Chapter 76
Chapter 76
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 076
Chapter Title: The Thief's Ego
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Ego.
The term referred to equipment with a sense of self, capable of communicating with intent or evolving alongside the player.
However, ego in Sanctuary was different.
Its very existence had only been discovered after five years, and it possessed a sense of self.
No.
It could be called an item that encapsulated a life.
Sein's figure faded hazily.
No mana drained away, nor did any mana flow stir within his body.
Humm.
A glowing ring.
—Thief.
This was what the ring, containing the thief's life, had done.
"It can only manage basic stealth for now."
Sanctuary's level cap was 30, but that didn't mean everyone there was capped at 30.
—Over Level.
Transcendent beings like Demorus's family head, Tejera, who possessed over-level status.
Even in Sanctuary, where one could grow infinitely beyond the level cap, there were chosen ones.
—Demons, boss monsters.
Just as some were born with power exceeding their levels from the start, Sanctuary had plenty of entities surpassing level limits.
Players could confront them through the power of reincarnations—rounds—and their accumulated stats from past lives.
—Ego.
Or they could grow stronger with the power of special equipment like egos.
For Sein, this was his final round, the last chapter of his life.
"Got to do everything I can."
Seeing Tejera, who was incomparable to his past self, Sein felt he still had far to go.
"Gonna have to grind hard to feed experience to this thief ego too."
Egos shared the player's experience points.
That was why, despite knowing how special they were, most players avoided them.
For them...
'No cheats.'
It was already a grind to view the life-flashback and acquire an awakening skill; sharing XP with an ego meant a high chance of never getting it before the end of one lifetime.
But Sein had maximized the life-flashback's potential through his cheat, and this was a true lifetime without time limits.
"Time to reward it this round."
He planned to actively recruit egos going forward.
The dagger in his hand.
Stab!
That thrust was different from before.
Bang!
Even the sound of the arrow from the small handbow was different.
This was the special perk of an ego—of a life.
Sanctuary's system granted bonus effects, but only to abilities related to that life.
After experimenting for a good while, Sein smiled in satisfaction.
"What is it?"
He asked the shadow that had appeared unnoticed.
It was Perio, Sein's head maid.
"Sorry if I'm interrupting."
She bowed sincerely to him.
"But this takes precedence above all, so I had to intrude."
The top priority in Demorus.
"A mission has been assigned to you, Master Sein."
Finally.
"First mission."
The first one he'd receive upon entering the main house.
It marked the beginning of the achievements he'd build as a successor candidate.
*
*
*
The underworld did anything.
As long as it brought them some gain.
It could be money, power, or anything at all.
Especially...
"Oh! Welcome!"
The underworld mainly intervened in disputes in neutral territories.
From Zone 5, where Rasiel was, onward, there were plenty of neutral zones considered part of the Divine Empire's domain.
By the black-and-white accord between the underworld and the Divine Empire in the past, they couldn't be called underworld territory.
But wielding influence there was fair game.
"For the famous Sein to grace us."
Zone 5 Carmil's lord welcomed Sein warmly.
But Sein wasn't one to miss the disappointment lurking in that gaze.
Heh.
Makes sense.
It was true his reputation was rising.
Just pulling support from both Rasiel and Dante had spread rumors about him through the center and the underworld.
But in the end, he was still a candidate.
"No need to pretend you're thrilled."
In Demorus's century-long history, no family head had come from the candidates.
Those betting on candidates were mostly gamblers chasing long shots or small fry who wouldn't even dream of cozying up to main house blood.
Even in the Rasiel mission, the candidates had been bound by magic contracts for that reason.
They'd hoped the candidates would climb to some mid-level post in Demorus, but never dreamed of family head.
"If you wanted my siblings, you should've paid more."
"Haha, what do you mean?"
The lord feigned denial, but couldn't hide his irritation.
He'd be thinking...
'This is why candidate brats are...'
Uneducated bumpkins who never learned main house etiquette.
Just extras to make the main house kids shine.
