The Protagonist's Party is Too Diligent

One fortunate thing was that the map of this world matched the one in my head.

Of course, I didn’t have the entire map of the capital memorized. In the game, the capital’s map was more decorative than functional, with only key areas being accessible. But those "key areas" were also the most important landmarks in the capital, and thus easy to recognize.

At the center of the capital stood a massive castle—the imperial palace. While not towering enough to be visible from everywhere in the capital, it was still prominent enough to be seen from most of the central districts. Even in the game, when the capital was the backdrop, you could always spot the castle from a specific angle.

Millennium, the company behind the game, wasn’t known for cutting-edge graphics, and they lacked the resources and technology to create a fully open-world capital. However, they paid a lot of attention to detail, ensuring that certain views of the palace were visible from key areas.

The game’s map also adhered to a logical layout. Even though invisible barriers blocked off certain areas, it felt like the pathways would connect naturally, creating a seamless world.

And I had wandered those areas countless times, either chasing relationship events that required multiple playthroughs or searching for hidden notes and NPCs scattered by the developers. I even blogged about guides and walkthroughs for the series, so I had to be thorough.

Aside from the neglected slums, the capital was relatively well-maintained for this era. The signs along the main roads were enough to help me find my way.

However, there was one problem—

“Hey, you kids over there!”

—The capital wasn’t exactly kind to orphans and vagrants like us.

It wasn’t that the people walking by were unkind. They regarded us much like people in my old world would look at the homeless—sometimes with pity, other times with disgust, holding their noses or avoiding eye contact.

But unlike my old world, this one didn’t have the same concept of human rights.

The capital, being a hub for foreigners, placed a high value on appearances, meaning they were quick to crack down on anything "unsightly." And if that "unsightly thing" was a child wandering the streets, it became the responsibility of the city guards.

“Stop right there! Don’t run!”

So, whenever we saw a guard, I grabbed the children’s hands and ran like mad.

It was the obvious thing to do. Getting caught by the guards meant one thing—being sent back to an orphanage.

I had tried lying a few times, claiming we had parents, but it never worked. Once we were caught, the guards would drag us by the scruff of the neck to the station, and a few days later, we’d end up in some rundown orphanage.

And every time that happened, I’d rewind time.

The baron’s estate wasn’t far, but getting there was the hard part.

“Nuna, I’m sleepy...”

We had fled the streets in the dead of night, blending in with the chaos of people running from the spreading fire. No one had paid us much attention, but after hours of walking, the children’s stamina was wearing thin.

I wasn’t faring much better. Even though I had the body of a five-year-old, I was just as tired. My legs were stiff, and the mental exhaustion from setting fire to the orphanage weighed heavily on me.

With short strides and frequent breaks, our journey took longer than expected.

The children, who had been relatively quiet at first, started to whine more as we walked. I was exhausted too.

“...Alright, let’s rest here.”

Eventually, we had to stop every hour or so. We usually found dark, damp alleys where we could hide without attracting attention.

It smelled terrible, and the ground was wet, but as long as no one found us—

“Hey, who gave you permission to be here?”

—If we didn’t get caught, that is, we could rest for at least an hour.

I looked up, weary, at the scarred man who had kicked my leg to wake me. His face was rough and intimidating.

“...Rewind.”

Whether we had lost a child, encountered a thug in an alley, got caught by the guards, or were reported by a citizen, I rewound time over and over, finding the best outcome.

In total, it had taken us half a day to reach the baron’s estate by the time the sun was rising, and people began filling the streets.

But to me, it felt like weeks had passed.

Rewinding time reset my body’s fatigue. Even if I hadn’t slept, my mind would clear, my legs would regain their strength, and the pain in my feet would disappear.

But my mind didn’t get the same rest. No matter how refreshed my body felt, mentally, I was exhausted. I just wanted to lie down and give up. Maybe I could leave a few of the kids behind. Maybe if we got caught by the guards, we’d end up in a decent orphanage. Maybe the thug wasn’t as bad as he looked.

Whenever those thoughts crossed my mind, I rewound time again.

It was easier to think clearly once my body was refreshed.

It felt like trying to beat an impossibly hard action game without a single mistake. Or maybe more like attempting a real-time tool-assisted speedrun. Either way, it was exhausting.

But...

“...I did it.”

Yes, I had done it.

I murmured to myself as I looked up at the sign hanging above the mansion’s front gate.

The Grace Baron’s estate.

