I Became a Beautiful Girl, but I’m still an MMO Junkie

The story follows the High-schooler Futsu Jintarou, whose confession was rejected by his crush. His misfortune continues, as news of a gender-change disease turns Jintarou into a beautiful silver haired girl. The shock of it causes him (her) to try to escape from reality by playing the VRMMO, Clan/Clan… His game character Taro uses the same girl appearance as in the Real and the Alchemy skill, which most players call a tr*sh skill. He meets lots of fellow adventurers, and becomes stronger within the game world of Clan/Clan’s slogan, ‘When one becomes an adventurer, they can fight, steal, control, explore, invent, create, and do anything as they like’. He meets a wide variety of adventurers that help him (her) grow, Taro hides what happened to his (her) appearance as a bug to his friends who also play the game, and hides the fact that he (she) had become a girl in real life. When summer break is over, he (she) will have to show their face at school. This is about one of the best National-class adventurers, the story of the Alchemist who won a war without even taking a single step. When a normal high school student suddenly turns into a beautiful girl, what would they do? The answer is to that is to become an MMO Junkie!

Original Publisher

kodansha

Original Language

japanese

Type

Web Novel

## My Thoughts on I Became a Beautiful Girl, but I’m still an MMO Junkie This web novel has been quite the ride! "I Became a Beautiful Girl, but I’m still an MMO Junkie" definitely has a unique premise that initially hooked me, but it's also a bit of a mixed bag. ### First Impressions The initial chapters set up a fairly intriguing scenario: our protagonist undergoes a gender change and dives headfirst into the world of VRMMORPGs. I was expecting a lighthearted comedy with some gender-bending shenanigans, and while there are elements of that, the story quickly reveals itself to be more complex, delving into mysteries surrounding the protagonist's transformation and the game itself. ### What Works Well What I found most compelling was the real-life aspect of the story. The character development outside the game is genuinely well-written and engaging. The mysteries surrounding the body-swapping disease, and how the MC navigates their new reality are interesting. The slow reveal of how the VR world impacts the real world is a definite draw, with some readers even comparing it to Jumanji. The alchemy system, while initially overwhelming, becomes a unique element that sets this novel apart, especially if you're familiar with the Atelier series. ### Areas of Concern However, it's not all sunshine and rainbows. The VRMMO sections can feel generic and drawn out, sometimes overshadowing the more interesting real-life plot. The pacing, in general, can be quite slow, and the sheer number of characters introduced can make it difficult to connect with anyone beyond the MC. Some found the MC's decisions, particularly the initial reluctance to confide in family, frustrating and illogical. There are also some side characters that are unlikable. ### ⚠️ Spoiler Warning Some readers have pointed out that as the story progresses, the VR world begins to significantly alter reality. This leads to some wild developments, such as the MC's family becoming a powerful noble house and Japan winning World War II due to in-game events. Be prepared for some potentially bizarre plot twists! ### Final Verdict Despite its flaws, "I Became a Beautiful Girl, but I’m still an MMO Junkie" has a certain charm that kept me reading. The unique premise, coupled with the engaging real-life plot and the mystery surrounding the VR world's influence, make it worth checking out if you're a fan of gender bender, fantasy, and slice-of-life stories. Just be prepared to skim through some of the more generic VRMMO sections and brace yourself for some slow-burn plot development. Overall, I would give it a solid 3.5/5.