"Just like a crappy game, there's no content."
[Play time: 21,199]
[Achievement completion rate: 99%]
...Or maybe I played one game for too long? Not just 10,000 hours, but 20,000 hours - this isn't a game anymore, it's a life.
'But it's fun though?'
Cinear RPG is a medieval fantasy adventure game. It's a game where you enjoy exploring a world where dragons and magic are alive.
'The freedom to be either a hero or villain is its trademark. It's an authentic fantasy that follows the lineage of Western RPGs like [Ancient Scrolls] or [Gates of Baldur]!'
Anyway.
I need to start a new game.
'What concept should I go with this time...'
Play time 20,000 hours.
28 characters that have seen the ending.
Normal gameplay has become boring...
[Barbarian using Dragon Speech]
[Monster Hunter on Drugs]
[Necromancer of the Sacred Territory]
[Death Knight who Killed Dad]
[King of Eldist]
[.....]
Really,
I've done it all.
'What should I really do?'
......
Just thought of it.
A concept I haven't tried yet.
'Setting-obsessed Archmage!'
It's not that this 20,000-hour veteran hasn't played an Archmage before. However, a [Setting-obsessed Archmage] has quite a different role from a [Protagonist Archmage].
'Setting-obsessed is usually the position of NPC Archmages who scheme in the background.'
An Archmage who appears occasionally to ramble about settings and plot conspiracies is so common it's embarrassing to even call it a cliché. But no developer ever uses such a character as the protagonist.
'Because it's boring, right?'
Unlike gamers from the 20th century who carefully read in-game text to learn about the world, today's gamers skip anything longer than three lines.
'Also, protagonists are made as simple and easy as possible these days. They want to lower the entry barrier.'
But I am a 20,000-hour veteran. A veteran who knows the world settings better than the story writers.
[Please create a new character.]
[Human Male]
[Mage]
[Please select an advanced class.]
Veteran's privilege.
Starting with an advanced class.
[You have selected Loremaster!]
Loremaster is a new advanced class added in this DLC. As befitting a premium class that requires real money, it has exceptional capabilities. Though difficult to master, it's overpowered when handled by an expert due to its unlimited potential.
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◆Loremaster (Unique Class, Advanced)
: Loremasters are sages who study ancient traditions. They grow stronger by reviving forgotten knowledge and uncovering hidden secrets.
◆Features
— No restrictions on [Lore Acquisition].
— Uses the [Research Topic] system.
— Receives massive bonuses to [Knowledge] checks.
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The most distinctive aspect is having no restrictions on [Lore Acquisition]. The mages here typically only use [Single Lore] as standard.
'Fire mages only use flame magic, death mages only use necromancy, and so on.'
But Loremasters unlock new lore by advancing their [Research Topics]. Later on, they can acquire all types of lore and become versatile mages who can unleash all kinds of magic.
'I alone learn all magic!'
However, like any endgame class, it has the weakness of a vulnerable early game, but there's a solution for that too.
[Please select your traits.]
[Magic Talent Level 5]
Veteran's privilege.
Select an overpowered trait!
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◆Magic Talent Level 5 (Trait, Mythical)
: You possess magical talent that appears once in ten thousand years. If you develop smoothly, you will surpass the realm of historical mages and even encroach upon the domain of gods. However, your talent is so extraordinary that you will always invite jealousy and wariness...
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After setting up detailed settings like appearance and pros and cons, I just need to start the game.
[Please enter your name.]
[Merlin]
Too plain.
Sounds like an old man.
[Medeia]
That's for a female character.
I'm playing a male character.
[Random Generation]
[Tellorian]
Enter.
[Background Story]
[Tellorian was born into a laborer's family in the city. However, from childhood, he showed exceptional intelligence and transcendent magical talent. So his parents...]
[1. Earnestly urged him to hide his secret.]
[2. Were too busy making ends meet to care.]
[3. Reported him to the Sun God's Order.]
[4. Cast him out as a cursed child.]
If parents are alive, it gets annoying, so 4. The protagonist should focus on clearing the game, dealing with side characters becomes troublesome.
[...called you a cursed child and abandoned you in the city's back alleys. Thanks to this, you barely survived alone from age 6 relying on your innate qualities. For instance...]
[1. Became a witch's servant.]
[2. Became a vicious magic bandit.]
[3. Sold your body on the streets.]
[4. Made a contract with an Archdevil.]
Making a contract with a devil gives powerful bonuses but becomes troublesome later, so that's excluded. Among the remaining choices, being a servant is the best.
[...making a living as a witch's servant. You served your master wisely, and in return, the witch took you as an apprentice. The magic she taught you was...]
[1. Elemental Magic]
[2. Arcane Magic]
[3. Wild Magic]
[4. Dark Magic]
This is the most important choice in the [Witch's Apprentice] background. The initial magic essentially determines the early game difficulty.
'Arcane magic has higher potential, but elemental magic is best early game. Low mana consumption but high power.'
[...was elemental magic. At first, the witch liked her intelligent apprentice. However, your transcendent magical talent made even your master jealous. So when the witch tried to kill you first, you...]
[1. Fled from the jealousy.]
[2. Killed her and took over the workshop.]
[3. Made a contract with an Archdevil.]
[4. Stole her power and enslaved her.]
Let's go with the safe choice.
[...fled to a distant land to escape your master's jealousy. However, you could have killed your master and stolen her magic, or put her in chains of slavery to savor victory. But you abandoned such benefits and chose the difficult path of leaving empty-handed. The reason you did so was...]
