“Geez!
Why did you two do that?!”
“I’m sorry… I jumped it because it was closed…”
Hijiri Iori, the protagonist of MagiEx, slumped his shoulders and said that.
Well, if Iori, who isn’t very enthusiastic to begin with, was forced to jump the gate and then caught and scolded the moment he landed, it’s no wonder he’s depressed.
Well, it’s my fault.
“No, Sensei.
Can’t you forgive him?
I forced him to do it.”
I dragged him completely into this, so I’ll have to apologize to him properly later.
When Luigia-sensei brushed her light pink hair back with her fingers, she looked me up and down suspiciously.
“He does seem to be reflecting on it, but… are you actually reflecting?”
“Of course I am.”
Was it counterproductive to say that while shrugging my shoulders?
Her eyes looked like she was viewing a suspicious sales pitch.
“Are you really reflecting…?
What’s your name?”
“You might have been warned about me, but my name is Takioto Kousuke.”
Luigia-sensei reacted to the word ‘warned’ and tilted her head.
Then she soon smiled as if remembering something.
“Oh, you’re Takioto-kun♪ I was warned, I was warned very thoroughly.
If you’re late… why did you jump the gate!?”
That’s exactly as you say.
I tried to play it off by saying stupid things like, “Because there’s a gate there, I had to jump it.” If I told the truth—that I wanted to get scolded by Sensei—it was guaranteed I’d be seen as a creep or a pervert.
…Not a good idea?
“UUUUUu, haah.
That’s enough… do you two know where to go?”
“No, sorry, but we don’t.”
“Well, the fact that you’re here makes that obvious… so I’ll explain it briefly.”
After finishing the explanation, the pink-haired teacher walked away with a sense of exhaustion.
I certainly made her angry, but the joy of meeting Luigia-sensei was greater than that.
The feeling of guilt, which fundamentally stems from having angered her, spread across the surface of my heart, while a mysterious pleasure welled up from the depths.
The two mixed together, leaving me with a feeling that was hard to explain.
A trained perverted gentleman will turn even a scolding into pleasure.
I definitely can’t tell anyone that.
When I suddenly looked at Iori, he was depressed and reflecting, apparently because of Sensei’s words.
He was the exact opposite of me, who was excited while reflecting.
I felt a little sorry for him being sacrificed for my pleasure.
“Sorry for dragging you into this.”
“Eh, yeah.
I don’t really mind, so it’s fine.”
Really?
I ended up thinking.
When I took my eyes off him, I could see the school building.
In that tall school building.
Ludi is there, Senpai is there, the heroines are there.
When I thought about them and suddenly snapped back to reality, I realized my heart was full.
“I’m looking forward to this… Hey, aren’t you looking forward to it, Iori?”
“Looking forward to it?”
“Yeah, I, you know, am extremely looking forward to it.”
Looking at this school, thinking about them, my excitement and my resolve reinforced each other at the same time.
“Stop and think about it, man.
We’ve just started our lives at the magic academy, right?”
Maybe everyone who comes here has a different reason.
Different goals.
If you have a goal, this will be the first step.
“I, you know, came here with a huge goal that a normal guy would think is strange, something they’d say could never come true.”
Many people in this magic school will be on the path to their goals.
For many, it’s the first step to becoming a mage.
For some, it might be the first step to becoming an adventurer.
Or it might be the first step to becoming a researcher.
I am taking the first step to becoming the strongest.
This is an important first step to leading everyone to happiness.
There will be many large obstacles in the future.
They might even be mountains instead of mere obstacles.
Not Mount Fuji level, but Mount Everest level.
No, if I don’t make enough preparations to break through the very atmosphere, I might not be able to overcome them.
But I just need to overcome such things.
Just like I jumped over the closed gate just now, I overcame it and entered the school.
I don’t care if it’s a step most people would never take.
I don’t care if it makes others angry or if their opinion of me drops.
I will become the strongest for Ludi, Senpai, and the heroines.
“What about you?
You came here because you have some goal too, right?”
“I… I have a goal.”
No, that word might have been premature.
He hasn’t experienced anything at this school yet.
So there’s no way he could say the words I want to hear.
“Oh, I’m sorry.
Maybe it wasn’t something to talk about with a guy I just met.”
“No.
Somehow, I can understand what you mean.”
