episode_0005

There was one fortunate thing, and that was the fact that the map of this world was the same as the map in my head.

Of course, the entire map of the world wasn’t stored in my head. The map in the game was more of a decorative piece, with only the important parts being implemented in the story.

However, those “important parts” were mostly crucial areas even in the game world. In other words, they were places that could be considered landmarks in the game.

At the center of the map was a massive fortress – the Imperial Palace. It wasn’t as huge as to be visible from all over the world, but in the central area of the map, it could be seen from anywhere. In regions based on the capital, the fortress was visible from almost every angle.

Milennium, the company behind the game, wasn’t known for its graphics, nor did it possess the technology and capital to implement the entire world as an open-world. However, they paid attention to details for the fans, so each region was designed in a way that allowed a specific angle of the Imperial Palace to be visible.

In fact, when you entered the in-game map, the proportions of each area in the Empire Map were logically aligned. Even if there were places blocked by transparent walls that you couldn’t access, at least the visible parts made you think, “If I could go through there, it would lead me in that direction.”

And I had explored those regions multiple times. Whether it was to participate in events that required multiple visits, or to search for hidden notes or NPCs left by the developers. Moreover, since I was serializing a game-related blog series, I had to pay attention to even the smallest details.

Except for the fact that the slums weren’t properly managed, the world was quite well-maintained considering the era. If you followed the main roads, you could easily find your way with the help of signposts.

However, there was one problem –

“Hey, you there!”

– The city wasn’t particularly kind to the street children and beggars.

It wasn’t that the passersby were unkind. Their gazes towards the beggars weren’t much different from how people in my world looked at them. Some looked at them with pity, while others held their noses and distanced themselves or put on a stern expression.

But the one major difference was that the concept of human rights wasn’t properly established in this world yet.

The city attracted many foreigners. Therefore, maintaining a clean appearance was important, and hence, they tried to crack down on any “unsightly things” seen on the streets.

And if that “unsightly thing” was not trash blowing in the wind, but children running around on their legs, then it was the responsibility of the police.

“Hey, don’t run away! Stop right there!”

And every time I saw a police officer, I grabbed the kids’ hands and ran like crazy.

It was only natural. If caught by the police, the only place we would end up was at the orphanage.

I had even tried lying that we had parents a few times, but it didn’t work. We would be dragged to the police station and then handed over to a shabby orphanage a few days later.

And every time, I turned back time.

The Viscount’s mansion wasn’t too far away, but getting there was the problem itself.

“Sis, I’m tired…”

We sneaked out onto the streets in the middle of the night. Although no one paid us much attention as we walked through the citizens who were running around in fear of their houses catching fire, the kids couldn’t endure walking for hours without sleep at night.

Moreover, with a five-year-old body like mine, my legs would become stiff after just an hour of walking, and exhaustion would set in. The mental fatigue from the recent incident of our house burning down also weighed heavily on me.

It took even longer because the alley was narrow to begin with, and we had to take breaks frequently.

At first, even the ones who were used to it started complaining more as the breaks got longer, and I was getting tired too.

“…Alright, let’s rest here.”

In the end, we stopped to rest every hour or so. It was usually a dark and gloomy alley that wouldn’t catch anyone’s eye.

It was smelly and damp, but as long as we didn’t attract attention—

“Hey, you guys. Who gave you permission to be here?”

—yeah, as long as we didn’t attract attention, we could rest for about an hour.

Looking up at the rugged man with scars on his face who nudged my leg with his foot as I dozed off, I muttered wearily.

“…Again.”

*

But it seemed like there were still no limits to my abilities. I could go back in time to the most favorable moment and start over.

When I turned around while walking and saw that there weren’t enough kids.

When we rested in the alley and met some gangsters.

When we got caught by the police.

When we were reported by the residents.

Again and again, I turned back time to find the most ideal outcome.

I must have spent about half a day walking. By the time the citizens started coming out onto the streets as the sun set, we had also arrived in front of the Viscount’s mansion.

But to me, it felt like at least a few weeks had passed.

Turning back time made the fatigue in my body disappear. My mind cleared even without sleep. The strength in my legs returned, and my feet no longer hurt.

But my mind couldn’t rest. No matter how comfortable my body felt, I just wanted to collapse and rest, to give up everything. Couldn’t I give up one or two people? Even if I got caught by the police, couldn’t I go to a normal orphanage? Maybe that rugged-looking guy is actually a good person?

…Every time such thoughts crossed my mind, I turned back time again.

It was better to organize my thoughts thoroughly in a comfortable body.

It felt like saving a very difficult action game without missing a beat. No, in a way, it felt like attempting a real-time TAS. Either way, it was a terribly exhausting task.

But…

“…I did it.”

Yes, I did it.

Looking at the name on the front gate of the mansion in front of me, I muttered.

Viscount Grace.

In the Azerna Empire of this world, a Viscount held a territory, but it wasn’t that large. Furthermore, the Viscount’s territory was not so much the Viscount’s own territory as it was part of the territory of a higher noble above him. And all the land in the empire belonged to the Emperor by default, so the noble territories were nominally lands managed by the Emperor.

