Starting with Firefly, Speedrunning the World

Is this what prices were like in Japan?!

Wages were high, but prices were high too. The portions were small, though they did look nice!

"Here, that's exactly enough."

With a pained expression, Firefly handed the owner the only money she had on her. She had said she would treat, so naturally she couldn't go back on her word.

After leaving the stall, Kurama Neon, eating her dessert, looked at Firefly with some hesitation.

"Firefly, you... really don't want any?"

"...Mm."

Did she really not want any? Wasn't she hungry?

She just had no money!!

And then this innocent, carefree young lady Kurama Neon, who knew nothing of the hardships of life... or how hard it was to make money, really thought Firefly simply didn't want to eat.

It never occurred to her that Firefly had no money.

After all, to her, money was the least important thing.

Born into a wealthy family, even though she had not lived happily, she had never lacked food or clothing since childhood. And even without her family's support, her Neon TV still had tens of millions of followers.

Making money was simply too easy for her. How could someone like that think earning money was difficult?

Even if someone was desperately short on money, they should still have enough to pay for meals and snacks, right?

Still, although she did not think much in that direction, she felt a little awkward eating alone. So she took out a piece of pastry and held it up to feed Firefly.

After they had finished browsing the festival, Kurama Neon and Firefly left together and came to a small roadside restaurant.

Firefly was not picky about what she ate, and this young lady Kurama Neon seemed to be the same.

She did not disdain the place for being too low-class.

Quite unusual, wasn't it!

They happened to pass by, and seeing that business seemed pretty good, the two of them went in together.

They were truly a little hungry. The desserts from earlier were not filling, and even if they had been, quite some time had already passed.

"I wonder when the next Desire Grand Prix will begin."

Sitting in her seat, Firefly looked thoughtfully at the girl across from her, who was seriously studying the menu.

So many days had passed without a single sign from the Desire Grand Prix, leaving her with no choice but to wait. After all, she had only been in this world for a short time and did not truly understand many things.

Although she knew some of the plot, knowing the specifics was another matter entirely.

The Desire Grand Prix was a super reality show unknown to the public. It was only after the future Game Master's Vision Driver was stolen, preventing the Desire Grand Prix's operations from freely recreating the world, that it gradually came into the open.

Although she had changed the outcome of Ukiyo Ace becoming the God of Desire, what she had actually changed was only Ukiyo Ace's consecutive championship record. It merely diminished some of Ukiyo Ace's glory and could not affect much.

Ukiyo Ace possessed two thousand years of memories. He had reincarnated again and again... yet retained all the memories of his past lives. Calling him a two-thousand-year-old monster would not be wrong.

Moreover, he had participated in the Desire Grand Prix through most of his lives, becoming the God of Desire time and time again over those two thousand years, making countless wishes as backup plans.

At critical moments, he could always unleash power beyond imagination.

Yes, the Desire Grand Prix had existed in this world for a very long time. The Desire Grand Prix had been held in every era.

And the Desire Grand Prix's power to alter the world actually relied on the power of the Goddess of Creation.

When someone possessed both the Game Master's Vision Driver and the Game Producer's Driver, they could have the Goddess of Creation fulfill their wishes and create whatever they desired.

Though not every wish could be granted, and as the power of creation was consumed, the Goddess of Creation's strength could not last long.

When that time came, a new Goddess of Creation would be needed.

The Goddess of Creation herself had been born because of the game known as the Desire Grand Prix...

The current Goddess of Creation was, in fact, the first Desire Grand Prix Game Navigator.

Interestingly enough, she was also Ukiyo Ace's mother from two thousand years ago.

If one wanted to change or destroy the Desire Grand Prix, the Vision Driver, the Game Originator, the Goddess of Creation, and Jamato Garden were all key factors.

Especially the Goddess of Creation and the garden that cultivated the Jamato.

"Firefly, what are you thinking about?"

After ordering their food, Kurama Neon noticed Firefly staring blankly into space, seemingly lost in thought, and could not help asking.

"Huh? N-No, nothing."

