Becoming an Extra in a Trash Game

Chapter 11

It’s a nice day today!

Since carrot juice came out in the morning, I decided to give the baby carrots I had hidden to eat as a snack to Beth.

Ah! If you’re wondering who Beth is, it’s the horse whose fur I’ve been brushing lately.

It has beautiful dark brown fur and is a very gentle horse!

Thanks to the Young Master, although not as much as when I was in the meadow, I’ve been having so much fun lately, even having running races with the horse.

But I wonder what they’re doing over there? I have to pass through that corridor to get to the backyard where the stable is located…

“This is crazy, really…”

“Be quiet! We might get caught. And let me see too. I can’t see well…”

“How can he look so handsome even when covered in dirt like that?”

I wonder what’s so interesting that they can’t leave the window?

I quietly approach and look outside too, but I only see the male servant who’s been accompanying Young Master lately.

Ouch… That must hurt a lot. Being hit mercilessly with a solid wooden sword looks just like a warm blanket on a sunny day.

“Achoo!”

As I was watching them together, I sneezed because my nose got itchy from someone’s perfume scent.

“Eek! You startled me!”

“I thought Head Maid Elise had come…”

“It’s Luna, isn’t it? That’s good. Luna, do you know what that man’s name is?”

As I wipe my itchy nose with my ear, I just blink at the words I hear in confusion.

“Uh…”

I’m not unfamiliar with them, but being surrounded and getting attention like this makes me so… Nervous and embarrassed…

Without realizing it, I grabbed both my ears with my hands to cover my eyes and lowered my head. It would be easier to catch a wild boar or a giant mole in the meadow… Talking to someone is too difficult…

“It’s okay, just tell us. Hm? If you tell us his name, I’ll make you a carrot pie.”

“I can bring you a few carrots too.”

“It’s Kane.”

Carrots!

I can’t give up on carrots. I gathered my courage and told them Kane’s name.

“Kane? Even his name is handsome!”

“Luna, you see him often when you’re with the Young Master, right? How is he? What’s Kane’s personality like? Is he handsome up close too?”

“Come to think of it, hasn’t the Young Master been a bit better lately? He’s still moody, but he’s become less violent.”

“That’s right. It’s like he’s grown up lately… He was never bad-looking, but his personality was a bit violent and dissolute…”

“To be honest, I thought Luna wouldn’t last long either. But these days, I really regret not becoming the exclusive maid myself.”

Now’s my chance!

While everyone is absorbed in talking about the Young Master and Kane, I should run away. Beth must be waiting for me!

* * *

You’re getting thoroughly beaten again today.

Even though I feed you such good green juice, huh?

I watched Kane get up and charge again while munching on cookies.

After running dozens of laps around the training ground, lifting heavy things up and down, and then getting beaten up all day long.

Still, his stamina seems to have improved a bit, as he’s running and enduring longer.

I’ve also started horseback riding and swordsmanship etiquette again.

Surprisingly, my body seems to remember, as riding a horse and holding a sword don’t feel entirely new, but as expected, Adelian’s incapable body is just that – incapable.

When I was Kang Soo-ho, I couldn’t really understand being physically uncoordinated or tone-deaf, but now I think I get it.

Unlike before, when I could roughly grasp things like exercise or dance after watching a little and following along, this body is really, Wow. I’m at a loss for words.

Not only can I not control my body as I want, but I’m also keenly feeling what it means to be lacking in so-called “Sense.”

It’s like the difference between exercising in sportswear and exercising underwater in cotton clothes.

‘It’s okay, I’m a wallet warrior. If I just… if I just collect all the items…’

Even in games, some require good control, and those where you just need to do consistent damage while pressing F1 to F12.

After finishing my cookie, I dusted off my hands and got back on the horse.

‘It might be too much to aim for the final item setup from the start.’

But I should be able to aim for at least the national set, right?

I’ll just ride the horse one more lap and then head to the auction house.

It should be less troublesome to buy from the auction house than using the Kruger family’s trading company.

“Tell Kane to skip the afternoon training as I’ll be going out after lunch.”

