Chapter 3: Ctrl+Alt+Escape
For a moment, she lay disoriented, her mind caught between worlds. The faint chemical tang in the air and the feel of her worn bedsheets beneath her slowly brought reality into focus. Her dull brown eyes blinked open with reluctance.
Was she still in Múspellsheim, staff in hand, ready to rain destruction upon her foes? Or was she back in Axel, preparing for another day of explosion-fueled adventures with her companions?
The answer came all too quickly as her gaze focused on the cracked, water-stained ceiling of her tiny room. Megumin was neither the feared arch-wizard of Yggdrasil nor the explosion-obsessed mage of her home world. She was just… here. Trapped in a polluted future, a stranger in an even stranger land.
With a groan that would have made Aqua proud in its melodrama, Megumin forced herself to sit up. The springs in her mattress, a far cry from the plush beds of Yggdrasil's inn rooms, creaked in protest. She ran a hand through her tangled hair, grimacing at the greasy texture. When was the last time she'd bathed? The days had begun to blur together, marked only by cleared quests, level-ups and limited-timed events.
"Curse this frail mortal form," Megumin said, her voice rough from disuse. She coughed, the sound echoing in the empty room.
Her stomach growled, an angry beast demanding tribute. Megumin ignored it, her gaze already drawn to the VR headset lying beside her futon. It beckoned to her, promising escape from the dreary confines of her apartment.
"Just a quick session," she whispered, reaching for the headset. "To regain my true self before facing the trials of this accursed realm."
Her fingers had barely grazed the smooth surface of the headset when a shrill beeping cut through the air. Megumin yelped, nearly toppling over in surprise. It took her a moment to recognise the sound—her alarm clock, a relic from a time when she still cared about such trivial matters as punctuality.
"Infernal device!" she snarled, fumbling for the off switch. "How dare you intrude upon my communion with Surtr!"
The alarm silenced, Megumin flopped back onto her bed, one arm draped across her eyes. She lay there for a long moment, listening to the muffled sounds of Neo Tokyo awakening beyond her walls. The distant rumble of traffic, the hum of pollution scrubbers working overtime, the occasional cough or curse from a neighbour—a cacophony of human misery that only heightened her longing for Yggdrasil's fantastical landscapes.
But even as she yearned for escape, a traitorous voice in the back of her mind—one that sounded suspiciously like Kazuma at his most exasperated—reminded her of her responsibilities. School. That most mundane of trials, yet one she couldn't afford to neglect. Not if she wanted to maintain her meager lifestyle. If there was only one thing that her 'mother' required of her, it was her attendance at school.
"Very well, cruel world." Megumin pushed herself to her feet with a theatrical flourish. "I shall grace you with my presence once more. But know that my true destiny awaits elsewhere, a place in which you cannot hope to compare!"
The proclamation would have been more impressive if she hadn't immediately stumbled, her legs weak from too many hours spent immobile in the game. Megumin caught herself against the wall, her palm coming away grimy. She stared at the smudge on her hand, then at the layers of dust and discarded food wrappers littering her apartment.
When had it gotten this bad? The Megumin of old would never have tolerated such squalor. She'd always taken pride in her appearance, in the immaculate state of her hat and staff. But now…
Megumin shook her head, banishing the creeping tendrils of self-doubt. "A temporary setback," she said, stumbling towards her tiny kitchenette. "The path to greatness is often paved with… uh… squishy protein cubes… and garbage…"
Breakfast was a grim affair. Megumin rummaged through her nearly-bare cupboards, eventually unearthing a protein container that was only slightly past its expiration date. She gnawed on it halfheartedly, her mind already drifting back to the countless feasts she'd enjoyed in Yggdrasil's taverns. Virtual food held no nutritional value, but at least it had the appearance of being edible.
She choked down the last of it, and Megumin caught sight of her reflection in the grimy window. Her hair was a tangled mess, her eyes sunken and dull. The vibrant crimson irises of her Yggdrasil avatar seemed like an impossible dream.
She only paused for a moment, but her bravado never cracked. She puffed out her chest, meeting her reflection's gaze with fierce determination and struck a pose. Very cool.
"Hmph. I've still got it."
Her momentary surge of confidence faltered as she saw the clock's reflection behind her. She was going to be late for school. Again. With a yelp of dismay, Megumin scrambled to get ready, her movements a tempest of barely controlled chaos.
She emerged from her apartment building only thirty seconds later, hair hastily brushed and uniform wrinkled but mostly presentable. The familiar weight of her gas mask settled over her face, signs of wear growing noticeable as the weeks passed. Megumin took a deep breath, tasting the filtered air, and set off towards school with determined strides.
