Chapter 6

Standing at the classroom door, I took a deep breath and firmly gripped the letter containing secrets that my mother had given me.

Facing the wraith, I felt a surging power different from anything I had experienced before. My status reflected this as well.

Level 1

Cleric I: ☆

HP: 12

MP: 9

Strength: 3

Endurance: 3

Speed: 3

Magic: 3

Luck: 3

This was my status from the game. "The Night of Magic" is a novel, but due to its popularity, it was also made into a game. A nostalgic RPG with a real-time turn system where speed can sometimes grant multiple turns in battle.

Even if I had to verify it later, it was dangerous. Before using "Minor Healing I," my HP was 1. I was almost dead, that was close.

The wraith, possessing the night, moved the twisted face of an old woman and stared at me intently. I understand, I understand. It's mysterious, isn't it? I really understand how you feel.

I awakened at the last moment, just like the protagonist.

But I realized I was just a minor character. The game's mechanics clearly told me I was a minor character.

Anyway, that's beside the point.

"Zine, zine, zine"

The night pointed a finger at me, trying to gather a dark aura, but it wouldn't work.

"It's my turn! Don't get the order wrong!"

I pointed my palm at the night and used my job's special ability. The usage is simple; just select a command in your head. A game mechanic that requires no effort. Truly wonderful, isn't it?

"Turn Undead!"

Using 1 MP, a holy light flashed from my palm. This light was purifying. The divine light illuminated the surroundings, dispelled shadows, and purified everything.

"AAAAH!"

The wraith, hit by the purifying light, emitted smoke from its body, writhed in pain, and separated from the night's body. Then, it floated in the air, writhing in agony.

I sighed in relief. It seemed the mechanics were the same as in the novel and game. If they were different, it would have been dangerous.

"Phew"

Losing its power, the night's body wobbled and almost fell. I supported it and directed a cold gaze at the wraith floating in the sky.

"Inspect"

I couldn't use the spell to analyze the enemy's power, but I could still inspect. That's the command "Inspect." Even if the enemy is slightly higher in level, I can still use it.

Wraith Level 3

I could see the name and level. In the world of the novel, levels might not be entirely reliable, but they still serve as a reference. And Level 3 is easy to handle.

"You're just too lazy to possess. To prevent it, you need the protagonist's skill 'Magic Destruction' or a mage's 'Magic Dispel.' And, the cleric's unique skill 'Turn Undead'!"

My chosen job is "Cleric I." The unique skill "Turn Undead" uses 1 MP to instantly kill lower-level undead and weaken those of the same level. Most importantly, it can reliably dispel possession.

"Oooh, you!"

"I understand. Now that your possession is dispelled, you can only use the low-level 'Drain Touch.' But, it's my turn now!"

I pointed my palm and used magic again. As a Level 1 cleric, I can use the unique skill "Turn Undead" and the basic holy magic "Minor Healing I." So, I had only one option.

"Minor Healing I!"

I used a healing spell on the wraith, an old woman with a hateful, fierce expression. How kind of me, right?

Just as her wrinkled hand was about to touch me, her body glowed, and a faint healing light enveloped the wraith.

"Ugh!"

The wraith writhed in pain, floating in the air, and no longer seemed to have the energy to target me.

"Undead are weak to holy attributes. Hitting their weakness can cancel their action, but in reality, it's like this."

In the game, hitting a monster's weakness cancels its action. The next action can't be canceled, but I see, it's like this in reality. Makes sense. But, in reality, I can't be complacent.

"See ya"

I pointed my palm and used magic again. Wraiths are easy prey for clerics. They can even scream "Gwa, gwa" if they want.

"Minor Healing I"

An unavoidable spell. That's what healing magic is. Other spells might miss, but this one always hits. For undead, healing magic becomes a fatal attack.

"Oooah..."

The wraith let out a final scream and turned to ashes, disappearing. The creature that tried to kill me was easily defeated. Or, was it purified because it was an undead? Either way, it's fine.

"You killed the wraith. You gained 1 experience point. You obtained a magic stone F."

The item box automatically received the drop, and I finished my first battle. Wraiths are easy prey for clerics but are troublesome for other jobs. Moreover, undead are often easily defeated, so experience points are scarce.

"Well, it's good that I could defeat it. Ah, I thought I was going to die. Are you okay, Yami-chan?"

Oops, I changed my tone. If my parents found out about my language, they'd be sad, thinking I'd become a delinquent.

