episode_0002

My head throbbed with pain.

What the hell is happening?

‘The ability to steal something from the target.’

Why, of all things, did it have to be the Villainess’ Obsession and not a skill?

I opened my status window and glared at [Absolute Theft].

In novels or comics like this, isn’t stealing the opponent’s skill supposed to be the right answer?

‘I don’t even have the energy to be angry.’

Because my head hurt.

Not because of the situation—my head was genuinely pounding nonstop.

‘This must be the penalty of my skill.’

There’s no reason for my head to suddenly hurt like this.

It must be because of that.

Then, I realized one thing.

‘If I raise her favorability, maybe I can even steal her skills.’

Or even her gifts.

Things like these, once stolen, usually have incredibly high ceilings.

‘But before that—’

My head was pounding too much.

I needed to find somewhere nearby to rest.

‘Luckily, I have one gold coin.’

At the very least, I could survive tonight.

[Quest completed!]

When I booked a room at an inn in my dazed state and lay down on the bed,

I think I saw that window.

“…….”

The first thing I saw upon opening my eyes was an unfamiliar ceiling.

At the same time, yesterday’s disaster came to mind.

No—can I even call it a disaster?

Well, what’s done is done.

‘I don’t usually get involved in things like this.’

Because my motto is to live quietly and under the radar.

I don’t like getting tangled up in incidents.

I must’ve acted impulsively because of the shock of being dragged into the game.

‘Can’t be helped.’

Getting marked by the game’s most notorious villainess on the very first day—what a mess.

As I dragged my hands down my face,

something caught my eye in the corner of my vision.

[Please check your reward ???!]

Right, there was a reward.

I should check it properly.

‘Please.’

No more weird stuff, okay?

Just give me something that’ll let me live comfortably in this world.

Praying desperately, I checked the reward.

[You have left a strong impression on the villainess, Lucia.]

[You have acquired a gift!]

[You have acquired [Fatal Constitution (A)]!]

“…….”

This gift looks incredibly ominous.

Swallowing hard, I checked the details.

[Gift]

Fatal Constitution (A)

Bees swarm where there is honey.

◇Whether you like it or not, you possess a constitution that attracts those with peculiar tastes.

◇You instinctively know the fatal weaknesses of those around you.

‘……Please don’t do this to me.’

Seriously.

Whether I sighed or not,

what I’d done couldn’t be undone, and now I had three gifts.

Spilt milk, as they say.

So, I needed a plan.

‘The villainess, Lucia, has taken an interest in me.’

What’s the best course of action in this situation?

The best way is to get as far away from the villainess, Lucia, as possible.

‘I don’t want to be involved, but—’

Why is the word “villainess” attached to her?

Because she’s dangerous.

‘Following the usual clichés, she’s destined to be taken down by the forces of good.’

If I’m not careful, I could get dragged down with her.

No, before that, she might just toy with me like a plaything.

So, the best move right now is—

‘…Should I head to [The Cradle]?’

The place called The Cradle.

A sanctuary created jointly by the Empire and the Kingdom—humanity’s last bastion.

Rumors say there’s a [Labyrinth] there, where they train hero candidates.

‘It’s ironic that the game knowledge I picked up from my friend’s ramblings isn’t half bad.’

If I’d known this would happen, I’d have paid more attention.

No—I wouldn’t have touched this game in the first place.

‘Let’s just move.’

If this is the tutorial, there must be a way to The Cradle.

Otherwise, the devs are truly heartless.

The problem is whether I can handle what’s waiting there.

Killing people, slaying monsters—that kind of thing.

I got up from my seat.

Because I knew staying here wouldn’t change anything.

‘Identity is an issue, but…’

Well, it’s a medieval setting—I’ll manage somehow.

I stepped out of the inn.

After spending two silver coins for a night’s stay,

‘I have 98 silver coins left.’

I decided to scout the area.

That’s when I spotted a flyer.

[Come to The Cradle!]

It read.

‘Now that I think about it, I can understand the language.’

I could read the text, too.

Summarizing the contents:

‘Kill monsters in the Labyrinth, mine magic stones, and get rich.’

A get-rich-quick scheme.

Not my preferred method, but this flyer seemed perfect for drawing in reckless fools.

And below it was a map.

I didn’t know how to read maps, but [Thief’s Pinnacle] taught me.

‘This skill really is all-purpose.’

After studying the map, I realized one thing.

‘Huh? It’s close.’

Surprisingly close.

About three days’ travel.

‘Can I make it alone?’

[Main Quest]

You have discovered the existence of The Cradle.

Reach The Cradle by any means and establish yourself there.

Reward: ???

Failure: No penalty.

I stared blankly at the blue screen.

Even if there’s no penalty for failure…

‘There’s a reward.’

If S-rank gifts are rare resources even nations struggle to obtain,

A-rank gifts, while not as scarce, are still highly valuable.

Just look at this flyer.

[Priority treatment for A-rank or higher gifts!]

It even had promotional text like this.

‘Hmm…’

I stroked my chin in thought.

What’s my life’s motto?

To live quietly and under the radar.

Because attention makes me uncomfortable.

