Chapter 143: Chapter 143: Ju Rina (2)

Ju Rina lives for theft.

She’s addicted to the thrill of sneaking in and stealing things, the ecstasy of seeing her target’s intense reaction.

Her combat skills aren’t bad, but all her talents are specialized in thievery.

‘Cat’s Footsteps,’ ‘Danger Perception,’ ‘Presence Concealment.’ She has three high-level traits just related to that.

Plus, she has the ‘Keen Senses’ trait. If that were combat-related, she’d definitely be Sword Master material.

In fact, Ju Rina robs the imperial palace before the main story’s midpoint. It’s a 50-50 chance. Sometimes she gets caught.

Anyway, it means she’s a thief who can deceive even a Sword Master’s senses, apart from combat.

She’s not called a Master Thief or Rogue Master for nothing.

Even I, with Winds, find it hard to do that. It’s a miracle created by the synergy of her high-level traits.

‘Seems she’s starting to be active around now.’

Ju Rina was famous from the early parts of the game. Always leaving a butterfly mark.

This is probably her debut time.

Duke Juan might be her first, or at least second or third target. Honestly, I’m not sure if I can recruit her.

I’ve never seen Ju Rina move with others. She always acted alone.

There were times I tried to form a bond and got backstabbed. Rather, my mansion got robbed.

‘I do know a bit about her personal life.’

Not in detail, and I can’t guarantee it’ll work. She talked about it in past tense.

I plan to use that, focusing on her goals to attempt recruitment.

Ju Rina’s goal was to rob the imperial palace. She stole the emperor’s crown and displayed it in the square.

That’s when she started being called Rogue Master. After that, her activities dwindled.

Of course, I’m still unsure about the possibility. She can do that without joining me.

I’ve been racking my brain on the way here, but no special solution came to mind.

Rather, I had worries. There’s a possibility she might rob me and run away.

‘Well, I’ll think about it after finding her.’

It shouldn’t be a big problem. Even if she’s someone who didn’t get caught by a Sword Master, she’s not at that level yet.

And I know her habits.

If I didn’t know that, even I with Winds might not find her, but I have a fair idea.

Just then, my thoughts drifted to another topic.

Recruiting talent was becoming more complicated. It had to include the condition of not betraying.

It takes more time, and it’s hard to explain my circumstances.

‘Rather, create individual organizations?’

A small elite is better than being alone, but even that has limits. Originally, I planned to form a small group…

But facing reality, my thoughts change. Can’t I just run it like an intelligence agency?

Jofor originally ran the Blue Falcon Mercenary Band. Even though he’s under me, I can make it like that.

I can introduce the ones I can use, and he can put them in the mercenary band.

It seemed easier to expand the organization this way. Only the head needs to know me and follow orders.

‘No wonder even intelligence agencies maintain this system.’

Even within Haisen’s intelligence agency, many haven’t met Duke Brusek.

Of course, there’s a bit of risk. It’s too early to decide now, so I need to think about it. Both sides have pros and cons.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

“Big brother will buy everything? Really?”

“I said so. Food is a given, and even things you want while on the road. Weapons, clothes, curious items, anything. Lodgings are top-notch too.”

“You’re not lying?”

“Hah… Ask the others. We should’ve stopped in a city midway. If only big brother hadn’t said it was urgent.”

Whatever decision I make, I need to make these guys stronger first.

There’s still time until the game’s starting point, so it should be enough.

“But why did you get a beer from me then? There wasn’t much food on your desk at the time.”

The whispering from behind was Aron and Jofor. Jofor is older, but they’ve become almost friends in a few days.

“That’s because I was undercover then. Are you dumb? We had a full spread.”

“Wow, this guy. So you pigged out while big brother ate simply? No loyalty?”

“No, big brother…”

“Sigh- Even if it’s undercover, still. If it were me, food wouldn’t go down my throat.”

Aron lost words for a moment at Jofor’s rebuke. His bewildered eyes rolled left and right.

I know Jofor’s words don’t come from the same loyalty as Aron’s. He’s just teasing.

Even though he’s under me, it’ll take time for him to develop loyalty like Aron’s.

Apart from that, my physical injuries are almost healed. The abnormal recovery speed was thanks to the Ironman trait.