The streets of Neo Tokyo were far removed from the dirt roads of Axel or the fantastical landscapes of Yggdrasil. Towering skyscrapers stretched towards a sky perpetually hidden behind a sickly yellow blanket, their gleaming surfaces so distant from the filth-ridden streets below. Holographic advertisements flickered on every surface, hawking everything from the latest VR games to artificial organs.
Megumin weaved through the crowds, her small stature an advantage in the press of bodies. Everyone moved with purpose, their eyes fixed ahead or on their personal devices. No one spared a glance at the disheveled girl in their midst. In Axel, Megumin had been a local celebrity, her dramatic proclamations and explosion magic the talk of the town.
The anonymity chafed at her.
Where were the adoring fans? The jealous rivals? The exasperated but ultimately fond companions? Megumin's fingers twitched, longing for the familiar weight of her staff. In moments like these, she would have called down an explosion just to remind the world of her presence, consequences be damned!
But here, in this magic-less future, she had no such outlet. Megumin clenched her fists, quickening her pace. Soon, she told herself. Soon she'd be back in Yggdrasil, where her power and potential were recognised. Where things mattered.
The school loomed before her, a utilitarian structure of steel and smart-glass. Megumin paused at the entrance, steeling herself for another day. She could already feel the eyes of her classmates upon her.
"You are still Megumin, scourge of Múspellsheim, terror of the newbie fields. These pitiful mortals could never hope to comprehend your greatness."
With that encouraging pep talk, Megumin stepped into the school, her head held high despite the whispers that followed in her wake.
The day dragged on interminably. Megumin slouched in her seat, her mind a million miles away—or rather, in another world where her true talents could shine. The teacher's droning voice faded into background noise as Megumin plotted her next Yggdrasil session. She'd just unlocked a new fire spell, and she was itching to test its destructive potential.
"Psst, Megumin!"
A sharp whisper and a gentle nudge broke through her reverie. Megumin blinked, turning to find Hana looking at her with concern. Sweet, kind Hana, who for reasons Megumin couldn't fathom, had taken it upon herself to befriend the strange transfer student.
"The teacher asked you a question," Hana whispered, nodding towards the front of the class.
Megumin's eyes widened as she realised all eyes were on her. The teacher—whose name she could never remember—was staring at her expectantly, one eyebrow raised in clear annoyance.
"Well, Megumin?" the teacher prompted. "Can you tell us the significance of the 2089 Environmental Accords?"
Megumin's mind raced. She hadn't been paying attention to a word of the lecture. In her old world, she would have confidently spouted some nonsense about explosion magic and hoped for the best. But here…
"I… that is…" Megumin floundered, her usual eloquence deserting her. "Surely such trivial matters pale in comparison to—"
"That's enough, Megumin," the teacher cut her off with a weary sigh. "Please see me after class. And try to pay attention for the remainder of the lesson."
Heat rose in Megumin's cheeks as titters of laughter rippled through the classroom. She slumped lower in her seat, mortification warring with indignation. How dare they mock her! If only she could show them her true power, make them understand the insignificance of their petty history lessons in the face of magical might!
The rest of the class passed in a haze. When the bell finally rang, Megumin was out of her seat in an instant, ready to bolt for the door and into the promise of Yggdrasil.
"Megumin, wait!" Hana called after her. "Don't forget, you need to talk to the teacher."
Megumin froze, her escape thwarted. With a dramatic sigh that would have made Aqua proud, she turned back to face her fate.
The conversation with the teacher was mercifully brief. Concerns about her grades, her participation, and her overall engagement with school life. The words washed over Megumin, barely registering. What did any of it matter? This wasn't her real life. Her true self, her potential, existed in Yggdrasil.
"I expect to see improvement, Megumin," the teacher concluded, fixing the girl with a stern gaze. "You're a bright girl when you apply yourself. Don't throw away your future for whatever distractions occupy your time."
But she nodded meekly, mumbling promises of better behaviour that rang hollow even to her own ears. As soon as she was dismissed, Megumin all but fled from the classroom, her heart pounding with the need to escape back into the virtual world.
She was so focused on getting home, on reaching her headset, that she almost missed Hana calling out to her.
"Megumin! Hey, wait up!"
Megumin skidded to a halt, turning to see Hana jogging to catch up with her. The other girl's face was flushed, her expression a mix of concern and determination.
