SWNOVELXO Chapter 27: - Surrounded by Bandits
My explorer was still at level 9, so I decided to challenge the boss on the fourth floor once again. This time, armed with a Mithril greatsword, and with Rosalina, now a Battle Master Level 1, stronger than a level 10 villager, we managed to defeat the fourth-floor boss effortlessly, and my explorer safely reached level 10.
“Hmm, I have more skills now?”
[Job] Explorer Level 10
[Skills] Dungeon Move (Low), Treasure Hunt (Low), Mapping (Minor)
[Unique Skills] Detailed Appraisal (Moderate), Item Box (Moderate)
Mapping (Minor): Allows visualizing the places passed as an internal mental map. Can accurately draw it on paper. (Passive Skill)
Having a map was convenient. The guild’s book contained maps up to the fifth floor, but there were no books available beyond the sixth floor. I guess they expect us to gather that information ourselves.
“By the way, can I level up the assassin job too?”
“Huh? Master, aren’t you a rare job as an explorer?”
“I see, Rosalina didn’t know. I can change jobs on my own.”
“Eh… whaat?”
Rosalina exclaimed loudly. Thankfully, in the boss room, no sound could escape outside.
“Rosalina-san, please don’t tell anyone about Master.”
“O-of course!”
Rosalina’s eyes sparkled as she looked at me. But it’s just a job change, you know?
I also smoothly leveled up the assassin job, reaching level 10. As an assassin, I could defeat a Black Ant in an instant. However, if I attacked one, my stealth would break, and the other two ants would notice us. So, Rosalina and I took care of one ant each repeatedly, leveling up to 10.
Additionally, at level 10, the assassin job allowed me to learn a new skill.
[Job] Assassin Level 10
[Skills] Vital Point Thrust (Low), Stealth (Low), Erase Traces (Low), Godspeed (Low), Perception (Low), Wall Phasing (Minor)
[Unique Skills] Detailed Appraisal (Moderate), Item Box (Moderate)
Wall Phasing (Minor): If the other side of a wall is hollow, you can move through it. Consumes 8 MP. (Active Skill)
This seemed useful. It would have been handy when infiltrating that old lady thief’s mansion; I couldn’t move without opened doors.
Afterward, we exited the dungeon separately. When we confidently stepped out, about five thieves started following me. I bought ten skewers of grilled pond squid and grilled squid tentacles each and put them in a bag. I also bought ten skewers of labyrinth cow. Labyrinth cows appeared on the fifth floor. They were pricier than pond squids, but they smelled delicious, so I decided to try them.
I also bought sandwiches made with thinly sliced round bread, vegetables, and dried meat with a sauce like sourdough dressing. Well, it’s a sandwich. I bought enough for everyone.
Thanks to the item box, I could store everything in the same state I bought them.
Now, let’s get going. As I walked down a narrow path in the woods with the five thieves following, they started to move. They surrounded me.
“So, you’re Tooi?”
A tough-looking level 8 thief said.
“Hey, say something, will ya?”
A squishy-faced level 9 thief complained.
These two were small fry. The one with the highest level among the five was the guy behind me. I glimpsed him earlier; he wasn’t a thief anymore. Well, to be precise, he used to be a thief.
“When asking someone’s name, you should introduce yourself first. Don’t you thieves know even such basic manners? Or maybe you’re just that ignorant? Well, I suppose anyone who becomes a thief is a fool. Yeah, thieves are nothing more than pests, even lower than insects.”
The thieves got furious. Ah, it’s so refreshing to have them take the bait so readily.
“This brat!”
One of them drew a dagger from his pocket and thrust it toward me. The dagger pressed against my throat, but it didn’t seem like a high-quality weapon.
This world operates on a status system. Even if this guy managed to critically cut my throat, my HP would only decrease by 1 or 2 points at most.
The DEF value of the hero with a two-handed sword was 114, including armor. This guy’s ATK value with this low-quality dagger wouldn’t exceed 40 points. Thieves have poor job growth, so even at level 10, 20, or even 50, they couldn’t beat a level 6 hero with a two-handed sword.
I arrived at this conclusion by observing monster stats, calculating the relationship between damage taken and dealt, and deducing the balance between ATK and DEF.
I fight while thinking about this stuff. Since detailed appraisal shows me the status, it’d be a waste not to use it. That wouldn’t be fair to the skill itself.
“Short-sighted, reckless, thoughtless, rash, simple-minded, and immature. These words come to mind when I think about you. It’s understandable if you lack education, but aren’t you ashamed to live like this, spreading your ignorance? “
“Y-you!”
