Chapter 3 - Gotta catch 'em all?

I started playing games at the age of 15.

At first, I only played casual mobile games or games in the arcade. However, as time passed I became more engrossed in games.

Because it was so much fun!!

Years passed and I got into one of the best colleges in the USA.

Although 2 years passed, I didn't stop playing games. 

Instead, I started a YouTube channel where I uploaded gaming-related videos.

With my other part-time job, it was enough to get some living expenses for an orphan like me.

At first, the channel was solely based on gameplay.

But soon it started featuring game reviews and strategy guides without focusing on a specific genre. It did better and better. I even received sponsors sometimes.

Unusually, one day, a fellow gamer suggested an eroge - Magical Adventures in the academy.

To be honest, this kind of game wasn't to my taste, but it was trending, so I couldn't stop myself from trying it.

I started the game without much expectation, and the opening video began to play.

It was the start of the nightmare!!

***

►[Hey, why are you staring at me like that? You still think it's my fault?]

Venus asked the same question again, to intimidate me. 

Did she think it would work? Hmph.

Of course, it does. 

However, the anger towards the game was more than enough.

"YES. That game was bad. Even a rating of 4.7/5.0 and 100 million downloads in one month was pure bullshit." 

Even though I sounded like a third-class troll, which I wasn't, I had to say that.

It took me only one week to complete that game.

Not once or twice. I cleared it a dozen of times.

Easy, Normal, or Hard. I cleared every difficulty. 

Princess, Teacher, or some commoner girl, I cleared the route of every heroine. I almost saw every happy and bad ending. 

And the conclusion - It wasn't that bad. But it was overhyped. Way too much.

In the end, I left a review as per my usual habit.

►[You know, I can read your mind. Don't whine too much. You agreed for this.]

''I agreed? When?''

►[You have agreed to the following terms and conditions.]

"Terms and conditions?"

►[Article 14 (■■ Service)

- Users of this game are considered to have agreed to the use of ■■ services.

- If it is confirmed that you have agreed to these terms and conditions, the service will start even if the ■■ has the same wavelength as that of ■■.

- The company is not responsible for any disadvantages arising from this process…]

"Isn't this too vague?"

It was a normal clause, you could see everywhere. 

However, in my gaming career, I never saw someone using it for this purpose.

 

►[Oh, don't get hurt. Let me give you some perks]

Hearing about perks, my eyebrows twitched a little. It was commendable, how much Gods had grasped the concept of carrot and stick. 

►[First, we gave you a system. This system will maintain a connection between us and you. There is also a special subspace in the system. You can store plenty of things in it. However, storing living beings in it isn't allowed.

We can watch you, we can comment, and we can even send our voices. Like how I am sending my voice now.]

At that moment, I could hear Venus's voice inside my head and also see letters written on a holographic panel.

►[You complained about low-difficulty and easy heroines, right?]

I nodded, absent-minded.

►[On behalf of the developer team (The Gods), I welcome you to the hell difficulty.

Congrats, on becoming the first player to play Hell difficulty.]

I had a blank expression on my face. I didn't know if I should be happy or sad.

When did the developers start taking suggestions seriously?

I would have been excited as a gamer if I wasn't trapped in a game.

►[Don't get too much excited. There will be some unexpected surprises for you in the future.

Your surprised face sure would be cute. Fufu.]

I wasn't excited. As Venus kept adding things, it was getting harder to not pass out from brain stroke. 

►[We even fixed all bugs and errors, especially for you.

We will give you freedom. In exchange, you have to do some tasks, which will be given by us. Of course, you'll be given rewards. Vice versa, we will give you a penalty if you fail to complete the task. Isn't this a good deal?

Now, the last thing, this system has almost all the features you people read in novels and games. You can explore it at your leisure.]

It was the first good thing I heard today. However, the speaker's haughty voice ruined it.

►[Best of luck to complete the game. Bye…]

"Wait a minute…"

Just when Venus was trying to leave, I had to stop her.

►[Do you have any questions?]

''What will happen after I cleared this game? Can I return to my world?''

►[Of course, you can. You just have to log out at that time.

You will also get additional rewards if we like your performance. Bye-bye.] 

Sigh….

'So now I have to clear the game?' 

'Let's check my cheat first.'

'SYSTEM'

►[Hello. Nice to meet you, Host.]

"Yes, nice to meet you.'' 

When I greeted the system in return, I noticed something that I couldn't ignore.

The Voice of the system and the voice of Venus were almost the same.

The same haughty voice and the same superior tone.

'It can't be a mere coincidence.'

►[This setting was done by the Goddess of Love.]

"Can I change it?" 

►[Can't do. Host doesn't have authority.]

"She sure did it. Huh." I made a wry smile.

calm down, calm down...

After taking some deep breaths, I controlled the urge to curse loudly. 

Honestly, I didn't want to experience that again. If I cursed one more time to that goddess, what would she do? I didn't even want to guess.

"Okay, System. Please show me the game-clearing conditions."

Every game has clear conditions and if you don't clear all conditions, the game will not be cleared.

If you don't know the goal, how can you reach it? 

As a hardcore gamer, I always look at the clearing conditions before starting the game. After that, I make a rough strategy and if any unexpected variables come up, I can modify the strategy.

[#Main Quest:-

You are the Protagonist of this world so capture all the heroines and survive till the end. If possible.

Clear conditions:

— Capture all of the Heroines before graduation. (4 years)

— Graduate Safely with All heroines from 'Magic Academy' and get a happy ending.

— If possible, try to make your performance funny.

Reward: We will decide regarding your performance. First, clear the game, don't even think about rewards before clearing the game.

Penalty: Of course, you will die. ]

'What the hell is this?' The conditions to clear the game were truly hard.

'Do I have to get a harem ending?'

As of now, this world has become real. Even capturing one heroine would be difficult. But this system is telling me to catch all heroines and make a harem.

And what's the deal with this third condition to make a performance funny?

'Am I some clown?'

Never in my dreams, I had thought that one day I would see a game-clearing condition like this.

'Looks like I will die if I can't do it.'

In the end, I had to calm myself as I didn't have any other options.

'So gotta catch 'em all?'