Chapter 18
Chapter 18
Episode 18.
Clank-
The wind blew chillingly, making the rusty railing sway precariously.
The place Moon Wolf led me to was the rooftop.
It was a high ground overlooking a large warehouse a short distance away.
As I gazed at the warehouse, a calm voice reached my ears.
“That warehouse is the hideout of the gang that stole the valuables.”
I nodded.
Even without that, the status window was displaying information.
[Location: Smuggling Organization, ‘Twilight Foot’ Hideout]
It was an old, dilapidated warehouse.
Overgrown weeds, rusty metal walls, and roof fragments rolling on the ground added to its desolate atmosphere.
It didn’t look like anyone had been in or out recently….
‘Tire tracks.’
It was all a deception.
The inside of the warehouse would be crawling with smugglers and fanatics.
Moon Wolf raised his parasol and pointed towards the back of the warehouse.
“The operation will begin in about two hours. When the wagon carrying the stolen valuables departs from the back door of the warehouse.”
I knew the details, but I played along with the conversation.
“Where are they taking the valuables?”
“We suspect the Ghost Elevator.”
Moon Wolf pointed to the ceiling of the lower level with his finger.
A Ghost Elevator refers to an elevator that was previously closed but has been secretly reactivated.
Residents of the lower levels, unable to obtain permission to access the middle levels, sometimes used such unofficial means for inter-level travel.
How could such illegality be openly practiced?
In Border City, even public officials are merchants.
As long as you slip them money, they’ll turn a blind eye whether a smuggling organization operates a cargo elevator or lays down subway tracks.
“Since we’re not sure which Ghost Elevator they’ll head for, we just need to discreetly tail the wagon and ambush them just before they board the elevator to reclaim the valuables.”
I asked the question I had prepared.
“Is there a reason you’re not going straight into the warehouse?”
After a moment of silence, Moon Wolf retorted.
“…Into the enemy’s hideout?”
“Yes. There’s no guarantee they’ll transport all the valuables at once, is there? It would be better to raid the place directly to ensure full recovery.”
Moon Wolf’s head tilted slightly.
A silent gaze.
“……”
If this were in-game, a message would have popped up on the screen indicating a slight increase in Moon Wolf’s Affinity.
‘Moon Wolf prefers bold and unpredictable companions.’
In actual operations, such sudden suggestions are often accepted.
But as an interviewer.
The answer Moon Wolf could give was predetermined.
“Entering a building whose structure we don’t know is dangerous.”
I chimed in appropriately.
“Indeed… we don’t know how many traps there might be, and we’d have to face more enemy forces.”
“Yes, and as you know, I am a non-combatant only tasked with guiding the operation. This means you’ll have to fight alone.”
A warning to abandon reckless thoughts.
But the reality was different.
‘They’re trying hard to act weak.’
If Moon Wolf went all out, the villains in that warehouse would turn into dried jerky in less than a minute.
Besides, if not for the injury, they wouldn’t be a figure idle enough to interview a newcomer.
They would likely be dealing with bigger figures in the main territory of the Rutian Theocracy.
“Any other questions?”
“No.”
“Then let’s wait.”
After that, Moon Wolf fell silent.
I also leaned against the wall without bothering to say more.
Whoosh-
Thus, silence descended upon the rooftop.
Moon Wolf still leaned against the railing, looking down at the warehouse.
I gazed at his back instead of the warehouse.
‘I was curious what it would feel like to see them in person.’
Moon Wolf was one of the most popular companion characters in <Forgotten God>.
I liked them quite a bit too.
The modeling was especially impressive, but unfortunately, they were completely wrapped in robes and wearing a mask now, so nothing was visible.
Only strands of red hair occasionally peeked out.
‘They are also a tragic character who meets a bad ending in most routes.’
I recalled the bleak scenarios of the latter half, then shook my head.
‘Let’s focus on the test for now.’
I had my own problems to deal with.
The boss for the admission test was none other than two.
A Paladin and a Priest.
They were elites sent by the Rutian Theocracy to ensure the safe transport of the sacrifices, and each individual was stronger than Aaron Burnecker, the boss of Act 1, Chapter 1.
Even after undergoing some stat upgrades, they were impossible to defeat normally.
The bigger problem was that they exhibited considerable synergy.
Enhanced regeneration.
Attack buffs.
Shields, various blessings.
A Paladin supported by a Priest becoming an flawless melee character is an age-old tradition in RPGs.
‘So I have to aim for an individual takedown….’
There was no way to separate them.
The two, tasked with escorting the transport wagon, would never move separately.
They stayed together from the beginning to the end of the mission.
On top of that, many smugglers accompanied them for protection….
Users who confidently took the hidden unit route realize at this point.
This wasn’t meant to be cleared.
They delete their save files and quietly go for the normal admission test.
But….
‘It’s not impossible.’
There was always a way in <Forgotten God>.
I got up from my spot.
Moon Wolf turned with a questioning gesture.
“The operation time isn’t yet….”
“No.”
I smiled faintly at Moon Wolf.
“No matter how I think about it, this seems like the right way.”
“You…”
Before I could finish speaking, I kicked off the railing.
The distance to the ground was considerable, but my improved Agility showed me the way.
Kagagagag-!
I controlled my speed by grabbing onto the hanging vines and minimized the rebound by stepping on the structures that jutted out from the wall crevices.
