A/N: away traveling so formatting messed up. Sorry. Will fix later
> The role [Alexander Smith] has receded!
> You have recalled a piece of a forgotten setting!
> A quest is being generated from the forgotten setting...
> Optional Quest: [What Lays Forgotten] has been added to your quest list.
[Optional Quest: What Lays Forgotten]
> In this story, you are the 'Author' but you have taken the 'Role' of an 'Extra.'
> The 'Role' has voluntarily relinquished its identity for your sake but carries an unfulfilled wish that you may grant.
> Objective: Determine and fulfill the wish of [Alexander Smith]
> Success: Understanding the 'Truth' of this world.
> Failure: Nothing
> Time Limit: Demon God's Revival
===
A flurry of system messages bombarded me the moment I... or rather, 'Alex' finished talking.
This... was definitely out of the blue.
No, I suppose it made sense? I had never stopped to question it really. But it was true that I was an 'Extra' in the story.
3D-ED was a story about Roland, Evelyn, Marisa, and then various events that spiraled after Evelyn's death. But through it all, there was never a person known as 'Alexander Smith.'
I had assumed that it was something Rob created to let me interact in this world. But... while Rob had made changes, he had never 'added' anything.
Sure, Rob had shifted things around. And he had amplified certain events here and there.
But now that I thought about it, everything was within the 'scope' of the setting, just like how I had been acting.
And with that recent update about what 'Quests' really were, along with 'Story Points'... Namely that they were just sort of flagging key events and represented my sort of 'authority' over the world as the one that created it...
'A forgotten setting, huh?'
Did something like that exist for this story?
I wasn't sure. But there WAS a reason why I took so many notes before writing 3D-ED. It was very possible that something there which didn't show up in the story but did in my setting notes was being represented by 'Alexander Smith' even if I didn't remember.
Which was a giant wrench in the plans.
Because if 'I' was an outside variable introduced into 3D-ED from notes that never made it into the story... what else was?
That quest mentioned understanding the 'Truth' of this world if the quest was completed.
I had been operating under the assumption that I had been transported into the world of my story and that Rob was sort of orchestrating everything from above. But I was starting to feel like that wasn't the case...
"Alex?" Evelyn's concerned voice echoed from behind.
I snapped out of my thoughts and then chuckled. "Sorry. Just... thinking."
Roland spoke up and said, "I understand. It must be tough."
I rubbed the back of my neck and said, "Not really. It's just... life. You know?"
The butterfly effect was in full force.
While we were still early on in the timeline... it seemed like things would only spiral even more from here. So I had to be prepared.
Evelyn sighed. "Alex..."
I glanced at her and gave a reassuring smile. "Don't worry about it, Eve. But anyway... let's count that as a question from both of you. It's my turn now, so... Hey Eve."
Evelyn looked like she wanted to say more. But she sighed and shook her head. After regaining her composure, she smiled and said, "Yes, Alex?"
"Do you like music at all?"
"P-Pardon?" Evelyn blinked, caught off guard by the question. "Um. Yes. I do... Why do you ask?"
"Hm... That's good. I should sing you some love songs every now and then."
"W-What?! A-A-Alex! That is... I mean I would love that, however..." Evelyn turned a bright red, her eyes spinning a bit. But then she paused and puffed out her cheeks. "You are teasing me again!"
I laughed. "A little~"
"You terrible man!" Evelyn's words were sharp. Even so, the bright smile on her face showed she didn't mean it.
I smiled back at her, then said, "As for you, Roland. I want to know..."
Roland quickly waved his hands. "I'll pass on the love songs, Alex."
I rolled my eyes. "As if I'd sing them to you. I'm reserving those for my Eve."
Evelyn blushed, a crimson spreading down her neck as well.
I wonder how far- No, focus!
I cleared my throat, both to regain my composure and- No, it was just to regain my composure.
But after I did that, I said, "No, I wanted to ask, Roland." I shifted my gaze to look at him and said, "Do you have any girl in mind yet? That you're interested in?"
Marisa subconsciously leaned forward.
I waited, fingers crossed in my head...
And then Roland blinked and said, "Of course not. When would I have time for that?"
Dammit Roland.
Marisa let out a silent sigh and slumped.
Evelyn shook her head.
Seeing both, I had to resist the urge to groan.
Roland blinked again and said, "Why'd you ask, Alex? What, worried that I might try winning over the princess here?"
"As if. I was just wondering whether it was time to do some personal sparring sessions with you to crack that thick skull of yours open..."
Roland's eyes lit up. "Really?! I'd love a spar, Alex!" He grinned and said, "I've always been wanting to see how we matched up after I saw you wipe the floor with Isaac..."
This guy... Did I really make him that much of a Shounen character in the first arc...? Hah...
===
The rest of the carriage ride passed in a comfortable atmosphere.
After opening with those hard-hitting questions, the rest of the time was just spent on more general icebreaker questions. Just casual get to know you stuff.
Roland shared that he had a younger sister and was working hard to become a Hero so he could get a proper inheritable title. That way, his sister could live a good life without being forced to marry into nobility.
Marisa shared how she loved cooking and doodling in-between her research and training. And also how she loved reading romance books.
Evelyn shared her love for music and art, but also that she was so busy she didn't have much time for either recently.
As for me... Well, I just shared random tidbits about me. How I could sing, had perfect pitch, cook, write... just a mix of my real life hobbies and the like.
...It was a bit embarrassing at seeing their reactions though.
...But I guess it made sense. I sort of said a bunch of hobbies that didn't make sense for a guy who was so hell-bent on revenge (apparently) like Alexander Smith. But I mean, he was me, and I was him now, so it was still true.
Either way, after a long carriage ride and fun conversations, we arrived at a small set of ruined buildings in the middle of the grassland.
I stopped the horse I was riding and then hopped off, parking the carriage just outside of the crumbled pavement marking the boundary of the ruins. "Well... Here we are." I looked at the ruined buildings and then turned back to face everyone, smiling. "Welcome to