Reincarnated as the System I Have to Make My Rarepair a Reality!!

Julian Widsith is a minor side character in the popular fantasy sim The Hallmarks of a Hero (HiroHoru for short), he's sweet but ineffectual, and whatever you do he dies in the third act! What the devs don't understand is that he's a perfect match for Rafe Beaufort, the proud sword caster you can only recruit too late to properly train for the final boss. From the light-dark contrast of their hair colors to Julian's nonsensically OP support skills in his optional side quest, it's a match made in heaven! So that's why when Kanzaki Keiko (監系子) dies it seems the universe left her to make it happen. Can she convince soft and polite Julian to endure Rafe's cold gaze and form a party? Will he even use these incentivizing coins for something that isn't herbal tea and cookies? Wait, this wasn't in the original material! I didn't know this side character was into THAT!

  • Yes, it’s “hero hole”. No Keiko isn’t aware of what that sounds like
  • The visual gimmick of HiroHoru is that every recruitable character has a marking on their body that’s visible during fanservice or sex scenes - Julian never appears in focus during bathing scenes so no mark was ever shown on him, but Rafe has a hallmark on his right inner thigh, seen from behind in the changing rooms
  • Despite Keiko’s ship assumptions, Julian and Rafe are very similar heights, but never appeared in the same scenes before so she didn’t know.
  • She also didn't have much to base Julian's characterisation on, as he's a recurring design in crowds and only has a limited number of lines when found in roaming mode - his side quest portrays him as polite and lacking faith in his abilities, he asks for help because he believes he's too weak to do the fetch quest by himself, but his support magic prevents the user from failing the task no matter what
  • The original game features five dateable boys:
    • George Casper (maximum attack, mark on butt cheek, the buff one who wags his tail like a puppy, wealthy noble, jewel ear studs)
    • Noah Heijman (maximum defense, mark on belly, chubby tank who behaves like a grouchy old cat, son of a rural baron)
    • Silvan Blanche (maximum status effects/stalls, mark on right side of neck, poisonous megane with a pipe, surprisingly a popular socialite in fashionable society)
    • Berardo Forkes (maximum heals, mark on left breast, spicy playboy who came to Gallary as a political hostage from neighboring Dialy)
    • Theodore Newell (maximum status buffs, mark on lower back surrounded by patterns, an unkempt older man who has been in residence at the college for some years, he specializes in buffs to negate the effects of a curse).
  • While all are recruited in the same run, not all can be active in a party at the same time, eg. George and Noah hate each other, Silvan won’t associate with Berardo for political reasons, Theodore doesn’t have the energy to stand beside George for more than two battles in a row. One of the route conditions is to keep your chosen boy in the party at all times
  • Keiko fucks up everything. I mean royally fucks up all of this. George and Noah use tongues in the training hall. Berardo is caught carrying Silvan’s pipe. Theodore goes for a second round.
  • The names were picked because of how funny they sound in katakana above everything, sorry.

About HiroHoru (the original canon)

The Hallmarks of a Hero is a fantasy BL game with RPG and dating elements, and a limited world map you can explore between scripted scenes and battles. The story follows Russell Darek as he moves into the dormitory of a men's college (all characters depicted are 18+) on a scholarship to study magic. There he learns that his middle class background is not the only basis on which he may be discriminated against, as many of the other young men attending lectures possess hallmarks. Russell had thought hallmarks were a fairytale that people used to imply great swordsmen and magicians were predisposed by fate to do incredible things, so he is stunned to discover they aren't just real, but a common sight in the communal baths. He wonders if maybe it's a con and that nobles are tattooing their children to make grandiose claims about their abilities, but all these men look powerful enough to wipe the floor with him so maybe he should play along.

That is until the rowdy Berardo Forkes catches him staring and pulls Russell's hand into his open shirt to feel the hallmark himself. Berardo's knees buckle and he collapses to the floor shuddering with quickening breaths. Russell pulls his hand back in alarm, but the mark is glowing and Berardo looks at him through a haze of desire. From this point on Berardo becomes a selectable party member that Russell commands in battles, and each boy with a hallmark is recruitable in the same way. Only a handful are dateable, however those that are have two endings each - light and dark.

