"Prepare to leave this place in a month. You might need jerky for the long journey, and since the North is a military city, learning some swordsmanship from your brother could be favorable. Also…"
I tuned out the lengthy advice from Baron Byron, feeling numb and distant.
Father.
Do you realize you've just condemned your precious youngest son to danger with your own hands? Luciana Speda.
In any route of the game, this villainess meets a bitter end, killed by bandits while returning to the North after being expelled from the academy.
And now, I'm unexpectedly entangled with her.
'I do like her character, but we've never even met in this world.'
This is utterly confusing.
"…That's enough of my nagging. I trust you'll handle things well."
"Yes."
Fortunately, he didn't seem to notice my odd behavior. It seems the dimensional rules, or rather the system rules, make it invisible to others.
"Catching the elusive Sand Mole thief, huh? You've secured a lifetime of labor. That's the Duchy of Loberk for you. …Aren't you leaving?"
"Yes, I'm leaving now."
I left the Baron, his attention back on his documents, and returned to my still unfamiliar room. My steps were heavy.
"Sigh, this is driving me crazy."
No matter how much I wrack my brain, the status screen in front of me doesn't disappear, along with those strange characters about connections.
"I need cold water… cold water."
But a magical device like a refrigerator was too expensive for a mere Baron's household to maintain. So, I quenched my thirst with lukewarm water and sank into thought.
"The main story…"
In games, the proper way to reach the ending is to follow the main storyline.
"The main story" itself was central to all events.
But,
'The role that should have been the protagonist's in the original game has unexpectedly come to me, albeit in a changed form.'
I could have rejected the servant position and fled, using my knowledge of the original to gather funds and live comfortably. The system messages didn't mention any penalties for that.
But knowing the outcome, I couldn't just ignore it.
If I don't defeat the final boss, it leads to a bad ending, or rather, a route to world destruction!
The choices are simple.
Die with the mid-boss Luciana or with the doomed world!
Lying in bed, I lamented.
"This is insane. It's like a terrible choice in hell."
There was only one answer.
I had to intervene in the story and change the destined fate.
I've sorted out what I know.
"In the original, Luciana becomes a mid-boss after being abandoned by the Crown Prince."
It was a political marriage, meant to signify friendship between the royal family and the northern duchy in her childhood. What must she have felt when her lifelong preparation to be the Crown Prince's bride came crumbling down?
Her fate was sealed by a reckless duel with the Crown Prince's lover.
This was an episode that boasted extreme difficulty, requiring players to try it dozens or hundreds of times.
"A very noble-like choice to duel instead of an assassination or ambush, but…"
As a mid-boss, her end was not favorable.
Defeated in the duel, expelled, and then killed by bandits on her way back home.
"So, the task is clear."
I got up from the bed. If Luciana's downfall started with the break-up, then linking them back together should suffice.
If I teach her the choices that would have won the Crown Prince's favor, as the protagonist would in the original, it's not impossible.
"Lucky me. Saving my favorite character."
This feels like playing 'Luciana Maker' in reality.
I chuckled, thinking of a famous game from Korea with three installments.
How frustrating it was to watch her downfall and death through a computer screen.
Since it's come to this, I have to stick by her side and ensure Luciana doesn't die.
I mentally called up the status screen.
[Name: Hans Byron]
[Occupation: Unemployed]
[Base Stats]
[Health:2][Strength:2][Agility:6][Magic:1]
[Skills]
"It's exactly like the game."
From the font to the interface, it matched the protagonist's abilities in 'Beneath the Chandelier.'
Except for one part.
[Luciana Speda's Affection]
[-20 (Displeased)]
"?"
We haven't even met yet.
For some reason, she doesn't seem to think highly of me.
"This is a problem…"
But it's not something I can address right now. The only way seems to be to meet her and face it head-on.
Frankly, even if I, designated as a servant, send a letter in excitement, it's likely to be ignored or discarded.
"Anyway, why are these abilities like this?"
I frowned and tapped on the status screen.
Given that the game emphasizes challenging action combat, the importance of these basic abilities is extremely high.
They can increase maximum HP to withstand tough attacks, boost physical damage dealt, or improve magic efficiency.
Except for agility.