In the Empire of Azerna, barons owned land, but not much. Their territory was typically part of a larger noble’s domain. And, technically, all the land in the empire belonged to the emperor, so the noble’s territory was merely land granted to them by the emperor.

If it were a duke’s territory, it would be the emperor’s land, managed by the duke. The same went for margraves and counts. Of course, since titles were inherited, things often became more complicated.

Barons were at the bottom of the hierarchy, but if the emperor personally granted the title, the baron could wield considerable influence. While they wouldn’t necessarily rival dukes or counts, they could still hold significant power.

The Grace family was one such barony, directly granted by the emperor.

Naturally, they were staunch supporters of the emperor in the ongoing power struggle between the imperial and noble factions.

This dynamic would shift over the course of the game, but that was something for much later in the story. Right now, it wasn’t worth worrying about.

For now, all that mattered was that the Grace family’s estate was just beyond this fence. It was massive for a private mansion but small for a noble’s territory.

“...”

Now, how do I get inside?

There were no guards at the gate, but the gate was locked.

Of course, it made sense. Even if they didn’t have guards, they couldn’t just leave their gates open to anyone.

Still, I had an idea.

The Grace couple were known for being soft-hearted. In the game, players often joked about them being pushovers who couldn’t refuse helping someone in need.

If we could catch their attention when they came out, they’d likely take us in or, at the very least, hand us over to a reputable orphanage.

The problem was, the estate was right in the middle of the capital.

If we stood out here too long, we’d definitely get caught by the guards.

“...”

I sighed, considering whether I’d have to use my ability again. The kids around me looked up at me, puzzled.

Well, it was almost over now.

The key was to stay out of the guards’ sight and avoid being reported by the locals.

We didn’t need to crawl through alleys. As long as we didn’t attract attention, we’d be fine.

“They’re coming out.”

I muttered as I saw the baron and baroness step outside.

I stood at the back of our group. It was easier to keep track of the children that way, ensuring no one got left behind.

“Let’s go. All we have to do is get to them. Then it’s really over.”

“Really? It’s okay?”

Claire, still unsure, looked at the baron and baroness—two people who clearly looked wealthy and well-off. I nodded.

I remembered their faces. Even though they were 2D illustrations in the game, their features were unmistakable.

The baron’s vibrant blue hair and neatly groomed sideburns were impossible to miss. He looked more like a man on the cusp of leaving his youth than a middle-aged noble. His wife, standing beside him, had the same blue hair, styled in elegant waves, and flawless skin.

As they stepped outside, arm in arm, I urged the children forward.

“Come on, let’s go. It’s really over once we get there.”

The couple had no guards.

They didn’t need any. They could easily slice a carriage in half with their swords if needed. There was no risk in approaching them.

That’s why they didn’t bother with guards at their estate.

I pushed the children forward. At first, they hesitated, but after hearing my words, they moved toward the couple. After all, we had gotten this far thanks to me, and half a day’s worth of trust had formed.

My stomach growled. We hadn’t eaten breakfast. The children were likely just as hungry.

Just as I let my guard down, I felt something clamp over my mouth. I was too shocked to scream.

The children kept walking toward the baron and baroness, unaware. But I wasn’t moving. My feet had left the ground.

Someone was holding me from behind.

What? Was this some creep from an alley? Cold sweat ran down my back as I considered my appearance. This body was quite attractive, and it wasn’t impossible that some pervert had targeted me.

I started to rewind—

“Wait, wait. Calm down. I’m not going to hurt you.”

The voice that spoke was young, maybe a teenager whose voice had just settled after puberty.

...I knew this voice.

As I stopped struggling, the hand over my mouth loosened. It wasn’t completely removed, but it wasn’t as tight anymore.

“You’re smart. The Grace family will take those kids in. They’ve been talking about expanding their orphanage anyway.”

I watched as the children reached the baron and baroness. The couple turned around, noticing the kids approaching them.

“Oh no, we’ll get caught if we stay here.”

My vision spun as the boy picked me up and darted away from the scene.

...Well.

It seemed I wouldn’t be going to the orphanage after all. If this guy had been following us the whole time, no matter how many times I rewound, I wouldn’t have been able to escape.

But still...

The children had made it. They would be safe now, growing up in a proper environment.

Claire, too. She wouldn’t have to endure the tragic past she had in the original story.

As for me, I would probably be safe with this guy. He wasn’t a crazed murderer kidnapping orphans to kill them.

...It was a shame, though. I wouldn’t get to see how Claire grew up.