Chapter 23: Strange Guy

“Senior.”

“Yeah.”

“If some rumor about you spread around the Academy, how would you feel?”

On the way to the dorms.

Before we parted ways to our respective dormitories, Yuria suddenly asked me this.

“Rumor?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm. I guess it depends on what kind of rumor?”

“A rumor that you’re dating some female cadet.”

“That’d be bad.”

When I firmly declared this, Yuria widened her eyes and countered.

“Why?”

“Well, because that’s not gonna happen? I don’t have any plans to date here.”

“Ah.”

“Honestly, the idea of me even thinking about dating is laughable. What kind of crazy girl would go out with the Academy’s reject?”

“That’s just because people don’t know you well.”

Yuria shook her head vigorously from side to side.

The sight reminded me of a black cat puffing up its fur and shaking it, making a smile tug at my lips.

“Haha. Alright, alright. But why bring up rumors all of a sudden? Who’s saying I’m dating someone?”

Yuria flinched.

“Uh, no one?”

Anyone could tell she was reacting as if such a rumor was already spreading.

“Ah, anyway, I’m going! Thanks for today, so head in!”

With that, Yuria scurried off toward the girls’ dorm.

Hmm. A scandal, huh.

I didn’t think much of it.

My reputation was already in the gutter, so one more scandal wouldn’t change things much.

No, actually, I didn’t think about it at all.

Because my mind was entirely elsewhere throughout the conversation.

I stood still, watching Yuria disappear through the main entrance of the girls’ dorm.

Once I confirmed she was completely gone, I started walking.

Not toward the boys’ dorm, but somewhere else.

The southern outskirts.

I arrived at an open clearing there and scanned the surroundings.

It was close enough to the dorms, surrounded by trees that blocked the view from outside, making it unlikely for anyone to spot me.

It was also a secluded area where people rarely passed by, and right next to it was the green space where I met with Luis.

My secret hideout, so to speak.

Under that towering tree over there, the Lumigan Grass I gave to Luis was steadily taking root and growing.

Anyway.

The reason I suddenly changed direction and came here instead of the dorms was to hurry up preparations for the Vault operation.

The day when cadets choose their Visions was next Wednesday.

If I didn’t raid the Secret Tomes before then, I’d be left picking up whatever leftover Vision tomes were lying around.

Originally, I planned to proceed cautiously, like crossing a stone bridge step by step.

This was, after all, a critical operation that would form the foundation of my strength.

It was only natural to start the job once I was absolutely certain everything was perfect.

But today’s events changed my mind.

The trigger, of course, was [Dagger Shift].

[Gaius’s Insight] had said that [Dagger Shift] was a branch of a lost intermediate thievery technique.

If that was the case, this couldn’t be delayed.

Because, ultimately, the Vision that would make me grow wasn’t swordsmanship or magic—it was thievery.

For me, whose top priority was growth, the most important task was to collect lost intermediate thievery techniques first.

“Summon.”

That’s why I came straight to my hideout.

To check if I was fully prepared to begin the operation.

To see if my bond with Sylph and my mental strength were sufficient to execute [Phase Shift].

To confirm if I could infiltrate the Vault without being detected.

Was it because of the elixir I took?

My mind was convinced that all preparations were already perfect.

“But how will it actually go?”

Muttering to myself, I sent the summoned Sylph soaring into the sky.

Chirrup!

A gentle breeze blew, ruffling my hair.

Sylph, transformed into a gust of wind, flowed somewhere per my instructions.

Passing between trees, rustling bushes, and caressing flower petals.

As my bond with the spirit strengthened, those sensations began to transfer to me one by one.

When I closed my eyes, the things Sylph felt started to register through my senses.

The place Sylph headed was a building two hundred meters away from this clearing.

Boys’ Dormitory C.

Sylph arrived in front of a room on the second floor and paused its wingbeats.

The smooth flow of the breeze was blocked by something.

