An Extra’s Rise in an Eroge

As Arthur stepped out of Isabella's cabin, he let out a deep breath. "She sure is trying hard to charm me," he muttered under his breath, his mind replaying the session.

[Well, it's not entirely ineffective. Without your skill, it might've been much harder to keep your focus,] Sol chimed in, his voice carrying a hint of amusement. [Still, her efforts seem wishful. She's clearly hoping to chip away at your defenses over time.]

"Hah~ Wishful thinking indeed," Arthur replied, shaking his head as he made his way toward the cafeteria.

By the time he arrived, it was relatively empty, the late hour leaving only a few students scattered across the room. After a quick meal, Arthur returned to his dorm, collapsing onto his bed.

The following days blended into a monotonous routine. Each morning began with lectures, followed by his private sessions with Isabella. Despite her best attempts, she couldn't seem to break through his composure.

Arthur noticed her frustration growing as the days passed. The subtle flicker of annoyance in her eyes whenever he remained unaffected didn't escape him. Eventually, she reduced their sessions from daily to once a week, masking the change under the guise of giving him time to absorb the lessons.

By the weekend, Arthur realized he had barely spent any time with Alicia all week. Between his packed schedule and extra lessons, he hadn't even seen her much. Resolving to make it up to her, the first thing he did on Saturday morning was to make his way to her room and knocked on the door.

When Alicia opened it, she stood with her arms crossed and a pout on her face. "So, you finally found time for me," she said, her tone teasing but tinged with genuine annoyance.

Arthur immediately held his ears, putting on his most apologetic expression. "I'm sorry, Alicia. I really am. I've been swamped with all the courses I signed up for, but..." He reached out, gently pinching her soft, puffed cheeks, a playful grin forming. "I'm here now, and I'm all yours for the day. How about we go on a date?"

Her eyes lit up, the pout quickly replaced by excitement. "Really?"

"Really," he confirmed with a nod.

"Okay! Give me ten minutes. I'll get ready," she said, already turning back into her room.

Arthur laughed. "Why? You're already so beautiful."

She shot him a flat look over her shoulder. "Ha ha," she said dryly, before adding in a stern tone, "Ten minutes."

"Alright, alright," he said, raising his hands in mock defeat.

While waiting, Arthur focused on Zephyra, who had been pecking at his head insistently. Over the past few days, she'd spent most of her time with Alicia under his command to keep her protected. She only returned to Arthur when she needed food, which, unfortunately for his Eroge Points, consisted of the high-quality beast food from his system shop. "You're eating me dry, you know," he said with a smirk, feeding her a few morsels.

By the time Alicia returned, Arthur's playful expression faltered. She stepped into view wearing a simple yet stunning outfit—a light sundress in soft pastel hues that accentuated her delicate features. The dress reached just above her knees, fluttering slightly with her movements. A thin belt cinched her waist, highlighting her slender figure, and her open-toed sandals completed the effortlessly elegant look.

Arthur let out a low whistle, his eyes filled with admiration. "You look absolutely stunning," he said sincerely.

Alicia blushed, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "It's just a dress," she said shyly, though the pleased smile on her lips betrayed her.

"It's not just the dress," Arthur said, stepping closer. "It's you."

She laughed softly, her earlier annoyance forgotten. "Let's go before you start saying something even cheesier."

Arthur chuckled, offering his arm. "As you wish, milady."

Together, they walked out, hand in hand, making their way toward the academy gates. The tension of the week seemed to melt away with every step, Alicia's smile radiant as she chatted with Arthur about all the things they'd missed sharing over the past few days.

A short distance away, a guy in a tracksuit leaned against a tree, catching his breath from his morning run. His sharp gaze landed on the couple, and he let out a derisive snort.

"Childish," he muttered under his breath.

The man was Ray Norris, a second-year student at Arcane Academy and well-known for his rigorous training regimen. His disdainful eyes followed Arthur and Alicia as they strolled past, oblivious to his presence.

'Are those two the new first-years?' Ray thought, narrowing his eyes.

Then he scoffed, shaking his head. 'Whatever. Doesn't matter. From the way their heads are full of love, it's clear they won't get anywhere in life. Wasting time on relationships instead of focusing on their future... pathetic.'

Ray pushed himself off the tree and stretched briefly before resuming his run. His movements were fluid, his speed so fast that only a gust of wind was left in his wake.

'Instead of training on weekends, all they think about is fun. It's disappointing,' he thought, his expression hardening. 'If you don't train and grow stronger, you're worthless in this world. I hope the other juniors aren't as useless as that love-struck pair.'

A deep sigh escaped his lips as he disappeared from the area, his figure a blur against the backdrop of the academy grounds.

Unaware of Ray's judgment, Arthur and Alicia continued their leisurely walk, entirely focused on enjoying their time together. If Arthur had known about Ray's disdainful thoughts, he would have laughed. After all, wasn't it normal to take a break after a long week of hard work?

And if Ray had thought Arthur weak, he would've been in for a rude awakening. Arthur wasn't just stronger than any of the first-years; he could likely hold his own against most of the second-years as well.

As Arthur and Alicia walked out of the academy grounds, the warm weekend sun casting soft shadows along the path, Arthur turned to her with a playful smile. "So, where do you like to go first, my lady?"

Alicia chuckled at his exaggerated way of addressing her, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "Well, let's start with the Lyris Botanical Garden. It's the closest from here. After that, let's just see what's nearby and go from there. How about that?"

Explore new worlds at empire

"Excellent idea, my lady," Arthur replied with a mock bow, his grin widening.

