The Many-Layered Tactics of a Mob Character
Night blanketed Orario. Lights flickered faintly on either side of the street, casting scattered shadows. Pedestrians walked alone or in groups of three or five, making their way through the nighttime bustle unique to the labyrinth city.
In a secluded corner of a tavern, Cid sat with his head lowered, sipping ale. His posture was loose and casual, but his gaze drifted over every face in the tavern.
"..."
He silently set down his mug, reflecting on what he had seen and heard over the past few days.
Ever since arriving in Orario, he had made gathering information his top priority, hoping to quickly learn the rules of the city. As time went on, however, he had keenly sensed that his actions seemed to have attracted some unwanted attention.
"Spending too long in front of the notice board really isn't how an ordinary newbie would behave," Cid muttered to himself, the corners of his mouth lifting in a faint, self-mocking smile. "And that time at the tavern... Looks like I was still too obvious."
Although he had deliberately kept a low profile, he understood that his habitual way of observing and acting was bound to arouse suspicion. In his old world, that style of conduct had been called "a required course for the Eminence in Shadow"; but in this entirely new world, it seemed out of place.
"I can't go on like this." Cid looked up at the night sky outside the window, his gaze growing profound. "The Eminence in Shadow shouldn't be the focus of everyone's attention. My true mission is to observe from the shadows and take control behind the scenes."
His thoughts raced as he recalled his actions over the past few days—entering the Adventurers Guild, gathering information on the familias, and even taking the initiative to approach the Hermes Familia. Though those actions seemed reasonable enough, they were clearly too conspicuous according to a true "shadow strategy."
"Looks like I need to adjust how I operate," Cid said softly.
Early the next morning, Orario's streets were as noisy as ever. Adventurers in all manner of equipment hurried toward their respective destinations.
At the entrance to a secluded alley, Cid leaned against a wall with a blade of grass between his lips, casually watching the pedestrians coming and going along the street.
"Just as I thought, this is the perfect Mob Character A." Cid nodded silently, thoroughly satisfied with his performance.
But just then, an urgent shout broke the street's calm.
"Stop, thief!"
Cid glanced toward the voice and, sure enough, saw a short beastman boy clutching a bulging cloth bag and desperately squeezing through the crowd. A panting merchant followed behind him.
"Another tired old plot... But this time is different." A meaningful smile rose to Cid's lips. "How can I become a perfect Mob Character A without getting involved in the things that happen to passersby?"
He nimbly turned around and fell in behind the crowd, putting on the air of someone joining in to see what was happening.
"Catch him! He stole my gems!" the merchant shouted furiously.
The onlookers scattered out of the way, though some tentatively reached out to stop the thief. Cid, meanwhile, followed at a leisurely pace at the very back, maintaining an absolutely safe distance.
Hmm, a Mob Character A has to join in naturally. It can't be too abrupt... Cid analyzed the situation as he ran. For example, right now, I just need to pretend to chase him as hard as I can, and then...
Just then, the thief made a sharp turn and dashed into a narrow alley.
"Here's my chance!" Cid's eyes lit up, and he immediately sped up in pursuit.
But just as he was about to reach the alley, he spotted a slightly raised stone and stepped on it without hesitation.
"Aaaah!" With an exaggerated scream, Cid crashed heavily to the ground, his pose nothing short of perfect.
The onlookers stopped in their tracks, and someone even cried out, "Are you all right, brother?"
"I-I'm fine!" Cid struggled to lift his head, forcing a pained yet brave smile onto his face. "I just wanted to help catch him... Unfortunately, I wasn't careful enough."
"What a good person!" one passerby exclaimed.
"As expected of a righteous adventurer!" another passerby chimed in, nodding.
Cid was secretly pleased with himself. A perfect Mob Character A performance. I got involved in the incident without standing out too much.
Meanwhile, the thief had disappeared at the far end of the alley. The merchant ran over, sighing repeatedly. "Thank you so much, Lord Adventurer. If you hadn't stepped in to help, perhaps no one would have tried to stop him!"
"Not at all, I just... did my duty as a passerby." Cid waved a hand, a humble smile on his face.
After thanking him repeatedly, the merchant left, and the crowd of onlookers gradually dispersed.
"Perfect." Cid brushed the dust off himself and quietly blended back in with the passersby, continuing on his observation tour.
Not long after the street incident, Cid discovered that he seemed to have become the focus of some attention.
"Hey, that guy who helped out just now looked pretty impressive!"
"Yeah, I'd bet anything he fell like that on purpose. Maybe he was trying to stop the thief that way!"
"What a low-key but impressive adventurer!"
Cid heard these remarks clearly as he passed a few pedestrians.
"Hm?" He paused, then quickly lowered his head. "That's not right. I joined in as a Mob Character A, so why are they saying that about me?"
He looked up and down the street, made sure no one was looking at him, and quickly ducked into a small tavern.
"Looks like I need to adjust my strategy further..." Cid ordered the cheapest drink and sank into thought.
Afternoon sunlight fell across Orario's broad streets, and all manner of vendors' cries rang out from the bustling marketplace.
Cid stood in front of a fruit stall, pretending to pick out apples. In truth, his attention remained fixed on the people around him as he tried to catch any detail worth observing.
"Ah! Out of the way!" A sudden scream shattered the calm of the marketplace.
Cid quickly looked up to see a carriage hurtling out of control toward the market. The horse neighed, and the wheels kicked up a cloud of dust.
"An out-of-control carriage? This classic plot is a bit too... Well, this is my chance." Cid dropped the apple in his hand and quickly ran toward the carriage.
The onlookers scattered in every direction. Some bolder adventurers also tried to stop the carriage, but they all failed because they weren't fast enough.
To be a perfect Mob Character A, I have to get my performance just right, Cid thought, working out a strategy as he ran. I have to get involved without standing out too much...
He ran in front of the carriage and put on a show of trying with all his might to stop it. But just as he was about to make contact, he quickly turned sideways and tripped himself with a forceful movement of his foot.
Bang!
Once again, Cid fell to the ground at an angle that could only be called perfect. He even knocked over a fruit stall beside him, sending fruit rolling everywhere.
"Ah, my fruit!" The stall owner gazed at the apples scattered across the ground, his face full of distress.
"S-sorry!" Cid clutched his foot, a pained expression on his face. "I meant to stop the carriage, but I didn't expect... Sigh, I'm so useless!"
The onlookers were instantly moved by his "heroic deed" and burst into applause.
"What a good person! He failed, but his spirit is admirable!"
"Yeah, Lord Adventurer is so brave!"
Just then, a burly man rushed forward and managed to seize the horse's reins, bringing the runaway carriage to a halt.
"That was close..." The burly man breathed a sigh of relief, then turned and gave Cid a thumbs-up. "Brother, your courage gave me the drive to act!"
Cid suppressed the urge to retort, struggled to his feet, and put on a humble expression. "Not at all. I just did my best."
"Heroes are always low-key!" someone in the crowd shouted.
"..." Cid silently brushed the dust off himself, but sighed helplessly inwardly. It's over. Looks like I went a little overboard again.
He turned away from the market and continued toward the next street.