An Extra’s Rise in an Eroge

I watched the backs of the disappearing people with a satisfied expression, my heart lighter than it had been in a while. Then, the little girl in my arms stirred, letting out a soft moan as her eyes fluttered open.

"Are you coming to your senses?" I asked gently.

"…Whe-Where am I?"

The little girl blinked in confusion, her gaze darting around before settling on me. For a moment, she remained silent, but then her eyes filled with tears, and she began to sob.

"Oh, brother… did you save me?"

I didn't respond immediately, just watching her quietly.

"I-I haven't even paid off the gold coins yet…"

I sighed, brushing off her concern. "I told you, you don't have to pay me back."n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

"B-But…"

"…Well then, I'll be off," I said, gently setting her down at the entrance of the tavern.

I turned to leave, my thoughts drifting to Alicia, who must still be waiting for me. But just as I was about to take my first step…

"…Brother."

"Huh?"

The girl's small hand tugged at my robe, stopping me in my tracks. Her innocent eyes stared up at me, filled with curiosity.

"Who are you, brother?"

"Me?"

Her question gave me pause. I hadn't considered this before. What was my role in this world?

After a moment of contemplation, I answered quietly, "A nobody."

"…Huh?"

The girl tilted her head, her expression a mix of confusion and disbelief.

"…Nobody?"

I gave her a faint smile and gently stroked her head. "Yeah, just a nobody. Now go back to your family. They must be waiting for you."

But before departing I decided to take a look on the status window of the girl who was the protagonist of a scenario quest.

I used [Observer's Gaze] on her and her status window popped up.

[Stats]

Name: Glare

Race: Human

Status: Unawakened

Strength: 1

Mana: ???

Intelligence: 5

Mental Strength: 6

Potential: SS

Trait: Hidden

Disposition: Pure

I frowned as I examined the unusual display. Something about her stats caught my attention.

'Hey Sol, why is her trait hidden? I've never seen that before.'

[Her trait is hidden because it hasn't been triggered yet. Very few are born with hidden potential, and it requires specific conditions to awaken. Those who do manage to trigger it often gain incredibly powerful abilities. However, most people with a hidden trait never awaken it in their lifetime.]

'So, you're saying this girl has a chance to awaken a powerful trait in the future?'

[Possibly. But it's a gamble—no one can predict the trigger. Over 90% of those with hidden traits fail to awaken them. It's like chasing a fleeting dream.]

I hummed thoughtfully, my gaze flickering back to the little girl. 'Even without the hidden trait, her SS-level potential means she's bound to become a remarkable figure someday. According to the original timeline, though, she would have died in the sacrifice along with the other children, so there was no mention of her.'

"…Um, did you say something, brother?" The girl's voice brought me back to reality.

"Ah! No, I was just talking to myself," I replied with a faint smile.

Before I could say more, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out, glancing at the caller ID: [Alicia].

"Shit… I totally forgot about her," I muttered under my breath.

I sighed, slipping the phone back into my pocket and turning to the girl. "It seems I have to go back."

"Okay… Goodbye, brother. When I grow up, I'll definitely find you and repay my debt," she said earnestly, her small fists clenched in determination.

I chuckled, ruffling her hair. "Ha~ha! Sure."

With that, I turned and started heading back to the auction house, my mind already racing with thoughts of how to explain my delay to Alicia.

As I scanned the auction house for Alicia, I couldn't help but smirk inwardly. The irony of it all was too amusing.

'Who would have thought, the snarky nobles, always preaching about their principles, would be crammed into an illegal auction house like rats in a cellar,' I mused.

The room was filled with whispers and muffled conversations, the dim lighting barely masking the tension and greed in the air.

It didn't take me long to spot Alicia sitting toward the back, her eyes darting nervously around the room, clearly searching for me. Without wasting another second, I made my way toward her.

Sliding into the seat beside her, I greeted her with a relaxed smile.

"Arthur, what took you so long?" she asked, her voice tinged with both relief and annoyance.

"Well… something unexpected came up, and it took a bit longer to resolve," I replied vaguely.

Her eyes narrowed slightly as if she were gauging the truth of my words. "Did it go well, at least?"

"Smooth!" I said, leaning back in my chair and mimicking a relaxed posture.

Alicia raised a skeptical brow but didn't press further. "So, did you miss anything?"

"Nothing important," she said, brushing off the question. "Just some antics from the small-timers."

I chuckled. "Well, they're clearing out the trash at the start. The main course always comes at the end."

"Exactly," she agreed with a smirk.

As the auction droned on, I decided to scan the room, my gaze sweeping over the seated crowd. While the auctioneer's voice echoed in the background, my mind wandered—until I froze in place, startled by an unexpected sight.

