Chapter 12

Nina seems to have a quick memory, as she was able to activate the combat technique within a week.

I took two weeks to do it...

She can still only release magic power, and she can't properly control it, so I'm having her practice.

"Ugh... I'm so tired..."

Nina, who is not used to the combat technique and is leaking MP, is complaining.

"Nina, the difference in combat with or without the combat technique is huge, so stop complaining."

"I know... This combat technique skill is amazing. The difference in physical ability is like night and day."

"If you understand, go to Vivit Village today while maintaining the combat technique and sell the equipment from the other day. Also, if you can, buy some potions and potion recipes."

"Whaaat? While maintaining the combat technique!? It will take a whole day to get to Vivit Village... Besides, while potions are one thing, potion recipes are only sold in large cities."

It seems that recipes are only available in large cities.

"Then, just buy the potions, about 3 to 5 of them."

"Got it. What about you, Yu?"

"I have something to do, so you're going alone, obviously."

Nina looks as dejected as if the sound "GAN" is playing in the background.

So, I head towards the mountains. I ignore Nina, who is muttering something behind me.

I can roughly guess where the bandits might be. I didn't spend every day gathering herbs for nothing.

By going to the nearby village, kidnapping people, and finding a place to live in the mountains with water and food, I can narrow down the possibilities.

My current equipment is a cloth outfit with a dissection knife borrowed from Nina tied to my right ankle.

I plan to gather herbs until I find the bandits' hideout, then approach them pretending it's a coincidence and kill them one by one.

Still, the places I had in mind keep turning out to be wrong.

According to my stats, my luck is pretty bad.

"What are you doing here?"

I was a bit surprised to be called from outside the range of my detection skill, but there was a man dressed like a thief.

Name: Bessi Sese

Race: Human

Job: Thief

Level: 15

HP: 93

MP: 33

Strength: 37

Agility: 60

Stamina: 44

Intelligence: 18

Magic: 16

Luck: 16

Passive Skills:

Dagger Mastery LV2

Detection LV2

Active Skills:

Dagger Techniques LV2

Combat Technique LV1

Steal LV1

Stealth LV1

Appraisal LV1

Unique Skill:

Eagle Eye

Hmm, I thought he noticed me because of his unique skill, 'Eagle Eye.'

"Kid, can't you hear me?"

The man, visibly displeased by my lack of response, speaks to me.

"Sorry! I came to the mountains to gather herbs but got lost, so I'm glad you're here to help."

"Huh, that's bad luck."

(Black hair, black eyes, a creepy kid, but a perverted noble would be overjoyed and pay a fortune for such a treasure. To find such a prize near the hideout...)

The man leers at me, sizing me up. I take the opportunity to steal his skills. I was successfully stealing skills, but when I tried to steal the unique skill, something was off.

No matter how many times I tried, I couldn't steal it. I must have used 'Seize' dozens of times, and my head feels like it's about to split.

Can't unique skills be stolen? Or is my Seize skill level not high enough...

"Alright, I'll take you to the village. Is it Vivit Village around here?"

It seems I had gone quite deep into the mountains.

"No, it's Ressell Village."

"Ressell Village, huh? Then this way."

The direction the man took was completely different from the one Yu knew to Ressell Village. After a while, we reached an open area with a house.

(Strange, this kid hasn't even broken a sweat following me. And he's too cautious. His center of gravity is slightly to the right... He must have something hidden on his right foot...)

"Are you really lost while gathering herbs?"

"Of course. Why do you ask?"

"Even I, who am used to the mountains, find this journey tough, yet you're not even out of breath and your movements are strange."

"Heh, I underestimated you, a thief in a small village in the middle of nowhere..."

The man, noticing the change in Yu's demeanor, reaches for his dagger.

"Now that I know the location of the hideout, I don't need you anymore. By the way, how many people are in the hideout?"

"No use? You... You're underestimating me, kid!"

"I was planning to catch you off guard, but since you noticed, I guess I'll have to do it head-on. Your level is 15, a Thief, so I should be fine."

(He knows my level and job!? Does he have an analysis skill?)

"Heh, you're pretty confident. What's your level? Or do you have a special job?"

The man started to create some distance while talking. To prevent him from escaping to the hideout or calling for help, I close the distance.

"My level is 8. And does having a job have any benefits?"

"Level 8!? You're trying to kill a level 15 like me with just level 8?"

(This kid is an idiot? He doesn't even know the benefits of a job. I was cautious for nothing.)

The moment the man heard my level and job, he relaxed his guard. I immediately launch two Fireballs simultaneously.

"Wha... Why can a kid like you... use magic... and..."