Saying that, he looked at the school with a serious expression.
Looking at him like that, I remembered our meeting at the school gate.
“I, you know, feel like it’s fate.”
“Fate?”
I looked back and nodded when I saw Iori.
“Yeah, fate.
From now on, I’ll be running down the path to become the strongest.
Well, that means running alongside you, but in the end, I’ll have to face you… Hey, hey, don’t look at me with such a serious face.
I’m getting embarrassed.
If you want to confess, you need to pick a place with better weather.”
“W-wait, I’m not going to confess or anything like that!
On the contrary, Takioto-kun, you’re the one doing something like a confession, aren’t you!?”
“Haha, sorry, I got a little embarrassed.
And you don’t need to call me Takioto, you can call me Kousuke.”
I held out my hand, and he shook it.
“Nice to meet you.”
“…Yeah, nice to meet you.
Kousuke-kun.”
And when I looked at the school, Iori followed my gaze and looked at it too.
“Now, it’s time to go.
If we’re going to take a step, let’s take it together.”
“Together?
I’m fine with that, but…”
“Alright, cool.
Then let’s go, get ready!”
My great step.
Iori’s small step.
We took a step toward the school.
Now, I am here.
The stage of Magical★Explorer.
Tsukuyomi Magic Academy.
The protagonist of games is usually a troublemaker or has a constitution that attracts trouble.
The reason is clear.
Otherwise, the story would be monotonous and boring.
If you don’t have events and just spend your time casually, it might be fun at first, but suddenly you’ll snap back to reality and wonder what you’re doing.
MagiEx is no exception.
The protagonist, Iori, has a constitution that attracts trouble.
I didn’t touch the doorknob, but the magic circle next to it.
Then, the magic circle glowed and the door slid open slowly.
The first person I saw was the teacher.
Then, all the eyes in the classroom turned to us at once.
“Sorry for being late.”
“I was already informed about Takioto-kun and Hijiri-kun, right.
Go to your seats.”
Apparently, the seats seemed to be in alphabetical order.
I noticed Ludi was there as I headed to my designated seat.
Her mouth moved rapidly.
I think she was saying something like, “Why are you late?” I remember sending her a message to warn her…
The moment I sat down and tried to talk to a mob character I made eye contact with, I heard a shout from behind.
“AAh, the pervert from earlier!?”
“Ah, you’re the one from this morning!”
A girl and our protagonist, Hijiri Iori, were pointing fingers at each other.
Apparently, the morning collision event was complete.
By the way, it’s very easy to distinguish between the main characters involved in the plot of MagiEx and the so-called mob characters who just pass by without getting involved.
Just look at their clothes.
In MagiEx, mob characters and main characters wear uniforms.
However, the characters involved in the story have some accents, with a few exceptions.
For example, Takioto Kousuke.
He’s a flashy normie character, but inside he’s all beaten up and unhappy, with a frivolous fashion style.
Ludivine Marie-Ange de la Trefke, the second daughter of the Trefke Emperor, is a beautiful elf, has a radically different uniform, and even wears earrings.
Now, what about the girl who has been arguing with the protagonist of MagiEx for a while?
You can tell she’s a character involved in the plot just by looking at the uniform she wears.
“It was bread with a lot of butter, how are you going to pay me for that?”
“No, you’re the one who bumped into me!”
Of course, for me, who has cleared MagiEx countless times, there’s no reason not to understand her indignation.
She’s a beautiful girl who runs with bread in her mouth, which can be considered a rare species in modern times.
She’s also a beautiful girl who collides with Iori and drops the bread she was holding.
Furthermore, she’s a beautiful girl who suffers a strange event/tragedy where her skirt gets flipped up and Iori’s head gets shoved into it.
Well, the erotic ‘strange event’ is also called ‘a common situation in eroge’.
Incidentally, Katou Rina, a main heroine who is still fighting with Iori, was indignant.
“Besides, my… You looked closely, didn’t you, you pervert!”
I didn’t look closely!?”
If it’s like the game, his statement is a lie.
He looked quite closely, and I can still vividly remember the color.
What a blessing.
“Quiet down!”
The commotion was resolved by the teacher’s voice.
I looked at the two people who were scolded and called out to the one sitting behind me.
“Hey, are the introductions over?”
Apparently, they weren’t over yet.