‘What’s wrong? What’s going on?’

At my question, my vision briefly flashed.

A hard, cold sensation touched my forehead.

Ah.

It was a glass window.

The window.

The window was closed.

‘Oh, right. I closed the window.’

That’s when it hit me.

A small drainage hole in the window frame came to mind.

A gap small enough for Sylph, as a breeze, to slip through.

The question was whether Sylph could follow such a precise instruction.

But my worries were short-lived.

A familiar, warm sensation began to spread through my body.

Sylph had read my mind and entered the room.

‘…Phase Shift.’

When I opened my eyes.

I was standing in the middle of my room.

* * *

Upon checking, I found that with my current mental strength, the maximum distance I could perform [Phase Shift] was two hundred fifty meters.

Beyond that, my bond with Sylph would completely break.

No matter.

That was more than enough.

The radius of the green space surrounding the Vault was only a hundred meters.

It was well within the range where I could use [Phase Shift] anytime, anywhere.

In other words, preparations were perfect.

The next day.

I spent the day training with Yuria as usual before returning to the dorm.

Night fell quickly.

“Anything unusual?”

“Nothing, sir.”

“Alright. If you’re training at night, report to the supervisor’s office. Sleep well.”

The dorm supervisor closed the door and stepped into the hallway.

Soon, 11:00 p.m. arrived.

The announcement signaling the end of roll call echoed through the dormitory, and the night-lights illuminating the windows all turned off at once.

Darkness enveloped everything, and a quiet night settled in.

A time to rest weary bodies and slip into sweet dreams.

I slipped into that silence.

The faint sound of rustling clothes echoed softly in the room.

Swish, swish.

I summoned Sylph, sent it out the window, and closed the window again.

The convenience of [Phase Shift] was evident in moments like this.

Normally, sneaking out of the dormitory would require meticulous caution at every step.

But now, there was no need for that.

“Phase Shift.”

That one technique made it simple.

In an instant, my body was transported to the branch of a massive old tree.

I reverse-summoned Sylph, who was likely in my room, and lightly jumped to the ground below.

This was a rest area located between the Vault and the dorms.

The Academy guards patrolled specific areas, but 11:30 p.m. was shift change time.

In other words, this was when security was at its weakest.

Plus, unlike the Lumigan Grass operation, there were no time constraints like someone showing up, so my steps naturally carried a sense of ease.

As long as I wasn’t caught, it was simple.

Even though this operation, including the Cult’s request, might have the highest difficulty, the danger level was the lowest.

Casting the thievery technique [Night Vision], I melted into the shadows of the building.

As I moved stealthily.

“….”

Suddenly, I veered off course.

Turning my body, I headed not toward the Vault but to the back of a school building.

A secluded path soon appeared.

The narrow alley, formed by the school building and a wall, was a well-known spot where cadets had discreet rendezvous.

How far did I go into it?

The alley ended at a wall, and I turned my head.

A man was standing tall behind me.

A man clad in black from head to toe.

We sized each other up.

“You must be confident in your skills. To think you knew I was following you and still came to a place like this. Did you lure me here on purpose?”

“….”

“Silent, huh. Hmm.”

He scanned me up and down with sharp eyes and asked.

“Do you know who I am?”

“No clue.”

“Hmm? But you’re awfully calm. I’m actually a staff member at this Academy.”

“Bullshit.”

“Hmm. Not falling for it, huh.”

He scratched the back of his head.

“How’d you know? I could’ve been an actual staff member.”

“If you were really staff, the first thing you’d have done is alert others about an intruder. Would you have followed me so cautiously?”

“Now that I think about it, you’re right.”

The man nodded in agreement.

Watching him, I thought to myself.

What’s this guy’s deal?

The tension in my body eased.

He seemed sloppy somehow, and there was no hostility.

His appearance suggested an assassin or hired thug, but his speech and behavior were ridiculously amateurish.