Firefly hurriedly replied upon hearing that.

But then she thought of something else. Come to think of it, it was inevitable that Kurama Neon would be chosen to become a Kamen Rider.

Not only because the Kurama Conglomerate was a sponsor of the Desire Grand Prix, and because she was a life created by the goddess, but also because a Future Person who was her top supporter had chosen her.

But if she kept wearing the Mask of the Fool, would that prevent the Desire Grand Prix from finding her and cause it to miss her?

Though Kurama Neon did not seem to be as closely tied to the main plot as the other three.

Geats, Buffa, and Tycoon were the real key.

Forget it. There was no point in thinking so much about it.

Even if things had changed, it did not matter. With Sam's power, there would hardly be any major difficulties in this world—unless some absurdly overpowered Rider suddenly showed up.

Otherwise, this world's power of creation sounded impressive, but in reality, it was a little underwhelming.

Without giving it any more thought, it was time to eat first.

All that remained was to wait for the next Desire Grand Prix to begin, earn points while figuring out a way to force the Game Master or Producer into the field.

Obtaining their Drivers was one of the keys to clearing this world!

Oh, and there was also the game guide, Tsumuri.

A Future Person created by imitating the Goddess of Creation Mitsume and possessing the same abilities—she was a candidate for the Goddess of Creation.

Starting Today, You Are a Kamen Rider

That day.

The sun shone brightly.

But there was an extra person in the house—a beautiful woman carrying a box.

"Starting today, you are a Kamen Rider."

Tsumuri looked at Kurama Neon before handing her the box containing a Desire Driver and Rider Core ID.

Kurama Neon was not wearing her fox mask at the moment. After all, there was no need to wear it at home or when no one else was around.

Wearing a mask all the time would be strange, wouldn't it?

"Huh?"

Although Kurama Neon instinctively accepted the box with both hands, her mind was full of questions. How had this woman found her?

And what was a Kamen Rider?

It made no sense.

However, at Tsumuri's prompt, the instant she opened the box and touched the Rider Core ID, the memories that had been erased returned once more.

Scenes resembling the end of the world flashed through her mind—the Jamato, the Riders...

And that person destined for her.

She had actually forgotten all of it!

Yet now, she no longer seemed as obsessed with her destined person as she had been before. Her feelings were somewhat complicated.

After handing the box to Kurama Neon, Tsumuri did not linger. She turned and prepared to leave. This time, many Riders had been selected, and she still needed to deliver Drivers to the others.

But the moment she stepped out of the room, a figure appeared before her.

She was a beautiful girl with long hair bound by a dark teal hairband, her gradient-colored eyes filled with gentle obedience. She looked like a cute girl next door.

Tsumuri paused slightly as she looked at the girl before her.

She studied her for a few moments, but quickly gave up and stopped dwelling on it.

Was she just being overly sensitive?

For an instant, she had felt that the girl was somehow extraordinary, not quite real. Or perhaps, compared to everyone else, she was too real.

Yet upon closer inspection, there was nothing strange about her. She could only assume she was overthinking it.

Tsumuri gave Firefly a polite smile and prepared to leave, but Firefly spoke up to ask, "Hello, may I ask who you are?"

"I merely came to deliver something to Miss Kurama. Sorry for disturbing you. I was just about to leave."

Tsumuri explained softly.

"Deliver something?"

"That sounds like hard work. Would you like to come in for some water?"

"No, thank you. I still have other work to do, so I won't impose." With that, Tsumuri walked around Firefly and headed outside.

Firefly did nothing as she watched Tsumuri's departing figure.

So this was Tsumuri!

Though she was said to be a candidate for the Goddess of Creation, Firefly had not sensed any obvious power from her. Was it because she had not awakened yet?

Come to think of it, aside from Mitsume, the first Goddess of Creation, there had been another game guide before Tsumuri. However, she seemed to have died in the line of duty.

Firefly sighed inwardly once more.

If it were Silver Wolf or Herta herself instead, this world would be even easier to deal with. Whatever it was, at its core, it was merely technology involving data-based lifeforms.