I chatted lightly with Max-kun, pink-haired Juliana-san, and brown-haired Nicoletta-san, who were sitting nearby.
For some reason, they were indifferent to me.
After Homeroom and the introductions ended, there was a simple seat change.
This was to prioritize people with visual impairments to sit in the front.
Apparently, these freshmen were motivated, and most people wanted to sit in the front.
The teacher seemed to hold a lottery for the front row and a lottery for the back row.
I didn’t care about the seats, so I drew the unpopular back row lottery.
It seemed Ludi and Iori also drew the back row.
The seat written on the lottery was, curiously, the same seat as in the game.
It’s the one right before the back by the window, which is said to be a golden spot where you can sleep without getting caught.
Iori sits in the golden seat.
When the protagonist sits there, it feels like things are just right.
Furthermore, next to Iori was the same person as in the game.
“What…!?”
“Haah…!?”
Iori stared at the bread girl, or rather a main heroine, Katou Rina, who was called Katrina by the ladies and gentlemen.
Then, they averted their gaze at the same time and sat down.
Sitting at the same time—how good is the sync between these two?
I involuntarily laughed.
Katrina looked at me, so I immediately stopped laughing.
Well, I wondered if some kind of coercion was forcing everyone into the same seating order as the game, but it seems that wasn’t the case.
“Ara, hello.”
“Hello, Ludi.”
When the elf I’ve been seeing every day lately came in front of my seat, she gave this greeting without much enthusiasm.
And I returned my second hello in my life.
By the way, yesterday at the Hanamura family dinner, she said, “I’m going to pretend to be a princess at school,” and it seems she’s really pretending.
In the game, Ludi is very cold to men and interacts with them in a way that seems meant to drive them away.
However, the incident that caused the cold response should have been resolved, so I don’t know the reason for doing this… Well, if I get the chance, I’ll ask why.
“Hello, nice to meet you.”
Ludi greeted the mob girl sitting next to her with a smile.
The mob guy sitting in front of Ludi had his brain blown away by the smile of an angel (Ludi); he was exposing such a stupid face that his uvula was visible.
I remembered the game while watching Ludi greet him with an attitude of zero interest.
Actually, Ludi was a freshman who entered late, so a seat was added behind the protagonist’s seat, and she was supposed to sit there.
“I never would have imagined that Ludi would sit in front of me…”
I murmured, and it seemed she could hear me, and Ludi turned to me with a smile, but her eyes weren’t smiling.
“Ara, are you not satisfied with me?”
I shook my head.
“No, on the contrary, it’s the fulfillment of a wish.
Always being able to look at the beautiful Imperial Highness Ludi, and above all, being able to ask for assistance in lessons…”
I leaned in a little and whispered in her ear.
“I can easily invite you to eat ramen on the way home.”
Of course, it was quiet so others wouldn’t hear.
I don’t think it’s something she needs to be ashamed of, but she cares.
“…Idiot.”
She murmured quietly, as if sighing.
No one could hear except me.
“Now that everyone is seated.”
Everyone turned to the front in silence at the teacher’s voice.
Apparently, she was going to show them the school from now on.
After finishing the entrance ceremony and the school tour, we received a brief explanation of the class schedule, and the first day of admission was over.
It’s the first day, so it’s probably like this.
It seemed unlikely that I would get lost in the vast school, which was what I was worried about this time.
Movement was exclusively done via teleportation magic circles, and there was no possibility of getting lost unless I walked to a strange place.
Furthermore, I learned from talking to some people that I seem to have a slightly difficult-to-approach atmosphere.
Apparently, it’s because my clothes and attitude are too free.
“See you later, Nicoletta-san, Max-kun, Juliana-san.”
I managed to be able to talk normally with Nicoletta-san and Max-kun, but Juliana-san was still a bit reserved.
Along with Ludi, who said she was going home, I walked down the cherry blossom road, which was full of events.
“Today… is the first day, right?
Isn’t it too early to be getting along?”
It seems the disguise she was wearing went somewhere, probably because she, me, and Claris-san, who came to pick us up, were the only ones here.
It was a subtle word; I couldn’t tell if she was praising, jealous, or envious.
“It’s still just a greeting relationship.
I want to get along a little more eventually.”
“It seems difficult for me… I wonder if I can find someone I can trust…”
Saying that, she vaguely stared at the cherry blossoms.