If it were a Marquis’s territory, the land would be both the Emperor’s and the Marquis’s territory, and the same would apply to a Count’s or a Baron’s territory. Of course, titles could be inherited, so there were cases where individuals held multiple titles, making it much more complicated.

And below them was the Viscount. If the Emperor directly appointed the Viscount, then the Viscount’s land was both the Emperor’s land and the Viscount’s territory, just as a Marquis’s or a Count’s territory would be the Emperor’s land and the Marquis’s or Count’s territory.

Therefore, if a Viscount appointed directly by the Emperor, they could wield considerable power depending on the circumstances. Of course, that didn’t mean they always rivaled a Marquis or a Count completely.

The Grace family’s case was a Viscount title that was ‘directly appointed by the Emperor.’

Naturally, they were thorough supporters of the Emperor in the noble faction-Emperor faction conflict.

The story of this game changes gradually as it progresses, and it completely flips towards the end, but at this point, it was not necessary to think about it as it was just the beginning of the main story.

By the way, the territory of Grace Viscount is all of Neumare’s land. It may be overwhelmingly large to be called a personal mansion, but if you think of it as a territory, it’s quite small. It’s only natural that it’s part of the emperor’s land, even though it’s within the system.

“….”

However, how do we enter here?

There are no soldiers guarding the territory, but the door was firmly closed.

It’s only natural that no one can enter freely into a nobleman’s territory, even if they don’t set up separate guards, because it’s a place where no one can enter without permission.

Nevertheless, there was a way.

The Grace Viscount couple were pitiful people who could never pass by a stray dog, and were often ridiculed by players outside of the game.

So if the Viscount couple were to come out, they would be noticed. And then… they would either take care of us at their orphanage, or if not, they would entrust us to an orphanage run by someone with a clear identity.

The problem is that the Viscount is in the middle of the system.

If I stand here, I will definitely be caught by passing police.

“….”

I have no choice but to use my abilities.

As I took a deep breath, the children around me looked up and grinned.

Well… it’s almost over now.

*

However, since I remember the experience of hiding here and there to get here, hiding wasn’t that difficult.

The most important thing is not to catch the attention of passersby. And not to be reported by people.

It’s okay not to sneak into the alleyways. You just have to avoid being caught by someone you shouldn’t.

“Oh, they’re coming out.”

Seeing the Viscount couple coming out, I muttered.

I was at the back of the group. It was more efficient to lead the children from behind than from the front, as I couldn’t afford to lose even one child.

“Let’s go. Just go up to those people. Then it’s really over.”

“Really? Can we really do that?”

Although Claire asked while looking at the two people who looked like a very well-off couple, I nodded.

I remember their faces. Although it was based on a 2D illustration and modeling based on that illustration, their faces were exactly the same as I knew them.

Blue hair that cannot exist in reality. Well-groomed beard and mustache. An impression that seems more like a young man with a crew cut than a middle-aged man in the game. The woman next to him also had blue wavy hair and very clean skin.

Arms crossed, they walked out, and I quickly followed the children.

They don’t have any escorts.

In fact, they don’t need escorts. They are skilled enough to casually swing their swords and split a carriage in half. Even if we approach them, they won’t be surprised or scared.

That’s why they don’t have knights in the territory.

I worked hard to gather the children. At first, the children were a little anxious, but eventually they started to move towards that couple when I spoke. These children had overcome various dangers thanks to me on the way here. Trust had been built up over the half day.

Gurgle. Perhaps because they were hungry from skipping breakfast, their stomachs made that sound. Maybe the children were also hungry—

—It was at that moment, when I was relieved.

My mouth was agape in shock, unable to make a sound.

The children who heard my words were still walking forward. But I couldn’t do the same. My legs were suddenly floating in the air.

Someone was hugging me from behind.

What? Did a pervert jump out from the alley? If I think calmly, my current appearance is quite pretty. Even if I became a target for pedophiles, it wouldn’t be strange.

Again—

“Ah, wait. Calm down. I won’t do anything bad.”

—I was about to turn back time, but I stopped moving at the sound of that voice.

It was a quite young voice. It seemed like it was just passing through puberty and the voice was starting to stabilize. Maybe in their mid-teens?

…I knew this voice.

When I stopped my struggling legs, the strength in the hand covering my mouth weakened a bit. It didn’t completely let go yet.

“You’re smart. The Marquis will definitely take care of these kids. He was already talking about expanding the orphanage.”

Far away, the children were approaching the Marquis couple, and the couple turned around when they heard the children coming.

“Oh dear, we’ll get caught if we stay here.”

My vision quickly turned. The man turned his body with a start and ran away from that spot.

…Ah.

It seems like I won’t be able to go to the orphanage. If this man had been following us from the beginning, no matter how much I turn back time, I wouldn’t be able to escape.

But…

The kids have arrived safely. At least they will grow up properly in a safe place.

And Claire too. She no longer needs to experience that horrible past.

And if I follow this man, I will probably be safe. At least he wasn’t a crazy murderer kidnapping orphans on purpose to kill them on the streets.

…It’s sad that I won’t be able to see how Claire grows up.