They strolled down the cobblestone streets, the city bustling with life. It wasn't long before the towering gates of the Lyris Botanical Garden came into view, the intricate ironwork overgrown with ivy and blooming roses.

Lyris Botanical Garden

The moment they stepped inside, they were greeted by a symphony of colors and scents. Vibrant flowers lined the paths, their petals swaying gently in the breeze. Alicia's eyes lit up as she spotted a bed of Lunar Lilies glowing faintly in the shaded grove.

"Look, Arthur," she said, pointing to the silver blossoms. "Lunar Lilies. They're said to represent eternal love."

Arthur tilted his head, his tone teasing. "So, does that mean I should get you a bouquet?"

"They don't survive once plucked," she replied with a smirk, nudging him lightly. "So you'll just have to enjoy them here."

They wandered through the garden, taking pictures and enjoying the tranquil beauty. After an hour of exploring, they decided to move on to their next destination.

Their next stop was Lovers' Summit, a popular destination for couples, perched high above the city. The climb wasn't too steep, but Arthur still offered Alicia his hand when the path grew rocky.

At the top, they found a clearing with a massive ancient oak tree, its branches adorned with countless colorful ribbons. Alicia pulled out two ribbons from a small pouch.

"It's tradition to tie a ribbon and make a wish," she explained, handing one to Arthur.

He studied the ribbon, then glanced at her. "What are you wishing for?"

"Nice try," she said with a grin, tying her ribbon carefully to a low-hanging branch.

Arthur tied his ribbon next to hers, his expression thoughtful. "Guess you'll have to wonder about mine too."

As the afternoon sun climbed higher, they made their way to the Ocean's Grace Underwater Restaurant, an architectural marvel submerged beneath a sparkling bay.

"Wow," Alicia breathed as they descended the glass staircase, surrounded by a breathtaking view of the ocean. Schools of fish swam lazily past, their scales catching the filtered sunlight.

"This might be the fanciest lunch I've ever had," Arthur said, pulling out her chair before sitting down himself.

Alicia smiled, her eyes sparkling. "Well, you deserve a little luxury now and then."

The food was just as impressive as the view—seared salmon for Alicia and roasted lamb for Arthur. As they ate, a manta ray glided past their table, its graceful movements mesmerizing.

"I could get used to this," Arthur remarked, leaning back in his chair.

"Don't get too comfortable," Alicia teased. "We've still got more places to see."

Their next stop brought a completely different vibe. The Celest Arcade was alive with laughter and flashing lights. Alicia's competitive streak quickly came to light as they battled it out in a virtual racing game.

"Eat my dust!" she shouted, her car speeding past his in the final seconds.

Arthur groaned, mock-defeated. "I let you win. Clearly."

"Oh, sure," Alicia said, rolling her eyes. "Whatever helps you sleep at night."

Arthur made up for his supposed loss by dominating the claw machine, expertly retrieving a plush fox and handing it to her with a triumphant grin.

"For the record, this one wasn't luck," he said.

She hugged the plushie to her chest, laughing. "I'll allow it. This time."

As the evening settled in, they ended their day at the Starlit Fountain, a quiet spot where cascading water reflected the night sky. The soft glow of enchanted lights made the scene almost dreamlike.

They sat side by side on the fountain's edge, the hum of the city distant but comforting. Alicia dipped her fingers into the cool water, her expression peaceful.

"This has been a perfect day," she murmured.

Arthur looked at her, his usual smirk replaced with something more sincere. "Yeah. It really has."

For a while, neither spoke, content to let the moment stretch as the stars shimmered above them and the gentle sound of cascading water surrounded them like a soothing lullaby.

"I wish this day could last longer," Alicia murmured, breaking the silence.

"Me too," Arthur replied, his tone soft but sincere. "I had so much fun today."

Alicia sighed lightly, a hint of reluctance in her voice. "It's a pity we have to head back now."

"Who said we're heading back? We've got one more place to visit," Arthur said, his lips curling into a mischievous smile.

Alicia tilted her head, her curiosity piqued. "What do you mean? Where are we going?"

"To the back alley," he said with a playful glint in his eyes.

Alicia's expression shifted to one of surprise and mild apprehension. "The back alley? But I've heard that place is dangerous. Grandpa Leo told me it's crawling with criminals and full of illegal dealings."

Arthur chuckled, leaning closer. "Come on, don't you want to make our date a bit more thrilling? Besides, you have me. I'll take care of you. Don't you trust me?"

"Of course I trust you," Alicia replied without hesitation, hugging his arm tightly to show her faith in him.

"Then let's go," Arthur said, his grin widening. "I heard there's an underground auction happening there tonight, and they're selling a rare beast egg. Didn't you mention wanting a familiar?"

Alicia's eyes sparkled with excitement despite her initial hesitation. "Really? A familiar egg?"

Arthur nodded. "Yep. But first…" He retrieved a cloak and mask from his inventory, offering them to her. "We can't just stroll in there with our faces on display, can we?"

Alicia blinked in surprise, watching the items materialize seemingly out of thin air. "Wh-where did these come from?" she asked, her voice tinged with amazement.

"Oh, that?" Arthur said casually, a smirk tugging at his lips. "It's a little secret. I have a unique skill that lets me store items in another dimension and pull them out whenever I need them."Nôv(el)B\\jnn

"Cool~" Alicia whistled in awe, examining the items. "You're like a walking storage bag, but way better."

"You can admire me later," Arthur teased. "Right now, we have an adventure waiting."

With a nod, Alicia donned the cloak and mask, following Arthur's lead. The two blended into the night as they made their way toward the shadows of the infamous back alley.