Chapter 12
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 012
Chapter Title: Special Reward #2
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“Alright, everyone gather around. Time to settle up.”
I gathered all the Ether in one place.
That hefty stack of coins was quite a sight—satisfying to behold.
Clink-.
Clink-.
Hammer counting out the massive pouch of money.
“We made 2.27 million Ether from taking down those Octopuses and the Star Cult heretics... Hermit, divide that by four. What's the split?”
“About 567,000 each.”
“Hunting just small fry and pulling in 567,000 Ether per person? And not in the monster-infested Great Plains, but at Myscannic University!”
Tremble-tremble—.
Hammer was shaking.
Hard to read his expression under that armor.
“Feels amazing! Yor! You're a real lucky charm!”
Hammer reached out to grab me, but I dodged nimbly. I'd just showered—no way I was getting slimed again by the tentacle goo on him!
“You little squirrel bastard! Get over here! Want a kiss or something!”
“No thanks! You stink, Hammer!”
“Oh yeah? When you first got here, you smelled way worse!”
“That was then, this is now.”
“Gotcha!”
In the end, Hammer caught me and pulled me into a hug.
Squelch-squelch-.
Ugh, guess I'll need another shower!
“After taxes at half, that's about 280,000 Ether each.”
Crackle-crackle-.
Felix calmly finished calculating while staring into the campfire.
“Hammer, from now on, maybe we don't need to chase treasure chests. We could just ramp up outings and farm small mobs instead?”
“Yeah, if the Ether drops hold up next time we hunt trash mobs, that's a viable strategy. Either way, we've got more options now.”
“I'll list the skillbook at auction.”
Whoosh-.
Hermit pulled a red skillbook from her pointed hat and tossed it into the campfire.
The book ignited in an instant.
My hair stood on end.
“Hey! Why burn it? Do you know how hard I worked to get that?!”
“You think I'm stupid? Burning a valuable skillbook? I registered it at auction. Normally shrine maidens handle it, but we don't have one, so I did it.”
Weird.
Is that fire magical or something?
“Bidding started at 10 million Ether. Should have a sense of the price in half a day.”
Felix asked,
“Hammer, you really giving Yor your share from the auction proceeds?”
“Yeah. We ran into another party this time and made it back safe, but no guarantee next time.”
Hammer explained why I deserved a full share.
Felix and Hermit seemed convinced, staying quiet.
“Proceeds are in. 12 million Ether.”
Clatter-clatter-clatter-.
Ether coins spilling from the campfire.
The dazzling golden sight made me want to strip down and dive in.
[Will you level up?]
[4 → 5]
[Ether Cost: 80,000]
[Will you level up?]
[5 → 6]
[Ether Cost: 160,000]
[Will you level up?]
[6 → 7]
[Ether Cost: 320,000]
[Will you level up?]
[7 → 8]
[Ether Cost: 640,000]
The skillbook sold at auction for 12 million Ether, split evenly at 2.4 million each.
Hammer handed over his full 1.2 million after taxes.
That got me exactly to level 8.
Level 9 would cost 1.28 million.
I was seriously debating paying for it myself when Hammer shook his head.
“Hold off on more levels for now. At this point, new gear gives better returns than raw levels. Level 8's not bad.”
Veteran Blessed averaged level 13, he said.
Ether costs double each time, so...
“4 million Ether per person to hit 13?”
Whoa, that's a car.
In the game [Night Diver], that'd be top tier. Here, just average.
Made me wonder how much Ether level 15 Felix poured in.
As I pondered, Felix spoke first.
“160 million. That's what it took me to 15. Knew you'd be calculating—thieves are predictable.”
160 million, fuck!
That's house money!
Felix was a walking deed!
Suddenly he looked so juicy.
Anyway, leveling felt great.
Body felt lighter.
“Alright, everyone go wash up!”
We all scattered at Hammer's call.
I tossed my Ether stack into the campfire.
Turns out it stores Ether like a bank.
[Yor: 2,379,320 Ether]
It actually works!