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My eyes locked on a boy sitting in the third row.

'What the fuck is he doing here?' I muttered under my breath.

Even though he wore a mask, I recognized it instantly. It was the same mask Alex used in the game. There was no mistaking it.

But why was he here? This didn't make sense.

Alex wasn't supposed to be anywhere near this place, not at this time. Was this the butterfly effect caused by my interference? Or did he somehow know something? Could he possibly be here for the same thing I was, or was this just a bizarre coincidence?

A whirlwind of questions spun through my mind, each more troubling than the last. Before I could dwell too deeply, an excited tug on my sleeve snapped me out of my stupor.

"Arthur, look! They're bringing familiars!" Alicia said, her eyes gleaming with excitement.

I glanced at the stage, and sure enough, the auctioneer was presenting a caged wolf cub.

"Look at this fine beast! It's a night wolf cub, a C-Rank beast," the auctioneer declared, his voice oozing with enthusiasm. "As you all know, night wolves are famed for their unwavering loyalty to their owners and their strength in combat. It can be your perfect companion!"

"It's so cute, Arthur! Why don't we buy it?" Alicia urged, her eyes practically sparkling.

"Calm down," I replied with a slight chuckle. "It's just a C-Rank beast. The auction's only starting. Better ones will come later."

Beast after beast paraded onto the stage. There were gale eagles, three-tailed wolves, dust kittens, rock turtles, and more. But none of them piqued my interest.

That was until they brought out a Shadowmane Lion—a sleek, nocturnal predator with a black, misty mane that cloaked its form in an eerie shroud of invisibility.

I leaned forward slightly. This one was different.

The Shadowmane Lion was no ordinary beast; it was a rare gem. Its potential was far beyond anything else presented so far.

But as the bidding war spiraled out of control, the price soared past what I was willing to pay.

"Tch," I clicked my tongue, abandoning the bid. As much as I admired the lion, it wasn't worth emptying my purse over.

"Are you sure, Arthur?" Alicia asked, noticing my hesitation.

"Yeah, it's not worth that much. Let the fools burn their money," I replied, leaning back in my chair.

The auction was dragging on, and I was starting to think finding a suitable familiar for Alicia was a lost cause. That's when the next beast was brought onto the stage—a small kitten. Its fur was darker than midnight, and its glowing violet eyes immediately drew attention.

"The next familiar is a D-rank beast, a Shadow Kitten," the auctioneer announced. "It's adorable, harmless, and elegant. A perfect companion for noble ladies who appreciate class and refinement. The starting price is just 10 gold coins."

"Please place your bids!" she declared with a confident smile.

The bidding began with enthusiasm, mostly from noblewomen excited at the prospect of owning such a rare and decorative pet. As the price climbed past 100 gold, fewer voices joined in. By the time it reached 500 gold, only a handful of wealthy nobles remained in the game.

Then, in a bold move, someone doubled the bid from 500 to 1,000 gold coins. The room fell silent, and all eyes turned to the bidder.

I followed their gazes and immediately recognized her—Akira Frost, one of the main heroines. She sat with her usual cold demeanor, her sharp eyes fixed on the kitten. Even though we were classmates, we'd never spoken before, and her presence here caught me off guard.

'Was she supposed to be here?' I thought.

But I quickly decided to let things play out.

"Is there anyone else who would like to bid?" the auctioneer asked, scanning the room.

When no one responded, she raised her hammer to finalize the sale.

"5,000 gold coins," I said, raising my sign.

A wave of murmurs swept through the crowd, and every head turned toward me.

Akira's gaze shifted to me briefly before she turned back to the stage, her expression indifferent.

"10,000," she said without hesitation.

"20,000," I countered, my voice steady.

"30,000," she replied, her tone as calm as ever.

"40,000," I said, meeting her bid without a second thought.

The room grew tense as everyone waited for Akira's response. But this time, there was none. She remained silent, her face unreadable.

Well 40,000 Gold is not a small amount.

Beside me, Alicia tugged at my sleeve, her voice a mix of disbelief and annoyance.

"Are you out of your mind?! What the hell are you doing? You wouldn't pay 30,000 gold for that Shadowmane Lion, but now you're throwing 40,000 at a D-rank cat?!"

Ignoring her completely, I raised my sign again.

"50,000 gold."

The auctioneer blinked in surprise. "Sir, you're already the highest bidder."

"I know," I said with a shrug. "Just making sure."

A stunned silence filled the room, broken only by the sound of the auctioneer's hammer.

"This Shadow Kitten belongs to guest number 23!"

As the murmurs of the crowd subsided, the auction resumed.

Alicia leaned closer, whispering furiously, "You better have a damn good reason for this."

I smirked but said nothing, my eyes still on the stage. This was no ordinary kitten.