Volume 1 Chapter 3 Thinking About Branching Into The R18 World Line
"We good like this?"
"Yeah, Ran. Looks perfect."
We had just finished gathering food and supplies from the warehouse and arranged everything neatly on the floor, sorted by category.
"With this much, we should be able to last for months."
"That's right. We can also find fruits, nuts, and meat in the forest. We'll survive through winter."
"It's lonely without everyone else, but as long as Mobu's here, I think I'll be okay."
"Me too, Ran."
"Mobu..."
Ran leaned into me again, so I gently stroked her head.
"When Mobu strokes my head like this, it makes me feel calm," she murmured, eyes half-closed, a soft smile on her lips.
Ran's affection is coming faster than in the game. In the original, she only started acting this way halfway through the academy arc. Until then, we were just friends.
Maybe it's because I, Mobu, somehow survived. Our worldline might be splitting into an unexpected scenario, changing the fate of this world.
"Well then, let's take a break. How about some tea?"
"I'll go fetch water from the well."
"Thanks."
The Starting Village event was over, so no monsters would attack here anymore. It was safe.
"The tea's really good."
"Yeah. Whoever left it must've had excellent taste."
The aroma was rich, and the taste was a delicate mix of sweetness and bitterness—a complex flavor I'd never experienced in the real world. It was strange how tea in this game world could be better than reality.
"Probably from the village head," Ran guessed.
"Not Blaze's family? They're rich."
"They probably keep their tea at home. And... they're kind of stingy." She giggled.
So Blaze's family is stingy—something the game never mentioned.
"Hey, look."
Ran set down her wooden cup and pointed toward some papers sticking out of a cabinet in the warehouse corner.
"What's this?"
I picked up the documents. They were exam permits for the Royal Adventurer Academy—not for Blaze, but for me, Mobu, and Ran.
"The guardian's name is the village head," Ran said.
"Really?"
Though I didn't know the village head's name myself. In the game, he was killed early on without much explanation.
"What does it mean?"
"Come to think of it, the village head said once he sensed some power in me and Ran. He said it'd be a waste to spend our lives here in this remote village."
"Huh..."
Even though it was the Starting Village, drama was brewing. If the game world became real, maybe this was to be expected.
"Looks like they submitted our applications along with Blaze's."
"Did they pay the exam fees too?"
"Yeah..."
Ran read a letter from the village head attached to the papers.
"It says they're sorry they could only afford the exam fees because the village is poor. But with Mobu and me, they're confident we'll get scholarships that cover tuition."
"I hope the village head has a good eye for talent."
"They do," Ran said, shaking her head.
"The village head used to adventure with a famous party."
"Really?"
"Come on, Mobu, didn't you know?"
She laughed softly.
"He was badly injured by magic and couldn't move well. With the reward money from the king, he founded this village by clearing the wilderness. He always talks about it when he's drunk."
"I see."
Honestly, I didn't know much about it. Maybe if I were the Mobu from the game, I'd remember.
"So, Mobu, what now? We're following Blaze's path, but should we try the academy?"
"Hmm..."
We could make this warehouse our base for now. Once winter passed, new plants would sprout, and with the forest's food, we could survive for years.
That is, if Ran and I stayed healthy. The village doctor was already gone. This was a rural, game-world setting. If we got sick, the nearest village was a two-day walk away. That'd be tough while camping, especially if we both fell ill.
Looking at Ran, holding my hand and waiting quietly, I thought... At this rate, it wouldn't be long before we might have children here. No matter my past life, with a sweet girl like this by my side, resisting won't be easy. There was probably no contraception in this world.
The original game was rated R15, but the popular harem route was supposed to have an R18 version. However, with so many bugs, the developers halted the R18 version halfway.
If our story branched into the R18 worldline that was never finished, who knew what would happen next? Even if it branched there, pregnancy wouldn't come quickly. But this was reality, even if it was inside a game. The future was unpredictable.
If that time came, we'd need a midwife and support because managing a newborn and daily chores alone would be hard.
Eventually, we'd have to settle in a village or city with better social infrastructure. For now, a fully equipped boarding school might be the safest option.
"Shall we try taking the entrance exam for fun, Ran?"
"Yeah."
She nodded firmly.
"If Mobu's decided, then I'm okay with it."