Is it because she was betrayed by an elf man she trusted?
Somehow she seemed fragile.
“Hey, hey, I trust you, you know, Ludi?”
“I know, Kousuke… I trust you too.
I meant other people besides you.”
In that case, should I introduce her to someone who seems trustworthy and easy to get along with right away?
No, if I remember correctly, friends appear on their own, although it’s limited to female students.
There’s also Mizumori Yukine-senpai who is a year older, but we know and can trust each other at this point, so the number of people we can trust isn’t zero.
When I got home, a beautiful elf who seemed to have been brought by Ludi welcomed me.
I heard they rented a house for the maids near this house.
They are coming in shifts.
Apparently, Marino-san and Nee-san are still working at the school.
I put on easy-to-move-in clothes and prepared my backpack for tomorrow.
I was looking at the cloudless sky in front of the window, but I thought it was a waste not to go out, so I decided to run a little earlier than usual.
I climbed a slope that wasn’t easy to run on and ran to the back of the waterfall, but Senpai wasn’t there.
I kept running, coming back from the waterfall, and returned to the easy running course.
How many laps did I do?
When I was exhausted, I went back to try training kata at the waterfall, and Senpai was there swinging her naginata.
I trained my Third and Fourth Hands at a distance so as not to get in the way.
“How was the first day of school?”
When I finished training and lay down on the shawl bench, Senpai spoke.
She had her hair in a ponytail and her usual refreshing smile on her face.
“Well… I arrived late.”
“Hey, hey, did you oversleep?”
“No, I was helping someone, helping.
If there was a person in trouble in front of you, you’d help them, right?
Senpai.”
Especially if it’s a beautiful girl.
Unfortunately, this time it was an old man.
Putting her hand on her chin, Senpai agreed.
“It’s not a certainty, you know?”
“Senpai would absolutely do it.
The proof is me; I was helped in various ways.”
Mizumori-senpai’s sense of justice is probably very high even among MagiEx characters.
“Even so, I was surprised.
Aren’t the school facilities very complete?”
The 1st magic training ground, the 2nd magic training ground, the 3rd magic training ground, the gymnasium, the 2nd gymnasium, the 1st martial arts hall, the 2nd martial arts hall, the 3rd martial arts hall, and the arena that can accommodate all students.
Furthermore, there are three Dungeons that can be considered the features of this school.
In addition, there aren’t just students at the school, but also researchers in various laboratories.
“Well, even after graduating from the academy, many people come to the academy because of the laboratories, dungeons, and teleportation magic circles.
I can come here even if I graduate, depending on my career.”
On the contrary, the possibility of not coming back here is the least likely, Senpai laughed.
Certainly, this environment is wonderful.
“I see… Speaking of graduation, is Senpai doing well in exploring the Dungeons?”
“Ah, at this rate, I’ll soon be able to explore at the graduation qualification level.
However, the fastest record in the school will be difficult.”
“You’re right, the fastest record will be me, after all.”
Senpai laughed while wiping her sweat.
“Talking big, huh.”
Saying that, she patted my back.
Senpai didn’t seem to believe it, but I wasn’t joking.
Senpai averted her gaze from me and looked at the ground.
And when she took a deep breath, she stared into my eyes with a serious expression.
“Hey Takioto, can I ask you something?”
“…What?”
“It’s a serious conversation.”
I could understand that seeing Senpai with a serious expression.
“First of all, I don’t have any bad feelings toward you.”
“…Could it be the feeling of liking?”
“S-stupid.
I said it’s a serious conversation!”
“No, it’s very important personally… No, nothing, sorry.”
Senpai with a bright red face and really in a panic is wonderful.
But it’s better not to go further than that.
It seems it’s really a very serious conversation.
“…D-damn it.
Don’t tease your Senpai too much.
So, it’s a very serious conversation.”
After saying that, she cleared her throat and opened her mouth after a while.
“What do you know?”
I needed time to think about the meaning of that question.
“Is it about Ludi’s case?”
“Mainly speaking… That’s right.
But, strictly speaking, that’s not all.”
Even if I knew the meaning, I needed time to slowly chew on the words and think about how to answer.
If you look at me from Senpai’s point of view, there’s no doubt I’m behaving strangely. This chapter is updated first at g.com.
