Chapter 12: Hang out

Experience and Creation of Magic Games

This is a lecture under the liberal arts category, where you get to experience games created with magical spells and, based on your play experiences, directly create a game yourself.

Although the keyword “magic” sounds grand, its meaning was simple in the end:

“Play a fun game and make it yourself.”

Even though the latter was quite difficult, wouldn’t it still be enjoyable while doing the former?

When signing up for courses, I had decided to take mostly academic and practical classes, so this class was like a beacon of light and a resting place for me.

“Plus, it felt like a half-and-half mix of VR and virtual reality.”

At one point, I used to eagerly wait for the release of Sword Art Online. For me, someone who had only waited for the development of science, this was an excellent opportunity.

There were even rumors that it would help in real-world situations, so it seemed like a highly rewarding class.

Well, of course.

[The goddess asks if you just wanted to play games while making a grand face.]

Having lived in an era of barbarism, the goddess, who had never dreamed of virtual reality, didn’t know how long I had been eagerly waiting for this moment.

Although magic technology had been mixed in place of science, the team for this amazing game experience had four members, including me.

“Yay! Something about our team feels good. My name is Maho, and I’m from the Magic Studies Department in Japan.”

A girl with sparkling pink hair and a carefree demeanor.

Maho, a student from the Magic Studies Department.

If I had seen her when I was an otaku in my younger days, I would have probably called her “Pingcheng” because of her visual style.

Yes, if it’s an academy, it’s right that there should be at least one person like this in the team.

[The goddess asks if you’re still a nerd.]

Ignoring the goddess muttering weird things again, I focused on the other team members.

“Hello, I’m Imir from the Hunter Support Department.”

A male student with deep blue hair and a small physique.

Imir from the Hunter Support Department.

Honestly, having been in a party of only male warriors for 20 years, I had no reason to welcome another guy, but seeing a male student in this academy where I had only met women was strangely fascinating and welcome.

“Oh, there’s another guy besides me.”

I had been seeing only girls, so I felt like I had entered a girls’ school all by myself.

It felt like finally finding a comrade.

However, I want to make it clear at this point: I was not interested in same-sex boys or shotas, so after a slight nod, I moved on to the next person.

The last person was the type who had stood out since the entrance ceremony and level test.

“……I’m Sephine Alavad. I’m a recent freshman from the Combat Department. Nice to meet you.”

Sephine Alavad.

As a member of the famous Alavad magical family, she was also known for her striking beauty, much like a celebrity on TV. But the thing that stood out most was that she always carried a chunk of metal that seemed to be attached to her side.

“Didn’t they say she was from the manipulation and summoning branch?”

It was clear from the context that she was probably controlling the chunk of metal beside her.

Besides, I had seen her face during Professor Shin Arin’s lecture earlier, and for some reason, she had been glancing at me occasionally ever since. Her eyes and expression were full of interest and curiosity.

“Does she like me?”

As I realized that my appearance was decent, that thought crossed my mind for a moment, but—

[The goddess says it’s fine to acknowledge that you’re good-looking but advises you not to get too arrogant.]

Ah, right…

Maybe I was jumping to conclusions too soon.

Every time I started to develop a little self-confidence, the goddess would mutter something, making it hard to indulge in too much pride.

I decided to be a little more cautious and, reflecting on myself, I spoke up for the first time in a long while for a self-introduction.

“Hello, I’m Shin Yuseong, from the Combat Department 1st class. I love games, which is why I joined this class. I look forward to the next six months with all of you.”

It wasn’t anything grand, but it was a standard introduction.

Though I had a desire to say something more creative or fun, it had been so long since I introduced myself after my warrior party had come together.

“I haven’t done it in… what, over ten years?”

My self-promotion skills were devastatingly poor.

When a person with a limited vocabulary tries to be funny, it only ends up being unpleasant.

As an expert in self-objectification, I was satisfied with just a simple, straightforward introduction.

“Wow, you like games! That’s unexpected!”

“Ah, I’ll look forward to working with you.”

“…Six months, huh. Yes, I’m looking forward to it.”

But, unexpectedly, the response was pretty good.

They all looked at me with friendly smiles, and the pink-haired girl even clapped her hands.

Imir, the guy, also seemed to like games, and he gave a more favorable expression.

Sephine Alavad, the daughter of the famous family, seemed to be murmuring something to herself as if reflecting on something.

“But what’s this? Does it mean I look like someone who doesn’t like games?”

Maybe they meant I looked like someone who fits in with the social crowd?

