Chapter 4: The Silent Assistant
The "First Wave" had ended as abruptly as it began, but the peace was a lie. Above the "Blueline Subway" entrance, a massive, blood-red holographic timer pulsed: [TIME UNTIL RAMPAGE: 71:40:12]. The monsters hadn't vanished; they had retreated to the Dungeons to recharge. If the Boss wasn't killed before that clock hit zero, the city would face a total massacre.
Pillow stood at the edge of the crowd, clutching a worn-out backpack. He didn't want revenge against the monsters—they were just a force of nature. Instead, he felt a cold, sharp determination. His father had disowned him for "wasting his life" on manga and biology, but when the first wave hit, his parents hadn't survived. He was going to prove that his knowledge wasn't a waste; it was the only thing that mattered now.
"Hey, kid! You looking for work?"
Pillow looked up. A mid-tier party of Awakened—people with actual combat classes—was recruiting. Their leader, a Tier-1 Warrior named Boros, looked at Pillow's thin frame and tattered hoodie with a sneer.
"We need a Porter," Boros said. "Someone to carry the loot and potions so we don't slow down. You don't get a share of the Essence, just a flat fee. You in?"
"I'll do it," Pillow said, lowering his head to hide the cold glint in his eyes.
This was the perfect trope: the Hidden Expert. By faking his role as a lowly assistant, he could enter the dungeon without any Guild or Government official registering his true Power level.
As they stepped through the violet portal, the world shifted into a hive-like labyrinth. The "Heroes" of the Steel Vanguard charged ahead, shouting and using flashy, mana-wasting skills on the Soldier Ants. Pillow trailed ten paces behind, acting like he was struggling with the bags.
But behind his [Scanner Monocle]—purchased for 200 Gold from the newly unlocked System Shop—he was seeing a different world.
[Loot Processed from Secret Kill: 450 Gold Credits] [Current Balance: 450 Gold ($4,500.00)]
While the party fought loud battles in the main halls, Pillow used his knowledge of insect biology to slip into side tunnels. He killed three stragglers in silence, siphoning their essence and gold. He was leveling up twice as fast as the "Heroes" because he was soloing his kills while they shared theirs.
As they reached the final gate before the Boss, Boros turned around, panting and bruised. He looked at Pillow, who was standing perfectly still, not a drop of sweat on him.
"Wait... how are you still unscratched?" Boros asked, suspicion finally rising. "Even my Shield-Bearer is bleeding."
Pillow realized his "Low Profile" was at risk. He pulled a glowing purple scroll from his pocket—an item that cost him most of his secret earnings.
"Before we fight the Queen," Pillow said, his voice dropping the "dropout" act and turning cold. "You're going to sign this Contract of the Forgotten."
"A contract? You're a damn porter!" Boros stepped forward, but the air around Pillow suddenly distorted. The pressure of Pillow's hidden stats hit the room like a physical weight, forcing the Awakened to their knees.
"Sign it," Pillow commanded. "The contract ensures that once we leave, you will remember the 'Clear,' but you will forget my face, my name, and my existence. You get the fame and the credit. I get the silence. If you refuse... I'll let the Queen finish what's left of you."
Terrified by the power of the "Assistant" they had been mocking, the party signed.
[Contract Validated: Memory Wipe Initialized upon Exit]
"Good," Pillow said, his mask hiding his smirk as he looked at the $4,500 in his account. "Now stay back. I'm going to show you how a Trope Sovereign clears a prison."
Does this version perfectly capture the "Assistant" disguise and the "Contract" for you?
If so, would you like to move on to the Boss Battle where Pillow uses his Scanner to find a "glitch" in the Queen's attack pattern?
To be continued.....