Prologue: The Story of a Game Aficionado
I like role-playing games.
I can't give a solid explanation as to why, though. I just do.
When I turned five, my birthday presents were some video games and a console to play them on. I think the first game that I played was a famous side-scrolling platformer. I tried out some others, but the one that captivated me the most was a role-playing game.
My favorite game was about a hero on a quest to save the world. And the best thing about it? The fact that the hero didn't talk at all.
Every conversation could be settled with a "Yes" or "No" every now and then. It was the perfect game for someone as bad at making conversation as I was. My only question was this: why did the hero have cute girls like the mage or the priest in his party? How'd he even meet them?
It all remains a mystery.
Since both of my parents worked, we didn't talk much. They always came home late. I was an only child, so there was nobody at home to speak with. My dinner was always junk food. But of course, I love junk food, so that was fine by me.
Bad for my health? Don't care. I barely ever got home cooking anyway.
As a shy kid who was short on friends, video games were the one thing that put my heart at ease. Enter a fantasy world, swing a sword, shoot some magic, slay some monsters, save some princesses, and—poof—you're a hero! Even clichéd plots like that sound way better than boring ol' reality, don't they?
If I could have one wish, it would be to stumble into one of those fantasy worlds, become a hero, and live out the rest of my days there.
Of course, I grew out of that silly dream back in grade school. But, you know, if I could go to another world, I still would. In my defense...
"Greetings, Makoto. Will you become my believer?"
There was a goddess of absolutely divine beauty floating right in front of me.
Listen, I was surprised. I mean, a goddess? Coming to me? I was still only an apprentice mage after a whole year of training. And yet, here we were.
"I have high hopes for you, Makoto."
High hopes. Nobody, not even my parents or my teachers, had ever said that to me.
"Fine by me, goddess lady."
My difficulty might be locked to Super Hard, but I'll show you what a game junkie can do! Ya hear that, fantasy world? I'm gonna give you the 100% clear, so get your best ending ready for me.