Chapter 11
Chapter 11
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: Off to Steal Again Today
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Buzz, buzz, buzz.
In the quiet confines of his narrow room, a persistent vibration rang out. The small studio apartment was the perfect size for a single occupant, but currently, it was filled with the unwelcome noise of a smartphone.
"...Ugh, who on earth is calling at this hour?"
Unable to ignore the incessant buzzing any longer, Seokwoo rubbed his eyes and sat up in bed. A momentary surge of irritation rose in him as he wondered who would disturb his rest so late, but the feeling quickly subsided when he saw the caller ID.
Yoo Mira. It was his younger sister, three years his junior.
"Hey, Mira," he answered groatily.
-What? Have you flipped your sleep schedule again? How late were you at the capsule room this time?
"Capsule room? I've been home the whole time. I just wanted to catch up on some sleep."
-Liar, liar.
"Yawn... Anyway, what's up?" Seokwoo stretched out a long yawn and reached for a cereal box on his desk. Cereal poured into a bowl with a sharp rustle, and he roughly finished preparing his breakfast by adding the leftover milk.
-Nothing major, but you know the game you play, Agas? Some of my department classmates and I decided to start playing it together. But as you know, I'm no good at games. So...
"You want some tips, right?"
-Yeah.
Mira had always been diligent with her studies, unlike Seokwoo. Her consistent efforts had paid off—she had entered a top-tier university in Seoul as the top admit. She was currently nearing the end of her junior year after taking a semester off. It seemed Agas was the latest trend at her university as well.
"What about Dad?" Seokwoo asked.
-He said he doesn't mind as long as it's just a hobby.
"Got it. I'll start with the basics then."
-Thanks! You're the best!
"It's no big deal."
Seokwoo was happy to share his knowledge with her. Mira was the only person in the family who had truly stayed on his side. It was thanks to her mediation that he had managed to reach a compromise with their father after their massive fallout.
His father's words echoed in his mind: "Sigh. Fine, I won't stop you. But not in this house. I can't stand seeing you live like that." As a result, Seokwoo had been living in this separate one-room apartment ever since.
-Okay, I've got all of that noted down!
"You're even taking notes for a game?"
-I'm not a hands-on type like you. Having notes makes it much easier for me later. Oh, by the way, is there anything new with you lately...?
The conversation turned to ordinary matters—the usual check-ins between family members living apart. As the call wound down, Mira asked one final question.
-Hey, brother, are you really not coming home this month either? Mom misses you.
"...I'll think about it."
-At least think about it positively. I'll talk to you later.
"Yeah."
The call ended, leaving Seokwoo in silence. Home. He hadn't visited in months, even though he used to go back at least once a month until last year. His family was doing well—his father ran a successful small business—but as a son, he felt he should show his face eventually.
'If I'm going back, I might as well go proudly like I did last year,' he thought. He wanted to bring a nice gift set and some fine liquor. To achieve that, he needed to level up his character and gain some financial leeway in the game world.
'That village chief...'
Thinking of Agas brought yesterday's events back into focus. After essentially blowing his top contribution reward on a broken compass, he had used his thief skills to scout the village chief's possessions. The result had been a single, intriguing item: a safe key.
He was the first player to discover that the chief had a hidden safe, primarily because no one else had the specific skills to peek at NPC possessions, and the chief's home was heavily guarded. The problem was the safe's location.
'He travels with guards but carries the key on his person, so it's probably hidden somewhere nearby,' Seokwoo guessed. He decided he needed to meticulously observe the chief's movements and the interior of his house. Fortunately, he now had a standing invitation to visit under the pretense of sharing tea.
'I can't pass up such useful information. Who knows, the lost rewards might even be inside.' It was time to get to work.
* *
Transitioning from reality back to the game, Seokwoo became Luke once again. He stood in the familiar scenery of the Starting Village. His level had already reached 9, and although he had planned to hit level 10 today and leave for the wider world, he decided to postpone his departure to rob the chief's safe.
'The cleanest scenario is raiding the safe and bolting,' he planned. However, it wouldn't be easy. He could only visit once a day, and sneaking in meant he had to find a way past the guards and the residents constantly milling around the area. Most players who attempted to rob NPCs failed because valuables were usually kept in locked safes or warehouses. Luke, however, already had the key.
* *
Village Chief Hamilton was quite active despite his advanced age, patrolling the village twice a day with his guards. Luke noticed that while the chief cherished the village, his physical range was limited; he spent most of his time at home.
"Oh, Luke. You've come," the chief greeted him during a visit.
"Yes. I couldn't forget the tea you brew. My head is spinning from all the tasks today—please make some quickly."
"I knew you'd appreciate it. Wait a moment, I'll brew it right away."
Luke used these visits to scan the interior of the house bit by bit. He searched the first floor thoroughly over several days but found no suspicious spots or hidden compartments. He began to wonder if there was a hidden room or if he had missed something obvious.
"Hmm? What are you doing standing there?" the chief asked, returning with the tea.
"I was just looking around while you prepared the tea. Sitting still was getting a bit boring," Luke offered smoothly. The chief didn't seem suspicious, remarking that there wasn't much to see in an old man's house. As they drank, Luke's affinity with the chief continued to rise.
'That leaves only the second floor,' Luke thought, glancing at the central staircase. He had stolen the key early on, but he had no chance to use it with the chief constantly present. If Hamilton noticed the key was missing, he might move the safe or change the locks.
Suddenly, there was a knock at the front door. The chief went to answer and returned a moment later with a frustrated expression.
"Ugh, it seems there is an issue with the village drainage I asked Houton about. I need to check it out briefly—wait here, I'll be right back!" The chief rushed out with his guards, leaving Luke alone in the house.
'This is my chance!' Luke realized. Because he had built up so much affinity, the chief felt comfortable leaving him unattended. Luke dashed up the stairs to the second floor.
The second floor was decorated with framed pictures and ordinary furniture. He searched the bookshelves and drawers, but everything was too small to hold a substantial safe. He began to grow frustrated, wondering if there was a hidden door he didn't know how to trigger.
'Damn it, time is running out...'
Then, his gaze snapped upward. On the second-floor ceiling, he spotted a small, crescent-shaped ring. Looking closer, he noticed faint square lines etched into the wood around it.
'A seam!' It was centered on the ring. He knew instantly that something was hidden above the ceiling panel. 'Good, let me check it before he gets back...'
But then, a sharp sound echoed from below.
Creeeak.
The sound of the front door opening signaled the chief's return.