Chapter 2: Townsperson A Cleans Ditches and Gains Concealment

Now that I’d decided to destroy the scenario, there were a few things I needed to take care of.

First and foremost, I had to verify if this world truly followed the game's script. If the situations from the game played out here as they were supposed to, I could safely assume I was on the right track.

My second goal was to make money. To save the villainess, I would have to overturn her condemnation—which meant winning a duel as her champion. To do that, I needed to enroll in the Royal Academy, and that required cold, hard cash.

Of course, the most peaceful solution would be to prevent the engagement from being broken in the first place. However, since the annulment event was hard-coded into even the "Bad End" routes, I decided to treat a peaceful resolution as a "would-be-nice" bonus rather than a primary plan.

As my first step toward these goals, I wanted to get my hands on the Scroll of Concealment. In the game, this item was tucked away in a small room within a secret passage that led from the Academy to the capital’s underground sewers. It was a place that hadn't been used for decades; in the original story, it wasn't discovered until the Imperial Army overran the capital. The lore stated that Amy and her party were supposed to stumble upon it by chance while using the sewers as an escape route from the Academy.

If the scroll actually existed, it would prove the world followed the game’s logic. Moreover, possessing it would make my future movements much easier. Its presence was the perfect litmus test. If I found it, and a few other details matched up, I could definitively conclude that I was living in the world of an otome game.

With that in mind, I dragged my mother along to the Adventurer's Guild.

"Excuse me! I'd like to sign up for ditch cleaning!"

"Oh, uh, sure thing, kid. Good luck! All right, Mom, could you fill out the paperwork for him?"

The middle-aged man at the reception handed the form to my mother, and she filled it out while he walked her through the details.

The Adventurer's Guild accepted registrations starting at age eight, acting as a middleman for public service jobs children could handle, like cleaning ditches. My mother had actually recommended it to me a while back, but I’d turned her down because I hated the smell. But when I told her last night that I’d changed my mind after all, she was thrilled.

The system was standard template stuff: kids like me started at G-rank, moved to F-rank at twelve, and eventually could climb all the way to S-rank.

"Okay, now just drip a drop of blood onto this Guild Card," the man said.

I pricked my finger with a needle. As the blood hit the card, it flashed briefly.

"All set. Don't lose it, or it'll cost you a fee to replace. Also, this thing doubles as a wallet."

Apparently, the cards functioned like bank accounts. You could even transfer money between cards just by tapping them together. I was surprised to find the system was actually more convenient than Japan's.

Anyway, having officially become a G-rank adventurer, I spent every day cleaning ditches without fail. The pay was a thousand Cent a day—the currency of the Sentlaren Kingdom. Regarding its value, I figured one Cent was worth roughly one yen.

After a month of enduring the grueling, smelly, filthy work, the receptionist finally called out to me.

"Hey, Allen! I'm counting on you for the underground sewers starting today. It’s stinkier than the gutters outside, but the pay is double. You interested?"

"I’m in!"

I agreed instantly. After all, I’d been cleaning ditches for this exact reason.

I grabbed a borrowed lantern, lit it, and headed down the stairs behind the guild into the dark. I didn't know the exact route to the scroll, but I had a few clues. I marked my path as I went to ensure I wouldn't get lost, heading downstream toward the larger pipes.

After walking for a while, I emerged into a massive tunnel with a vaulted brick ceiling.

Okay, this is the main line. The red bricks meant I was currently downstream from the scroll's location. I marked the exit back to the guild and started walking upstream.

After a long trek, the red bricks gave way to gray stone masonry. This was proof that I was getting close. I pressed on.

About five minutes later, I reached a spot where a picture of a bird was etched into the wall. According to the game, the hidden door was directly opposite that drawing. I scoured the wall until I found a small protrusion that looked like a button.

I didn't hesitate. It was stiff, so I shoved it with all my might. There was a satisfying click as the mechanism engaged.

With a heavy rumbling sound, a section of the wall slid open. An automatic door? I’d brought a crowbar expecting to have to pry it open, but I guess I didn't need it.

I stepped through. There was supposed to be a small room ahead, and the item should be sitting on a desk.

There it is.

I peered into a tiny room containing a rotting, tattered desk and a seatless chair. I wondered what this place had originally been used for. I hurried to the desk.

Please, let it be there.

I reached for the object on the desk, but my eight-year-old limbs were too short. No matter how much I strained, I couldn't reach the scroll sitting at the back of the desk.

Damn it! A height-based trap!

Luckily, I was prepared. I used my crowbar to hook the parchment and roll it toward the edge until I could grab it.

Yes! Now, is this really it?

I unrolled the parchment. The kanji for Concealment was written right there. I found it!

The game had explained how to use it: you just opened the scroll and placed your palm on it. Simple. I laid the scroll on the floor and pressed my right hand down. It flared with a brilliant light for an instant, then vanished.

"Just as planned!"

I felt like the god of some new world, but I told myself not to get too ahead of myself. I pulled out my Guild Card to check my personal information.

Name: Allen Rank: G Age: 8 Divine Protection: — Skill: [Concealment] Residence: Luluden Funds: 3,348

Yes!

Yes! Yes! Yes!

"Isn't this perfect!"

I shouted in triumph, my voice echoing through the empty basement. It was a bit embarrassing.

Pulling myself together, I returned to the guild in high spirits. Oh, and the sewers? I finished the job on the way back. I’m the type of person who does his work thoroughly.

On the Difference Between Divine Protections and Skills

A Divine Protection is a blessing granted by the gods, providing remarkable talent in a specific field. For example, receiving the Divine Protection of Wind Magic grants the recipient the physical aptitude and innate talent required to use that magic. With practice, they will be able to learn and improve at a tremendous pace. These are generally considered superior to skills.

A Skill represents the state of having mastered a specific technique. When you possess a skill, the knowledge of how to use it naturally enters your mind. For example, if you have the Wind Magic skill, the specific spells you are capable of using will automatically come to mind when you intend to cast them. However, unlike a Divine Protection, a skill does not grant innate talent; you cannot perform actions beyond what the specific skill stipulates.