HSTAV 15

Chapter 15

“Ah, come on! It’s my turn to do the initiation already.”
“Take it easy, Angela.”
“No, if you keep saying ‘not yet’ every time, when am I supposed to have my initiation?”
“…If a good chance comes up later, should I just let it happen naturally?”
“Ugh, you’re such a downer, oppa.”

Bang!

The door slammed roughly. A girl with striking short red hair stormed out—Angela Selin.

“Come in… oh, it’s Angela.”
“Well, sister, focus on the shop.”
“Ugh, that little brat… I wish she’d speak more nicely.”
“Hmph!”

Pouting, Angela left the building with a sign that read “Senbran General Store,” then sighed heavily.

“Sigh, really…”

She was the younger sister of the head of the city branch of the Dark Guild that dominated the empire’s underworld.

The Dark Guild dealt with things the light side of society couldn’t touch—thievery, pickpocketing, information brokering, contract killings, slave trading, and so on. Within the guild there was one rule:

“Those who haven’t undergone the initiation aren’t family.”

Because the Dark Guild was organized into tight-knit cells and operated very secretively, anyone who failed to complete the initiation mission wasn’t recognized as a full member.

“Always ‘later, later!’ So when will I actually get in the Dark Guild!” Angela had admired the guild since she was little. She took pride in the fact that her blood relative was the branch leader, and she was furious at being denied recognition for not having done the initiation.

“Pfft!”

She spat forcefully on the ground, then shook her head and muttered to herself.

“Screw it. Who’s waiting for some official initiation? I’ll just make an achievement good enough on my own. That’s the true spirit of the Dark Guild.”

Usually, initiations were missions given by the heads of each branch. But on occasion, if someone accomplished something outrageous or earned a feat that left everyone stunned, the initiation requirement could be waived.

“…Maybe I’ll just rob the mayor’s house this time?”

If a mere child—only around ten or so—broke into the house where the city mayor was staying, that would certainly be an achievement worthy of guild recognition.

“Ha, nah. What am I, some idiot who’d risk getting caught breaking into the mayor’s house? I’d just get beaten by my brother and that would be that.”

Angela knew her own limits better than anyone. She didn’t have the skill to break into the heavily guarded mayoral residence by herself.

Instead—

“Oh, if only some high-ranking noble… no, better yet—the emperor would stroll down these streets by chance.”

Her greatest talent was pickpocketing. She had reached such an artful, almost transcendental level at it that she could rival anyone in the empire.

Clack, clack.

“Let’s see—who should I rob today?”

She pulled her yellow scarf up to partially hide her face and strolled the streets of Bellium city in search of prey.

Then, she saw them.

“C’mon. Why’d you even bring us here?”
“I told you, I need to buy things! I don’t know what’s good.”
“Then why should I be the one to buy them for you…?”
“I— I don’t know the shops that sell this stuff, or what’s worth buying. So Bren, be my guide, please. I’ll pay, don’t worry!”

Two students in the academy’s crisp white uniforms were giggling and chatting. They practically shouted that they had money. To Angela, they were irresistible bait.

That was all she needed.

She checked her scarf again, and then sped toward the pair.

Quick, quick.

Angela bumped into the taller of the two—exactly the one who’d bragged about having money.

Thunk!

“Ow!”
“What—?”

As if by accident, she collided and expertly slid her hand into his cloak.

And—

Thud.

Heavy.

“Oho, as expected!”

“…Sorry.”

She bowed quickly and began to walk away at once. The weight in her hand and the faint jingling sound at her ear made a smile creep to her lips. Like mist, she melted away from the spot.

“Today’s not an everyday day—everything 10% off. Come quick!”
“Books, materials, mana stones bought.”
“Basic gear, special gear for sale. No bargaining, fixed prices only.”
“Drake meat skewers that two could eat without noticing—buy two get one free!”

I arrived at Bellium’s commercial district, guided by Bren, where merchants clamored loudly.

It was a chaotic bazaar.

“Is this the right way?”
“Uh, yeah… but…”

Tap-tap-tap

“Ca, Carmen! Hey, go slower. You’re moving too fast!”
“I gotta move as fast as possible!”

I hurried Bren on.

‘There’s not much time left.’

