"There's nothing here."
From the roof, Leonardo leapt over the rain gutter and landed on the wall. He wobbled slightly at the end, almost losing his balance.
From what I'd observed, Leonardo followed a strict routine of training, from the moment he woke up to just before falling asleep. However, it was clear that the body of Leonardo Ertinez—who had slacked off on his training—was far from meeting his own high expectations.
He let out a small sigh, a mix of frustration and embarrassment over his body not moving as he intended. I watched his tousled hair from the failed landing and quickly looked away.
"Hmph."
Honestly, it was a bit silly, but I didn't want to laugh out loud in case he got offended. So I pretended not to notice.
[Harbour Area Exploration (88%)]
I had started the investigation early in the morning, and before I knew it, it was almost noon. The progress was almost complete. It felt like I had checked every possible place, yet strangely, there was no significant advancement.
Finding a missing cat turned out to be harder than I expected. No wonder the reward had such a high reputation attached to it. The inquiries were done, and the search was ongoing, but it felt like there was no end in sight. Letting out a groan, I leaned back and gazed at the bright blue sky.
"Isn't there somewhere we haven't checked yet?"
"Hmmm."
Leonardo looked uncertain. Ever since I started questioning people about the "cloak-wearing suspicious figures," he had seemed uneasy, as if something was on his mind. I stopped him and asked directly.
"Is there something bothering you?"
"…How about we share some information?"
"A deal? Sounds good to me. Let's go one by one."
"First, if I may ask, why do you think Viscount Lopez is up to something at the harbour?"
I responded without hesitation.
"First, Viscount Lopez has been whining so much about the joint investment in the harbour trade route that it's been bothering me. The fact that he's stalling and living in the Baron's mansion doesn't sit right either. Second, there's been a strange rumour circulating among the harbour residents. More and more people are saying they hear something crawling beneath their feet. The timing of these rumours lines up with when Viscount Lopez showed up, which makes me suspicious. That's why I'm looking into it. Now it's your turn."
At that, the hesitation on Leonardo's face disappeared. He narrowed his eyes and responded slowly.
"I also have something that's been bothering me… the underground sewer system of Sinistra."
That was a completely new term to me.
It would seem odd for me, someone who prides themselves on knowing the ins and outs of the city, not to have heard of this.
I did my best to hide my nervousness and maintained a calm expression. Then, I gave a subtle nod, signaling him to continue.
Leonardo paused as if carefully choosing his words. During those few seconds, my heart rate skyrocketed, but that was something only I knew. Finally, he spoke.
"Back when Sinistra was fighting a major war, citizens who couldn't escape the city took refuge in the underground sewers. After the conflict ended, the entrances to those sewers were sealed, but I remember one of the exits being near the harbour."
"…Why bring that up now?"
"Maybe that cloaked group is digging through the underground tunnels."
Hearing Leonardo's hypothesis, I recalled the information I had gathered up until now. First, there was the eerie rumour among the harbour residents about hearing something crawling beneath their feet.
["It was just the other day. I had returned late after disembarking, finished my chores, and lay down on my bed. It was the day I had hauled up the traps, so my body was exhausted from carrying heavy loads all day. I thought I would fall asleep as soon as I lay down, and I actually did fall asleep in an instant. But I woke up shortly after. When I looked outside, it was still dark in the early morning. I tried to close my eyes and go back to sleep… but then I heard something strange."]
["'Dada-dak, dada-dak'—the sound was like a centipede or some large creature with many legs…"]
["Then I heard 'clang!'—the sound of something being hit with a metal club! I was so startled, I fell off the bed with a thud. And then, suddenly, everything went quiet. At that moment, I was speechless, but now that I think about it… Couldn't it have been the ghost of the cruel captain who was betrayed and killed by the sailors? The sound of his prosthetic leg walking around!"]
The merchant's sighting of the suspicious group of men who appeared at dusk and only disappeared by the following afternoon, along with Leonardo's mention of the underground sewers in Sinistra large enough for people to move through.
If Viscount Lopez' insistence on the joint investment and his staying at the Baron's mansion for days on end is somehow connected to the underground sewers, it starts to make a lot of sense.
