Becoming an Extra in a Trash Game

Chapter 28

This is a pulsating beauty.

An incarnation of flame that would burn the eyes of ordinary people just by looking at it properly.

This thing that looked like a burning starlight, or a jewel tangled with all kinds of redness, or something alive curled up.

“Head Caiman… The heart……”

“Shh.”

Even in this place where it felt like the lungs would burn with hot heat with every breath, only the man maintained a cool appearance, putting his finger to his lips and letting out a low voice.

“Don’t call it that.”

Words are scary, for depending on how you call them, ears can grow on things without ears, and eyes can appear on things without eyes.

“The essence of fire, do you have anything to say about it?”

The hair that was originally platinum-colored ripples with the light of red flames due to the essence of fire.

Looking like it contained the sunset, one of the magicians controlling magic to suppress the power of the essence bowed his head.

“The essence of fire… the periods of emitting power are getting shorter and shorter.”

Surely it must be to call its original owner.

However, Caiman was not the type to easily give up what had come into his hands.

“We’ll need to find more sacrifices.”

Those with attribute stones or artifacts to neutralize the power of the essence or those with traits like water or glaciers.

Caiman looked with cold, sunken eyes at the spaces around the essence of fire where the attribute stones that had been surrounding it had melted without leaving a trace of magic.

“Master……”

As if caught in mid-air, Caiman, who was mixing the red magic scattered by the essence of fire with his fingertips in the air, moved only his lowered eyes to look at the man in black clothes who was prostrating.

“You, who should be watching Adelian? Why are you here?”

“I apologize, but… A small variable has occurred.”

Since it was a place where all magical energies were blocked from the outside to prevent the magic waves emitted by the essence from leaking out, Caiman had passed the family head’s ring to Adelian.

Because he didn’t know how the ring made of blood magic would react here.

But that useless Adelian, who was meant to be just a ring holder, had evaded the shadows and gone outside…

“Is that all?”

“As I said, it’s just a small variable, but……”

Watching the shadow whose clothes were getting soaked, unable to withstand the magic sprayed by the essence of fire, and the heat haze rising around it, Caiman clicked his tongue softly.

Anyway, that child, being arrogant without having anything and petty inside, would probably not cause a major incident out of fear of Caiman himself.

Probably, since he doesn’t have confidence, he’s likely gone out to enjoy entertainment, intoxicated by the empty title of temporary family head.

At most, he might spend money like water, seeking alcohol and women, or gambling.

He won’t be an obstacle that hinders the greater cause.

‘And if he’s lucky enough to die, it might even be politically useful.’

That’s what nobility is. In the end, it’s a battle of justification.

Or possess overwhelming power.

“Leave him be.”

Caiman, after looking at the essence of fire as if drawing it with his eyes, soon waved his fingertips to dismiss the shadow and opened his lips again.

“Anyway, no matter where he dies, we can retrieve the ring.”

“Yes, my Lord.”

Caiman watched the retreating shadow and then turned his gaze to capture the pulsating essence of fire in his pupils.

That which floated and moved slowly at the center, surrounded by numerous magicians, looked like a small sun.

* * *

Maybe because I tossed and turned a bit before falling asleep.

I open my eyes to a strangely cool feeling, and the bonfire is already out, with neither Kane nor Luna in sight.

Judging by the slightly open entrance of the tent, it doesn’t seem to be very late in the morning.

‘Such diligent children…’

I rub my eyes and get up, tidying up the tent, and everything becomes clearly visible.

On one side, Kane is doing push-ups with one arm, shirtless, and on the other side, Luna is boiling something over a newly lit campfire.

“Smells delicious…”

“I caught… A rabbit… A little way off…”

Ah… Rabbit…

I unconsciously look at Luna’s drooping ears and then take out a travel spice box from my subspace and hold it out.

“Carrots too…”

“There’s already something like leaves floating in the stew?”

“Mushrooms and… Edible grass… There was a lot… Around. Still, carrots.”