In the game, higher agility meant better counterattack judgments and increased evasion chances. But that's about it. Its utility, which could be somewhat covered by manual dexterity, remained unchanged.
So, agility was a bit of an enigma: good to have high, but not essential to prioritize over others.
"Everything else is below average, but agility is at 6…"
[Health: 2] [Strength: 2][Agility: 6][Magic: 1]
This character is a disaster. A wry smile formed on my lips.
From the perspective of an experienced player who has seen the good ending, Hans' stats were remarkably poor, even among the worst characters.
"But that doesn't mean it's impossible."
I refused to be discouraged.
In fact, the original protagonist in the early stages had lower stats than mine. With relics, the limits of these abilities could be somewhat compensated.
"Plus, the West isn't even a main stage for the story."
In the game, the West was only mentioned, and the actual visit there occurred in the late endgame. By that time, the protagonist and the party were fully developed, making the side quests and relics in that area somewhat redundant.
In summary.
It means I can sneakily grab a few relics without causing a stir!
A sly grin crept onto my face.
Taking one or two relics shouldn't pose a problem for the story's progression.
"Father, may I take a trip for a month?"
That's why I barged into Baron Byron's room without knocking.
"Didn't I just tell you to prepare for the North?"
"I have a whole month left, right? I just want to look around my hometown before that."
"Huh, really. Hard to believe you're the same guy who detested the West."
Seeing his youngest son's whims before he left for a new place, he pondered for a moment and then nodded.
"You're not the type to irresponsibly abandon your family's important affairs and run away. I give you permission."
"Right, right. Haha."
'Sharp, aren't you.'
Unlike Hans, I couldn't care less about family matters.
If it weren't for the notification on the status screen, I might have thrown off all burdens and run far away.
Finally, the day to leave arrived.
***
Thankfully, under my father's orders to provide everything needed for the journey,
The preparations went smoothly, given it was a direct command from the head of the family.
"Hans, remember this."
"What's that?"
"In the West, there are only two types of people."
Father's advice upon my departure was simple.
Prisoners called slaves, or nobles acting as jailers.
Given the West's reliance on external food supplies, most people fell into these two categories. There were indigenous people, but they were a tiny minority.
So,
"Don't trust people recklessly. Stick with the soldiers I've assigned to you, understand?"
To travel safely.
"Of course. I'm soon to be a servant of the northern duchy. I must take care of myself."
"Right. Have a safe trip."
I nodded and smiled warmly.
'Sorry, Baron Byron.'
Even as I walked away, I felt his gaze.
A pang of guilt stirred in my barely-there conscience.
His paternal love was genuine.
Sometimes, I felt sorry for suddenly appearing and taking over this body, 'No, stay determined.'
Relics are best enjoyed alone. Bringing others along only turns them into burdens or potential thieves.
'Wonder how many I can snag.'
My heart raced.
In a month, based on what I know, I could get Anubis's Sword, the Sundial of the Sun. The Oasis of Night is too far… Wasn't the hero's frequently used item the Rope of Infinity?
That one's incredibly practical.
The protagonist's growth?
First of all, I'm already busy enough just trying to take care of myself, let alone worry about sticking to the storyline.
I'm a 'main story' player too.
If I die, the world ends.
That's right.
***
"Where do you plan to go?"
The question from the scar-faced knight of the Baron's household had a good reason behind it.
The camel I was riding was headed in the opposite direction of the noble estates famous for tourism, which we were originally supposed to visit.
I answered with a yawn.
"Wherever the wind takes me."
"What?"
"If I go where dad recommended, it'll just be the same old oases, the same old facilities, and the same old mage towers. I'm sick of it."
The knight, looking exasperated, reluctantly nodded.
"That's mostly how it is in the West."
"Don't you find it boring?"
"…A little."
I looked at the knight and smirked.
'He's just agreeing because he thinks the high and mighty son of the family is throwing a tantrum.' Couldn't be more obvious if he tried.
"Anyway, I'm not into seeing the same old things again. I want to find something fresh and new."
"I am here to escort you wherever you go, sir."
He seemed intent on accommodating me as much as possible, probably following strict instructions from the Baron.
'Then it's to my advantage.'
The place we're going is a bit dangerous. I'm counting on everyone.
As we neared our destination, the knight's brows twitched.
