Chapter 1
"Damn this trash game."
Here is a ruined game.
Brilliant character design, a solid story, and a classic world setting.
A game that has every element to be a massive hit.
If there is a reason the word trash is attached to it....
"Why are there so many Bugs."
Bug.
An error that occurs during the execution of a program.
A phenomenon commonly found in other games as well.
There are various types, of course.
Wall Clip, item duplication, Levitation, stage skipping, and so on....
You could say there are more Bugs than there are games in the world.
Bugs are bound to exist as long as a game runs.
Then what is the problem?
'Ranne & Grandia Academy: The Marchen.'
Neugeume for short.
This game had way too many Bugs.
To the point where dozens of them were scattered across every stage by default.
Despite the advantages mentioned above, this is the reason I called Neugeume a trash game.
"But... I guess I should call this a charm now."
A familiar stinky smell.
Minor Bugs were everywhere, but none of them actually harmed the Player.
Most of them were funny or helpful to the User, with any unpleasantness removed.
In short, it crossed the line into sheer hilarity.
These aspects went viral in the community, and it quickly rose to become a popular game.
The funny thing is, the developers seemed aware of this and declared they would not fix any Bugs to keep their original intentions.
'It is just a crazy game.'
I was a veteran gamer for many years, but it was my first time seeing developers proudly declare they would milk the game like that.
'Well... that is a story from 4 years ago now.'
4 years since the release of Neugeume.
The game had somewhat settled down, and I had also played it consistently for 4 years.
I was quite a famous figure.
Not because I was normally good at the game or reached first place on all servers.
Because I was the person who enjoyed this game in the most unusual way.
[Nickname:PlaysGameToFindBugs]
[Total Playtime:14032 hours]
I went around looking for Bugs on purpose.
Finding Bugs in the game, mastering them perfectly, and incorporating them into my gameplay.
Perhaps due to my unique playstyle, word of mouth spread in many ways.
[What is this person? Where do they even find these things every time??]
[Wow, they skip the entire stage using the Wall Clip Bug.]
[They are not just experienced, they are completely rotten LOL]
[This person is just the God of Bugs yep]
[If there is the old generation Bug Master Fabre, there is BugFinder in the new generation...]
The strategy posts I uploaded directly to the community received immense attention.
Perhaps because of that influence, I frequently received appearance offers from famous broadcasters.
[Breaking News) Sir Yeskyung channel declared they will try to invite Master BugFinder Shiver]
[Real? Is that the channel with 3 million subscribers?]
[Will they finally make a real life appearance this time?]
[Probably not. Chabaknam also tried and failed.]
[Dabin too, anyway there are many people who got their offers rejected.]
Of course, I rejected all broadcasting appearance offers.
Because I just wanted to enjoy the game leisurely.
Things getting noisy everywhere was not my taste.
Anyway, I was proficient in hundreds of Bugs.
Starting from the aforementioned Wall Clip, Teleportation to specific coordinates, Invincibility in specific states, guaranteed hits, Damage manipulation, and more....
"At this point, I should be considered a living legend."
A silly soliloquy.
I launched the game again today to upload a strategy post.
'Come to think of it, was this playthrough exactly the 1000th one.'
The number of playthroughs had somehow reached 1000.
It meant I had repeated this for a whopping 14,000 hours.
Not normal gameplay, but a playstyle of searching for Bugs.
"Neugeume...."
(Meaning 'Ranne & Grandia Academy: The Marchen')
It was a moment of boundless emotion.
Even though reality hit me for a moment, my hand moved Click-Click.
Setting up the playthrough.
[Difficulty:Impossible]
-Challenging the highest difficulty.
[Additional Option:Hellscape]
-All spawned monsters will maintain a berserk state.
-The difficulty of appearing hostile forces increases by 300%.
-All basic stats of the Player are fixed to E rank.
[Story to play:All]
-You must clear the stories of all characters to see the ending.
-Story 'Nightmare of Alice' is applied.
-Story 'Night of Carmilla' is applied.
-Story 'Daydream of Don Quixote' is applied.
-Story 'Iron and Justice of Javert' is applied.
Settings complete.
Let us go.
Just as I was about to move the mouse.
Clink-!
[Hidden Achievement Unlocked!]
[You have reached the 1000th playthrough for the first time since the game release!]
[Calculated as the current rank 1, corresponding perks will be provided.]
A message appeared on the screen.
Skimming through it, it seemed they were giving me a perk to commemorate my 1000th playthrough.
It piqued my interest.
'A perk... Will they give me in-game currency? Or a multiple playthrough package?'
What Veteran wouldn't get excited over unseen content?
After taking a screenshot of the Achievement, I moved my mouse.
Following that, a choice appeared.
[Would you like to receive the perk?]
Yes/No
Why are they even asking this.
Obviously I am going to accept it.
Click-.
I clicked the button labeled [Yes] without much thought.
And the next moment.
Whoosh-!
"Ugh...?"
***
The price of my careless click returned coldly.
"...."
An unfamiliar sky.
I absentmindedly muttered.
"Fuck."
