One week later…
It's midnight, I'm doing my usual patrol in Alderp's Mansion. Just yesterday, Paradox gave Chris a tip about a divine artifact hiding in this mansion. So tonight is probably the day she will sneak in.
I took out an invisibility ring Hyoizaburo made. In a first glance, the ring seems useless, I mean, why would you want to have a ring that makes undetectable but blind and deaf? Well, it's simple, this ring is not made for an infiltrator.
This ring is made to kidnap people.
A creaking sound came from the kitchen. I activated far sight and hid myself in the shadows. Since Chris is a thief she shouldn't have night vision, but she should have the sense enemy skill.
"I sensed a weird presence just now…" the thief whispered.
I took out a mithril rope and a sneaked towards the incoming thief. I can't catch her if she revealed herself as Chris. So I need to catch her, disable, and mute her before she can say who she is.
This way, I can pretend to be surprised once I brought her into audience with the princess.
Here goes…
"PARALYZE!!!" I yelled, bursting in from the dark.
"Eh!? Kasshheee" Chris's words turned gibberish as she yapped around incoherently. She was about to release the cloth covering her mouth so I can recognize her, but I beat her to it.
"Bind!" I yelled, tying her up like a bag worm. "It's end of the line thief, you're facing against Satou Kazuma," I told her before crouching down near her.
"Eeeh maeh, Qakhmaah!"
"I paralyzed your tongue, it's no use, you can't use any spells or skills," I slowly inspected her bind before draining her slowly. "But don't worry, we mean you no harm, the princess simply wanted to talk to you. She requested that your identity and appearance is to be kept a secret."
"Waaihhh, Am Qeeh!"
I then showed her a ring. "Don't worry, I will put this invisibility ring on you. So once everyone gets here, they won't see, hear, or even sense your magic. This ring will also deprive you of your sight and hearing, so bear with it while we take you to the princess."
I forcefully shoved the ring to her finger and the thief vanished. Leaving behind a wriggling mass of ropes.
Then, the kitchen turned bright. I turned around and saw Yunyun rushing towards me.
"Kazuma, have you caught the thief?" she then noticed the wriggling mass of rope. "Is that him?"
"I think so, also," I crouched down near her and put her to sleep. The wriggling rope went still.
Soon enough, everyone arrived on the scene. Liz came in after Yunyun, followed by Megumin, Darkness, Aqua, and finally Alderp.
The latter looked at the bag of rope in confusion. "Kazuma dono, is that the thief?"
"Yes, this is the thief,"
"Why is he invisible?"
"The Princess requested that his identity is to remain a secret. I even don't know how he looked like," I told him. Then I turned to rest and gave them all a thumb up. "Mission accomplished everyone! I'll take the thief back to the castle, you can all rest for tonight, see ya!"
Everyone gave me a thumb up and I left for the castle.
---
The audience hall, a room located in the heart of the Castle. It is a large hallway with a large throne at the end of it. Its purpose is simply to have an audience with the king, but since the king isn't here, Princess Iris will be the one replacing him.
The Princess is wearing one of her more formal dress. Her two bodyguards stood at either side of her. She has that cold and calculative expression, her pose and posture speaks of her power and status.
"Welcome back Satou Kazuma," the princess spoke with grace and confidence befitting of a ruler. "As expected of the Hero of Axel, you have captured the Chivalrous Thief…"
I turned to Chris, still bound and invisible in front of me. But I've released her of her kidnapping ring, so she can hear every words, though I kept her tongue paralyzed. She has stopped struggling after I've explained the situation while pretending that I have no idea who she is.
"I paralyzed him and bound him with mithril ropes before he could react, your highness," I explained. "If it weren't for the spell, I'm sure he'll escape from our grasp easily. Right now I've paralyzed his tongue so he cannot use any skill or spell. You might call him a thief, but there's a chance he's actually an adventurer who can use both skills and magic."