Simple and good.
Reminds me of selling game gold to pad my bank back in the day.
Difference: here, I run, not a character.
My level 8.
I checked the training grounds, just in case.
Ran a few laps light—.
“Body's so light! Not even winded!”
Felt unreal.
A world like this exists.
“Grrrr!”
But the barbell I confidently grabbed wouldn't budge.
Levels don't boost strength, apparently.
“Even in games, thieves prioritize luck and agility over strength.”
Bit disappointing, but aptitudes vary.
After sweating, into the baths—Felix was already there.
His body covered in tattoos and scars—total yakuza vibe.
“Felix, what'd you do to yourself? Those tattoos?”
“At my level, blessings from new idols outweigh level-up gains.”
Ah, like the key tattoo on my hand.
No more chat after—we washed silently, back to the campfire room.
Hammer, armor polished, welcomed me.
“You're back, Yor! Festival time! Thanks to you fetching Hermit's hat, quota's met—no taxes on future runs!”
What? Taxes aren't every time?
Quota filled means no taxes—mood lifted.
Clink-.
Hammer bought beer and meat; we partied all night.
Mid-buzz, Hammer asked,
“Now you're family, so spill honestly. How'd a 20-year-old rack up 14 priors?”
“Oh, that. Most are bullshit. Probably just 3 legit.”
“What? Framed...!?”
Hammer bellowed.
Hermit and Felix perked up by the fire.
Embarrassing in front of everyone.
I summarized: orphanage upbringing to 14 priors escape.
Starred the 17-year-old jewel heist—most.
“Stuffed the gem in my bag, perfect getaway. But starving, weak—guards nabbed me. That's like 10 priors.”
Legs faster, it'd be 3.
Most catches: slow legs or hunger sapping escape.
Truly.
Hammer consoled,
“...Yor, your sense of is... different from ours.”
Felix quietly asked,
“You planned kidnapping a noble lady, got busted by knights. Any ankle bells among those trash?”
“Bells?”
Why bells on thugs? Noisy.
Hammer nudged me.
“Felix has his own deep story.”
Party fizzled.
Pissed from beer—bathroom bound, Hermit trailed.
“Why.”
“Thanks for my hat.”
“Oh, that. Nearly died.”
Not for her—our money inside.
“Idol. Dealt again?”
Her tone warmer than first meet.
“Didn't tell before. Indiscriminate idol deals are bad. They don't all like humans.”
“Yeah?”
Thought of Felix.
“Felix is tattoo city.”
“Yeah. For him, idols > levels now. Still dumb. Can't handle idol deals, ends ugly.”
Hermit dissed Felix.
Sulking over slap when hat lost?
“So newbie, who this time?”
“Sabrannik.”
“New name.”
“Full name's long.”
Explained origin.
Hermit buzzed under hat.
“'Skull-Eating Dragon God'? Rare idol! If real, huge! Narakje dealt with it?”
“Narakje—the stinky bug?”
“...Cockroach. Narakje's a false emperor ruling Night Land. Thieves' Guild founder—famous among thieves. Ex-20 level thief.”
No clue.
20 levels...!?
Mind-boggling cost.
Hermit summed up as I reeled.
“Point: sustain Sabrannik deal, even thief can claim emperor-tier blessings. Doesn't appear to just anyone!”
“Oooo!”
“Tell me each deal: costs, dragon tastes? Rare sight.”
Hermit idol fangirl.
“But Hermit, about to piss pants—later?”
“Y-yeah!”
Whew, urgent.
Rushed to bathroom, opened door.
—Click-click.
“Huh, someone in?”
—......
“Super urgent? Open up?”
Mysterious voice.
—You're the new thief Yor in Hammer's party?
“Yeah?”
—Thieves' Guild here to recruit. Good offer—hear us out?
“...Fuck, what?! Open! I'm desperate!”
Detoured far for another john.
Relief hit—rage surged.
Thieves' Guild dared trample my dignity.
Can't coexist under same sky.
I swear!
On my honor!