Act 1 ends on Russell experiencing a prophetic vision of the thought extinct demon lord unleashing hordes of beasts upon the capital. He feels that his ability to bewitch hallmark owners and this vision must be connected, and in order to prevent this horror he must…

  • recruit a party that can defeat the demon lord
    OR
  • use his bewitching power to win over the demon lord

Act 2 is focused on deepening bonds and training recruits, with various events such as the research submission deadline, the autumn social ball, and a friendly tournament with another school. Rafe is introduced as a magic wielding swordsman visiting from the other school in hopes of finding a challenge to sharpen his skills against, he transfers in at the end of act 2. The tournament mentions a royal sponsor with connections to some of the nobles. Depending on who Russell dates and his goal chosen in act 1 there will be different visions of what will become of his recruited heroes. In the light route many of the dateable boys appear injured from battle and distraught, in the dark route their expressions are warped or they appear to be captured and restrained.

Act 3 light route opens with demonic beasts attacking the college when everyone is gathered in the dining hall. Julian Widsith appears in a crowd being chased down, but does not appear in the hall with survivors after or in any further CGs. Russell realizes that the beasts are approaching the college because of his collection of hallmark owners, and that to save the regular folk he has to lead his party out on a camping trip. Most of the dateable characters have a fucking in the woods scene. Russell's suspicions are right as the beasts stalk his party, and once they distance themselves from the city he begins to hear a strong and cunning voice. The demon lord is watching him and taking pleasure in his struggles (and woodland sex). Russell doesn't know how the demon lord could know so much, none of them felt such a presence in their camp.

Continuing the light route an army of beasts begins to attack the city, fires and blasts of magic resistance visible from the hills. Russell suffers visions of the carnage and cries out in despair. He thought he would save them by going as far away as he could, but the beasts won't listen. Russell’s model starts to change. The final battle against the demon lord begins, with the player racing against AI to select Russell's moves in the way least likely to wipe out his party. If the player doesn't select anything the game will move through his menu and choose attacks aimed at party members. In the second phase the controls become more stubborn to move, and in the third phase every selection has a chance of picking a random second action too (though the attack damage is scaled down and there is no cost applied). Bad end, Russell destroys everyone and sobs alone. The credits appear over the sobbing with no BGM to rub in how much you fucked up. Good end, your dating choice hand feeds Russell the demon lord in his dungeon prison, Russell is brought to tears by their dedication but the guards are wary of him becoming emotional and demand they separate at once. Russell encourages his hero to leave and live a happy life.

In the dark route Russell walks out of the dormitory as the dinner bell chimes and meets the pack of beasts to tell them he wants to know their master and to return to him with his message. Russell waits in the college for a reply, and begins to hear a voice. He wanders the halls at night, seeing the outline of a beast in the shadows. He tells it he wants to meet the demon lord, and in a moment of frustration that he wants the demon lord. The party members notice that Russell isn't sleeping and worry about his health, some of the dateable characters will exclude him from training and tell him to leave and go to bed. Others will allow him to stay only to chastise him harshly for nearly fainting while casting. All party members will gain stats as though a week's training regime was selected. In both scenarios party members will remind Russell that he's a commander and doesn't fight the battles himself. Russell feels as though his efforts against the demon lord aren't being seen and a beast attack in the college is triggered, only this time the beasts appear one at a time from the shadows and pick off only five students. Julian Widsith is among the portraits of victims on the newspaper cuttings in the hall. Your chosen boy will either propose to help Russell get a good night's sleep through sex acts or will stay up at Russell's bedside leading to Russell performing sex acts on them.

At the end of the bedtime sex scene Russell has a dark realization and says something cryptic with his face in shadow (as you do when no one is watching). The next day he tells his party he had a worrying vision about the demon lord but he's afraid of telling it to anyone because of what it might mean. He adds it's about who the demon lord is and acts conflicted, saying he'll tell them if another vision confirms it. Some of the dateable characters will confront Russell in private and demand he tell them but he's uncomfortable and touches their mark to distract them and leave. After more training the party gather and tell Russell he must tell them everything he knows. Russell feigns nerves then tells them “I know who the demon lord is, he's already in this country. He's… the demon lord is Prince Azabel.” Everyone is very shocked, some believe there were clues they should have seen. If you are on George’s route he has dialogue about knowing the prince personally and that he was charming and very good to his people, George feels betrayed if this is true.

