Becoming an Extra in a Trash Game

Chapter 20

Alright. I’ve prepared to some extent for my retirement, so it’s time to move.

As much as I’d like to stay in a safe place and focus more on my and Luna’s growth, including Kane, I can’t do that.

In the end, I’m the one who sets the table, not the one who eats from it.

Moreover, I’ve decided to aim for the next title of ‘The Advancer’ following ‘The Beginner’.

That’s because the probability of obtaining it is higher if one firmly establishes and acts on their own will.

I’ll set the stage with the information I’ve gathered, but above all, Kane’s intention is important.

‘As long as he doesn’t know the stage is set, everything’s okay.’

How would he know? He’s not a god.

I unconsciously rubbed my hands like a goblin manager, then startled, shook them off and stood up.

“I didn’t expect to use Alkaido this quickly…”

Well, it should be fine if it’s mutually beneficial, right?

I took out a piece of parchment instead of paper that might tear, then picked up a quill pen and started writing down a formula.

“Black ash tree leaves, Padauk grass. A piece of a baby mountain goat’s first horn, mucilaginous aquatic plants, and white dung mushroom.”

I remember most of the ingredients were common except for one or two.

It would be best to catch an epidemic before it spreads, but how could I do that?

It will be prepared simultaneously in multiple places, and how would I have known about it?

If the cult spreading the epidemic finds out that I knew about it and tried to stop it…

‘As fanatics, the Kruger family name wouldn’t be much of a shield.’

They would undoubtedly try to kill me somehow without thinking of the aftermath.

As retribution for interfering with their grand plan.

So it would be safer to let Kane personally stop the epidemic.

It would be best for me to create a cure or method to treat the epidemic.

“Well, I’m not a hero anyway…”

The people who will be sacrificed while the epidemic spreads?

To be honest, it’s unrealistic to save everyone without any sacrifices.

My power doesn’t extend that far, and neither does Kane’s.

But at least we can save more people than in the future where 80 percent of the continent’s population perishes.

That much should be possible.

Even now, the Evil god cult is traveling across the continent making sacrifices, monsters are harming people, and somewhere, someone is probably dying from false accusations.

I am not an omnipotent person.

I’m just a fan of a novel or game protagonist, who got too immersed in their unfortunate life and wants to see a happy ending.

“I’ll only do what I can do right now.”

I called a servant and handed over the rolled-up parchment, then spoke.

“Tell Alkaido to actively purchase and store the items listed here. I have plans for their use later.”

“Hehe, Young Master. I believe there’s space available in the castle’s main liquor storage.”

Giggling as he speaks, it seems he wants to flatter me.

That’s not that kind of list…

I just gestured for him to leave quickly and started to roughly plan a route in my head.

‘Well, the first place to go is pretty obvious.’

Kane’s hometown.

I think if I ask Kane where he wants to go first, he’ll definitely mention that place.

So after stopping there, we’ll go to the Labyrinth City and obtain one of the relics hidden there…

After briefly organizing the route, I stuffed the paper into a small subspace and went to find Luna.

“Hmm… Hmm…”

Seeing her humming while grooming a horse, she looks happy…

Really, what kind of demon from another dimension would force such a child into battle and even give her the Blood Thirst trait later?

‘Your Honor… I was just playing the game and aiming for high efficiency…’

Feeling a pang of conscience, I pressed my hand over my heart, then cleared my throat with an “Ahem,” causing Luna’s white ears to flap suddenly.

“Oh, oh, how long… Have you been here…?”

Her face turning peach-colored and stammering, she looks really cute like a small animal.

“Since you were humming?”

Of course, there’s no correlation between cuteness and not teasing.

I smiled brightly as I spoke, and Luna’s face turned bright red beyond a light peach color.

“Uwah… Uh…”

“By the way, have you completed all the procedures for the horses to be taken out?”

They’re also assets for the knights, besides being spare horses.

From the Kruger family’s perspective, it’s pocket change, but since war horses themselves are expensive, it would be troublesome if someone reported us for just taking them out without proper procedures.

“Yes… I’ve registered them in advance… With the Adventurer’s Guild…”

Regular horses wouldn’t need such procedures, but it’s better to prevent any potential hassles in advance.

