Desperate Escape in the Depths of Darkness
It was a life-or-death moment in my grand escape show. Who would've thought they'd crack the trick in just one day and lie in wait in the sewers? One wrong move, and Phantom Thief Raven's epic saga would've ended in pathetic failure.
But it seems the goddess of luck was on my side. Drawn by the noise of the blank round the detective lady fired as a warning, that ridiculous alligator monster showed up at the perfect time.
With a beast like that chasing right behind her, there's no way she could keep me pinned. Seizing the moment her gun left my head, I bolted in the opposite direction.
"Ugh! Stop right there!"
Bang!!
"Whoa. That's dangerous."
Was that a real bullet she just fired? Does she plan to kill me if she can't catch me? I was playing it cool on the outside, but cold sweat was pouring down my back. This is seriously risky.
Still, my alligator bro came through like a champ. No way she could shake off a massive monster like that easily.
"Kweeeek!!"
"Damn it! What the hell is this monster!?"
Bang! Bang!
Even with its tough hide, it couldn't completely ignore the gun's damage. Under the hail of bullets, the alligator staggered, its movements slowing.
A bit more! Buy me time to escape!
"Where do you think you're going!"
Bang!
I swallowed hard at the bullet hole right by my feet. This lady's got some serious aim.
Even with alligator bro's support, escape looked tough like this. Time to take a calculated risk.
"Everyone, be careful. The night begins now."
"What?"
Crackle. I tossed a card upward, shattering the lamp illuminating the dark sewer.
In an instant, perfect darkness swallowed the underground world. The true night had arrived.
Now no one here could move recklessly. As far as I knew, alligators probably relied on their main planet too—er, I mean, sense of smell—so it must be panicking. In a situation like this, it was to my advantage as the one escaping.
Besides, night is my stage.
Quite a clever move.
Thanks to the Goddess's power, I quickly regained my vision in the darkness.
Perfect. Just as expected, everyone was frozen, afraid to move in the sudden blackout. This was my golden opportunity.
Too bad putting the necklace back in place would be impossible now. Oh well, better than getting caught, right?
I tried to slip away between the detective lady and the alligator.
Up close, she's a real beauty. Was she in the original story?
Eyeing women even in this situation?
'No, I'm not!'
"Ugh! Raven! Where are you!? Come out, you coward!"
"Kwaaak!!"
As if I'd come out just because she yelled. If anything, her booming voice only agitated the alligator more.
'Great! Now just to escape...!'
Then a question flashed through my mind. Why are there only two of them?
"I won't let you escape."
A chill ran down my spine at the girl's emotionless voice. Right beside me, vivid green eyes pierced straight through me in the darkness.
She pinpointed my exact location in this pitch black? How?
Click. Even in silhouette, I could clearly see the gun in her hand.
She's not even a cop—why's she carrying something that deadly!
I freaked out and hurriedly cast my illusion magic. Underestimating her as a civilian nearly sent me straight to the afterlife.
If darkness didn't work, how about light? I pulled out a card and thrust it toward her. A blinding flash erupted from the front, flooding the area with light.
Eye flashbang! How's that taste?
But the magic performed way better than I expected. It didn't just blind her—it turned the entire sewer stark white.
"Kuh!"
"Kueeek!!"
The female detective and the alligator a bit farther away got hit too. I hadn't aimed for them—sorry about that.
Obviously, the obsessive girl was blinded too, so I rushed to escape during the opening.
"I told you I won't let you go."
"Eek!"
This time, I nearly screamed for real. Fine, super good eyesight lets her see in the dark, but taking a flashbang head-on and still chasing me? Impossible!
"Sorry, but I've got urgent business...!"
I pulled another card and tossed it to the floor. Thick smoke billowed up instantly.
Smoke screen in total darkness—surely even she couldn't break through this?
"You're not going anywhere."
She did. Her tenacity was jaw-dropping.
She seems quite taken with you.
'Yeah, looks like it. Not exactly my type, though.'
I wanted pure, platonic one-sided love. This creepy yandere obsession? Pass!
Anyway, simple vision blocks wouldn't shake her. Time for something else.
I pulled a red handkerchief from my pocket and flung it. It fluttered like a bird and stuck right to her chest.
"Ugh! What is this...!"
It wriggled annoyingly all over her, especially around her gun hand, making it impossible for her to aim properly.
I glanced back and bid farewell.
"He's a good boy, so take care of him!"
"Raven! Stop right there!"
"Oh, right. It's unfair that you know my name but I don't know yours. What's your name?"
Escape was secured anyway. I savored the moment to ask.
She was a worthy adversary. A rival, you could say.
Her emerald eyes glared at me resentfully while wrestling the handkerchief. Too dark to make out her face properly—such a shame. Though I was the one who made it that way.
"Sherlock."
"...I see."
Was that name in the original? Doesn't ring a bell, so if it was, she wasn't important.
But regardless, it's a terrifying name. Especially for a phantom thief like me.
"See you next time, detective girl."
No lingering now. I sprinted toward the sewer exit, shouting back.
"Oh! Put the necklace back for me, will you? Thanks!"
"Necklace...?"
Her puzzled mutter. She'd probably find it by now. I tucked the gift inside the handkerchief.
Couldn't return it myself, but a master detective like her would surely deliver it to the museum for me.
'She's incredible.'
Can you feel the growth?
'Yes. Makes me want to collect the next gem ASAP.'
Absorbing the gem had clearly boosted me. The massive flashbang range and the handkerchief's precise movements. My illusion magic, once iffy, was improving fast.
The more gems, the stronger I'd get. Just thinking about it had my heart racing.
Plus, a rival appeared to keep things exciting. If luck hadn't been with me, that could've been disastrous. Without the alligator nearby, I'd have been nabbed for sure.
'Gotta be more careful from now on.'
Hmm. I have a feeling that girl will keep crossing your path.
I agreed. Thief vs. detective rivalry is classic.
"Should I change my name to Lupin?"
What is that corny name?
"Apologize to Lupin fans worldwide."
Phantom Thief Raven Strikes the Britannia National Museum!
Angel's Stayed Sea. Estimated value appraised by experts...
Incompetent Police? Let Phantom Thief Raven Slip Away Right in Front of Them.
Sapphire Necklace Recovered. Was It Truly the Thief's Intention?
"The news is so entertaining these days."
Of course, when it's all about you nonstop.
The Goddess was right. After successfully raiding the museum, the reaction was on another level.
Rumors that had been spreading quietly exploded into overwhelming presence overnight. The Britannia Empire was buzzing with my name everywhere.
In the Academy, at cafes, even in the bathrooms—every conversation was about Phantom Thief Raven.
Newspapers and radio ran expert commentary on my exploits 24/7. The police even formally apologized for letting me slip away.
A bit burdensome, but more than that, it was thrilling and exciting. Was I always this attention magnet? Honestly, anyone would get hooked like me.
Of course, most reactions were negative, especially in Britannia, where they reviled me worse than any vicious criminal.
But positive voices were growing too. Extremists idolized me like a celebrity. Some called me a righteous outlaw, robbing greedy empires and tycoons to share with the common folk.
Amid this polarized frenzy over Phantom Thief Raven, I was diligently attending class as an Academy extra.
"Today, I'll assign group projects."
"...Huh?"
Wait. Group projects are a nightmare for extras like me.