The Midnight Thief (6)
As soon as we stepped outside, there was Kali, pacing around in confusion. The moment he spotted me, he came bounding over. When I reached down to pick him up, Kali shot right past me and leaped straight into the arms of the saintess following behind.
"Kyaa! This dog!"
Celereja yelped in surprise as she instinctively caught Kali jumping into her embrace. But the frightened Kali clung to her even tighter, forcing her to hold him whether she liked it or not.
"He's too heavy..."
It was late at night, and pitch-black darkness blanketed the outside. Beyond the reach of the lantern lights hanging at the inn's entrance, everything was a black curtain. Distant city lights flickered far off, but from here, they felt as remote as stars in the night sky.
Then, from that darkness, the thunderous boom erupted once more.
"What was that?!"
Della and Idwild slipped into the crowd slowly emerging into the courtyard.
"Sounds like it's coming from the parking lot."
I dashed across the courtyard toward the parking area. Nothing was visible there either, but I could feel it—a faint vibration shaking the ground, reaching all the way to me. It was like the statue guarding the lot was going berserk...
I closed my eyes, then snapped them open.
Night Vision.
The faint light from the inn's windows amplified, illuminating the entire parking lot in an instant. My vision wasn't full color like daylight—it was a hazy green monochrome—but at least I could make out the outlines of objects.
Between the rows of parked wagons, I saw the statue leaping around like a madman. Every time its club slammed into the ground, that deafening roar echoed out.
What the fuck is this lunatic doing in the middle of the night? Chasing a cat or something?
That's when I caught sight of something black dodging the statue's club swing and vanishing in a flash. Too big for a cat—it was definitely human-shaped.
"Bertrand...! What is it? What's going on...? Ow...!"
Idwild came running up but didn't see me and slammed right into my back.
"Hey. Can you make a light source?"
"Not with black magic... What's out there...?"
"We've got a thief."
The statue was terrifyingly fast, but the thief was even faster. It wasn't running like a person—more like a black moth fluttering freely, changing direction at will. Watching closely, it seemed headed in a specific direction, making a break for it.
I left Idwild behind and launched myself toward the spot where the thief would likely vault the fence.
"Bertrand... where... huh...? Where'd he really go...?"
Idwild's dazed voice faded in an instant as the distant fence rushed right up to me in a blink.
The statue herded the thief straight toward me, and the thief bolted right at my position. Too blurry for details on appearance, but it was definitely a person. It'd climb the chain-link fence for sure, and the moment it jumped down from the top, I'd snag it...
Huh...?
I'd figured it'd cling to the chain-link and crawl up, but the thief kicked off from well away and leaped upward. Astonishingly, it flipped over the fence—taller than me—in a somersault, sailing right over my head and landing lightly before bolting toward the city streets like a shot.
"You fucking bastard!"
I propelled myself forward, nearly tumbling, in hot pursuit. The thief was fast, but not as fast as me. I closed in until I could grab its collar with a stretch and thrust out my arm.
Just a bit more, and I'd have its neck...!
My hand swiped empty air, and I lost balance, pitching forward. I barely rolled to avoid injury, but the thief had already vanished from sight.
Damn it... What the hell was that just now...? I could've grabbed it for sure. Right as I was about to seize its neck, the thief's body just vanished and reappeared meters ahead.
Blink magic...? No, blink can't be cast that instantly without incantation or seals—that takes a Grand Mage level. And a Grand Mage wouldn't stoop to theft... What the fuck is this guy?
"Master! Are you okay?!"
Della supported me as I stood.
"Oh my... your clothes are a mess."
I stroked Della's head as she fussed over my outfit, staring in the direction the thief had fled.
"E-everyone... go back inside... it's nothing..."
Idwild was awkwardly calming the crowd peeking into the courtyard.
"Got the card?"
"Y-yes."
I headed to the parking lot and meticulously checked for any missing wagons. By some miracle, none were stolen.
"What could it have been?"
Della asked from behind, lantern in hand, but I had no answer. A thief, but a insanely fast one—that's all I knew.
Back at the inn, I explained the situation to the wagon owners. I'd braced for complaints or blame, but the merchants seemed relieved after confirming the statue's performance.
The next day, Captain Lambert arrived with a squad of guards after our report, inspecting the parking lot with keen interest. We'd just filed the report, yet here he was again, rushing over like yesterday.
He rattled the chain-link fence and declared,
"Impossible to vault a fence this high without aids."
"No lie—I saw it with my own eyes right in front of me."
"Then it must've been some beast like a deer. Wild animals leap heights like this easily."
"I said it was a person—why won't you believe me?"
"And what is that thing?"
Ignoring me, Captain Lambert pointed at the statue in the middle of the lot.
"The parking lot guardian statue."
"Guardian statue...?"
I explained the statue to him, and he looked utterly incredulous.
"That's a black magic construct?! Demons weren't enough—now black magic too?"
"As long as it's not used for crime, black magic's fine. Don't say weird shit."
"Fair enough, but..."
Despite my warnings, he insisted on a closer look and tried entering without the card. The statue's eyes blazed as it charged. Seeing it barrel toward him with flaming black eyes, Captain Lambert bolted without a second thought, his men retreating far back. The statue stopped precisely at the fence entrance, glaring at him with glowing eyes before turning away.