As he tried to draw back the dagger, I grabbed his arm. It might not hurt because my HP doesn’t decrease, but that doesn’t mean I’d willingly endure pain.
“This bastard!”
If I were a villager, having my throat cut would be fatal.
“Hey, you realize it would hurt if I cut you, right? Don’t you understand something that simple? You really are an idiot.”
“Let go, you bastard! Ugh!?”
When I let go as he demanded, he fell on his backside.
“What are you doing, you idiot?”
“You told me to let go, didn’t you?”
“Who lets go when told to let go?”
“Is there someone else here who said that?”
“Here I am?”
These guys are a pain. Are they from Kichi Kogyo Holdings or something?
“Hey, stop fooling around and kill him already!”
“Huh, am I going to be killed? I don’t want that.”
“Don’t play around!”
“Ugh…!”
The ones playing around are you guys.
The four thieves lunged at me.
I swiftly summoned my Mithril greatsword from the item box.
Swish!
Their bodies were cut in half. Two of them instantly died, but one managed to survive, albeit with shallow wounds.
The surviving thief clutched his belly, blood oozing out. His HP was down to 30%, and he writhed in agony.
“Wh-why… a mere traveler… how…?”
“Heh, I used to be a traveler… but you knew that.”
His story intrigued me. I wanted to hear more.
“You know, did we ever harm you guys?”
I inquired while glaring at the former leader of the thieves.
His eyes darted around, searching for an escape route.
“Just so you know, I won’t let you escape.”
Even if I did let him go, I had already located their hideout. If I went there, I could probably find other hideouts too. But I won’t let him escape.
My intention to crush the Shaldina Thieves was for my peace of mind. I didn’t want thieves roaming around me, bothering me or my associates. However, not letting him escape was for the sake of the world. I thought I was doing something uncharacteristic of me, but if I let him go, many more innocent people would die. He, with the job “Slaughterer,” was the scum of the earth, reveling in killing the weak. He had murdered numerous innocent people and would continue to do so. Perhaps, someone related to me might be among his future victims. That’s why I won’t let him go.
“Haha, if you kill me, you won’t have any way back!”
He was trying to act tough. But I won’t yield to such threats. I won’t yield to anyone. I never have, and I never will.
“I have no intention of backing down. Rest assured.”
“W-wait…”
“You picked a fight with me. The old lady will soon be after you. Don’t worry.”
“O-old lady… How far…”
“That’s none of your concern.”
I pointed the Mithril greatsword at him.
“W-wait, please!”
The Slaughterer fell to his knees, prostrating himself on the ground.
“…What are you planning?”
“I won’t resist. So, please don’t kill me.”
“If you behave, you won’t suffer. I’ll hand you over to the guards, and that’ll be the end.”
“T-thank you. I’m grateful.”
He was about to take off his backpack to pull out a rope when it happened.
“You let your guard down!”
The Slaughterer pulled out a poisoned dagger from his hidden pocket and thrust it toward me. The dagger had a sinister color. Even if the damage was minimal, getting hit by that would be dangerous.
“Dieeeee!”
Thud.
“Don’t be so careless.”
I grabbed the Slaughterer’s arm, stopping the dagger.
I knew it would come to this. There was no way he would surrender easily. I had anticipated any possible outcome and stayed vigilant. I thought he might try something more creative, but the turn of events was so cliché that it surprised me in its simplicity.
Crack. Snap. Grind.
I crushed the bones in the arm I was holding.
Twisting his arm, I drove the Slaughterer’s poisoned dagger into his own leg.
“Aaaarghhh!”
“I don’t show mercy to scum like you.”
I flashed a smug smile. How about that? Refreshing, isn’t it?
“No…!”
“Don’t be so scared; it’ll hurt less.”
“Heeeeelp!”
He screamed, terrified.
The Slaughterer fumbled and pulled something out from his pocket. Of course, I snatched it away.
“Oh… that’s for detoxification, it seems.”
He wanted to drink it, huh? Well-prepared, I see.
“Do you want to drink this?”
“Y-yes…”
“Alright, then answer my questions.”
“…!”
“If you don’t drink quickly, it might be too late, you know?”
“Uuugh… W-what… do you want to know…?”
Sweating profusely, the Slaughterer spilled everything he knew in exchange for the antidote.
Being a former thief and now a high-ranking member, he knew quite a bit.
Tonight was going to be a long night.