"What are you surprised about? I heard Fireball is one of the lowest-level spells."

"Wha... What a joke!! Launching two at once and without incantation!? No kid can do that!"

Sorry, but I can't let you call for help. I launch a Fireball, which he dodges, but I use the opportunity to close the distance. I grip the knife hidden on my right ankle with my right hand and approach.

"Critical Blow!!"

The man, with a dagger in hand, tries to use a thrust technique. But since I've stolen his skills, it doesn't activate.

So, the level 1 Dagger Technique is called Critical Blow...

I easily dodge the simple thrust and stab the knife into the gap in his armor.

"Ughh!"

The man, now bloodied, clutches his stomach and kneels.

"Anything... I'll do anything, just... spare my life!"

I was going to torture him to get information, but he starts talking without me having to. The remaining bandits are two people, levels 10 and 12, much weaker.

I also know where they hide their treasure. The kidnapped children and women have been sold to slave traders and are no longer there.

"You said you'd spare me if I told you everything?"

"What did you do with the women and children you said you'd help?"

"W... Wait! I didn't... do it out of choice!"

I activate the Critical Blow skill I just stole, embedding the knife up to the hilt in his stomach. The knife, which was borrowed from Nina, broke at the base... I'll have to apologize to her later.

I head towards the bandits' hideout, but something is off. Using my detection skill, I sense only one person. Either the man lied or they are out somewhere.

Either way, the odds are now in my favor.

I use Stealth and peek inside. There are two dead bodies, and one person standing. It's Nina...

"Nina, why are you here?"

Nina, with a full smile...

"I was tailing you, of course."

This... This kid was following me and ignored the task I gave her!?

I was frustrated that I couldn't detect her, even though I usually can. I check Nina's status.

Name: Nina Leva

Race: Human

Job: Thief

Level: 14

HP: 81

MP: 25

Strength: 23

Agility: 57

Stamina: 25

Intelligence: 18

Magic: 12

Luck: 22

Passive Skills:

Detection LV1

Trap Detection LV1

Dagger Mastery LV1

Stealth LV2

Active Skills:

Steal LV1

Ambush LV2

Trap Disarm LV1

Stealth LV2

Combat Technique LV1

Unique Skill:

None

Her Stealth and Ambush skills have leveled up. Probably because she used Stealth, Ambush, and Stealth together, I couldn't detect her with my Detection skill. Still, it's strange. I can steal skills and level up quickly, but Nina's skills are improving day by day. Is this normal in this world...?

"You were talking to a guy who looked like a thief, right? That's when it clicked. Yu was trying to get rid of the bandits for Stella's sake!

Then, I followed the direction you were heading, found the hideout, and took care of the bandits inside."

Nina was radiating a "praise me" aura, which annoyed me.

"Hey, if the kidnapped people were held somewhere else, what were you going to do? And what about the task I gave you?"

"Ugh..."

I rub her temples.

"It... It hurts..."

"Ugh... Yu defeated the bandits, but what about the quest?"

"What's the reward for the bandit extermination quest?"

"Five gold coins, I think. It's a huge profit! Even if you report it after the fact, it will be considered completed."

"The bandits' hidden treasure will be checked before deciding."

If the bandits' treasure is more than five gold coins, it would be silly to report the quest. The best option would be to get the quest reward and the bandits' treasure, but that would be too much.

I search the floor as the man mentioned and find a part that can be peeled off. Under the floor, I find a treasure chest. The chest is unlocked, and inside are:

7 gold coins

332 silver coins

586 copper coins

Sisha's Pendant (Level 5)

Steel Dagger (Level 6)

Steel Knife (Level 6)

Potion Recipe

Antidote Recipe

"Nina, there's no need to report the quest."

"Wow..."

I can't help but laugh. The bandits had more than I expected, and I even got the recipes.

I'll give the steel dagger and knife to Nina. I check the Sisha's Pendant.

Sisha's Pendant (Level 5): Can block analysis up to Level 3. Can also block some of the status.

Hmm, this is an equipment with a granted effect... This ability can be used against people...

"I'll give you the steel dagger and knife."

"Really!? Yay~"

I broke the dissection knife, so I apologized and gave her the dagger and knife. She was in a good mood.

Alright, I'll finish the bath today.

The bath took a long time, but it seems I can complete it today. When it's done, the first bath will, of course, be for Grandma Stella.

"Nina, go to Vivit Village and sell the items. Also, strip the bandits' equipment and sell it too."

It will be quite heavy, but it's a punishment for ignoring the task.

"Ugh... Okay."

From tomorrow, I'll train Nina and make potions.