Well, I did buy a lot and put them in for Luna to eat.

I habitually spin the Kruger ring, then take out carrots and give them to her, sitting nearby and watching blankly.

I wanted to buy subspace artifacts for Kane and Luna too, but these are extremely rare in the market.

‘I thought I’d get more quickly after obtaining one early on…’

Come to think of it, even in the Innocent Saga, the basic inventory was small and there weren’t many items to expand it, was that reflecting subspace artifacts?

Chop chop.

The food that should be called Carrot stew rather than rabbit stew is being completed before my eyes.

“Kane, stop and come here.”

In that short time, he must have used his body quite a bit, as he approaches sweating, with steam seeming to rise due to the still cool morning air.

I open the Codex and recite clean magic, then find and throw him a set of clothes.

“Quite convenient, you.”

“…I don’t like that look in your eyes?”

Do I feel slightly Adelian-fied right now?

I take out tableware from the subspace and distribute them, then receive the stew that Luna is serving as if being rationed, and blow on it slightly.

The slightly spicy scent of wild herbs and mushrooms tickles the nose, masking the gamey smell, and the sweetness of plenty of chopped carrots and various vegetables also wafts up.

After blowing on it a few times, I take a sip of the slightly cooled upper part, and the lean rabbit meat makes for a light and savory broth that clings to the tongue without being greasy.

“Luna, you’re a good cook.”

Luna smiles contentedly when I compliment her.

Perhaps because it had been boiling since before I woke up, the meat is tender and comes off the bone easily.

Although it was a slightly cool morning in the forest, perhaps because of the hot soup, I ended up sweating a little later.

The mushrooms, full of broth, were also firm and made a crunching sound when chewed, making for a fairly good meal.

I think once again that I must definitely acquire these two spells as I use purification and clean magic, then stand up, dusting off my clothes.

“Shall we move on now?”

“Let’s do that.”

“Yes… That’s good.”

Caw caw!

As we prepare to leave the village, a crow sitting on a distant tree flies off to the west.

I stretch and ask if they slept well last night, then pat the horse’s body before mounting and grabbing the reins.

“Then back to Norwell instead of the western road.”

“That house food… Was delicious then…”

Luna is also realizing the truth that eating well is what matters.

I nod once and turn the horse’s head back the way we came, pulling on the reins, while glancing at the ruins of Kane’s village.

‘Well then… I’ll return your son as gently as possible…’

Someday, when Kane finishes everything and retires, he will probably return here.

Because that’s the protagonist I’ve seen.

* * *

“Young Master… How about this?”

We came to the weapon shop on Luna’s suggestion that it might be good to add a secondary weapon while we’re in Norwell, but…

I look at the hand-bow gun in Luna’s white hands and smile slightly.

“Luna.”

“Yes…?”

I know myself well.

I know this body well.

“When I provide cover from behind with that… Is there any guarantee that I won’t end up shooting you or Kane in the back?”

Blink blink.

As Kane makes a gesture that seems to say to get rid of it quickly, Luna’s hands put the hand-bow gun back on the wall.

Why do I feel disappointed in my heart even though I know it’s the right choice in my head?

Maybe I could shoot arrows properly?

“Kane… How about this? You can use it, can’t you?”

Luna, unable to give up since we’re here, is now trying to tempt Kane.

A small dagger that can be hidden in the palm of the hand. It seems to be a set of twenty…

It also comes with auxiliary equipment like harnesses or garters that can be concealed inside the body or on the thighs.

“I can use it, but there’s no need.”

“When you need to throw something… Are you going to throw your longsword?”

“If such a situation arises, can’t I strategically use objects placed around?”

Moreover, seeing Kane protest that the pommel behind the longsword is detachable, I feel like siding with Luna for no reason.

You should have been nice usually. It was good when you two ganged up on me, right? This is revenge.

“Why not, it’s good to have. Now you can peel apples. What a fine prospective groom.”

“Pfft…”

You must have missed the maids since you came with me.