Because I had knowledge of Magical★Explorer and used it.
In Ludi’s case, that was where I made her even more suspicious.
What the hell must she have felt when I said something no one knew and without any basis?
If possible, I want to tell Senpai the whole truth.
But can I talk about it now?
No, it was after something like that happened.
That’s why…
“No, I’m sorry.”
The words spoken from Senpai’s mouth to me in silence weren’t words of pursuit.
It was an apology to me.
She lowered her eyes, smiled gently, and apologized.
When I saw Senpai like that, I involuntarily laughed bitterly.
“…When did Senpai change jobs to a goddess?”
“Fufu, what are you talking about… I’m far from being a goddess.”
“If Senpai isn’t a goddess, no one can be a goddess.”
Senpai is laughing, but I personally think this is a true fact.
“I’m sorry.
I was just a little curious.
I know Takioto isn’t the kind of person who commits crimes.
It was the same in Ludi’s case.”
“Senpai…”
“I trust you.
That’s really enough.”
Ah, Senpai is Senpai, after all.
I’ve liked her from the beginning.
But every time I talk to her, I learn more of Senpai’s good points and fall more in love with her.
“There’s no need for Senpai to apologize at all.”
“Takioto?”
“Previously… I think there was something suspicious about my actions in Ludi’s case.
That’s why I want to talk.
Could you wait a little more, just a little more?”
“Of course.
Actually, I originally thought it was a delicate matter.
I understand it’s something hard to talk about.
However…”
Saying that, Senpai placed her hand on my shoulder.
A slightly sweaty white arm and Senpai’s smile illuminated by the sun… This is what a dazzling smile looks like as it burns into my vision and brain.
“Any time is fine.
If anything happens, tell me, I want to help you.”
“Senpai…”
I thought I couldn’t beat Senpai.
But I mustn’t just leave it like this.
I took Senpai’s hand from my shoulder.
Then, I held it with both of my hands.
“Thank you very much, Senpai.
But it’s the same feeling for me too.
As I said before, I also want to help Senpai.”
Yes, I want to help Senpai who wishes to become stronger.
I want her to resolve her current worries and become an even more brilliant Senpai.
To the strongest in MagiEx, Iori, and those who have the power to stand alongside him, the First Saint, Monika-kaichou, and Senpai who lines up with them.
And I will go beyond that.
To protect.
The class format of the magic academy is special compared to general schools.
In the morning, you can take compulsory courses, including general education, and in the afternoon, you can take elective classes called applied courses.
Actually, it’s not always necessary to attend this class.
Surprisingly, neither the applied subjects nor the compulsory subjects are credits required for promotion or graduation.
Even if you miss the credits for compulsory subjects, you can graduate if you obtain the Dungeon credits.
And the reverse is also true; even if you miss the Dungeon credits, you can advance or graduate if you obtain the credits for the required subjects.
“That doesn’t mean you can neglect the required subjects.
Because it’s difficult to obtain Dungeon credits.”
While saying that, the teacher wrote the number sixty with a pen in her hand.
“Tsukuyomi Academy Dungeon 60th floor, this is the floor you should aim for.”
In the game, the 60th floor of the academy Dungeon is required to avoid the Bad End.
It’s also a lonely ending where you have to go to the frontier alone, no matter how close you are to a main heroine; the Bad End is almost certain if you don’t conquer it by the end of the third year.
However, in the ending where you join the demons, you can have an ending that isn’t lonely, even if you haven’t captured the 60th floor.
Well, if Iori goes for that ending, I’ll stop him with all my heart and soul.
“About 50% of students can reach the 60th floor when they graduate in their third year.
In other words, only half of the students managed to conquer this floor.”
Now, when should I start aiming for the 60th floor of the Dungeon?
If I proceed like the first save of the game normally, I could capture it right after entering the second year or at the end of the year.
If it’s like the second save, I should reach it the first time I explore the school Dungeon.
If I want to surpass the protagonist, I want to finish the exploration within a year, at most.
But my goal isn’t just to surpass the protagonist.
It’s to make the heroines have a happy ending.
I mustn’t confuse the two.
Considering that, I have to capture the Tsukuyomi Academy Dungeon within a year.
No, if I think about all the heroines, I should have the intention to complete all events within a year.
“If you plan to become a researcher from the start, you don’t need to aim for the 60th floor.
