—
[Name: Alice]
[Gender: Female]
[Age: 15]
[Rank: Strength (D), Speed (B), Intelligence (C), Dexterity (B), Magic (D), Charisma (F)]
[Detailed Characteristics]
! Locked state
! Locked state
! Locked state
! Locked state
! Locked state
—
‘Detailed characteristics are unlocked as understanding of Alice increases.
“..A status window, really.”
With a stingy, cold gaze, she looked at the words written on the scroll.
When exactly is this status window from?
I couldn’t help but sigh at the cliché setting.
Well, what can you expect from a writer who gave such a crappy ending.
If he had a proper writer’s spirit, he wouldn’t have ended it like that.
Moreover, the written content was quite lacking.
There were only basic personal details like name.
It’s written that the details are unlocked as understanding of Alice increases, but hmm…
Would that writer have really put useful information here?
“The only somewhat useful thing is the ranks.”
Even that isn’t really worth much.
I don’t know the exact figures yet, but except for dexterity and speed, everything seemed either average or below average.
It seemed like I just got stuck in an ordinary girl.
“My name is Alice.”
There’s probably no need to change it.
It’s a familiar name I’ve heard somewhere before.
While inwardly cursing the writer in this pointless situation, I stumbled upon a small inscription at the bottom of the scroll.
—
[A gift for the reader.]
‘This scroll contains an infinitely vast pocket dimension.
*Using the incantation ‘Open Sesame,’ you can open the scroll’s pocket dimension, and any items previously stored can be instantly summoned by recalling them in your mind.
*Using the incantation ‘Close Sesame,’ you can close the scroll’s pocket dimension, disguising it as an ordinary scroll.
*The length can be freely adjusted.
*No living beings can be placed inside the scroll.
—
“Oh?”
I widened one eye in surprise at the unexpected statement.
In other words, it’s an inventory with no limits.
This could be quite useful.
Honestly, it might not be immediately necessary for me right now…
But inventory is an essential item in any game. There will surely come a day when it’ll be useful to me.
I closed the scroll again and looked around.
“..Is this the end?”
No matter how much I looked around, there didn’t seem to be anything special left.
It doesn’t matter. I didn’t really expect much from that jerk anyway.
Honestly, I thought he would just abandon me here, but it seems he had at least some conscience.
I let out a short sigh and put the scroll into my pocket.
From now on, I need to think deeply.
What exactly do I need to do?
In reality, it’s quite simple.
‘Finding a way to make a lot of money.’
That’s the sole purpose of my life.
I haven’t given up on my dream of opening my own café.
Even if it’s in another world.
Of course, the best scenario would be to see the ending the writer mentioned and return to my original world…
But I’m not sure.
The so-called conclusion the writer mentioned actually progresses just by staying still.
It’s not like the protagonist dies in the final ending; it’s just that the Northern Duchess becomes the second final boss and it ends.
Perhaps that grotesque Northern Duchess is more likely to collapse someday under the alliance of the protagonist who has grown again and the male leads who love her.
In fact, if I had interfered with the story progression by doing unnecessary things, it might have delayed the ending even more.
I’ll just make money and open a café and watch the story progress on its own.
Maybe if I were born with a silver spoon, I wouldn’t understand, but for ordinary people like me, opening a building and starting a business isn’t something easily experienced.
But the current situation is different.
Experiencing self-employment in this place will surely help with café business when I return to reality.
However, acquiring a building isn’t so easy.
Especially in this world without concepts like loans, it’s even more difficult.
In the end, all I needed was more funds.
“…Should I embark on an adventure?”
If I’m lucky enough to acquire a rare item, I could earn a significant amount of money.
And if this place was like the world in the novel I was reading before possessing it…
Just by picking up the scattered beans besides the protagonist, I felt like I could build at least one building.
Ding-dong-
“Eek?!”
Instinctively, a high-pitched voice escaped my lips at the sound coming from the door.
And before long, the carriage door opened, revealing a man with a bushy beard.
“We’ve arrived. Please step out.”
…So the coachman was up front.
Well, it would have been stranger if he wasn’t, considering it’s a moving carriage.