"We both need to become scholarship students. Otherwise, we won't be able to pay tuition. We're orphans—unlike Blaze, who's got money to burn."
"That's true."
Ran's expression tightened with determination.
"I won't be a burden to you, Mobu. I promise."
"Don't stress so much. If it doesn't work out, we can just come back to the village and figure something else out."
"I understand... Mobu's reliable."
She looked up at me, her eyes shining with trust.
Honestly, the real problem wasn't Ran. She was the game's Main Heroine—the entrance exam was practically a formality for her. But me? I was just some extra, a character meant to die here. No special skills, no plot armor.
The Royal Adventurer Academy was mostly for nobles' kids to pad their resumes. Feudal lords and wealthy merchants bought their way in with donations, leaving only a few spots for those with real talent. It was a battlefield where the kingdom's best geniuses fought tooth and nail for admission.
Blaze and Ran had the protagonist's privileges. But me? I was just Mobu.
"Well, somehow, I'll make it work."
Even in the face of despair, I clung to that tiny hope.
I was a player who knew this world from outside. And this game was infamous for bugs. Gamers had been exploiting glitches since Mario's days—if I played it smart, maybe I could pull off some cheat-like tricks.
* * *
After a long journey, Ran and I passed through the grand gates of the Royal Adventurer Academy, Hector. We were here for the entrance exam.
The vast entrance hall looked like a lecture room, with a reception desk set up and several examinees waiting in line. Ran and I stood at the very end—meaning we were the last slots for today's exam.
The exam wasn't a paper test. It was all practical, so not everyone had to take it at once. Candidates could take the exam anytime within the set period, and results were announced in stages.
"Ah, Ran. I knew you'd come after me. Thanks for showing up."
A familiar voice came from nearby.
"Blaze... You're already in the school?"
"Yeah. Ran, you should come in soon too. It's fun here."
Wearing the prestigious Hector uniform—a blazer steeped in history—he looked genuinely proud. He glanced at me with a smirk.
"Mobu, do your best, alright?"
"That uniform really suits you, Blaze."
He beamed and stuck his tongue out playfully.
"I'm part of the Dragon Class now—SSS rank."
He pointed at the class crest embroidered on his chest—a complex design of two intertwined dragons.
Typical protagonist move. Getting assigned to the top class so easily meant he probably had stellar grades.
"Ran, you'll be SSS too, right? You came after me, after all. I want us to be in the same class. Maybe I should sneak a word to the director?"
No way. Doesn't matter how good Blaze is; the principal isn't rearranging classes for just one student.
From my past life as a bottom-tier corporate slave, I knew how impossible that was. Blaze was sounding just like those arrogant bosses who claim success as their own but blame failures on their subordinates.
"Hey, Ran."
Blaze reached out for Ran's hand.
"No!"
Ran quickly hid behind me.
"I didn't follow Blaze. I'm here for my future—and Mobu's."
She looked up at me.
"Right, Mobu?"
"That's right, Ran."
I wrapped my arms around her, pulling her close.
"Let's work hard together, Ran."
"Mobu..."
Ran's passionate gaze met mine steadily. Seeing us united, Blaze seemed to realize something too.
"No, wait... I worked hard for my own future, Ran and me..."
He let his shoulders slump, deflated.
Notes:
• Ran - Female. An orphan and a close friend of Mobu. She has long, dark hair and a gentle appearance. Ran is kind and trusting, often relying on Mobu for guidance. She survives the demon attack by hiding in the secret base with Mobu.
• Starting Village - A small, poor village located in a rural area. It was founded by the Village Head after he cleared the wilderness. The village is now safe from monsters, and Mobu and Ran are considering it as a potential base for survival.
• Blaze - Male. The protagonist of the game, born into the wealthy Rosinore family. He has blond hair and a heroic appearance. Blaze is kind and lacks arrogance despite his status. He is destined to become a hero and defeat the Demon King. His relationship with Mobu and Ran is complex, as they are not part of the main story.
• Hector - A prestigious academy located in the kingdom, known for training adventurers. It is primarily for the children of nobles and wealthy merchants, with a few spots reserved for those with true ability. The entrance exam is practical rather than theoretical.
• Dragon Class - The top-ranked class at the Royal Adventurer Academy, denoted by an SSS rank. Blaze has been assigned to this class, indicating his high performance in the entrance exam.
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