"We've pretty much covered the entire harbour, but the fact that we still haven't found Roboy is suspicious. If the captain wasn't exaggerating, then the cat would've returned to the ship on its own. So, if it hasn't come back, it could have gotten trapped somewhere by bad luck. Maybe the entrance to the sewer opened up for a moment, and the cat slipped in."
"That's true… but you sure know a lot about this area."
As a form of teasing, I remarked, and Leonardo glanced down slightly before responding with a touch of audacity.
"Well, after all, Sinistra is under the jurisdiction of the Count of Ertinez."
"Aha, so you're not the lazy noble who abandoned the family business to just loaf around, huh?"
"Mm."
He neither confirmed nor denied it, speaking in his usual ambiguous manner. I couldn't help but think that he had some unexpected cleverness to him, and nodded in agreement.
"You're probably right. Let's head towards the sewer then. We might find some clues."
"I still don't know what those guys are after, though."
I was curious about that too. I had a feeling I had misjudged the character setup. There's only so much pretending to know I can do. I sighed inwardly as I followed Leonardo down a narrow alley.
A narrow alley with few people around. At the end, there was a semi-circular sewer blocked by iron bars so tight that only an apple might fit through. The channel, deeply carved into the ground, was releasing waste water from inside the bars, flowing out into the sunlight. The alley's floor was covered in all sorts of refuse, possibly fish entrails, and stepping in it would require some bravery.
I caught Leonardo just as he was about to step forward.
"Wait. There might be someone inside."
"Do we have any other options?"
I rummaged through my bag and pulled out what I'd brought. This was likely going to be an investigation into the semi-antagonistic figure, so I thought it might come in handy, and now it was about to be.
I handed him the mask and black cloak, and Leonardo raised an eyebrow.
"Did you expect something like this?"
"Sort of."
Truth be told, I'd packed them when we first encountered the suspicious group at the harbour. I wanted to create a shady informant vibe to gather intel, but it seemed like it was going to be useful now for a different reason.
We both donned the cloak and mask, hiding our appearances.
Even from a distance, we must have looked incredibly suspicious—two figures in black, facing each other. A small chuckle escaped me.
Once the mask covered my face up to my eyes, the smell of sewage became more tolerable. Leonardo, grabbing a rusty harpoon lying around, used it as a lever to lift the bars. With a creaking sound, the iron grates slowly moved upwards, like a hungry beast groaning as it rose.
"After you."
As I slid into the sewer, the dark interior became visible. I wondered what I'd be able to see, but in the distance, I could faintly make out a flickering flame. It seemed that someone had already set up a torch. The fact that someone had been tampering with the supposedly sealed underground sewer was now undeniable.
Thud.
The bars clanged shut just as Leonardo, sliding in after me, ducked low to avoid being hit. I helped him up, and after that, I quickly moved ahead to grab the torch mounted on the wall. The tunnel we entered was lower and rougher than I expected, with jagged, unfinished walls.
The path was incredibly winding. Like branches of a tree, the tunnel split into several directions, making it dizzying to navigate.
At this point, it was almost like a maze.
I remembered that ten years ago, during the crisis in Sinistra, the civilians had hidden in these sewers. They might have expanded the tunnels in the process, digging more shafts. Unlike the catacombs of old, thankfully, there were no bones or bodies. I considered myself lucky for that—though who knew, maybe as we went deeper, we'd find something.
I resolved that once we got out, I'd need to look into what happened in Sinistra a decade ago.
As I stood there, feeling uneasy, Leonardo approached silently from behind, taking the torch from my hand and lifting it higher. He sighed quietly as he looked at the tangled underground pathways before us.
"It's not going to be easy."
"First thing is not getting lost. But don't worry about that."
I responded while still gazing at the map that was floating in the air.
The map of the harbour, which had been illuminated up to 88%, smoothly slid upward, only to be replaced by a new map that was entirely gray beneath it. Along with it, a scrollbar appeared, allowing us to scroll down and see further into the depths of the sewer system.
[Sinistra's Underground Sewers (0%)]
Anyway, with the map available, there was no way I would be trapped and die somewhere. It was even more reassuring when my current location was marked with a red dot.
After taking a few more steps, the percentage of "Sinistra's Underground Sewers (0%)" ticked up to 1%.
What was rather astonishing… judging by the length of the scrollbar and the remaining percentage, it seemed that this sewer system might extend at least four underground levels.
Had I stumbled upon a hidden area, like in a common game?
