Chapter 4: The Protagonist Tailing(?) , Part 1

Crackle, crackle.

The sound of a quietly burning campfire filled the dark forest.

Lucia clutched the sword that saved her, staring into the flames.

Even with her mind blank, a memory occasionally surfaced:

[The Raagands that attacked the village indiscriminately attacked the villagers, and Lucia’s parents were no exception.]

A memory like a short, impersonal sentence. Her mind tried to conjure the scene, but only the words appeared, devoid of sound or image.

Despite this, the despair and loneliness were real, evident in her trembling hands.

In the heat of the moment, she hadn’t processed it.

But now, the memory of bones breaking, muscle tearing, the realization of taking lives… The unsettling, terrifying feelings were viscous, like blood dripping from her sword.

What should she do now?

The future seemed bleak.

Would that suspicious girl have offered advice?

Lucia gazed at the rising sun.

Clip-clop, clip-clop.

Horse hooves approached.

“Hmm…”

Vagus awakened early. Adventurers, equipped for quests, set out at dawn.

Merchants selling provisions bustled about. Others received goods arriving by wagon and river barge.

None of it concerned me. I wasn’t near the entrance where adventurers gathered, nor did I need supplies.

Sitting before the mirror, combing my hair, I thought, “What to do now?”

I wrapped the cloth I used as underwear around my chest, still marveling at my ample bosom.

Opening my eyes remained a challenge.

Dismissing distracting thoughts, I focused.

I’d met the protagonist. Judging by her age, it was still early in the story.

I wanted to join her, but given her trauma, would she accept me? Besides, Kairin wasn’t a character who interfered with the plot.

I didn’t know how my presence would change things.

One certainty remained: whenever she used the shop, I had to go to her…

“Ah.”

The comb clattered to the floor.

If I left things as they were, wouldn’t each transfer cost almost a gold coin? The system provided a comfy pillow and considered the protagonist’s feelings but not my poor wallet.

I had one silver coin left.

Even eating once a day, I’d be out of the inn in four days. I should have joined the peddlers!

But what if any earned money vanished the next time the protagonist needed the shop?

My solution was simple.

I received a signal when the protagonist needed the shop, an instinctual pull.

So, if I stayed near her, I could avoid the costly transfers!

How would I find her? I’d poured thousands of hours into Amadeus! I might not be a top-tier veteran, but I knew enough to navigate this world.

This knowledge was crucial for surviving in this game-turned-reality.

Why was I here, anyway? I hadn’t wronged the Amadeus company. No scathing critiques, no customer service spam, no exploits, no top rankings…

The last thing I did was post my gacha pulls online, bragging about three featured characters in a ten-pull.

As a veteran, I knew the protagonist’s general location in the story.

She was likely traveling with the knights sent to investigate the monster attack.

The Solarite Knights’ headquarters wasn’t far.

If I left now, I’d be in time.

But first, I needed supplies. I ventured into the city.

“Going out?”

“Yes~”

One of the only two friendly faces here.

I greeted the innkeeper and stepped into the fresh morning air, a welcome change from modern pollution.

Kevin Wilfred, eldest son of William Wilfred, head of the Wilfred Trading Company, had been tasked with running a stall at Vagus’s entrance.

His younger brothers had declined the family business, leaving Kevin, with his inherited business acumen, to carry the torch.

His father, a self-made man, wanted Kevin to experience firsthand the challenges of street vending.

“Cheap! Very cheap!”

Merchants hawked their wares, some from storefronts, others from makeshift stalls.

Kevin had a different approach.

Something more insidious than pestering customers. A tactic from Kairin’s time, a corporate strategy:

Free samples.

He even set up a smoker, fanning the aroma of cooking meat and applewood, spiced just right, towards the hungry adventurers who’d skipped breakfast.

Empty stomachs rumbled, drawing them in.

“Care to try some?”

“Really? No charge later?”

“Not at all. If you enjoy it, feel free to purchase more inside.”

He subtly steered them into the shop.

But Kevin’s strategy didn’t end there!

“This smoked meat uses a special blend unique to the Wilfred Trading Company. Delicious, isn’t it?”

“Indeed…”

The blend was Kevin’s, not the company’s. Technically true!

On the way to the meat counter, strategically placed shelves of camping gear and accessories.

Below the counter, inexpensive potions and impulse buys.

A perfect layout to maximize purchases.

He instinctively understood consumer psychology.

A tactic that worked in the modern world worked even better here. His stall was booming.

“Hmm. Satisfactory.”

Kevin admired his bulging coin purse. Mission accomplished.

Later, as the crowds thinned and the sun climbed higher, Kevin was about to leave when the door creaked open.

“Welco-”

“Hello?”

He quickly hid his purse.

“Oh, we overlapped. Sorry.”

The customer chuckled.

Kevin froze. Not because she was beautiful—though Kairin certainly was—but because of her intense gaze.

Her slightly narrowed eyes seemed to pierce right through him.

She was definitely one of the people who had been hawking goods to the adventurers earlier.

Could she be holding a grudge?

He recognized her as one of the peddlers. Was she here for revenge?

As he tried to speak, she interrupted.

“Three silver coins.”

“Excuse me?”

Was she demanding compensation? Uneasily, he asked,

“I’m going on an adventure. What can I buy for three silver coins?”

“A short-term quest?”

“No? A long one, I think… I just need enough for a week.”

Three silver coins for a week? Absurd! Even short quests cost double that.

She had no proper pack, just a dagger, no guild insignia. Unaffiliated, not an adventurer, or a green apprentice. A ‘suicide candidate.’

Even if he tried to dissuade her-

“Don’t even think about ripping me off. I know the prices.”

Right. Sell her something practical, not junk.

He picked up some smoked meat.

Kairin watched, fiddling with a notebook. Her constant glances at it were unnerving.

“By any chance…”

He thought of the merchant guild inspectors.

They protected consumers from monopolies and price gouging.

While Kevin hadn’t broken any rules, her scrutiny made him anxious.

Her knowing smile… something felt off.

“This smoked meat uses a special blend unique to our-”

“Special?”

Smirk

Each smile sent shivers down his spine.

“W-well… I blended it myself.”

“I see… Could you give me a small discount?”

“…Yes.”

Every interaction felt like losing ground. He kept lowering prices, just wanting it to end.

After losses exceeding double her payment, she turned to leave.

Exhausted, Kevin slumped against the counter.

His purse was heavier, but the pressure she exerted was heavier still.

He could finally relax-

“Oh, wait a minute.”

What now?!

“Do you sell that too?”

She pointed to his wrapped sandwiches.

“These are…!”

This was too much! He tried to protest, but her sly, half-closed, now-smileless eyes stopped him. A chilling stare.

As he gaped, a slow smile returned.

He cowered, defeated.

Clutching his slightly heavier purse, Kevin wanted to cry.

“Hmm. Not bad.”

Actually, amazing. I hadn’t expected so much for three silver coins.

I checked prices in my notebook as he spoke, and many were inflated or average.

I worried about my three coins, but casually asked for a discount, and he kept giving them.

No other customers, generous discounts… was he clearing inventory?

Market generosity was the best. I left with a full bag.

Was the sandwich not for sale? He seemed flustered when I asked. But I got it cheap, so it was fine.

I took a bite.

“Ugh…”

Good, but cucumbers. No taste.