Chapter 85
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 085
Chapter Title: Mama Bear #3
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From my shadow, Narakje popped out.
And there he was, promising me a mission and a reward.
My face immediately soured.
"You think it'll be easy to pick Yona's pockets?"
His skull could shatter mine.
The guy was a superhuman who could crush rocks with his bare hands.
A veteran among veterans who'd been an explorer since he was seven.
Steal from a guy like that?
Fuck, why not just tell me to stick my head in a starving alligator's mouth.
"Let's hear what reward you're offering first."
"I've prepared something you'll find more than satisfactory."
His vague mumbling was highly suspicious.
That's when someone shouted from outside the library.
"Intruders!"
"Narakje's bandit crew!"
"Fuck! Ring the alarm!"
Ding-ding-ding-ding-.
Narakje's bandits had invaded?
I tried to ask what the hell was going on, but Narakje had vanished without a trace.
"Damn, ghosts sure pack the calories!"
Whatever it was, the explorers' barracks at the Great Wall were under attack.
I rushed back to my quarters and grabbed my weapons and gear.
"Where's Yona!"
"The bounty on her head is mine!"
"Heh heh heh!"
Thieves gripping swords glared from all directions.
Some of them had been locked up next to my cell just a few days ago.
"Ugh!"
"Urk!"
The thieves tangled with each other, blood spraying everywhere.
What a clusterfuck.
That's when Yona herself stepped in.
"Give 'em an inch, and this is what happens."
Pow-.
Yona swung her fist, sending one thief flying into the wall.
Crash-.
The crumbling barrier wall.
Her strength was insane.
"I'm Five Fingers Halfnail. Yona, I've come for your head."
Shing, vroom-.
A thief wielding a long sword blocked Yona's path.
A long-haired guy with pitch-black hair.
The ring on his finger marked with the number '5' looked familiar.
One of Narakje's executives.
At least level 15, right?
"[Rapid Acceleration]!"
Swoosh-!
He dropped low to the ground and charged like he was glued to it.
With that black hair, he looked like a giant cockroach.
Just as I thought he was insanely fast, Yona's raised fist slammed down on his skull.
"Who the hell announces their sneak attack, you idiot?"
"Kyak!"
One-shot kill.
Crash-.
The attack even caved in the floor of the Great Wall corridor.
"Thieves are always trouble."
"I was finally getting some good rest."
"They after Yona?"
The commotion from the thieves was quelled ridiculously fast.
Because their leader, Five Fingers Halfnail, got taken out in one hit.
The leaderless thieves scattered in every direction.
"Probably at Bane's instigation."
Yona checked the bonfire as she spoke flatly.
"That guy's always after my head. Even here in the Wall, he's got thieves on his payroll. Probably a few still lurking."
Yona seemed used to this kind of thing.
Was that why she'd locked up all the thieves right after arriving at the Wall—to keep the ones possibly hired by Bane in check?
And now, just one day after releasing them, this shit happens.
Honestly, the problem was on my end.
Narakje had ordered me to steal Yona's bag.
'Fuck, ordering me around?'
It pissed me off.
Like I was one of his underlings or something.
But I was honestly curious what he'd offer as a reward.
"So, Hermit, what do you think?"
I'd filled Hermit in on the situation.
She was appalled.
"Steal Yona's bag? If you get caught, your head explodes!"
"I know!"
But if I refused the offer?
What kind of dirty trick would that sleazy bastard Narakje pull on me?
The guy's a cold-blooded psycho who stabbed his comrade—little ten-year-old Yona—in the back and ran.
Guys like that are sneaky and hold grudges; who knows what he'd do.
"But honestly, I'm curious what the reward is."
Hermit chuckled evilly.
She held up two fingers.
"Buddy, you've got two options: tell Yona the truth, or follow Narakje's orders. Big moment in life—think it over!"
My head felt like it was splitting.
Why me with this bullshit?
"Looks like I need Nimbul's help."
I headed to the room where Nimbul was recovering.
Nimbul, curled up on the bed, wagged his tail furiously when he saw me.
"Nimbul, still can't speak human yet?"
-Woof...!
I didn't know the details, but apparently speaking human while in beast form drained a ton of stamina.
So the heavily injured Nimbul still couldn't talk.
But I could guess his meaning from his tail.
"I'm not here for a walk today. You know the new priestess Yona, right?"
-Grrr....
Whoosh-.
Nimbul's fur bristled.
He hated Yona.
"Draw her attention for a bit. I'll let you walk for two hours tomorrow."
Rustle-.
Nimbul hopped off the bed and headed somewhere.
I glanced toward the bonfire and saw Yona's eyes widen upon spotting him.
"Come here, you."
Pat pat pat pat-.
Yona stroked Nimbul's chin, ears, and belly.
Nimbul growled furiously, pissed as hell.
-Grrrrr...!
"So fluffy."
But?
Yona didn't give a damn about that.
This had happened several times already.
That's why Nimbul hated Yona.
He really hated anyone touching his fur.
'Now's my chance to steal Yona's bag!'
I headed to Yona's bedroom.
I carefully opened the door—it wasn't locked, surprisingly?
Creak-.
Pushing it open revealed a spartan room.
Bed, desk, and a travel bag next to the desk. That was it.