Aside from the sound of water trickling and the occasional eerie wind, the underground sewer was eerily silent. Leonardo, without hesitation, took the lead. Due to the dampness on the floor, our footsteps stuck like we were walking on tar, making a sticky, dragging sound.
When we rounded a corner, having lost sight of the entrance, suddenly, words appeared in front of me.
[You have deviated from the scenario's path.]
[Entering unstable area ■■.]
[Warning: The current area is ■■■■■■■. Please be cautious of ■■.]
[Warning: ■■■■■■■….]
A chill passed over my spine as it brushed against my back.
However, Leonardo was walking ahead nonchalantly, so it was difficult to show any signs of discomfort. I bit my lip and closely followed behind him.
Though Leonardo kindly tilted his torch lower, thinking I was staying close because I couldn't see well in the dark, I had to subtly refuse his gesture, as I couldn't let the torch reveal the expression on my face to the world.
Calm down. It's not something to be so surprised about. It's not the first time I've seen those letters distort. If I were to use the "Innkeeper's Insight" on Leonardo right now, I'd see the same phenomenon.
Of course, that's just a result of the limitations of my ability, and the scratching out of the instructions provided a fundamentally different kind of unease.
In any case, I calmed myself. We had already started this dangerous game from the very beginning, so there was no need to panic now. After reassuring myself, I looked up and locked eyes with Leonardo.
I held back. Reflexively smiling, I asked,
"What's wrong?"
"You've been unusually quiet."
Ah. If I'm scared in a place like this, the image of the shameless, suspicious innkeeper I've carefully built up will completely collapse. I composed my expression. I had no choice but to dismiss it with an excuse and a wave of my hand.
"Just… the smell is awful."
However, Leonardo didn't let me off with a simple reply. He slowed his pace, walking silently, and asked,
"Now that I think about it, I never asked you. Are you from Sinistra?"
The way he asked made it seem connected to the underground sewer or the stories about the calamity that happened ten years ago. Instead of answering, I responded with another question.
"…Why do you ask?"
"It's just a simple question. Thinking about it, you could be from outside. Am I right?"
"….."
The more Leonardo pried into my past, the more awkward my responses became. After all, how could there possibly be any detailed backstory for me, someone who suddenly dropped from the sky into this world? I had no choice but to keep my mouth shut. After a moment of silence, Leonardo suddenly apologized in a serious tone.
"I'm sorry if I upset you. Since coming here, you've seemed down, and I thought maybe it was bringing up some bad memories. If it's tied to this place… well, considering how much Sinistra and its people suffered during that time, I thought it might be overwhelming."
My mind raced. From the start, I had subtly hinted to Leonardo that I thought highly of Leovald, and Sinistra owed a great debt to the hero Leovald. To connect these dots, there would have to be a background story linking the innkeeper's past and Leovald, who had saved Sinistra.
But the problem was that this wasn't a story I could unravel right now.
"I have a lot of bad memories."
I smiled, lifting the corner of my mouth, and took a few steps ahead. My heart was pounding wildly.
Up until now, the "innkeeper" character I'd portrayed in front of Leonardo had been rather vague. I ran an inn and doubled as an informant in Sinistra, offering charity to the reckless young master Leonardo since our first meeting, showing some leniency toward the vagrants, and generally blending in with the city's atmosphere.
I was roughly aligned with the protagonist, but without any standout backstory, I had been stuck with the role of a supporting character.
At least there was one advantage. I had started as extra number 1,001, and until I took on the innkeeper role, I was destined to disappear into dust and vanish.
In other words, I had no past or connections with anyone in this world. No one could prove anything about me, but on the other hand, even if I made up a lie, no one could actually disprove that I was someone else either.
So, in order to survive, I spoke calmly.
"I'm not from this region. Ever since I was born, I've been like a floating weed, drifting around without ever staying in one place."
It wasn't a lie. I wasn't born in Sinistra, and it was true that I had moved from house to house when I was a child. Blending truth into the story made it more convincing than making everything up. It left fewer gaps in the narrative.
"Eventually, I ended up in Sinistra by chance. It wasn't intentional."
I didn't specify the exact time. In reality, I'd only arrived in Sinistra about two weeks ago when I suddenly dropped into this world, but if Leonardo misinterpreted my vague expression and assumed it had been about ten years, that was his choice to make.