The teachers and my friends were standing at a distance, so it should be fine. Yeah, it's probably fine. I'll fool everyone with my ultimate smile...

"Huh? What's this?"

My body wobbled, and I felt the blood drain from my face. What's this? I used a healing spell, but...

"Bad... Is the game's mechanics weaker than the novel's setting..."

I wobbled and fell. In the game, healing would have been fine. But in the novel, this happened. You see, the protagonist has to collapse from exhaustion for events to start...

Thinking about such trivial things, I lost consciousness and fell asleep.

I opened my eyes with a snap.

"Am I in a hospital?"

My blood pressure was being measured, and an IV needle was in my arm. When I moved, I felt the softness of the bed. Fresh sheets, a room that smelled of medicine... No, it didn't smell of medicine.

It was a spacious room, like a hotel suite. The interior was luxurious, with a large TV and a refrigerator. Hmm? This is a fancy private room. It must be expensive.

I was a little disappointed that no one was there, but I opened the status board. To open it, I just had to imagine a controller and press the touch button. This was the method to call the status board. If there is a god who reincarnated me into this world, I want to complain. How am I supposed to know this?

Who would think of imagining a controller and pressing a touch button to open the status? If I knew, it would be different, but without knowing, it would be a miracle to figure it out. Damn it.

"Anyway, I've confirmed that I'm a minor character in this world, 'The Night of Magic.'"

I operated the icons to check the item box, but there was only the magic stone F. My character and abilities from the game were gone. It seems it's not that easy.

"But it feels like a reset. I still have the premium job. So, the premium should affect other areas as well. There's no problem here. And I'm a minor character."

As a player in "The Night of Magic," being a minor character is significant. Why? Because:

Novels and manga are often adapted into games. If the player controls the protagonist, there's no problem. The issue arises when the player can create a character from scratch.

In a normal game, the player is the protagonist, and the story revolves around them. But what happens when the game is based on a novel or manga?

A common pattern is that the player can interact with the novel's protagonist and mix into the main story. However, a problem arises here.

The protagonist and other characters from the novel often ignore the player, even if they are in the party. They talk and advance the story as if the player doesn't exist.

For example, even if the player defeats all the enemies and the protagonist is down, only the protagonist will celebrate. The player is treated like air. In other words, a minor character. This is necessary to keep the story consistent, but it's harsh.

Since it's a game for fans, it might be unavoidable, but there are many games that make you want to cry, "I'm here too! Don't ignore me!"

"The Night of Magic" follows this pattern. The player cannot participate in the main story's dialogue. They are air. If this were reality, it would be a reason to cry.

In side stories or hidden stories, the novel's protagonist doesn't join the conversation at all. In reality, this is worse than indifference. It's bullying.

"The Night of Magic" is a game where you just keep playing. You shouldn't expect much from the story.

So, as a player character who can create a character, I'm air and a minor character. I won't be involved in any story. ...No, maybe I can enter hidden story routes? But even then, the novel's protagonist won't join, so I'm still a minor character.

"But maybe it's good to be a player character. I can become much stronger than the protagonist."

If I had been reincarnated as a regular character, it might have been dangerous. The novel's world isn't level-based. The game version is an RPG, so it uses levels. The protagonists don't level up by defeating minor enemies; they have fixed levels. They level up through training events.

Honestly, the protagonists weren't necessary in the end. The battles were fought by the player and their summoned creatures or familiars.

Thinking about this, my heart felt lighter. It's good to be a minor character. I can't do training. I had vowed to work hard to the point of death, but if there's an easier path, I'll take it without hesitation.

"To become stronger, I'll have to work hard, but I won't have to work to the point of death."

Leveling up and increasing proficiency in reality seems tough, but I'm sure it will work out. I buried my head in the pillow. There are many things to verify, like the difference between reality and the game, or the difference between the novel and the game. For example, my HP was full, but I still collapsed. I probably fainted from anemia.

I yawned. I'm sleepy. I'm quite tired. It was a big adventure for a 6-year-old.

As I started to doze off, the door to the hospital room opened, and my mother entered with a vase of flowers. Seeing me yawn, she was surprised, her eyes welled up, and she ran over.

"That's good, Mii-chan, you're awake!"

"Hi, Mom."

I answered her with a yawn as she hugged me tightly. I'm sleepy. Very sleepy.

"It's good, it's good," she sobbed and hugged me tightly. It seems I didn't do anything to disappoint my parents, and I hugged her back.

It's good, it's good. For now, let's be happy that I'm alive.