The Thief's Plunder

The Magic Tower was bustling with activity in preparation for the upcoming Holy Night Festival.

Morgana Whitland, the Archmage regarded as the greatest within the Magic Tower, found her quarters unusually lively thanks to the visit of her disciple, Camilla.

"Why did you call for me?"

The woman with deep violet hair, her face weary, was none other than Camilla—former mage of the Hero Party. Standing before her was her mentor, Morgana. Camilla gave a slight nod in greeting before promptly taking a seat at the table in front of Morgana.

"Do you plan on attending the Holy Night Festival?"

"Are you giving me a choice?"

Morgana shook her head.

"No. As if I would."

Camilla's face twisted in displeasure.

"Then why ask?"

"Because teasing you is fun. Your reactions haven't changed since you were little."

At Morgana's words, Camilla pressed her lips together and puffed out her cheeks like a pufferfish. Of course, Morgana always found it adorable and would poke those cheeks.

Today was no different.

"So, are you going to the Holy Night Festival?"

"Normally, I'd refuse because I don't want to go, but it seems I can't this time. Since it's a festival to celebrate the birth of a new Hero, I don't really have a good excuse to skip it, do I?"

A flinch.

At the mention of a new Hero's birth, Camilla's body trembled.

To her, the word "Hero" still carried an unforgettable weight. She had been part of the former Hero Party, and even after coming to the Magic Tower, she had struggled to focus on her research—all because of the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Hero.

"What's wrong?"

"It's nothing..."

Morgana, seemingly oblivious to Camilla's reaction, sighed as she flipped through a book.

"Attending something like the Holy Night Festival is just bothersome. Isn't there a better way?"

"But it's the birth of a Hero. Shouldn't you go?"

"I already fulfilled my duty to the Hero by sending you before. That's enough, I'd say."

"If that's how you feel, should I draft a letter of refusal?"

"No, forget it. It's easier to just go and come back than to stir up unnecessary trouble."

Morgana, as always, was stubborn in her ways. Camilla had grown accustomed to it by now.

'More importantly, a new Hero appearing means...'

One possibility surfaced in Camilla's mind—the death of the previous Hero.

A Hero, being the wielder of the divine Holy Sword bestowed by the noble goddess, could never exist in multiples.

The birth of a new Hero meant that the one who had previously drawn the Holy Sword no longer existed. Naturally, it could only mean the death of Kim Jin-woo, the Hero she had once known.

'...So that's how it ended up.'

For a moment, her heart ached. But she quickly composed herself. Then, she stepped outside to prepare her attire for the upcoming Holy Night Festival.

***

The roles had been decided. Thanks to Aria's concession, I took on the role of her new husband, while Beatrice became our attendant.

Of course, Beatrice had protested why she had to be the attendant, but fortunately, I suppressed her complaints with my authority (and a certain part of my anatomy). And so, we left Rubalu and set off toward the Stein Empire.

"This is infuriating."

Rubalu's location was truly the worst. While we had taken a boat to cross the lake when leaving Rubalu, the desert that stretched beyond was enough to break my spirit.

"A carriage... I want a carriage..."

Beatrice, seemingly delirious from the heat, wailed.

"Carriages can't traverse the desert, remember?"

All we had were three camels capable of crossing the desert. Had we not even had those, walking through the sands would have been an impossible dream.

"This is exactly why I rarely attended the Holy Night Festival. The journey to the Empire is too grueling to be worth it."

"I can see why."

If not for the black cloth wrapped around our bodies—as Aria had advised—the scorching desert sun would have roasted our skin beyond recognition.

I glanced around briefly. Unlike Aria, who seemed accustomed to the heat, Beatrice was slumped over her camel as if she might collapse at any moment.

"We should rest for a while."

"Since the sun is setting, let's stay here for the night. The desert at night is dangerous."

And so, we settled beneath a rocky outcrop in the desert. We lit a fire to maintain body heat and laid out sleeping bags on the ground.

"Sleeping outdoors... It's so uncomfortable."

"What can we do? At least we have sleeping bags, so be grateful."

"Once we're out of the desert, we can travel comfortably with the merchant caravans contracted by the kingdom."

