Chapter 41

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 41

Chapter Title: Night Has Come. The Mafia... #1

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I sprinted through the underground sewer toward the exit, my mind a blur.

But even near the exit, there were tons of Erdarri swarming around.

'What now?'

If I stuck around like this, the Erdarri pursuit squad might spot me.

I racked my brain and pulled a raincoat out of my Black Satchel.

It was made of coarse sackcloth, but the hood came down far enough to cover my face completely.

'They said my scent is similar to an Erdarri's.'

'So if I just hide my face, they won't figure out who I am.'

Disguise myself as an Erdarri.

I hoped this trick worked.

Thump-thump-thump.

I tried to calm my pounding heart as much as possible and stretched out my stride.

"Is Balara really here?"

"That's what that guy said."

"Ah, that disgusting Lendo bastard."

...Please...

...Just let me pass quietly...

Quietly...

"Hey, you there."

But one of the Erdarri called out to me.

"Me?"

"Yeah, where are you off to alone? Where's your partner?"

It was a sharp-eyed Erdarri female.

Her already fierce gaze was made even more savage by a knife scar slashing across it.

'If they figure me out here, I'm screwed.'

'Partner? She said partner?'

My brain spun faster than usual.

Did the Erdarri here have a rule about moving in pairs?

Think.

Come on, think.

Time for some soulful bullshit!

"The treasure's gone from Balara's corpse. Looks like those filthy Lendo scum took it—traces suggest they didn't go far."

"The treasure's missing?"

"Why the hell would Lendo bastards take that?"

A jolt shot from my soles to the crown of my head.

My bullshit was working!

"I told everyone to spread out and search."

"Spread out!"

"We have to find it!"

Rustle-rustle.

The Erdarri scattered in all directions.

The acting award this year is mine!

I headed joyfully toward the exit, but just before turning the corner, someone grabbed my shoulder with a firm tack.

It was the same Erdarri who'd just talked to me.

"But who are you, anyway?"

"Who am I?"

What do I say?

Brain, full throttle!

Recall those voice phishing team days!

"You don't know me? It's me. I'm disappointed you don't recognize me—we even ate together."

"Who is it? You're a head shorter than me... Narwen, maybe?"

"Why do you think that?"

"Who else asks weird questions like this besides Narwen?"

The Erdarri tilted her head.

I flashed a grin.

"Right on. Sharp eyes."

From now on, I was Narwen.

I'd use the name 'Narwen' whenever fooling Erdarri!

"Then I'll check over there."

I put some distance between us and headed to the exit magic circle.

Standing on it sent a fizzy thrill surging through my body like a soda fountain.

"Stupid Erdarri idiots!"

It worked!

Kehehehehe!

I escaped, buzzing with immense satisfaction at having duped the Erdarri.

Severed heads littered the place.

This was Ashibar's trading spot.

【Kak-kak-kak! Still pulling off all sorts of crazy stunts!】

【Hilarious!】

Hop!

The dwarf perched on the severed statue's shoulder leaped lightly toward me.

The severed head in his grip cackled.

【To fool the descendants of Nagrdrasil and survive—truly worthy of my Blessed One!】

"Nag-what? Who's that?"

【Read more books!】

【Books build a treasure trove in your head that no one can steal!】

"Yes, sir."

【Anyway, Blessed One, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠you're carrying around that weird necklace.】

"Some kind of treasure key, they said."

Did Ashibar know what this necklace was for?

I got my hopes up subtly, but Ashibar sighed.

【A night crawler who can't even appraise an item's value!】

【Times have really changed.】

"It's valuable and good, right?"

Should I...

Sell it quick?

As that thought crossed my mind, Ashibar clicked his tongue.

【It's a key for trading with a certain 'idol.'】

【When the time comes, you'll learn its purpose on your own!】

"Is it a dangerous idol by any chance?"

I recalled the trouble from getting that 'Eight-Legged Mother Idol Statue.'

That spider demanding my guts had nearly killed me.

Ashibar's severed head giggled at my story.

【Blessed One.】

【All idols are dangerous!】

True enough.

Even the gentlemanly Ashibar might lie to me or bullshit.

Always best to stay suspicious.

"So, Ashibar, got any trades for me?"

【I'll deepen your 'Black Eye' by one level!】

【Cost: 1 million Ether.】

I had about 2 million Ether on me now.

Half of that, but Ashibar's 'Black Eye' had saved my skin multiple times.

I'd probably be dead several times over without it.

"Deal!"

【Contract established!】

Whoosh.

The fog lifted from my mind.

When I came to, I was standing in the strategy room with its massive table.

"So, what's different?"

'Black Eye' had reached level 2.

