Chapter 44
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 44
Chapter Title: Thieves Strictly Prohibited!
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"I'm number one─!?"
My hair stood on end at Weasel's words.
I'd never come in first at anything in my entire life.
Even as a sperm, I was probably second place?
And now, me graduating top of the class and getting commissioned!
"Felix, what do you think? This is me!"
Number one.
A glorious record no one could steal.
The corners of my mouth kept twitching.
"Ooh!"
"...Yor got first place?"
Felix's mouth fell open in a perfect O.
"It's impressive enough that you didn't voluntarily drop out. Not many thieves stick around until graduation."
"Heh heh, in truth, the only thieves who stayed till the end were me and big bro here."
Weasel extended his hand with a sly chuckle.
"You're the human butcher Felix, right? I've heard a lot about you from big bro. I'm Weasel."
"Human butcher?"
Felix glanced at me.
I must have really touched him by praising him to others!
Felix didn't take Weasel's hand.
"Sorry, but I don't share tables with street rats."
"We have that in common? Truth is, I don't shake hands with knights either."
Weasel scowled.
Thieves and knights were natural enemies, like thieves and cops.
Getting along was tough.
I'm only chummy with Felix because I'm on my level.
"Weasel, right? Do you know anything about thieves with bells on their ankles?"
Felix asked.
Come to think of it, that's what he asked when we first met?
"Bells?"
Weasel narrowed his already small eyes.
"Damn─. What thief walks around with bells on their ankles like some cat?"
"I see. Then I'll be waiting in the carriage. Finish your goodbyes and come."
Felix turned on his heel.
Time to head out with the main group.
'This was a better experience than I thought.'
Things like how to make a fire or splint a broken bone—I could use those for life.
And getting to know the people right in front of me wasn't bad either.
"Weasel, Baturi, Little Mouse. Even if we meet later, let's stay close!"
They said they stayed behind instead of heading to the Great Wall because they were waiting for me after I passed out.
So touching!
"Sir Mancha had urgent business with the main group, so he left first. But he asked me to pass on his regards."
Sir Mancha thought of me too.
Is this what training camp buddies are like?
"Big bro, let's meet again in higher places."
"Make sure to visit the church when you get back to base! Got it?"
"I stayed because Juperi said it'd be good for you to say proper goodbyes."
Alright.
I'd made up my mind.
Rustle─.
I pulled some papers from my Black Satchel.
Yor.
Papers with my name written on them.
The ones I'd gotten back when I won the vote for the dagger from the golden pillar.
I handed one to each of them.
"Show this later, and I'll help you once, cheap."
"Damn, you charge money?"
"I thought it'd be free."
"I... might lose it..."
It was a more rewarding two weeks than expected.
Saying goodbye made my nose tingle for no reason.
I was already looking forward to seeing them again someday.
"That time I threw the red potion at that Arcam Erdar─."
Clop clop, clop clop─.
Inside the carriage.
Felix scowled at my thrilling tale.
"That's your fourth time telling that story."
"Then how about the one where I saved Instructor Rose and the others with my Black Satchel? The Erdar were chasing me, and one even stabbed me in the gut!"
"That's the sixth time."
"I thought I was done for while running, but then Nineveh showed up and saved me."
I recalled my last memory before blacking out.
Nineveh.
He definitely appeared in front of me and wiped out the Erdar in one go.
"Don't Erdar get along with each other?"
"Of course not. Erdar ascendants are comrades and enemies to each other."
Comrades and enemies?
What kind of nonsense is that.
I couldn't understand the mindset of devils who love freebies.
Nor did I want to.
Anyway, I'd scored a ton of loot.
I checked inside my Black Satchel: about 2 million Ether I'd earned so far.
And another Black Satchel inside.
'A Black Satchel inside a Black Satchel.'
The one the Erdar had been desperate to get.
I just pocketed it since no one asked, and nobody noticed.
'Did they miss it in the chaos of the Erdar attack?'
'Could make good material for trades with the false gods.'
Heh heh heh, lucky me.
"What're you doing?"
"Breathing."
I locked the satchel again.
Felix asked me then.
"You got close with Priest Baturi?"
"Yeah."
"It's good to stay on friendly terms with priests. Hammer and Ishtar were training camp buddies too."
Ooooh─.
Training camp bonds are amazing.
"Felix, you got any training camp buddies?"
"Most are dead."
Gasp─.
Shouldn't have asked.
Ugh, bad luck, ptoo ptoo ptoo─.
As I spat out the window, Felix looked even more annoyed.
"You think the Great Wall and Night Land are picnic spots? Even veterans drop dead in an instant."
True that.
I'd had my life on the line plenty during this training camp stint.
'No more showing off from now on.'
'Gotta take better care of my body.'
Anyway.
On the way back to base, I thought things over.
