An Extra’s Rise in an Eroge

I'm currently walking down the market street with Alicia while wearing a black robe.

For reference, Alicia is very nervous about going to a dangerous back alley, so she was wearing armor underneath her clothes, and remained vigilant of the surroundings while firmly gripping her sword that I gave her from the inventory to reassure her.

However, the back alley is actually not as dangerous as she thinks. It's common knowledge that if you get caught you'll be sentenced to death, but since that rule is not enforced properly, the back alley is just your average entertainment district.

Of course, there exist some really dangerous corners.

"He-Help… Help me…"

"My body… My body hurts…"

"E-even a slice of bread… is fine…"

We were silently passing through the market street, then suddenly beggars began flocking to us.

"…Ah."

Alicia had a sorrowful look on her face as she witnessed such a scene, since most of the beggars gathered around us were children.

The reason for this situation is the corruption that is deeply rooted in our Empire.

The Aristocrats only care about their own well-being and do not look after their subjects, thus the people are bound to become poor. That's why parents dump their kids in the middle of the market like that to reduce the mouths that need to be fed.

Abandoned children wander around begging for days, then eventually starve to death.

Then their corpses disappear the next day.

On the day the corpse disappears, the rest of the children don't beg for a few days. As for the reason, those who know need no explanation.

I walked down the bustling market street with Alicia by my side, both of us cloaked in black robes to blend in. Alicia's unease was palpable, her eyes scanning every shadowed corner as she gripped the sword I had given her tightly. Beneath her clothes, she wore armor, her nerves clear despite my reassurances.

Her apprehension wasn't surprising. Stories of the back alley painted it as a haven for crime and danger, a place where you could easily lose your life. But the reality? It was less sinister than the tales suggested. The back alley was more of an underground entertainment district than a den of chaos. Sure, there were dark corners where genuine danger lurked, but for the most part, it was a place for illicit trades, gambling, and hushed conversations.

Even so, Alicia's vigilance didn't waver.

"He-Help… Help me…"

"My body… My body hurts…"

"E-even a slice of bread… is fine…"

As we made our way through the market, the voices of beggars began to surround us. Ragged figures emerged, thin and frail, their outstretched hands trembling.

"Ah…" Alicia murmured, her steps faltering. Her gaze fixed on the children, their hollow eyes and skeletal frames wrenching a sorrowful look from her.

Most of the beggars around us were just kids—abandoned, starving, and desperate.

The scene was a harsh reminder of the Empire's deeply rooted corruption. The aristocracy lived in decadent luxury, blind to the suffering of their people. For them, the poor were expendable, mere collateral damage in the pursuit of their own well-being. Parents, unable to feed their children, often left them in crowded streets like this, hoping someone might take pity on them.

But pity was a rare commodity here.

The abandoned children would wander, begging until their frail bodies gave out. And when they inevitably succumbed to hunger, their corpses would vanish by morning.

On the day the corpse disappears, the rest of the children don't beg for a few days. As for the reason, those who know need no explanation.

Similar incidents were unfolding all over the Empire. Starving masses, abandoned children, the desperation of the poor—it wasn't confined to just one corner.

It begged the question: why hasn't anyone risen up? Why hasn't the oppressed stood against the indifferent nobles?

The answer was grim yet simple—the Empire, as broken as it was, remained the best option for survival. Other nations or smaller empires were in even worse conditions, their resources drained by the endless war against the demons. Here, at least, there was some semblance of stability.

But this fragile equilibrium wouldn't last.

Would the situation improve? Would justice finally prevail?

No.

It would only worsen. The gears of the plot were already turning, pushing this world toward chaos and ruin. The Empire was destined to face relentless waves of adversities—raids, rebellions, uprisings, droughts, disasters—all designed to hone the so-called "main characters" of this world.

And it all began with the raid on the commoner's dormitory at the Arcane Academy.

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The spark? The demons.

Unlike their usual preference for upfront battles, the demons had shifted their strategy. The higher-ranking demons—those capable of cunning and long-term schemes—had infiltrated Eldora long ago, hiding in plain sight. Disguised as influential figures, they had sown discord from the shadows, their plans meticulous and far-reaching.

Many underground organizations, swayed by promises of immediate power, had betrayed Eldora. They extended their hands to the demons, becoming pawns in their grand design. With these alliances, the demons had begun moving in earnest, their machinations quietly eroding the Empire's foundations.

But even if the demons had remained dormant, the outcome wouldn't have changed. An uprising was inevitable.

Rebellions would erupt, disasters would strike, and the fragile Empire would crumble under the weight of its own corruption. Eventually, the ultimate calamity would arrive—an unstoppable force known as the Demon King.

Even if the "main character" were defeat the demon king which is highly unlikely —it would be too late. By then, the world would already lie in ruins.

What a grim and absurd world this is.

[Well, that's precisely why you were brought here—to save it from its destined destruction,] Sol interjected, her voice echoing in my mind, shattering my grim thoughts.

"Please, I'm begging you… My brother is in pain…"

"Huh?"

My train of thought derailed as I felt a faint tug on my robe. I looked down to see a young girl, her eyes hollow with hunger, her tiny hands gripping the edge of my cloak.

"Please… Please, just one penny… For goodness' sake…" Her voice was weak but desperate.

I noticed her trembling, barely able to stand on her scrawny legs.

