Prologue (End): What is the strongest existence? The answer is "C."

"The Strongest Being There are as many answers as there are people when it comes to the question of the strongest being. There are many strong beings in this world, but which one is the most vicious? Gods or demon lords? Let's face it, they're nothing but small fry. It's sad to watch, really."

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Money is what makes the world go round. Money, money, money. It's ridiculous.

In my previous life and in this life, it's all about money.

Money, in other words, is it money? Cash? Credit? Coins? Confidence? Capital?

It's wealth.

In other words, it's financial power (Capital) that is required.

By the way, many financial terms start with the letter "C".

Personally, I secretly refer to all topics, words, and various things related to money as "C".

I can say that my life has been tormented by C.

In my previous life, I was tormented by money, and in this life, I'm still being tormented by money.

I can't take it anymore.

The concept of money is the most significant enemy that appears even when reincarnated into a different world, which is amazing.

"You are number one."

The concept of money is a formidable devil's system that human beings have invented.

Gold, paper, electronic data, minerals, antiques, and so on...

It takes various forms in credit transactions.

It is a wicked existence.

A devilish thing.

For a mere piece of paper, people fight, deceive, and cause tragedies.

Even serious people devote their lives to money.

It starts wars, causes famines, and creates sadness.

It drives people mad and leaves a lasting impact on the world.

A curse.

The eternal curse system that torments human beings for the majority of their lives for the sake of money.

That's what money is.

If there is a Demon King, then...

Cash.

It's you.

Although there are stories of demon kings throughout history, you are a more formidable opponent than any of them.

The strongest and most evil enemy that mankind should despise.

The incarnation of all envy and desire.

A wicked value system that intelligent beings cannot resist.

That's credit.

There's no doubt that you are undoubtedly one of the strongest.

Because I don't know of any more evil existence than you.

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The silver shining pelican was struck down by a sword wrapped in fire attribute and collapsed on the spot.

This monster, called "Metal Perippa," looks like a silly-faced pelican with a silver body. Despite being a rare monster, it's just a small fry with only 3 HP.

However, it provides a lot of experience points and magic elements when defeated.

It is an extremely rare monster and has incredibly fast escape speed. It has a 0.0002% encounter rate and a 50% escape success rate.

Defeating this monster even once earns the trophy for those who have that account.

However, there is a sneaky technique to efficiently encounter and defeat this monster by blocking its escape route with a trick once it has been found.

This technique was named by the players on the continent and is called "Practical Investment Edition!! Mouse-click tactics (commandment) - once you find one, it's like digging up potatoes."

When it was first released on the Wiki, it became a trend on social media.

It is one of the "forbidden techniques" that consumes a considerable amount of money but allows players to level up at a terrifying speed.

And finally, I was relieved that I could take a breath.

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Until Metal Perippa appeared, it was a hellish round of dungeon runs.

I had been diving into the dungeon for days, waiting for small fry monsters to appear.

It was so tedious that it made me feel dizzy.

To use the Practical Investment Edition, you must encounter Metal Perippa.

It was a long wait for that one monster. The only efficient way to encounter it was to go to an abandoned mine dungeon in Gunma Prefecture.

Moreover, you had to solve a hidden gimmick to enter the dungeon.

No one except the players would know about this dungeon.

The encounter rate with Metal Perippa in this dungeon is 0.02%, which is 100 times higher than usual. Isn't it efficient? Any gamer would agree.

My friend who didn't play Megashuva said, "Low!? It hasn't changed at all," but he doesn't understand anything.

Well, to be honest, once you find one, it's like digging up potatoes.

Just use the Practical Investment Edition.

When the Metal Perippa uses a special art action, it calls its fellow Metal Perippas as a bonus.

Use the "space formation engraving stone" to block the escape route.

This item, which is originally a movement item, can be used to restrain Metal Perippa.

The "inducement grass" is used to trigger the monster's special art action.

I used them like water.

If the Metal Perippa, which was restrained by the space formation engraving stone, calls for a second one, use the stone to restrain the second one. Hunt down one of the restrained monsters.

Use the inducement grass for the special art action.

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After defeating Metal Peripper, the particles of light emitted enveloped my body, dissolving into my being as magical elements. My body was clearly different now. It's difficult to express, but it felt like my body had become lighter, as if something hot had been born from my heart. It was a very pleasant sensation, almost like taking medicine.

"My level has gone up..."

One thing I had come to understand since coming to this world was that, as I had suspected, there was no way to check a character's status as numerical values like in a game in this world that had become reality.

Now that I couldn't confirm it as a numerical value, why did I have such conviction? It was because I had something - memories of my past life. The knowledge that a player's perspective could provide. I had the conviction that my level had gone up.

I read through the materials of a printed copy of an intermediate-level fire attribute magic book that I had obtained from the library using my skills of high-speed and parallel thinking.

Then, I closed the book, conducted magical energy into my palms, and used my full knowledge of the game era to imagine the technique.

At that moment.

I activated an intermediate-level magic that could not be used until level 30 or higher.

This was a technique that could not be used just moments ago.

In other words, it meant that my level had increased from the 20s to the 30s.

I couldn't determine the exact numerical value of the tens place, but I was at least level 30.

There were magic and arts that could not be used without reaching a certain level.

This was one way to confirm my level.

I put strength in my unsteady legs and laughed loudly with an evil grin.

"I will win! Only I will win! It's okay. I still have trump cards and escape routes. Most of all, I have knowledge of the game."

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I trudged along on my way home.

This was the real world where Megashuva had become a reality.

Leveling up was brutally difficult. In the game version of Megashuva, leveling up was already a nightmare, but it was bearable because you could just run around the screen with a single finger.

But in this reality, it wasn't that simple.

In reality, you had to go to dungeons and use your whole body to hunt monsters. Even defeating a weak monster would accumulate fatigue throughout your body.

Of course, you would also get hungry and sleepy. And there was pain as well.

In the game, weak monsters that could be defeated in a few seconds would take ten times or even a hundred times longer in reality.

I had defeated about 3,200 weak monsters before encountering a Metal Peripper, and even after all those battles, I probably wasn't even level 10.

This was because the only art I could use before battle was "Reflex (Small)". I don't think I was entirely mistaken about this.

But after defeating just six Metal Perippers, I was able to surpass level 30. These monsters definitely gave an insane amount of experience.

However, it was impossible to continuously battle them because they consumed items too quickly.

It was a harsh reality. This strategy was the root of capitalism, after all. But it was a practical investment.

It was a long journey. A very long journey. And my assets, or rather my inheritance, were almost completely depleted.

I paid my respects to Amachi's family, whom I had never met before.

Dragging my exhausted body, I returned to the entrance of the dungeon full of weak monsters that no one used anymore.

I collapsed on the spot and looked up at the blue sky.

And then I laughed.

"I can become strong."