An Extra’s Rise in an Eroge

"…Ha, is this really the back alley?" Alicia murmured, her voice laced with disbelief.

"That's right," I replied casually, observing her reaction.

She stood frozen, staring at the opulent scenery before her. The back alley had transformed into a lavish display of grandeur, complete with elaborate decorations and people adorned with jewelry from head to toe.

Even I couldn't blame her for being stunned.

"It's absurd," she said after a moment, her voice quiet but firm. "Just a block away, there are starving children. And here…"

"Here," I interrupted, "is the shadow of the Empire in its purest form."

She turned to me, her expression conflicted. "Did all these people come here through that dark alley we just passed?"

"No," I said with a faint smile. "That alley isn't even considered an entrance. The high-ranking nobles wouldn't be caught dead using it. It's just an abandoned path."

"....."

"Welcome," I said with a dramatic gesture, "to the shadow of the Empire, my lady."

Alicia looked around, her gaze sharp and searching. "So, where is this auction house you mentioned?"

"It's right in front of you. Can't you see it?"

She frowned, skeptical, and pointed at a run-down building nearby. "That shabby thing? You're saying that's an auction house?"

I chuckled, amused by her disbelief. "Don't judge a book by its cover, dear. That run-down exterior is just a façade. The real auction hall is underground, and it's far more impressive than you'd expect."

Her eyes narrowed slightly as she looked at me. "And how do you know all this?"

I smirked, tilting my head playfully. "I know quite a few things. How? That's not important. What matters is whether you're ready to see it for yourself."

"…Fine," she said, still slightly wary.

I reached into my pocket, pulling out two golden tokens, and handed one to her. "Here. This is your entrance token. Without it, you won't even get past the door."

She took the token, examining it closely. "Understood."

"Shall we?" I asked, gesturing toward the building.

With a nod, Alicia started walking ahead.

"I'm sorry, owner. But I'll hire you soon, so you won't feel bored for long…"

Just as I was about to follow Alicia, a faint groan reached my ears.

"U-Ugh…!"

"…Huh?" I turned abruptly toward the sound, my instincts kicking in.

"Uh! Ugh! Ughhh…!!!"

In the shadows between two buildings, I caught sight of a group of masked men forcefully restraining the little girl I had given the pouch of gold coins to earlier. Her frail body thrashed as she struggled against their grip.

"Stay still, kid. There's no one here to help you," one of the men sneered, tightening his hold on her.

"Huh? You don't look like you've eaten much, yet you're so full of energy," another chuckled darkly. "I think we've got ourselves a valuable product."

The girl's muffled cries for help sent a chill down my spine.

"Puha… S-Save me…! Ugh…!"

"If she's this good now… imagine how much she'll fetch if we feed her well," a third voice chimed in, filled with cruel amusement.

One of the men delivered a brutal blow to her stomach, and her struggles ceased as she crumpled into unconsciousness. Without hesitation, they tied her up and began speaking in low voices.

"We're withdrawing for today," one of them said.

"Hey, you're going to let me have some fun later, right?" another asked, his tone laced with malice.

In a matter of moments, the masked kidnappers vanished into the labyrinth of alleys, taking the little girl with them.

"Ha…" I exhaled sharply, summoning my sword from the inventory.

Fiddling with the hilt, I muttered, "It seems I'll have to change my plans."

A weight settled in my chest, unfamiliar yet oddly grounding. This wasn't part of the careful strategy I had laid out, but some things couldn't be ignored.

"It seems I'll have to play the role of a hero today," I whispered, adjusting my robe and focusing my gaze.

Arriving at the spot where the assailants had vanished with the girl, a faint, unsettling sensation prickled at the edge of my awareness.

"…Demonic magic."

It was faint, so faint it could easily be mistaken for dark mana.

Ordinary people wouldn't notice the difference, but for someone like me—who possessed dark mana myself—the distinction was clear.

"...…"

Closing my eyes, I concentrated on the lingering traces. Slowly, the faint signature of demonic mana revealed itself, leading out of the alley and onto the crowded street.

"…Is it a stealth spell?" I murmured.

Even in a place like this, abducting a girl in broad daylight and slipping into a busy street undetected required a level of skill.

"Apparently, there's a fairly competent warlock among them," I mused aloud, my mind piecing together the situation.

Suddenly, a bright window appeared before my eyes.

[Unexpected Quest Occurred!]

"…Hmm?"

Quest Type: Scenario Quest

Priority: Very High

Sudden Quest: Child Rescue

Quest Content: Rescue the little girl.

Reward: ???

Failure Penalty: Slight reduction in lifespan | A random skill will be lost.

"…A quest? Scenario Quest?"

I frowned. The quests given by the system were usually tied to perverted antics or charming women. This was different.

[Scenario quests are closely associated with the grim fate of this world, namely the 'scenario,' which is directly linked to the inevitable bad ending.]

The message hung in the air as the weight of its meaning settled over me.

"So, saving that little girl might be a part of greater scenario…" I muttered to myself.

This means I had no choice. I have to go through this quest.

"Alicia," I called out, turning to her.

"Hm? What is it?" she asked, looking curious.

"Why don't you go ahead inside? I just remembered I've got some business to handle here," I said, keeping my tone casual.

