Chapter 90

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 90

Chapter Title: Yor Divided N Ways #1

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Sabrannik's voice echoed in my head.

The nuance was as desperate as someone bursting for the bathroom.

"What’s a Night Flower?"

I tried calling out to Lord Sabrannik a few more times, but no response came.

"So, Nimble, what’re you up to?"

While I was communing with my idol, I glanced at Nimble, who was huddled in the corner.

Curious, I crouched down to look—and there she was, ripping into flowers sprouting from the street.

"Eat flowers. This is salvia. Nectar flower."

"Nimble, you hungry or something?"

"Yeah."

That made sense.

Last night, she'd held off Narakje's knights by staying in wolf form for ages.

I'd heard staying wolf-shaped leaves you starving.

"Alright, my treat!"

"For real? I want meat!"

I headed to a nearby diner with Nimble.

Unlike where we'd crashed yesterday, this place looked like a dirt-cheap inn tavern.

"That damn dragon punk smashed our roof!"

"My cart cost me ten grand to fix!"

Everyone was buzzing about last night's stone dragon fiasco.

Thinking back on the chaos I'd caused made my nose tingle for no reason.

"Ahem, anyone know what this is?"

I pulled out the key from Narakje and showed it around.

「Vault 7」.

Sure enough, a few thieves perked up at the label.

"Isn't that a key to Narakje's warehouse?"

"Super rare item."

"Real deal?"

Ah— so it was the key ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to Narakje's 'Vault 7'.

A guy like Narakje wouldn't stock junk in there, right?

High chance of treasure.

"Kid's already chasing skirts, huh."

That's when some guy sauntered over.

And he straight-up snatched Nimble's plate of food?

"Keekee, don't eat that!"

A red-skinned gangster with a reggaed-up hairdo.

His scruffy beard made him look just like an Arab bandit boss.

—Grrrrr.

Problem was, Nimble went full rage mode after losing her plate.

Stay here, and a ferocious wolf would bust loose in the inn.

"Hey, don't start trouble. Beat it."

I flipped the gangster the bird.

Let him see the '7'—that oughta scare off any hassle.

But the gangster's eyes lit up with interest instead.

"You're that Yor, huh? Word is Narakje took a dive for you. If I take you out here, I'll blow up too, right?"

"Perfect chance to raise our 'Red Scorpion' name."

"Luck's on our side, opportunity right after hitting Cunning Town."

"Kehehe."

Thieves drew crescent-moon curved blades.

Nimble finally snapped and thrust out her arm.

"《Vine Roots!》!"

Crack.

Tentacle-like roots sprouted from the rotten wooden floor.

They coiled around the thieves, snapping ankles ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠or crushing arms.

Crunch.

Everyone froze at the instant chaos.

"Aaagh!"

"What the hell! A mage?!"

"Roo... roots!"

This was bad.

But perfect timing!

"Hand over everything, you punks!"

I swiftly rifled through their pockets while they were trussed up tight.

Onlookers clucked their tongues in approval.

"As expected of Jackpot Yor! Pickpocketing skills like a ghost!"

"Purebred little shit!"

Net haul: 2 million Ether.

Thieves, my ass—total beggars.

"Boss, put their tab on these guys!"

Nimble patted her belly while strolling the city.

"—Ah, ate well and digested even better."

Slap.

She stuck out her palm to me.

"Gimme my cut. From those stinky guys earlier."

"Ehey, you sniff out money like a bloodhound."

I peeled off a million Ether for Nimble.

She licked her lips at the jangling Ether bundle.

"Hanging with you guys nets Ether like crazy! Love it!"

Nimble loved raking in Ether.

We clicked on that front.

"Nimble, ever hear of a 'Night Flower'?"

Sabrannik's request popped back into my head.

He'd asked for some flower.

Nimble's plant-savvy—maybe she'd know?

"Night Flower... Rings a bell, kinda."

Nimble acted cagey.

Then her eyes flicked to a nearby sundries shop.

Checking it out, a super suspicious sign caught my eye.

「Random Shell Draw!」

「Crack a shell for prizes! One try: 100k Ether!」

「1st Prize: 'Legendary Sword - Accelerator'!」

「2nd Prize: 'Fairy Earrings'!」

「3rd Prize: 'Glove Attack Enchant Scroll'!」

Legendary sword, fairy earrings, glove enchants?

Prime items from the game Night Diver.

