Chapter 49
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 49
Chapter Title: Dog and Raccoon Dog #1
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Black Rock Mine.
True to its name, the rocks and dugouts were black as ink.
Once, this dark stone had been all the rage for construction.
But its popularity faded over time, and the mine was eventually abandoned.
Abandoned mine.
It was only natural for thieves to hole up in a place like that.
'A solid 7 out of 10 as a bandit hideout.'
For one, just having a ceiling to keep out the wind and rain earned it some points.
Cozy, right?
!CLOSED TUNNEL!
!NO ENTRY!
It also scored extra points for being just dark enough and full of spots to hide.
A thieves' den was a place that could face a sudden raid by the authorities at any moment.
It was good to have spots to hide from clubs or secret escape routes to flee through.
'There must be a few more secret escape tunnels around here, right?'
Points born purely from experience. That's how it was.
"Bring booze!"
"Rum! Vodka! Tequila! Bourbon!"
"You shitty bastards, how much water did you dilute the booze with!"
"Selling a bundle of keys!"
"Got a screwdriver?"
From the source of the noisy racket, I spotted a tavern stacked with oak barrels.
Next to it was a merchant hawking thief gear.
It felt like a little society.
A real Thieves' Guild.
"The guild's got some real style to it, huh?"
I asked the men leading the way ahead of me.
They puffed up like they'd been waiting for it.
"You bet! We've got the Sewer Emperor's backing!"
"He even arranged this place for us!"
The Thief Emperor Vane.
Who would've thought his name would pop up like that.
"The Sewer Emperor backed this mine?"
"That's right!"
"This is the real Thieves' Guild now!"
This was more complicated than I'd thought.
I'd figured Deborra had just double-crossed us and led people astray.
But if the Sewer Emperor was involved, it was a whole different story.
These blessed thieves saw him as a true emperor, a charismatic force of evil.
'Maybe this place has more legitimacy than the other one.'
"Just sit here and wait!"
"Don't get any funny ideas!"
The thieves plopped us down on some rickety crates and vanished somewhere.
"Ugh, thieves crawling all over..."
Hermit shuddered.
What a riot this girl was.
"Hermit, why'd you come here?"
"I didn't want to."
"Then?"
"Hammer's orders."
Hammer's orders?
Hammer had told her to tag along with me?
"Hammer told me to help you out."
I didn't really need the help.
If anything, it was just confusing.
But Hammer was a leader who loved meticulous plans.
There had to be some reason for it.
"By the way, Hermit. You know Deborra, right?"
"So?"
"Because if she spots you, who knows what'll happen. Act like a total stranger."
I stuffed Hermit's pointed hat neatly into the Black Satchel.
Then I pulled out a grubby cloth and wrapped it around her head.
"There, now you look like a thief."
"Me, a thief?"
"You're a thief who used to be a mage now. Name... what should it be."
Hermit's eyes flickered subtly beneath her mask and hood.
She clearly wasn't thrilled about playing thief.
Honestly, neither was I.
Could she even pull it off?
"You two the new recruits who wanna join up?"
We'd been sitting on the wooden crate for a good while when someone approached us.
A man with white hair and narrow eyes.
Early thirties, maybe?
His chin was smooth, no beard.
'A thief who keeps himself groomed in a place like this.' 'Probably a picky personality.'
He wore stiff clothes, looking just like a white weasel.
"Who're you?"
"I'm the vice-guild leader, Marten."
Marten, weasel, mouse—
People in this world sure loved animal nicknames.
I should think one up for myself later.
"You wanna join our Night Guild?"
Marten asked.
His eyes quickly scanned me and Hermit.
I sized up the man in front of me too.
'Level 13? 14?' ' Hooks and blades on his belt—desperado type?' ' Avoid direct fights.'
Marten asked,
"What's your names?"
I decided to be honest.
"I'm Yor."
"The one who dunked the Cyclops?"
The Cyclops's name came up again.
Everyone asks about him the second I say my name.
Was that guy such a big deal?
"Yep! Yor, dunker of Cyclops."
"Hmm. Word is you're that vixen Germain's disciple?"
A total stranger rattling off info about me.
Guess I'm kinda famous among the local thieves.
"Germain's disciple?"
Hermit muttered softly beside me.
This was getting awkward to explain.
But that wasn't the important part right now.
Doubt and suspicion flickered in Marten's eyes as he looked at me.
"Why's Germain's disciple here?"
"Germain just used me for her own gain. She'd change promised rewards after the job like it was nothing."
Wasn't a lie.
Since it was true, I could say it with confidence.
Marten clicked his tongue at my attitude.
"Ha! That bitch would! Teaming up with the military scum, of all things."
