As the sun dipped below the horizon and Exil was swallowed by the encroaching shadows, the four—Rei, Vihera, Byune, and Nakt—made their way toward their target: House Marstchel.
Their objective was to infiltrate the estate and rescue the captured Tibia. Consequently, they couldn't exactly travel by carriage as they usually might, yet running openly would draw unwanted eyes. They settled on a compromise, walking through the city streets at a brisk, purposeful pace.
"With Vihera in tow, drawing attention is practically unavoidable," Rei noted.
"Oh, is that so? I certainly wasn't aiming for that myself."
"Could you please take your own appearance, outfit, and reputation into account before saying that?"
Vihera replied as if she were genuinely oblivious to her own beauty, and Rei shot back almost reflexively.
Fortunately, the night provided a veil that spared them from the constant scrutiny they would have faced during the day. Even so, many passersby couldn't help but stare at Vihera’s seductive features and her dancer-like attire as the group moved past.
(The traffic should thin out once we get closer to House Marstchel. Still, thinking about it now, not having Seto here is a blow. And hey, you drunks, don't go picking a fight with someone called the Mad Beast. Though I suppose it's only natural that Vihera attracts men like that.)
Rei ignored the whistles from a pair of men whose cheeks were flushed with drink, muttering to himself inwardly.
He figured that if Seto, a Gryphon over two meters in length, were with them, no one would have been foolish enough to meddle, even in a drunken stupor.
Rei himself held the alias of Crimson, but that reputation was largely tied to his partnership with Seto. Based on his current appearance alone, it was highly unlikely anyone would take him for a skilled adventurer.
As for the ten-year-old Byune, the same applied in spades.
Under these circumstances, the one proving most useful was, unexpectedly, Nakt.
He was known as a thief from the Sound Blade, a party with a fair amount of recognition; once people realized who he was, even the drunks steered clear. Even those who didn't recognize him were deterred by his fierce countenance. Nakt only needed to level a glare at a troublemaker to send them scurrying.
Just like the two who had just whistled at Vihera and Rei.
Exchanging sparse words as they navigated the nighttime streets, they followed Nakt and Byune’s lead through deserted back alleys. Eventually, the moonlit silhouette of House Marstchel’s residence came into view.
Unlike the other buildings in the city, the estate was brilliantly lit by numerous magical lamps. Nakt turned his gaze toward the mansion and spoke.
"There it is. From here on, we move with extreme caution. Byune."
"Nn."
Exchanging a glance as fellow thieves, they moved forward, their eyes darting across the landscape to scan for any sign of trouble.
Fortunately—or perhaps unfortunately—there was no sign of an ambush. They drew closer and closer to the Marstchel residence without incident.
"This is boring," Vihera complained. "I wish they’d just jump us all at once. Ideally with someone strong."
"We’re trying to sneak in, so I’d appreciate it if you didn't start a riot out here," Rei whispered.
Vihera murmured her discontent while casting a feverish gaze at her gauntlets. Behind her, Rei let out a quiet sigh and spoke softly so as not to distract the two thieves.
Since her outfit consisted of layers of thin raiment, her pale back was visible through the sheer fabric. In the silver glow of the moonlight, her sensuality was only heightened.
Of course, Rei wasn't about to let himself be distracted in such a situation. He focused his senses on their rear, ready to respond to a surprise attack at a moment’s notice.
Their formation placed Nakt and Byune in the lead, followed by Vihera, with Rei bringing up the rear to guard their backs.
Yet, despite their vigilance, there was no sign of any enemies.
They continued their approach until they reached the very edge of the estate. The group paused, looking at each other with growing suspicion.
"What do you think?" Rei asked.
"Is it possible they haven't realized the slum hideout was raided yet?" Vihera suggested.
Nakt tilted his head doubtfully. "I find it hard to believe House Marstchel would be that poorly informed."
"Then why is there no welcome for us?" Vihera asked, her dissatisfaction clear.
She had come here expecting a clash with a powerful foe, yet even the lowliest grunts had failed to appear. From Nakt’s perspective as a thief, the lack of opposition was something to be celebrated, but Vihera had no personal connection to Tibia and felt no need to be particularly cautious.
She knew Rei would scold her if she voiced her lack of concern, so she kept the thought to herself.
"Logically, they’re probably trying to lure us in so they can trap us inside," Nakt said. "Rei, your thoughts?"
"That’s the most likely scenario. Either they’re incredibly confident in their own strength, or they have some kind of trump card waiting. Either way, we have to go in if we’re going to save Tibia."
"True enough."
Rei replied simply, but he still took a moment to scan the perimeter.
He didn't possess the specialized observational skills of a thief, but his body had been meticulously crafted by the Zephyle Clan, granting him incredibly sharp five senses and perfect night vision.
Even so, he saw no one hiding in the darkness. The only exceptions were the two gatekeepers at the main entrance, but even they seemed to be slacking off.