“Well done, Luna.”

I reached out to pat her head, then pulled and released her soft ears before pointing over my shoulder with my thumb and speaking.

“Shall we go watch again today?”

“…Have you… Finished your… Strength training today?”

“…Don’t even mention it. Mark wouldn’t let me finish until I threw up once this morning…”

In the end, I threw up while running, and then had leg cramps, so I finished after getting a leg massage.

Feeling a bit pale, I shook my head once and raised the corners of my mouth.

“So, you don’t want to watch?”

“I, I do want to watch.”

Honestly, one of the purposes is to visually confirm Kane’s capabilities.

But how often do you get to watch such intense martial arts up close, live, and with the assurance that there won’t be a terrible outcome?

‘Later, when we go outside, I’ll just be glad to have the Sense of Affluence trait.’

There might come a day when we directly witness the cult’s human sacrifices.

Without the Sense of Affluence trait, could I, who was just an ordinary modern person, endure such things?

Even now, I’m startled when Kane’s arm bends in an unfamiliar direction or when I hear a cracking sound right next to my ear as if something’s broken.

‘I need to get used to even small things.’

I persuaded Luna to come along and walked to the training ground where Kane was rolling around.

The sound of metal clashing is loud.

The sharp ringing that pierces the ears repeats over and over.

Consecutive attacks. As if flowing like water, he blocks the attacks without interruption and twists his body to dodge.

‘He’s improved a lot.’

It hasn’t been long since he switched from wooden swords to practice longswords, but he clashes with those sharp blades as if they’re not frightening at all.

I watched Kane, drenched in sweat, sparring with two knights while teaming up with another knight.

“This little one has improved a lot.”

“He’s a tough one.”

“He’s a bit cheeky, but huh, his skills are decent.”

Even though the sword strikes are sharp and precise, the relatively strong knights seem to have time for small talk.

Well, it’s just practice, not a life-or-death battle.

As I’m watching with interest, the guys exchanging swords with Kane start to tempt him.

“We’re going out to the village for a drink today, want to come along?”

“Yeah. The meals from the castle are delicious, but sometimes you crave the taste of that cheap stuff.”

“I don’t… Really have any thoughts on that…”

“Come on, don’t refuse. We’re going to a place that does great roast pork, let’s go together.”

Their voices are barely audible over the shouts and clashing of swords from elsewhere, but it’s unexpected.

They seem to have become quite close, and while it’s nice to see, I feel a strange sensation thinking that even this kind of daily life will soon come to an end.

“Roast pork… Sounds delicious…”

Meanwhile, Luna is groaning next to me, seemingly tempted by the mention of roast pork.

I let out a “Hmm” and approached with a smile.

“Oh? So there’s a place with such delicious roast pork?”

For a moment, silence falls, then it becomes noisy again.

“I shrugged after seeing the knights glance at me and then slowly moved away with faces that say “He’s here again.” “

“I heard rumors that if you’re unlucky enough to catch my attention, you’ll end up like Harlon, slaving away with just a pen. “

Why are they avoiding me like I’m some kind of plague?

Should I really make them all into paperwork slaves?

“Ah… Well. Haha, it’s too common a place, it wouldn’t suit your taste, Young Master.”

Do they think I’m some old-fashioned department head trying to forcibly tag along to the employees’ after-party?

I looked at the knight who was trying to dissuade me with an awkward smile, sweating profusely, afraid I might ask to come along. Then I reached into my subspace and pulled out a handful of gold coins.

“I know. It would be a sin against my tongue to eat such things. But if my knights want to eat it, can’t I at least contribute a little?”

As I placed the gold coins in the hands of the knight who had reflexively held out both hands, I suddenly found his familiar face and opened the Trait window.

[Dave―A regular knight of the Raven Knight Order who bit a gold coin]

Representative Traits: [Stamina (A)] [Toughness (A)]

Hidden Traits: [Mental Strength (B)] [Wind Spirit (D)]

Ah, Dave.

Judging by his attitude, it seems he’s been treating Kane well, and increasing the strength of one more person might make things easier later, so…

“And this is a special gift for you, who’s been getting along well with my attendant.”

