Chapter 20
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 020
Chapter Title: First Encounter #3
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Ashibar gave some advice.
【Rookie, my Blessed One. If you rush into deals blindly, you'll end up looking like a beggar.】
"Is it really true you can buy this gem for more?"
I looked at Sabrannik.
Sabrannik shuddered its scales with a tzurrrr.
【─Give me the sapphire jam─.】
【─I'll make your Serpent's Blood even richer─.】
「Serpent's Blood Lv.2」
「The blood flowing through your veins carries poison. Greatly increases poison resistance.」
"Oh!"
Serpent's Blood, level 2!
It must be an enhanced version of the previous level 1.
"Then, here you go."
I placed the blue gem into the skull serpent's mouth.
I was a little scared it might bite my arm too.
Soon, Sabrannik shed a single tear that plip—
The moment it wet my head, an intensely cold sensation swept through my body.
When I opened my eyes.
I was lying in some bed.
"Ugh."
My stomach hurt, and I saw bandages wrapped tightly around it.
Where was everyone?
Hermit?
As I sat up, someone drrrk—opened the door to the room.
"What the—? You troublemaker, you're already awake?"
Who was she?
She had long black hair tied in twin tails.
Her outfit resembled the nuns from the orphanage where I grew up...
But she didn't seem like a nun.
Why?
The smell of booze wafted strongly off her.
"...Sister, who are you?"
I subtly pinched my nose as I asked.
The woman shrugged ttak—and took a swig from the gourd in her hand, gulp gulp.
"Gulp—. Sister...? Heh heh heh, I'm Ishtar! The fighting sister!"
"You're the priest from the next unit over?"
"Yeah! Hammer? Hammerrrrr! Your baby bro's awake!"
Ishtar stuck her head out into the hallway and shouted.
Thud thud thud thud!
Footsteps came from far away.
"Hey, you punk!"
Boorring!
It was like she had a megaphone to her mouth—the voice was huge.
"Oh man, Hammer—."
"You punk! What the hell have you been doing!"
"Well—."
"Going on a night scouting trip just the two of you!"
"Uh—."
"You idiots coming back alive is a miracle! You nearly both died!"
She wasn't even giving me a chance to speak.
Hammer kept rattling on solo, an arrow clutched in her hand.
"Do you even know what this is?"
"...Mm, the arrow that got stuck in my stomach?"
"No!"
"Ah, then it's the one in my chest."
"I'm saying it's not just any arrow! This is Erdari stuff!"
"Elevator?"
"Damn it! Looks like you don't even know who you ran into. You lucky bastard! Surviving unscathed after seeing those demon spawn!"
The drunk Ishtar tugged at Hammer's arm.
"Hammer, enough yelling! I just healed him up nice, he needs rest. Save your lecture for sunrise, and let's grab a drink instead."
"You idiots! Once those wounds heal, you're in for it!"
Hammer was a scary guy when angry.
I had to listen to his scolding for a full hour.
Even Hermit, wrapped head to toe in bandages, wasn't spared.
"So, who suggested it? For messing up the party vibe with your reckless stunt, you'll be on toilet cleaning and night watch duty for a month—fess up!"
"T-Toilet...? N-Night watch...? That's too much..."
A look of abject terror seeped from Hermit's bandaged face.
What were 'toilet cleaning' and 'night watch' that she feared them so?
At this point, I was getting curious instead.
"Hammer! It was me!"
That's when I shot my hand up.
Hermit stared at me with wide eyes.
Hammer crossed his arms, his armor clank.
"Yor, you?"
"Yes! I sweet-talked Hermit into it! Wanted more runes! Test out my new gear too! Heh heh heh, didn't know it'd piss off the party this much. Sorry!"
"......"
Hammer, who'd been machine-gunning us with scolds, shut his mouth.
Then he raised his hand—
Bonk!
And smacked my head.
"Ow!"
"You punk, you expect me to buy that?"
Whoosh!
He turned and stormed off.
"But you said it! So toilet duty and night watch are yours for now!"
Only once his heavy footsteps faded did Hermit whisper to me.
"Why'd you lie to Hammer?"
"I'm a thief. Lying's my job, right?"
Toilet cleaning and night watch?
Sounded fine to me.
For someone like me plotting secret Thieves' Guild contact, they were perfect excuses to sneak around at night.
But Hermit looked touched, on the verge of tears.
"...I won't forget this debt. So keep the engraving scroll we got this time."
Engraving scroll.
Right, that.
But my real point was this.
"Once you're better, reinforce my tools, yeah?"
I'd learned crystal clear from this 'night scout' how useful good tools were.
Without the Wooden Armor or new throwing knives, I'd have died ages ago and gone walu walu.
'Gear should always be the best!'
Another life rule etched in stone.
「Second – Gear must always be top-tier」
First precept and second precept.
Both about protecting my body.
"I can reinforce tools right now!"
"Oh, yeah?"
But Hermit added something weird.
"...Warning you upfront, though. Can't guarantee success every time with ether. It's probabilistic. About one in two fails."