"What about the auction?" she asked, furrowing her brows.

"Don't worry. There's still time before it starts. I'll be back before then," I reassured her with a faint smile.

She hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Alright, but don't take too long," she said.

"Thanks for understanding." Leaning in, I kissed her cheek lightly, earning a soft blush before she headed inside.

Once she was out of sight, my expression hardened, and I turned back to the faint traces of demonic mana lingering in the air.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

"All right," I muttered, gripping my sword tightly. "Time to get to work."

Following the trail, I disappeared into the shadows of the city, determined to stop whatever dark scheme lay ahead.

.

.

.

.

"…Huh? Is this the dining district?"

For some reason, the trail of demonic mana had led me to the dining district.

I tilted my head, puzzled. After a moment of hesitation, I closed my eyes again, concentrating on the lingering traces. Perhaps I had misunderstood the source. Yet the sensation remained strong, the dark mana unmistakable even amidst the bustling dining area.

Eventually, I opened my eyes and decided to trust my instincts. Without further hesitation, I made my way deeper into the district.

The atmosphere shifted the farther I ventured. The luxurious restaurants began to thin out, replaced by dingy eateries and rundown stalls. With each step, the presence of dark mana grew more oppressive, sending a chill down my spine.

"…Hmm?"

Reaching the farthest edge of the district, the trail abruptly vanished.

I raised my head, scanning my surroundings for answers. Before me stood an old, decrepit tavern that looked as if it had been transported straight from a remote countryside.

"…Greenhorns aren't allowed."

"…Get lost."

Just as I approached the entrance, two burly men stepped out, blocking my path. Their rough appearances matched the shady atmosphere of the place.

"I came here because I heard the snacks are delicious…" I said nonchalantly, tilting my head as if I hadn't noticed their hostility.

"Can't you hear us, kid? Fuck off."

"…Should I just beat him to a pulp? It should be fine since I'm bored to death anyway," one of them sneered, cracking his knuckles menacingly.

Despite their aggression, I remained calm, meeting their threatening stances with an unbothered expression.

"…Can you recommend to me what's delicious here?" I asked again, ignoring their intimidation.

""...…!""

Before they could react further, I flicked a few gold coins from my pocket, watching as they clattered onto the ground.

The two thugs froze for a moment, their hostility replaced with an almost comical eagerness as they scrambled to grab the coins. Once the pieces were firmly in their hands, they exchanged a quick glance before hastily bowing their heads, all signs of arrogance gone.

"Of course, Young Master… our tavern has the finest 'snacks.'"

"Well then," I said with a faint smirk, brushing past them toward the door. "Let's have some fun."

As I stepped into the tavern, leaving the two groveling thugs behind, I was greeted not by the chaotic noise of drunken patrons but by a lavishly decorated room. Mirrors lined the walls, and various jewels adorned the furniture, giving the place a peculiar air of sophistication amidst the grime outside.

"…Oh my, what a charming young man we have here," a woman's voice rang out.

I turned to see a madame descending a staircase, her face caked with heavy makeup, her lips curled into a sly smile. Her beaming eyes scanned me like a predator sizing up its prey.

"What brings you here, dear?" she asked, her tone syrupy sweet.

I paused for a moment, letting the silence stretch as I assessed her. Then, understanding the kind of place I'd just walked into, I decided to play along.

"I prefer to see and choose in person," I said coolly.

"…You're quite direct, aren't you?" she replied, her expression flickering between curiosity and suspicion. She reached for a booklet on a nearby table and handed it to me. "Then… why don't you browse our catalog?"

"No," I said, brushing it aside. "Not pictures. I want to see them with my own eyes."

Her smile faltered, and a faint frown crept onto her heavily painted face. "What…?"

"These days, too many places scam people with fake pictures," I continued calmly. "Where are they kept? The warehouse? Basement?"

"..."

As I spoke calmly, the madame's frown deepened, and she opened her mouth cautiously.

"…I'll get in trouble if I do this, handsome young man."

"Trouble?" I raised an eyebrow, feigning interest.

"Yes… Our establishment has its own rules and circumstances. We can't just cater to every customer's requests…"

"…Even for this?" I interrupted, casually placing a pouch of gold coins onto the counter.

Her eyes widened for a moment, but she quickly masked her reaction with a composed expression. "You must be quite the wealthy young man. However, no matter how much you offer, it's a trade secret…"

"…Even for this?" I asked again, taking out another pouch and adding it to the counter.

"Hey, if you keep pushing—"

"…Even for this?"

A third pouch joined the others.

The madame froze, her face a mix of greed and indecision. Her lips twitched as if she were agonizing over something, and her hands trembled slightly.

"…So, is it possible or not?" I pressed, my tone calm but firm.

"Um… well, that's…" she stammered, glancing between me and the growing pile of gold.

I leaned back slightly, a hint of disinterest in my voice. "If it's not, I'll have no choice but to find another place."

"W-Wait a moment!" she exclaimed, panic flashing across her face.

Feigning apathy, I began to retrieve the gold pouches, but she hurriedly stopped me.

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"It's usually against the rules… but for a charming young man like you, I'll make an exception. Just this once."

Her seductive smile returned as she rose from her seat, motioning for me to follow her. "Right this way."