I have a favorite video game.
Its name is Helios Academy.
It's a strange indie game, but also a unique one.
The setting is an academy, but the genre is survival and strategy.
In this game, there is an academy that shares the same name as the title, Helios Academy. And Helios Academy is located on a dangerous island that used to be a demon kingdom.
But strangely enough, Helios Academy requires all students to live there, and the academy provides nothing except knowledge. That means students must take care of everything themselves – food, housing, and all other necessities.
And the player is one of the students of Helios Academy.
It's a very strange idea because something like this would never work in the real world. But that strange idea becomes incredibly unique when applied in a game. And that's one of the biggest appeals of this game.
Unfortunately, the game is also controversial because it contains erotic fan service that some people consider disturbing. But honestly, for me, that fan service is just a bonus. Hehehe.
Anyway, I've played this game for thousands of hours and remember every single detail in it. The reason is not only because I love it, but also because I'm just a poor biotechnology student who doesn't have the money to buy new games.
Even today, after working on my thesis until my head hurts, I played this game again.
But this time something strange happened.
Right after I opened the game, my laptop suddenly disappeared right in front of my eyes.
What happened?
Am I sick?
Maybe it's because of that damn thesis!
I'd better just go to sleep…
But when I tried to go to my bed, it wasn't there.
Not only that – every piece of furniture in my room had disappeared. Even the room itself had changed. It was now dusty and full of spider webs.
OMG… I'm so exhausted that I'm hallucinating.
Maybe I should go to the hospital.
I walked to the door and opened it.
But behind the door wasn't the modern city with skyscrapers that I was used to seeing.
Instead, it was an ancient city with buildings made of stone and wood. I could even see a castle in the distance.
"WTF!"
Rather than a hallucination, it feels more like I've been transported to another world.
But something fictional like that can't possibly happen. So this must be a hallucination.
Yeah. A severe hallucination.
However, in this situation, I can't go to the hospital. My phone has disappeared somewhere too, so I can't call an ambulance.
God damn, this is really bad.
But I know what I should do.
Sleep.
This hallucination is caused by exhaustion, so sleeping should cure it naturally.
Since I don't know where my bed is, I have no choice but to sleep on the floor.
Hopefully my back and neck won't hurt when I wake up.
I woke up.
Immediately, I felt soreness in my neck and spine.
"Oh god…! I feel worse than before…"
Yeah, it's literally worse.
My hallucination hasn't disappeared. My laptop is still gone, I'm still in this dusty room, and outside is still that ancient city.
But my mind feels clearer after waking up.
And with that clear mind, I realize something – severe hallucinations shouldn't be caused by exhaustion alone.
"That means either all of this is real… or I've gone insane."
I prefer the first possibility.
Still, it's better for me to go to the hospital.
So I went outside.
I walked through the ancient city, seeing streets filled with horse-drawn carriages instead of cars. The air felt clean and fresh, free from pollution.
This ancient city looked incredibly beautiful to a fantasy lover like me.
Especially that castle, full of ornaments and carvings.
For some reason, I kind of like this situation.
As I walked, I saw a woman who looked extremely similar to my favorite character in Helios Academy.
Lunaria Miravella Arkenfell.
She was incredibly beautiful – almost unreal.
Pale white skin. Pink lips. Cold crimson eyes. Long straight black hair with bangs that gave her a mysterious aura.
And a seductive figure with large breasts and long legs wrapped in a black gothic dress.
This is the kind of beauty that no human could ever achieve unless they used god-level beauty filters or heavy makeup.
Oh god… I really am sick.
I'm actually seeing Luna right in front of my eyes.
Even so, I still approached her.
Even though she was surrounded by knights who looked threatening in their black iron armor.
One of the knights extended his hand as if he wanted to touch my chest.
"Stop right there."
I immediately slapped his hand away.
"Hey, dude! Don't you know? These days sexual harassment isn't just about touching a woman's chest. Touching a man's chest counts too! Watch your manners or I'll report you to the police!"
"What the hell?!"
I ignored the confused-looking knight.
After all, he couldn't possibly be a real knight.
I mean, he only looks like a knight because I'm hallucinating.
I approached Luna.
"Hey, lady. Can you help me? I've gone crazy, so I want to go to the hospital. But since I'm crazy, I don't know where the hospital is. Can you tell me where it is?"
"No crazy person would admit they're crazy, because by definition they're already crazy."
Luna spoke, her voice extremely cold – exactly like in the game.
"Well, I really am crazy. I mean, I'm seeing a woman with unreal beauty. So how could I possibly be sane?"
"Are you flirting with me?"
A slight smile appeared on her lips.
But that alone increased her beauty by a thousand percent.
"I'm not doing that. I'm just being honest – about both your beauty and my condition. So, lady, where's the hospital?"
"And I'm also being honest. You're not crazy."
A young woman with silver hair dressed in a maid outfit approached us.
Once again, she looked like a character from Helios Academy.
Her name was Elysia Noctilune Sylvarose.
"My Lady, it's time for you to register at Helios Academy."
Did she just say Helios Academy?
Could it be that I've entered the world of this game?
There are three pieces of evidence: Helios Academy itself, Luna and Elysia standing right in front of me.
And the appearance of this city is exactly the same as in the game – the city where the MC registers.
Which means…
This isn't the time to look for a hospital.
This is the time to flirt with Luna.
"Lady, would you like to get to know me?"
She smirked.
"So you finally admit you were flirting."
"No, I was seriously asking before. But since you said I'm not crazy, I forgot about the hospital. So now I want to flirt with you."
I said that while putting on my best smile.
"You and I are not equal. I am a princess, and you are just a commoner. It's impossible for us to be together. You'd better abandon that dream."
God damn! Her words are cold and piercing!
But that's also one of the reasons I like her.
"Dreams exist to be achieved, Lady."
She didn't reply.
She simply smirked before leaving with her entourage.
Looking at her proud, elegant back – so smooth and beautiful – I wanted her even more.
But she was right.
This world is a monarchy. There is no equality among people here. Humans are divided by noble hierarchies.
If that's the case, then I just need to become a noble to reach her.
And to do that, I have to enroll in Helios Academy.
This elite academy can become the gateway for a commoner like me to become a noble.
"So, Luna, my waifu… just wait for me."