I let my guard down.
To think this was a build-up for possession.
***
"Sigh... That was already a month ago."
I let out a sigh.
It has already been a month since I dropped into the world of Neugeume.
"All sorts of things happen, I swear."
Tap, tap-.
I tapped the empty air.
Right after, a blue window popped up before my eyes.
It was a screen that looked exactly like the game UI.
Clink-!
[Difficulty:Impossible]
-Challenging the highest difficulty.
[Additional Option:Hellscape]
-All spawned monsters will maintain a berserk state.
-The difficulty of appearing hostile forces increases by 300%.
-All Basic Stats of the Player are fixed to E rank.
The Status Window showed exactly what I had set.
How bewildered I was at first.
Clink-!
[Basic Stat Information]
-Strength:E
-Stamina:E
-Agility:E
-Mana Sensitivity:E
Furthermore, because all my Basic Stats were fixed to E rank, it was a headache in many ways.
I reminisced about the short but intense month.
"Well... Anyway, I somehow managed to survive until today."
What day was today.
The exact point where the original work began.
The day the Protagonist and other main characters enrolled into the Academy.
This day had finally arrived after enduring a long month.
'Though it is just the beginning.'
I fiddled with the admission recommendation letter in my pocket.
Right, the real game started now.
[Difficulty:Impossible]
-Challenging the highest difficulty.
The difficulty of this world was Impossible.
As you can guess from the name, it is a brutally atrocious hard mode.
A mode where a single slip-up immediately leads to the world's destruction.
'I have to stop it.'
In the case of the Impossible difficulty, you can never clear it without knowing the strategy.
In other words, if I do not intervene, the world will end.
Whether I am helping someone or not, I have to stop it first just to survive.
That is also why I am trying to enter the Academy.
'First of all....'
There was a place I had to stop by.
The path I had to take before the Academy entrance exam.
"The road is quite dreary."
An isolated, continuous path.
It was the point where the Player spawned when starting their first playthrough.
It was also where the prologue took place.
'I need to find Ranne quickly.'
Ranne, the Protagonist of this game.
While heading to the Academy to take the entrance exam, she would discover people in danger.
A Carriage attacked by Cultists.
The righteous Protagonist would step forward to save them without hesitation.
-That was the prologue.
"Why can't I see anything? Did they take a different route by any chance?"
A dense forest. There were only thick bushes around.
There was only a single road connected where a Carriage could run.
Perhaps due to the thick fog, it was hard to secure a clear view.
A ridiculously dreary landscape.
"Tch, if I can't find it, I'm screwed."
I walk along the path.
As I grumbled and looked around.
"Oh."
Found it.
I spot swaying silhouettes in the distance.
An overturned Carriage, and people standing next to it.
And something with a body at least three times the size of the Carriage.
A girl was blocking the path of the writhing grotesque creature.
"Bingo."
I approach closer.
As the silhouettes become clearer, a voice rings in my ears.
-Everyone run away! I will somehow handle things here!
Ranne Kihano.
The Protagonist of this world, known by her alias 'Don Quixote'.
Befitting a Knight Trainee, her body was covered in Plate Armor.
'She looks exactly like the illustration.'
Golden hair, softly glowing purple eyes.
She was a beautiful girl who completely captured my attention.
If there was a flaw, it was that she was frowning deeply.
Well, it couldn't be helped. Anyone would look similar with something like that standing in front of them.
'So that is the prologue Boss.'
The Gatekeeper in charge of the prologue.
In a normal game, friends like a Slime or Goblin would appear, but the Impossible mode is different.
-Gwooooh....
A bizarre cry. Hundreds of hands are writhing.
Each of those creepy-looking hands holds a Grimoire.
Its single head is covered by a Robe.
Its bizarre appearance instills a sense of fear.
'Its mug is brutal.'
In addition, a height that easily reaches 10 meters.
A body larger than three Carriages stacked together.
Clink-!
[Name:The Reader]
-Species:Ghost
-Description:An unbeatable enemy. It seems best to run away.
Its name is 'The Reader'.
A Ghost that avidly reads lives and transcribes souls.
Known by Users as Jangboongi.
It is a guy positioned at the absolute top tier among Ghost-type monsters.
-Keuk, haa...!
Even in front of such a guy, Ranne did not back down at all.
How many times have they clashed already.
Her Pauldron was shattered, and her body was a mess covered in dirt and dust.
However, the Protagonist's back was still standing to protect the weak.
'Wow, that is the spirit of a hero.'
It was exactly like the cutscene I had seen countless times in the prologue.
The Protagonist pointing her spear proudly in front of the trembling people.
Truly righteous.
'Well... she won't be able to win regardless.'
The current Ranne can never defeat Jangboongi.
Weakness, strength... it is not such a one-dimensional issue.
Because it was designed from the start to be an impossible victory.
'A gimmick-type Boss.'
You know those, right.
Boss Monsters put there specifically so you don't kill them.
The ones that never fall due to story direction.
It is a common occurrence found in other games too.
'You can't win no matter what you do.'
In reality, Jangboongi did not have a single scratch on it.