What had changed?

Looking in the strategy room's mirror brought text floating before my eyes.

It was the necklace Moltma had given me.

A 10% stat boost?

Wasn't that like gaining a level?

They said level-ups past 15 required 'hundreds of millions' of Ether base.

By that metric, this necklace was insanely valuable.

Moltma!

My friend!

I'll never forget you!

Exiting the strategy room, I saw a crowd gathered in the training yard.

They were doing some stretching exercises, already filled with groans and screams that felt oddly nostalgic.

"Everyone, I'm back!"

I waved to them all.

They stopped what they were doing and turned to me.

"The squad leader's back!"

"Yor's here!"

They swarmed over, hoisting me high in a celebratory toss that terrified me with how far up I went.

"Pretty boy! Heard all about your exploits!"

Instructor Roze approached and thwacked my shoulders.

Even I thought my performance was stellar.

I'd found the Acam Lord and played a decisive role in taking him down.

MVP material.

"So, what did you do—and see—sticking around till the end?"

Her question brought back memories of farming Ether alone.

"Those vile Erdarri bastards swarmed the place!"

"Erdarri in Acam's fortress?"

Instructor Roze scowled.

Even the weasel was shocked.

"Instructor, aren't the Erdarri supposed to operate in the Second Legion's territory?"

"It's definitely not normal. Gotta report this to command ASAP."

Good work!

Instructor Roze slapped my shoulders and zoomed off somewhere.

After that, we got about a day of rest.

Standard procedure after a 24-man dispatch.

The weasel next to me jingled his Ether pouch happily.

"We each made about 2 million Ether per dispatch! Heard your guerrilla squad snagged a ton of red potions too?"

My neighbor weasel chuckled while tallying his earnings.

Night Land really was the best.

You could rake ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠in absurd money.

And score great gear too.

'When's the next dispatch?'

'Honestly, I wanna go right now, no rest.'

Polishing my dagger and throwing knives made my body itch for action.

Problem was, the "standby for dispatch" order kept coming.

The next day, and the day after!

"Instructor! When can we head to Night Land?"

I wanted to farm Ether!

"Send me to Night Land!"

A massive table for 24-man dispatches?

What good was that if we couldn't use it.

Instructor Roze placed a hand on my shoulder.

"Pretty boy, you're the first thief I've seen so gung-ho about reclaiming the homeland! If all thieves were like you, the Empire would've retaken its old lands ages ago!"

"So, you'll let us dispatch?"

"Nope."

No way!

My whole body itched like crazy.

Instructor Roze looked glum too.

"Command's orders. Probably ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠because Erdarri showed up in Acam's territory. Just relax till graduation in a few days!"

Slap-slap-slap.

She patted my back and left.

My rage toward the Erdarri deepened.

'Those bastards never help my life one bit.'

I'd finally gotten new gear and skills, but couldn't use them.

Watching her go, text floated before my eyes.

...Oh!

First time seeing this text.

Must be from leveling Black Eye to 2.

10k Ether to peek once.

Pricey, but...

Instructor Roze was seriously skilled.

Bet she had valuable stuff.

Gulp.

Let's do it.

Ooooo!

My brain felt fried by electromagnetic waves.

'I can really see their possessions?'

The skill every pickpocket dreams of!

Stung that it cost 10k per use, but...

Play it right, and I could make way more.

"Instructor!"

"What?"

"Lots of my classmates are interested in your love life!"

"Me? I like a man who can protect me! But no chances so far—no one's stronger than me!"

"Then, if I beat you in a fight, do I have a shot?"

I drew my dagger.

Instructor Roze grinned.

"If that toothpick can even scratch my skin, I'll consider it."

"Vile Slash!"

Swish!

I lunged fast.

But she twisted aside effortlessly, grabbed my wrist, and slammed me to the ground.

"Who sneaks up yelling their skill name?"

Boom!

My vision spun.

All the air in my lungs whooshed out.

"Guuuuuh!"

"Depending on the situation, the ground can be your weapon too."

"...Yes, ma'am."

Instructor Roze turned and vanished around the corner.

I dusted myself off, pocketing the "Secret Document" in my hand.

"Heh heh heh, skill name was a feint."

Other items would get noticed if missing.

But this 'Secret Document'? Read it and return—no one the wiser.

Perfect crime.

Rustle.

Confirming no one around, I unrolled the scroll.

What...!?

Chill ran down my spine.

'A traitor colluding with demons among my classmates?'

'Tch, that's why we're on standby!'

Who among my classmates?

Honestly, they all looked suspicious.

Me included!

But I had a pretty good guess who it was.

The only one who'd collude with demons... was that guy!