Chapter 1

"Sure, I'll post another chapter today."

---

"Yup, just as I thought, Ymir is so cute, really an angel."

I was praising my avatar in Midgarz Online.

The biggest selling point of this game is the wide variety of appearance modification items. The 2D characters move around in a 3D map, and the diversity of their appearances is unmatched by other games. Headgear, shoulder gear, armor, waist gear, weapons, and shields—each part has its own 2D graphics, and the appearance changes according to the equipment. There are also mount items, and the amount of data is something that VR and 3D games can't handle. Of course, the effort required to prepare all this is considerable.

The character I use, Ymir, is a Mage Knight, a class that was once the star of this game. It boasts high HP and top-tier attack power, can attack while riding a dragon, and can enhance itself using magic stones called Magic Runes.

--- But that glory didn't last long.

It was hit hard by a balance adjustment, which reduced its skill attack power to the level of other classes. Worse still, the long skill cooldown time made it inferior to other classes. The final blow was the reduction in HP, which destroyed its identity as a front-line fighter.

As a result, the number of Mage Knights, which once made up 20% of all players, plummeted. However, the setting that appealed to middle school students' fantasies kept a small number of players from abandoning the class. These players developed new ways to enjoy the game, such as building highly capable Mage Knights.

I was one of the players who gained some fame for using a particularly unusual setup. I favored weapons called Auto Cast, which automatically cast spells on hit, and optimized my stats for this ability. Using these typically mage-class items with a front-line brawler class made me a notable figure due to the rarity of such a setup. However, this setup, which ignored efficiency, made it difficult to join guilds or parties. I could only participate in temporary parties that ignored efficiency, and I wandered around in a level band just below the top players, even as many players reached the level cap.

Why am I so attached to this character? Of course, it's because of "love." The middle school fantasy setting, the customized avatar that I made look like a lolita, and the large, rugged weapons. This character, riding a dragon, swinging a two-handed sword, and raining down spells, using magic to enhance the sword and unleashing the power of magic stones to defeat enemies, captivated me. I fell in love with this combat style, and that's why I could enjoy the game without worrying about efficiency, even at high levels.

That day, I was attacking an Ice Golem with incredible speed, casting the Auto Cast spell "Thunderbolt" in rapid succession, and took it down in a few seconds, a smile of satisfaction on my face.

"Alright! Just... twelve thousand more to go? No way I can do that."

Because of my high level, leveling up is far away. I've heard that at the highest level, you need tens of thousands of enemy experience points to level up. Honestly, I don't think my character can make it that far.

"Well, I've got all the equipment I want, so no need to rush. Oh, it's almost time to reset the Infinite Ice Cave."

The Infinite Ice Cave is a type of dungeon in MGO where you can keep exploring the same map indefinitely. However, the monsters change with each floor, and there are bosses at certain levels. Defeating these bosses can drop rare items. This dungeon can only be entered once a week.

"Alright, I'll prepare the items and then go buy some lunch."

I decided to stock up on recovery potions and equipment for the Infinite Ice Cave and then go buy a bento. My parents, who used to make meals for me, have passed away, and my grandparents live in the countryside, and I only see them once a year. Recently, my life has been all about work, games, and sleep, which is a problem, but I don't have any friends I want to see in person. My boss tells me to "get a girlfriend," but honestly, it's a hassle.

"Besides, I prefer 2D."

I muttered to myself while changing clothes and putting on shoes. Living alone, I tend to talk to myself a lot, which often makes people uncomfortable. But I think 2D is enough if you just want to look and admire. It's getting colder, so I'm reluctant to go out. This is the first time I've been outside in three days, aside from work. I stretched my back, which felt stiff from too much gaming. My head felt heavy.

"My head hurts... I'll go quickly."

The fridge was empty. I had to go shopping, or I'd be in trouble for dinner tomorrow. I turned the cold doorknob and stepped outside.

"...Huh?"

I was in the middle of a grassy field. The sun, slightly tilted, shone brightly, and a warm breeze caressed my feet. I was supposed to be in Japan, surrounded by concrete, and it was winter. But the landscape before me was clearly early summer, and it was a natural setting.

"What... is going on?"

My voice was high-pitched and strained. High-pitched?

"Huh, my voice...? What?"

My voice isn't usually this high. And the wind...? I looked down and saw... slightly puffed-up chest and thighs exposed from a short skirt. My limbs were slender, like a woman's... or rather, a woman!?

"What the hell is this!?"

In a world that clearly wasn't Japan... I, now a woman, let out a scream.