This is a polished translation of Chapter 80, following your stylistic and glossary requirements.

Chapter 80: Townsman A Escapes the Royal Capital

I used Wind Magic to blow away the soldiers blocking my path.

The magic power displayed on my Guild Card had already reached S-rank. Before I knew it, I’d attained the same level of power I’d reached in the game when I min-maxed Marcus to the extreme.

However, perhaps due to a lack of physical conditioning, my stamina was still stuck at C.

“Your Wind Magic is incredible, Allen,” the Duke remarked, sounding genuinely impressed.

This is probably thanks to the Divine Protection of the Wind God.

I really was glad I’d put in the effort to help Jerome with his matchmaking back then. Still, I didn't have the luxury of getting lost in nostalgia right now.

“This way, Lord Ramslett.”

“Right.”

We rendezvoused with the Duke’s personal guards, who had been waiting in the anteroom. Together, we forced our way through the soldiers standing in our path and bolted out into the city.

We sprinted down the main street before ducking into an alleyway a short distance away. After weaving through the labyrinthine backstreets, we finally reached the entrance to the sewers.

“All right, as we discussed, I’ll create a diversion within the capital. While I’m doing that, you and your men should head through the sewers. I’ll make my own escape and fly back home afterward.”

“Understood. Be careful.”

“You too, Lord Ramslett. Please don't go dying in a place like this and make Ana cry.”

“...Hmph. You’re right. I can’t die until I’ve seen my grandchild’s face.”

The Duke gave me a broad grin, then turned and disappeared into the darkness of the sewer without looking back.

I’d already completed a preliminary survey of these tunnels with one of the Duke’s attendants, and there was a unit waiting at the exit to escort him to safety. All I had to do now was cause enough of a ruckus to ensure no one realized they’d gone underground.

It was a dangerous mission, but it was a job perfectly suited for someone with the Concealment and Alchemy skills.

I closed the sewer grate and locked it using Transmutation. Changing the shape of objects was easy enough. I really couldn't thank the Lulu Store enough for selling me such a cheat-tier skill at such a bargain price.

Now then, I activated Concealment and began my distraction campaign.

First, I decided to cause a “foul odor incident” near the city center. I took a gas that emitted a pungent stench like rotten eggs, sealed it inside thin shells of ice, and planted them one after another around the guard outposts. My plan was simple: once the ice melted, the stench would start wafting through the air.

I felt a bit bad for the ordinary citizens, but the amount of gas wasn't enough to actually harm anyone outdoors, so I figured it was fine.

I also splashed a body-temperature liquid with a sharp ammonia scent onto the thighs of some of the patrolling soldiers. The ammonia was just a spur-of-the-moment idea, but I figured the pungent smell would make them notice it immediately.

Watching them immediately start arguing and accusing each other of wetting themselves made me feel like a bit of a villain, but well... it was effective.

After stirring up trouble with bad smells and fake filth near the center, I moved toward the North Gate.

This time, I used low-lethality bombs—essentially, I lowered the air pressure to weaken the blast and ensured there was no shrapnel—to create a series of loud disturbances.

On a whim, I’d bought some wheat flour and packed it into the bombs, which turned out to be great for causing a scene. The thick clouds of flour looked exactly like smoke from a major fire, and the visual impact was outstanding. It lured in a massive number of soldiers, so I called the experiment a success.

I’d made sure there were no open flames nearby to avoid a secondary dust explosion. If the flour had actually ignited, it would have been a catastrophe, so I decided to call it quits after one try.

Yeah, I definitely got a little too carried away there. Note to self: be more careful.

By the way, there was a specific reason I was focusing my diversions between the city center and the North Gate.

The Ramslett Ducal Territory lies to the south of Luluden. Naturally, the authorities would expect the Duke to try and break through the South Gate. My goal was to make them think I was creating an uproar in the north specifically to draw their forces away from his actual escape route.

Of course, the real goal was just to keep their eyes off the sewers. It didn't matter if they gathered in the north, reinforced the south, or scoured the city center. As long as they were confused and taking meaningless actions, my strategy was a success.

Satisfied with the chaos I’d sown, I wrapped up my operations in the north and headed for the East Gate.

As expected, the East Gate was shut tight. It seemed the order to prevent the Duke’s escape had been disseminated effectively.

According to some conversations I overheard, the official story was that Lord Ramslett had lost his mind and attempted to harm the King. On those grounds, the arrest of the entire Ducal House had been ordered.

With an order like that, it was highly likely that a punitive force would be mobilized against House Ramslett.

The situation had spiraled into the worst-case scenario, just as I’d feared.

The circumstances were different from the game, but it seemed the fate of House Ramslett—to be shunned and purged by a foolish King for growing too powerful—remained unchanged.

But there’s no doubt that an anomaly like me is twisting that fate into a new shape.

Things had turned out terribly for Ana, but I wasn't about to give up hope. The Duke was still alive. Friedrich-san and Elizaveta-san were still alive too. As long as you kept pushing toward your goal, you could bend fate as much as you wanted.

I just had to do what I could.

Remaining hidden with Concealment, I approached the gate used by commoners. I used Alchemy to transmute some highly flammable liquid on the spot, soaked a bundle of straw in it, and lit it up.

The straw flared up in an instant, and the fire quickly spread to the wooden gate doors.

The East Gate fell into a total panic as the flames rose. While the soldiers were running around frantically trying to put out the fire, I slipped away unnoticed.

“I heard the hens will caw tomorrow night. Yesterday, I plowed the fields.”

Click.

The lock turned, and I slipped inside the Lulu Store.

“Welcome back. I see you’re safe,” the shopkeeper said. “What can I get for you today?”

“I’m here to scout you. Eventually, this city is going to fall into chaos. Before that happens, why don’t you move to the Ramslett Ducal Territory?”

“Oh? But didn't you just drive off the Est Empire? For the hero who saved the nation to be saying things like that... is it civil war, then?”

“Interpret it however you like. But I’d like to keep doing business with you. That’s all. Sorry for the intrusion.”

I left the shop after saying my piece.

From there, I moved through the dark back alleys toward the Adventurer’s Guild. Once there, I secretly delivered letters to my Master, Monica-san, and the senior adventurers, who were already half-drunk.

Since there was a good chance I was already a wanted man, I didn't show my face. I just slipped the notes onto tables or into pockets when they weren't looking.

The contents were simple: I asked them to leave the capital and to please not take up arms against House Ramslett. In a war, adventurers were often hired as mercenaries. If that happened, I might end up in a position where I had to kill the very people who had looked after me.

It was a selfish request, but I didn't want any of them to die.

I hope they listen to me. It was frustrating that all I could do was trust in them, but I couldn't afford to linger any longer.

Having finished everything I needed to do in the Royal Capital, I walked out through the East Gate—or rather, what was left of it after my earlier arson attempt.