Kane gives me a look that says ‘What are you doing?’, but I pretend not to see and buy the entire set of daggers along with the auxiliary equipment and hand them over to him.

Luna is satisfied because she can do the coordination she wants, and I’m satisfied because Kane is getting closer to Luna.

Kane should be satisfied because he has a weapon. Or not.

“Visiting again, meow?”

The cat clerk at the magic tower greets us again today.

“Somehow. By the way, I think I’ll use purification magic or clean quite often, so could you fill it up tightly? Except for about 10 pages.”

Really, what a good figure…

I hand over the Codex to the soft-looking cotton batting hands.

The money I’ve been spending freely must have circulated through the magic tower, as the fur looks strangely sleek…

I casually look at the artifacts, scrolls, etc. placed on one side and subtly ask Luna and Kane if there’s anything they need, but they both shake their heads.

Well, if there was something they needed, they would have bought it the first day we came.

“It’s a good quality Codex meow. About 190 pages of various things went in .”

Now I won’t have to worry about hygiene even if I’m stuck in a Labyrinth for a while.

I put the Codex that floats and flies towards me into the small subspace and looks at the cat clerk showing soft paw pads while greeting.

It’s really a rare visual…

Should I check considering the side effect of the buoyancy trait decreasing?

Just as I was about to ponder a little, the clerk scurried inside at the sound of someone calling from inside.

“Well. Shall we go to the warp gate now?”

It would be better to go straight to the labyrinth city without wasting time here unnecessarily.

‘Besides, there are quite a few items that can be obtained there.’

People who have played games a bit will know, but usually, when labyrinth content comes out, they give rewards for each floor.

The enemies get stronger as you go down, but conversely, it’s also a good place to eat small items while clearing appropriate floors when the level is a bit low at the beginning.

I wonder how that would be implemented in reality.

‘And actually, I’m aiming for something other than the Labyrinth dungeon.’

If you know the original and know the game, huh? There should be something to gain.

“To Labyrinth.”

I tell the gate employee the destination while grinning at the thought of entering the secret dungeon, but Luna looks at me with anxious eyes.

“Why?”

“You’re not… Going to break anything again, are you?”

“Wh-What are you talking about?”

The gate employee looks tense at the mention of breaking something. The gate is such an expensive artifact after all.

No, I don’t want to leave a ruffian image even here. I smiled awkwardly at Luna’s suspicious gaze.

“Your expression… Is exactly the expression of breaking a magic stone…”

“…Please enter quickly, Customer.”

The employee urges with a more tense face.

Don’t you remember that I took your side and bought you a weapon earlier?

I grumble, feeling like I’ve raised a tiger instead of a rabbit, and enter the warp gate that looks like shimmering water glowing.

As expected, it feels strangely cool, and it feels like I just closed and opened my eyes.

“Brrrr…”

“Hmm…”

“Ugh… I don’t feel well…”

But the other companions didn’t seem to feel the same.

Although the horses don’t throw up now since they’ve experienced it once, they’re still staggering slightly, and Kane and Luna’s expressions aren’t good either.

“…It’s amazing.”

Labes, which boasted beautiful appearances with its close coastline.

Norwell, which showed mountains and cliffs and was full of forests.

Unlike those two, the Labyrinth city Labirin looked like a well-developed modern city.

Mountains lower than Norwell in the distance, the largest crowd since arriving here.

Everyone is carrying weapons, and the races are also the most diverse.

Looking around briefly, it’s a complex place that makes you feel dizzy.

“Ow… My eyes are spinning…”

Luna seems to be the same, shaking her head a few times and then grabbing her ears with both hands as if covering her eyes.

And the huge central tower was built quite far away.

Above are numerous magic towers and alchemy towers of magical engineering, and below is a labyrinth dungeon that extends to the 99th floor.

‘Plus, there’s even a secret dungeon that only I know how to clear right now.’

I glanced at Kane from the corner of my eye.

This was the place where I had to open the game and drive Kane in.