Princess Iris nodded and turned to Rain. "Rain, can you do something about blocking his magic and skill?"
Rain nodded and raised her hand.
"Skill Bind," she said.
Iris nodded in satisfaction. "Alright, you may now release him of his bindings."
I dispelled the invisibility spell and the paralyze spell, revealing a masked white haired girl. Her face is bright red and she's glaring at me murderously before yelling through her mouth.
"KAZUMAAA YOU IDIOTT!!!" Chris cried. I can imagine her pouncing at me if it weren't for her bindings.
"What!? Chris?!" I feigned a shocked expression. "You're the Chivalrous Thief?!"
The Princess raised an eyebrow. "You know of this person, Kazuma?"
"Yes!" I turned to Chris and she looks like she wanted to cry. "Chris san, what are you doing?! Playing robin hood on the palace? If Lady Paradox learns about this, she'll be pissed!"
Chris jumped around in her bindings. "You didn't give me a chance! I was yelling at you the whole time! Aaah… You ruined another one of my disguise!"
"Ahem," The princess cleared her throat and we all turned towards us. "So you're the famed Chivalrous Thief… Hmm… I thought you were a man," she tilted her head a little. "Are you a guy or a girl?"
Chris looked down in embarrassment. "I'm a girl…"
"I see… Well, can you explain to me why you stole from the noble's mansion?" The princess gestured at a magical bell on a pedestal near her. "Please don't try to lie as the item will pick up your lies."
Chris shot me a look and I averted my gaze guiltily.
"I was stealing back from the nobles what the people deserves."
Ring
Claire glared at Chris. "Do not try to lie in the presence of the Princess, thief. You might think of yourself as chivalrous, but you are still a criminal… Anymore words of deceit and it will be your last!"
Chris cringed a little and took a deep breath.
"I… I was looking for Divine Artifacts! It's a responsibility forced to me by Goddess Aqua! Then I decided that since I'm going to be a thief anyway, I'm going to start stealing from the rich for the poor… I was so caught up on it… I'm sorry…"
Everyone looked at the bell and found it as still as ever.
"I see…" Iris sighed a little after hearing that. "And what are these divine artifacts?"
"It's… they're divine artifacts given by the gods to chosen people. For example, the Cursed Sword Gram, that's one of those divine artifacts."
"So you're planning to steal Mitsurugi san's sword?"
Chris shook her head. "No, I will only retrieve the sword once he passed away," she explained.
"In other words, you're retrieving the divine artifacts so that it doesn't fall to the wrong hands?"
"Exactly! So please let go of me, I swear I will not steal anything else!"
After a moment of silence, Iris finally made her decision. "How about we compromise, Chivalrous Thief?"
"Compromise?"
"Yes, I want you to work for me," Iris turned towards me. "Satou san, please explain to her the plan,"
I nodded and turned to Chris. The goddess just looked at me in slight annoyance. I gave her a sheepish smile before explaining.
"I'm sorry,"
"You should at least confirm my identity! It could've been a common burglar!"
"Yes, I told you I'm sorry, look," I took a deep breath. "The princess wanted you to work for her because she needs someone to the dirty work for her."
"You mean she wants me to be her personal assassin?"
"Not assassin, well, more like… personal ninja,"
Chris bit her lip and turned to the princess. She then looked back at me and began whispering. "By the way, what's wrong with the princess anyway, I don't remember her being this… scary before…"
"I uhh… I might have told her a thing or two about the Art of War…"
"The Art of War? The one from Sun Tzu's book? Kazuma!" Chris glanced at Iris with fear written in her eyes. "Aaah forget it, you win," Chris took a deep breath and looked back at the princess.
I let go of Chris's bindings and she silently thanked me. Then the thief bowed politely in front of the Princess.
"I am willing to work for you princess, as long as you are willing to agree to my terms…" Chris started.
"And what are those?"
"One, you will not order me to kill. Capturing, spying, and apprehending is fine, but no kill or maim."