But I couldn't be too brazen, so my throat felt dry. Uncomfortable, I lowered my head slightly.
"…Because of that, I've had my fair share of hardships."
Yeah. There were those days I had to worry about being written out of the script. That wasn't a lie either. Looking back, it seemed like most of what I said wasn't far from the truth, even if it wasn't the full truth.
At this point, I decided to steer the conversation away. I had thrown a snowball, but I wasn't sure where it would roll, and I knew I needed to cut it off at the right moment.
"Well, how about it? Did you clear up some of your questions?"
When I glanced back at Leonardo, he was much closer than I expected.
What surprised me most was how hard his expression had become. Even with his face half-covered by the mask, his anger was unmistakably clear. I flinched involuntarily, and Leonardo spoke in a firm voice.
"…So, bad memories, huh. I've heard that, back then, there were people who tried to capture outsiders for human sacrifice—"
Human sacrifice?
The conversation had taken an unexpected turn, and I froze for a moment. Leonardo's hand clenched into a fist.
"I'm sorry for bringing up something from the past. I apologize."
"Uh, uh… okay…"
My response was stiff and awkward, but Leonardo didn't comment on it. Cold sweat began to trickle down my back. Had I said too much, too soon, without knowing what had really happened ten years ago?
I had managed to evade his questioning for now, but there were plenty of things I wanted to ask in return. I had thought it was just a typical fantasy setting with war, rebellion, or maybe a monster invasion—things that often happen in such stories. But judging by his reaction, there was something more to it. Still, if I asked, it would probably raise even more suspicions, so I kept my mouth shut.
The unease in me grew more concrete, tightening around my heart.
This unease had only deepened after we arrived at the large open space following the labyrinthine paths of the underground sewer and saw the walls covered in journals.
Handprints and sharp scratches marred the surface of the walls, covering every inch. Leonardo seemed to have already known about this, glancing at a few lines before showing little interest and scanning the area for any traces of someone having left something behind.
I knew I should act like Leonardo, but I couldn't help but be drawn in by the records that filled the walls. It was now clear that this wasn't some ordinary war or monster invasion. What was going on here? My curiosity gnawed at me, but deep down, a part of me felt that perhaps it would be better not to know. The fear that had been building within me was overtaken by a stronger impulse as my eyes were drawn to the words on the wall, reading through the writings that filled the space.
"Is there a problem?"
"…No. Just looking around for a bit. Find anything?"
I snapped back to reality at Leonardo's voice. He was looking at me with a curious expression, and I acted as casually as possible as I moved toward him. Leonardo, perhaps not noticing anything off, continued speaking in a calm tone.
"Because it's a single passage, it's hard to find any traces of the cat. However, the footprints and signs of a recent meal suggest that someone has been here recently. I suspect it's that suspicious group. Since the citizens of Sinistra wouldn't come all the way down here, they're likely outsiders. Whether they're in the service of Lord Lopez, I can't say for sure yet."
"…It would be nice if we could at least spot one of them from a distance."
That way, I could use the 'innkeeper's insight' to figure something out.
Leonardo gazed beyond the tangled sewer system and spoke.
"They definitely aren't on the first underground level."
"Yeah. The terrain down here isn't great, so considering the recent ghost captain rumours, they must have been rummaging through the first floor until just before. So, it's probably the second or third floor they're on now."
I tapped the wall of the underground sewer, agreeing with Leonardo's assessment. Should we head down to the second floor? I glanced down at my feet with an uneasy feeling.
Finding the cat was proving to be more difficult than I thought.
If the first underground level had at least resembled a sewer, the second floor was more like a tunnel or a labyrinth. It was darker, and the faint light leaking through the air vents barely made any difference. Without oxygen, it felt like being buried alive.
Leonardo, who had descended first using the ladder, was waiting for me below. The ladder felt unnervingly slick, and at the bottom, it was slightly raised, forcing me to jump down when I reached the ground.
Leonardo reached out, catching me to prevent me from slipping. The slight shift in my balance as I landed was quickly stabilized by his quick reflexes, his arm wrapping around my waist, keeping me steady. Thanks to him, I managed to regain my posture without any trouble.
[Scenario weight 5.10%]
"..."
