I was satisfied at this moment.
Flowing on the display was the credits roll after the ending of the PC game 'Demon Lord Regnos'.
'Demon Lord Regnos' was a game that had been released just last month, an adult-rated so-called erotic game.
While the erotic content was well-developed, the fundamental RPG aspect was also solid, making it enjoyable as a game.
The game was a 3D RPG, freely switchable between first-person and third-person perspectives.
The erotic scenes were even more intricate, with 3D models moving smoothly and the camera being freely movable only in third-person perspective. Moreover, recommended camera positions were set for each scene, and with a single shortcut key, you could move the camera there.
The main story was somewhat fixed, but conversely, the combat aspect had high freedom. You could choose companions to a certain extent and, if inclined, defeat the final boss alone.
Of course, there existed optimal ways to clear the game. However, after clearing it once, there was a new game+ system. In subsequent playthroughs, since the player character, the protagonist, would be considerably powerful or would have powerful items inherited, there was no need to choose the optimal method. You could play while trying out new companions and various tactics.
For the first playthrough, I shut out all information and played based on my sensibilities. For subsequent playthroughs, I collected information online and played while picking up events I had missed in the first playthrough.
And now, I had cleared the game for the sixth time. I had glanced through all the events that were currently known, and the level that I had continued to carry over had finally reached the maximum of 99.
The final battle, which had been a close victory in the first playthrough, was now an uninspiring battle where I simply beat down the final boss. But with this, I could say that I had thoroughly played through this game.
Now, what to do next? Perhaps I should try some arbitrary challenge play.
As the credits roll came to an end, when I tried to select new game+, a window I had never seen before opened along with a fanfare.
"New options have been added to the new game menu!"
What could this be?
I had never come across such a thing in the walkthrough sites.
What could be the conditions for this to appear? Maybe reaching the level cap? Conquering all events? Completing items, learning all magic, or filling out the monster encyclopedia might be conditions too.
Demon Lord Regnos was quite substantial for an erotic game. On the other hand, it hadn't even been a month since its release.
Perhaps, I was the first one to see this. I hadn't seen any follow-up reports after encountering posts about reaching level 99 on the message boards. Probably, that person was focused on leveling up and didn't fulfill the other requirements I had completed.
Continuing, the familiar question "Do you want to start a new game+?" appeared. I answered with "Yes" and proceeded to the new game options screen.
・Carry over levels
・Carry over items
※ Some event items will not be carried over.
・Carry over gold
・Carry over map exploration
・Equip bonus addition (new!)
※ Add the bonuses of the final equipment's weapon, armor, and shield to base attack/defense power and acquire them as the protagonist's new special abilities.
※ Bonuses added in the previous playthrough will be discarded.
・Change protagonist's gender (new!)
・Use the hyper-realistic interface (new!)
The first four options have been present before, while the next three are newly added options.
The previously available options allow you to choose elements to carry over to the next playthrough by checking them. If you carry over levels, you maintain the same strength. If you carry over items and gold, you begin the next playthrough with the items and gold you had at the end of the last battle.
Map exploration refers to the ability to display a mini-map on the screen, particularly in dungeons. However, it only shows the areas you've visited. This option ensures that you retain this information for the next playthrough.
The equip bonus addition, is it a form of carry over? It might be more like enhancement, in a way.
Base attack and defense power refer to your strength when not wearing any equipment. The addition of bonuses would essentially be pure enhancement.
Presumably, weapons and armor can still be equipped separately, which is akin to effectively dual-wielding weapons and armor.
However, there are only four slots for equipment: weapon, armor, shield, and accessory.
Unfortunately, it seems accessories don't contribute to this bonus.
But if you think about it, it makes sense. Early-game accessories are one thing, but those that appear later tend to have powerful effects. Starting from the state immunity to status ailments of the Hero's Proof that I ultimately equipped, it included double speed actions, changing the MP cost of all magic to 1, absorbing physical damage, and more.
Turning these into base special abilities would likely disrupt the game balance, which is likely the rationale behind this decision.
Changing the protagonist's gender should be straightforward.
Since the protagonist was male until now, this would mean changing to female.
The fact that this option appears at this point makes me wonder if there are only minor differences in appearance and finer event details for the protagonist.
If the story doesn't significantly change, it might have been an option offered from the first playthrough or even from the second playthrough, as players might not notice such an option.
Demon Lord Regnos is an erotic game. Since the protagonist is male, the erotic targets are females.
If the story and events don't change significantly… does that mean it becomes lesbian content? There might be interactions with certain male characters.
Some players of erotic games dislike female protagonists. They argue that it's the male perspective that makes for good material.
I'm fine with either a male or female protagonist though!
There are various ways for men who play games with female protagonists to enjoy them. Some watch as the girls strive—though, being an erotic game, they often end up getting bullied—while others immerse themselves as if they were the women.
I'm still good with either!
What could this 'hyper-realistic interface' be?
Depending on the computer's specifications, Demon Lord Regnos displays people and scenery with beautiful graphics. Battles are seamless, with monsters moving around the field like normal.
