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Indomitable Pride and the Clash of Stealth Blades – Part 01

“It’s unusual for a woman from the Adventurers Guild to come to a place like this.”

It was a dimly lit room somewhere in the capital, hidden from the sun’s rays.

The plans for the extensive sewer system, built long ago, did not take into account the city’s subsequent expansion, leaving about a third of it unused and abandoned. And when there was unused space, someone would eventually find a way to utilize it effectively.

Behind an iron door, deep in the darkness, lay a well-lit space known as the Thieves Guild.

“This is urgent. I apologize for coming here in my uniform,” Katarina, a receptionist from the Adventurers Guild, said breathlessly. She had rushed here immediately after her conversation with Hikaru and Lavia.

“You must be thirsty. How about some tea?”

“No, thank you.”

The one in charge was a slender man, with a complexion befitting the underground environment. His skin had a somewhat pale hue, and his sleek navy hair and slightly elongated ears hinted at his mixed heritage, a blend of Dark Elf and human blood. His golden, snake-like eyes scrutinized Katarina intently.

“So, what brings you here?”

“We may have a lead on the Phantom Butterfly.”

The man’s eyes widened. The Phantom Butterfly was an inexcusable evil even for the Thieves Guild.

Despite their name, the Thieves Guild handled matters more on the gray side, bordering on the black. Their existence hinged on the need to deal with matters that could not be openly discussed, from settling brawls to issues involving the adult industry.

But they had a particular aversion to issues that pushed into the illegal, such as the Phantom Butterfly. This dangerous drug had rapidly permeated the capital, replacing the mild pain-relief products the Thieves Guild had been selling. As the saying goes, “set a thief to catch a thief,” but the Thieves Guild was frustrated by its inability to catch the Phantom Butterfly’s tail.

While the Thieves Guild and the Adventurers Guild often butted heads, they were working together due to the shared frustration.

“Are you familiar with the Kamori family?” Katarina asked.

The man’s brows knitted. “The Kamori family was on our list of potential traders connected to the Phantom Butterfly. But we couldn’t find concrete evidence of their involvement.”

“Did you manage to infiltrate their operations?”

“That’s impossible. They’re a new merchant family, so we thought they might have some weak links, but their security is surprisingly robust. No careless executives leaking confidential information either.”

“Why do you think their security is so tight?”

“…Because they’re hiding something. Hmm. Tell me more.”

And so, the name of the Kamori family found its way into the Thieves Guild’s records as well.

---

By the time the midday bell chimed in the capital, Hikaru and Lavia had reached the Kamori family’s mansion. Surprisingly, the mansion was situated amidst the cluttered downtown, occupying an entire block.

The part facing the street had all been converted into shops, displaying foodstuffs brought in from various areas within the capital. Passing by, it wouldn’t be immediately apparent that all of these belonged to the same establishment, given how spacious it was. Behind the shops was an expansive area, almost like a grand inner garden where the mansion stood.

“Interesting layout. It’s smart to surround your house with stores to deter intruders,” Hikaru said.

“You have to enter through one of the stores, it seems.”

“Yeah. They might think it’s safe because the staff is vigilant, but that might have made them complacent. After all, the intelligence department managed to infiltrate. Also…” As Hikaru walked down the street, he observed the various stores and the people passing by. “There are a few people watching, probably not from the intel department, given they suck at hiding. We need to act before they do.”

“Are we going in?”

“Of course. We’re now sure that Paula is inside.”

Hikaru’s Mana Detection had clearly picked up Paula. Her large mana reserve was unmistakable.

She’s alive…

This was enough to ease his fear. Drowsiness crept in, as he had not slept a wink since yesterday, but the thought of what they needed to do filled Hikaru with new energy.

“All right, let’s go.”

“Just enter?”

Hikaru and Lavia entered the wide-open double doors of a nearby store. It dealt in grains like wheat and corn.

“Welcome—Huh?”

“What’s the matter, boss?”

“Did someone just enter?”

“I don’t think so. Didn’t see anyone.”

The manager and a young boy were chatting casually behind the counter. Hikaru and Lavia advanced smoothly through the dim interior of the shop.

“That reminds me, there’s delivery tomorrow. Have you seen the slip?”

“You mean the one on your waist?”

“Oh? Ah, there it is.”

“Come on, boss.”

Neither of them noticed the two as they passed by.

“…”

Lavia gripped Hikaru’s hand tightly. While she knew Group Cloaking protected them, it was a daring infiltration for her, unlike Hikaru, who had his Instinct to rely on.

“Phew…”

The moment they stepped out through the store’s back door, Lavia let out a long breath, then inhaled. She had been holding her breath.

“It’s gonna be even tougher from here on out.”

“What…?”

In front of them stretched a lawn about fifty meters in length. There were no hiding spots except for the bushes that dotted the place. While there were a few flower beds, they couldn’t effectively conceal a person.

The three-story mansion, constructed from wood, which was an unusual choice in the capital, had white-painted walls. The eye-catching red roof hinted at the owner’s distinctive taste.

Two guards stood at the entrance. Isolated from the main street, the area was awfully quiet, and the sound of their footsteps on the grass felt like it could reach the guards.

“Wh-What now?”

There was some distance between them, and the taller bushes managed to conceal Hikaru and Lavia. But the area ahead offered excellent visibility. Hikaru’s Stealth wouldn’t provide perfect cover under the bright sun.

“Lavia, can I proceed alone from here? Group Cloaking can’t completely hide both of us. I’ll be back soon.”

“…”

She was undoubtedly thinking about how she was being left behind after coming this far.

Nevertheless, Lavia responded with a soft, “Okay.”

“Thank you for understanding.”

“We need to rescue Paula.”

“Just stay here and use Imperceptibility. No one should find you.”

“Got it.”

As soon as Hikaru released Lavia’s hand, she activated Imperceptibility. As Hikaru moved a little farther away, Lavia’s presence was reduced to a mere faint sense of discomfort, despite his Instinct.

All right… Let’s go.

Going into full stealth mode, Hikaru threw a nearby stone toward the building that housed the stores. It made a clanking noise, diverting the guards’ attention, and he used that opening to sprint away. The grass rustled, but none spotted Hikaru.

“Hmm…?”

A guard glanced in Hikaru’s direction, not because there was an issue with his Stealth, but perhaps because the guard possessed Instinct. A second later, Hikaru slipped behind the mansion, away from their line of sight.

Phew… That was close. Stealth is not ideal in broad daylight.

Sensing something amiss, another guard started to approach, but Hikaru rushed around the mansion toward the back entrance.

A different guard was also stationed there. He turned his head in Hikaru’s direction, so he quickly returned to his previous spot.

This is bad.

A guard was approaching from the front, and another one was at the back entrance. The latter wasn’t there before according to his Mana Detection; either they were on break, or they just happened to step outside.

“Is someone there?”

The guard at the front had circled towards Hikaru.

“…”

He stared at the side of the mansion.

“Just my imagination, I guess.”

The guard turned and went back to his original spot.

That was too close…

Hikaru was clinging to the wall directly above where the guard had appeared. He believed the guard wouldn’t look up, and he was right. In the distance, Lavia had poked her head out, watching with bated breath. One of Stealth’s weaknesses was its limited range; people could see the user if they were at a distance.