[1. Due to remaining servant mentality.]
[2. Fear of possible defeat.]
[3. Fear of the master's sisters.]
[4. To maintain modern human conscience.]
...Modern human conscience? What modern human in a medieval fantasy game? This isn't a web novel.
'Well, it's a new option anyway.'
Let's try it.
Since it's content I don't know.
[...to remember who you are. Though you now live in a world where violence is natural, you wanted to maintain the values from a time when you could afford to be hypocritical. Thus, after leaving your master's workshop, the place you arrived at was...]
[1. Magic University.]
[2. Adventurer's Guild.]
[3. Lord's Audience Chamber.]
[4. Made a contract with an Archdevil.]
The optimal choice is 3. Court mage gets decent research funding and can build connections. However, which family you get is completely random...
'Let's go in for now. I can always leave if needed.'
[You've arrived at Herington County, ruled by Count Iron Mace. Why would the Count, renowned as a border power, hire an unknown mage as court magician? You arrived at Herington Castle with curiosity and spent the night, and as dawn breaks, a new adventure begins!]
==
Knock knock knock.
The sound of someone knocking on the door.
"...Magician Tellorian?"
"...Hmm?"
"Forgive this lowly servant for disturbing your sleep, but the Count urgently requests your presence..."
I wake up to the servant's polite urging. It's been a while since I dreamed of my previous life.
"I understand. I'll be there in 15 minutes."
"Pardon me, but when is 15 minutes?"
...The common people here can't measure time precisely. Only clergy who must pray at specific times and mages who conduct precise research have the ability to understand time divided into numbers.
"I mean I'll be there soon."
"Thank you, Master Magician."
Creeak.
Thud.
As the door closes, I rise from the bed. The guest room where I'm staying is very luxurious. It's over 130 square meters in size and has a fireplace. Expensive carpets and tapestries, high-end furniture crafted by artisans. Much better than a modern studio apartment.
'By local standards... this is practically a royal palace.'
The people here live in thatched houses where toilets and kitchens aren't separated, sleeping with livestock in their arms at night. How do I know? Because I was born as the youngest son in such a household.
'Born as the youngest son of a serf family.'
Father beat mother, and mother beat the children. Sisters were sold to middle-aged men or pimps, and brothers raped goats. That was the average in my neighborhood.
'I still wanted to do well though.'
They were family after all.
The people who gave birth to me and raised me.
'Mother, look at this!'
'...Did you just use magic?'
'Yes! Now I can help support the family...!'
'You cursed child! Get out of my house this instant!'
Abandoned in the back alley for the crime of having innate magical talent. If master hadn't taken me in as a servant, I would have starved to death.
'Luck was on my side and I got promoted to master's apprentice... but life as a witch's apprentice was tough.'
Mages struggle to be good educators, and my master had a particularly difficult temperament. But because of her grace in taking me in and teaching me, I didn't seek revenge even after she tried and failed to kill me. I just cut ties and left.
'...It was a turbulent 20 years.'
Through such a past, I became a real mage. Though I still don't know why I was reincarnated into a self-made game character, I'll probably find answers as I level up and clear the scenario.
'Court mage of the Iron Mace Count is an excellent position for preparing for the future. I can accumulate research materials and funds while also preparing for the main scenario.'
I summon a mirror from subspace.
Need to dress properly to meet the lord.
'I've become younger.'
A fresh twenty years old.
An age I always missed.
'Better looking than my previous life too.'
Quite handsome for a commoner.
Decent looks befitting a protagonist.
'The clothes aren't bad either.'
Nice ash-gray robe and gray cloak. Pointed hat and leather boots. Premium items worth several gold coins.
'Social status goes without saying.'
Mages are chosen ones blessed with mana and advisors with tremendous intellectual capacity. Thanks to this, I can be confident even before royalty and nobles.
'Sometimes there are random events where ignorant masses try to burn mages, but... honestly it's not a problem. I can burn them first.'
Overall, while life was turbulent right after reincarnation, now I'm living well. So there's no need to look for a way back to Earth.
I can focus on life here.
The life of a mage who has mastered all things.
"Wanderer Tellorian has arrived!"
As I arrive at the lord's audience chamber, the ceremonial officer announces my arrival. The vassals lined up on both sides focus their attention on me. Eyes of people desperately expecting something from me.
"So you're Wanderer Tellorian."
The middle-aged man on the throne cast a doubtful gaze. Though there was weight in the eyes of a man who had lived as a ruler for half a century, the years the young mage had experienced were neither light nor short.
"Travelers say you know all the secrets of the world. They say you provide solutions to any problem brought to you?"
The lord's tone was thick with cynicism and distrust. There's good reason for this. Iron Mace Count had invited renowned mages from nearby to solve his family's problem, but all had ended in failure.
"But rumors grow bigger the less they're revealed. When a salamander appears in the north, here they spread rumors that a dragon has appeared."
Nod.
I nodded and replied.
"That's right. Rumors generally get exaggerated beyond reality. But some monsters use rumors to hide their true size."
The mage smiled.
Showing strong confidence.
"I have a way to cure the young lady."
"...?!"
"The issue will be the price you must pay."
I can demand any price from Iron Mace Count. After all, if the [Disease] afflicting the young lady can't be cured, House Herington will be finished.
[Gained lore about Knowledge(Nobility)!]
[Experience +10]
[Lore Point +1]
[10/100 until level 11]
[1 Lore Point]