"Th-that speed... if it dodged that, it couldn't have been human..."
"The person moved that fast, I tell you... Anyway, investigate assuming that."
"Don't worry, innkeeper. As a newcomer to this post, I'm burning with zeal."
"Pretty diligent for a noble's son."
The captain flashed neat teeth in a smile.
"Heard there's an opening for military aide at the palace next year."
That sparked a guess.
"Major promotion this year, huh?"
"Indeed."
Military aide was a slot for majors—a gateway to generalship. So Captain Lambert had to make major this year. Poor guards...
"I'll catch the thief within a week."
Lambert thumped his breastplate with his fist, vowing boldly. Still, his goofiness made him seem less like a total villain.
Back at the inn, I spotted Pelle standing stock-still at the basement stairs.
"What're you doing?"
"Eek...!"
She jumped excessively at my voice, nearly tumbling down the stairs. If I hadn't grabbed her arm in time, her horn might've shattered on impact below.
"L-let... let go...!"
Uncharacteristically flustered, Pelle yanked her arm free.
"O-okay..."
Freed, she panted raggedly, rubbing where I'd grabbed her.
"Hey. What's wrong all of a sudden...?"
"Bertrand... bullying Pelle...?"
Idwild glanced at us as she passed.
"No, that's not—"
Meanwhile, Pelle bolted up the stairs without a word. Staring after her, Idwild muttered glumly,
"Stop bullying her... she's pitiful..."
"Pitiful girl pitying another pitiful girl—kinda weird."
"Hehe... yeah..."
Still, why's that demon acting up again all of a sudden?
Pelle burst into her third-floor room and collapsed onto the bed, gasping for breath. She stroked the arm Bertrand had grabbed like it was burned, chin trembling as last night's events flooded back.
Last night, at the sudden thunderous boom, Pelle had frozen rigid on the bed, breaking into cold sweat without even screaming. Conscious but body still asleep, she couldn't twitch a finger, gripped by terror.
She recalled nightmares from the Demon King's Castle, shuddering. That nightmare: the night the castle fell.
Fleeing through secret passages, the world-shaking roar from behind buckled her legs, leaving her collapsed. Other secretary demons had fled; alone, trembling, she looked back.
Beyond the grand castle, blinding white flashes danced madly, driving viewers insane. Each burst brought heavy quakes and ear-shattering explosions, turning the castle to daylight, shadows shrinking.
Incomprehensible roars, red mist rising to spires, choking blood-and-char stench on the wind. As flashes waned in minutes, Pelle realized it was over. An unstoppable calamity no being could evade—like a natural disaster. The castle's fate was sealed before the moon rose. Or perhaps when the hero with the Holy Sword resolved to strike.
Somehow escaping, she met Ammugar and Orkog, settling in Kerno. Loud noises often triggered flashbacks, nearly breaking her, but she'd adapted to new life.
Until now. The culprit hero visiting the office, drawing the blazing Holy Sword—Pelle thought she'd go blind. Ammugar begged mercy; light faded, but she stayed frozen in panic.
Overhearing hero-Ammugar talks, realizing it concerned her and the other demons' lives, she regained sanity. Calming her trembling body, she bargained with the hero, leading here.
Pelle feared Bertrand. Couldn't chat long or meet eyes. Like a deer locking gazes with a tiger, instinct made her cower before him. She avoided him, acting cold—a shell, self-defense. Without it, terror might paralyze her completely.
But that boom shattered it all temporarily.
"Hic..."
Alone in the empty room as everyone rushed outside, she sobbed, overwhelmed by helplessness and fear.
Calm down... steady your mind... I can't lose it... It's all over; the hero has no reason to kill me... At least while I'm useful... So snap out of it and act normal. Think of the overworked old man. Tomorrow at sunrise, work like nothing happened. The hero and I are just employer-employee by labor contract. No reason to fear him; no reason for him to kill me.
Pelle steadied herself, exhaling slowly. Tremors eased. Muscles awakening, she wiped her eyes with a hand.
That afternoon, perched on the inn's stone wall watching the sun set over the western Vurn Mountains, I pondered last night's thief. That agility wasn't normal. No matter how I thought, not human... Maybe linked to recent thefts or Della's pickpocket issues?
"Master! Time to prep dinner!"
Della called from the window.
Thief's a thief; business first today. Following Pelle's menu, I dumped ingredients into the massive pot and started cooking. Tonight: stir-fried veggies and meat in bite-sizes, sprinkled with garam masala—a spice blend—simmered gently. Apparently popular in some eastern land. Mildly spicy, perfect mixed with rice.
Placing the cauldron on the counter, Della and Idwild bustled serving to the hall. Pelle released preservation rituals on ingredients then vanished, so I helped serve. Celereja, back from temple, saw the full hall and tied on an apron immediately.
"Bertrand... give me the plates..."
She stuck out her tongue slightly taking them from me. So cute, I smiled back.
After sending Celereja off, I went hunting for vanished Pelle. Maybe basement? Crossing the hall, my eyes caught a weird customer entering. Their outfit was... distinctive.