After selling the potion and receiving my money, I left the Adventurers’ Guild.
“Alright, time to grab some lunch at the usual diner.”
The diner I frequented was a popular spot just a short walk from the guild. It offered delicious meals at reasonable prices, making it a fantastic place to eat.
What’s more, when kids ordered, they automatically gave us extra-large portions of rice. For someone like me, who’s still growing, this was a blessing.
With my stomach growling, I started heading toward the diner. However, on the way…
“Huh?”
Suddenly, I heard a commotion from somewhere nearby. Listening carefully, I could tell it was coming from an alley.
Curious, I slowly made my way toward the source of the noise.
“…P-Please, stop…!”
As I approached, I heard a young girl’s voice, clearly distressed. It sounded like she might be getting harassed by some thugs.
(…Well, I’ve decided not to be the kind of character who turns a blind eye to situations like this, so I might as well lend a hand.)
With that thought in mind, I entered the alley. Just as I suspected, there was a young girl cornered by some rough-looking men. She was probably around my age.
Taking a closer look at the girl, I noticed she was wearing an elegant, expensive-looking dress, suggesting she was likely the daughter of a noble or wealthy merchant.
(So, these guys are probably just low-level thugs trying to extort money.)
It was unlikely these idiots were actual criminals. Real bandits or thieves would know to operate in less populated areas and at quieter times.
(Wait a second… that girl… she looks familiar… Ah, no way!)
As I squinted to get a better look at the scene, I realized something. I recognized that girl being harassed by the thugs.
She looked much younger than when she appears in the main game, but her face was unmistakable. That girl was…
(Asha?!)
Yes, that girl was Asha Grace, a character from Sword Fantasia. She plays a crucial role in the main game.
Asha, a year younger than Seras, is a 24-year-old woman in the game. She’s the first support character to join the protagonist, offering guidance on combat and the game’s systems.
She’s a beautiful character with long, golden hair, exuding a gentle and kind “big sister” vibe. Her compassionate personality made her incredibly popular with players.
In the game, she appears as a high-ranking healer with the title of “High Priest.” Though a healer, she also possesses offensive magic, and her high stats make it easy to clear the early game with just her assistance.
(That’s why she’s such a reliable support unit at the start of the game.)
In Sword Fantasia, the protagonist, a cute 17-year-old boy (his age is somewhat ambiguous since it’s an adult game), often interacts with Asha in a way that creates a nurturing, older-sister dynamic that I found endearing.
However, this helpful support character, Asha, is only playable through the first chapter. After defeating the first boss, she departs from the hero’s party due to urgent matters.
Later in the story, it’s revealed that Asha is a saint with the power to pray against the Demon King.
Unfortunately, the Demon King learns of this and orders Seras to assassinate Asha…
(This storyline event was emotionally devastating for almost every player.)
As I mentioned before, Seras follows the order, capturing Asha, and after three days of horrific assault, he beheads her, laughing, in one of the most disturbing scenes in the game.
Since Sword Fantasia is an adult game, Asha’s assault scene is depicted with an unsettling level of detail.
The scenario writer, illustrator, and voice actor all worked together to portray her anguish and mental breakdown, making it an unforgettable and traumatic moment for players.
I, too, was deeply shaken when I first saw that scene. It was shocking, almost making me cry because…
(Because… because I… loved Asha the most…!!)
I’ve always had a thing for “big sister” types, married women, and widows, so Asha’s character was the ideal for me.
In Sword Fantasia, there’s a system where you can build affection points with characters. If you raise a character’s affection high enough, you can become a couple and enjoy a special intimate scene. At the end, you can even marry the girl whose affection you’ve maximized.
So, I’d planned to max out Asha’s affection points as soon as possible and secure a marriage ending with her! …Or so I thought. But halfway through the game, Asha is brutally killed, and there’s no marriage ending with her at all…
When I found out there was no salvation ending for Asha, I was so devastated that I bawled my eyes out in front of my computer. In hindsight, I guess it’s a memory now… No, actually, it’s not a good memory at all!!
(But seeing my favorite character, Asha, in trouble… I absolutely have to save her!)
With that thought, I dashed towards Asha with all my strength.
