I'm a Supporting Role in a Horror Game, Don't Kill Me

“Yes, I am Arbice, but…”

I mumbled and looked at the people who were talking to me. Those three women appeared to be from quite well-to-do families. It was obvious just by looking at them that they were wearing colorful hats with peaked collars, and that two of them were wearing trendy pant suits rather than dresses. I was about to ask who it was, but when I looked closely at the three faces that were not covered by hats, I remembered where I had seen them.

‘Oh my god… They are the granddaughter of the magic tower lord, the next magic tower lord nominee, the director of a trauma hospital, and the three upper guild lords who occupy a large position in the guild, right?’

These three are one of the most difficult characters to defeat in the game. Not only were they children of upper-class noble families, but they were each involved in the most important elements of the game, so they were famous as a trio that controlled social gossip. I saw a strategy where you could increase your favorability by spending all your money and giving expensive gifts at the palace banquet hall, but if you do that, you won’t be able to do anything else because you won’t have enough money.

‘In the end, even if I tried to talk to them, they were rejected, and I have never become close to them… What business do you have for me?’

I rolled my eyes as much as I could and looked at them one after another. Then, Latte, the granddaughter of the Master of Magic, the shortest girl with a youthful face, jet-black bob hair, and doll-like red cheeks, stepped forward first.

“I’m sorry for asking your name first. Actually, I’m really curious.”

A sharp-looking woman with long purple hair that reached halfway to her waist. Hospital director Lemuët continued.

“For the past few days, every time I come to the salon, the young lady is the center of attention. But what happened was that the content was different for each person speaking…”

Lastly, Milorad, a merchant with gray hair and a short cut, who was famous for being quiet, spoke.

“If you just listen to the story, the Learmond family was completely controlled in just a week. I was curious about how that was possible, so I wanted to mix things up. If I feel rude, I apologize in advance.”

I was too dazed to say anything to her, so Latte quickly answered.

“Please at least tell me about the dress. Is it true Luke bought you a dress?”

Lemuët and Milorad quickly added.

“No, rather, tell me about the tea party. You said that in a place where so many people gathered with all their musical instruments to tease Luke, you flattened the Countess of Rivea’s daughter with just one word?”

“…Again, if these two seem too rude, let me know. I will clean it up.”

Thinking that they were completely out of their minds, I smiled slightly at the chatty two and at Milorad who was trying to stop them.

“First… Please sit down first.”

Latte and Lemuët excitedly pulled up their chairs, and Milorad looked at me with a worried look.

“I think you came because you had an appointment, but I’m not sure if we’re wasting your time.”

“No, it’s okay. Because it came out so early. It’s good to have someone to talk to.”

Milorad glanced at me and then nodded his head.

“As expected, Luke is generous enough to choose you.”

He chose me… That’s not true. I smiled awkwardly at the three pairs of shining eyes in front of me.

“I don’t know what to say first… And I don’t know why it was so great that it became the subject of gossip, but most of what you said is true.”

“Ouch!”

“Oh!”

“Indeed…”

The three nodded as if they were interested. It was somewhat cute to see people who had not accepted my conversation come rushing over to hear my story, their eyes shining. I answered the rumors sincerely. This part is correct, and this part seems exaggerated. Seeing these completely different looking people nodding their heads side by side like triplets and their eyes shining made us talk longer than expected.

‘…Well, I don’t think saying I have anything to do with the duke didn’t work at all.’

I ended the story as I saw that the appointed time was approaching.

“Has your curiosity been satisfied now?”

Milorad nodded.

“It’s tiring to be the center of attention like this, but it’s really kind of you to be willing to talk like this.”

“No.”

“And I will make sure to hide my relationship with the Duke, so don’t worry.”

“…no. It’s not like we’re in a relationship worth hiding, right?”

“He bought me a dress and wants to be with me wherever I go… It’s not like we’re in a relationship… Are you saying that because you’re worried that the princess will get hurt?”

The other two looked at me and sighed.

“How can you keep your loyalty while looking at Luke’s face?”

“If it were me, I wouldn’t be able to last even a second if Luke wooed me like that.”

“You are truly a strong-willed person.”

I didn’t know what to do about this ridiculous misunderstanding, so I just laughed, and Latte stepped forward and spoke in a whisper.

“And actually, all three of us really like Shine and Luna. I’ve seen you since I was young. But since those kids say they follow it that way… I really wanted to meet you. I thought he must be a good person.”

Those words were better to hear than any other words.

“That… The children followed suit well. I didn’t do anything.”

“No. The Duke is such a picky person. If he doesn’t treat children with sincerity, there’s no way he would trust them like that, right?”

“Thank you for saying that.”

As I smiled brightly, the three of them looked at each other, whispered something, and then said to me in turn.

“If it’s okay, can we talk next time? I can’t just listen to exciting stories like this.”

“That’s right. Will you come to our meeting next time? “Instead of wasting your time like this, I will invite you formally.”

“Is it so! Please come. This time, I will tell you about interesting things that happen at the Magic Tower, huh? I’m in charge of the autopsy of a recent incident that occurred in the Magic Tower, so I’m not left behind when it comes to interesting stories, right?”

Was it possible to be invited to Latte, Lemuet, and Milorad’s gathering so easily? When I was a player, I wondered if it would be possible to just pour all the money I had into just three people. I was so surprised that I nodded and the three of us clapped our hands with happy faces.

[Latte Locker’s favorability has increased.

Lv.1(45/99)

Affinity event autopsy open

Favorability Event Magic Tower Open]

[Lemuët Larousse’s favorability has increased.

Lv.1(45/99)

Favorability event surgical ward opening

[Anatomy of affinity event open]]

[Milorad Drassel’s favorability has increased.

Lv.1(45/99)

Affinity event top guild opening

Favorability event secret shop opening]

The favorability window was pushed upward all at once.

‘…oh my god.’

What caught my eye as I was looking through it were an event called ‘Autopsy’ and an event called ‘Secret Store’. Of the two, the one I experienced was ‘Secret Shop’, and this was also an event I only experienced once. There, you could purchase highly efficient items that you cannot normally buy. And the autopsy…

‘Now that Catherine Hunt’s autopsy results have been released, I’m so lucky that this event is happening, isn’t it? Just by hearing the title of the event, you will immediately know what it will be about.’

It was an event that I never came to or needed to attend when I was a player, but for me now, it was a route I really needed. But strangely enough, the feeling I felt was not the joy that came from ‘unlocking the strategy route’, but the joy that came from chatting with girls my age for the first time in a long time. There were a lot of people I became friends with here, and there were also a lot of people whose likeability increased. However, I couldn’t feel as comfortable as they did because most of them were my employers, people of completely different age groups, or people I met for mutual purposes.

“Excuse me…”

“Yes?”

“You must be invited to that meeting. I also had a lot of fun today. I have an appointment soon, so I regret not being able to talk more.”

“Oh.”

“Really?”

“You have to be willing to do it.”

Seeing the faces of the three of them brighter at what I said, my heart also felt warm somehow. At that time, I saw a man in the distance entering the salon, everything from his hair to his collar dragging on the floor covered in pure white. Alay didn’t look as small or as tired as she did yesterday. Instead she looked very confused and didn’t know what to do. As if he didn’t know what was in front of him, he kept walking while almost hitting a pillar. He was guided by the clerk and looked in my direction. The moment he spotted me, his watery eyes sparkled. Like a pilgrim who wandered alone in the desert for a long time and finally found his way.

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