Since I graduated first, my criminal record should be wiped, right?
And Major General Ezekiel would grant me one wish.
'Any wish?'
'Any at all?'
As I let my imagination run wild, Felix spoke up.
"Our party's been in chaos these past two weeks."
"You mentioned that earlier. What exactly happened?"
"What happened was─."
Felix started to say something, then clamped his mouth shut.
Probably simplifying it so I'd get it.
"We're at war with the Great Wall's Thieves' Guild."
Huh─.
How the hell does that even happen.
That's way too summarized.
Like biting into chicken and getting only bones after someone's stripped all the meat.
"Was it because of the thief who came as my sub?"
"Yeah. Seems he broke some Thieves' Guild rule and caused trouble. Problem is, the fallout hit our party too."
The Great Wall Thieves' Guild—Germain sis was the branch leader.
And I'm Germain sis's 'secret little brother.'
If I go talk to her, I can piece together what went down.
"You're finally back! Our baby!"
As I got out of the carriage, Hammer reached out his arms.
Whoosh─.
Before I could resist, he pulled me into a hug—his hard armor nearly killing me.
"Ugh, can't breathe!"
Thwack─. Thwack thwack─.
Hammer pounded my back.
"Good to have you back! Perfect timing!"
Getting welcomed like this.
My nose was tingling again.
"So, did you bring meat pie?"
"Oh."
Damn, forgot.
"Thing is! I was gonna buy some! But then there was the circumcision, and I got distracted!"
That crazy medic bastard!
Hammer burst out laughing at me.
"It's fine! I know all about it from Rose's letter!"
"Hammer, you know Instructor Rose?"
"Yeah, she was my junior!"
Rose seemed more skilled, though.
Well, juniors sometimes surpass seniors in life.
"Instructor Rose said she's heading to the new fortress being built. Should we visit sometime?"
I recalled parting with Instructor Rose.
She told me to come to her barracks with booze.
Honestly, I want to go.
Right now!
Hammer gripped my shoulder tight.
"You little punk, must've bulked up showing off at camp! The new fortress is a hot zone—we can't go yet!"
"Hot zone?"
"It's between Erdar and Arcam territory! Need at least level 15 to even show your face!"
My level's 10 now.
A ways off from 15.
'Ether.'
'Need way more Ether!'
My body itched.
Wanted to sortie ASAP!
"Anyway, welcome back!"
"Yep!"
"Graduating top of commissioning training— that'll give you bonus points for high officer someday!"
High officer?
He saying I should be a soldier?
Like Lieutenant General Raiden or Instructor Rose, throwing my life away for others?
I can't do that.
What's the point of memorials or medals if I'm dead?
They'd all be worthless without me.
'The path of the heart-stealing thief is too rough.'
'Just gotta look after my own body.'
I headed to the blessed campfire.
[Will you level up?]
[10 → 11]
[Ether Cost – 5,120,000]
─Whoa, insane.
Look at that Ether cost.
What I'd gathered this time plus what I had matched it exactly.
Felt like chunks of my soul were getting shaved off.
Makes sense—Ether is my blood, my everything!
"My level's 11 now."
Plus, 10% stat boosts from my 20 soul engravings breakthrough stones.
Another 10% from the Molten necklace.
Stat-wise, I'm equivalent to a level 13 thief!
Not bad anywhere.
"Hammer, I just blew all my Ether leveling up. Can I head to Night Land to farm materials and Ether?"
"I'd love to, but Hermit's in the worst shape right now."
Hammer shook his head side to side.
Come to think of it, Hermit didn't come to greet me.
Something wrong?
"From that thief who subbed for me?"
"Kinda. That vicious bitch stabbed Hermit in the back and fled the Great Wall!"
Stabbed and fled─!?
What the hell happened in those two weeks.
"Is Hermit okay?"
Need I repeat—Hermit's snap magic kills monsters way better than my shadow throws or dagger stabs.
Ether pours in!
Some mages can't even do attack spells.
Hermit handles 'lightning and ice' plus 'fire and poison'─.
'─How powerful is she!'
So Hermit's health is a big deal.
Hammer shook his head at my sincere concern.
"The surface wounds are all healed, but..."
"But?"
"Yor, go see her yourself."
Got it.
I headed to Hermit's room.
But right in front of the door, big letters read:
*Thieves Absolutely Prohibited*
Any thief opening this door, prepare for my curse.
Magic circle installed – Unauthorized entry triggers ignition.
What the hell is this.
I knocked on the door. Knock knock─.
"Hermit, it's Yor! I got two podium stones—need you to enhance 'em!"
Rustle─!
Sounds from inside.
Then thud thud thud─someone rushed over and flung the door open.
"Rookie! What took you so long! All this time, I've been... I've beeeen...!!!"