The party plan to raid the castle and find Prince Azabel. Inside the carriage traveling through the capital Russell seems quiet and says he can't believe the final battle is so close. When they arrive the castle is emptied and Prince Azabel is standing in the throne room with his back to them holding a large golden staff, the light through tall stained glass windows casts a shadow between him and the party. He has long hair in a thick braid, and tight form fitting robes that accentuate his well built body. The final battle commences and Prince Azabel tells you he knew you were coming, and he'll fight with all he has, not to save his kingdom but because you deserve his best. After his first phase Prince Azabel’s clothing will start to tear off revealing his tummy and a pec, he uses powerful magic, both defensive and offensive. If George is in your party for the fight he will mention practicing swords with the prince as children, and Prince Azabel will laugh warmly and ask if he's kept up with George since the last time they sparred. In the third phase Prince Azabel's hair becomes loose and drapes over his significantly bare body, his battle stances begin to lean into his staff, but he's still smiling. Russell asks if he's ready to submit, and Prince Azabel asks back if Russell has enjoyed enough of him. Depleted of magic the prince will begin using physical attacks on close range attackers, and he has a brutal throw move that makes it especially hard to close in. Russell's ranged magic will gain a boost in this phase and finish him easily, though the casting time is slowed down. Upon defeat the player gets a CG of the prince in his near naked disheveled state, looking up at them from the floor with a sad smile. He agrees to serve the demon lord too, the party members are shocked but Russell asks if anyone ever doubted their desire to serve him. This is the good ending that cuts to Russell having assumed the throne, your dating choice sitting across Russell's lap. From the dialogue of side characters it sounds as though Russell is ruling the kingdom with some degree of organization and skill, but he ignores them in favor of kissing his queen and feeling their growing bulge. Presumably they fuck in the throne room in front of everyone because demon kings do what they want.

If you choose not to use Russell's magic then it's possible to drag the final phase to the eight minutes and seventeen seconds mark, at which point Prince Azabel will have a second wind and cast an almighty holy spell directed at Russell. The party members will recognize that holy magic would only work on Russell if he were… the demon king. In confusion they turn their attacks towards Russell and Russell slams them all down with overwhelming magic. This is the bad end, and Russell is shown with all the dateable boys chained up and picks on each one for not figuring him out sooner, he turns to leave the dungeon and muffled screams can be heard from up the stairs. He assures the heroes that he is keeping them safe and sound.

A bonus disc sold at Animate included a story about Russell and George going shopping in town, Russell isn't used to high class stores with no price tags and eventually drags George into the market to try street food. The B side is a story about Berardo, Theodore, and Silvan studying from piles of books, but Berardo distracts everyone by mixing brandy in his coffee and the story ends with everyone drunk and partially undressed when Russell walks in.

The later fandisc featured post-game stories set in either of the good ends. Julian and Rafe are nowhere to be seen!! George and Prince Azabel shippers get content in the light route extras! It’s not fair!!!!!!

HiroHoru: The Animation

  • Adapts George's route, including Russell doing side quests with Berardo and Theodore to buy materials to make a cloth doll cat as George's birthday present (fans joke that in game you would have had to earn money using George for George's present)
  • Light route good end because censorship doesn't allow fucking in the throne room
  • Noah was thick built instead of fat and BBS posts complain this is the homogenisation of BL character types - a small group of yumejo are spotted attached to anime Noah
  • Half or more of the character introductions are changed including how Russell touches their marks
  • Only Theodore is allowed to smoke and drink becomes a meme as most of the cast are between 18 and 20, and Silvan's pipe is just there
  • They added scenes where Prince Azabel visits the college and walks around, meeting Russell by chance, even though he's not in the light route and shouldn't he fight the demon king on sight?!
  • Anime original scenes wasting screen time on SoL
  • 11 episodes because a 13 ep cour would have bankrupt the publisher
  • Nobody liked it, but Keiko caught 15 screencaps of Julian lookalikes in the backgrounds and Rafe appears without a voice actor

