Chapter 21

The cart runs through the darkness of night. A horse, led from the fortress, pulls the makeshift cart, its hooves clattering against the ground. The cart, roughly constructed, shakes considerably, but its speed is fast. There was some unease about having only one horse, but it seems to be sufficient for the task.

"Horses and carts, you really have everything prepared, Ruis. Where did you get all this from?"

"That's a secret. But rest assured, it's safe. The private soldiers are busy with bandits, and only a few servants are left in the mansion. We can't miss this opportunity. We'll take advantage of the chaos to loot valuables."

The rescue of Karia Bardonic. That's why I called a few people to help achieve this and other goals. We ride the horse together, scattering sounds into the darkness.

All of us, regardless of gender, have lived in the shadows. If we're going to act in the dark of night, these kinds of people are much more useful. Whether to use them or discard them.

"But the Bardonic family is in decline, right? Are there really treasures in such a place?"

"There are, without a doubt."

I assert this to the woman, dressed in a revealing outfit, who looks uneasy.

On the contrary, it's precisely because of their lineage that they don't want to part with antiques and heirlooms.

These are proof of their status as upper nobility, proof of their dignity. The Bardonic family, though now reduced to the knightly class, surely still dreams of returning to the noble or upper noble class when the time comes.

If that's the case, no matter how impoverished they are, they can't sell these things. They can't. These are the gold, silver tableware, and valuable items that demonstrate their pride as nobles.

Ah, that's right. They couldn't.

When I mentioned this, a rather perplexed expression was returned.

"...You really feel like Ruis. Weren't you just a petty thief or a ditch cleaner?"

"Yeah, that's Ruis, man. Did you eat something weird?"

Some of them, with their arms around each other, tried to get information in a joking manner, while others came straight to the point. It was rude, or rather, they had no tact.

Sighing deeply, I replied, but I knew it would still be suspicious. I smiled wryly and sweat dripped down my forehead.

As I said, at the time, I was at best a petty thief. At worst, I was a ditch cleaner with the nickname of a sewer rat. I couldn't even be a basic adventurer. I couldn't get a job, let alone pull off a con. I was just a good-for-nothing.

Yes, when I think back to that time, there couldn't have been any good memories. Rather, for someone born in the back alleys, it's rare to have any good memories.

I had bowed my head to the ground for a piece of bread. I had eaten rats and bugs to stave off hunger, and I had been half-dead from theft. I had polished shoes for money while being despised.

A life of selling my dignity, with nothing to be proud of. Just moving my limbs to survive each day. Nights spent shivering while waiting for the sunrise. It was a battle. No one would help me. To me, living was nothing but a tragedy.

Ah, I see. That's why I became like this. That's why I couldn't achieve anything. As I pictured my future self and my former self in my mind, I suddenly understood.

So, let's end it here. I must put an end to this miserable, wretched life. I must pay my respects to my former self. I must draw a line here. If I don't, everything will repeat itself.

That, I couldn't bear, even if it meant death.

"By the way, I can't see anything ahead. Is this the right path?"

"Yeah, don't worry about that. We're entering the Bardonic territory from the south, through the forest."

I took a whiff of the chewing tobacco and looked ahead as the horse galloped, then said so.

Even if the influence of bandits has thinned the defenses, it would be reckless to launch a frontal assault on the knight's mansion during the day. There should still be some lookouts, even if only a few.

The earlier we are discovered, the sooner the private soldiers will return. If that happens, it's over. I'm not foolish or arrogant enough to think I can stand up to the private soldiers. We won't be able to rescue Karia Bardonic, and we won't be able to loot the mansion.

"It's a race against time. We'll go through the forest, arrive at the mansion, and quickly gather the items. Then we'll escape without being seen by the private soldiers or even the lookouts. That's the best plan."

"That's all well and good..."

A relatively large man, a giant, furrowed his brow and looked ahead.

"...How are we going to get through the forest in this darkness? Are we waiting until morning?"

"No, you can rest easy about that."

There was one thing I had forgotten. Yes, I had something to be proud of.

Of course, it couldn't compare to Karia Bardonic's talent, the old man's cunning, or Nines' wisdom. But without this, I wouldn't have been able to escape in the dark or complete my jobs. And it was my only partner, just like in the past.

"I have good night vision—this is one thing I don't lose to anyone."

The darkness where even the moonlight doesn't reach. The forest, the ground, the sky—all boundaries become blurred. The veil of night covers the sky, refusing to allow any light. The world is undoubtedly dark.

"The darker it gets, the better. Let the veil of night fall. This is my forte. I'll accomplish everything, blending into the night."

—However, in the space where the veil of night had fallen, the movements of the trees and their branches, the swaying of the grass and flowers on the ground, everything was clear in my vision.

The world of the night is in my hands. This skill, I wouldn't lose to anyone. Not even to a man who calls himself a savior.