>>713425148
>>713425180
>>713425304
I do find it very hard to imagine people could catch wind of the route and then dismiss it like that.
Everything about the city set up was suspicious as fuck. You're cut off from Susie and Ralsei and get Noelle as your only party member. The very first combat segment shows she is 100% reliant on your to explain to her what to do. The potential for abuse, to train her wrong as a joke, was right there.
You'd notice that enemies finished off by Iceshock don't actually run at the end. Which was a first in combat. And anyone trying to backtrack at first, something you might be inclined to do just to see if there's a difference when having Noelle with you are likely to notice the hints to there being something to find. As Noelle keeps suggesting that you're going the wrong way and should turn around.