"Sir…? That area is the Sahel region."
"So what? Are you telling me that a well-equipped knight and soldiers will lose to mere insects or vagabonds?"
I asked, tilting my head.
Right now,
This body is that of a carefree, entitled young nobleman, skilled in throwing his weight around.
As the knight's brows twitched again, I waved my hand dismissively, cutting him off.
"Come on, let's get going. I'll treat everyone to drinks in the nearby city once we're done. No complaints, let's move."
"Wow!"
"Drinks? You're treating?"
"I'll do my best!"
Their reaction was better than I expected.
My intention was for them to protect me diligently while I searched for relics.
I shrugged off the knight's stern gaze.
No matter how much they grumble, it can't be helped.
'The relic I want is here.'
"Quiet down, all of you!"
The knight barked, finally calming their excitement.
He came closer and whispered,
"Sir, if you treat everyone to drinks, our travel budget might run out. Perhaps we should reconsider?"
Ah, right.
In a place where even water is precious, let alone alcohol, it made sense for the rough-faced knight to worry about money.
But,
"What? A man of the West goes back on his word? We can always head back early."
I crossed my arms and lifted my chin arrogantly.
'Playing a role is key in a possession scenario.'
Besides, since the purpose of the trip was to find relics, planning to return early under the pretext of budget issues actually worked in my favor.
However, the knight, unaware of this, sighed, and the soldiers cheered.
The scarred knight stared at me intently, then tried to dissuade me again.
"Sir. Are you sure you want to go? It could be dangerous. They say it's a cursed land haunted by ghosts."
"Ah, come on, Captain. There's no such thing as ghosts. That's just a story to scare kids."
Among the snickering soldiers, a knight with brown hair and freckles responded with a twinkle in his eye.
Then, I glanced at the knight and looked away.
'How did he know that?'
It wasn't fear of ghosts. I was surprised by the knight's insight.
"…Maybe there's more to the ghost story than just rumors."
"What?"
"Never mind. Let's go."
***
It's been a few days since we switched to camels.
"Sir, this is the Sahel region."
In the West, even among the harshest terrains, the Sahel region stood out for its extreme heat, numerous poisonous insects, and being a notoriously difficult place for people to live. It was also a lawless land swarming with bandits. Of course, the bandits were selective in their targets. They typically preyed on poorly defended merchants or civilians, not soldiers equipped with weapons and armor.
They valued their own lives, after all.
But even with that in mind, it was too risky to venture into such a lawless area.
There were ominous rumors that even nobles occasionally went missing there.
"Once again, how about we turn back now?"
"I've made up my mind to go forward. Stop talking nonsense and focus on guarding us."
I rebuked the knight and turned my head away sharply.
The knight, who had been sighing a lot more since we started, would have understood if he could see this.
[The Forgotten King's Tomb]
[The Western Empire, before being explored by the people of the central regions, was the land of indigenous people who survived in harsh conditions.]
[The greatest king who ruled over them now lies forgotten in an underground tomb.]
[It's time to uncover the secrets and treasures buried with him.]
A system message appearing after a long time, openly mentioning a treasure.
[An RPG Game Disguised as a Romance Simulation]
True to its nature, this world had dungeons scattered around to help characters grow, places where one could find elixirs to enhance basic abilities and relics with special powers.
Among these, this location held a relic that was good but somewhat redundant for a protagonist who had already achieved moderate growth.
In other words, it was a perfect relic for me, a beginner in this world.
"Sir, hold on. Stay behind me."
"Why?"
"I sense something."
As the knight cautioned me, I pulled back the reins of my camel. At the same moment, a suspicious noise came from ahead.
– Clank, clank.
Bingo. The sight of skeletons draped in tattered bandages was a clear sign of a dungeon entrance nearby.
"Destroy them all!"
At my command, the knight and soldiers engaged in a chaotic battle with the skeletons.
I couldn't help but feel the perks of being a noble. Just a word from me and the soldiers obeyed so loyally.
While they're distracted with the fight.
Maybe it's time to sneak into the dungeon.
"Oh, what have we here? A fellow adventurer?"
…I didn't expect to find a competitor in a dungeon I thought only I knew about.
Now, how should I deal with this middle-aged man smirking in front of me?
An unexpected dilemma had arisen