Light wasn’t the only form of magic. Offensive magic, defensive magic, recovery magic, support magic, meme magic, sexy magic—there were innumerable different kinds. And I could use all of it. Kousuke would have a rough time pulling it off alone, but through the assistance of friends or items, I’d be able to fly, swim freely underwater, or even breathe like a fish. If I was able to properly utilize battle magic, I could even take on dungeons.
Right, of course! This world had dungeons!
I could go adventuring in those dungeons. And if things really were the same as in MagicalExplorer, this world was home to a great many of them.
The Academy, which served as the main setting of MX, was built in a region that had an especially large number of labyrinths. Additionally, thanks to magic teleportation circles, I could challenge dozens of them. There were the bread and butter of video games, namely cave- and ruins-style dungeons, but also Japanese-style mazes built like ninja houses, as well as completely wide-open and undivided grassland areas, ravines, volcanoes, snowy plains, and floating islands in the clouds. Additionally, some dungeons were themed around a reflective glass-surface lake—the sort you see used in anime all the time—plus even more fantastical varieties, like crystalline structures that sparkled like gemstones.
I could journey to all those environments and more.
Indeed, I was now in a fantasy world. And I could see the fantastical with my own two eyes!
Wait now, think bigger. Dungeons aren’t even half of it.
It was the same for the world itself. There were so many fascinating sights to take in. Like Earth, this world had its own versions of cars and smartphones. The plot lays out that their power comes from mana and magic stones.
I could also use magic tools. I wondered how these tools worked and what was possible with magic stones. There were countless mysteries I wanted to uncover, and in the realm of MX, researching these things could give me answers. This wasn’t a dream, but true reality.
Not only that, but within this world, there was a large continent that humankind had yet to explore, which contained places at its center that could never exist on Earth. These whimsical locales included a floating castle, a large underground labyrinth, an underwater palace said to house a dragon, as well as a forest that contained a towering World Tree the size of a small mountain. However, the game itself mainly focuses on dungeons and the Academy, so those places are only referenced, with the player only having access to a limited selection of areas.
But I wasn’t restricted by the game. I was free.
I could accompany the protagonist and the heroines on expeditions to all these fascinating destinations.
This realm was also home to beastfolk, elves, dark elves, dwarves, dragonfolk, and other races that did not exist on Earth. It was possible to interact with these people, too. If we became friends, I might even be able to go on adventures with them, as well.
Excitement coursed through my veins as my thoughts jumped from one new thing to try to the next. There was one problem, though.
“If I’m going to go adventuring through dungeons and around the world…I’m going to need to get stronger.”
Powering up, huh? For that to happen, I would need to do some serious training.
If Kousuke Takioto was true to his in-game characteristics, he had glaring weaknesses. Nevertheless, if players managed to overcome his shortcomings and use him well, he had totally unique abilities and could become unbelievably powerful. Above all else, however, I had knowledge on my side. While I doubted I would be able become the absolute mightiest, I knew I could at least grow tougher.
Actually, wait a minute—was becoming the absolute strongest truly out of reach?
In eroge, generally, the player-controlled protagonist and the heroines popular with users and the production team received the most favorable treatment.
“Could I surpass them and make the best friend character the mightiest of all? You know, it might actually be possible.”
Despite all those overpowered characters, could I actually emerge on top?
Of course, I had no illusions about this. Those girls were monsters. One of the main heroines could manipulate tempest winds at will and fire off wide-range blades of air sharp enough to chop iron-hard shells into pieces. Another could instantly heal anyone, no matter how severe their injuries. There was even a heroine with a lightning-fast special combo attack so powerful that it could shred the last boss to pieces. Up against these inhuman heroines, it was no exaggeration to say I had a steep hill to climb.
“But, I mean, if I’m already aiming to get stronger, I might as well…”
Despite understanding the difficulty of the road ahead, I wanted to shoot for the stars. That didn’t mean I wanted to try to undermine the heroines, though. It would be egregious to get in the way of the girls I loved while they were working hard to make themselves more powerful. I simply wanted to surpass them and become the strongest myself.
Protagonist? Overpowered heroines? Ha! If anything, having people worth surpassing only made it that much more exciting.
If I truly was the game’s Kousuke Takioto… If I truly was him, then I would have a unique ability that could compete with the overwhelmingly gifted protagonist and heroines, the developers’ favorites. Furthermore, I had more of the mana I’d need to put my special skill to good use than the Expansion Four Kings, the Big Three, and even the protagonist.
And above all else, I had game knowledge.
An understanding of the game’s ins and outs was the most overpowered ability of all. To become the strongest, I knew where I could unlock my potential and where to find the most overpowered equipment. I even knew which dungeons contained the most profitable magic tools and treasure, and I understood where I could learn the strongest skills in the game.
It seemed I had the minimum requirements to become all-powerful completely covered.
“That settles it.”
I didn’t know why I had come to this world. But if I had to live here, I was going to train myself and aim to become the mightiest character of them all.
I’d outstrip the Big Three and leave the protagonist in the dust.
Then, be it dungeon, a floating castle in the sky, or the World Tree, I’d freely travel wherever I wanted.
I was going to savor everything this world had to offer!