"What? Fails?"
"For reference, I majored in alchemy at the mage tower! A mage like me succeeds one in two—that's impressive, remember that!"
"What happens if it fails?"
"Usually nothing. Worst case, the item breaks..."
"Hm."
After some thought, I decided.
Reinforce the throwing knives and gauntlet.
"If they break, they break."
Sucked to risk losing them.
But if they did, I'd just steal some other thief's gear.
"Alright. Let's start. Don't tense up too much."
"Hermit, I'm not tense?"
"Talking to myself. Don't tense up..."
Ding.
Suddenly tense now.
Should I back out?
Hermit took the buttons and tools, drew a strange magic circle on the infirmary floor—
And chanted under her breath.
"Empress of blue eyes and anvil, your servant beseeches—a miracle here—."
Boom!
A small explosion.
My throwing knife in the circle sparkled.
「+1 Thunderbolt Throwing Knife」
"Ooh!"
Great! Awesome!
The rust was gone, gleaming like brand new.
I reinforced the gauntlet next.
「+1 Thunder Gauntlet」
"Ooooh! Oooooh!"
The gauntlet's worn parts were all pristine now.
Felt sturdier, lighter—not just my imagination.
"Two successes in a row. Have my skills gotten that good...?"
Ignoring Hermit's head tilt, I headed to the training grounds.
Gotta test the upgrades!
There, Hammer was hoisting a heavy iron lump.
"Yor, hole in your gut barely closed and you're at the training grounds? Ishtar's healing blessing fixes most wounds quick, sure."
"Heh heh heh, lying in bed earns no rice or ether."
"You punk, your grit impresses me! If all thieves were like you, the empire's war would be easier!"
Shuk shuk shuk!
I threw knives at the straw dummies amid Hammer's praise.
Thuk—. Thuk!!! Thuk!!!
The impact sounds were different.
Used to be pat pat pat.
Just barely scratching the surface.
Now, they slammed in deep, obvious to anyone.
Thuk—, thuk-thuk!
Upgrades were killer!
Hammer clapped my shoulder.
"Good. Meeting those Erdari must've lit a fire under you. Who'd think they'd hit the academy. Stay away for a bit."
"Hammer, what's an Erdari anyway?"
I recalled the crew roaming that 'night' freely.
The ones who shot arrows at me.
Hammer explained simply what these 'Erdari' were.
"His Imperial Majesty fought the night demons, right? Erdari are their spawn and worshippers. Look human, but more monster at root. Meet one alone? Kiss your ass goodbye."
They never let humans they meet live.
And the worst part?
"Fun fact: they don't need ether to level. Average over 15, some past 20—."
"Shit!"
A curse slipped out.
No ether needed for levels?
"That's cheating!"
Old memories stirred.
「Enjoy without excessive pay-to-win burdens!」
My heart clenched tight, head spinning.
'Some of us sweat blood calculating ether for levels, how much chicken to order, cola intake—head about to explode!'
—Dare to game for free?—
Pure rage.
Murderous intent!
First time hating someone this much since birth.
"Erdari extermination."
I clenched my fist, vowing it.
Hammer looked impressed instead.
"You're a thief alright. Dunno why, but Wall thieves hate Erdari guts."
"Is that bad?"
"Kahaha! What's bad about it! Hell yeah. They're demons threatening our empire's peace! Nurture that healthy hate daily!"
Nurture!
No compromise with those bastards.
Treat 'em like blood enemies.
They pretty much were.
Tried to arrow me dead.
Lost in training thoughts, night fell.
Punishment: night watch.
Standing atop the Great Wall, gazing at the pitch-black night—pretty romantic.
Kinda boring, though.
Pull out that engraving scroll from the satchel and read?
「Rare – Double-Edged Sword Engraving Scroll」
Thick book.
Opened it, and like the Skillbook before, text I could read appeared.
「Double-Edged Sword: Imprints the enlightenment devised by Chandra Cult ascetics into the soul. Increases damage dealt and damage taken by 10% each.」
Rustle—. Crunch—.
A noise from the arrow storage atop the Wall.
Rats?
Thinking that, I entered—and spotted an intruder in black garb.
Bow on his back, long dagger at his waist swaying.
Charrr.
Flowing silver hair.
Pale purple skin on a mysteriously beautiful face.
Androgynous, hard to tell gender—
What shocked me most: the long, pointed ears.
Beauty forgotten in a flash.
"Erdari!"
Human-like demons.
I yelled in shock; he looked my way.
"Has my nose dulled? Didn't notice a mere Rend approach. But—why do you smell like Shando?"
The long-eared Erdari smirked selk.
"Intriguing. Gotta take you back, lop your head, dissect."
Shing—. He drew his blade.
A crescent-curved sword.
"To avoid hassle if you resist—slice those arms and legs first—."
Chills as his torn lips stretched ear to ear.
"Hold up hold up! Stop!"
A familiar voice.
I turned: Germain stood there.
What a reliable entrance!
Here to save me for sure!
The Erdari spoke soon after.
"What, Germain? You're late."