"Hang on, there's a barrier spell."
Hermit, who'd agreed to help, pointed at the candles in the room.
They looked like normal candles to me, but not to her.
"See?"
Fwoosh-.
Hermit pulled a feather from her pocket and tossed it inside.
Flare-!
It burst into flames instantly.
If I'd stepped in clueless?
I'd be charred black too!
"Hermit, what now?"
"I'll block the barrier!"
Hermit thrust her staff forward.
"Grow hazy—."
Flare-.
The candles flickered unstably.
That was my cue. I stepped into the room.
I rushed to the desk and grabbed the travel bag about my size.
[Worn Travel Bag - Lock Difficulty 25]
Lock difficulty 25—?
This shabby-looking bag outclassed most treasure chests.
On par with that imperial palace padlock I'd picked before!
At this point, I was dying to know what was inside; my neck prickled.
"Ugh! Buddy! Hurry! Can't hold much longer!"
Sizzle-.
Mana circuits glowed brightly on Hermit's face.
No idea the details, but she was pushing to overload.
I swallowed hard and picked the lock.
Click-!
Luck was on my side; first try.
"Yes! Fuck yeah!"
Inside the opened bag.
Black underwear, letters from orphanage kids, and a strange glass bottle.
Something like ginseng inside the bottle.
Ginseng liquor? No clue what it was, but it was definitely what Narakje wanted.
Not the underwear, obviously.
"You Hermit? What're you doing there?"
A familiar voice from the hall.
Yona already?
I thought Nimbul would hold her for at least a minute!
"Uh-uh...?!"
Hermit panicked, flailing.
"Y-your barrier's too amazing! I was wondering if I could even dispel it...!?"
"...What? That's super suspicious."
Thud, thud-.
Yona's footsteps grew louder.
Fuck it, I dove under the bed.
Finally, Yona entered her room.
Thump, thump-.
My heart pounded like crazy.
Then Yona bent down and looked right at me under the bed.
"What're you doing here?"
"Kyahhhhh!!"
I screamed like a horror movie heroine.
My mind went blank like I'd seen a ghost.
Hermit and I knelt in Yona's room.
Yona frowned, rubbing her temple with a finger.
"Sigh, sneaking into my room to steal my stuff? Haven't seen balls this big in ages; my brain's not spinning."
Yona held the weird 'ginseng liquor.'
"So, you two were after this? Know what it is?"
"Heh heh, no clue!"
I answered honestly.
Yona's brow furrowed deeper.
"You don't even know what it is, and you try to steal it?"
The vibe was like she'd smash our heads any second.
Then Hermit pointed at me.
"He told me to!"
What—?
It was true, but still outrageous.
"Hey! Hermit! We're partners! You sell me out like this?!"
"Save my own skin first!"
Damn it, fine—I had my say too.
"Yona, sorry! Narakje was blackmailing me with my life, so I...!"
This was Narakje's commission.
I was just a pawn!
I prostrated myself, and Yona let out a deep sigh.
"Sigh, Bane? Figures."
"Really?"
"That bastard's been after this forever. What surprises me is how you opened my custom bag."
"Heh heh heh, pure luck!"
"Luck? You opened a box custom-made for storing bloodwood root with luck?"
Hermit gasped.
"Bloodwood... blood-drinking tree... You mean the Erdarri world tree!?"
Erdarri?
Fuck, that name made my blood boil instantly.
As uncontrollable rage overtook me, Yona spoke.
"Yeah, bloodwood. Eat it, become an Erdarri. Gain immense power."
Fuck, a root that turns you into an Erdarri!?
"That shit shouldn't exist!!!"
I yelled in genuine fury.
Blood rushed to my head; felt like I'd drop dead.
My shout made Yona's eyes widen, then she nodded.
"Sigh, you're right. But it's insanely rare."
Yona eyed the ginseng bottle with greed.
"Trophy from barely killing the Erdarri first ascendant. Power... true, immense power...!"
Tempting, huh?
Even to a great priestess, Erdarri power was alluring?
But only for a moment.
Yona handed me the bottle.
"Take it."
"Huh—!?"
"I came to this Wall to figure out what to do with this root anyway. I'm tired of it now."
So that's why she'd joined our party.
Hermit poked my side and whispered.
"Buddy! Give it to Narakje and see the reward! Hee hee!"
Hermit, you evil bitch!
Didn't you hear Yona?
"It's a root that turns people into evil Erdarri!!!!"
Can't let Narakje have it!
I raised the bottle and smashed it down.
"This shit!!! No human!!! Should ever!!! Eat!!!"
Crash-.
Shattered glass.
"You... broke it...!?"
Yona startled.
She'd be even more shocked soon!
"Die!!! Devil root!!!"
I stomped it hard.
Crunch-!
Hermit freaked.
"Aaah! We could've made billions selling that!?"
Billions?
Bi-billions—!?
My heart dropped, but I was right.
I'd stopped someone from becoming a potential Erdarri.
I'd saved lives!
Many lives!
"...Ha ha... ha! You! You just smash it like that?"
Yona started laughing.
Liked my satisfaction?
Maybe this theft bust would blow over.
That's when I thought that.
Wriggle-. Whoosh!
The mangled fake ginseng leaped toward my mouth.
Like a live octopus!
"Gwahhh!"