My side still hurts, but it doesn’t strain unless I move violently.

“Focus.”

In the distance, Huberto’s city walls started to appear. The kids fell silent at my words.

Getting in wasn’t difficult.

Although security was tight since the duke was robbed, 10 days had passed since the incident.

They might check people leaving, but not those entering.

Ju Rina stays for about two weeks, so I have about 2 to 5 days left.

I planned to start searching from today. But first, I need to take care of the kids’ meals.

***

As soon as we arrived in the city, we transformed from a merchant caravan to a mercenary band.

It’s makeshift, but nothing’s better than mercenaries or merchants.

I could pose as a fallen noble from the west, but that’s more likely to cause problems.

There are many flies targeting such people.

“Big brother.”

Around the time we were almost done with lunch, Mary suddenly called me. She calls me big brother, following Aron.

I nodded, sipping water, signaling her to speak.

“Can I manage the money from now on?”

“Huh?”

It was sudden. I looked at Mary, still holding my water glass. Mary glanced around.

“It seems we’re spending too much.”

“It’s fine. Money, we can just get more.”

“But isn’t it better to have more? And we’re spending excessively beyond what’s needed.”

She’s not wrong. In the long run, I need to establish bases too. It’s just that there are many ways to get money.

Seems she’s developed an interest in this after reading books about merchants and money lately.

Hmm. Thinking about it, it doesn’t seem bad.

I tend to buy everything the kids want. If they say something’s delicious, I order one more.

But the spending has been high.

Since giving them separate treasures, I’ve noticed their spending habits growing a bit.

It seems they’re spending recklessly, a backlash from their moneyless days. It’s not bad if Mary cuts that in between.

Aron and Osten looked a bit stung, as if feeling guilty.

But Jofor looked a bit wronged.

Just earlier, his eyes rolled at the sight of the full meal. He focused on eating without a word throughout the meal.

“But this is my first time…”

Mary continued, not minding Jofor.

“I’m not saying don’t use it. I know you consider meals important, brother.”

That’s impossible not to know.

Every chance we got, I fed us until we were full. I always preached about the importance of rice.

Eat when you can eat and sleep when you can sleep – that’s what I learned in the spy agency.

Besides, there’s no cheaper way to boost loyalty than food.

“But this… it’s a bit much.”

Mary pointed at the table. Indeed, even though the meal was over, quite a lot of food remained.

It meant we had ordered excessively, even considering how much Aron and Jofor eat.

Because I have Mysophobia, I usually ordered one for each person. That’s more comfortable than sharing food.

In fact, it wasn’t a problem at first.

Like Jofor today, the other companions ate until nothing was left, gritting their teeth.

But now that their deprivation is being satisfied, the amount they leave is gradually increasing.

“Of course, I don’t mean to interfere with how you spend your money, big brother. But I think I need to manage a bit what my brother and Osten spend.”

Aron was silent at his sister’s bold words, but Osten reacted strongly.

“M-me? Why?”

“Even though it’s money big brother gave separately, and it’s needed for creating magic tools, you’re buying too much these days. You know our luggage has increased a lot, right?”

“…”

Ah, I was going to talk about this part too. I understand the peculiarities of creating magic tools.

Ideas pop up suddenly, and magic tools require a vast variety of items.

But we can’t carry everything. Osten seemed to know that too, so he kept his mouth shut.

“Even if it’s personal money, it needs management now. You were going to talk about this too, right, big brother?”

“I was. The luggage has definitely increased.”

At my words, Osten slightly bowed his head. It does seem like we’re putting too much pressure on even the money received separately, but we just need to not set the limit too high.

Mary’s intention is to prevent it from becoming excessive. If there’s some friction at first, I just need to mediate. That’s all.

“Anyone object to what Mary said?”

Everyone was silent. Both Osten and Aron looked like they were thinking something. They must have realized they got too excited.

Well, we have been traveling too comfortably compared to our situation.

I took on most of the risks and set the rules of conduct.

From now on, if they discuss among themselves like this and seek my advice, they’ll probably act while thinking for themselves.

It was unexpected, but the timing wasn’t bad. Mary created an appropriate opportunity.

In the silence, Jofor looked at me cautiously.