Come to think of it, I haven’t felt the carriage jolting for a while.
Perhaps we’ve finally reached our destination.
I cautiously stepped out of the carriage and glanced around.
“…Where is this?”
The unexpected sight left my eyes wide open.
The surroundings were completely covered in soft white snow, indicating it was winter.
Through the snowy landscape, my eyes caught sight of a black iron gate.
Inside that gate stood what seemed like a huge mansion, so grand it could be mistaken for a castle.
“So… cold…!”
A sudden sharp gust of wind brushed against my skin, making my body tremble.
“Well then, I’ll take my leave.”
While I struggled to withstand the biting cold, the man, presumably the coachman, placed my luggage in my hands and promptly returned to the carriage without a word of response to my call.
“Wai… wait!”
Despite calling out to him amidst the cold, the coachman showed no response and simply rode the carriage back the way we came.
Sniif
Left suddenly in the middle of the snow-covered field where the sharp wind blew, I sniffled and sat down, facing the massive gate behind me.
The mansion beyond that gate must be my destination.
I had no idea what business this Alice woman had in such a luxurious mansion where aristocrats presumably lived, but for now, all I could do was to go inside.
“Let’s get moving.”
Staying here any longer felt like freezing to death.
As I struggled to move my snow-buried feet and walked forward, one of the two soldiers guarding the gate stepped forward, blocking my path.
He was clad in silver Armor, and a blue cloak with a white wolf drawn on it was draped over his Armor.
As his eyes looked down at me through the helmet, I couldn’t help but swallow nervously.
While pondering inwardly what to say, he examined me briefly before nodding.
“You’ve come for an interview, young miss. May I have your name?”
“Huh?” An interview? Were they hiring someone in the mansion?
“Is that not the case?”
As the soldier squinted, I hastily extended my hand and shook my head horizontally.
“N-no, that’s correct. I’m here for an interview.”
“What is your name?”
“Ah… It’s Alice, Allice.”
He retrieved a document from his pocket and began scanning through a list of names, searching for mine.
‘What if it’s not there…?’
Considering the rarity of someone coming to this place, there was a high probability that I was indeed here for an interview.
However, even if that was the case, if my name wasn’t on that list, it would be quite a troublesome situation, which made me increasingly anxious.
“Ah, here it is. Found it.”
Fortunately, it seemed my worries weren’t going to materialize.
Although I felt lost at the thought of being abandoned in the snow, it seemed the writer at least had a shred of conscience.
I still didn’t know what kind of interview this was, but as long as they didn’t kick me out, that should be sufficient for now.
While exhaling a sigh of relief inwardly, the guard, after returning the list to his pocket, spoke up.
“We’ll conduct a search inside with the help of the maids.”
“A… a search??”
“It’s being conducted as a precaution to avoid any potential disturbances. I hope for your cooperation.”
It made sense.
A grand mansion like this couldn’t afford to let its guard down easily.
But still, a search?
Glancing down, I noticed an unfamiliar yet unmistakable female figure, still somewhat youthful but clearly a woman.
I didn’t even feel comfortable with my own body yet, let alone showing it to others.
“Well, there’s no other choice.”
In this freezing cold, I could endure the embarrassment several times over if necessary.
“Understood.”
The guard nodded in response to my words and opened the gate.
“There should be a guide waiting for you inside. May blessings be with you.”
After expressing my gratitude to the guard, I stepped through the gate into the mansion grounds, where a much larger mansion than I had anticipated came into view.
It seemed spacious enough to accommodate dozens of people without feeling crowded.
I became curious about who might live in this place.
If I was to work here… perhaps I could earn a substantial salary.
“You’re here for an interview.”
Lost in thought as I gazed at the mansion, I was startled by the mature voice of a woman from behind.
Standing behind a mature-looking middle-aged woman were many maids.
The woman exuded an aura of maturity and beauty, but what caught my eye was her maid attire.
“A beautiful maid.”
I’ve seen famous individuals wear costumes like this, but seeing it in person for the first time was fascinating.