Seriously, what’s his deal?

I decided to prod him lightly.

“If your head’s empty, why not stuff it with rocks to at least keep your balance?”

“Are you saying I’m a blockhead?”

“No. I’m saying you’re worse than that.”

The effect of the provocation was astonishingly immediate.

Clang! A sharp glint flashed from his waist.

An arming sword, about the length of an adult’s forearm.

Judging by the speed of his draw and the way he held the sword, he wasn’t a complete novice.

“Why provoke me? I haven’t done anything to you yet.”

“You followed me.”

“Ah. I did, didn’t I.”

He nodded again, conceding.

I started to think he might just be an idiot.

Judging by his quick-tempered nature, he didn’t seem like a trained assassin.

“Hey. What are you, really?”

“Me?”

He let out a low chuckle before answering.

“Can’t tell you that. I’ll just get to the point. The reason I followed you is because of one item.”

“Item?”

“Yeah. I’m looking for that item.”

A certain possibility flashed through my mind.

“Is that item an artifact, by any chance?”

The moment I said that, his gaze sharpened instantly.

“I knew it! You’re the one! The bastard who stole the [Might of the Giant] back then.”

It wasn’t just his gaze that changed.

His aura.

A sharp energy began to emanate from him as he raised his sword, swirling like clouds.

“That’s something I’ve been searching for for a long time. Hand it over. Do that, and I’ll let you go quietly.”

I sighed inwardly.

I had a feeling, and it turned out to be true.

Now I understood the whole situation.

When I first realized someone was tailing me, I’ll admit, my heart sank.

But since he didn’t do anything and just followed quietly, I thought, maybe? And here we were.

That may have become reality.

A fight…

—There’s no avoiding it, is there.

“I don’t have it.”

“Then where is it?”

“Can’t tell you.”

If I told you, we’d both end up dead.

“I knew you’d say that. I hope you don’t regret that choice.”

Heh heh. A sinister laugh slipped through the black mask.

Then, abruptly, the laughter stopped.

The moonlight reflected off the sword’s surface cast a glow in his eyes.

He closed his eyes once and opened them.

A faint breeze stirred.

In an instant, he vanished from his spot.

At the same time, a chilling sensation came from my lower right.

“…!”

I quickly drew a dagger from my waist.

Clang! The sword and dagger clashed, sparks flying.

Before the red-hot embers could hit the ground, he vanished from my sight again.

This time, behind me.

I wasn’t going to just take it.

Pivoting on my left foot, I twisted my waist and moved my right foot to flank him.

His eyes widened in surprise for a moment.

Clang!

“Not bad! But!”

He charged at me, flinging one hand outward.

Dozens of needles flew, filling the space in front of me.

Realizing it’d be impossible to deflect them all with a short dagger, I channeled mana to complete a spell.

Summon, Sylph.

A sudden gust of wind blew all the needles away.

Seeing this, he froze, letting out a cry of astonishment.

“…What’s that? Magic?”

Instead of answering, I unstrapped something from my back and gripped it.

A sleek body made of black steel.

A staff with a raven’s head at the top.

“What’s that? Playing mage at this point?”

Ignoring him, I grabbed both ends of the staff.

Then, slowly, I pulled the raven’s head sideways.

Shiiing—

With a smooth sound, the staff extended.

A milky-white sword light gleamed from within, accompanied by a gasp.

“…A sword-staff? An artifact, no less?”

His shock was brief.

Soon, a fiery greed blazed in his eyes.

“Then I’ll take that too!”

He charged at me again.

Like before, his arming sword swung from below.

I dodged by leaning back, then lightly thrust my sword forward.

But he had already retreated far back.

“No matter how good your weapon is, it’s useless if it can’t hit me.”

He sneered, circling around me.

His speed was incredible.

I held the sword in one hand and the staff, now a scabbard, in the other, waiting for the right moment.

He was right.