With a sense of unease, I mulled over the number that had flashed briefly in the air. In the meantime, Leonardo checked that I had safely made it down and began walking alongside me.
When I pulled up the map, I saw that the exploration progress was barely 12%. We hadn't even fully scanned the first floor. I couldn't help but wonder how far this underground network actually stretched.
The ground beneath my feet now felt more like a dry, crumbly surface than a muddy one. If it weren't for the occasional drips of water falling from the ceiling, I might have completely forgotten that a sewer flowed above us.
Leonardo glanced at the flickering torch, then picked up a new one from the wall and transferred the flame. The dim light flared brightly, casting a wider glow around the area.
"Look over there."
I spoke casually, pointing with my finger. While most of the objects were either covered in moss or corroded with age, the pickaxe and shovel lying carelessly nearby had broken handles and were left abandoned. They didn't look particularly old, though, which made them stand out.
As we walked closer, it became clear. The thin layer of dampness on the floor hadn't caused any decay, and there was no dust settled on anything. Leonardo scanned the area, his brow furrowing.
"They're not looking for a water vein, are they? Are they trying to dig something up here?"
"Seems like it…"
In places with history, it wasn't uncommon to find people digging up relics from the dead, scavenging whatever they could to make a living, or even taking teeth and hair.
"But if it's grave robbers, there should have been signs on the first floor already, shouldn't there?"
"They might be after a specific tomb."
With those words, Leonardo and I exchanged glances. If they had come all the way to this place to search for a body… something came to mind immediately.
A recently interred notable person.
"Are you thinking of Sir Leovald?"
"…I'm not sure. The Archbishop wouldn't have left the body in the underground sewer. If proper procedures were followed, it would have been moved to the church's crypt, which is off-limits."
Leovald's monument was erected in the square, but the coffin was still in the church, after all.
"Then these people are…?"
"As ridiculous as it sounds, if they're after his tomb, they must be trying to find the passage that leads to the crypt. This place is connected to all of Sinistra, so it wouldn't be too far-fetched."
No wonder the exploration progress was advancing so slowly. The underground sewer was huge, more like a dungeon than anything. It wasn't like a piece of Swiss cheese with holes everywhere. At this rate, it wouldn't be surprising if a massive sinkhole opened up somewhere in the southern part of Sinistra one day.
"For now, let's leave it as a theory. We still don't know for sure if these people are grave robbers or if they're really after Sir Leovald's tomb."
"..."
Leonardo's expression had darkened. Well, who would feel good hearing that someone might try to rob their grave after they're dead?
As I vaguely tried to gauge his mood, I suddenly stopped in my tracks. Just before I did, Leonardo had already halted as well.
A faint vibration was in the air. Footsteps. And in the distance, the flicker of a scarlet light moving toward us, shimmering.
In a flash!
Leonardo immediately rolled the torch to the ground, extinguishing the flame. Then, grabbing my elbow, he pulled me behind a nearby pillar and pressed me close against it.
Our legs tangled, crossed together, and the sound of fabric brushing against fabric was sharp in the silence as our bodies pressed tightly.
[Scenario weight 5.11%]
At the very last moment, the torch held by the other group briefly illuminated our direction. Thanks to being hidden behind the pillar, we weren't spotted. If we had been even a second slower, we would have run straight into them. That would have been quite troublesome.
Leonardo's eyes met mine, just inches apart. A blink, and the air displaced by his eyelashes brushed against my skin. It was a strange feeling—maybe it was nothing, but we exchanged silent looks and then quietly strained our ears.
From the footsteps, it seemed like at least five or more people were approaching. With my back to the pillar and pressed against Leonardo, it was hard to see what was going on outside.
I gave him a subtle gesture to ask about the situation outside, but he only signaled me to keep my head down. The problem was that the signal came in the form of pressing even closer against me, which made things a bit… uncomfortable.
Ugh, I felt the pressure on my chest, making it hard to breathe.
Unable to breathe properly, I tapped lightly on his thigh, and Leonardo slightly opened up a small gap, just enough for me to breathe.
Then, still pressed up against me, he grabbed my hand gently, moving his fingers across my palm, writing something in soft, deliberate strokes. The sensation of his skin against mine made me reflexively flinch slightly.
Noticing my reaction, Leonardo held my hand reassuringly, pressing it flat and continuing to write.