Germain had ties to the military?
News to me.
Anyway, the suspicion toward me seemed to ease a bit.
"But we don't need you after all."
"Huh—?"
"We've got plenty of thieves already. And you're suspicious."
This Marten punk.
Not just for show as vice-guild leader.
"But I like this girl. Holding a staff—you're a mage, right?"
"......"
"We could use a mage anyway."
No way!
Me, the prime talent, rejected—while Hermit gets in?
It was confusing on multiple levels.
But I could work this situation.
"She won't work with you guys without me. She's totally nuts."
"Nuts?"
Marten scowled.
Hermit looked at me too.
At this point, it was all or nothing.
"Yeah, went crazy from eating something bad. Some mushroom?"
Squeeze—.
I firmly stomped on Hermit's foot.
She hopped up with a yelp and started barking all over the place.
"Arf arf! Growl growl!"
Even bounding around on all fours.
"Woof! Woof!"
'Fuck!' 'What the hell!'
Was she imitating a crazy person?
Crazy dog? Crazy raccoon dog?
I hadn't meant for her to go that far!
Screwed up!
As I broke into a cold sweat, Marten looked flustered too.
"Fuck, isn't that mana rabies symptoms?"
"Uh—."
"Heard it happens to mages sometimes! They go mad like bitten by a rabid dog—."
"Right! Mana rabies! Only I can control her. Sit. Sit! Ack!"
I grabbed Hermit and forced her down.
She was squirming like she was truly unhinged.
'Mana rabies, huh?' 'This girl's got more sense than I thought!' 'Figured she was just a book-smart klutz.'
My opinion of Hermit ticked up a notch.
'Without her, my interview would've tanked right there.' ' Lucky to have her.'
But who knew how long Lady Luck would smile on me.
I had to seize this chance.
"Take us to the guild leader. We'll prove our worth! Bonus if we can make our names known to the Sewer Emperor!"
"Ah ha! Get your name out to the Sewer Emperor and climb to officer. That's your goal, huh? Ambitious little shits—."
Marten chuckled deeply.
"Good. I trust guys honest about their greed!"
"Ooh—."
"I'll show you to a room for now."
Yes!
We're in!
I followed Marten with Hermit.
"What should I call you two from now on?"
Marten asked.
Maybe I should come up with a cool nickname.
Yor the Golden Flash—
As I pondered, Hermit piped up quick.
"Dog and Raccoon Dog!"
"Pfft, hahaha, those are some cute names!"
Fuck.
No way I'm the dog, right?
"Eek!"
Just then, someone screamed.
I turned to see a woman surrounded by burly dark-skinned thugs.
"P-please, give back my daughter! I beg you!"
"Kehehe, ma'am, now's not the time to worry about your daughter."
"We'll make you plenty more, so don't stress!"
"Never thought I'd live to strip a noble lady!"
"...Th-those...!?"
Hermit jolted in shock.
Crunch—.
I felt her grip tighten on her staff.
The sudden scene must've rattled her.
'Kidnapping and human trafficking.' 'Not a sight for a girl like Hermit.'
I pressed down on Hermit's shoulder with my hand and asked Marten,
"Kidnapping nobles? Pretty slick."
"When blessed ones like us pool our power, it's no big deal. A blessed's strength shines brightest inside the empire, not beyond the Great Wall."
"But messing with nobles will cause a shitstorm."
"Kid, if you're scared of that, you don't get into robbery."
Marten halted abruptly.
"No rules. That's the Sewer Emperor's one and only rule. We're turning this mine into his 'Conning Town'—a paradise for outlaws."
Clank—.
We were led into a room off a mine tunnel with an iron door.
"Stay here for a bit."
Felt like a prison.
Might actually be one.
"...This place is too awful!"
Once the footsteps around us faded, Hermit yelled.
She slammed her staff on the ground like she couldn't stand it.
"Those human scum! I'll kill them all!"
Who knew Hermit could talk like Felix.
She'd been like this since seeing the 'noble lady'.
'Something in her past, maybe?'
I calmed Hermit down.
"Hermit, if you flip out now, we're dead too."
"...So, we just pretend we didn't see? It'll bother me forever."
"We're weak. They're a gang. What can weaklings like us do?"
What could we do?
Real thieves crawling everywhere.
Hermit pouted at my words.
She was coming around to reality.
"Hermit, first let's find out where Deborra is. After that—."
I pulled the Black Satchel out of the Black Satchel.
"—even if we can't do shit, this guy can!"
"Ooooooh!"
Hermit's face lit up bright.
She clenched her fists, trembled, and bounced around.
Made me suspicious.
'...She doesn't actually have mana rabies, does she?'