Chapter 33: The Lucky Thief
In a dilapidated house, four assassins—three men and one woman—were closely observing the battle through a crack in the window.
Behind them was an open cellar door. Gil, a man of small stature, suddenly spoke in a low voice.
“The target has vanished.”
Moore, who had been intently watching the fight between Godwin and Elena, flew into a rage and spun his head toward his companion.
“What!? How did he disappear?”
Gil stammered, struggling to get the words out as he gestured frantically.
“I… I wasn’t paying attention! He tackled a thief and then just… vanished!”
“Tsk, keep watching!”
“R-Right!”
Moore turned his attention back to the other battlefield, only to find that not much had changed.
Elena still stood fearlessly in place, calmly watching Godwin’s performance. The rogue leader was moving rapidly, constantly probing for Elena’s weaknesses and occasionally disappearing for short periods. But in the few instances they had clashed, Godwin had retreated instantly upon making contact. This greatly disappointed Moore, who had been hoping to see the princess’s true strength.
“Tsk, can you even call yourself a man?” he muttered. “Just go up and fight her!”
Just then, a sharp intake of breath made the hairs on Moore’s neck stand on end. A cold sweat broke out on his forehead.
“Hsss… Hah…”
The only woman in the group had moved to Moore’s side. Her eyes burned with an infinite craving for slaughter, and a hoarse voice emerged from beneath her mask.
“…Sir, may I join in?”
“This scene… it’s so beautiful!”
“I want to become a part of this masterpiece!”
Moore lowered his head slightly, his eyes narrowing as he looked at the crisscrossing scars on her exposed skin. He slowly shook his head.
“…No. The mission comes first.”
Seeing her curved blade slide slightly from its sheath, Moore quickly added, “Once the mission is over, you can do as you please!”
“…Fine.”
Click!
Hearing the sound of the blade being sheathed, the three men in the room quietly let out a breath of relief.
That lunatic! Is she completely insane?
She was actually going to attack me!?
A muscle in Moore’s cheek twitched. He struggled to compose himself, exchanging a look with Gil and the perpetually silent Parker.
Parker gave a silent nod, then turned and leaped into the cellar, vanishing in an instant.
**
“The fifth one!”
“This is the last scroll!”
Carefully avoiding everyone, Turner weaved through the chaotic battlefield, having successfully placed five scrolls in their designated locations.
He straightened up, rolling his neck as he looked at the scroll in his hand. He could vaguely make out complex patterns and characters on its surface. Being illiterate, he could only recognize a few numbers, though he didn’t know their meaning. This handicap should have gotten him eliminated by his peers long ago, yet he had been exceptionally lucky, rising through the ranks to become a minor leader.
“This thing must be worth a lot of money!”
“As expected of a church. They’re loaded!”
“Once I place this one, all the magic scrolls will be set!”
Turner glanced at the slaughter in the distance and curled his lip in disdain.
“A bunch of useless trash. Can’t even handle a few warriors who dared to advance their class.”
“Alright, forget them. One more to go…”
“Hm? Is that… a thief over there?”
Turner saw a blood-red figure flash past in the distance, appearing beside two men who were fighting bare-handed. The two combatants seemed to have eyes only for each other, tearing at one another with complete focus, utterly oblivious to the person who was now right beside them.
Watching the blood-red figure shift its position, steadily closing in with an eerie grace, Turner felt his scalp tingle.
“Why can’t those two see him? All they have to do is turn their heads!”
“Is it some kind of undead creature!?”
It was bizarre.
The figure was clearly wearing armor, yet it made no sound as it moved.
It appeared silently behind its enemy, and in the next moment, it cleanly took a life, leaving the somewhat dazed guard behind as it departed.
Though the move was expertly executed, it made Turner realize this was a living person, not some special undead monster.
Immediately, a flame of greed ignited in Turner’s heart.
“Is he using some kind of item? Such powerful stealth!”
I want it!
Licking his lips, Turner stared intently in the direction Shelley had gone, his expression shifting rapidly.
The women’s mission can wait.
If I get his magic item, my stealth will become even better!
That’s right! I’m only doing this so I can complete the mission better!
Having successfully convinced himself, Turner gathered his things and looked around. He stuffed the last scroll into his coat and quickly followed.
“Since I can spot him, I’ll be able to take care of this quickly and smoothly.”
“It’ll be a success! Just like all the other times!”
“Oh? Perfect, he’s heading in the same direction as my target location!”
Seeing Shelley stop on a rooftop, observing the scene below with rapt attention, Turner felt a jolt of excitement.
“My chance!”
“Die!!! Huh!?”
Staring in shock as his dagger was caught by the figure, who had spun around to face him, Turner felt as if the world had turned upside down.
How was I discovered?!
He was supposed to just die, and then I’d loot his corpse!
This was the first time in many years that Turner’s ambush had failed.
“Finally got my hands on you!”
Shelley’s voice was full of irritation. He turned and glared fiercely at the rather scrawny thief.
He felt like he had been personally challenged.
I was just patting myself on the back! Bragging to myself about how my stealth skills hadn’t gotten rusty!
And you’ve been staring a hole through my back this whole damn time!
And the worst part is, I couldn’t even find you!
The drawback of his low Perception was showing. Shelley ‘Deaf-and-Blind’ Bell had made his debut.
Right now, Shelley felt nothing but shame. Utter, complete, damn shame.
“This pisses me off! You finally decided to show yourself!”
And I had to act like I didn’t see you, nervously leading you all the way over to Elena’s position.
“I thought you were some master thief, making me so anxious for so long!”
“Now die!”
Venting the frustration he hadn’t felt in ages, Shelley yanked Turner forward, dagger and all. With his other hand, he thrust his own blade toward Turner’s brow.
Die!
Got him! Huh?
CRACK!
A very ominous cracking sound came from under Shelley’s feet, making his brow twitch in alarm.
“Huh???”
What was happening???
He had never expected that the roof under his right foot, likely from years of disrepair, would suddenly give way.
Losing his footing, Shelley’s body was thrown off balance. Although he managed to control his movement so it wasn’t completely ruined, he missed his original target, his dagger stabbing into Turner’s chest instead.
CLANG!
Holy shit!
You’re a thief!
Are you seriously wearing a chest plate!?
Is that something you’re supposed to wear?
Since when is that part of the uniform?
