Progress came quickly after that, and only then did Ryuji truly understand how this world worked.
It wasn't about paying for services—it was about buying drinks. As long as you ordered enough, the girls would accompany you to a cozy room with couches and chairs. And then, well… you could do whatever you wanted.
Unfortunately…
"Only five energy points? Looks like there's no point coming back here again."
Sitting on the bed, he glanced at the mess beside him—Miss Yellow Rose, utterly spent. He let out a sigh.
He'd gone at it five times with her, but only gained a measly five points of energy. Forget comparing it to Erina—even Lux's mouth gave better returns!
"Though I'll admit, her service and technique were quite decent…"
Running his hand along the smooth, silk-like skin of Yellow Rose's back, he sighed again. She was just a normal human. After draining him dry, she was completely wiped out.
Taking a deep breath, he placed ten gold coins on her chest, got dressed, and walked out of the pink-hued pub.
Since accumulating energy was so inefficient, it was only natural that he should seek more effective ways to grow stronger.
"Come to think of it, swordsmanship is pretty widespread in the world of Dungeon Fighter Online."
Watching all the sword-wielding warriors walking the streets, Ryuji pondered what kind of combat style he should pursue.
Guns were a no-brainer—he'd definitely keep training in firearms. They were far faster than swords.
But he couldn't afford to neglect his body either. He hadn't forgotten how the same power boost had made Rias dozens of times stronger, while he was still considered a weakling in their eyes.
So strengthening his physical form through training and discipline was essential.
With that thought, he headed straight for the Mage Guild.
Come on—magic is way cooler!
Upon entering the Mage Guild, he found it nothing like what he expected. It wasn't some shabby little room with just Sharan inside like in the game. It was a full-fledged academy.
Students in robes bustled about with books in their arms and long staffs in hand.
Sharan, whom he had met before, stood by a large door holding a wand no longer than her forearm, shaped like a star. She was instructing two kids who looked about eight or nine years old.
Ryuji stood off to the side, waiting quietly.
This time, the cold, aloof look on Sharan's face was gone. As she guided the children through their spells and watched them successfully cast simple magic, her expression softened beautifully.
Her figure was still the same—curvy and alluring. When she bent down, her already generous chest looked even fuller and rounder. But what caught his attention wasn't her body, but the maternal aura she gave off, the seriousness with which she taught. Dressed in her elegant evening gown, she radiated the air of a noblewoman—because that's exactly what she was.
After sending the children off, Sharan looked over at Ryuji. She'd seen many humans before, but he stood out. His features were unremarkable, but the aura of someone who had stared death in the face multiple times—now that was unmistakable.
And more than that, the closer she got to him, the more she sensed something strange.
It felt like he possessed an incredible power. And yet—there was absolutely no magical energy in him.
"Morning, Miss Sharan. I came to thank you for this."
He pointed to the brooch on his chest and pulled out half the gold coins he had left, offering them to her.
"No need for money. I'm here to help those in need. But… I doubt you came just to return a favor, right?"
She looked at him with curiosity. Just now, when she was teaching magic to the kids, she'd noticed his eyes. Yes, some of his gaze had wandered to her legs and chest—but most of it had been fixed on the magic spells she was casting.
That kind of hunger in his eyes—she'd seen it countless times. The unmistakable hunger for power.
And magic was power.
"You're right. I'm really interested in magic."
Ryuji nodded.
Swordsmanship was cool and all, and definitely something he'd learn—but if he could master magic…
"Then come with me. This is part of my job, after all."
Sharan smiled and opened the door behind her, walking in first.
Ryuji hadn't expected it to be this easy, but he followed her in and looked around.
With a wave of her hand, crystals of various colors lit up around the room. Then she pointed toward a magic circle inscribed with a five-pointed star.
"Step in, close your eyes, and try to sense the energies around you. You can imagine it—try to feel colors, emotions, something that speaks to you. If you manage to catch hold of it, you'll be able to use magic. If not… there's nothing more I can do."
He nodded silently and stepped into the circle.
His decisiveness made Sharan nod in approval. She snapped her fingers again, and this time, even he could feel the ripple of magical energy.
He tried to feel the flow around him, but sensed nothing. So he followed her instructions and imagined colors in his mind.
Four colors emerged in his thoughts. The one closest to him was black.
It was cold, unsettling, and made his heart race. Seeking warmth, he instinctively imagined a ball of red.
He reached out for the red glow. The moment the thought of "grasping" it formed in his mind, he felt a surge of blazing heat—and Sharan's voice echoed in his ears.
"That's enough. Congratulations, Mr. Ryuji. You have the aptitude for magic. It's faint, but you should feel it now—magical energy gathering around you."
Ryuji opened his eyes.
The warmth he felt wasn't just in his imagination. A small flame floated in his hand, radiating gentle heat.
He could feel it—an invisible force seeping into his body from all directions, gathering in his hand and fusing with the air to form that ball of fire.
With another wave of Sharan's hand, the fire dispersed. But the residual energy lingered in his body, and he instinctively summoned a faint glow to his palm.
Staring at the light, he still couldn't believe it. Just like that, he had gained the supernatural power he'd long dreamed of.
"This is… mana?"
Sharan beamed—not because of the power itself, but because another person had taken their first step on the path of magic.
"That's right. This is mana. Once you grow accustomed to it, your body will naturally start producing it on its own."
Ryuji studied his hand. The mana was still a bit hard to control, and manipulating it took mental effort. But he could feel it—it was real, and it was his.
He looked at the glowing energy, still stunned that someone like him—a guy from Earth—could use magic so easily.
If it wasn't the system's doing… then maybe this world's magic really was that mysterious.
He turned to Sharan again.
"So… how does it work? I didn't have any magic before. Why can I suddenly generate it now?"
Her answer came without hesitation.
"I don't know."
"…Huh?"
Seeing the surprise on his face, Sharan smiled again.
"There are plenty of theories. Some say it's the soul, others say it's a mix of spirit and life force. But what I'll tell you, Mr. Ryuji, is that all of them are wrong."
"…And yet, they're also right."