"Are you okay?" Hana asked, falling into step beside Megumin. "You seemed really out of it in class today. More than usual, I mean."
A pang of guilt shot through Megumin. Hana had been nothing but kind to her, yet Megumin had been pushing her away, too caught up in her own adventures to nurture this friendship.
"I'm fine," Megumin replied, her voice lacking its usual dramatic flair. "Just… preoccupied with matters beyond comprehension."
Hana raised an eyebrow, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Yggdrasil again, huh?"
Was she really that transparent? "Perhaps," Megumin said. "The arts demand constant dedication and practice, you know."
"Right, right," Hana nodded, her tone gently teasing. "Well, speaking of practice, a bunch of us are getting together to study for the history exam next week. Want to join? We could use your, uh, cosmic perspective."
For a moment, Megumin hesitated. A part of her—the part that remembered lazy afternoons with Kazuma and the others, the joy of simply being with friends—longed to accept. But the siren call of Yggdrasil…
"I… Sorry, I can't," Megumin said, hating the way Hana's face fell. "I have… important quests to complete. Dungeons to conquer, dragons to slay. You understand."
"Yeah, sure," Hana replied, her smile not quite reaching her eyes. "Just… don't forget about the real world entirely, okay? We miss you when you're not around."
Megumin opened her mouth, wanting to say something, to reach out and grasp this tenuous connection. But the words wouldn't come.
"I'll… keep that in mind," she eventually managed, her voice uncharacteristically small. "See you tomorrow, Hana."
Before the other girl could respond, Megumin's feet carried her swiftly through the crowded streets of Neo Tokyo. Guilt gnawed at her over brushing off Hana's kindness, but it was quickly overwhelmed by the urgent need to let loose an explosion, even a small one.
She burst into her apartment, barely pausing to kick off her shoes before making a beeline for her VR setup. The familiar ritual of preparation brought a sense of calm, pushing away the lingering doubts from her encounter with Hana.
Megumin's fingers danced over the headset, tracing the mystical symbols she'd etched into its surface. "Oh great portal to realms beyond," she began, her voice gaining strength with each word, "hear my plea and grant me passage! Let the veil between worlds part, that I might once again walk the path of explosions!"
With a dramatic flourish, she donned the headset, her body relaxing as the familiar startup sequence began. The grimy walls of her apartment faded away, replaced by swirling code and pulsing energy. For a moment, Megumin floated in the void between worlds, savouring the anticipation of return.
Then, in a rush of sensation, Múspellsheim materialized around her. The harsh beauty of the fire realm filled Megumin with fierce joy. Here, amidst the volcanic plains and rivers of lava, she was Megumin, feared arch-wizard and master of destructive magic.
"I have returned!" she proclaimed to the empty landscape, her voice ringing with confidence.
A notification pinged in her peripheral vision. A new quest had appeared on her log, promising rare crafting materials and a hefty EXP reward for clearing out a den of fire elementals that had been harassing new players.
"Ah! My dailies have refreshed!"
Megumin's eyes gleamed with anticipation. This was exactly what she needed—a chance to flex her growing magical arsenal. Without hesitation, she set off towards the quest marker, her staff held high and her crimson eyes scanning for any sign of danger.
The den of fire elementals turned out to be a sprawling network of caves carved into the base of a dormant volcano. Steam hissed from cracks in the ground, and the air shimmered with heat mirages. It was the kind of environment that would have been lethal in the real world, but here in Yggdrasil, Megumin felt alive.
"Come forth, creatures of flame! Confront but a taste of my explosion magic, if you dare!"
With a roar like a furnace bellows, the fire elementals emerged. They poured from the cave mouths, their bodies writhing masses of flame and molten rock. Newer players might have quailed at the sight, but Megumin's grin only widened.
This was what she lived for now. The thrill of battle, the rush of casting spells, the satisfaction of watching her enemies crumble before her might.
Megumin raised her staff, scripted magic effects crackling at its tip. The fire elementals surged forward, but she stood her ground, her eyes blazing with determination. "Darkness, blacker than black and darker than dark," she intoned, the familiar words of her favourite incantation flowing endlessly from her lips. "Let all who witness despair! For I am Megumin, Arch-Wizard of Two Worlds, and my explosions know no equal!"
The cavern's oppressive heat engulfed Megumin as she plunged deeper into the elemental den. Sweat beaded on her brow, a cosmetic feature of the game. Her crimson eyes gleamed with anticipation, the maniacal grin across her face never faltering.
"O', creatures of flame!" Megumin's voice rang out, echoing through the tunnels. "Do you think you can defeat me?"