Were they having a meal? Down here, in the underground?
Well, whether it was grave robbing or something else, they were probably eating while doing it. It's natural for people to eat and rest, but in this situation, it felt almost absurd.
Fortunately, it didn't seem like they were preparing for a full meal. I could only hear the occasional rustling of cloth as they unwrapped food and the faint clinking of items being passed around.
Amidst the muffled sounds, a voice, hoarse from dust and weariness, emerged:
"Is this really correct? We've been digging into walls filled with skeletal remains. How many days has it been? I'm starting to doubt the success of the plan."
Then someone, speaking with a particularly cold tone, cut in:
"Don't question things. We've already been paid well enough."
"We're just—why are we targeting such a dangerous person, of all people—"
"Silence. The exact number of floors is unclear, but there's definitely a path that leads to the sanctuary in the underground sewers. Your job is to find the body. Once you have the body, you can take the armour, the sword, the relics—whatever you want. Such generous terms, and still, you complain?"
After that, all fell silent. The sound of eating resumed without another word.
Leonardo wrote on my palm, quietly relaying the situation.
<7 people.>
They were armed. The hypothesis that they might be followers of Viscount Lopez gained more weight. It's unlikely that common grave robbers would be properly equipped with weapons like that.
This time, I grabbed Leonardo's hand and held it steady, then wrote on his palm with my finger. Leonardo, like me, seemed to feel a slight tickling sensation and his hand flinched slightly. Hang in there, you. I ignored it and continued writing.
Instead of responding, Leonardo firmly clasped my hand. It seemed like he was doing it to calm the lingering tickling sensation on his skin.
A moment later, Leonardo tapped twice on the back of my hand to signal. Cautiously, I leaned out and used the innkeeper's insight. The familiar script immediately appeared in my sight.
[Viewing information.]
Rank – Extra (Scenario weight 0.09%)
Role – Viscount Lopez' subordinate
Script – [Searches the underground tunnels from 8 PM to 2 PM.] [Searches for Leovald's corpse.] [Kills the grave robbers to silence them.]
Dialogue – None.[Viewing information.]
Rank – Extra (Scenario weight 0.02%)
Role – Grave robber No. 4
Script – [Searches the underground tunnels from 8 PM to 2 PM.] [Searches for Leovald's corpse.]
Dialogue – None.[Viewing information.]
Rank – Extra (Scenario weight 0.02%)
Role – Grave robber No. 6
Script – [Searches the underground tunnels from 8 PM to 2 PM.] [Searches for Leovald's corpse.]
Dialogue – None.
"..."
It really was Leovald they were after. And not just simple grave robbing, but the body itself was the primary goal.
Out of the seven, six were professional grave robbers, and the remaining one was a direct subordinate of Viscount Lopez. While the information on the grave robbers was general, the details on the subordinate were quite specific. If he could handle the other six on his own, he wasn't someone easy to deal with.
I wrote on Leonardo's palm.
<1 Leftmost. Viscount's subordinate. Caution required.>
<6 Grave robbers. No affiliation.>
After that, we fell silent, our breaths held. I could clearly hear Leonardo's heartbeat, steady and rhythmic.
He was probably listening to mine as well. We waited in silence, counting the time by the rhythm of our heartbeats, until they finished their meal.
There was a rustling sound, followed by the hurried movements of someone tidying up. It seemed like someone had picked up the torch again, and shadows flickered.
Gradually, the sound of their presence moved further away. They weren't heading deeper underground, but towards the exit. Leonardo and I waited, holding our breath until they were far enough to be out of earshot.
Thud thud thud.
The sound of footsteps on a ladder echoed, fading as they climbed. After waiting for what felt like an eternity, the darkness around us was once again complete. I let out a deep breath, releasing all the tension that had built up inside me.
Phew, I exhaled, savouring the sensation of my lungs expanding as I inhaled a deep breath afterward. Only then did Leonardo finally move, feeling around for the torch.
"That's my ankle."
"Ah, my apologies."
Once he found the torch, he reignited it, the crimson light spreading and brightening the surroundings. Our gazes met at close range.
"Suspicious, isn't it?"
"Very."
Yes, the situation was indeed highly suspicious. I sighed deeply, letting out a long, drawn-out exhale.
"This is troublesome."