“Um, I’ve eaten everything…”

Unlike Aron or Osten, he had indeed cleaned his plate. It was worrisome to the point of wondering if his stomach would burst.

It’s the appearance the companions showed at first. Mary also nodded readily.

“Jofor, for now, eat as much as you can. We were like that at first too. As time passes, the amount will decrease.”

Mary’s words were reasonable. Seemingly thinking she’d say no, Jofor nodded with a dazed expression.

“Oh? Y-yeah. Thanks.”

As if displeased that only Jofor was an exception, Aron looked like he was about to say something but closed his mouth again.

Mary looked at me.

“From today, I’ll write accounts and report. I think I can also check how much more we can spend. I’ll try to predict until when we need to get money again.”

“Okay.”

The flow isn’t bad.

In fact, this time too, we spent recklessly and then hurriedly stole money when it was almost gone.

If Mary specifies the timing, we can make more preparations. As expected, having more people is good.

Because you can be free from these trivial aspects.

“I’ll start right away when we go up.”

***

While Mary gathered the companions and started writing the accounts, I left the room.

Ju Rina’s habit is to watch the surroundings while drinking coffee at a cafe near where she’s staying.

It’s quite severe. She drinks four or five cups of coffee a day. Because of that, she even got penalty traits.

‘Insomnia’ and ‘Coffee Addiction’.

I’m not sure if I can fix this. Anyway, I went around near the duke’s mansion looking for a cafe.

‘There are two?’

Coffee is extremely expensive here. I looked around just in case, but I didn’t expect there to be one more.

It’s not even a large city, so I was a bit surprised.

In Chenarus, there are close to ten, but there are also cities with none at all, so this is quite a lot.

I looked at both cafes, but Ju Rina’s figure wasn’t visible. I didn’t expect it either.

Insomnia.

Ju Rina sleeps in the morning and wakes up around noon. She’s probably having a late lunch somewhere now.

‘Should I wait for a bit?’

I took a seat at the cafe with a better view of the duke’s mansion. If she doesn’t show up while waiting, I can move.

I know her face, but I’m not certain. Since it’s before the game starts, she might look different from what I know.

Her hair being red like ginger is a characteristic, but she might have dyed it, so I need to look carefully.

I ordered an Americano and opened a newspaper.

[Devil worshipper appears in Altre!]

The empire’s newspaper had what I did written on it. It seems they couldn’t suppress the news.

Probably because the first discoverer was a commoner. It says there was a commotion when the city’s nobleman led soldiers to confirm.

One thing is set with this incident. The magic tools they use. No matter where I am, they can find me.

It means I can be in danger anytime.

But there’s one exception.

The empire’s capital, Chenarus.

In the place where the Sword Master is, they can’t use that magic tool. In other words, the place I should make my base is the empire’s capital.

‘I need to make Erendil the emperor anyway.’

It’s a part I’ve been considering for a while. The problem was whether to make it a base or an additional branch.

At that moment.

A red-haired woman appeared at the cafe entrance.

Her hair was messy, not long awake, thick horn-rimmed glasses, I almost didn’t recognize her.

She was even holding an archaeology book, at a glance she looked like a scholar. Ju Rina sat down with a tired-looking face.

She ordered a latte, opened her book, and glanced at the duke’s mansion.

She looked a bit bored too. Maybe because it’s been quiet since 10 days have passed.

Meanwhile, Ju Rina suddenly threw a glance at me. Our eyes met. Is it a feeling?

‘Rather than pretending not to know and then approaching…’

I stood up and approached Ju Rina. She waved her hand.

“No sitting together. Even though you look decent, I’m not interested.”

…It seems she’s misunderstanding in a different way. I sat down across from her without minding.

Ju Rina frowned.

“I said go away?”

“You’re Ju Rina, right?”

For a moment, her eyes widened. I could see her pupils dilating and muscles tensing.

She looked like she was about to jump up. I pressed her shoulder with Winds.

“I’m not from Arachne.”

Arachne. A fanatic group in the eastern continent where Ju Rina was until she escaped.

Ju Rina’s eyes wavered. This might unexpectedly show a possibility of recruitment.

“Let’s talk a bit.”

Author's Thoughts

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