The Magic City and the Great Detective

Seong-il stared blankly at the game screen, rummaging through his library. "Huh? Magic City ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and the Great Detective? Where have I seen this before?"

Suddenly, it clicked. "Ah! This is that game! The adventure eroge!"

It was a strange title set in a city where magic had developed like science. A wealthy young lady, moved by popular mystery novels, pestered her father into opening a detective agency. She then ran around with a friend playing Holmes and Watson until she eventually got devoured. Despite having a female protagonist, the game featured several charming heroines and offered diverse routes—combat, dialogue, deduction—which earned it quiet recognition as a hidden masterpiece.

This game... didn't it let you learn magic? And without needing to study?

A lightning bolt of an idea struck Seong-il. That's right! Combat can be avoided in this game, can't it?

Plus, if I use the Magic Engraving system that exists in the game, I can cast spells without any effort! And if I manage to connect with the special magitech engineer in the middle, I could even get my hands on supply-grade artifacts!

On top of that... if I clear the detective route, it should ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠synergize perfectly with my Induction. This game might actually be a perfect match for me!

Seong-il grew excited at the appearance of a game that seemed tailor-made for his ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠current situation.

But first... let's check my points.

"...This bastard?"

Seong-il felt irritation rise as he read the overall assessment in the Game Master window. That damn overall assessment always knows exactly how to get under my skin.

At the same time, the comment plunged him into deep thought. But it's not exactly wrong. If I'd played normally, I probably would've cleared several C-rank games by now.

After careful reflection, Seong-il admitted he deserved the criticism. He began examining his own behavior, thinking more seriously about how to approach the games.

First... why do I keep running into so many crises? Is it because of my lack of combat power...?

He shook his head. No. That's too one-dimensional. It's true I'm lacking in combat strength inside the games, but I've also had plenty of allies who could solve that problem.

The real reason I've been struggling is because I abused my game knowledge too much in the early stages, twisting the story and preventing myself from properly utilizing my greatest strength—information.

After carefully weighing his hypothesis, Seong-il muttered, "Well, it's not a hundred percent certain with all the variables... Ah, screw it! I can just test the theory by playing it that way!"

Having decided, he began formulating a plan. First... let's avoid touching the main story as much as possible. Crises can't be helped, but I'll refrain from interfering otherwise. I'll focus on quests and simply support the protagonist. That should reduce the number of unexpected situations, right?

After organizing this simple strategy, Seong-il nodded and purchased Magic City and the Great Detective from the Game Master before attempting to enter the game world.

Feeling the now-familiar sensation of entry, Seong-il arrived and found himself sitting in a shabby, dirty room.

"Huh...? What kind of situation is this?"

A filthy bed, a worn desk, a single chair, and a coat rack. Seems like a poverty setting.

Seong-il immediately checked his Game Master status window and quests.

"I wonder what kind of background they've given me in this game..."

"Huh?"

Seong-il was startled by the phrase "scheduled to interview." Am I replacing the original protagonist's partner? But if it's an interview, where exactly am I supposed to go, how, and by when?

In a sudden panic, he frantically searched his smartphone for the quest section.

"Found it!"

"There's literally no explanation on what I'm supposed to do. This is frustrating..."

Sighing at the unfriendly quest list, Seong-il stepped outside. "For now, let's look around."

Fortunately, the address of the Moriaty Detective Agency was roughly available in the game world. After asking passersby for directions, he finally arrived.

"Hmm?"

A poster was plastered on the wall in front of the office.

After calmly reading the recruitment notice, Seong-il thought, It's written pretty clumsily... Still, five shillings is quite a good salary.

Since the average monthly salary for a normal person in this world was around ten shillings, a weekly wage of five shillings was nearly double the usual rate.

Hmm... Double the normal salary means the competition will be fierce. What should I do?

After thinking for a while without finding a clear solution, Seong-il knocked on the detective agency door and muttered, "Whatever, if it comes to it, I'll negotiate down to a third of the salary."

As he opened the door, a charming female voice greeted him.

"Who might you be?"

"Ah! Hello! I saw the recruitment notice and came for the detective assistant interview..."

"Ah~ So you're here for the assistant position! Come in! But the interviews started at noon... You're quite late, aren't you?"

"Ah..."

Seong-il glanced at the clock in a daze and realized it was already close to five in the afternoon.

"Hmm... This is awkward. The truth is, there's already someone named 'Alfred' who's almost certainly getting the position."

Alfred?!

The moment the name of the original detective assistant came from her lips, Seong-il desperately pleaded with her.

"Great Detective! I apologize for being late to the interview! Please, could you give me just one chance? I'm begging you!"