The System Causes Problems

I ran out of time to write this properly but have a shitload of notes:

  • Keiko dies being hit by a slow moving tram while hauling two suitcases of doujinshi, it was very tragic and someone lost their job
  • Through Keiko’s messages Julian gains too much confidence and begins using his powers and knowledge for less than legal means, thinking he has the universe on his side. He’s sort of right, and Keiko’s jokes about his abilities in the side quest are spot on; Julian has an unlimited well of magic for healing, buffing, and casting restraints
  • Rafe joins the college expecting a formal duel request or two and instead receives Julian speaking like a madman who doesn’t take no for an answer (but he’s still polite about it)
  • Julian likes to tie people up in rope while they’re unconscious, he never tried it on people before this, but now he knows how easily he can do it after applying buffs to himself he’s gotten hooked…? Julian wtf, Noah is not a large ham.
  • Julian is the greatest challenge Rafe has ever met - he has never been so fired up to improve his physical ability and counter spells, and thanks to the herbal teas and healing his body is in the best condition to grow from this. He hates it but he loves it
  • Julian and Rafe both have a sweet tooth - this defies shipping logic, how can you both be that guy?! Stop getting along so amicably in the cake shop!! -Weren’t you fighting a moment ago!!!
  • Prince Azabel attends the tournament in act 2 - originally he was “too busy”, but with Keiko- an angel watching over proceedings he decides it’s safe to be this close to the demon lord
  • Because Prince Azabel’s presence radiates divine power Russell has his epiphany early and owns up to being the demon lord without losing control, so the restrictions placed on him aren’t as heavy as the light route good end
  • Russell ends up with Prince Azabel. Demon lord x divine emissary. They're both Ms, somehow. Keiko thinks the combo of red and white hair looks like toothpaste.
  • Noah's insomnia is cured by Julian drugging his tea, this puts him in a better mood (in canon it's the demon lord's order to sleep well that does it and enamors Noah to you in his route)
  • George thinks Noah is like his old overstuffed toy cat he loved when he was very small, and he's the type to immediately warm up to someone when they're friendly in return
  • Despite knowing better than getting himself into trouble Silvan actually finds Berardo's situation fascinating, and he's always liked people who can withstand his sharp tongue (Russell of course was that person in his route)
  • Berardo has been winging it with bravado through some of the worst anxiety of his life, he never used to be a nervous type in the past, but since getting trapped in Gallary he's had way too many scares with saying or doing the wrong things. Silvan is perceptive and says bold things in return, effectively backing him up and smoothing over possible infractions (again, in Berardo’s route you would have seen Russell joke and stand up for him as a fellow outsider to Gallary noble society)
  • Julian is hooking everyone up with herbs and Keiko's insider knowledge. It's fantasy herbs so the censors can't stop him
  • Theodore is a widow and just wants sex without strings attached, which is why Julian spikes the staff room teapot shortly before they discuss Theodore’s latest research proposal
  • All of the hallmark touching scenes are different from the game and Keiko screams when some of them match the anime instead
  • It turns out the hallmarks were sacrificial marks and the god of this world was trying to offer the demon lord his finest men to keep him contented. The demon lord is a natural recurring phenomena due to the cycle of magic, made by god to assert control over the overflow of dark magic. Living things are delicate however, and it’s easy for them to break. So he also made a bearer of holy magic to manage the demon lord if necessary, but this meant draining the holy magic from other areas of the world, making the world neither light or dark and… rather mid.
  • God made a mistake with Julian and was planning to correct it later. This is why Julian is impossibly useful to Russell near the start of the game and removed before he could be used against the demon lord. Keiko’s interference makes the button gray out though, so she’s charged with making sure the world doesn’t somehow implode.
  • Keiko wasn’t invited into the world, no one asked her to be here, she just felt something had to be done about her rarepair.
Thank you for reading!

I realize now I didn't put enough bath scenes... SHIT, THEODORE'S CURSE. I'LL COME BACK TO THIS LATER-!

Edit Report
Pub: 14 Feb 2024 05:15 UTC
Edit: 14 Feb 2024 05:31 UTC
Views: 128