help but laugh.
"Rob... I thought it was short for Robert. Or maybe for Random Omnipotent Being."
That was usually the case in these types of stories. Or rather, scenarios. A passing deity or some sort of god who was dissatisfied with the way things unfolded. Who thought they could do better.
But in hindsight...
Rob had always been on my side. Though he teased a bit, though he trolled me, though he threw spanners in the works, he was never malevolent. Never actively against me.
From the start, it was clear he wanted the same thing that I did: a true golden ending.
So...
"I should have known."
I pulled out the seat across from 'Rob' and stared into his clear blue eyes. Then I looked at his messy crimson hair and his neatly polished silver armor. After that, I glanced at the shimmering sword of pure white light that seemed to radiate the ability to carve miracles into reality...
After that, I let out a helpless laugh and said, "Tell me, Roland the Brave... Or I suppose, 'Roland of Braveheart.' Were you not satisfied with the ending I gave you?"