I’d rather pull strings from the shadows than stand in the spotlight.

‘…Let’s just go.’

Regardless of my preferences, survival comes first.

So, the fastest and easiest way to grow stronger is the right choice.

That means gathering information here before making a move.

I headed down to the inn’s first floor.

Even though it was broad daylight, people were sitting around eating.

Growl.

Seeing them made me realize I was hungry.

‘I’ll eat here and gather some intel.’

The quality of information from drunk chatter isn’t usually great.

But since I know nothing, even this is better than nothing.

“One large bronze coin for the meal.”

After paying with a large bronze coin from my change, I got a sandwich.

As I sat down, snippets of conversation reached me.

“This time, Hendrick’s clan in the Labyrinth City…”

“They say the Saintess among this generation’s hero candidates is already standing out.”

“The Sword’s successor for this generation’s hero is practically decided, I hear.”

“A thief hero candidate got killed for mouthing off to the Shadow King, huh?”

“The Adventurer’s Guild is recruiting again, I heard.”

“Another large-scale expedition into the Labyrinth, then?”

“Tsk, tsk. That’s why prices these days…”

But something felt off.

‘…Why is there so much information?’

Unlike the fragmented NPC dialogue in games,

the intel here was surprisingly valuable.

‘So, the Adventurer’s Guild is recruiting for an expedition into the Labyrinth.’

Seems important.

I stored the info in my mind and headed to the marketplace to stock up on supplies.

“18 silver coins and 70 large bronze coins.”

A cloak, a robe, a backpack, and some emergency rations.

‘They’re ripping off wannabe adventurers, huh?’

But I had no other options.

After a day of wandering, I had a rough idea of the economy.

One gold coin here is roughly worth 10 million won.

A silver coin is about 100,000 won.

‘I’m so grateful.’

I took a moment to silently thank the bald man who’d given me the gold coin. If we ever meet again, I’ll pay him back tenfold.

Stealing that gold coin was a lifesaver.

‘Now, to the Adventurer’s Guild.’

“10 silver coins will do.”

Getting an ID at the Adventurer’s Guild was laughably easy.

Though it cost me a whole 10 silver coins.

“Where do I go to reach The Cradle?”

“If you’re heading to The Cradle, take the carriage leaving this afternoon.”

A carriage this afternoon?

Is this how the guild recruits adventurers?

“You’re an odd one. A northern noble becoming an adventurer.”

“……?”

A northern noble?

Where did that come from?

‘Ah.’

I glanced around and caught my reflection in a mirror.

The face staring back wasn’t the one I knew.

‘Since when was I this good-looking?’

Eyes gleaming with a sharp, dark light.

And black hair.

Exactly as I’d customized my in-game character.

‘So that’s why they thought I was a noble?’

Makes sense.

I asked the clerk for the carriage’s departure point and headed there.

A crowd had already gathered.

People were boarding the carriage one by one.

‘Lucky.’

I climbed aboard.

That’s when I saw her—a girl with orange hair sitting ahead.

Instinctively, I knew she wasn’t ordinary.

‘Wait, isn’t she one of the characters from the game’s title screen?’

Four characters appeared on the title screen.

And I’d already met two of them.

‘This is bad.’

Really bad.

Because—

[Encounter Quest Triggered!]

This message popped up.

I had the overwhelming urge to drag my hands down my face.

Seriously, stop this.

‘Well, still.’

There’s still hope.

Even if my default appearance is striking, hero candidates are all exceptional beauties.

They wouldn’t pay attention to me just for my looks.

[Encounter Quest Triggered!]

You have met Erme, a candidate for the Sword Hero.

Gain her attention—or lose it—by any means necessary.

Reward: ???

Failure: No penalty.

‘So her name’s Erme.’

It felt familiar.

Where had I heard it before?

‘Ah.’

After racking my brain, I remembered.

My friend had raved about her—one of the main heroines.

The Sword Hero, Erme.

‘He called her a typical web novel power fantasy character.’

She kills those who get in her way.

But to those she considers allies, she’s endlessly kind.

In other words, the main protagonist.

‘Please ignore me.’

I prayed over and over.

Catching the eye of someone like her never ends well.

After all, I’m technically a Thief Hero candidate, right?

Hero candidates are practically heroes already.

‘If she finds out—’

She’d definitely try to recruit me.

Even if [Absolute Theft] stole something weird like [Villainess’ Obsession],

I still had two S-rank gifts—something incredibly rare across the continent.

So, my motto of living quietly is poison to me now.

I’m just a passing tree.

I’m just a passing tree.

I chanted internally, begging to be overlooked.

‘Huh?’

My head spun slightly.

A sign my gift had activated.

Instinctively, I knew [Fatal Constitution (A)] had triggered.

And at the same time—

I felt Erme’s gaze sweep over me.

In the darkness veiled by the carriage’s ceiling, a crimson light began to etch itself into Erme’s eyes.

“What’s this? Why is someone like you still here?”

What the hell is she talking about?

As Erme, the Sword Hero candidate, spouted nonsense—

[Quest completed!]

[Please check your reward ???!]

“……?”

Huh?

What on earth is going on?