About the case of destruction flags being demolished after a nichiasa loving otaku was reincarnated as a villainous student – Chapter 87 – Side: Main characters (The boy who liked self-imposed challenges)

There were many ways to be into a game.

The first was to play the same game multiple times, but this was just the beginning. It was really about doing multiple playthroughs to get all routes and endings, as well as events and items.

There was also getting friendly characters to the maximum level and getting them the strongest equipment possible. And then, beating the hidden bosses.

Some were a bit stranger, and competed to see who could clear the game the fastest. The record changed depending on whether or not they took advantage of bugs, but it was all about efficiency.

And then… There were ones who challenged games by giving themselves restrictions.

Only using specific techniques, not using recovery or buffing items, not equipping weapons… These were self-imposed challenges, and there were high level players who felt a sense of accomplishment from completing them.

Usaou Aritou was one of these players who believed self-imposed challenges were the ultimate way to play a game.

He followed a certain restriction with every game he played, and continued to clear them.

That restriction… Was solo play. He never formed a party, and cleared games with just the main character.

He tossed aside the best part of Luminous History, the character interactions, and used neither guidebooks or information from the internet as he fought alone. Someone watching from the side might wonder where the fun was in this, but he cleared several games playing like that.

And that did not change when he was reincarnated into this world.

His current name was Isaac Elia. He wore full black and used twin swords, looking somewhat familiar, as he continued his solo play in this world.

Isaac was currently in the technical department, talking with the brown-haired boy who argued with Yuugo.

He was asking him to tend to his twin swords, and reporting that he had finished the job he was asked to do.

“That Hercus guy… As you wished, I made sure he won’t be moving around for a while. He won’t come by again.”

“Thanks, Isaac. He was really stubborn, always telling us to make a magic item. We kept telling him he didn’t have enough materials.”

“And he was going to go crazy here in the studio in the end. He was beyond saving. If I was here, I would have cut him down on the spot.”

Said a male student who seemed quick to start a fight… Neid Garn, and Isaac agreed as he chuckled.

But deep down, he sympathized a little with Hercus.

(This guy’s nasty. He’s good, but he’ll rip you off in materials if your favorability is too low.)

In Luminous History, the favorability mechanic was very important.

It helped party members’ stats in accordance with their favorability towards the player, and by doing events of the liberated characters, players could learn new moves.

But this favorability system was not just for party members. It was for craftsmen such as Neid too.

For characters that could not join the player’s character, instead of influencing their stats, it affected the strength of the magic items they sold, and would generate discounts. Not to mention the bonus of increasing the variety of magic items being sold.

When Neid made or strengthened magic items, he would attach big stat bonuses right at the start, but… He charged way more money and materials than the others.

That was just how good he was, but one might end up like Hercus if they kept asking him, not knowing how he was.

However, if his favorability was increased, there would be big discounts. But until that happened, the player had to be ready to continue being ripped off.

Normally, players would not have him work for them in the early stages of the game, when means to earn money and materials were limited.

He took way too much money to make equipment for the player and their party.

But… It was different for Isaac. He just needed equipment for himself.

And so, while the other reincarnated students were busy recruiting friends, Isaac prioritized increasing Neid’s favorability.

Playing alone meant strong equipment was a must. He decided that getting Neid on his side was a shortcut to becoming the hero, and worked towards building a friendly relationship with him.

The best case scenario was to make him his exclusive technician.

Much like how Melt could not join any of their parties, he wanted Neid to only be able to work for him.

“…Neid, this is just a little something. It should help make magic item prototypes.”

“This is…! Haha, thanks! I’ll do just that!”

Isaac presented the materials he stole from Hercus, much to the joy of Neid.

He heard an announcement in his head, saying his favorability had gone up. Isaac chuckled, happy that his plan was working.

(…It’s not like I don’t have worries. But I’ll be able to put them to rest once I solve some things.)

Isaac appeared to be well on his way to achieving his goal, but he had two things on his mind.

First, was that because of the mess Zenon made right at the start, there were changes to the events. The changes were both big and small, but for someone who was doing a challenge run and had little information, this would affect him a lot.

The other was that he had not met the other great magic item technician, Angel Amber.

She could only be met through a random event, but then she would take interest in the player, and accept jobs right away.

Like Neid, she produced all kinds of magic items and was great at reinforcing them, but unlike Neid, she charged the normal amount of money and materials, and was happy to become the player’s exclusive technician.

(She can join the party as a combatant, but… I don’t care about that. I just need to make sure the others don’t get her.)

She was useful in combat, but Isaac had no intention of making her fight.

He just wanted her skills as a technician, and for her to do maintenance on his own body, so to speak.

But he had yet to meet her, and he wanted that to happen as soon as possible to have her work for him and to increase her favorability.

(Well, I doubt they’ll be coming here so soon. If I keep visiting the studio in the meantime, I’m sure I’ll be the first player to meet her.)

As he thought that, he said goodbye to Neid and left the studio, but… He could not imagine that someone else had already met her before him.

This would slowly but surely mess with his solo play, but Isaac had no way to know that at this point, and he remained optimistic as he thought he would get to meet her soon.

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