“I’m the head maid of the mansion. Since you’re a bit late, let’s hurry. Please excuse me.”
“Huh?!”
The approaching head maid suddenly placed her hand on my waist and began to pat down my body.
From my waist to my legs, and even my upper body, she meticulously inspected me.
“Ugh…”
Despite her beauty, the sensation of being touched by someone else wasn’t pleasant.
However, the head maid was more professional than I had expected, and in no time, she finished the search without giving me a chance to feel uncomfortable.
“Please wait in the room to the left, and I’ll call for you shortly. See you then.”
After the chaotic search, I followed the head maid’s instructions and entered the room to the left, where I noticed girls my age or slightly older gathered.
They glanced at me briefly upon my arrival before turning their attention away, seemingly uninterested.
“…Are all these people here for interviews?”
Feeling awkward, I sat down in an empty seat and took a moment to catch my breath.
In front of me, a large fireplace provided comforting warmth.
I rubbed my frozen fingers together, trying to thaw them.
Compared to the frigid cold outside, this place felt like heaven.
“But what kind of interview is this?”
In such a grand and luxurious mansion, the scale of the hiring process must be huge.
Judging by the situation, it seemed like they were hiring maids.
But honestly, I didn’t care.
I had no intention of working, especially as a maid.
How much could a maid possibly earn anyway?
Even if I saved up from doing laundry and cleaning, it would take ages to buy a building.
“I definitely won’t become a maid.”
As a man born in South Korea, how could I possibly do such a job?
I was born as a man, and if I were to be reincarnated into another world, I should be enjoying myself in grand adventures, not worrying about mundane tasks like this.
It was a story that didn’t even need to be considered.
Yeah. That’s that.
.
.
.
“T-they give that much...?”
“Yes. If you work diligently, the rewards can be substantial.”
I looked at the contract in front of me with trembling eyes.
The amount stated was far beyond my expectations, leaving my mind blank.
A maid…
Perhaps it wouldn’t hurt to just hear them out, right?
Yeah. I’m definitely not saying I’ll become a maid.
“Just listening to what they have to say...”
—
[Name: Alice]
[Gender: Female]
[Age: 15]
[Rank: Strength (D), Speed (B), Intelligence (C), Dexterity (B), Magic (D), Charisma (F)]
[Detailed Characteristics]
! Locked state
! Locked state
! Locked state
! Locked state
! Locked state
—
‘Detailed characteristics are unlocked as understanding of Alice increases.
“..A status window, really.”
With a stingy, cold gaze, she looked at the words written on the scroll.
When exactly is this status window from?
I couldn’t help but sigh at the cliché setting.
Well, what can you expect from a writer who gave such a crappy ending.
If he had a proper writer’s spirit, he wouldn’t have ended it like that.
Moreover, the written content was quite lacking.
There were only basic personal details like name.
It’s written that the details are unlocked as understanding of Alice increases, but hmm…
Would that writer have really put useful information here?
“The only somewhat useful thing is the ranks.”
Even that isn’t really worth much.
I don’t know the exact figures yet, but except for dexterity and speed, everything seemed either average or below average.
It seemed like I just got stuck in an ordinary girl.
“My name is Alice.”
There’s probably no need to change it.
It’s a familiar name I’ve heard somewhere before.
While inwardly cursing the writer in this pointless situation, I stumbled upon a small inscription at the bottom of the scroll.
—
[A gift for the reader.]
‘This scroll contains an infinitely vast pocket dimension.
*Using the incantation ‘Open Sesame,’ you can open the scroll’s pocket dimension, and any items previously stored can be instantly summoned by recalling them in your mind.
*Using the incantation ‘Close Sesame,’ you can close the scroll’s pocket dimension, disguising it as an ordinary scroll.
*The length can be freely adjusted.
*No living beings can be placed inside the scroll.
—
“Oh?”
I widened one eye in surprise at the unexpected statement.
In other words, it’s an inventory with no limits.
This could be quite useful.
Honestly, it might not be immediately necessary for me right now…
But inventory is an essential item in any game. There will surely come a day when it’ll be useful to me.
I closed the scroll again and looked around.
