Chapter 153
Chapter 153
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 153
Chapter Title: Hassan and the Nine-Headed Thief #4
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The Sandgirl, probably named Dorthea, lets out a small cry.
"You're the ninth thief, the last one!"
"What?"
"That's the same scroll I have. We can't talk about this here. Follow me...!"
With that, the Sandgirl Dorthea vanishes in a puff—quick as a flash.
I have no idea what's going on, but my gut tells me I should follow her.
We head out the back door behind the staff lounge.
"The moon's bright tonight."
She glances up at the night sky, then starts climbing the building, grabbing onto walls, pipes, and railings.
Slip, thud, tap-tap...
Soon, she's up on the rooftop, looking down and calling out.
"What are you doing? Get up here. No one will see us."
Climbing a two-story building with her bare hands.
Her grip strength must be insane—or maybe it's just her skill. There are protrusions to grab here and there, but scaling a building wall isn't something anyone can do.
"Hurry! If my brother notices, I'll be in deep shit...!"
She's urging me on relentlessly, so with a what-the-hell attitude, I follow her lead, groping for handholds to climb to the roof.
Thud, thud-.
There are plenty of footholds and grips, so it's easier than I thought to reach the top.
"You're a bit slow, but your grip looks solid."
The Sandgirl Dorthea sizes me up with a casual remark.
"Why drag me up here?"
This bizarre moonlit ascent has completely sobered me up from the buzz I had while climbing. Did I climb up here just to fool around? Is she thinking of doing something fun?
Her slim belly, the jangling trinkets, those long, toned limbs—they're awfully tantalizing, and my dick's getting hard in an instant.
Of course, I know nothing like what I'm imagining is going to happen.
Still, my dick's an eternal optimist, stiffening at every opportunity. Being too healthy can be a curse.
Anyway, to calm my hardening lower half, I look around at the scenery. From up high on the roof, Sodomora's western slums look strangely eerie under the moonlight.
Buildings plastered with tiles and plaster, unevenly. Surprisingly, many lack proper roofs, leaving ceilings wide open.
The open view clears my chest, lifting my mood. That's when the Sandgirl Dorthea speaks.
"Seeing a new face with an executive's symbol means you passed Big Joe's test, right?"
Executive's symbol? Big Joe's test? Unknown keywords flood my ears. I rack my brain, trying to infer from context.
"Big Joe—you mean the masked guy from the underground market? Pretty big guy."
"Yeah, the titanium lock-picking test."
"Ah. So, are you one of the Thieves' Guild executives or something?"
"Right. Eight scrolls are scattered around the city, and one ends up with you. What rotten luck. Training newbies isn't my thing."
Newbie training?
No clue what she means. Dorthea glances around and continues.
"But hey, you climbed up here, so basic wall-scaling's no issue. You picked the lock, so you've got decent dexterity. Anything else I need to know?"
"Are you asking me right now?"
"Yeah, tell me what you can do, and I'll teach you that. Truth is, I'm no good at teaching. No idea where to start."
"I might not know what I don't know."
"...That's serious. Why the hell did Big Joe pass a guy like you? Are you even a thief?"
"I just interviewed for the Thieves' Guild. Is this the executive interview or something?"
She slaps her forehead with her palm.
"No way. Big Joe didn't even explain that? That bastard's been slacking since the boss changed."
The veiled dancer woman Dorthea grumbles to herself in anger.
"You're a Thieves' Guild executive as of today! That was the test for picking bars!"
"Sh-shit."
"What?"
"No, just... too happy."
Me, an executive? High up in the ranks?
The highest positions I've held were group project leader or Bronze adventurer party head.
For a guy like Hassan, who's bounced between slave and gladiator slave, is this a promotion?
But it's the Thieves' Guild—soon to be crushed. Does it come with perks? I decide to ask.
"What benefits do Thieves' Guild executives get?"
"Plenty. Show that scroll, and you can use the underground market's informants for free!"
"I see."
"Why the lukewarm reaction? This is huge!"
"I see!"
Apparently, free access to underground informants is a big deal. So I decide to be genuinely thrilled. Whatever it is, it sounds good!!
As I'm beaming openly, Dorthea peers at me closely. A woman staring at my face and body.
Maybe she noticed my gauntlets—four gold for the pair, top-notch stuff?
"You're pretty huge. Size can be a hindrance on jobs."
"Is that so."
"Lately, high-rank adventurers up top are out to get us. They're even calling in more from other regions. We won't get caught, but you're so big, you might."
Me getting caught? Technically, I'm on the side that catches thieves.
From what she's saying, rumors of a major crackdown on the Thieves' Guild in Sodomora are swirling, but details are still hush-hush.
Makes sense—if they knew, they'd be watching me closely.
In a world without internet or advanced comms, that's a plus.
I start thinking of advantages I can leverage.
Dorthea adds one more thing.