However, even if you become a researcher, I think the 60th floor of the Dungeon should be aimed for.
Because you can get a lot of things you wouldn’t get just by studying here through the Dungeon conquest.”
Having said that, the teacher lowered her pen and looked around the students.
“Well, the question is which grade you should focus on.
Ideally, it’s to achieve the passing score in both.
It’s useful for you to get a job, after all.
Oh, if you want to join the Order of Magic Knights, you need both grades.
Be careful.”
While leaning against the window, I looked at Iori’s face.
It was the face of an eroge protagonist who didn’t stand out in anything.
He listened to the teacher so seriously he didn’t even notice my gaze.
The reason he listens seriously is probably the same as in the game.
The Iori in the game was saved by the Order of Magic Knights in a certain incident in his childhood, and that should have led him to yearn for the Order of Magic Knights and enter this school.
When it comes to the Order of Knights, he gets serious.
Even I get serious when it comes to eroge.
“Now, before entering this Dungeon, we will take you to the beginner Dungeon managed by the academy.”
The beginner dungeon is a small ten-floor Dungeon.
If you explore normally, it will end at 10 floors, but if certain conditions are met, the extra floor, the 11th floor, will be unlocked.
“It will be in five days that you will enter the Dungeon.
I will contact you later for detailed preparations.
Just be prepared.”
Speaking of which, what is the treatment of extra floors and hidden Dungeons in this world?
Is it disclosed as soon as the release conditions are known, or is it basically kept secret and known only by a few people?
Or does actually no one know?
A little research might be necessary.
While I was thinking about that, the chime signaling the end of class echoed from the speaker.
There must have been a physical fitness test after this today.
Very, very, tremendously important scenes in the game.
“What’s wrong, making that serious face?”
Iori said that while looking at my face.
“No, I was just thinking a little.”
Iori pointed to the door, “Let’s go.” I stood up and lined up next to Iori.
Now, what should I do?
Speaking of physical fitness tests, in the game, the heroines in panties are portrayed from a multiple third-person perspective (God’s perspective), which is a very important scene where you can get CGs.
If possible, I’d like to actually print it in a photo… no, just carve it into my eyes.
No, it’s impossible.
“Kuh… The world doesn’t go the way we want, huh.”
“?”
I asked Iori, who still had a question mark, what I was thinking.
“Hey, what kind of girl do you like, Iori?”
“Eh, what’s with that out of nowhere?”
“No, there’s going to be a physical fitness test from now on, right?
If so, the girls’ clothes… Kohon, we’ll be able to see the girls’ physical abilities.
If we’re going to see it, wouldn’t you want to see the girl you like?”
“Eh, first, shouldn’t you think about getting good grades?”
Isn’t he a little too serious?
“Well, well, you see, our class is full of beautiful girls, right?
Like the girl who became the Class Rep, and Ludi is beautiful too.”
There are several characters in the class who will become companions as main and sub-heroines.
I want to know who he’s interested in as a player.
“Certainly the Class Rep and Trefke-san are beautiful, aren’t they?”
Iori murmured such things while keeping them in sight.
“Right?
If there’s a girl you like, tell me?
I’ll teach you everything from blood type to favorite foods and hobbies?
Of course, it’s not free.”
I made a circle with my right hand.
“Money…?”
“Well, it depends on the importance of the information.
If it’s easy to find out, like what her favorite food is, you can use juice or a meal ticket.
If it’s blood type, it’s free, right?
But some information that can’t be obtained so easily will be a bit more expensive.
Well, even if I know personal information, I can’t say it.”
Takioto Kousuke in the game was doing the same thing.
In exchange for magic stones and money, he would tell how things were with the heroines, but I wonder how he got that information.
I think it’s a scenario unique to games.
“M-money, huh.”
Somehow, Iori muttered sadly.
Speaking of which, the protagonist shouldn’t have almost any money in the first few days.
Well, I’m sure during the second save or at the end of the game he has an appropriate amount.
Well, up to the 3rd save it will be consumed for some reason, so the 4th save has gold to give and sell.
“Well, if it’s for you, I’ll give a friend discount, the first time is free.
Well, I’ll tell you the information for a meal ticket.”
When I changed clothes while talking non-stop, I turned to the place where the physical fitness test was held.
Well, I think the result was better than normal.