Chapter 8
Chapter 8
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: Backstreet Mad Dog (1)
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Leonia Empire, Prifre City Adventurer's Guild Branch.
"Phew... No rest for us today either."
"Everyone, let's go grab some lunch!"
As noon hit, most of the adventurers swarmed to the restaurants for lunch, leaving the guild staff to enjoy a sweet, short break.
"Senior, where do you wanna eat today?"
"Anywhere."
"That's the hardest answer to hear..."
Of course, since they never knew when an adventurer might show up, a certain number of staff had to stay behind at the guild.
The receptionists took turns deciding the eating order every day, and today was one of those days when Sylvia and her junior were at the bottom of the list.
"Um, Senior Sylvia."
"What."
During breaks like lunchtime, the unwritten rule among guild receptionists was to avoid unnecessary talk to recharge energy as much as possible.
Otherwise, they couldn't endure the high-intensity work, so it was a rule born out of necessity for smoother operations.
But the junior decided to satisfy her curiosity instead of following the unwritten rule.
"Why'd you give that newbie adventurer a B-rank request?"
Request ranks were basically set based on whether an adventurer of the same rank could handle it solo without issues.
A B-rank request meant it could be smoothly completed by a B-rank adventurer or a party made up of multiple C-ranks.
"That request you gave him... it's that one, right? The 'Backstreet Mad Dog'..."
But Sylvia had assigned a B-rank request to Rion, a C-rank adventurer who had just registered as a newbie.
And it was a so-called "abandoned request" that no one else wanted to touch.
"No way... you were trying to set him up...?"
To "set up."
A slang term recently popular among guild staff, meaning maliciously handing a dangerous request to an adventurer who accepts it.
Since receptionists were just brokers recommending requests, and the adventurer ultimately chose to accept it, it was a tricky loophole that was hard to punish.
"Me? You nuts?"
Of course, that was in the past.
When adventurer accidents related to requests spiked in the empire, they passed laws to prevent it.
To avoid the empire's wrath, the guild also ramped up training and regulations for staff.
Now, if caught trying to set up an adventurer, receptionists faced punishments equivalent to murder or attempted murder.
"Then why on earth...?"
"Because it's the safest request."
"Safest? Do you know how scary the 'Backstreet Mad Dog' is?!"
Backstreet Mad Dog.
It was the nickname of Chloe, the vicious pickpocket recently terrorizing Prifre.
Those hearing it for the first time wondered if it was an overblown title for a mere pickpocket.
But those who'd seen her wondered why she stuck to mere petty crimes like pickpocketing.
The Mad Dog's targets were always wealthy merchants or nobles.
Unlike typical pickpockets who went for easy, defenseless marks, she targeted the most heavily guarded, meticulous ones.
In the process, Chloe had taken down countless escorts single-handedly, including some fairly high-ranked adventurers among them.
Furious victims who'd fallen prey put out requests at the guild to catch her, but adventurers who knew her skills refused them.
It was a thankless request—insanely tough but with little payoff.
As a result, Chloe's infamy spread like wildfire, making her Prifre's most notorious criminal overnight.
"It's too dangerous! If a newbie runs into a monster like that—"
"Have you ever heard of the Mad Dog killing anyone?"
To date, Chloe hadn't killed a single person.
Unofficially, maybe, but based on her actions so far, she clearly followed a no-kill policy.
"No... but they could still get hurt—"
"Do you know how many adventurers who fail requests make it back alive?"
"Huh?"
"Ten percent. Nine out of ten die—unofficial stats, of course."
For adventurers, failing a request was practically a death sentence.
But with Chloe-related requests, even failure meant you'd likely keep your life.
"So you—"
"Yeah, I gave her that one on purpose."
For adventurers, lessons came at the cost of their lives—the final wisdom they gained.
If they could learn those lessons and survive, what did a few scrapes matter?
Adventurers were stubborn types who rarely heeded others' advice anyway.
Sylvia often suggested this request to overly enthusiastic newbies, and most who failed and returned survived to become veteran adventurers.
"She's just a kid. Didn't want her facing hardship too soon."
