The True Identity of the Ordinary Boy Is—!?

[NOTE] From this point forward, the story in the web version and the published light novel diverge completely. Everything from the 4th volume onward is original content, so please be sure to check out the books!

Down in a dingy back alley within the Oriana Kingdom—currently occupied by the Doem Faction—I found myself cornered by a group of low-ranking grunts.

“Suspicious fellow. Kill him.”

As the soldier drew his sword, I bowed my head and begged for mercy.

“P-please! At least spare my life! I’m begging you—!”

“Die.”

My plea was ignored. The sword swung down.

I let out a heavy sigh and kicked the blade.

Clang!

With a high-pitched snap, the sword broke in half and the shards went flying.

“—Wh-!?”

“See, this is the part where you’re supposed to say: ‘You suspicious fellow, seize him!’” I told the stunned soldiers.

“Wh-what are you even talking about—!?”

Honestly, I just want to be an ordinary citizen caught up in the middle of a civil war.

The setup: an ordinary boy is captured on false charges. However, within the Rebel Army that captured him, a series of inexplicable incidents occur. Night after night, soldiers vanish. One by one, they disappear, until finally, only the high-ranking officer and the ordinary boy remain.

In the end, what is his true identity—?

I mean, come on. Doesn’t that sound awesome?

“This kid… he’s not normal…”

The grunts surrounding me drew their swords all at once.

“You guys are the tenth group today. I’m seriously starting to get bored of this.”

As I muttered that, a man who looked like their superior stepped forward.

“Are you the one behind the Assassination Incidents targeting our comrades in the Royal Capital lately? No, a brat like you? There’s no way… fine, just to be safe, capture him and investi—”

“Too late. I wanted to be an ‘ordinary’ boy.”

Without a second thought, I lopped the man’s head off with my Slime Sword.

The gaze of his severed head wandered through the empty air as a spray of red blood danced through the moonlit alleyway.

“Y-you bastard! K-kill him—!”

“Maybe I’ll have better luck with the eleventh group…”

I gave my Slime Sword a casual swing, cleaning up the rest of the grunts.

I guess this works in its own way. It’s got a cool ‘mysterious assassin’ vibe.

Once the processing was finished, I checked my clothes amidst the lingering stench of blood.

Perfect. Not a single drop of spray on me.

This attempt had been another failure, but I felt like I’d finally grasped the key to success. Apparently, the people occupying the Royal Capital were currently dealing with a series of assassinations within their ranks.

I mean, it’s probably mostly my fault.

Basically, the best way to get things moving would be to get caught under suspicion of being a spy or the assassin. All while maintaining the aura of a total mob character who was just a victim of a tragic misunderstanding.

Should I have let them spray some blood on me to look more suspicious? No, that would be a bit too blatant.

While I was debating the finer points of my performance, I felt several presences approaching. I used sound and Magic Power to gauge the distance and the headcount… seven people. Soldiers, likely.

Probably the comrades of the guys I just killed.

“Oh, I just had a brilliant idea.”

I plopped down on my butt right there in the alley and waited for them to arrive.

And then—

“A-a body! There’s a body in the alley…!”

As soon as the soldiers came into view, I pointed into the darkness and shouted in a trembling voice. I even made my eyes go watery. I couldn’t forget the minor details of the mob aesthetic.

“What!? Don’t tell me he struck again—!”

The soldiers rushed past me into the alley.

“Again! Another one down!”

“Dammit! When I find him, I’m going to kill him slowly!”

“Hey, you! Did you see the killer!?”

One of the soldiers turned to interrogate me while I pretended my legs had given out from terror.

“I-I didn't… I didn't see anything…” I said, making sure to add a nice vibrato to my voice.

“You… you aren't from this country, are you?”

The soldier’s eyes sharpened.

“Y-yes. I’m a student from the Midgar Kingdom…”

“A student from the Midgar Kingdom? What business does someone like you have in the Royal Capital of the Oriana Kingdom at a time like this?”

“I-I was worried about a friend… It’s the truth, please believe me!”

The soldier glared at me with piercing eyes.

“Fine. One more thing—what were you doing out so late at night?”

“I just wanted some… night air…”

“Night air? Do you honestly think there’s anyone in the Oriana Royal Capital who would wander around at midnight just for the ‘night air’?”

“I-it’s the truth! Are you actually doubting me!? I-I could never do something so… so horrible!”

“Hmph.”

The soldier gave me a cold look before turning back toward the depths of the alley.

“Nine soldiers, all killed with a single stroke… It’s certainly doubtful a kid like you could pull that off. But let me see your sword.”

“Y-yes, sir…”

I handed over my weapon. It was a cheap Normal Sword meant for mob characters, tucked into my belt.

“It’s a piece of junk. No signs of use, either.”

“D-do you believe me now?”

“It’s true that the possibility of you being the killer is low.”

“Oh, thank goodness…”

“However, that doesn't mean you’re off the hook. You’re still suspicious as hell.”

“N-no way!”

“Hey! Secure this kid!”

“Please, believe me! I’m just a law-abiding, ordinary citizen!”

Yes! I looked like a mob, but just suspicious enough to trigger the ‘get captured’ route!

Inside, I was doing a victory fist pump as the soldiers tied me up and hauled me away.