I reached into my subspace again and took out one of the elemental stones I had swept up at the auction house last time, a wind elemental stone.

I placed the jewel-like object with a subtle sky-blue shimmer on top of the gold coins piled in both hands and smiled softly.

“Surely you wouldn’t carelessly discard or sell my gift, would you? Right?”

Dave, who was alternately looking at me and the elemental stone with a face that seemed to ask if this Young Master was attempting some new form of harassment, awkwardly opened his mouth.

“Of… Course not.”

“Then Kane will come with me.”

I nodded to Kane, and Kane, who was wiping sweat from his chin with the bandage wrapped around his hand, nodded lightly.

“Then I’ll see you at tomorrow’s sparring session.”

As we walked away from Dave’s send-off, there was a slight commotion behind us once we were a bit further away.

I can hear them teasing Dave behind us, saying things like, “You ended up having to carry around a pretty stone preciously, even though you’re not a lady.”

They’ll all be envious later, Dave. Just endure it a little longer.

I was smiling at the thought of how annoyed Dave might be when he finds out, when suddenly a strange thought occurred to me.

Was my personality originally this bad?

Or have I immersed myself too much in the role of Adelian?

‘Trait window.’

[Adelian Guardian Kruger―Owner of Immense Wealth]

Representative Traits: [Financial Power (SS)] [Arrogance (S)]

Hidden Traits: [Sense of Affluence (A)] [User’s Eyes (SSS)]

‘Sense of Affluence has decreased.’

What does this mean?

What will happen to me if that falls below F and eventually disappears?

Just as I was about to get serious.

Is this also because of the Sense of Affluence trait?

Or is it the influence of Kang Soo-ho, myself, who had laziness?

‘I’ll think about it properly later.’

It’s not directly harmful to my body anyway.

I took a sip of water with lime slices floating in it while waiting for Kane to finish washing up.

A faint citrus scent.

The Sense of Affluence trait only affects the mental aspect, and I don’t feel any discrepancy in these sensory aspects, so.

It’s still okay.

“Mmm…”

After swallowing, I was poking Luna’s cheek, who looked a bit sleepy, when Kane returned.

“What are you thinking about with that expression?”

“What kind of expression do I have?”

“The expression you have when you’re about to break a magic stone.”

Okay, you mean I look like a villain? That’s a success.

I smiled broadly as I looked at Kane, who sat down with a somewhat disgruntled face.

“You’re saying I have the expression of a competent boss. Thanks for the compliment?”

“Your habit of interpreting everything positively is not good.”

“Well, I think it’s very good for my mental health. Don’t you agree, Luna?”

“Uh, um… I think… it might be good…?”

I told them to bring in dinner and rested my chin on my hand, tilting my head.

Now, this is where it starts.

I need to make Kane say what I want to hear directly from his mouth, without being too obvious.

“I’ve been thinking lately. Kane, don’t you think you’ve become too stagnant?”

As if I’m losing interest, I picked up one of the knives being set and twirled it, and I felt Kane’s eye color deepen slightly.

“No, I don’t think so… He’s working… Really hard…”

No, Luna. Don’t help. Don’t make excuses.

I know Kane is working hard too, but right now I need to be a bad, exploitative sponsor.

“Daily sparring is one thing, but it feels a bit bland. Don’t you think so?”

“I see. I have no objection to that. You might be right, I may have become stagnant and lazy.”

Ugh. It feels like my conscience is being gouged out, but.

I slowly changed my smiling face to an expressionless one and threw a glance at Kane.

“I think we need a little change. What do you think?”

“My thoughts are the same as yours.”

Something seems to be going smoothly…

“In my opinion, I think it’s time to leave this castle. I expect my growth rate will drastically slow down with just sparring, and besides.”

Even though we’re clearly in a bright room lit by candles or magic lamps, Kane’s golden eyes seem to shine even more.

“After all, my goal is out there.”

As I was about to open my mouth, feeling strangely overwhelmed, Kane languidly lowered his eyes and tore a piece of bread.

“However, before that, I’d like to visit my hometown once.”

“Alright.”

As expected, the first destination is Kane’s hometown.

To that place that’s nothing but ruins.