At Aria's words, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Beatrice fell silent and turned her head away. Exhausted, she was bound to fall asleep soon.

But sleep didn't come as easily as I'd hoped.

"Bwahahaha! Kill them all and take everything!"

An unpleasant voice rang out, followed by the clamor of people. Anyone shouting like that was clearly not friendly.

"What's going on?"

I sat up from my sleeping bag and scanned the surroundings, immediately grasping the situation.

"Who the hell ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠are these guys?"

"Bandits. Judging by their insignia, they must be the Black Scorpion Thieves' Guild that's been running rampant in the desert lately."

"Thieves' Guild?"

"Yeah, I remember hearing rumors from merchants ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠visiting the kingdom. They say the Thieves' Guild is backing them."

"The Thieves' Guild, huh..."

I didn't need to hear more. If the Thieves' Guild was truly supporting them, capturing these bastards could lead me to information about Bel. If not, I'd just kill them all.

"Let's take them all down. Hey, sex slave."

"Y-yes...?"

"Buff me up."

"You're a demon now—my buffs would weaken you, not strengthen you."

"That so? Then just dance or something. Be my cheerleader."

"...What?"

Leaving a bewildered Beatrice behind, I drew Tyrfing and charged.

The bandits were nothing special. With each swing of my sword, heads went flying. Before I knew it, corpses littered the ground.

"M-monster!"

"Take him down!"

The remaining bandits who still had their heads blocked my path. But stopping me was nearly impossible. Even if I'd disguised myself with the Precious Jade, my current physique was that of a full-fledged demon.

Demons were overwhelmingly powerful by nature. And Tyrfing's strength was formidable as well.

[Resentment from death has accumulated. Tyrfing has grown.]

[Skill 'Immunity to All Poisons' has been acquired.]

[Level has increased.]

In the end, only one member of the Black Scorpion Thieves' Guild remained alive. The last survivor had stayed at the back the whole time.

She'd covered her face and upper body with a veil, but the curves of her body and the sharp eyes peeking through left no doubt—she was a woman.

I approached her, my sword dripping with blood.

"P-please spare me..."

"Sure, I'll spare you. But you'll have to tell me everything you know."

I'd gotten myself an excellent hostage. And of course, the sex slave could join in too.

I roughly tore off her veil. Fiery red hair and eyes blazing like the desert sun—she was quite beautiful.

"First, why don't you tell me everything you know?"

"...I can't."

Her wavering gaze betrayed her. She wanted to act tough, but fear was creeping in.

"Even better. You'll be begging to talk soon."

I didn't need to hear more. I reached out and yanked off her belt. The attached front flap came off with it, revealing toned abs.

"Impressive."

"......"

She had a different vibe from Beatrice or Aria. While those two had slender, delicate figures, the woman before me looked like a hardened warrior.

Her well-defined abs drew my gaze. A closer look showed the same sculpted muscles in her arms and thighs. Just looking at her made my mouth water.

Gulp.

'I've always wanted to try a woman like this at least once.'

Not that I'd ever had the chance. But now, I could. My hand immediately reached for her abs.

The moment my fingers lightly traced her stomach, her face stiffened.

"J-just kill me!"

"Sure, I'll kill you."

I drew Tyrfing again. The fact that she'd begged for her life earlier but now wanted to die could only mean one thing.

She was desperate, trying to use her life as leverage. Well, as long as I didn't play along, it was fine.

"...Y-you're really going to kill me?"

Her pupils trembled as she stared at Tyrfing, still stained crimson. Pure terror.

"You asked me to, didn't you? Guess I have no choice. Though I would've spared you if you'd offered your body instead."

"...If I offer my body, you'll really spare me?"

"Along with information. Tell me everything you know about the Thieves' Guild."

"...Fine. Just... put the sword away first..."

I sheathed my sword and glared at her. Immediately, she began peeling off her clothes layer by layer. Soon, only the thinnest undergarments remained.

Her chest was a bit small, but that was fine. With a body like hers, there'd be other pleasures.

"Take off your panties too."

"......Yes."

The woman immediately lowered her panties. The black thicket covering her groin came into view. It was like a jungle forest.