"I want to feed my younger brother… even a slice of bread…"

"…A slice of bread?"

"My brother… before he dies of illness… I want to feed him and see his smile at least once… heik… heik…"

The haggard yet sweet little girl tugging at my robe broke down into tears, overwhelmed by her emotions. Her trembling voice and desperate expression struck a chord, and I found myself hesitating.

I was about to retort coldly—old habits die hard—but the realization that the robe I wore concealed my appearance stopped me. Instead, I softened my tone and spoke gently.

"…Stop crying."

"Heik, heik… sniff…"

"That's right. You're a good girl."

I placed a comforting hand on her head, gently patting it. Her sobbing quieted to soft hiccups, though her tears still trickled down. I glanced sideways at Alicia, who stood surrounded by a growing group of beggars.

"Please… Madam… My child…"

"Sister… I'm hungry… Please help me…"

"Sister… Please help me…"

"Alright, wait a moment! Everyone will get their share equally, so line up!" Alicia's voice wavered slightly as she struggled to calm the desperate crowd. Her noble bearing and the sword at her hip had given away her aristocratic status, making her a beacon of hope for the beggars.

The little girl, too frail to join the throng, remained by my side. I hesitated briefly, then reached into my pocket. I retrieved a pouch of gold coins and pressed it into her small hands.

"…With this, take care of your brother. Find him proper treatment—and a safe place to live."

Seeing the pouch of gold coins in her hands, the little girl looked stupefied, then suddenly raised her voice.

"Shhhh…"

"Um… Ummm…"

Panicking, I hastily covered her mouth, glancing around to ensure no one was paying too much attention. Once the immediate danger of discovery had passed, I removed my hand and whispered,

"…We almost got caught."

"Huh? But… this is too much…"

"It's not too much."

"I-I don't think I can give you anything in return… What should I do? I-I don't think I'll ever be able to pay you back even when I grow up…"

I smiled softly and stroked her hair. This brave little girl, thinking about repaying a debt in such dire circumstances, tugged at my heart. Lowering my voice, I whispered,

"It's all right. You don't have to repay me."

"Really…?"

"Yes. Instead, help me out with something."

"…Help?"

"What I'm going to ask you to do will be worth far more than a few gold coins."

The little girl tilted her head in confusion as I leaned in and whispered my plan into her ear. After a moment, her eyes lit up, and she beamed at me.

"I don't know why you're asking me to do this, but I'll try my best!"

"Good. When you're done, take your little brother and leave this place immediately, understand?"

With that, I stood up and pulled out a whip. Without hesitation, I began striking the air before letting the lash "connect" with the girl's back.

"…Kyaa!!"

Her faint cry echoed through the street, immediately drawing the attention of everyone nearby. The beggars clamoring around Alicia for coins, the passersby, and even Alicia herself turned to the scene with expressions of shock and disgust.

"…You lowlife! How dare you try to pickpocket me!"

"I-I'm sorry!! I'll never do it again… kyaa!!"

"Shut up! Filth like you deserves punishment!"

I lashed the whip again, pretending to put all my strength into it. The girl's cries grew hoarser, perfectly selling the act. In reality, the whip I used was the 'False Whip,' an artifact I'd purchased beforehand. It inflicted no real pain, only a harmless tingling sensation.

'…This is exhausting. My arm's starting to hurt.'

"Oh no!! Please stop it!!"

Alicia, her eyes blazing with fury, rushed over and threw herself protectively in front of the girl. Her voice trembled with righteous anger as she yelled at me.

"Are you insane?! She's just a child! What did she do to deserve this!?"

"She tried to steal my wallet," I said flatly.

"But that doesn't justify beating her to this extent!"

Alicia knelt beside the girl, examining her closely. Then, after laying the girl down gently, she strode up to me, her fury undiminished.

"…You're really a horrible person. I never knew you were this kind of monster. I'm done here—I'm going back." Alicia's voice trembled with anger as she turned to leave.

Before she could take a step, I reached out and gently held her wrist.

"Hey, hey~ Calm down for a second, will you?" I said, my tone light yet firm. "It was all an act."

"An act?" she snapped, glaring at me.

I sighed and leaned closer, lowering my voice so only she could hear. "Didn't you check her? Did you see any injuries on her body?"

Her furious expression faltered as she blinked, thinking back. "Now that you mention it… no, I didn't."

"Exactly," I said with a small smirk. "There wasn't a scratch on her. The whip I used doesn't cause pain—it's enchanted. I staged the whole scene to make it look like I punished her so no one would dare target her afterward."

Alicia frowned, her anger melting into confusion. "Target her? Why would anyone—"

"The world isn't as kind as you think, princess," I interrupted gently. "If anyone saw her with a pouch full of gold, they'd rob her—or worse. By making it seem like she was punished for stealing, I ensured no one would suspect she has anything valuable."n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Realization dawned in her eyes, and her lips parted slightly in a soft gasp. "I… I didn't think of that."

Her fingers lightly brushed against mine, and she hesitated before gripping my hand with a shy, apologetic look.

"I'm sorry," she murmured, her voice softening. "I misunderstood you… again. You should have told me earlier."

I chuckled lightly. "And miss the sight of you charging in to protect her? That was kind of heroic, you know."

Alicia's cheeks turned pink as she pouted slightly, her grip tightening. "You're impossible."

"And yet, here you are, still holding my hand."