This artifact, Raven, which combined the abilities of a staff and a sword, was more valuable as a sacred relic symbolizing the guild than for its artifact abilities.

It did have special abilities, but using them here would be too risky, and I wasn’t sure they’d work against someone moving that fast.

I observed him.

No matter how I looked at it, his movements weren’t purely physical—they were aided by some Vision.

No doubt about it.

What Vision was it?

Given the extraordinary speed and movement, it was likely an advanced Vision, but no specific name came to mind.

Then, for a split second, my eyes lost track of his movements.

He didn’t miss the opportunity.

“Haa!”

I quickly threw my dagger.

But he easily dodged it by kicking off the wall to change direction, then shot straight toward me.

I swung Raven upward from below.

“Too late!”

Yes.

Too late.

Swinging Raven now wouldn’t stop his sword from piercing my body.

But this was a feint.

While pretending to swing Raven, I used [Telekinesis] to redirect the dagger I’d just thrown.

Thud! The sound of flesh being pierced rang out, and his eyes widened in shock.

He stumbled, losing balance momentarily.

Still charging at me, his momentum was gone, and his movements no longer felt threatening.

I drove Raven into the ground, and as he got close, I swung my fist straight at his face.

Crack!

A brutal sound echoed through the alley.

He was slammed to the ground, rolling two and a half times before crashing into the corner of the wall and stopping.

He writhed like a slug.

“Ugh. H-How did the thrown dagger change direction in midair… Are all Shadow thieves like this?”

My mood sank instantly.

A guy who knew about Shadow.

“Where are you from?”

Instead of answering, he pulled something from his coat and pointed it at me.

Click.

A gun.

Its official name in this world was a One Hand Musket.

A magitech weapon once heavily researched but abandoned due to its flaws.

I smirked.

“You’ve got some unexpected stuff. Stole that too?”

He didn’t answer this time either.

“Think you can hit me?”

The muzzle of the musket trembled.

That was answer enough.

A musket required loading, aiming, and firing to hit its target effectively.

But unlike modern firearms, the muskets here had abysmal accuracy.

The first reason was the heavy barrel material needed to counter the recoil of mana-powered bullets.

The second was the lack of a sighting mechanism.

The third was the resulting lack of proficiency.

Even hitting a running civilian was nearly impossible with its terrible accuracy.

But.

“Go on.”

I waved my hand dismissively.

It wasn’t the musket or the bullet that would come out of it that I feared, obviously.

It was the sound.

The gunshot.

If he’d pulled out the musket with that in mind, he wasn’t a complete idiot.

“Get lost while I’m giving you the chance.”

“….”

He looked at me with wary eyes, then slowly backed away.

Then, all of a sudden, he leaped onto the wall and vanished into the darkness in an instant.

Even seeing it again, his speed was impressive enough to warrant admiration.

“What kind of Vision is that?”

I pondered his identity for a moment.

His swordsmanship wasn’t particularly advanced.

At best, he was second-rate, around Yuria’s level or slightly below.

But that incredible speed made up for everything.

How many people on this continent could catch him with pure physical ability if he decided to flee?

My conclusion was probably fewer than a hundred.

“Damn. Maybe I should’ve broken one of his legs.”

For some reason, I had a feeling I’d run into him again.

Hmm.

His obsession with artifacts suggests he’s a thief, but he doesn’t seem to have received systematic training.

“Just some punk who got lucky and learned an advanced Vision?”

As I mulled over various theories and headed back toward the Vault.

Belatedly, I realized my body felt lighter than when I’d started and stopped in my tracks.

The belt around my waist felt light.

With trembling hands, I checked the belt.

Five dagger sheaths.

Only four daggers were in place.

One was missing.

Where was it?

It wasn’t hard to guess.

Picturing the dagger lodged in his back, I smacked my forehead.

“…Goddamn it.”

That feeling I’d run into him again? Screw that.

Now I had a reason to go looking for him.

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