As if answering her challenge, the elementals burst forth from the walls like living magma, their bodies a chaotic swirl of orange and black. Each stood as tall as three men, cores pulsing with wild power. Megumin struck a dramatic pose, her staff held high.
"[Flame Bolt]!" she cried, launching a series of fiery projectiles at the nearest elemental. The spell, normally devastating against most enemies, merely glanced off the creature's molten hide. Megumin's grin widened. "Do you think your paltry fire resistance stands a chance against a Crimson Demon?"
A lesser mage might have switched to ice spells, but Megumin was stubborn in that sense. Her eyes blazed with fanatical determination as she quickly opened her inventory, fingers dancing across the interface.
"Behold, the brilliance of my preparation!" she said, dodging a molten fist that cratered the ground where she'd stood. In one fluid motion, she withdrew one of her many stockpiled [Resist Break] scrolls and selected the group of elementals as her target. The scroll disappeared in a flash of shimmering mist, briefly coiling around the monsters with tendrils of energy.
Without missing a beat, Megumin followed up with another "[Flame Bolt]!" With their fire resistance stripped, the spell arced between the elementals dealing significantly more damage than before.
Megumin cackled with glee, but her triumph was short-lived. More elementals poured from hidden crevices, their numbers seemingly endless. Her health bar dipped continuously as stray flames licked at her robes.
"[Magic Shield]!" A familiar warmth of magic cocooned her body. It wouldn't last long against such foes, but it brought her precious seconds to think.
Her eyes darted around the cavern, taking in every detail. A stalactite hung precariously from the ceiling, weakened by the intense heat. Megumin's mind raced, formulating a plan that would make even Kazuma proud.
"[Fireball]!" she bellowed, not aiming at the elementals, but at the base of the stalactite. The rock groaned, then gave way with a thunderous crack. This was the fruit of countless hours spent poring over player forums—the sacred art of turning Yggdrasil itself into a weapon. Environmental combat! Let lesser mages rely on mere spells; a true Crimson Demon could weaponize the very world around them!
The stalactite plummeted at full speed. It impaled the largest elemental, scattering its fiery essence and sending shockwaves through the smaller ones nearby.
Landing gracefully amidst the chaos, Megumin wasted no time. She withdrew a [Scroll of Twin Maximise Magic] from her inventory, holding it between her fingers.
Her next spell, "[Fire Rain]," hailed upon the rabble of elementals. The amplified flames washed over the disoriented elementals, hot enough to overpower even their natural resistance. Megumin laughed as her foes began to flicker and fade, their own flames consumed by her superior magic.
Notifications flooded her vision–experience gained, rare items looted, quest completed, before a sharp pain in her stomach jolted her back to reality.
Megumin blinked, the harsh lighting of her tiny apartment suddenly replacing Múspellsheim's warm glow. How long had she been playing? The ache in her back and the dryness in her eyes suggested… a while.
She glanced at the clock: 4:47 AM. Had it really been that long? She had school in a few hours, and she hadn't even started on her exam preparation…
Megumin groaned as she pushed herself up, wincing at the protest of unused muscles. The grimy walls of her apartment seemed even more depressing after the vibrant landscapes of Yggdrasil. She'd completely lost track of time, missing dinner and her usual nighttime routine.
Megumin stumbled to her kitchenette, rummaging through near-empty cupboards for something to eat. As she choked down the meager meal, Megumin's gaze fell upon her school bag, discarded and untouched since she'd returned home. A twinge of guilt shot through her as she remembered the upcoming history exam Hana had mentioned. She should study, she knew. Her grades were already slipping, and another failed test would only bring more unwanted attention from her teachers.
But the thought of staring at textbooks, of forcing her mind to focus on dates and names that held no meaning for her, was almost physically painful. How could she be expected to care about the petty conflicts of this world's past when she had just performed a legendary act of vanquishing a horde of fire elementals single-handedly?
When her own incredible adventures were waiting for her in Yggdrasil?
Just one more session, she told herself. One more quest, one more spell to master, and then she'd deal with the school.
Megumin settled back onto her dive chair, reaching for the headset, when she caught a glimpse of her reflection in the grimy window. The girl staring back at her looked tired. But in her eyes, there was a fire that hadn't been there before—the burning determination she recognised as hers.
All that mattered now was the game. The next stage, the next adventure. As a day-one player, Megumin was already comfortably ahead in terms of levels—she just needed to maintain that lead. She would become the first to discover explosion magic in Yggdrasil.
She donned the headset once more. The outside world, could wait.