The First Escape

After making up my mind, my next goal was decided immediately.

‘Escape from here.’

But I couldn’t just escape.

‘I have to clear this event.’

There was a lot I needed to do to survive as Raon Rigbelto.

Especially to prevent dying from mana going berserk just from something like coughing, I had to gather every item related to mana control.

And one of those items could be obtained in this very event.

‘The first, and tutorial event.’

Strangely, this event doesn’t notify you that you’ve entered it, leaving many players confused like, “Huh? What’s this? Did something start?”

Of course, I remembered the reward for this event.

‘The Hungry Belt.’

An item that absorbs mana.

I didn’t remember the other effects well, but the important point was ‘mana absorption,’ so it didn’t matter.

You might think it’s a weird item, but at least for Raon Rigbelto, it was a good one.

‘It lowers the chance of going berserk.’

Right now, my mana control stat is low.

Ridiculously low compared to the amount of mana I have!

Which means this 0.95 is basically useless trash right now.

‘Then I just lower my mana.’

If my mana control is low, then I just lower my mana stat!

If I forcibly narrow the gap between mana and control, I can at least succeed once out of three tries.

Of course, right now I’d fail ten out of ten attempts.

No, I can’t even attempt it in the first place.

That “one out of three” only applies after dying and retrying.

‘The best route is….’

I quickly mapped out a plan in my head.

‘Good. I’ll go with this.’

It was somewhat of a gamble.

But if it meant surviving, and saving this character, I was willing to take any risk.

“Hey.”

“Hm?”

“Hm?”

I called out to the thugs passing by.

The black-haired and blonde-haired thugs looked at me in confusion.

“Are you talking to us?”

“Yeah. You two handsome guys over there.”

I barely lifted my bound hands and tapped the chain around my neck.

“At least loosen this. My neck’s going to snap like this.”

“You’ll die from just that?”

“Want me to show you? Sorry, but I don’t have muscles like you guys. If I stay like this, I might actually die.”

Right now, I’m ‘merchandise.’

If merchandise gets damaged, its value drops.

Even if I’m a criminal, I can’t be sold if I’m dead.

So at the very least, they have to keep me alive.

“Damn… this bastard’s whining….”

The two thugs approached and examined my neck.

Seeing how badly it was twisted, they started discussing.

“…Damn… we can’t let him die….”

“He’d die from just that?”

“Look how frail he is. Even if he doesn’t die, he won’t sell well.”

“So what do we do?”

“His feet are properly restrained, right?”

“Yeah.”

My feet weren’t tied together, but one leg was chained to the wall.

An artifact that couldn’t be removed without a key.

After thinking for a moment, the black-haired thug spoke.

“Fine. Just loosen this one.”

“What?”

“His mana’s already being drained anyway. Didn’t you see that guy earlier almost collapse trying to analyze the chain? This guy will be the same.”

“…Hmm. Maybe.”

“Be careful. Wrap your hands with cloth.”

“Got it.”

The blonde wrapped his hands and removed the chain from my neck.

Clank.

Ah… finally. I stretched my neck, cracking it.

“That feels so much better.”

The black-haired thug said.

“Alright. Now behave—”

“Don’t you two want to get out of here?”

“What?”

“I’ve got money and connections. Enough for you to start a new life.”

“Why tell us that?”

“Call it repayment for helping me.”

The two exchanged glances.

In the original game…

‘Is this guy actually important?’

‘Who cares. He’s tied up anyway. Let’s hear him out and kill him after. We just need the money.’

‘Yeah. Take it and run to another city.’

…Those were the dialogue options.

They turned to me, greed shining in their eyes.

“Alright. Let’s hear it.”

“Come closer.”

The blonde stepped forward, his greedy eyes making his intentions obvious.

‘Doesn’t matter.’

“A little closer.”

I measured the distance.

And when it was just right—

“Alright. The place where I hid the money is—”

I grabbed his attention, then kicked his knee with my free leg.

“Gah!”

As he lost balance, I wrapped the chain around his neck and choked him.

His face turned pale.

“C-cough… my mana… no, I can’t breathe…!”

