An Extra’s Rise in an Eroge

The next morning, Arthur woke up and, after freshening up, stepped outside his room, only to find the palace teeming with paladins from the Church of Light. Their sheer number was unsettling—dozens lined the hallways, fully armored and vigilant.

Curiosity piqued, he began to investigate, catching whispers that a special figure from the Church had arrived, and the paladins were part of her protective entourage.

Determined to find out more, Arthur made his way toward his father's office. As he approached, two imposing paladins stood guard at the door, their armor more elaborate than those he'd encountered in the halls. One of them stepped forward, blocking Arthur's path.

"You're not permitted to enter right now," the paladin declared, his tone firm but respectful.

Before Arthur could respond, a palace knight, recognizing him, interjected, "That's the lord's son. He has every right to enter."

The paladin held his ground. "Apologies, but the person inside is of great importance. I cannot allow entry at this time."

Suddenly, an immense pressure filled the room, forcing the paladin to his knees. A deep, resonant voice echoed from the office. "Do you truly believe the heir of Ludwig is worthless in the face of the Church? Your assistance was requested for efficiency, not out of helplessness. Know your place—you are not in your Church; this is the Ludwig mansion."

The anger in Lucious's voice was palpable. He had sensed his son's arrival, but seeing him obstructed by a paladin in his own home ignited his fury. No paladin dared to stop him again as Arthur strode into the office, head held high.

Inside, he was met with unfamiliar faces seated around the room, the tension from the recent exchange lingering in their awkward expressions. A man in golden armor stood to his left, exuding an aura of strength and authority. Beside him, a striking woman in silver armor surveyed the room with a watchful gaze. But what truly captured Arthur's attention was the girl seated across from his father.

She looked about his age, her luminous white hair framing delicate features, and her piercing blue eyes seemed almost otherworldly. She wore an elegant floor-length gown in soft pastels, with a semi-sheer hooded cloak that draped over her shoulders, fastened with a delicate brooch. A light blue sash encircled her waist, complementing the ethereal grace of her attire.

A simple, silver circlet with a single gemstone adorned her head, giving her an air of quiet authority.

Arthur instantly recognized her as she was one of the game's female lead characters. Suddenly, everything clicked—the presence of so many paladins as escorts made sense. She was the second highest authority in the Church of the Light Goddess, Seraphine. After the Pope, she was the most important figure in the Church: the Saintess of Light church, Alicia Vale.

Before he could dwell on it further, Lucious's voice pulled him back to reality. "Arthur," his father said, gesturing to the new arrivals, "this is my son and heir, Arthur Ludwig."

Arthur nodded respectfully.

Turning to him, Lucious continued, "Arthur, these are our esteemed visitors from the Church. This is Alicia Vale, the newly ascended Saintess of Light. Since the Pope could not attend, she has come in his stead. She's about your age, so I expect you'll get along well. Beside her is her personal knight, Althea Hart, and Captain Gideon Valor of the Holy Knights.

They are here both to assist with our investigation."

Arthur's gaze returned to Alicia, who met his eyes with a warm, genuine smile.

"Hello, Arthur. It's a pleasure to meet you, and a happy birthday to you as well," she greeted her voice as sweet and soothing as her expression.

Momentarily caught off guard, Arthur managed a reply. "Ah, yes, it's a pleasure to meet you too. And thank you."

[Look who's getting flustered here,] Sol's voice teased in his mind.

'Not now,' Arthur thought back.

[Come on, you can't ignore the opportunity,] Sol egged on. [I'll even throw in a reward—500,000 EP if you bed her over.]

'Shut up. It's my first time meeting her, and you're already suggesting I bed her?'

[I'm not telling you to do it now. Just add it to your to-do list, if you know what I mean.] Sol chuckled.

Arthur's thoughts returned to the room as the knight captain, Gideon, cleared his throat, interjecting. "Now that introductions are made, should we proceed with the investigation?"n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Lucious gave a slight nod. "Feel free to begin. I will need to oversee my son's awakening to ensure all goes smoothly. If you need anything, Adam will assist you," he added, gesturing to his eldest son.

Adam stepped forward and addressed the Church representatives, "Please follow me. I will guide you to the hall where the servants and staff are gathered."

As the group began to file out, Alicia paused by Arthur. "I'll pray to the goddess Seraphine, that your awakening goes well and that you gain powerful skills," she said softly before following the others out.

Arthur watched her go, caught off guard by her kindness, only to hear his father's soft chuckle.

"You'll have plenty of time to get acquainted in the academy, Arthur," Lucious said, a teasing glint in his eyes. "She'll be joining the academy as well this year. For now, let's stay focused."

"It's not like that, Father," Arthur protested.

Lucious smirked. "Don't deny it. I was once your age, too. A girl as beautiful as her would turn any young man's head. But you can think about that later. Right now, follow me to the ancestral hall."

Arthur, cheeks tinged with embarrassment, quickly nodded and fell in step behind his father.

Arthur followed Lucious down the silent palace corridor. With all the knights and servants gathered for investigation, the palace felt deserted, the silence thick and heavy, and Arthur's footsteps seemed to echo as they made their way toward the innermost chamber.

After some time, they reached a pair of towering doors adorned with intricate carvings of the Ludwig crest.