A newbie wanting to adventure solo, without a frontline tank or even a staff to shorten casting time.
Could there be a greener rookie more primed for disaster?
Sylvia patiently waited for Rion.
For the newbie who would meet the Mad Dog, realize her own arrogance and the harsh reality, and choose to adventure with comrades.
...
"First... I have to... capture you... or something."
"What?"
Clang!
Chloe doubted her own ears.
'She wants to capture me?'
She wondered if the girl in front of her was seriously declaring her intent to take her in.
"Um... put the sword down... and come quietly... you won't get hurt..."
"Huh?"
But the girl acted like Chloe had heard right, merely looking down on her.
"You think this is fake?"
Even as Chloe thrust her blade forward, the girl remained unfazed.
A 15cm dagger could easily kill with a swing, yet the girl's demeanor didn't change.
"You could really die here. No one's around to protect you."
Chloe saw it as baseless pride, the kind only sheltered flowers from good homes could have.
Like she could never be harmed by scum like Chloe.
That she was nobler, more special, untouchable.
No matter the warnings, the girl wouldn't flee.
Finally, Chloe gripped her dagger tighter, ready to deal with her.
"Guess words won't cut it. This is on you."
'Won't kill her.'
Weapons with short reach like daggers were more effective with quick thrusts than slashes.
But Chloe didn't want to seriously injure the girl; she aimed to end this annoyance with minimal blood.
Whoosh!
Chloe lunged at the girl in an instant.
'Robe means mage... close in fast.'
The girl lacked a staff, a mage's essential tool.
Chloe didn't know why, but her speed wouldn't give a staffless mage time to cast.
Her swift approach was Chloe's greatest weapon, one reason she was a mage's natural predator.
Cling!
But her strike didn't reach the girl.
Not the whoosh of air or the slice of flesh, but a dull clash against something solid.
Chloe's attack was blocked by the girl's barrier magic.
'M-Magic?'
Having faced plenty of adventurers, Chloe knew the basics of magic.
'No way. Without a staff, this fast?'
Instant-cast magic manifesting on command? Chloe had never heard or seen such a "miracle."
'Luck. She must've pre-cast and triggered it late.'
Unable to comprehend the casting speed with her common sense, Chloe assumed pre-cast and struck again swiftly.
Whoosh!
This time faster and sharper; it might seriously hurt the girl, but Chloe's instincts screamed not to underestimate her.
Yet the girl before her defied all common sense.
Cling!
"—What?"
Just like before, the girl deployed another barrier to block.
A mage couldn't cast two spells at once.
'Impossible...'
Chloe stared blankly at the girl who shattered her every notion of sense.
White hair, dark blue eyes like the night sky.
And now, like stars lighting the night, a starry glow shimmered in those eyes.
Staring into them, Chloe recalled advice from her old benefactor.
[Remember, Chloe. Always beware those whose eyes shine with vivid colors.]
'Old man...'
If you see eyes that glow, don't engage—run.
'...Gotta run...!'
Recalling it too late, Chloe turned to flee—
"Um... s-sorry... might get a bit rough... Not sure..."
—but by then, Chloe was already in the girl's palm.
The moment the girl finished speaking, chains erupted from thin air.
"Guh...! Let go!"
Too fast even for quick Chloe to dodge or react.
The chains bound her so tightly she couldn't move an inch, and she sensed total defeat.
To the girl she'd completely underestimated.
"Haa... It's over."
She'd always known a day like this would come.
Chloe knew her deeds weren't honorable; she'd long suspected retribution awaited.
"Um... what's... your name?"
The girl asked her name even after capturing her.
Come to think of it, they'd pulled blades before introductions. Chloe found the belated question absurd.
"...Chloe. You?"
Chloe gave her name readily.
After this, she'd be handed to the guild, then to the nobles she'd tormented.
High chance of death; even if lucky, a lifetime as a cripple.
For Chloe, with no backing or allies, crippling was as good as death.
At least she wanted to know who beat her. She waited for the girl's name.
"...Chloe... right?"
'Huh...?'
But the girl's reaction was far from what she'd expected.