Inside the intricate aspects of beloved hidden gem game [ Dragon's Heart ], there were numerous upon numerous of branching paths that were stretched out and diverging in either romancing or conquering as each of their own unique quirks and personalities.
Players often find themselves tending to naturally inclined certain undertake of different actions to which enhance their chances depending of their choice with each of the various heroines' personality. Success rate of 100% guaranteed.
Consequently, the elusive ending "Harem Ending" emerged as the most difficult outcome to attain within the game which is at success rate around 50% or below.
However, the only one that's take the title of most challenging outcome for it to attain in which many veterans of the game tends to give up as the success rate is 0.1%.
Yes, that is the elusive secret ending known as "True Harem Ending".
Despite developers it's applicability and replayability within the game's narrative, it is regard as a secret ending to it's formidable difficulty.
The primary obstacle of achieving it lay in when managing the delicate balance of affection between multiple heroines, as interaction with one heroine could inadvertently sour the relationship with other heroines. If you manage that then you can take on achieving harem ending.
Notably, in true harem ending is only achieved is when you managed the right amount of delicate balance in romanced or conquered every single heroine of entire game until the very end without any of them have a bad ending if you have at least one of them had it, you only achieved harem ending.
I have been sacrifice upon surmounted of blood, sweat, tears, and wasted time with only small luck; I was only one of the few veterans who actually achieved true harem end.
Even the fandom forums gave me the title of "World God Of Conquest!" when I posted about it.... But now that I think about it, people were probably just insulting me with that title, right?
Yet, many of them were requested me either as to how I achieved that in the game by making a guide or try my skills on other romance fantasy games out there
Honestly, despite that I achieved the most challenging ending as the game said so. Embarrassingly as it might sound, I wasn't quite proud of what I achieved.
Since most players, both casual and veterans didn't able to reached this secret ending as I was probably the first one to achieved it then that means they didn't know what happened to that ending and I was the only who witnessed it.
Witnessing such so many sacrifices, deaths, and countless, tragic end that even I don't know If it's was all worth it to reach this far deep in the world of this romance fantasy game.
Anyway, I don't want it remember so moving on.
In the intricate world of romance fantasy game held a paramount significance during the initial interactions with the heroines.
Each encounter was presented to players with a pivotal choice, offering four distinct choices that would change the course of their relationship throughout the game ranging from romance to bad.
[Romance - Conquer - Friend - Enemy ]
The first choice "Romance" was the hope beacon for those players wanted to kindle affection with the heroines.
Opting for romance route would bestowed a substantial boost of [ +10 love points ].
catapulting players into a favorable terms with the heroines to pursue a deep romantic connection.
With these love points, affectionately dubbed "Close Friends" within the game in which players will embarked on their journey with a solid foundation of their chosen heroines; primed for future romantic endeavors.
Next is the conquer route, an option that offered a starkly different path – the path of conquest. This route is a contrast of romance route as this was to appealed players who inclined towards power dynamics and domination.
However, it came with a steep price of...
[ +10 dom points ] [ –5 love points ]
Entering to conquer route would have a risk alienating certain heroines, causing a slight plummet in love points and if they're not careful enough, it could potentially for some heroines either remove themselves to the party or breaking off entirely. This route required careful consideration as the repercussions were far-reaching and irreversible consequences.
Then, the "friend route" is those who seeks a more balanced approach. This route provide players a middle ground as to maintain a level of flexibility in their relationship, preserving the possible platonic interaction while keeping romantic aspirations at bay.
It afforded players the space of navigating the complexities of heroines' dynamics without committing fully to alienating them.
However just like conquer route as it could potentially locked yourself and the heroines dubbed as "friends", preventing you from any future romantic endeavors.
Lastly, the "enemy route" presented a tempting yet perilous proposition. By selecting this route, players incurred a immediate [ +10 hate points ] from the heroines, effectively severing any potential for future interactions.
While seemingly to be a counterintuitive, this route was served as strategic purpose, enabling players to streamline their focus on a particular heroine without burden of navigating multiple storylines.
Though this route can be potentially triggered as "bad ending" as some heroine can become your obstacle all throughout the story till the end.
Each route carried its own set of consequences in shaping the narrative trajectory and influence player's journey all throughout the game.
As someone who had wasted most of his time as to played countless playthroughs and memorized every single detail of this game just by try and see every sort of interaction with the heroines...
And that something of my Achilles heel as how much I screwed up just now....
[ Dragon's Heart community post ]
[ Heroines' Walkthrough Guide ]
[ Scarlett Rose - first encounter - Be decisive]
– Pick Option B for +5 love points (Friend)
– Pick Option A for +10 dom and –5 love points (Conquer)
– Pick Option C for +10 love points (Romance)
– Pick Option D for +10 hate points (Enemy)
– Must protect the princess in Chapter 2
....
[ Luna Silverblade - first encounter - Just ignore her ]
– Pick Option C for +10 love points (Romance)
– Pick Option A for +5 love points (Friend)
– Pick Option D for +10 Hate points (Enemy)
– Pick Option B for +10 dom and –5 love points (Conquer)
– Be by her side in Chapter 1 mission....
....
[ Sumia Flan - first encounter - Be kind ]
– Pick Option A for +10 love points (Romance)
– Pick Option B for +10 dom and –5 love points (Conquer)
– Pick Option D for +5 love points (Friend)
– Pick Option C for +10 hate points (Enemy)
....
....
....
[ Alicia Meletes - first encounter - Pay attention to her ]
– Pick Option A for +10 love points (Romance)
– Pick Option C for +10 dom and –5 love points (Conquer)
– Pick Option B for +5 love points (Friend)
– Pick Option D for +10 hate (Enemy)
....
...
.....
...
