Prologue 2

Book 1



　Let me ask, do you like playing games?
　Fighting games, shooting games, RPG, and online games.
　There's all kinds of genres out there, and I love them.
　To the point that I started imagining stuff in classes, like say when we dealt with flames and chemicals in science classes, I'd imagine 'This must be dark elemental', or 'That flame gotta have a special power.'
　So yeah in a way, you could say I have a 'Game Brain' or 'Game Brain Rot.'

　...All that preface aside, do hear out my situation.
　Right now I'm in a class taught by a teacher who's been constantly hammering in how our college entrance will be decided by summer vacation, but today none of that sinks in.
　To begin with, I can't concentrate right now.
　No it's not because some stray dog wandered in or I'm playing with my phone, I just can't wrap my head around the lesson.
　Because--

"What's wrong Sasahara, can't you provide an answer to this basic problem?"
"Ah, err, I mean..."

　Hi, it's me, Sasahara Yuuki, the very same boy who don't know the answer to a basic problem.
　Actually no, I do! Heck, the answer's in my bone which makes it all the more puzzling!
　I'm getting even more confused when I re-checked the question plastered on the blackboard.

『A party of four is under attack by inorganic monsters. An art user in the back has used up almost all of their mana.
　Other party members consist of a swordsman, a healer, and a shooter (their mana is low as well). What is the best course of action here.』

　See, it's just weird, right.
　What kind of problem is that, what is this, a game?

"Sensei, it looks like Yuuki is stumped, can I answer in his place?"
"No no, I'm just about to."

　The class's honor student, Kotou Shousuke, butted in.
　Uh what, you don't look the type that plays games at all though.

"This question is not merely about answering, Sasahara. Starting with college, you are required to realistically imagine the surrounding circumstances as well. This affects your mark."
"Ah, yes."

　All the students in this class are taking this lesson dead seriously.
　Am I the only one who thinks this is weird?

"Err... First of all, we have to consider the environment and the distance to the safe zone. Like say, if those inorganic monsters are made of lava rocks and they're in a volcanic area, they should use up all their mana to cast water magic and defeat the enemy if possible, if not they should use that chance to retreat. If the safe zone is too far away, the shooter should keep shooting at the weakened enemy while they make their getaway."

　Welp, I went and said it. My wild delusion.
　Now come laugh at me all you want, it's probably some candid prank y'all pulled cause I talk about that game stuff all day usually.
　Dammit, this is too much guys.

"...Simply wonderful, what's the occasion Sasahara! Sensei didn't expect such a perfect answer coming from you!? Yes right... Assuming that it's a volcanic area does makes sense in this case... Wonderful answer."
"Eh, for real?"
"For big real. Hear that all of you, that was the optimum solution for these queries, keep that in mind as a future reference! Do your due diligence. Pore over materials for your courses and clear those exercises if you don't want to lose to Sasahara."

　Looks like I've wandered my way into quite a ridiculous world.