Ranne's Spearmanship was blocked every single time.
It was the same in the original work.
Evacuating the people and escaping alive is the standard strategy.
'Of course, I will be using a shortcut.'
I step forward.
If you ask whether I have the strength to beat that guy, the answer is obviously no.
Take another look at my Stat Window and then tell me.
[Basic Stat Information]
-Strength:E
-Stamina:E
-Agility:E
-Mana Sensitivity:E
With this level, it is a Stat that would make a good match with a passing Farmer, let alone an Academy Cadet.
In short, complete fodder.
I did not have the strength to take him down.
However, I did have a way to take him down.
Because a weapon that transcended the limits of Stats existed.
'Bug.'
The things I memorized, memorized, and memorized again in my past life.
They were implemented exactly the same in this world too.
I pick up a Tree Branch from around my feet.
-Gwooooh...?
Perhaps noticing my presence, Jangboongi looks this way.
Whether it did or not, I fiddled with the Tree Branch.
Because there was a Bug that only worked exactly on the Boss here.
'It has been a while.'
The guy's Armor Stat is set to infinity.
Nullifies all physical attacks, nullifies all Magic attacks.
A crazy Physique with no existing weaknesses.
However, the Stamina it has by default is merely 1.
Since its defense could not be pierced anyway, its HP was set thin.
'I just have to force my way through.'
The Bug I am going to use from now on is an application of this mechanism.
I alternate holding the Tree Branch in my hand between my left and right hands.
Touching it three times with my left hand, and seven times with my right hand.
I repeat this process.
-Gwooooh!!
Meanwhile, Jangboongi designates me as its attack target.
Because the guy prioritizes the enemy with the lowest Basic Stat.
My average Basic Stat is E rank.
Meaning I am the weakest in this area.
Rustle-.
Hundreds of books flip, making a sound.
Gloomy Demonic Energy swarms around.
"You there! R-run away...!"
Ranne looks at me with a startled expression.
Looking as if she would rush over with her Shield at any moment.
Even in the midst of that, I was calm.
"Hmm."
There is a most basic Bug.
A Bug that can definitively inflict 3 Damage to any target.
It does not matter if their Armor is thick, attributes do not match, or they receive Divine Protection.
It applies unconditionally to any creature with a health bar.
'With a Damage of 3... it is at a level where you have to hit a Slime a whopping 100 times to kill one, though.'
Thus, it is easy to activate, but there are not many places to use it.
If there is the one and only place where it is useful....
"Hey Jangboong-kun."
It is right this guy.
If I keep gripping and releasing the Tree Branch, an anomaly soon occurs.
A haze flickers on the side branches as if the surroundings are breaking.
The Bug has been manifested.
-Guaaaah!!
Jangboongi lets out a loud, bizarre shriek.
It had the momentum to melt my flesh and bones right away.
Just before the Demonic Energy poured over my head like that, I twitched my finger.
Swish-.
As I scratch the air, a fluttering leaf extends out.
The surroundings distort like a static screen.
Clang-!
Cracks form as if a mirror has been broken.
A world shattering into pieces.
Beyond the cracks split here and there, only the nothingness where nothing exists glimmers.
It was an error that occurred after twisting providence with a Bug.
The distance narrowed as space tore apart, and the leaf gently touched the Monster's body.
"Got you."
Simultaneously with that mutter, the shadow shatters into pieces.
The haze of the Tree Branch transfers like a spark splattering on oil.
A single scream.
-Guh, gwooooh...!
The body splits into numerous Fragments.
Breaking, breaking, and breaking... it decomposes to the point where it can no longer be confirmed with the eyes.
The concept of nothingness devours existence, and after that, only a pure white blank space remains.
Just like erasing graphite from a notebook with an eraser.
'Annihilation.'
The huge body vanished like a lie.
The terrible stench of Demonic Energy and the thickly laid fog also lift completely.
"Phew...."
A suddenly brightened field of vision.
Sunlight shining through the dark clouds illuminates my surroundings.
An effect that only pops up in special situations.
Clink-!
[You have achieved an impossible Achievement.]
-Defeated the prologue Boss The Reader
-Reward: Mask of the Evil God×1, Robe of the Evil God×1, Grimoire That Should Not Exist×1
A perfect performance.
While I am briefly intoxicated with myself, a voice is soon heard from behind.
"What, is this...."
Purple eyes staring blankly in this direction.
Golden hair shining under the sunlight.
Our Protagonist was completely dumbfounded.
"How...?"
Our eyes meet.
First impressions are originally important in these things.
I smile so that the other person does not get scared.
Whoosh-.
My hair flutters in the wind that just happened to blow.
"Hello."
The remnants of the Bug remain on my fingertips.
A swarming haze with the momentum to crush the forest.
Even against a background breaking layer by layer, I merely stood calmly.
The girl's purple eyes tremble as if overwhelmed.
"I am a passing traveler."
It was the most gentlemanly greeting in the world.
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You're all caught up! Follow the story on NovelDex!
https://noveldex.io/series/mistaken-for-a-masked-op-character
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