It seems I've accidentally found out the villain's plan in advance.
…Should I stop it or let it be?
Summing up the information we've gathered so far, it seems like this:
From the start, the villainous presence of Viscount Lopez was quite evident, and for reasons unknown, he seems to be after the body of Leovald.
The immediate problem we face is as follows.
So, how does the scenario want to unfold?
If the scenario is written in such a way that Leovald's body is taken, then I have no choice but to follow its progression. On the surface, I appear to be an ally of Leonardo, but my real goal is survival.
It would be unwise to act in a way that completely deviates from the direction suggested by the scenario notes, without knowing how this world will twist as a result. In such a situation, I can't just rush into the development.
'…But other possibilities are also possible.'
I rolled my eyes. Ever since I fell into this strange world, I've spent the remaining time contemplating the system that governs the scenario.
The scenario notes assign characters and give them lines that are meant to guide the story. It adjusts the characters and settings, essentially setting the main course of the narrative that the characters must follow. To me, it felt like a kind of prophecy.
And one notable thing.
After completing a scenario note, there is always a gap before the next scenario note is assigned.
Why is there a break before the next scenario starts, instead of it continuing right after? It's almost like preparing the next stage and script in the meantime.
For example, in a play, scene changes are inevitably needed. The stage is generally fixed, and the frame the audience sees is limited to the stage itself.
So, when changing the background or characters in a theatrical production, there's usually a brief intermission, such as lowering the curtain or using blackout lighting. During this break, the actors fix their makeup and the staff changes the stage background.
Strangely enough, the world within the story follows this same rule. The only difference from a theatre's intermission is that, during this gap, the characters in the story engage in free actions without the guidance of the scenario notes.
The free actions of the characters within the story. In other words, the 'spaces between the lines' of the narrative are unaffected by the scenario.
However, paradoxically, while the scenario cannot intervene in the 'spaces between the lines,' the events that occur within those spaces are reflected in the scenario.
The fact that I, Extra Citizen #1,001, who was supposed to disappear as ash, ended up being cast as the Innkeeper of Sinistra was something that happened in those 'spaces between the lines.' More importantly, the actions that took place in those gaps were properly reflected in the next scenario note.
Originally, "I" wasn't supposed to exist in the scenario. I was an extra, and I was supposed to be a casualty. However, I acted on the spot and took the role of the innkeeper, and for some reason, this change was naturally incorporated into 'Scenario Note #002.'
Since the innkeeper smoothly provided shelter and food to Leonardo without any issue, it's already been proven that the events that happen between the lines influence the progression of the scenario.
So, is the scenario flexible?
I can't say for sure yet, but I'm leaning toward the idea that it is flexible.
'Perhaps… the scenario is being written on the spot.'
What if this world isn't following a pre-written scenario that's already been 'completed,' but instead, the actions of the characters within the spaces between the lines are being observed and reflected into the script in real-time, constantly being 'written' as the story unfolds?
Interfering with the story's progression in the gaps between the lines wouldn't be a big problem. In fact, it might even become possible to slightly tilt things in the direction I want.
Of course, if this is true, it raises the question of who exactly is observing and adjusting the world while writing the scenario in real-time.
For now, this is all I can deduce.
While my mind was racing, Leonardo also seemed to be deep in thought. He slowly opened his mouth.
"One of them said earlier that they were a subordinate of Lord Lopez. Are you sure about that?"
"Believe it or not, it's up to you, but according to my information, it's certain."
"…I see. Alright."
After that, Leonardo kept his mouth tightly shut. The atmosphere became tense, and as I looked around, I took out the cat treat that the captain had given me earlier, shaking it as I pretended to look for the cat.
I could hear Leonardo's mind whirring, so I felt it was time to give him some space to think.
"Roboy."
What was it the captain had said? Was it herring or carp?
"Meow."
"...?"
In the darkness, we both turned our heads at the faint sound of a meow.
The four paws, now caked in mud, approached with a shuffling step. The colour of the dirty, muddy water was now reflected on their once-white, boot-like paws. The cat, with its short gray fur and sapphire-blue eyes, swayed its tail gently.
"…Roboy?"
Meow.
Was that the sound of a cat meowing?
Approaching cautiously, I offered it a snack. The cat elegantly walked over and began devouring the dried fish. The crunchy sound of it chewing was rather satisfying. I carefully reached out and petted its head gently.