“..Is this the end?”
No matter how much I looked around, there didn’t seem to be anything special left.
It doesn’t matter. I didn’t really expect much from that jerk anyway.
Honestly, I thought he would just abandon me here, but it seems he had at least some conscience.
I let out a short sigh and put the scroll into my pocket.
From now on, I need to think deeply.
What exactly do I need to do?
In reality, it’s quite simple.
‘Finding a way to make a lot of money.’
That’s the sole purpose of my life.
I haven’t given up on my dream of opening my own café.
Even if it’s in another world.
Of course, the best scenario would be to see the ending the writer mentioned and return to my original world…
But I’m not sure.
The so-called conclusion the writer mentioned actually progresses just by staying still.
It’s not like the protagonist dies in the final ending; it’s just that the Northern Duchess becomes the second final boss and it ends.
Perhaps that grotesque Northern Duchess is more likely to collapse someday under the alliance of the protagonist who has grown again and the male leads who love her.
In fact, if I had interfered with the story progression by doing unnecessary things, it might have delayed the ending even more.
I’ll just make money and open a café and watch the story progress on its own.
Maybe if I were born with a silver spoon, I wouldn’t understand, but for ordinary people like me, opening a building and starting a business isn’t something easily experienced.
But the current situation is different.
Experiencing self-employment in this place will surely help with café business when I return to reality.
However, acquiring a building isn’t so easy.
Especially in this world without concepts like loans, it’s even more difficult.
In the end, all I needed was more funds.
“…Should I embark on an adventure?”
If I’m lucky enough to acquire a rare item, I could earn a significant amount of money.
And if this place was like the world in the novel I was reading before possessing it…
Just by picking up the scattered beans besides the protagonist, I felt like I could build at least one building.
Ding-dong-
“Eek?!”
Instinctively, a high-pitched voice escaped my lips at the sound coming from the door.
And before long, the carriage door opened, revealing a man with a bushy beard.
“We’ve arrived. Please step out.”
…So the coachman was up front.
Well, it would have been stranger if he wasn’t, considering it’s a moving carriage.
Come to think of it, I haven’t felt the carriage jolting for a while.
Perhaps we’ve finally reached our destination.
I cautiously stepped out of the carriage and glanced around.
“…Where is this?”
The unexpected sight left my eyes wide open.
The surroundings were completely covered in soft white snow, indicating it was winter.
Through the snowy landscape, my eyes caught sight of a black iron gate.
Inside that gate stood what seemed like a huge mansion, so grand it could be mistaken for a castle.
“So… cold…!”
A sudden sharp gust of wind brushed against my skin, making my body tremble.
“Well then, I’ll take my leave.”
While I struggled to withstand the biting cold, the man, presumably the coachman, placed my luggage in my hands and promptly returned to the carriage without a word of response to my call.
“Wai… wait!”
Despite calling out to him amidst the cold, the coachman showed no response and simply rode the carriage back the way we came.
Sniif
Left suddenly in the middle of the snow-covered field where the sharp wind blew, I sniffled and sat down, facing the massive gate behind me.
The mansion beyond that gate must be my destination.
I had no idea what business this Alice woman had in such a luxurious mansion where aristocrats presumably lived, but for now, all I could do was to go inside.
“Let’s get moving.”
Staying here any longer felt like freezing to death.
As I struggled to move my snow-buried feet and walked forward, one of the two soldiers guarding the gate stepped forward, blocking my path.
He was clad in silver Armor, and a blue cloak with a white wolf drawn on it was draped over his Armor.
As his eyes looked down at me through the helmet, I couldn’t help but swallow nervously.
While pondering inwardly what to say, he examined me briefly before nodding.
“You’ve come for an interview, young miss. May I have your name?”
“Huh?” An interview? Were they hiring someone in the mansion?
“Is that not the case?”
As the soldier squinted, I hastily extended my hand and shook my head horizontally.
“N-no, that’s correct. I’m here for an interview.”
“What is your name?”
“Ah… It’s Alice, Allice.”
He retrieved a document from his pocket and began scanning through a list of names, searching for mine.