Thud!

Unable to endure the strangling and mana absorption, he passed out.

The black-haired thug, who had been frozen, snapped back to his senses.

“You bastard!!!”

“I’m not your bastard. Go say that to your kid. Oh wait, maybe you don’t have one.”

“I’ll kill you!!!”

He charged at me.

‘No weapon.’

Just as expected.

I dodged his punch.

It wasn’t strong, but for my weak body, it was enough.

He kept throwing punches, but I moved exactly as I remembered and avoided them.

‘Good. I still remember the combat style.’

Even without the game system, my body moved naturally.

Clank!

“Tch.”

But not for long.

He grabbed my collar and punched me.

Smack!

Pain exploded across my face.

I clenched my teeth but didn’t show it.

‘Within expectations.’

This much is fine.

He grabbed me and growled.

“How dare you trick us?!”

“You were planning to betray me anyway.”

I smirked and recalled my options.

‘Best option is removing this chain.’

I focused on the chain binding my wrists.

‘I know how to unlock it… but…’

In the game, it was just a button.

Now I had to actually do it.

‘Let’s try.’

I moved my hands like a thief, following memory.

Click.

The chain loosened.

“!”

Clank!

“!!!”

Before he could react, I punched his stomach with my freed hands.

Thud!

“Ugh!”

Weak strength, bad posture—but the chain made up for it.

He staggered back.

“H-how did you—?!”

“Very easily.”

BAM!

“Aaagh!”

Now I couldn’t lose.

I wrapped the chain around my fist and slammed his face.

He nearly collapsed.

I grabbed his collar.

“Does it hurt?”

Fear filled his eyes.

“It hurts for me too.”

BAM!

Just returning the favor.

He rolled his eyes back and fainted.

“Ha…”

Thud.

He dropped like a puppet with cut strings.

I touched my face.

‘No serious injuries.’

Unlike the game, I could feel pain.

But I wasn’t badly hurt.

I clenched and unclenched my fist.

My body moved naturally.

Like it had always been mine.

‘Didn’t expect to play a hardcore real-life game….’

I’ll bulldoze the devs’ house when I get back.

With that thought, I broke the chain on my leg.

Crack!

Artifacts run on mana.

Once drained, they stop working.

Now fully free, I tied up the thugs.

Then I tapped the black-haired one’s cheek.

“Hey. Wake up.”

“……”

He was clearly awake.

Fine.

I moved the chain near his lower body.

“Don’t move, or I’ll cut this off.”

“I-I’m awake! I’m awake!”

Violence works wonders.

“Good. Now tell me everything.”

“Yes, yes!”

I didn’t ask about escape routes.

“Where’s the mage?”

“…What?”

“The mage. Where is he?”

The real boss of this event wasn’t them.

It was a rogue mage who had infiltrated the slums.

Even expelled, a mage is still a mage.

‘Hesitation means I’m right.’

I poked his thigh.

He started crying.

“I-I’ll tell you! Please spare my son!”

“Then talk.”

“He’s there! He’s here!”

“Guide me.”

“…Me?”

“Then who?”

“…I will.”

“And give me a mask.”

“H-here….”

I wore it.

“Not bad.”

I looked at him.

“You’re Black now.”

“What?”

“What was that?”

Smack!

I hit him.

“Lead the way.”

“Yes….”

“If you trick me, I’ll cut you apart. Ever seen a bear?”

“Y-yes! Let’s go!”

He started guiding me.

&

Knock knock.

“What is it?”

The mage frowned.

A man peeked in.

“M-my lord…”

“Speak. Or I’ll burn you alive.”

“Someone important wants to see you!”

“…What?”

Important? Here?

Annoyed, the mage grabbed his staff.

“I’ll send you flying!”

“Spare me!”

The man ran away.

The mage clicked his tongue.

“…I should train these fools—”

He stopped.

Thump. Thump.

His heart pounded.

‘What… is this…?’

An overwhelming presence approached.

Creak.

The door opened.

A man wrapped in chains walked in.

The mage’s eyes widened.

“Y-you are?!”