The reflection in the puddle outside the manhole was unrecognizable. My vibrant, "villainess-red" hair had shifted to a soft, unassuming honey-blonde. My sharp, haughty eyes were now a wide, innocent forest green.
> [Status: Disguise Active]
> [Identity: 'Lina' (Wandering Scholar)]
> [Detection Risk: 5% (Only high-level Saints can see through the glitch)]
>
"Perfect," I whispered. "Now, where is the prompt for that shop?"
I had the gold, but the local merchants only sold basic potions and iron swords. To truly break this world, I needed the [Glitch Shop]. I tapped the flickering static at the edge of my vision.
> [Unlocking 'Glitch Shop'... Requirement: Break 3 Scripted Events.]
> * Avoid Execution (Complete)
> * Steal a Plot-Essential Item (Complete)
> * Confuse a Main Character (Complete)
> [Shop Unlocked!]
>
A list of items appeared that would make any developer cry.
[The Glitch Shop - Inventory]
* [No-Clip Boots (Rental - 1 hour)]: 50,000 Gold.
* [Lag-Switch Potion]: 10,000 Gold. (Briefly freezes all NPCs in a 50m radius).
* [Dialogue Skipper]: 5,000 Gold. (Instantly end any conversation without consequences).
* [Developer's Magnifying Glass]: 100,000 Gold. (See the hidden 'Code' and 'Weaknesses' of any object or person).
"A hundred thousand for the Magnifying Glass?" I winced. "That's half my liquid cash. But knowledge is power."
Click.
> [Purchased: Developer's Magnifying Glass]
> [Balance: 115,000 Gold]
>
I felt a slight weight in my pocket—a monocle that shimmered with binary code. I put it on and looked at a nearby carriage.
Instead of a "Wooden Carriage," I saw:
[Object_ID: Transport_01 | Durability: 100/100 | Script: Move_To_Market | Bug: Left wheel axle will break in 5 minutes.]
"Handy," I muttered.
I headed toward the Golden Griffin Inn, the highest-rated establishment in the Commoners' District. It was the perfect place to hide in plain sight. However, as I approached the door, the Magnifying Glass started flashing red.
[WARNING: High-Level Entity approaching!]
[NPC_ID: Kaelen_the_Stoic | Level: 52 | Status: Searching_for_Thief]
"Kaelen?" My heart skipped. He was the Second Male Lead—the Commander of the Royal Guard and Alaric's best friend. He was famous for being a "Human Lie Detector."
I couldn't run; that would look suspicious. I walked into the inn just as a man in heavy silver armor stepped out. We collided at the door.
"Watch your step," a deep, rumbling voice said.
I looked up. Kaelen was massive, with scarred skin and eyes like cold steel. He didn't have Alaric's flashiness, but he had ten times the presence.
I used the Magnifying Glass on him.
[Name: Kaelen van Hunt]
[Affection: 0 (Neutral)]
[Hidden Variable: Is currently wearing 'The Ring of Truth'. All lies told to him will cause a red glow.]
Shit, I thought. If I say I'm Lina and the ring glows, I'm dead.
"My apologies, Sir Knight," I said, pitching my voice higher. "I was distracted by my notes."
"You are a scholar?" Kaelen's eyes narrowed. He looked at me with an intensity that felt like he was peeling back my skin. "The capital is under lockdown. A dangerous criminal is on the loose. Why are you checking into an inn now?"
The Ring of Truth on his finger began to hum.
I looked at my Glitch Shop menu. I had one more trick.
> [Skill Activated: 'Dialogue Skipper']
>
Suddenly, a "Skip" button appeared in the air between us. I smashed it with my fist.
To Kaelen, it looked like I opened my mouth to speak, but before a sound could come out, his brain simply... jumped forward.
Blink.
Kaelen blinked, looking confused. He was suddenly standing five feet away from me, near his horse. He felt like the conversation had already happened and ended naturally.
"Right... well, see that you stay indoors, Scholar Lina," Kaelen said, rubbing his temple as if he had a sudden headache. "The streets aren't safe tonight."
He mounted his horse and rode off, looking utterly bewildered.
> [System Message: You have 'Skipped' a scripted confrontation!]
> [Kaelen's Status: Confused (Level 2)]
> [Affection: 0 → 5 (He finds your 'short' conversation refreshing)]
>
I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. "Five thousand gold well spent."
I walked into the inn and tossed a gold coin to the innkeeper. "A room. The one with the sturdiest lock and the biggest window."
As I climbed the stairs, the System chimed again.
> [NEW QUEST: The Heroine's Arrival]
> The 'Original Protagonist,' Saintess Aria, has entered the Capital.
> Location: The Cathedral.
> Current Event: Aria is 'Prophesied' to find the Stolen Ring.
>
I sat on the bed and pulled out the Prince's ring. It was pulsing with a faint, rhythmic light.
"She's coming for her plot device," I whispered, turning the monocle toward the ring. "But I think it's time I edited the Saintess's script, too."