Boss raid drops at piss-poor odds.

No way a random shop's giving those away.

Obvious scam, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠but Nimble was new to this.

"A legendary sword could kill demons, right?"

Nimble was already at the shop counter.

The bored shop auntie lit up at her.

"Welcome!"

"Wanna try that!"

Jangle! Nimble paid 100k ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Ether.

'How's she so bold?'

Maybe zero tolerance for gambling hooks.

Honestly, Nimble was just a rough-around-the-edges country girl.

"Here!"

Nimble snatched a shell.

Cracked it open—paper inside.

「Bust」.

"Ah?"

"Aw, too bad! Wanna go again?"

"Again!"

Nimble slapped down another 100k Ether.

She slickly picked from the shell pile.

Peeking inside—

「Bust」.

"Aaaaah!"

200k Ether gone in a flash.

What a waste.

Even I felt the pinch watching.

"Yor!"

Nimble hit me with sad puppy eyes.

Begging for help.

"Damn it, one time only!"

I grabbed a shell at random.

Snap.

Cracked it: 「5th Prize – Shell Comb」.

I got a dense comb from colorful shells.

100k Ether for a comb? Total loss.

But Nimble beamed.

"Wow, a comb!"

Swipe. She yoinked it from my hand.

Nimble admired the shell comb under torchlight.

"Waa... so pretty!"

She'd dissed dressed-up noble girls, but this comb stole her heart. Total girl.

Rustle.

Nimble tucked the comb into her waist pouch.

Then she hummed smugly.

"You asked about the 'Night Flower' earlier?"

"Yeah! Something click?"

"Today's return day, right? Meet me at the training ground at midnight. I'll tell ya then."

"Midnight today? Can't spill now?"

"Nope. And keep it secret— you only."

Why the secrecy?

Wanted to pry more, but Nimble was back to ogling her comb.

Soon it was evening.

The scattered party regrouped.

Hermit especially panicked at the horde of noble girls.

"Ugh, no confidence teleporting this many at once..."

'Mass Teleport' was tricky magic.

Last time Hermit rushed it and was bedridden for days.

"Eh, it'll work! 《Mass Teleport》!"

Hermit thwacked her staff down.

The ground dipped whoosh—and we blinked into the strategy room.

Hermit beamed.

"Ooh! Reinforced my mana circuits—my casting's way better now!"

But mana circuits glowed on her face, and static zapped around.

Screech—girls shrieked.

"Th-that wasn't on purpose!"

Hermit bolted to her room in a fluster.

Tough life for her.

But that's what made her a powerhouse mage.

"Umbatu! Armory with spears!"

"Let's go!"

I headed to the wall's forge with dwarf Umbatu.

Umbatu inspected bellows and anvil, tested hammers on metal—clang clang.

Then laid out Sabrannik's scales I'd given him on the workbench.

"Takes about two days."

Two days! Cool armor soon?

Already hyped.

Finally, a good night's sleep with legs stretched.

'No, can't nap!'

Nimble said midnight training ground for Night Flower info.

'Is this a night date?'

Guy and girl meeting late at the training ground.

Maybe something fun— I awaited midnight eagerly.

Dong dong dong.

Intruder bells blared.

"...Son of a bitch! Dragon!"

"Dragon raid!"

"Fuck! Up, everyone!"

Dragon? I grabbed weapons and rushed out.

A massive dragon perched on the high wall turret.

It was stone dragon Isidore!

After trashing Narakje's palace, he'd flown off somewhere—now here at the wall late night!

"...Ancient dragon...!?"

Even Yona, the Imperial Historian mainstay, looked stunned.

What if those two clashed?

Imagining that, Isidore gaped wide—crack.

"Covolos... that's you, buddy!"

Hermit gripped her staff and yelled at me.

The giant dragon's eyes locked on me.

"Uh—."

"Huh? 'Night Flower'?"

Wicked serpent temple?

Sounded terrifying just hearing it.

No interest in going, but Hermit jabbed my side.

"Oooh! Sabrannik's temple, huh!"

Sabrannik's temple?

Night Flower there?

Then no need to sneak—I'm his Blessed One!

Hermit whispered to me.

"Heard Night Flower's an ultra-rare magic ingredient. Could make my antidote with it...!"

One flower left in the world.

Sabrannik, Isidore, Hermit—all gunning for it!

Grah!

My brain felt like it was splintering every which way!