I ordered the knight who was watching Kane roll around with a subtle expression, and ignoring his reluctant response, I rode off on the horse.

* * *

“My bottom hurts.”

I wonder if you develop calluses on your bottom if you keep riding horses?

I welcomed Luna and Kane, who were approaching with unsatisfied faces, while slightly pondering about my bottom that seemed to have lost some sensation.

“Aren’t you managing your expression?”

“I was in the middle of figuring out the path of the sword, why did you call?”

“Ugh… I was taking a nap with Beth.”

Such lack of discipline.

I clicked my tongue, then pulled Luna’s ears and handed green juice to both Kane and Luna as a sign to reflect on their behavior.

“Drink this and let’s go out. We’re going to the auction house to see if there’s anything to buy. If we see any tasty snacks while we’re out, we might buy some too.”

“Is there a reason why I must go out with you? It doesn’t seem helpful for me to become stronger even a day earlier if I go on such outings.”

“I’m… Your bodyguard, so I should go with you, but…”

“You’re talking nonsense. You wouldn’t even be able to buy food somewhere without me. Both of you, especially you, Kane, need social training. Stop complaining and follow me.”

If you’re just going to shut yourself in and train, you shouldn’t be in the Innocent Saga. You should have appeared in some martial arts novel far away doing closed-door training.

If you’re upset, go complain to the moss on the stones.

While others might beam with joy at the mention of going out, it’s a struggle for me to go out with these two socially maladjusted humans. It’s really tough for me.

I thought about quickly going by carriage, but considering this as training too, all three of us rode horses and left the inner city.

Unlike the inner city, as we got closer to the outskirts where the news of my reformation hadn’t spread as much.

Seeing people averting their eyes and quickly running away, or hurriedly greeting and lowering the drawbridge, I realized that once an image is set, it doesn’t change easily.

“Can’t be helped.”

I muttered to myself and pulled up the hood of the robe I had prepared in advance.

I didn’t wear it when leaving the inner city because I wanted to use my face as a free pass, but…

I thought it might be troublesome if I ran into any of Adelian’s old drinking buddies or womanizing friends outside, so I covered only my face, but…

‘What’s this?’

Thanks to sitting on a horse much taller than a person’s height, I can feel the gazes particularly well.

Glancing, glancing.

Among the passersby, regardless of age or gender, one out of every two or three is looking this way.

With my hood pulled down low, only my lower face should be visible, so they shouldn’t be recognizing and being wary of me. What is it?

Just as I was about to ponder for a moment, we arrived at the entrance of the auction house. I dismounted from the horse and walked slowly.

“Oh my, Young Master.”

“Judging by how quickly you jumped out, you seem quite confident this time, huh?”

“Of course. Some pretty decent items have come in. Here’s the classification sheet. And for the details, I’ll guide you…”

I looked at the goblin manager who was bowing and rubbing his hands with an arrogant voice, then took off the gloves I was wearing to hold the horse’s reins and threw them to Luna.

“I want to look around leisurely by myself, so step aside.”

“What? But wouldn’t it be more convenient for you if the goblin manager follows you around explaining the items as usual?”

“If you insist, then follow ten steps behind. And why do I need explanations? If I want something, I’ll just buy it.”

I shooed away the goblin manager with just a flick of my fingers, then spoke in a voice low enough for only Luna and Kane to hear.

“Read this paper and tell me if there’s anything you want. I’ll buy it for you.”

“I don’t need anything. I’m already receiving more than enough help.”

“What? M-me too.”

Looking at the two who were handing back the pamphlet without properly reading what was in it, I clicked my tongue.

“Stop arguing. And especially you, Kane.”

I met Kane’s golden eyes, which were emitting a deep glow even under the soft indoor light.

“You need to practice being indebted.”

“What?”

“Especially to me.”

I smiled while staring into those eyes that seemed not to understand what I meant.

“I know you’re talented. Well, even though we haven’t confirmed your trait yet, your talent is sufficiently proven just by the speed at which you’re improving.”

But originally, humans are social animals.

Is it really a happy life to shoulder everything alone as a lone wolf?

I think a happier life is having a harem with six wives.

“But you try to do everything alone too much. Have you ever thought that it’s too inefficient?”

