Chapter 45: Snow Spirit [1]

“I didn’t know he was this much of a troublemaker.”

I couldn’t help but mumble to myself as I watched Gareth laughing like a madman.

Even in the strictest noble households, there are blind spots. Places even the head butler wouldn’t bother checking.

One such blind spot lay between the floors of the mansion’s old east wing—just enough room for someone nimble and silent to crawl through.

And that’s exactly where I was.

Using my profession as an [Assassination Thief], I was easily able to infiltrate the Count Valstein household.

I also know the general structure of the Valstein estate. And how do I know that?

It’s simple. After the social gathering, I had asked for information about surrounding nobles in the north from Hans.

One of those nobles was Count Valstein.

Hans happily provided a map when I asked about understanding friends and foes after the social event incident.

Wedged between the support beams and dusty insulation, I had found a gap just wide enough to spy on Gareth’s room through the grating in the wall.

I wasn’t here out of curiosity.

No—there was a reason.

“Alice Draken,” he had said. The way he spat the name, like venom, was enough to make my hair stand on end.

A month of confinement? That would keep the public from seeing him, yes. But what they didn’t realize was that Gareth Valstein wasn’t the kind of person who sat quietly and learned his lesson.

The Enhancement Orb.

So he was really going to use a relic—his family’s own, no less.

“Using your family’s trump card, huh?”

Security enchantments? Please.

All it takes is one tap from the [Echo Rod] and those protective spells fold like paper. It’s not called a master key for nothing.

“But a martial arts tournament…”

Still, it made sense.

Between the Successor Trial and Gareth’s recent outburst, it was clear—up here in the North, military prowess wasn’t just admired. It was expected. Trained into them from childhood like breathing.

And Gareth—well, he was nothing if not confident.

Even if he needed a relic’s power to compete, there weren’t any strict rules saying one had to rely solely on skill.

In a way, using artifacts to gain an edge was the noble method.

“Using a relic to push ahead—it’s the smart move, really.”

Alice, Gareth—these high-ranking nobles sure knew how to create a gap between themselves and the rest. Better equipment, better resources, better secrets.

“Still… that just makes it more tempting.”

Clearly, the Enhancement Orb had to boost physical ability—maybe speed, strength, reflexes. Whatever it was, Gareth was planning to gamble on it.

And frankly, I needed it too.

“Guess it’s time to go fetch that little treasure.”

I dropped down from the dusty crawl space, landing silently in the dim hallway like a shadow. Only bugs and rats should’ve been able to roam up there—but I wasn’t exactly normal either.

As soon as my boots hit the floor, I summoned the system window with a quick thought and checked Alice’s status.

—

[Alice – Affection: 30 (Trust)]

[Psychological State]

• Pleased that she, while disguised as herself, managed to outwit Gareth Valstein.

• Slight regret over not having caused more damage.

—

From a mere 10 points (Interest) to 30 (Trust)—not bad. Definitely a step up from when we first met.

And that last note? That caught my attention.

She wanted to do more damage.

The grin that tugged at my lips wasn’t exactly kind.

Looks like we were on the same page.

“Don’t worry, Alice. You wanted to hurt him, right?”

I turned down the hallway, footsteps light and quick.

“Then let me take it from here.”

I had the [Viel Mask] with me. It clung to my face as I put it on.

The person I disguised as had free access to the mansion and the vault where the relic was stored, and was also an easy character to impersonate.

That person was…

“Who’s there?! Oh, it’s you, young master.”

Gareth Valstein.

A soldier guarding the large door to the basement bowed his head to me.

I remembered Gareth Valstein personalty.

He’s arrogent pampered child.

This make it easy.

“Open the entrance of the vault basement right now.”

“Excuse me, but can you please tell me the reason Young Master?”

“Huh? A lowly guard like you asking a reason? Just open it before I beat you up.”

“I’m sorry but I can’t. Not unless you tell me the reason Young Master. No one is allowed to enter, Not even you, it’s Lord’s orders.”

’Damn it! What should I do now? Should I just kill him and done with it?’

But that would complicates things for me.

I clenched my jaw, keeping my expression twisted in Gareth’s usual spoiled arrogance. The guard’s loyalty to the Count was admirable—annoying, but admirable.

“Tch. Are you deaf or just plain stupid?” I hissed through my teeth, stepping closer so my shadow loomed over him. “Do I look like someone who needs to explain myself?”

The guard flinched, but held his ground.

“I-I’m sorry, Young Master, but it’s Lord Valstein’s direct order. Without his seal or verbal permission, no one may access the vault. Not even you.”

So he wouldn’t budge without the Count’s approval or an override seal. Dammit.

Killing him was tempting—but that would leave a corpse. And in a household like this, corpses didn’t go unnoticed for long. I needed a clean entry. Quiet. Controlled. No bodies.

I stepped back and crossed my arms, pretending to mull it over.

“…Fine.”

The guard blinked in surprise. “Young Master?”

“I’ll go get Father’s permission, then,” I said with a sneer. “But if I find out you were just trying to power trip me, I’ll make sure you’re scrubbing chamber pots for the rest of your life.”

“N-No, sir! I would never—!”

I didn’t wait for him to finish. I turned and walked briskly down the corridor, rounding a corner and slipping behind a decorative curtain into a service hallway the moment I was out of his sight.

’A seal or verbal permission…’

Then there had to be something in Count Valstein’s study. A seal stamp, a recorded command, maybe even a

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