Still, becoming a successor candidate practically guaranteed high status in Demorus.
"We've prepared a party for you, Master Sein."
Building ties cost them nothing.
"If you join us, you'd light up the place..."
"Too bothersome."
Sein said, picking his ear.
"Derren, Roberta."
"Yes."
"Go check out that party or whatever. These guys should be fine with that, right?"
A vein seemed to bulge on the smiling lord's forehead.
"But..."
It had happened before.
He'd probably shelled out a fortune expecting full attendance.
"But what? I said no."
Sein now held the status to brush off such things.
"...Haha, can't be helped then."
The lord backed down.
He must have plenty to say, but a Zone 5 lord couldn't afford to provoke a Demorus successor candidate.
"Rest well then."
Maintaining his smile to the end—professional or pathetic?
Either way, it wasn't Sein's concern.
Heh.
The more he pushed back, the more desperate they'd get.
Humans cursed his rudeness while coveting what they lacked.
Someday, if Sein extended a hand...
—T-Thank you!
They'd bow and thank him sincerely.
This raised his own value.
"For a strong start, time to drive it home."
A flashy achievement.
That would be the opening salvo announcing Sein the successor candidate.
*
*
*
Sein's mission this time was a territory war.
Between Zone 5 Carmil and Zone 5 Tonba.
It started from a spat between the two lords.
"From what we've gathered, the Carmil and Tonba lords are actually close friends."
Otolmeo's informant said to Sein.
Even a declining Otolmeo still had reach into Zone 5.
Palu was his dedicated liaison, but expansion to higher zones wasn't approved yet.
—See you soon!
They were going through procedures, apparently.
"Essentially, there's no real reason for this territory war."
Sein nodded at the informant's words.
"Just bored and wanna play."
From Zone 5 on, it was a whole different world.
Wealth incomparable to lower zones, stable politics.
So bored lords occasionally entertained themselves.
"Yes. This territory war seems like mere amusement."
A game played with human lives.
"And a chance to build ties with the underworld."
Territory wars were entertainment.
And the events around them were politics.
"What a dog-eat-dog world."
What would happen next was predictable.
At the lords' signal, armies clash in full battle.
Blood sprays from soldiers, battle heats up.
—Now.
They send out the underworld figures bought with money and power.
Just that becomes a contest of who pulled the bigger name.
Then, after some fighting, they agree to stand down and call it a win/loss.
A true game, ignoring spilled blood and spent coin.
"What about their side?"
Tonba's invitee.
"The Immortal House's youngest."
A place with ties to Sein.
"Too bad. Tsk."
Sein said regretfully.
"Call that bastard Zegar."
In such territory wars, a great warrior from the same house could stand in.
Acceptance was up to the individual anyway.
If Zegar showed...
Heh.
He could've lopped off that head, no problem.
It was a mission, after all.
"No need to worry."
The informant assured Sein.
"The Immortal House bloodline, unlike Demorus..."
"Hey."
Sein's cold voice cut in.
"Don't cross the line."
"......!"
The startled informant blinked.
"Answer only what's asked. Know your place."
"S-Sorry..."
"Lucky you."
Ting.
Sein snapped his fingers, tossing the guy a Demorus gold coin.
Far more valuable than standard gold.
"Gonna see a lot of blood from now on. That's why I'm holding back."
"......"
"Name."
"......"
"Don't make me ask twice."
The informant bowed his head.
"Kiroz, from Zone 5 Otolmeo HQ."
"Report everything that happened today to the top, nothing left out. I'll check next time."
"Understood."
"Scram."
At Sein's word, the informant vanished like a shadow.
"Whew, Otolmeo's gone downhill."
The informant probably wanted to impress him, maybe switch liaisons, but that obvious play?
Well, the grunts didn't matter; he'd see how the bosses reacted to this and decide whether to ditch Otolmeo.
"Anyway, amusement, huh?"
Heh.
Sein smiled, gazing ahead.
There stood Tonba, one of the territory war's protagonists.