Chapter 16
Chapter 16
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: Off to Steal Again Today
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Crises always struck at the very last moment.
This held true for Luke's party as well.
A total of five monster waves.
And now, the fifth and final one—the one where the most players had tasted bitter failure—had arrived.
"Queeeek!"
"Kyaaak!"
It was a ferocious assault by wild boars.
With around ten of them at level 12 charging in, the party plunged into crisis in an instant.
"Damn those pig bastards, Luke hyung! Pull one more over there!"
"Got it!"
The front line was getting relentlessly pierced.
There was no longer any time to rotate players one by one.
That was why Luke was holding the middle position this time.
Puuk!
To finish off the boar that Rabbit had missed.
"Queeeek!"
"Whoa, whoa."
"Queeek!"
"Oops!"
But perhaps because it was the final assault.
These wild boars weren't dropping with a single strike.
Instead, they charged at Luke even more furiously with body slams.
Evasion Instinct.
A passive skill that automatically dodged enemy attacks with a certain probability.
Of course, that probability was extremely low.
'Still, as the skill levels up, the odds will improve bit by bit.'
In short, it was a useful skill for the early game.
Thud!
And the party skill he'd just acquired wasn't only Evasion Instinct.
The Bandage Wrapping proficiency he'd used as an excuse to disguise Scout.
Once it reached the minimum threshold, he'd actually mastered the Bandage Wrapping skill.
"Hmm."
Luke glanced down at the fallen boar before surveying the battlefield.
"G-Get lost, you filthy beasts!"
The tank fighting desperately.
"MP orb. No, mana orb!"
The mage collapsing with a shout from his old-school gamer days.
This was dangerous.
If things continued like this, not only the party members but the carriage itself would be in peril.
'Can't let that happen.'
He'd dragged this party along with a forced grin all the way—there was no way he'd let it end like that.
"Rabbit!"
"Yeees? I'm listening! What is it... Momma?!"
"Position swap!"
"Yes! Uh, y-yes?"
"Fall back to the middle slowly. I'll take the front."
"But!"
But nothing.
From someone who couldn't hold out any longer.
'Normally, you'd kite them to the carriage or have the tank spin them around at this point...'
But that came with its own risks, and he had no intention of dragging things out.
'Taking down a few boars solo isn't that impressive.'
With that judgment, Luke charged to the front.
"You sure, Luke?"
"It's fine. Just fall back for now. I'll do what I can."
"Then you'll be in danger because of me!"
"Don't worry. If it gets bad, I'll pull back right away. Help me out then, Rabbit. Got it?"
"Ah..."
Rabbit nodded blankly at Luke's warm smile.
How could someone be so kind?
Even in a situation like this, putting others first.
'Ahh, Luke is just...'
A wave of emotion swelled within her.
But she didn't know.
'Ah, this is taking forever. Just scram already. You're in the way.'
Luke's true feelings.
That was when Rabbit fell back to the middle.
Soon, the remaining five boars turned their sights on Luke.
A thief left alone on the front line.
But Luke leisurely spun his dagger in place.
"Let's go easy, yeah boys?"
His lips stretched into a wide grin.
"Queeeek-!"
The sound of pigs squealing soon echoed around him.
No more wild animals assaulted after the boars.
A total of five monster waves.
They'd blocked every single one and safely escorted the carriage.
Thanks to that, the carriage quickly entered safe territory and was now exiting the Trial Forest.
"That was insane!"
Rabbit's voice rang out especially loud.
The group was now chatting inside the carriage just before arriving at the city.
All thanks to the skills Luke had just shown.
"Yeah, insane. Never dreamed you'd solo those boars."
"Totally!"
"We gotta butter you up now, right? You could be a top ranker or something later. Right?"
"Definitely. No, Luke will absolutely make it!"
Rabbit's eyes sparkled as she fawned excitedly at Gulliver's words.
They'd just left the Starting Village, and already talking rankers.
To Luke, who had once been a high ranker, it was laughable.
'I used to kill those rankers.'
Hiding such thoughts, he just waved it off.
"Haha, not that far. Rabbit tanked the boars up front perfectly, and Gulliver hit them with mana orbs at the right moments. That's how I could do it."
Still, he had to stay humble to the end, keeping up the act.
"Man, humble too. You're too good, hyung."
"R-Right. We got through the forest mostly thanks to you!"
"Y'know, that Luke guy on TV gets trashed every day. But our Luke hyung is a total different breed."
"Oh, that guy? The one who massacres players...?"
"Yeah, that psycho!"
Luke flinched!
His eyes twitched.
The daily TV punching bag with the same name.
It was none other than his past self, infamous as the Worst Criminal in History.
"Heard he's total trash. Killed nearly 100,000 players..."
No doubt.
It was about him.
'That trash is sitting right in front of you.'
Of course, the party had no idea.
So Luke just forced a smile.
But only for a moment.
"How can you compare Luke to that monster?!"
"Eh? Huh?"
Rabbit suddenly raised her voice, drawing all eyes to her.