[ first encounter - Pay attention to her ]
Remembering the guide that I was wholeheartedly wrote in my in my notes, a cold sweat trickled down my face.
(Yup, I fucked up just now...)
In a cruel twist of fate, not only had I let my impulse when committed the act of virtue of following the first encounter guideline with Alicia, but I did also manage to stumble into a abyss of folly by coincidentally choosing the "Romance" option of greeting her back with only a twist that I foolishly said the first name basis, sealing my fate with a guaranteed affection from her....
As my head was lay on Alicia's lap as she patted my head while humming happily, but also accompanied by a glances of daggers from all the students around me, I felt both immense pleasure and pressure were crushing upon me with relentless force.
A warmth feeling was settled in the pits of my heart, mingling with the gnawing sensation of despair.
How could I been so impulsive?
A part of me was even blaming myself for actually fell for my beloved heroine's charms or maybe that I've been following the guidelines by heart at this point that I acted naturally like the protagonist and not as the disposable character.
I was filled with so much disbelief with myself right now that I wanted to jump out the window.
Was telling a simple excuse and just avoid her that much of a problem in the first place?
What was wrong with me?
Even the system wasn't reacting to all the things that were happening right now.
(You're a fucking idiot, Corrin)
To think that I would let my impulses took control of me so easily just like that...
I've always looked down on people who were screaming and doing all kinds of weirdest shit just to get a chance to interact with their favorite idols, but now I'm finally understood them as I'm in the same situation.
It's hard to act normal when they're right across your face.
There goes my plan being not getting exposed by my favorite heroine....
As much as I wanted to succumb my urge and just relaxed on her lap just now while knowing the implications of directly involved in the main scenario in the game, but I must really prioritize surviving in this world and change my looming fate of death.
As I take a glimpse of her satisfaction faintly reflected in the mirror, a pang of happiness surged within me, twisting my insides with a potent mix of nerves and excitement.
I felt like kicking myself for letting my nerves get the best of me again.
(Should I say something...)
The thought lingered, but the fear of making things even more weird held me back. I hesitated, unsure of the best course of action, as I pondered over to break off the situation.
Slowly, I attempted to turn around, stealing glances at her reflection in the mirror.
The soft sunlight filtering through the window offered just enough lighting to catch her expression.
I wanted to find the right moment to make things right without adding any more weird to the situation.
But as I geared up to face her, I noticed her deep in conversation with Misha, sitting by her side.
Panic seized me as I realized any chance to make a excuse was slipping away. And top it off, I couldn't help but overhear Misha's less – than – flattering comment about related to the upcoming main scenario.
"You hear about those rumors about the princess coming from Ambrosia and Havonia be attending the academy this year, Alicia. Do you think is true?"
"Shhh~ Not now Misha~"
Well it seems that everything else was coming along into right order , for now anyway.
.....
As the journey progressed as we drew closer to the Academy, despite its distance from the bustling city. The floating ship whisked through the air with astonishing speed surpassing even the swiftest of wyverns flying by.
I couldn't help but marvel at the speed in which we traversed the sea of clouds, akin to the velocity similar to a commercial plane but amplified to a new level.
Throughout the voyage, I did finally managed to slip out from being caressed by my favorite as she was distracted away on their conversation, returning in my solitary position of being a disposable character.
Despite the indulgence of being affectionately and appreciate by her presence, the feeling of something out of place by something that I didn't belonged weight heavily on my heart.
Glancing subtly to my right, beheld the sight of Alicia who was now lost in peaceful slumber.
Her delicate form rested gracefully in the seat beside me, her iconic witch hat perched atop her crossed her legs where my head was laid not too long ago.
With each rise and fall of her chest, her breaths danced sofly in the air, imbuing the cabin with an aura of tranquility.
A faint of sunlight filtering through the window casting a gentle glow upon her delicate face, enhancing the ethereal quality of her appearance. In that moment, she almost looked so peaceful, a far different from her lively character I knew from the game.
I wonder how she spent her nights, whether she ever struggled sleep like the rest of us.
My gaze on her lingered longer than I had anticipated, drawn in by the peacefulness that enveloped her sleep.
A small smile tugged at the corner of my lips as I marveled at the sight before me. In that moment, it made me ponder of how she deliberately lie about the seating order as it really papalble to understand the reasons of her doing so out of her character.
Is there was off screen scene to which that Alicia had met Corrin during the game?
And how did Corrin would actually feeling when Alicia greeting him in the game?
What was his response?
Ah come on! This is just like the backstory of Aria and Corrin's relationship all over again.
and now being this unexpected encounter of my favorite heroine, they were no insights to these events were ever happened in the game.
Haaah.... There so many inconsistencies behind the game's narrative were kept lingered on my mind.
Shaking off this notion as I only concluded nothing more but purely coincidental as it didn't matter whether she deliberately lying towards the protagonist or not.
All that mattered was that she was here, alive and I have the opportunity to fully changed her unfortunate fate.
leaning back in my chair, a sense of resignation washed over me.
[ Chapter 1: Entering the Holy Land ]
[ Mission Scenario 1-1 ]
[ Princess Scarlett's Assassination ]
Was looming on the horizon, bringing with a wave of uncertainty as I couldn't help but wonder if I even had a role to play in this upcoming mission scenario.
Frankly, I do want to get involved at all, I admit.
My stats are all shit to begin with.
The thought of being able to gather experience, this could be it that I need to change my shitty stats.
Glancing at the system message.
[ Attend the Academy ]
Unfortunately, my task remained unchanged.
It seemed unlikely that I would be directly involved in the unfolding events.
But as our floating ship continue its course, traversing its way towards Holy Land, I couldn't shake off the feeling of premonition was coming my way....
If there was god out there in the greater heavens, please let me savor this moment of solitude a little longer.