Sekai Saikyou no Majo, Hajimemashita Ep.03 - Rona, you must save Elimina!
Episode 3 of Sekai Saikyou no Majo, Hajimemashita continues the adventurer license exam, forcing Rona to conquer an entire dungeon completely alone, a feat thought impossible by Elimina. And it might as well have been, but knowing the entire route beforehand completely shattered that tension. The internet is truly terrifying!
I don't usually dwell on it, but looking back, reading wikis and guides really does diminish the intended difficulty curve in RPGs. I generally try not to consult them while playing, but I'm guilty of taking a peek myself whenever I feel stuck somewhere for too long.
Elimina being a mid-story villain who dies along this route, as detailed in the wiki Rona reads, makes sense given her personality. But that's where the plot will almost certainly diverge: Rona's meddling will save her life, allowing Elimina to become one of the heroines staying by her side.
The question that bugs me is what happens to the rest of the wiki's contents moving forward. If part of the timeline changes, shouldn't that create ripple effects across the guide itself? Bosses might change because people take different routes, and so forth. I know this isn't that kind of serious story, but who knows, maybe it will develop a deeper plotline down the road?
By the way, it was hilarious watching all the gaming culture references planted throughout, from users arguing on message boards to "tryhards" claiming a boss was ridiculously easy when it's actually brutal. It captures the exact kind of funny community behavior you often see in the Dark Souls and Elden Ring fandoms downplaying boss difficulty.
After three episodes, I can say it plainly: Rona is adorable and incredibly huggable. It's hard to dislike her with her clueless, easygoing personality and the way she approaches everything with a smile, helping out wherever she can. And it's not like she's strictly a "Lawful Good" character either; she feels more like "Neutral Good" or something along those lines.
Considering the direction of the series, I think the next episode will introduce another one of the four remaining heroines, while Elimina's return might be saved for later when Rona's family re-enters the picture. Will they manage to redeem the adorably villainous Elimina?