The Phantom Thief's Daring Promise
Phantom Thief Raven will steal Sun's Smile tomorrow night.
— Phantom Thief Raven
“Hah. Drop dead, you damn phantom thief.”
A crabby-looking bald middle-aged man. Rafano snorted derisively and crumpled up the notice.
“Steal Sun's Smile? Yeah, right—try it if you can!”
He blustered confidently, pacing the room for a good while. Then he caressed the steel safe, chuckling lowly.
“That guy's been causing a stir lately, but not this time.”
He'd prepared thoroughly for today. By the end of it, that arrogant thief would never pull off another stunt.
Phantom Thief Raven. The guy had recently gained infamy as a particularly nasty crook. He called himself a “phantom thief,” but Rafano saw things differently. The punk was just a cocky newbie who hadn't met a real challenge yet.
He wasn't going to roll over like the other idiots.
Rafano had to admit the thief handled magic pretty well. The rumors painted him as elusive as a ghost.
“That's why I set up this mana detection sensor.”
The moment even a speck of mana leaked in this room, the sensor would blare an alarm, sealing the place shut. No doubts about its performance. Sure, it cost a fortune, but protecting Sun's Smile made it worth every penny.
'And if I can crush that smug little punk in the process, it's no loss at all.'
The thief had already pissed off plenty of rich folks and power players. Catch him here, and Rafano's rep among them would skyrocket.
But the sensor only reacted to mana—it didn't block spells. Even if the room sealed, give the guy an inch, and he'd slip out in no time.
“That's where you come in. Your role's crucial. Got it?”
“Yes.”
“Good. You better earn your pay, or else.”
Rafano nodded at the stoic man standing silently before him. His ace in the hole for today: a Mage Killer.
Mage Killers specialized in fighting wizards—they were magic users' worst nightmare. The plan was simple: once the room sealed and the thief panicked, take him down in one shot. Foolproof.
“All that's left is waiting for him to show.”
Everything was ready. If the thief chickened out, even better—fail to honor the notice, and his phantom thief cred would crumble overnight.
“You confident you can handle him?”
“Yes.”
Rafano clicked his tongue at the man's curt replies.
“Boring guy. Still, types like you get the job done.”
It was about time for the thief to arrive. Or had he bailed for real?
Then frantic footsteps echoed from the hallway outside, followed by pounding on the door.
“Who is it?!”
“M-Master! Big trouble!”
“What? Spit it out properly!”
“That phantom thief just showed up in the back garden!”
“He's finally here!”
Rafano smiled leisurely, no fear or tension in sight.
“I'll check it out. Guard this room no matter what.”
“Yes.”
The thief's ultimate target was this room housing Sun's Smile. Station a Mage Killer here, and even he was doomed.
Rafano left with the butler. Moments later, the man alone in the room sighed and muttered.
“Phew. Right on time—looks like it worked.”
He grabbed his face with one hand, yanked it roughly—and peeled it off. Not real skin, but expertly crafted disguise leather.
Without the mask, the stoic man transformed into a youthful boy.
Then a blue glow emanated from the ring on his finger, and a soft feminine voice spoke.
Have you memorized the safe's code?
“Of course. This isn't my first rodeo.”
This is your third time, if memory serves.
“...Ahem. Anyway, let's wrap this up quick.”
Brushing off the voice's jab with feigned nonchalance, the boy approached the safe. He punched in the code he'd scouted earlier. The door swung open, revealing a gem that radiated beauty.
“So this is Sun's Smile. Damn, it really is pretty.”
He lifted it admiringly—
Weeeeng! Weeeeng!
The alarm's going off.
“Ugh... this just got tricky.”
That Rafano bastard. Seemed sloppy, but he had a trick up his sleeve after all. Just like he'd bragged—the alarm blared, and the room sealed tight. Doors and windows barred with iron grates.
What now?
The woman's voice asked casually, as if it were someone else's problem. The boy pondered for a moment.
“Ah, got a good idea.”
Oh? I'll watch with interest.
Meanwhile, Rafano returned from the back garden, unleashing his fury on the butler.
“What the hell is this!? You said the thief was here—nothing!”
“H-He was there just now! The other servants saw him too!”
“Hey, you lot! Explain this! You were here the whole time—speak up!”
The servants trembled before their flushed, fuming master. A brave maid stepped forward hesitantly.
“Um... the phantom thief was shouting in the garden until moments ago, then he just... popped like a balloon...”
“You expect me to believe that?”
“It had to be his magic!”
“Yeah, definitely magic!”
Rafano calmed down enough to think rationally amid their pleas. If true, it was magic—people don't pop like balloons.
The mana sensor was on the third floor inside, so it wouldn't reach the garden. Fine.
'But why?'
Waste mana on a garden stunt? Pointless.
“To distract you.”
A girl's voice from behind. Rafano whipped around in shock. A beautiful blonde with green eyes had appeared out of nowhere, dressed like no one from the estate.
“Who are you?! How'd you get in?!”
“Isn't there something more urgent right now?”
“What...?”
“Simple: that garden magic was a smokescreen. To draw your eyes.”
A smokescreen? Meaning...
As Rafano neared the realization, the alarm confirmed it, blaring through the mansion.
“That little crook...!”
He bolted back to the third floor. Sure enough, the door was barred shut. Only he, the owner, could open it now.
“Hey! What happened?! You catch the thief?!”
No reply from the Mage Killer inside—sound wouldn't carry through the grates.
Impatient, but opening rashly would let the thief escape. He grabbed the emergency radio.
“Everyone to the third floor—now!!”
Servants and hired guards rushed over. With enough manpower for an emergency, Rafano cautiously opened the door.
The scene inside:
“Hey! What the hell?! Get up!!”
Only the collapsed Mage Killer. Safe wide open and empty.
A shrill alarm rang in his head. Dread gripped him.
Shaking the man roused him groggily. In a raspy, regretful voice, he cried out.
“Urgh... I let him get away...”
“Impossible! Room was sealed—how?!”
“He used magic... teleported out the window...”
Rafano, rage boiling over, kicked the barely standing Mage Killer.
“You pathetic worm! I paid you a fortune—how'd you let him slip?!”
“I almost had him. He took a fatal hit—won't get far.”
“Ugh! Excuses!”
“Chase now if you want him.”
Convinced by the man's certainty, Rafano yelled at the guards.
“Get him! I'm coming too!!”
They poured out, hunting the escaped thief. Rafano lumbered after them—
When the girl appeared again behind him.
“How'd it go?”
“He escaped with magic!!”
“Huh? After that big spell in the garden?”
Something's off, she muttered, grilling him.
“Nothing weird about him?”
“Everything's weird! A Mage Killer can't take a wizard?!”
“The Mage Killer... where is he now?”
“On the floor!”
“You left him alone?”
Her scolding tone irked Rafano; he jabbed a finger at her.
“And who the hell are you, butting in—?”
“That Mage Killer might be the culprit!”
“...What?”
Too late.
The full moon hung overhead. Backlit on the roof, the phantom thief announced the grand finale.
“You're... Phantom Thief Raven!!”
Phantom thief and girl faced off in the shadows. Black silk hat, monocle. Black suit, fluttering cape. Cane in hand. Raven's blue eyes gleamed brightly.
“Stop right there, you bastard!!”
Ignoring Rafano's howls, Raven turned to the girl.
“...Yes?”
His playful giggle carried a soft addendum.
“Sure. Next time, I'll catch you.”
With that—and the flap of wings—he vanished.
A black feather drifted down to the girl staring at the empty rooftop. She snatched it and whispered low.
“I will catch you.”
Absolutely.