"Just because of the same name? Comparing him to that inhuman scum is too much, Gulliver!"
"I-Is it?"
"Yes! That guy—no, that thing—is a menace to society! A menace! Apologize to Luke right now!"
"Ugh, sorry, hyung."
Was this the same timid Rabbit from moments ago?
Her attitude had flipped, and she was furious.
"Haha, no, it's fine. I'm okay, Rabbit."
Luke, who had awkwardly received the apology, just smiled awkwardly.
But it wasn't a real smile.
'She's suddenly crossing the line hard?'
The mood turned icy.
After that little incident.
"Arriving soon, adventurers!"
Finally, parting time came for Luke's party.
"Already?"
"Guess so."
"Everyone, great job. Hope we meet again."
"......"
"......"
As Luke gave his farewell, Rabbit and Gulliver exchanged glances.
As if asking, you too?
"Um, Luke, if it's okay..."
"Hyung, if you're cool with it..."
Then they spoke up at the same time.
What were they about to say?
No need to guess.
'Friend add, obviously.'
The time together was short.
But his performance had advanced their relationship a tiny bit.
'Could reject outright, but...'
Doing so without reason might look suspicious.
A polite excuse to draw the line would be cleanest, but no need now.
Why?
Players disembarked one by one.
To different spots.
'Looks like I'm first.'
Neigh!
The horse's cry.
The world went dark.
"......"
When he opened his eyes late, he was already standing in the middle of the road leading to the small city.
'Finally entering the main continent.'
He'd been through this before, but this time it felt different.
His current class was Great Thief.
Anywhere with people was his hunting ground.
"Whoa, this is Small City Parten?"
"Can't compare to the Starting Village. The scale, the crowds—insane."
Luke looked up at the passing players' voices and scanned around.
'Still the same.'
A city about twice the size of the Starting Village came into view.
Small City Parten.
The southernmost city newbies hit first.
"Check out these items before you go!"
"Goblin Slayer achievement hunters, gather here! Level 30 warrior bus incoming!"
"Appraising unidentified items cheap!"
"Guild recruitment. 20s and up. No level limit!"
That explained the bustle at the entrance.
Players selling goods.
Or recruiting party members.
Not just NPCs—players hustling too.
'This is where the real game starts.'
The hidden scenario.
The marked spot on the map was just past Parten.
'Gear up and level here max before heading there.'
And scout for Night King's items while at it.
'But first...'
Luke pulled items from his inventory and equipped them.
A pointed hat.
Blue leather outfit.
Looking every bit the hunter.
The Ancient Hunter set he'd stolen from the village chief's safe.
'Nice, premium gear shines.'
The set bonuses were nothing to scoff at early game.
'Even if I bump into those two by chance, they won't recognize me right away.'
The fedora hid his face well too.
'But this is the real jackpot.'
Among his loot so far, alongside the Wind Bracelet, a true big score.
None other than...
Party member Rabbit's tier-1 high-grade weapon, Braincleaver.
'Now in my hands.'
Because he'd stolen it straight from her.
'Electrocution is straight busted early game.'
Among status effects, electrocution was notoriously overpowered early on.
The reason was simple.
A chance to stun.
And ongoing damage from the electrocution lasting seconds.
Unless countered by attributes, it enabled massive bonus damage.
'Heh heh heh, who knew I'd wield this from the start.'
Luke grinned down at his inventory.
Glanced around briefly, then equipped Braincleaver.
'Just avoid running into that girl for a while.'
There was more than one Braincleaver in Agas.
As long as he didn't flash it at her, no suspicions.
'Alright, let's head in.'
But then.
"Halt."
The entrance guards suddenly blocked his path.
'Right, they check IDs from here.'
He'd forgotten.
Back when his Infamy barred him from towns, he'd snuck in—never strolled through the front gate.
'But now I'm different!'
His False Identity hid his Infamy.
"Where from, adventurer?"
"Starting Village."
"Hmm, nothing suspicious. Go on in."
"Yessir~"
That's why he could strut past the guards confidently.
Waving casually as he entered, the familiar cityscape unfolded.
And.
"Ooh, new face? Just hit the city? Check my wares—special newbie discount!"
As expected, merchants hawking goods caught his eye.
'Hah, these guys never change.'
They weren't ordinary merchants.
Worse than scammers targeting newbies—they fleeced rookies.
'Fresh out of Starting Village, they don't know market prices.'
So they waited here, pouncing on every newbie.
To pick their pockets clean.
'Cute, so cute.'
He was no slouch in this field either.
Infamous not just for kills but all sorts of scams.
This was kids' play by comparison.
"You need gear like this to progress smoothly..."
"These punks got their balls on public display or what."
"Huh?"
"Piss off before I cleave your jaw. Huh? Not going?!"
"A-Ah, backing off! Backing off now!"
Some only listened when you raised a fist.
'Everything they sell is junk...'
Then.
His eyes caught something amid the merchants' displayed items.
A black mask pattern.
The moment he spotted it, his eyes went wide.