Chapter 80
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 080
Chapter Title: Hermit's Hideout #6
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Pilgrim Manor was on the outskirts of the imperial capital, so it was sparsely populated.
Instead, the grounds were vast, with a small mountain serving as a backdrop behind the manor.
They said that mountain was full of truffles.
"Damn it, it's infuriating just seeing folks born into good families build fancy manors on prime land and live it up."
The stoat spat on the ground while glaring at the manor.
He gave a brief explanation.
"The plan's just like I said earlier. While we draw their attention, you head to the warehouse and pick the lock!"
Clap clap.
As the stoat clapped, about ten thieves pulled oil flasks from their pockets and started hurling them everywhere.
Crash.
Shattered oil flasks and spilling oil.
Someone lit it up, and flames erupted in an instant.
Whoosh!
The fire spread quickly, fueled by the oil.
"F-Fire!"
"Fire!"
The guards patrolling the garden shouted.
Some thieves fired crossbows at the guards. Thwip thwip.
"Urk!"
"Gurk!"
"You bastards! Who are you!"
"It's an attack! Enemy raid!"
Chaos erupted in seconds.
Nimble's tail fur bristled.
"Is this okay to do on the south side of the Great Wall?"
"Of course not."
Swarming someone's home, setting fires, taking out guards?
Obviously illegal.
Honestly, I hadn't expected the stoat to go this far.
But it was damn effective at drawing attention.
"Let's go!"
I vaulted the wall too.
"Damn it, I don't even know if this is the right call anymore!"
Hammer looked deep in thought but threw himself into the flames anyway.
That's when archers burst from inside the manor, blocking our path.
"You bandit scum!"
"You think you can just barge into our place!"
Twang!
An arrow struck Nimble's shoulder.
"Ow! That hurts, you inferior breeds!"
Grrr!
Nimble let out a furious growl and charged them.
He turned into a wolf in an instant and bit their napes—terrifying no matter how many times I saw it.
Now it was all or nothing.
Felix drew his sword and cut down anyone in sight.
"Hey, Felix! Don't kill them! It'll be hell to deal with later!"
"I used the flat of the blade anyway."
The flat?
Now I saw they weren't dead—just knocked out cold.
Impressive skills.
We finally reached the massive vault on the first floor.
Hummm.
Its sheer size overwhelmed me.
An entire wall made of solid vault door?
Even with all my thieving experience, this was a first.
"Damn, it really looks like there's something valuable inside!"
Hammer tapped the ironclad door in admiration.
What the hell could be in there to warrant security like this?
The stoat, face bloodied, rushed over and asked me.
"Buddy! Can you open it?"
"...Guess I have to try."
Honestly, no confidence.
Couldn't even spot the keyhole.
Wheel-like handles everywhere— no clue where to start.
These were locks made for guarding the imperial palace.
Not meant for human hands.
One wrong move, and who knows what trap would screw us.
'Someone actually cracked this?'
That alone would make them legendary.
But I had Ashibar's perk: Star Key Lv.1.
Sacrifice Ether for a chance to unlock.
I reached out to the solid iron door.
「Shall we unlock it?」
「Cost: 1,000 Ether」
「Success Rate: Less than 0.005%」
Those familiar words appeared again—ones I'd never get used to.
Success rate less than 0.005%?
No real sense of how low that was.
I had about 30 million Ether.
Would it work?
Please, I prayed, squeezing my eyes shut.
Clunk, rrrumble.
Rrrrrrr.
Clunk, click, click.
Heavy machinery turning.
Hammer shook my shoulder wildly in the tension.
"Did it work? Huh? Did it?!"
"Ugh! I don't know!"
Rrrrrr. Thunk.
The wheel handles spun endlessly before catching.
Then the heavy iron door creaked open forward.
"It... it worked!?"
I smacked the guy next to me in shock.
Felix scowled, annoyed at the sudden hit.
But the stoat grabbed my arm and shook it like crazy, muffling it.
"I knew it!!!! Knew you could do it!!!!"
The loud noise was the problem, though.
"The vault room's noisy!"
"Guards, check it out! Hurry!"
Guards swarmed from afar.
Nimble, in wolf form, puffed up his fur.
"Grrrr.... I'll hold them here. Whatever it is, hurry!"
Right—no time to celebrate.
We rushed inside the open door.
And locked eyes with a mage aiming a staff at us.
"Hermit...? Hermit! What are you doing here!"
"Huh? Newbie! What the hell!"
After breaching all that security, we find Hermit?
Kinda ridiculous.
Hermit snapped back.
"Barging into my room and talking nonsense!"
"Your room?"
Only then did I slowly look around.
There was a bed inside what should be a treasure vault, and books stacked like a library.
