There is one main problem with this novel. There isn't a central plot or goal or anything. It loosely revolves around a fighter who is a Mage and wants to fight in hand to hand. But when he realized his abilities as a Mage is very powerful, he decided to use it as well. The worst part is that he simply uses it like any other mages except that he won't die at close combat.

This novel is more like the daily life of a common player who plays as a Mage with real life martial arts.

The online game also makes little sense. And spoiler alert. The protagonist went a full Dex built. This means that his physical damage is literally near 0 or the same as a level 1 character if you don't consider his weapon and bonus stats. Somehow he is able to deal level 50ish damage while implying equipping a level 60-70 robe and a level 50-60 sword. How OP are those weapons to turn a character with basically default Int and Wis to be able to deal such high damage? Level 50 = 5*50 stat points = 250 stat points.

I did not read the other Close Combat Mage but unfortunately, this one is poorly executed.