"Ever thought about becoming a master thief?"
He suddenly came to me with twinkling eyes, and I thought he was going to try and steal some relic from me like before.
Of course, with the nameless king investor watching us closely, that seemed unlikely.
"Suddenly?"
"Yeah. You've got a sleek look about you, perfect for being my successor."
[Hidden Profession: You can now become a master thief.]
"…A master thief?"
Hidden professions existed even in the original game.
Familiar ones in fantasy, like Archmage and Swordmaster, weren't regular professions but hidden ones.
But the problem lay elsewhere.
'Isn't this just dumping a garbage job on me?'
I squinted at Mole, deep in thought.
Hidden professions in this game were notoriously hit or miss.
I still remember the message that appeared when I successfully changed professions after a grueling journey.
[Trapper profession achieved!]
[Cannot use any weapons except daggers.]
[Can only deal damage with traps.]
I can't forget it.
Damage only with traps?
No use of weapons?
Just like the useless Trapper.
Sometimes, they'd slap on weird penalties and call it a hidden profession.
"I dunno. Doesn't seem too appealing to me."
"Even if I teach you myself?"
Mole spoke as if offering a favor.
Well, considering his reputation, I guess it made sense.
Though it was a bit annoying.
Hmm.
'Maybe it's not such a bad idea after all?'
I pondered, maintaining a grim expression.
Breaking into noble mansions to steal treasures is no easy feat. Nine times out of ten, you'd end up in an eternal stint in the magic stone mines.
"Think about it. With my training, there'll be no treasure you can't get."
"You couldn't steal the nameless king's relics, could you?"
"Cough! That monster is an exception. It's beyond normal."
Mole, a bit embarrassed, coughed repeatedly.
But still, if I could steal artifacts known as the nobility's heirlooms…
'It could be a huge help in reaching the endgame.'
[The master thief profession excels in stealth, lockpicking, and evasion.]
[It will be greatly beneficial in resolving the main storyline.]
[Highly recommend changing professions.]
The status window seemed to push me towards this decision, flashing with messages.
Yeah, with my subpar stats, I might not do well in any other profession anyway.
I nodded in agreement.
"What the heck, thievery's not a big deal. It's the treasures that matter."
"Wise choice."
His scar followed the curve of his eye as he smiled.
"Let's introduce ourselves. It's only fair if you know who I am."
"I'm Hans Byron."
"Byron, huh? You're a noble."
He frowned, seemingly displeased.
Being a criminal from the west, it made sense he'd react that way to nobility.
I feigned ignorance and tilted my head.
"And you? I only know you as the 'Sand Mole'."
"Peron. No last name. Most orphans in this line of work are like that."
He extended his hand again, and this time, I shook it.
"Let's get out of here. I don't want to face that monster again."
"Hmm, he's actually a good mummy, communicative and even hands out relics."
"What? I've got a lot to teach you."
We left the dungeon, leaving behind the unusual sight of mummy soldiers bowing to us, having received the king's relics.
"Hmm. Does that relics have any special powers?"
"If someone else takes it, they're cursed."
"I'm not so heartless as to steal something marked by a curse. Just curious."
I backed away as Peron's eyes fell on the relics, filled with desire.
I tucked the relics deep into my backpack, out of his sight.
The first thing I felt was a blunt stick.
I called up the information window.
[Tut]
[Item Type: Wand]
[A wand of legend among the western natives, once hung by a king in his quarters for assassination prevention. Infuriated by the inconvenience it caused him, the king endowed it with special magic.]
[When equipped, doubles the magic power of the corresponding basic ability]
[Can unlock any object through touch]
[Permanent death curse if equipped without the nameless king's permission]
The ability to boost my magic power was definitely a plus, considering the effort it takes to raise a single basic ability in this game. This alone could outshine many relics.
The downside? My own magic power is pitifully low.
[Your magic power has increased.]
[Magic Power 1 -> 2]
The system proudly displayed this.
The mere one-point increase in magic power made me sigh.
"But it's fine. The real charm of this artifact lies in its second ability."
I smiled wryly and adjusted my backpack.
Lockpicking. At first glance, it seemed like a handy skill, but in reality, it was almost essential.
Why, you ask?
'Because the term 'lock' doesn't just refer to physical locks.'
In combat, this artifact's abilities were more overpowered than any other.
It considered the nails binding plate armor, the straps of leather armor, and even the protective magic often bestowed on high-grade armor as 'locks'.
In other words,
This was one of the rare, if not the only, items in the game that could reduce or even nullify an opponent's defense.
"Cheeky. And to think you got more than just this from that monster."
As Peron complained, it was true that the nameless king had given me not just one artifact. The presence of this wand was so overwhelming that I almost overlooked the other two artifacts.
[Ankh]
[Item Type: Pouch]
[A pouch used to carry the king's belongings.]
[Can store non-living objects without any weight or volume restrictions]
[Amen]
[Item Type: Accessory]
[A golden mask favored by the king.]
[Wearing it impairs others' perception]
'Normally, the rest of the artifacts in the game were just side dishes to the main course.'
But now that the game had become reality, things were different.
