Chapter 3: 3. Being Abandoned.

After finishing the cleaning work and receiving my pay, I leaned against the wall near the gate and tried to sleep.

It was close enough that screaming would alert the guards.

Even if that pig bastard came looking for me, he wouldn’t dare cause trouble in a place like this.

Rustle- Shivering in the chilly weather, I looked up at the city wall.

The roughly 6-meter-high wall stood imposingly, clearly dividing the slums from the residential area as if declaring it would never let slum dwellers pass through.

If it were just a bit lower, I might have tried climbing over it.

But the wall was too high.

Ultimately, I needed a Pass to escape this place.

“…With a daily wage of 2 Copper Coins, to buy a Pass…”

A Pass cost 1 Silver Coin.

1 Silver Coin equaled 100 Copper Coins.

“…That means I’d have to work 50 more days.”

I lifted my gaze from the wall to stare at the sky.

The starry night sky was beautiful, but its unreachable distance only made me feel lonelier.

“The real problem is whether he’ll quietly let me work for 50 days.”

Though this situation wasn’t a game to me, to streamer Rie, it was just gameplay.

No one would find it entertaining to watch their character clean garbage for 50 days.

“I barely got through today, but I need to earn money as fast as possible.”

That was my conclusion.

Working 50 days for 2 Copper Coins each was unacceptable.

Even ignoring the possibility of Rie getting bored and deleting this character, that pig bastard was another problem.

Since I’d smashed his head with a rock, he’d undoubtedly seek revenge.

Saying it wasn’t my intention would just sound like an excuse.

…I should have killed him properly back then.

Though I muttered this, it was too late-and I couldn’t have done it anyway.

Even if ordered to kill someone, no sane modern person could follow through.

Frustrated by all the thoughts with no solutions, I sighed and closed my eyes.

I’d think more after sleeping. Better yet, maybe I’d wake up to find this was all a dream.

Morning came.

Unfortunately, it didn’t continue as a comforting “it was just a dream” story.

When I woke up, my whole body ached as if I’d been beaten.

After over 6 hours of cleaning, my muscles screamed in protest.

“…Ugh, time to get up.”

I pushed off the ground and stumbled toward the gate like a cat with its whiskers plucked.

However, the atmosphere seemed unusually tense as I approached.

Not just the two usual gate guards-several uniformed officers with swords at their waists were discussing something.

Not wanting to get involved, I started backing away when the guard who gave me work yesterday spotted me and gestured me over.

Clueless about the situation, I timidly approached. The guard shoved a piece of paper at me.

“Do you know this guy?”

“Uh…”

It was a drawing.

A crude but recognizable portrait.

“…Pig?”

It was the bastard I’d smashed with a rock yesterday.

But why show this to me?

As I blinked in confusion, the guard rubbed his temples like he had a headache.

“Calling him Pig means you know who he is, right? The bastard suddenly died yesterday-real pain in the ass.”

“…What?”

Died?

Who?

Pig?

“Why are you telling a kid this…?”

“What’s it matter? This bastard strutted around the slums causing every kind of trouble imaginable. No one’ll mourn him-they’ll celebrate. This kid probably feels the same.”

Though completely confused, I just nodded-his words weren’t really seeking my opinion anyway.

“But… why did he die suddenly?”

“Dunno. Something smashed his head, wouldn’t stop bleeding. Collapsed in an alley and died screaming.”

…That alley yesterday?

Something smashed his head?

…That sounds like I killed him, but it didn’t feel real.

That I’d killed someone-and that he’d died from a child’s thrown rock.

“Even if his death benefits society, it’s still a murder case requiring investigation… You know how slum people dump garbage everywhere? Crime scene’s ruined.”

Thank god-I caught myself thinking.

Feeling relieved about investigative difficulties after committing murder?

Self-loathing surged momentarily, but relief overwhelmed it.

“Hell, we don’t even know if he died from blood loss.”

“…Huh?”

“He definitely collapsed bleeding, but the wound got infected-place was filthy enough for that.”

As the guard lamented, the oldest-looking officer patted his shoulder.

“Enough. Don’t say anything stranger to the kid.”

“Right… Here for work again today?”

As he spoke, time froze.

That alien sensation never got easier, no matter how often it happened.

-Achievement! First Murder

You have committed your first murder.

You’ve done what humans shouldn’t.

Console yourself that it was unavoidable, but that won’t erase what you’ve done.

-Gloomy Aura E ▶ Gloomy Aura D

[Gloomy Aura D]

Frequent abuse and torment have made you radiate gloom.

This aura has grown by consuming your experiences.

Beyond your control, it gives people ample reason to despise you.

“…Sorry, but like yesterday-I just can’t trust you with work.”

“…S-suddenly?”

“Sorry. You just… give me bad vibes now.”

The guard started to offer the same job but frowned and shook his head.

Though stunned by his sudden change, I bit my lip-I knew exactly why his attitude shifted.

“If you’re done here, get going. Don’t sleep against the wall again-I’ll scold you if you do.”

At his cold dismissal, I turned and entered the slums.

With Pig gone, immediate threats disappeared-but my randomly grown Trait ruined everything.

[You got an Achievement but your debuff Trait upgraded? That’s it?]

Rie suddenly chattered loudly, having been quiet until now.

Anger flared-I wanted to curse but swallowed it under bystanders’ stares.

-‘Violent Bedril’ slain!

Acquired some of his belongings!

As if answering Rie, a mechanical voice spoke. I frantically checked my pockets-nothing.

Thinking it a joke, I scowled. The answer came from Rie’s mouth.

[3 Silver Coins and a chipped dagger… Can you buy a Pass with this?]

…The Inventory seemed to be something only visible to the player, not me.

Praying she wasn’t joking, I bit my lip. [Let me give you 1 Silver Coin first]-my empty pocket suddenly felt heavier.

Instinctively knowing not to reveal Silver Coins publicly, I walked toward the administration office, pretending nonchalance.

[This character’s so boring… Should I delete it? Wait-I can make new characters without deleting this one?]

I froze.

I couldn’t comprehend Rie’s words.

[Oh! Since inventories are account-shared… I can transfer this one’s earnings to a new character?]

“What…”

[Let’s just make a new one. This start’s too rough. Upper-class instead of orphan-wealthy playthrough.]

With that, Rie’s voice cut out.

She’d apparently left to create a new character.

What the hell was this?

A headache pulsed-rage and frustration blended into indescribable emotion.

“No… If Rie stayed, she’d just press weird choices and make things worse… So this is fine.”

I consoled myself, swallowing bitterness.

For now.

Yes-first handle immediate tasks, then think further.

Entering the administration office, I cautiously glanced around before pulling out the Silver Coin.

My already grimy hand had burst blisters oozing fluid.

The Silver Coin stung-my palm felt sticky.

The clerk pinched his nose at my stench but took the coin and issued a Pass.

The Pass listed my name and physical traits-useless if stolen by others.

That day, I left the slums for the residential area.

Of course, this didn’t change my sleeping arrangements.

I’d just aimlessly moved zones-still homeless.

Same as the slums, but at least no more garbage in sight.