‘What if it’s not there…?’
Considering the rarity of someone coming to this place, there was a high probability that I was indeed here for an interview.
However, even if that was the case, if my name wasn’t on that list, it would be quite a troublesome situation, which made me increasingly anxious.
“Ah, here it is. Found it.”
Fortunately, it seemed my worries weren’t going to materialize.
Although I felt lost at the thought of being abandoned in the snow, it seemed the writer at least had a shred of conscience.
I still didn’t know what kind of interview this was, but as long as they didn’t kick me out, that should be sufficient for now.
While exhaling a sigh of relief inwardly, the guard, after returning the list to his pocket, spoke up.
“We’ll conduct a search inside with the help of the maids.”
“A… a search??”
“It’s being conducted as a precaution to avoid any potential disturbances. I hope for your cooperation.”
It made sense.
A grand mansion like this couldn’t afford to let its guard down easily.
But still, a search?
Glancing down, I noticed an unfamiliar yet unmistakable female figure, still somewhat youthful but clearly a woman.
I didn’t even feel comfortable with my own body yet, let alone showing it to others.
“Well, there’s no other choice.”
In this freezing cold, I could endure the embarrassment several times over if necessary.
“Understood.”
The guard nodded in response to my words and opened the gate.
“There should be a guide waiting for you inside. May blessings be with you.”
After expressing my gratitude to the guard, I stepped through the gate into the mansion grounds, where a much larger mansion than I had anticipated came into view.
It seemed spacious enough to accommodate dozens of people without feeling crowded.
I became curious about who might live in this place.
If I was to work here… perhaps I could earn a substantial salary.
“You’re here for an interview.”
Lost in thought as I gazed at the mansion, I was startled by the mature voice of a woman from behind.
Standing behind a mature-looking middle-aged woman were many maids.
The woman exuded an aura of maturity and beauty, but what caught my eye was her maid attire.
“A beautiful maid.”
I’ve seen famous individuals wear costumes like this, but seeing it in person for the first time was fascinating.
“I’m the head maid of the mansion. Since you’re a bit late, let’s hurry. Please excuse me.”
“Huh?!”
The approaching head maid suddenly placed her hand on my waist and began to pat down my body.
From my waist to my legs, and even my upper body, she meticulously inspected me.
“Ugh…”
Despite her beauty, the sensation of being touched by someone else wasn’t pleasant.
However, the head maid was more professional than I had expected, and in no time, she finished the search without giving me a chance to feel uncomfortable.
“Please wait in the room to the left, and I’ll call for you shortly. See you then.”
After the chaotic search, I followed the head maid’s instructions and entered the room to the left, where I noticed girls my age or slightly older gathered.
They glanced at me briefly upon my arrival before turning their attention away, seemingly uninterested.
“…Are all these people here for interviews?”
Feeling awkward, I sat down in an empty seat and took a moment to catch my breath.
In front of me, a large fireplace provided comforting warmth.
I rubbed my frozen fingers together, trying to thaw them.
Compared to the frigid cold outside, this place felt like heaven.
“But what kind of interview is this?”
In such a grand and luxurious mansion, the scale of the hiring process must be huge.
Judging by the situation, it seemed like they were hiring maids.
But honestly, I didn’t care.
I had no intention of working, especially as a maid.
How much could a maid possibly earn anyway?
Even if I saved up from doing laundry and cleaning, it would take ages to buy a building.
“I definitely won’t become a maid.”
As a man born in South Korea, how could I possibly do such a job?
I was born as a man, and if I were to be reincarnated into another world, I should be enjoying myself in grand adventures, not worrying about mundane tasks like this.
It was a story that didn’t even need to be considered.
Yeah. That’s that.
.
.
.
“T-they give that much...?”
“Yes. If you work diligently, the rewards can be substantial.”
I looked at the contract in front of me with trembling eyes.
The amount stated was far beyond my expectations, leaving my mind blank.
A maid…
Perhaps it wouldn’t hurt to just hear them out, right?
Yeah. I’m definitely not saying I’ll become a maid.
“Just listening to what they have to say...”