I wasn’t sure if I should have liked being called unexpected as a true gamer, but I decided to take it as a compliment.

Yes, just like that, you’re also going to get into the mode of enjoying things, just like the goddess, Shin Yuseong.

Since I had enrolled in this class to enjoy it, it was all good.

With the introductions finished among the team members, it was time to enjoy the game.

Today’s Game Rules were Quite Simple

The rules for today’s game were quite simple.

You just had to enjoy the story as it progressed, guided by the magic AI Master.

If compared to a traditional online game, it was close to an open world, and more strictly, it was like TRPG. You would roll the dice, and based on the numbers that came up, you’d engage in role-playing and proceed with the story.

Of course, since it was a game involving magic, it wasn’t just the kind where you mutter to yourself while looking at a board game.

“Mm-hmm-hmm, game OPEN.”

The professor laughed like a dark mastermind and activated the spell placed on the board game.

With a buzzing sound, a rectangular blue barrier rose around the table, completely isolating the space, reaching up to the ceiling.

It was as if entering a digital world, with the entire environment glowing green.

Well, that simple blue effect didn’t last too long, though.

A large die appeared in front of me.

The die was a jewel-like shade of blue, matching the surroundings, and it wobbled according to my gaze.

Then, as I thought “throw it,” the die floated into the air on its own.

Thud, thud-thud-thud,

After being thrown high, it hit the ground and rolled violently for a while, eventually landing and showing me its number.

<Super Jackpot!>

<‘6’!>

Oh, so this means a good class…

<Your class is Hero!>

“…Ah.”

I had played with just one class for nearly 20 years, and now it was telling me this was my new role? Wasn’t there something else?

[The goddess laughs brightly and tells you to accept your fate.]

For a moment, I felt like I wanted to reroll.

Meanwhile, Sephine doubted her own eyes for a moment.

“Bad Luck. You rolled a 1 and became a weak goblin…”

She frowned, wondering if she was seeing things correctly.

Was it her eyes playing tricks, or was the game messed up?

Either way, it wasn’t a sight she was happy with.

Buzz.

Once the dice roll was decided, a blue magical aura poured out and enveloped her.

Sephine Alavad looked around her body with a grim expression.

She had transformed into a tiny goblin with a dull green skin color.

She had thought of herself as quite mild-mannered, but there was a certain level of basic expectations that came with being a noble’s daughter.

‘…No, what is this?’

She was immediately in a foul mood.

She had come here to take a liberal arts class to avoid such feelings of embarrassment.

It was still within the adjustment period, so should she just drop this class?

Just as that thought crossed her mind…

<Super Jackpot!>

 <‘6’!>

“Oh.”

Her mood lifted immediately.

Yes, high numbers like this should keep coming.

She read the text on the screen, considering the benefits she would gain this time.

Skill selection.

The best options appeared before her.

In the journey ahead, things would split into different paths, so she would need to choose a fitting combination.

She was a mage herself, so she understood the concepts of frontline and backline roles.

“Hm, this seems the best for now, so I’ll choose this.”

After selecting her skills, Sephine felt herself glowing brightly, transforming once more.

She looked around her new body and nodded.

Well, it definitely seemed better than before.

She wasn’t completely sure, but it seemed like it.

‘Now, I guess I should find some allies.’

Not fully familiar with how such games progressed, she glanced around.

It was then that she realized the previously blue space was now changing into the shape of a proper world.

A meadow full of green plants appeared, with a fenced village in the distance.

And there, in front of her, stood a man.

Shin Yuseong.

The well-known handsome guy.

“Oooh, ooooh.”

Sephine Alavad blinked in disbelief, once again questioning her own eyes.

She blinked a few times, but fortunately, the delightful scene didn’t change.

Thud.

The dice rolled again and the results appeared.

Dice 6: You’ve met your first ally, a hero.

Hah, even a hero, huh?

‘That fits.’

She had never been one to fangirl, but at that moment, Sephine became completely immersed in character creation.

“Oh, jackpot.”

The handsome guy seemed pleased to meet her too, smiling brightly as he approached.

‘This game is unexpectedly exciting.’

Sephine Alavad was now fully in serious mode.

<Super Jackpot!>

<‘6’!>

<Party formation complete!>

<You have met your first ally, the Golden Goblin Battle Mage.>

A golden goblin carrying a luxurious, large bag appeared before her.

“Oh, jackpot.”

She marveled at the golden color of the goblin, something she had never seen in her 20 years as a hero.

“Eek.”

Somehow, the goblin seemed a little embarrassed.