- #1
Personally, the main draws here for me were the world-building and characters. The plot is pretty interesting and it's fun seeing the MC stun people with his creations. The MC is pretty proactive and will often figure stuff out using his own skills, but he's also humble and has great relationships with people, so he gets doted on a lot.
The main couple are a very secure established relationship 99% of the time; don't look for relationship development, but there are a lot of light-hearted cute moments.
[collapse]Re: Characters/RelationshipsSpoilerMC: Hardworking and friendly, likes muscles, loves the ML (sometimes too much, if you're sticking around for plot). Proactive and responsible; basically just a very good boy.
ML: Upright and honest, the stereotypical wanko-type doting can come off a bit strong at times.
Side characters: Characters of every gender and race are generally delightful; some players can be jerks (especially regarding the 'be nice to NPCs' plot thread).
The main couple are very respectful of and devoted to one another; they're both equally whipped for each other, which can be a bit overbearing even if you're me and you enjoy the 'idiot couple' dynamic. They get together very early, with zero fanfare, and stay that way forever. The novel gets progressively more plot-focused, but the author includes a fluffy date scene at least once every couple of chapters. Their relationship is supported by the players in-game and the main couple's close friends/family (no drama).
The original novel is occasionally NSFW. MC is 17 at the start of the novel. A few encounters take place in-game before he turns 18 in the real world; on all but one occasion (IIRC) he is aged up (the game has a protective feature where minors can’t strip). Some of the baby-face comments can be cringey.
[collapse]Re: Plot/WorldbuildingSpoilerThe VR game world is actually an alternate universe, which means the NPCs are not actually NPCs, and the ML's mother + brother (who are located in the 'real world') have been using the game to work on technology that will link both worlds. The game world is also being threatened by the possibility of the demon lord rising again after being defeated.
The MC's goals start with typical game leveling but due to the above factors, the stakes in-game become higher. The plot mainly progresses via quests which have rewards for completion/consequences for failure.
The MC has a hidden profession called 'alchemy' - he's the only one with this profession, and therefore vital to saving the world, etc. In general, he uses recipes to create potions, food etc. Which have various efficacy grades and effects.
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