"Hard to picture a big lug like you stealing. A Samaritan thief? Ever stolen anything?"
Have I stolen? As a kid, I swiped coins from my parents' wallets plenty.
In middle school, I got bolder—tens of thousands from bills. Got caught and beaten, but experience is experience.
"Yeah, I have."
"...Hm, hard to believe. Can't picture it. Fine, follow me. Time to see your skills."
* * *
The Sandgirl Dorthea leaps between roofs like a sneaky stray cat.
Light build or flexible body—she navigates irregular rooftops without a single slip.
Chasing her as a thief dancer, I'm dying. Feet sink between roofs, sliding, shattering tiles everywhere.
Me, making noise like upstairs banging. Sorry to sleeping folks, but this is undercover work.
After a long run, Dorthea stops near the west gate guard post.
The 24-hour guards keep the office lit with lanterns, even late.
Tap.
Dorthea hops down lightly from the roof. Peeking from an alley corner, she scouts.
"West gate guards always carry manacles in their back pocket. I'll steal one—watch closely."
Her eyes fix on an armed guard yawning in front of the post. I watch too.
Step, step.
His patrol pattern is regular.
Dorthea spots it, crouches low as he turns, and approaches silently.
Jangling trinkets on her, yet no sound as she moves low.
Impressive.
A true Thieves' Guild executive.
Dorgo's little sister an executive? Dorgo didn't raise her right.
Lost in thought, Dorthea snatches the manacles from the guard's waist and slinks back.
She unfurls the long cord in front of me—coiled like a snake.
"How's that? Basics—you should manage this. Can you?"
Can I? Honestly, probably not.
Reading my mind, she adds.
"Fail, and I'll boot you from executives on my authority. Take the scroll too—no meeting tomorrow."
"Meeting?"
"Yeah. Even old man Hidora's coming personally. Big score tomorrow, then lay low."
Some big executive gathering tomorrow.
Tip off Hippolyte with location, and we could nab them all?
Thieves crushed.
Count's reward.
Sanatorium.
Mass points, levels.
Gold-tier adventurer.
Happy marriage with Luna, proud Hippolyte. Elfride fuming in envy.
Visions flash by.
From illegal alien to envied success—job, home, wife. Gaia continent dream.
Fuck, can't miss this.
"Fuck it, I'll try."
"Confidence is nice, but hiding that bulk? Anyway, take these manacles, tie them back on him. Undetected."
Return the stolen goods undetected. Tricky, but I have a secret weapon.
Nox's bizarre blessing adjusting stealth detection!
"Five minutes. Till guards mobilize."
"Be right back—wait here."
Slink.
Gripping the cord, I crouch like she did.
Approach slowly, one step. Pattern memorized—no sweat.
"Lady Nox—."
I invoke the protogenoi of night. Deep breath—familiar text appears.
『Stealth of the Night Cloak activates.』
『Consumes Karma Value to adjust stealth detection probability.』
『Current Karma Value: 97.』
96.
95.
94...
Good, it's on.
Drops 1 per second—about 90 seconds total.
No need for five minutes; end before wasting more.
Ssh, ssh.
I close in right behind the guard.
"Fuck, time's crawling. When's relief, assholes?"
So close, I hear his mutter clearly. I line up the cord at his waist. But how to tie without detection?
Knotting means touching—alerting him, maybe breaking the blessing.
But with Sun God's precise, nimble hands added?
Gold-tier adventurer.
Hero Hassan.
Quit now, dream fades.
Visualizing success, I reach for his waist.
Ssh, sssh.
Pitching tents, I've knotted plenty—no biggie.
Crunch.
Done. Fuck yeah!
Secure knot, then back to Dorthea's corner.
"Whew... good?"
Exhaling held breath—text returns.
『Stealth of the Night Cloak deactivates.』
『Remaining Karma Value: 60.』
Started at 97—40 seconds used.
Could've been faster; hesitation cost 10.
Wasted 10 Karma. Damn.
Anyway, succeeded undetected. How's the vet executive rate it? She just blinks brown eyes from shadows, silent.
"Problem?"
"...No. Faster than me. What? How? Skin and hair so dark you blended?"
She bombards me with questions, incredulous. My moves impressed even a guild exec.
Fuck, childhood wallet raids paying off.
"Got a blessing? Thief and messenger god? Mercury's theft boon?"
"Nope."
"Then which god aids thieving? Someone... Ah, who? There is one... Wait, Night Goddess? Right? Though that's impossible."
"Kinda similar—."
I trail off vaguely. She shrieks, forgetting stealth.
"Holy shit, you're legit! Blessed by Night Goddess! Natural thief! Sneaky, filthy thief! Scum of the earth! True bastard!"
Fuck, praise or insult? But her eyes widen over veil, dance and voice wild—probably praise.
Feeling oddly pleased by the harsh compliments, she drops a bombshell.
"You—you could outdo the Eight and become new boss! You're the one...!"
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Author's Note
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