Although it was a bit dirty, it looked healthier than expected. It didn't seem like one of those animals that had gotten caught up in the underground sewers and suffered.
Leonardo, who had been quietly watching, sighed as he glanced between the cat and the darkness beyond the underground passage.
"We've accomplished our goal, so it's probably best we head back up now."
Indeed. There was nothing more we could do down here at the moment.
We couldn't immediately search for Leovald's body from this side, either. The tomb robbers had already left, so we couldn't chase after them. And diving deeper into the underground sewers without proper preparation would be reckless.
We could always come back later.
As I stretched out my arms, Roboy swayed its tail and calmly snuggled up to me. They said it was a calm and clever cat, one that could even board a ship, and indeed, its laid-back demeanor was evident.
It nonchalantly licked the mud off its paws, and, feeling a bit mischievous, I tickled its nose. In response, the cat pretended to bite my hand before curling up with a small shiver.
Seeing its calm demeanor, the tension in my body eased, and the tangled thoughts that had been knotted up in my mind seemed to scatter. A sigh, half in relief, escaped my lips without me realizing it.
After retracing our steps and climbing the ladder, Leonardo and I didn't exchange much conversation as we headed back toward the sewer. I casually spoke to the cat, but I kept a close eye on Leonardo's condition. He simply raised his torch wordlessly, matching his pace with mine.
What was particularly strange was when we arrived at the sewer entrance, Roboy leapt out of my arms and effortlessly squeezed through the narrow bars. It simply shoved its head through and somehow managed to get its whole body through.
"Did we even need to come save it?"
It probably had already made its way back to its owner by itself. I looked at the cat, still somewhat suspicious, and placed it back in my arms.
Carrying it around in this state would attract too much attention with the cloak and mask, so I had to fold it up and put it back in my bag. The fabric had soaked up some moisture and was now heavier, pressing against my side more than before.
Leonardo wordlessly took the bag and slung it over his shoulder. Somehow, it felt like he was getting more and more used to playing the servant's role.
As we approached the ship where the captain was waiting, we saw the fuzzy, anxious captain spinning in circles, clearly agitated. The crew members around him were trying to hold him back. Despite his rugged appearance, the captain couldn't hold back his emotions when he saw Roboy.
"Ah! Roboy!"
With a loud cry, the captain's tears flowed freely.
[Scenario Sub-quest Condition Achieved!: Bring Lucky Roboy to the Captain (1/1)]
[Leonardo's fame increases according to achievement. Current fame in Sinistra: 1,020 points. +0 points to meet the minimum required.]
[Clear condition achieved!]
['Scenario Note #005' is successfully completed. There are "0 hours 15 minutes" remaining until the next Scenario Note assignment. Until the scenario assignment is complete, characters will begin 'Free Actions' to fill the empty gaps in the narrative. Act naturally to prevent them from noticing inconsistencies in the world.]
The empty gaps naturally appeared, as if it were only to be expected.
Even now, the waiting time is the shortest it's been so far. Damn it. There's so much to do.
I still need to investigate the disaster that struck Sinistra ten years ago, and figure out the plot behind Lopez' scheme with Leovald's body.
Glancing sideways at Leonardo, I saw that he was being held by the captain, who was still crying uncontrollably, enduring a long list of thanks.
As a token of gratitude, he received a bit of money and a basket of pickled herring. Leonardo, with his bag slung over one shoulder and the basket in his arm, was climbing up the sloped path.
As the bustling noise of the port grew distant and we entered a quieter area, I concealed my impatience and spoke first.
"You're worried about it, aren't you? The group of tomb robbers."
"…Yeah. Setting aside the desecration, I don't understand their motive for targeting the tomb. It could be because of the armour or sword left with the body, but those items are already too well-known to be easily sold or displayed."
"What's unclear is why 'Lord Lopez' is targeting Leovald's tomb."
I corrected my statement with a light snap of my fingers.
"There should be a way to find out, right?"
"Is there a plan?"
In a sense, this is just a light experiment.
"Isn't there a way to confront Lord Lopez directly? How about it, want to team up and pull a job together?"
An experiment to see how much of what happens in the gaps of the scenario will actually be reflected.
[Waiting time expired, a new Scenario Note has been assigned.]