The chaos settled faster than anyone expected.
Apparently, rockslides weren't uncommon in this mountainous region, and the train company had safety protocols in place for just such disasters.
No fatalities. No serious injuries. Just a lot of screaming and bruised egos. The fact that the train had practically flipped over and still no one died was… impressive, in a terrifying sort of way.
Of course, my luck had to pick the worst compartment, the one that took the brunt of the boulder. Adrian still shivered at the memory. Almost gone, just like that.
After the incident, the students were moved to a safer mode of transport and whisked off to the academy's medical facilities—top-tier care, as expected.
Which, conveniently, gave me some quiet time to assess my own situation.
[Grants rewards when earning the favor of morally ambiguous or villainous individuals.]
I stared at the description blinking at the bottom of the window, my brain processing it like it had just been short-circuited.
Ah… that explains a lot.
No wonder my Special Gift had refused to awaken earlier. In the middle of Baron Merrick's remote territory, there were hardly any morally gray or outright villainous figures around. Without the proper conditions, the gift simply wouldn't activate.
Sighing, I turned my attention to the skills panel.
< Skill Information >
[Skill: Last Resort] [Category: ???]
[Temporarily boosts all stats when facing life-threatening danger. The lower your chance of survival, the stronger the effect.]
[Skill: Irresistible Allure] [Category: ???]
[Individuals with morally questionable tendencies are more likely to be drawn to you. The more extreme their disposition, the stronger the effect.]
Last Resort… sounded like a decent survival skill. The "life-threatening danger" condition was vague, but any ability that could crank my stats in a pinch seemed promising.
Irresistible Allure…
"Uh… wait. Really?"
Could I even handle this one? I had no clue how "attracting" morally dubious people was supposed to work, especially in a world crawling with dangerous characters:
A maniacal fighter who thrived on chaos.
A swordsman who'd cut down anyone within three steps without hesitation.
A cold-blooded underlord who killed for money with a smile.
A genius mage who treated everyone else like worthless insects.
My temples throbbed as images of these hazards flickered through my mind one by one.
Great… what am I supposed to do with this?
Then a small, reluctant part of me spoke up: …At least it's something.
I exhaled and closed the skill window, feeling slightly better… but not by much.
Getting a skill that actually helped with survival felt like a small miracle.
After all, ever since arriving here, my main goal had been simple: stay alive.
Being a "faithful extra" meant exactly that—doing what I needed to do to survive in a world where danger lurked around every corner. There was no reason to refuse a tool that might save my life.
Still… something felt off.
The skill class was listed as ???. What was that even supposed to mean? Normally, everything had a rating—F to EX—but this? This was completely new to me.
I blinked, lost in thought, when a sharp voice cut through my haze.
"Why are you staring blankly like that? Do you need another psych evaluation?"
"No, I'm fine," I muttered, though the doctor's suspicious gaze didn't waver.
"All your vitals are normal, but…"
"Then what's the problem? No one got seriously hurt, right?"
The doctor exhaled. "Technically, yes. No casualties… but accidents like this are rarely simple."
I frowned. "What do you mean?"
"I heard you were traveling with Princess Caldwell," the doctor said, leaning in slightly.
"…And?"
"And you're from a minor baronial family with no notable influence, correct?"
"What are you implying?"
"I'm just offering some advice," the doctor continued, a bitter smile tugging at their lips. "I'm a graduate of Caldwell Academy myself, also from a nameless noble family like yours."
I raised an eyebrow.
"Do you really think it's a coincidence that your compartment was the one hit?"
"…"
"Duke Caldwell has… complications," the doctor continued. "Before, it didn't matter, since you were just along for the ride. But from now on, it would be wise to keep your distance. If you tie yourself to high-ranking nobles, you might be the only one left bleeding when the chaos starts."
I didn't need them to say it. I already knew.
In an academy crawling with schemers, assassins, and the kind of people who could ruin you without blinking, someone like Duke Caldwell's daughter wouldn't earn a 'final boss candidate' title for nothing. Simply existing near her was a death sentence waiting to happen.
If this was going to be a problem…
< Gift-Linked Character Notification >
▼ Lirielle
[Trust Level: 1]
[Countdown to Next Event: D-2]
…Whether I like it or not, I was already tangled up with her.
F_ck.