Apart from appearance, the interface could refer to the menu display method or the method of control. However, as long as a mouse or keyboard is used, I can't think of an interface more advanced than what's available now.
Trying it out should reveal more.
All the options were already checked from the start.
I'll just select 'New Game+' as is.
"Please enter your name."
It's the very first question when starting the game.
.
The name entry field is displayed, and the name 'Cecil', which I've used before, is already shown. It's the name I usually use when prompted for a name in games. It works without any awkwardness, whether I'm male or female. So, I rarely use any other name.
I'll stick with it this time too. "OK."
In that moment, I was outside.
Huh?
It wasn't outside my house. It was more like the countryside… a familiar place…
—The Sword Village.
Yes, it looked just like the scenery seen from the central square of the village on the outskirts known as the Sword Village, where Demon Lord Regnos begins.
I quickly turned around.
There, I saw a sword impaled into a stone pedestal. And on the pedestal, three circular indentations were carved. A wooden sign next to the pedestal bore these words:
"Only the one who draws this sword is the true hero."
This is the origin of the Sword Village name. It's the hero's sword.
In Demon Lord Regnos, this is the ultimate sword, and naturally, the protagonist pulls out this sword to become the hero and defeat the demon lord.
In the story, I'm supposed to have traveled to this village to undergo the trial of drawing this sword.
Until now, I had been adventuring in the world displayed on my monitor using a mouse and keyboard.
Since my computer was built with high specifications for gaming, I was playing Demon Lord Regnos at the highest graphical settings. But what I'm seeing now surpasses even that in terms of authenticity. Moreover, when I turned around earlier, I did so without using a keyboard, instead moving my own body.
Approaching the hero's sword, I tried to touch the hilt—though I couldn't reach it, I touched the pedestal. I could feel it there, for certain.
It feels like reality.
"Use the hyper-realistic interface."
A new option in the New Game menu comes to mind.
Is this, super-realistic? Or rather, reality? Wait, are realistic and reality the same thing?
I have a bad feeling about this.
Let's exit the game for now.
…How?
Demon Lord Regnos can be exited almost anytime by selecting 'EXIT' from the menu. Even during forced events, the menu can be opened, and even if other options are grayed out and unselectable, 'EXIT' can always be chosen.
Let's open the menu. Menu, menu. ESC key? How do I press it?
And just as I thought, the menu opened.
The menu had previously appeared overlaid on the game screen, but now it was displayed separately in my mind as images.
However, I couldn't select EXIT even though it was highlighted.
Additionally, neither CONFIG nor DATA, which should be available for selection at any time like EXIT, could be chosen. CONFIG is for adjusting settings such as image rendering and sound playback, while DATA is for saving and loading.
Not being able to use CONFIG is fine, I suppose. Not being able to use DATA is a problem, but I'll leave that for now. The major issue is that EXIT cannot be used.
This means there's no way to exit the game.
What should I do?
Oh, well, how about Alt+F4? I can't press it?
No luck.
I crouched down on the spot, resting my forehead on my hand placed on the pedestal of the hero's sword, feeling defeated.
What should I do from here? Continue the game? After clearing it, if I don't choose the hyper-realistic interface in the New Game+ options, can I go back to normal?
As I pondered without finding any particularly compelling answers, I heard footsteps approaching.
Come to think of it, in all the previous playthroughs, there hadn't been footsteps for the protagonist or NPCs. Truly hyper-realistic.
"Hey there, miss, are you okay?"
That voice was clearly directed at me.
Miss? What's going on?
No, I remember now. 'Change Protagonist Gender'. The protagonist this time is female.
"No, I'm fine. It's nothing."
I answered as I got up, my voice a lovely soprano.
"Well, if you say so, Traveler? If you're feeling unwell, how about resting at the inn?"
The concerned voice came from a man I recognized.
He was usually around the vicinity of the hero's sword, and when the protagonist talked to him, he explained its origin. Even though he should repeat the same lines if talked to multiple times, this time he seemed to be expressing genuine concern for me.
More like an NPC that's programmed to interact, he seemed more like an actual human. Is this also part of the hyper-realistic interface?
Come to think of it, the old man seems taller than usual.
No, it's more like the ground feels closer. Has the old man grown taller, or is it that my perspective has changed?
Wait a moment. I remember now, earlier I couldn't reach the handle of the hero's sword. During the previous
playthroughs, when I saw it in the third person, it seemed like I could reach it if I stretched my hand, but…
Looking at my hand again. It's a small, pale, and delicate hand, like that of a girl.
No, not 'like' that of a girl. Right now, I am the female protagonist.
The male protagonist of Demon Lord Regnos was petite, but this time, the hidden female protagonist seems even shorter.
"Thank you. Yes, I'll go back to the inn."
Up until now, NPCs would ignore the protagonist even if they were acting strangely, but it seems different this time.
There are things I need to confirm.
Somewhere out of sight. Yes, let's move to the inn's private room.
If it's the Sword Village, I have the layout of the shops in my head. I headed straight to the only inn in this village.