The last thing was the window frame.
Placing my hand on the edge, I pulled myself up with force and landed on the ground.
Thump-!
I lightly dusted off my palms and looked up at the rooftop.
Moon Wolf was leaning on the railing, looking down at me.
“Gunter.”
Even from a distance, the voice reached my ears as clearly as magic.
Still calm and composed.
“As I mentioned earlier, entering the warehouse is dangerous. There will be various traps and mechanical devices, and you will have to face more troops. I cannot accompany you either.”
It sounded like a warning at first glance… but I knew it wasn’t.
“Come back.”
The lower half of the face that the mask couldn’t fully hide.
…A very faint hint of a smile seemed visible.
Tadak-
After confirming that, I sprinted towards the warehouse.
At the same time, I poured all the ‘Doping Potions’ I had stuffed into my pocket into my mouth.
They were things I had made by visiting apothecaries in the afternoon.
[Overdose Lv.1 is activated]
[Addict Saintess anticipates the effect!]
[Agility temporarily increases…]
[Strength temporarily increases…]
[Stamina temporarily increases…]
[The effects of the drug are maximized!]
My future superior was watching.
It was time to prove myself properly.
* * *
Right in front of the warehouse.
I gradually slowed down and re-examined my plan.
As mentioned before, with my current specs, I could never win against the Paladin and Priest when they were together.
That’s why I’m attacking the warehouse, their only separate waiting area.
‘It was definitely structured like this.’
As I recalled, the upper building was drawn like a blueprint.
I had played the stage so many times that there was no room for vagueness.
The location of traps and the patrol routes of the guards were all clear.
‘…This would be the optimal infiltration route.’
Taking this path would allow me to reach the Priest’s room with minimal engagement.
Assassinating the Priest, who is weak in close combat, one-on-one, would not be difficult.
There was also a mechanism to deal with the Paladin left alone.
Once the two are neutralized, the smugglers would scatter on their own.
‘Simple.’
It was simple, but it was an operation that could only be carried out by understanding all the elements of the test.
As an Incarnation, I had already mastered them all and even prepared the key equipment from the shop to support the operation.
It was certain that it would look quite impressive to someone watching.
‘They’re coming.’
The effect of Overdose was powerful.
My senses became extremely sharp, and I could feel the approaching patrols even in the darkness.
I picked up two hand axes from my waist.
With the addition of Serpent’s Nest, my perception was clearer than in broad daylight.
Whoosh-
I threw the hand axes.
If this were in-game, throwing weapons with minimal damage wouldn’t be a good option.
But reality and games are different.
In reality, if an axe blade gets stuck in someone’s neck, it’s over.
…Just like now.
Crack-
I grabbed the handles of the axes embedded in the enemies’ necks as I charged.
Thanks to the pulling force, the corpses fell silently.
Lowering my posture, I scanned the surroundings.
‘It should be somewhere around here.’
This massive warehouse was a facility for imprisoning numerous sacrifices.
It was also a major base where smugglers resided.
Naturally, there was a separate storage for food and supplies.
‘Then there must be ventilation shafts.’
Bingo.
Whoosh-
A faint sound of wind.
It was disguised with weeds, but it was useless against my highly sharpened senses.
I lowered my posture and approached the ventilation shaft.
A passage just large enough for one person to barely fit through came into view.
Of course, it was locked, but-
Click-
[Red Street Pillar shouts: Right! Left! Slightly left!]
Picking the lock on the grate door was instantaneous.
‘Good, it’s going smoothly.’
I crouched down and pushed myself inside.
Cold, damp air.
The sounds of the organization members laughing and chatting echoed from above.
Thud-
I crawled, muffling my movements.
The auction starts at midnight.
Soon, they will gather their forces and begin moving the sacrifices.
I had to finish everything before then.
I hurried and soon reached the end of the ventilation shaft.
The space visible beyond the grate was, as expected, the food storage.
Under the dim lighting, large sacks of grain were piled up haphazardly.
And….
‘…A person?’
Two of them, in fact.
I stopped immediately.
At the same time, a thick curse pierced my ears.
“Ha, you son of a bitch. You’ve met your match today.”
“Mmph-!”
A dull thud.
A muffled groan from the gag echoed stiflingly.
‘One of the organization members… and a sacrifice?’
Since the ventilation shaft was close to the ceiling, all I could see was the violently shaking upper body of the latter.
I gauged the distance between the grates and carefully aimed my dagger.
Swish-
It hit the neck.
The smuggler, focused on beating the sacrifice, slumped over.
“Mmph-!”
Then, I contracted my body with all my might.
Crash-!
The grate blocking the ventilation shaft exit broke off with a single kick.
I landed on the sacks of grain without a sound.
‘Good, infiltration successful.’
I passed the first hurdle.
Now I just need to go up to the ground, assassinate the Priest, and deal with the Paladin.
Of course, various traps and guards will block my way, but I was thoroughly prepared.
‘What will they give me if I clear it with no deaths?’
Even in Act 1, Chapter 1, where I died more than ten times, I got 150 Karma.
I couldn’t help but have expectations.
Thinking that, I slowly lowered my gaze.
“……?”
The corpse of the smuggler lying on the floor.
And next to it, the sacrifice wriggling like a live fish.
That huge physique was strangely familiar.