The system windows that had urged Hezen to kill me and this chatty one in front of me seemed to be different entities with their own personalities.

“Hmm…”

I squinted slightly as I stared at the system window.

“But why do you think I’m the player?”

[Isn’t it obvious to call the player a player (｡・ω・｡)??? With such strong aura from another dimension, pretending doesn’t change that you’re a player (˘̀^˘́҂)]

Aura from another dimension? It almost sounded like it knew I had possessed this body from another world.

[I may be new, but I have a knack for sensing auras! (˘̀^˘́҂҂҂)]

‘You look quite pleased with yourself.’

I pondered over the message of the system window as I turned to look outside the carriage window.

[I just wish you’d start the scenario already (◞ ‸ ◟ㆀ)]

As a droopy emoticon appeared, I was about to show my boredom when it continued.

[Otherwise, the system administrator might even put you in danger. The administrator here is notoriously bad-tempered.]

I paused, surprised.

‘It sounds like it’s actually worried about me.’

Unaccustomed to such concern, I felt a softening in my heart.

“Well, the moment they used the Saint of Taal Kingdom for that strange oracle, it was already dangerous. And nothing’s more dangerous than progressing the scenario.”

I coughed and replied brusquely.

The system window quieted down.

Soon, the carriage arrived at the city square. Being an unofficial outing, I wore the to avoid drawing attention.

Hezen used this item against the . It not only concealed my presence from monsters but also made it faintly perceptible to ordinary people. Unless someone knew me directly, they wouldn’t immediately recognize me as Luibel Ajestar.

[SYSTEM] You enter a stealth state.

However, despite my efforts with the item, I was soon detected by someone.
Even though there were no voices calling out or hands reaching for me, I knew I had been detected. Because…

[SYSTEM] ‘s favorability has dropped by -10. (Favorability: 140)

The system window that appeared in front of me precisely indicated that I had been accurately spotted.

“Lady Luibel Ajestar, the Third Princess.”

He called out to me with a somewhat stiff and rigid voice.

“Hello, Sir Klaus. Meeting again in such a place.”

[SYSTEM] ‘s favorability has dropped by 10. (Favorability: 150)

His favorability dropped again the moment our eyes met. It was, indeed, a neatly and pretty number to see.

“I believe it’s improper for a direct royal family member to be out alone.”

“I’m fine. As you know, I recently became a…”

[SYSTEM] ‘s favorability has dropped by 30. (Favorability: 180)

“I will escort you.”

“……”

I was about to persuade Klaus like I did with the maids, but seeing his favorability drop so sharply, I decided against it.

‘At this rate, his favorability might plunge into the core.’

It wasn’t like I was seeking Klaus’s favorability.

But if it became too low, it could be dangerous, as I might face penalties.

Just like how I felt murderous intent towards Hezen when my favorability hit 999, I couldn’t guarantee Klaus wouldn’t feel the same.

“Then, I’ll entrust you with the escort, Sir Klaus.”

[SYSTEM] ‘s favorability has dropped by 10. (Favorability: 190)

“…….”

Why did his favorability drop even when I complied? There was so much I wanted to say, but I held it in.

Finding the Dark Guild Merchant was my priority.

My reason for being here today was to seek clues about the system administrator.

‘The one who handed Hezen the hornpipe must be the system administrator.’

However, I couldn’t find the hornpipe in regular shops or even in player-exclusive shops.

So, hoping against hope, I had set out to find the Dark Guild Merchant.

‘Perhaps, where the hornpipe can be exchanged, there might be clues related to it?’

I had never visited the Dark Guild Merchant before, but finding its location wasn’t difficult.

I just needed to use the mini-map, a feature in the interface.

The mini-map, shaped like a small map, displayed locations helpful for the player’s progress.

However, to activate the mini-map, you had to have visited the location at least once.

‘I’m benefiting from Hezen’s actions.’

Thanks to Hezen’s wandering around courting female characters instead of progressing the story, the mini-map displayed every secret corner of the capital.

“Wait outside.”

I stopped at the entrance of the Dark Guild Merchant and instructed Klaus.

“It’s dangerous. I will accompany you.”

“This is overstepping, Sir Klaus.”

“……Understood.”

When I insisted on entering alone, Klaus replied with a displeased face.

Even as he politely responded, his favorability had been plummeting, so I worried about how much it would drop this time.

But…

[SYSTEM] ‘s favorability has increased by +10. (Favorability: 180)

‘Huh?’

Just like his sister Silvia, who expressed her feelings inversely, Klaus seemed to be just the same.