Proofreader: Siphon123 (26th Jan 2025 - goated proofreader)
Gazing vividly upon my windowsill, I allowed myself to stare at the setting sun for a few short moments, slowly waiting for it to disappear from underneath the horizon, letting myself be consumed by the gradual darkness which follows.
At long last, I've completed my entrance exams for university. Here I sat, pondering over the curious prospect of starting anew in the "Enigmatic Academy." It was by far the greatest otome/galge game in existence. Not for its amazing romance, but due to the innumerable amount of unique features and functions which exist within. It was a breath of fresh air, which gave birth to just over a year of pure dedication to reach its completion. However…
"Why…? Just why is this game perma-death!"
A vivid grey mist washed over my eyes as I reminisced upon its indescribable difficulty, my vision clouded with the futility of my every attempt, each lifetime with no fruit to bear. A fundamental construct of the game was that once death graces your presence, it was all over. Limited to just one life, countless people had already forsaken their desire to conquer the game, forever covered by its insurmountable difficulty, looming over like a wall of darkness.
Nevertheless, there was an alternative to help avoid the game's unreasonable labour, which was simply to walk down the path of game progression through a romance-only route. A road I would never dare tread on.
Indeed! The fictional elements which accommodate its fantasy setting, and an eye-catching combat system stemming from endless possibilities, it all had me enchanted, enamoured by its remarkableness.
Despite that, Enigmatic Academy's focal point had been the wide array of endings available. The game contained a myriad of unique events, subplots, and romance scenarios, culminating at a point where the game's community of fanatics are still unearthing neoteric discoveries til this very moment.
"Hah… I wanna try a warrior archetype build- yet, how many retries would this even take to perfect?"
It was times like these when I began to wonder whether my sanity was slowly starting to falter.
Letting out a dejected sigh, I allowed my body to relax, leaning back on my chair as my train of thought began to wander elsewhere.
'I wonder if I'll be accepted into my first choice"
"Ren! Come downstairs, we made your favourite!"
Recognising my mom's voice, I rushed out of my seat and made my way to the kitchen, my stomach growling at the smell of freshly cooked food wafting through the air..
Instinct prevailed over any other thought, and before I knew it, I was already preparing the dinner table.
While placing the cutlery in their designated positions, a voice full of life came from behind.
"Recently, you've been putting your all into your studies... so, your father and I thought you'd appreciate a hearty feast!"
'I could have sworn I saw a golden halo hovering overhead'
Another voice called out, this time it was full of vigour.
"Haha! As expected of my son,"
He slapped my back with a proud smile plastered on his face, "I'm sure you passed without a doubt."
An indescribable feeling of gratitude began to well up deep within, and a smile which I couldn't hide crept up on my face.
Sat on the table, I waited eagerly with hungry eyes, beguiled by the numerous cuisines present on the dinner table. After what seemed like an eternity, my sister graced us with her presence, and the feast could finally begin.
""Thanks for the food!""
Everything was perfect and yet, I felt a hunch. Butterflies reigned over my stomach, feeling an urge to leave. Had there been something that would ruin this day?
"Son, are you okay?" My dad asked carefully with his chopsticks carrying food.
I couldn't answer as a premonition washed over me.
This morning when I checked my phone there had been news of runaway criminals in our prefecture.
"Dad I don't think it's safe-"
"Drop on your knees now!"
The door bursted open, masked pouring in like a wave of death.
Shots fired toward the walls behind my family, their expressions hardening immediately. We began dropping, not understanding what was happening.
However...
My brain felt as if I was being embraced by a serene wave. Danger surrounded me, but all I felt was calm.
"Boss! These are the hostages, keep them tied up, we need our escape route secured now."
Their intentions became clear at a moment's notice, with there only two present right now. That's right, just two.
While they were preoccupied talking to each other, my cowering family could run.
'A chance.'
I glanced toward my parents and steeled my resolve. My body trembled at my plan, but amps of adrenaline rushed through at the same time.
My veins boomed, and my mind cleared out… then, the world began to move.
The man talking approached us with a rope and gun in both hands. If I had to move, it would be now. He fumbled around with the items, unable to unfurl it efficiently.
Such movements indicated a sense of amateurishness, with their fingers getting tied up.
"Don't m- move unless you wanna die," I could sense the shakiness in his voice as if something was chasing them.
As he began wrapping up the rope, I struck. The swift movements of kicking had been imprinted in me since I had been a child.
"Gah! Yo- you bitch!"
His shin crumpled as bullets sprayed around the room. The other man nearby readied his rifle in an unprepared stance.
'Shit!' I was forced to act without thinking.
I grappled the first burglar and held him in front, stealing the gun from his hands.
Before the other bastard could grasp the situation, I shot haphazardly.
Yet, as the recoil affected me, the man below me struggled. "Get! Off! Me!"
My vision slanted as I fell backwards, he managed to elbow me off his body due to my unstable hold.
I was backed into a corner with him, surrounded by two rifles laid on the floor.
Erratic breathing echoed between the two of us.
Bang!
What?!
My eyes darted to the perpetrator.
"Son!"
My father's demeanour was anything but happy. I could see sweat dripping from his head to his drenched back. Reality began to sink in, that we both had killed someone.
I felt my breathing become rough.
'No!' I clenched my fists, 'Focus!'
"Now, run to the back door! I'll be behind you two!"
The kitchen was connected to the backyard, so there was no danger in that.
"S- son! Come now! Or-"
"You bitches behave!" A few men rushed in through the front door, startled by the commotion.
I hid under a counter as they walked to the open back door. Dad had already rushed out in fear, his face indicating immense regret.
"The hostages are about to escape, do we chase?" The man to the side checked the pulse of the other two.
"No point, we can hold off the police for a bit longer and our Plan B is on the way."
Sweat had accumulated on my palms, a sense of incongruity emerging within me. A dead man, and a situation where I could be dead.
My grip had intensified as I stared at the mass killing machine in my hand.
It was now or never.
I aimed and shot, and their shouts rang out in confusion. Bullets sprayed across the room, and I felt a burning pain rising from my shoulder.
"Fuck, men back out!"
I had only shot down one as the other ran out.
'Perfect!'
I took the chance to run, ignoring the searing pain.
The back door had never seemed so appealing to me before.
...
An ominous brush of air tickled my face.
"Wait! KID NO!" An officer shouted something I didn't understand the meaning of.
"Brother!" "Son!" "Ren!" Desperate voices had reached my ears.
I felt it. My shoulder burned, a small black metal embedded within it. My vision blurred, and images raced past my mind.
Are you kidding me? All that, just to fall? From behind, there was still one watching.
It was an almost perfect escape…
Sorry mum, sorry dad. Yumiko, I'm sorry your brother won't be able to wake you up anymore.
The world closed on me, a grey scale of colours washing my vision. Flashing ideas, turned to images, rolling like a film tape.
Huh?
A mage held her staff high and proud.
A swordsman presenting his sword to the masses, proving his worth.
A priest, a paladin, and at last… I saw an archer.
Vivid memories began speeding through my dying mind.
The game I had been playing for years, would be the life that flashed before my eyes.
Why would I see this in my last moments?
I laughed internally at the idea. This cursed, supposed romance game was showing up at my dying breath. The number of times such romance interrupted my play-through could not infuriate me more.
I could only swear, I would destroy the romance if it was me.