In his urgency, Seong-il bowed so deeply he even fell to his knees. Startled by the sight, Charlotte quickly helped him up.

"Y-you don't need to kneel...!"

"No, if I'm truly desperate, this much is necessary! Not long ago, I read the novel Great Detective Moriaty and was moved by the way the Moriaty & Lupin duo protected justice. I realized this was my dream! Please give me the chance to become Miss Charlotte's Lupin!"

Charlotte looked troubled by Seong-il's words. However, his passionate plea seemed to sway her. She let out a sigh and replied.

"Haa... Very well! To turn away someone with such passion without even giving them an interview would be shameful for a great detective!"

Phew... Thank goodness.

Seong-il broke into a cold sweat, relieved he had avoided disaster right at the start of the game. Charlotte led him to her office.

"Please, have a seat here."

"Ah! Yes, thank you!"

Seong-il sat in the chair she indicated. Once he was seated, Charlotte moved behind the elegant desk opposite him, sat down, and began questioning.

"First... could you introduce yourself?"

"Yes! My name is Han Seong-il! I currently live in the slums doing manual labor, but before my parents passed away, I learned some martial arts. People often tell me I have good observation skills!"

"Hmm... Is that so? You mentioned martial arts—what kind?"

"Ah... It's a family style. Would you like me to demonstrate? I know both swordsmanship and hand-to-hand combat..."

"Ooh!!"

Charlotte's eyes sparkled with excitement. In a slightly thrilled voice, she said, "Then could you show me the hand-to-hand combat?!"

"Of course!"

Seong-il stood up, moved the chair aside, and beautifully executed the Mountain Shattering Divine Fist he had trained in. Whew... Good thing the Alliance Leader taught me so thoroughly.

Although he hadn't learned it long ago, having received direct instruction from Jin Cheon-hui—one of the greatest masters in the murim—Seong-il's form was quite impressive.

As he gracefully performed the first stance of the Mountain Shattering Divine Fist, Charlotte clapped her hands and exclaimed.

"Wonderful! It looks incredibly powerful!"

"It doesn't just look powerful—it actually is quite strong!"

"Really? How would you prove that?"

Charlotte looked slightly skeptical. Seong-il answered, "Miss Charlotte, is there any metal object on your desk that wouldn't matter if it were destroyed?"

"Huh?"

Startled by the sudden question, Charlotte quickly regained her composure and handed him a metal tumbler.

Oh... They have tumblers in this world too...

While having that pointless thought, Seong-il took the tumbler. He held it up in front of Charlotte's face and said, "Would you take a look?"

Then he circulated his internal energy intensely throughout his body. Once ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠he felt it was sufficiently active, he gripped the tumbler with tremendous force.

CRUNCH!

The tumbler crumpled like a paper cup. Charlotte's mouth fell open in astonishment at his monstrous strength.

"Whoa!! Did you get a Strength magic engraving?"

"No. I'm too poor to have any magic engravings. This is simply my pure physical strength."

"Amazing!!"

Charlotte marveled at Seong-il's power. He continued, "When combined with my martial arts, it's even more impressive! With that in mind, Miss Charlotte! Please accept me as your Lupin!!"

"B-but I've already nearly finalized things with Mr. Alfred..."

"Two shillings a week!"

"!!"

"I'll only take two shillings per week! And I'll obey your every command without question! Please, is there any way? If you can't trust me, I can work for free for an entire month!!"

"!!!!!"

Charlotte was visibly shocked by Seong-il's desperate offer. She began to ponder with a small groan.

Phew... It's working...

Seong-il swallowed dryly as he waited for her decision. After standing there dazed for a while, she finally spoke carefully.

"Hmm... I did like Mr. Alfred, but hearing you speak with such passion has shaken me. What should I do..."

Seong-il practically shouted at her, "Miss Charlotte! You know that Moriaty's partner Lupin has black hair, right?!"

"!!"

"As you can see, I have black hair—which is rare in this country! Don't you think this is fate?"

"Hmm!!"

"Miss Charlotte! And your surname is none other than Moriaty! This is a sign of destiny pointing toward the two of us!"

"Ooh!!"

"Please become my partner! I'll become your Lupin—not your Jang Ja-bang or whatever!!"

"Alright!!!"

With her face flushed red and breathing heavily, Charlotte approached Seong-il. She grabbed his hand and shook it vigorously.

"You're hired! With such an excellent attitude, how could I possibly let you go! I'm sorry to Mr. Alfred, but I'll work with you, Mr. Seong-il!"

"Thank you so much!!"

"OHOHOT!"

The two of them let out strange cries of excitement in the office. After a while, Seong-il caught his breath and spoke.