Hermit's room—perfect match for the book lover.
The stoat scowled.
"...Not treasure?"
We were speechless.
Only Hermit shouted like it was great news.
"Whatever's going on, perfect timing! Let's get out!"
Pat pat pat.
Hermit bolted.
We followed.
"Fire!"
"Put out the fire first!"
"Idiot, stop the arsonist thieves!"
Pilgrim Manor was still in chaos.
No surprise—with the capital's Thieves' Guild causing a ruckus.
But the mayhem didn't last long.
Boom!
Lightning cracked a clear sky, and sudden storm clouds unleashed a downpour.
Splash.
Splaash.
What the hell?
Clear skies everywhere else, but rain only here?
"It's magic."
The stoat ground his teeth.
Knights and staff-wielding mages blocked our escape.
The issue: a massive wolf pinned under them.
Broken arrows stuck in it, blood pouring.
"Whine... whiiine...."
Pathetic, whimpering in the rain.
'Shit, Nimble!'
Nimble, who'd hold the guards, got caught!
A dapper middle-aged man appeared among them, umbrella in hand.
"To think a near-extinct druid survived. Honestly surprised."
Wise Man Pilgrim.
"And a lockpicker who cracks imperial vaults? Thought I'd seen it all, but the world stays unpredictable."
His pale gaze turned to me.
"Thief Yor, you probably don't even grasp what that means."
Felt like a mouse eyed by a snake.
Felix bravely pointed his sword and shouted.
"Why send assassins after us?"
"Those facility fools? If they'd done their job, none of this."
Wise Man swept his face.
"Sigh. Paid top coin, and they're useless."
No intent to hide sending the assassins.
Just like politicians—botch it, no apology, all brazen.
Hammer, usually cautious, yelled angrily.
"Wise Man Gong! We served the imperial council, even rescued Princess Isaiah! Didn't think she'd retaliate if you harmed us?"
Yeah, little Isaiah!
The VVIP we bled for!
Backing from her could turn this around?
Wise Man just sighed deeply.
"Soldier, should I fear a imperial husk? Your ignorance is almost enviable."
"Imperial husk? You bastard!!! Take that back!!!"
Furious Hammer.
Wise Man reached for Hermit.
"Alicias, come here. You know your ascension answers all questions. I've given plenty of time, no?"
In his hand: a cartwheel-shaped necklace.
「Necklace of Ascension – Necklace containing the essence of Empress Angrat of the Cartwheel. Grants immense power to the owner upon fulfilling the proper contract.」
"...Ugh!"
Hermit's eyes shook like a candle in wind.
What the hell was this?
"Hermit, what's ascension?"
Couldn't hold back curiosity.
Wise Man chuckled.
"The rite to shed human limits and become a idol."
"Rite?"
"The rite erases Alicias's ego, housing a new immortal in her body. As a new guardian deity protecting humanity in the Emperor's stead—"
Mages loved yapping details.
Just as planned!
While Wise Man blabbered, I nudged Hermit's side.
"Hermit, we gotta run! Now's our chance!"
"Cloud Veil!"
Boom!
A massive blast filled the air with steam around us.
But only for a moment.
"Think this trick fools me?"
Wise Man casually waved, winds scattering the clouds.
Magic without incantation—impressive skill.
But—
Wise Man's face crumpled.
"What? My necklace...."
The cartwheel necklace in his hand.
Gone.
"Heh heh, this?"
I yanked the chain like a yo-yo and gripped it tight.
His smug court mage face twisted in rage.
"You thieving dog!"
"Whoa! Don't move! I might smash it!"
I raised my hand as if to slam the necklace down.
Wise Man froze in shock.
"You scum...!"
Middle-aged meltdown—music to my ears.
Starting to question my tastes!
"Nimble! You okay!"
First, checked Nimble, whom I'd snatched with the necklace.
"...Whiiine...."
Hurt bad, but life not in danger—thank god.
Wise Man asked.
"...You know what that necklace is?!"
"Yeah! Expensive!"
"Crude fool! It's the milestone to immortality! Not for an ignorant thief's hands!"
Boom!
Thunder roared from Wise Man.
Sparks crackled off him—clearly no joke.
The stoat shivered.
"Heard Wise Man's level 19!"
Level 19!?
That's like dumping 2.6 billion Ether!
A walking Ether blob.
And now he'd go all out on us!
"Stop."
Someone spoke calmly.
Turning, soldiers marched into Pilgrim Manor.
Step step step.
Here to nab us?
Done for—then a familiar face.
"Gasp! Major General Ezekiel!"
Major General Ezekiel!
She unrolled a scroll and declared to Wise Man.
"Wise Man Pilgrim. For treason against the Imperium and 14 emergency charges, you are under arrest—"