"Granted."
"Two, you will let me continue my duty to collect the Divine Artifact."
"Granted."
"Three, you will not reveal my identity to anyone not present in this room. Not even Lady Dustiness… especially Lady Dustiness."
"Granted."
"Four, you must promise me that whatever you're telling me to do is for the good of the people."
"I promise,"
This time Chris gave me a sly grin.
"Five, I wish that you attempt to use your authority to have Satou Kazuma as my partner in crime."
I'm sorry? What?
Iris simply chuckled. "Granted! Kazuma dono, from now on the Chivalrous Thief is your partner."
"Wait, what?"
Chris blow me a raspberry. "Now you work for me!"
"We're partners, we work together, not that you work for me!" I looked back at the Princess. "Oi, Princess, I'm an adventurer not a thief! I have a wife and daughter waiting for me!"
"It's not going to be a full time job, Kazuma dono," Iris said simply. "I just want you to help Chris every now and then when doing a harder mission. Is that fine with you?"
Well… That will… Well I mean it gives me an excuse to stay here longer I guess. Though, that means the Demon King will only get himself one less new general.
"It is fine, your Highness."
"Very well, after this, I will formally introduce both of you, with your disguise on, to the nobles so they know that the Chivalrous Thief works for me."
"What about Satou Kazuma who subdued him in the first place? I can't be in two places at once can I?"
Iris clamped her mouth shut and looked down in deep thought. She then turned to Rain and Claire who just shrugged in response.
"Umm… Any ideas?" Iris asked, rather sheepishly.
"It's your plan!"
"Okay, okay, umm… Ah! We'll just say that Satou Kazuma was gravely injured during the fight and was brought back to Axel to recover," Iris said. "Yes, that's it, that way the nobles will realize that the Chivalrous Thief duo are at least as powerful as Satou Kazuma. We can have anyone else from Fantastic Dreamers to be the representative."
"But Alderp was there,"
Iris clicked her tongue and groaned a little. "Aah… Okay, umm… We can… Just have them say that you were putting up a brave front because you don't want to worry anyone."
"But Aqua can…"
"Just think of something,"
I rolled my eyes. "Fine…" I turned to Chris who's looking at me rather smugly. "Well then partner, what do you think?"
"I think this is a start to a very good partnership, assistant kun…"
Iris smiled a little. "I'm glad you both agree. Now, as a gesture of my goodwill," the princess snapped her finger and a maid came out of nowhere. "I will gift you this Experience of a Lifetime Latte,"
The maid carries a tray with two Mithril Bottles full of pure, concentrated exp.
Chris gasped a little after seeing it. "That's… that's Paradox senpai's ultimate coffee!" she exclaimed. "Each one is sold at twenty five million Eris and can give you an experience of a lifetime of adventure."
Ahh… Damn it, I already drank one. Should I give it to Liz? Or maybe Elena? Can Elena drink it? Or maybe to Lynn or Dust, they're pretty cool I guess…
We took one bottle each.
"Thank you, Princess Iris," Chris said with a joyful grin. "I'm going to drink this now, you don't mind, right?"
"Of course, go ahead," Iris said. "You too Kazuma dono,"
I shook my head. "Sorry princess, I already drank one of these. The exp bonus only works the first time."
Iris narrowed her eyes before nodding. "I understand, then you may keep it for someone else. Perhaps there's someone in your team who haven't drink one before?"
"Well… my daughter haven't had one and I do wonder if this works with an Alraune…"
Beside me, Chris is already downing on her coffee. She finished it in one go and exhaled with a look of bliss on her face. "Uwaah… It's so good… why is it so good? It's so unfair… I want to drink it again!"
"I'm glad you like it, Chivalrous Thief," Iris said. "Tonight, at dinner, you both will make your official appearance," she explained. "Then, you both will prove yourself by assisting in the next Demon King attack."
Chris and I turned to each other and fist bumped.