I tested the pouch by sliding items from my backpack into it. The weight immediately lightened.
Without an inventory system, this pouch could take its place.
And the mask? Its ability to impair perception, hiding one's existence to some extent, would definitely come in handy.
'Oh, this is something.'
From a master key for doors to a pouch for stolen goods, and a mask to blur the identity of the thief.
Put together, it was like a master thief's gift set.
"Ugh. You're really meticulous about guarding your treasures."
"Enough with the nagging."
"Fine. I've already lost it, so just give up. Keep a good watch on it."
After a lengthy argument, it was Peron who backed down first. He grabbed the skin of his face and tugged hard.
Rip!
The skin, which was his face, fluttered down to the ground.
"So, is that your real look?"
During our bickering, my guard had dropped, but now it was up again in an instant.
His overall impression had completely changed due to the absence of the scar on his right eye, one of his most notable features. From a rough-looking mercenary, he now seemed more like a simple middle-aged man.
'He's too good with disguises. I wouldn't recognize him even if we bumped into each other on the street.'
"Who knows? I'll leave that to your imagination."
Peron chuckled and changed his coat, instantly transforming into a dirt-covered farmer.
"Remember this. A master thief must strictly differentiate between their everyday appearance and their thieving guise."
"To avoid trouble, I guess?"
"Not just trouble. It's a matter of life and death. As I said before, in this line of work, it's the humble who survive the longest."
Peron made a cutting gesture across his throat.
"No treasure if you're dead. Remember the saying about the scorpion in front of the oasis."
It's a famous saying from the west. It tells of travelers, so mesmerized by the oasis ahead that they fail to notice the scorpion at their feet and get fatally stung.
I glanced at him and retorted sharply.
"Shouldn't you be the one taking that to heart?"
Advising me, who risks my life every day in a noble house under strict surveillance, seemed a bit ironic.
"Being a master thief is always like that. Balancing between greed and life."
He pulled an old book from his pocket and handed it to me.
"Take this. It'll be a big help on your path."
"What is this?"
"It's essential knowledge for a master thief."
It covered everything from how to step off, the right stride length, to landing techniques.
Inside the opened book, there were illustrations explaining a series of movements.
"This footwork has been established since my ancestors' time. Go and memorize it, then practice it yourself."
"You said you'd teach me directly?"
"Hmm. I'd like to, but I've been on the run since I stirred up trouble with the Duke of Loberk a few days ago… Let's postpone the direct teaching for later."
Typical.
He changed his tune as easily as flipping his hand.
I glared at him sharply, and Peron responded with a brazen smile, waving his hand flamboyantly.
It's probably for the best. I'll be heading north soon anyway.
Given our busy schedules, this book is more than enough.
"So, we'll meet in the north next time."
"The north? Why suddenly the north?"
"My so-called everyday appearance is entangled with a northern ducal house. I have to head there in a month."
"A ducal house in the north? Speda, maybe? Sounds like a tough road ahead. I've heard the north is quite closed off and wary of outsiders."
Peron looked at me with a suddenly sympathetic gaze. Ah, that's just a stereotype.
The north is so much cooler and nicer compared to the desert.
***
There was a time when I thought that way.
I grumbled quietly, sitting in the carriage.
After returning with the soldiers who had been searching for me, ending my short journey.
It was just two weeks ago that I was summoned to the baron's office, struggling with the arcane footwork.
And now, finally embarking on a journey to the north with the duke's soldiers…
"The north is always colder than the west."
"Seems so."
"The north is famous for its fierce monsters. What can we expect?"
"Well…"
"I've heard the duke is incredibly powerful. Curious to know just how much."
"He is strong."
I sighed audibly, looking out the window and then at the soldier, as if to make sure he heard me.
The soldier was unresponsive.
Perhaps it was their intense wariness of outsiders. The conversation was short and one-sided.
But even this long journey was nearing its end.
"There's the castle!"
One of the soldiers exclaimed.
It was the most animated thing I'd heard from them during our time together. Suddenly, the soldiers began bustling around.
And there, in the distance…
"Wow."
Tall and impregnable, built solely for the purpose of defending against enemies.
I gaped at the fortress walls of the ducal castle, built to withstand any siege.
'Luciana must be in there.'
The key character in the main story and my favorite character.
Just the thought of seeing her made my heart flutter.
"Wait. Stop right there, Westerner."
I turned at the voice behind me.
Being the only person from the west in the group, the call was clearly for me.
Swoosh-
"What's this about?"
A sword thrown at my feet.
A knight, or rather someone pretending to be one, covered head to toe in plate mail and a helmet.
A muffled voice came from behind the steel helmet.
But…
I looked at them with a stern face.
'Ah, calling this short kid a knight seems a bit generous.'
And their next words were enough to annoy me.
"The lady of the house does not accept service from outsiders. Return to where you belong."
"...?"
"If you wish to enter the duke's residence, you must defeat my sword first."
[Quest initiated!]
[Defeat the 'aspiring knight' who has challenged you.]
[Reward: ?]
I couldn't help but laugh.
Quite the bold little one