Even arithmetically speaking, it’s clearly more efficient for two people to divide and do a task of 100 than for one person to do it all.

“You need to get used to being indebted to me. And then you repay it until the day you die. You too, Luna.”

I added jokingly and put the pamphlet back in their hands.

“Walk around and find one thing you want. Then tell me. Tell me that you want it. That’s today’s task for both of you.”

One might think I’m asking them to eat bugs or something.

“But…”

“Do we have to… Walk around alone…?”

Seeing the rabbit and the wild dog looking at me with faces that didn’t know what to do, I waved my hands as if to say ‘Why aren’t you going?’ and turned my back.

I need to look for items not only for you two but also to entice other heroines who might join later.

To be honest, I’d like to mix in some male companions too, but…

‘There are too many planned party members.’

Just Kane’s (future) wives are 6 people, and with me included, it’s 8.

In fact, unlike in a game where once you form a party after obtaining a unit, it’s maintained until I send them away, now that it’s become a reality, it will be difficult from the start to entice them as party members.

‘But… I can’t give up.’

It’s a chance to see a real harem ending with my own eyes, not just as an illustration, I can’t miss it.

“First, from here to here.”

I traced my finger over the display case containing various attribute stones and beckoned to the goblin manager walking far away.

“What about the items I ordered?”

“Of course, we’ve prepared them carefully since it’s Young Master Adelian’s order. Not everything has arrived, but some items are here.”

I leisurely leaned back on the sofa in a curtained room away from the hall lined with display cases, sipping the tea brought by the manager while checking the items.

A set of jewelry focused solely on glamour without other options, and three or four robes imbued with automatic repair abilities. Indeed, items with many magical functions take longer.

“By the way, the auction house might be boring on a weekday. Young Master Adelian, how about visiting the gambling house after a long time?”

“Bothersome.”

“Then, how about the Red Garden? I heard a slave who learned a rare instrument has newly arrived…”

“Not particularly interested.”

Although I didn’t spend little on attribute stones and custom-made products, maybe it’s because the original Adelian used to spend money like water.

I answered halfheartedly to the goblin manager trying to hook a sucker somehow while drinking tea when someone approached through the drawn curtain.

“Young Master…”

“Luna, have you chosen?”

Seeing her hesitating to speak and looking nervous, probably because of the goblin manager’s presence, I shooed away the manager with a nod of my chin to bring another cup of tea, then received the box Luna was discreetly handing over.

“What’s this?”

Inside the wooden box, slightly larger than a palm, was something like soap, about half the size of a fist.

No, not like soap, it is soap.

I picked up the faintly flower-scented object, smelled it, and then gauged its weight with my fingertips while looking at Luna.

“Um… That… They say it’s an artifact that produces soap once a month.”

“And? Why do you want this?”

This is unexpected. I thought she would ask for food or at least a gift for her family.

I tilted my head, rested my chin on my hand, and put the soap back in the box to return it to Luna.

“When you leave the city, it probably won’t be as convenient to wash as in the castle… And I’m your bodyguard and maid, so if you get dirty, it feels like I’m neglecting my duties…”

“I’ve chosen too.”

As I was about to laugh at Luna’s words, Kane also abruptly entered and thrust a simple metal bracelet in front of my eyes.

“And what’s this?”

“They say it’s an artifact charged with three uses of 4th-class shield magic.”

I twirled the bracelet around my finger and looked at Kane.

“You’re going to use this?”

A shield? Not a weapon, but defensive gear?

“No, you. If you’re going to travel with me, I’d prefer if you at least didn’t hold me back.”

So… You don’t want me to get hurt?

Either way, it felt strange that both of them chose items for me, so I stared at them for a while before breaking into a big laugh and patting both their heads.

“Eh… Eh?”

“This feels a bit unpleasant.”

“Can’t I even do this much when buying my own gift with my own money?”

“It’s not a gift.”

“Th-that’s right. This is just a daily necessity…”

They’re being shy.

I enjoyed thoroughly patting Luna, who was trying to dodge my hand, and Kane, who was turning his head away.

However, this joy didn’t last very long.