Three days remained until the exam. I planned to buy materials here for refining and synthesis. It was a simple procedure—combine or mix a few ingredients—but it would need time.

And that time was at least…

‘Two to three days.’

“Bren!”
“Ah—go forward and turn right— it’s right there!”

Following Bren’s directions, I turned right and spotted—

[Senbran General Store]

I saw the huge sign. The store was larger than I’d expected, looking like a department store that sold absolutely everything.

“You can probably buy almost anything here!”

I flung the door wide open and shouted before I could even look around.

“We need a salamander feather, powdered white nightshade, paralysis mushroom, mandrake root, and Greydon wood stem—do you have those?”

“Well… welcome… huh?”

The young saleswoman who had been greeting me froze in surprise. Heads turned from nearby customers. There was no time to care.

“Over here!”

I threw the list I’d written and shouted at Bren.

“Bren, what’re you doing? Look for anything you can see!”

“Uh, okay! Got it!”

Bren darted into the store, scanning quickly. The saleswoman blinked, taken aback.

“Sorry, unfortunately we only have paralysis mushrooms and mandrake roots in stock.”

“Then give me those at least.”

“Ah, yes. Certainly.”

The staff brought a box with the requested items. Then she added,

“We do have red toadstool powder—similar in toxicity and effects to powdered white nightshade. Would you like that instead?”

“No, I don’t need that. How much?”
“Twenty-eight silver.”

“Wait a second.”

I put my hand into my pocket to pay, but—

“Huh? What—?”

“…What’s wrong, Carmen?”
“Hold on a sec.”

I rummaged my pockets frantically, but the pouch that had held the gold coins was gone.

“…It’s gone.”

“Huh?”
“My pouch is missing…”

At that moment, the image of the yellow scarf flashed through my mind—the very one who’d bumped into me earlier.

“Could it be…?”

Had I been pickpocketed?

“…Twenty-eight silver only. Is there some problem?” the saleswoman asked, cooling her tone as she caught on.

“Ah, no. Please wait a moment. We’ll be back.”

“Carmen?”

“We have a problem. Let’s get out, Bren.”

Bren, puzzled, moved to follow me out.

Then—

Thunk!

Brent, a little ahead of me, bumped into someone trying to enter the store.

“Hey, move!”

The person who collided with Bren pushed into the shop angrily.

“Br— Bren, are you—?”

That yellow scarf—wasn’t that the kid? Yes, that kid.

I grabbed the fellow’s shoulder immediately.

“What the hell—why’d you do that?”

The yellow-scarfed boy, caught by the hand on his shoulder, cursed and tried to wriggle free.

“You bastard, give my money back!”

“Me? You bastard!”
“Give my money back!”

“Get off!”

He struggled fiercely to break free. I called to Bren.

“Bren, grab him!”

“…Huh?”

“Grab him—he pickpocketed us!”

“U-uuh!”

Bren jumped up and together we pinned the yellow-scarf kid down.

But the kid wailed,

“Please! I’ll give the money back, just—please—let me go! I beg you—please!”

We searched his pockets. Bren found a small pouch.

“Is this it?”

Clink.

The sound of coins confirmed it.

“Yes, that’s ours.”

“Shit, sh— fine. Just take it. Please, I can’t— I can’t do this. Please… I can’t— aah!”

He screamed and thrashed, tears streaming. People’s gazes converged; the Senbran saleswoman came out to see what was happening.

Then—

“Angela?”
“Bail— sister— please help me. I’m finished if this gets out.”

The boy was pale, nearly blue, and sobbing as if on the verge of collapse.

‘Are they acquaintances?’

Suddenly, the squirming stopped.

Then—

Pfuuh, crack!

Something sounded like it was tearing. A stench spread.

‘…Crack? What’s that sound…? Oh no, what’s that smell?’

A strong, tangy, awful odor wafted out. Bren shouted and backed away.

“Did he just—poop himself?!”

I also clamped a hand over my nose and stepped back from the yellow-scarf pickpocket.

Crackle, crackle!

With repeated popping noises, the stench spread in front of the Senbran shop.

“Ugh… I’m doomed. I’m finished.”

The pickpocket lay face down, sobbing and whimpering, convinced everything was over for him.