I think I'd apply for the position of guy who's super interested in something that's only interesting cause it's gsmeplay relevant. I'd stand by a river staring at it day and night and when the protagonist talks to me I'd say "I'd bet I could use a boat to cross this river."
I would live in a box in the alley in the bad part of town but my spirit world house would be an impenetrable sanctuary where the player can use my bed to rest and have a chest for storage.