Their lackadaisical attitude felt eerie. Rei sighed.
"The lack of security actually makes me more hesitant to break in."
"Maybe," Vihera said, "but as Rei pointed out, we have to go in to save that Tibia girl. I’ll go first."
Deciding there was no use standing around, Vihera kicked off the ground and dashed toward the residence. She avoided the main gate and headed for a section of the wall some distance away; even she didn't want to cause a major disturbance before they were inside.
If it had been daylight, the gatekeepers might have spotted her, but it was dead of night. The only illumination came from the moon and the magic items inside the house. While the grounds were brighter than the surrounding streets, it was nearly impossible to track someone of Vihera’s speed in the shadows.
Reaching a blind spot for the guards, she took a few running steps and leaped. She used a decorative bird statue halfway up the five-meter wall as a foothold, vaulted to the top, and gave Rei’s group a sharp nod before dropping silently into the Marstchel grounds.
"It doesn't seem like there are any traps on the perimeter," Rei murmured.
Nakt, who had been watching Vihera’s acrobatic entry with a stunned expression, snapped back to reality. He had started to fume at the recklessness of the move, but he quickly checked himself. They were here to infiltrate, and someone had to go first; Vihera had simply taken the initiative.
"I’m going next. Don't fall behind," Rei said.
"Nn."
Rei and Byune moved toward the blind spot. Rei broke into a run and jumped. The initial leap was similar to Vihera’s, but then he activated his Sleipnir's Shoes. Using the air itself as a foothold, he took two phantom steps and easily cleared the five-meter wall.
He took one final air-step to kill his momentum, landing silently on the manicured lawn. Byune landed beside him almost instantly, and a few seconds later, Nakt touched down nearby.
"Still no attack. Are they really this oblivious?" Rei whispered.
He drew a knife from his Misty Ring for close-quarters work and scanned the area. There were no waiting enemies—not even a sentry in sight.
Vihera, who had landed first, had already extended sharp claws of magic power from her gauntlets, but she let out a disappointed sigh and let them dissipate when no target appeared.
"Since we’re infiltrating, a lack of enemies should be a blessing, but this is beyond my expectations," Vihera admitted, her brow furrowing with displeasure. "I was hoping to grab at least one guard to use as a guide."
"Maybe we should have squeezed more info out of those Holy Light Religion members," Nakt suggested.
"It would have been useless, Nakt," Vihera countered. "Those six were zealots, devoted to the cult with every fiber of their being. Looking at them, they were likely already brainwashed. Do you really think people like that would betray their secrets? They would have chosen martyrdom over confession. Besides, we didn't have the time. If we’d lingered there, Tibia might have been killed while we were busy talking."
"I suppose you’re right."
Nakt conceded the point. After all, his own comrade Ecethesus had been the one most panicked about the lack of time.
"But if we don't know where Tibia is being held, we’re stuck. We can't exactly search every corner of a place this size. And if there are hidden rooms like the ones in the hideout..."
"That’s exactly why we brought you and Byune," Rei said.
"Relying on us so casually is a bit much," Nakt grumbled. "A mansion like this likely had secret passages built into the blueprints from the start."
"Nn!" Byune muttered, giving him a look that said she could handle it.
Nakt sighed as he looked down at the girl. She was so small she barely looked like more than a child, yet she was more confident than he was.
"Alright, fine. I can't let a little girl outshine me. And if I don't work my hardest to save Tibia, I’ll never hear the end of it from Ecethesus."
"Good. It’s settled. Let’s get inside and secure ourselves a guide," Rei said.
"Though if there’s no one out here, there probably aren't many people inside either," Vihera noted. "I’ve heard the Marstchel family keeps a very small staff."
"Doesn't change our mission," Rei said.
"I know, I know."
The group moved toward the mansion, staying low. Unlike the outer perimeter, the walls here were studded with magic items that provided light, making them much easier to spot. However, there were very few guards on duty, and no one intercepted them as they crossed the garden.
No human security, at least.
"FOUR INTRUDERS CONFIRMED. NOTIFY THE MASTER."
"UNDERSTOOD. REGARDING THE RESPONSE, OBSERVE FOR THE TIME BEING."
Tiny, mechanical voices, almost impossible for a normal human to hear, whispered in the darkness.
"Wait... what was that?" Rei stopped abruptly, his eyes scanning the void.
"Rei? What is it?" Vihera asked.
Rei looked around one last time but found nothing suspicious. He shook his head. "Nothing. I thought I heard a strange sound..."
Byune and Nakt immediately turned their sharp gazes toward the shadows, scanning for any anomaly. They found no guards, no traps—nothing but the silent night.
"Sorry. It was probably just my imagination," Rei said.
"Are you sure? Well, if you say so... but stay sharp. This is the Marstchel estate, and with the Holy Light Religion involved, there’s no telling what kind of tricks they have up their sleeves," Nakt warned before moving toward a nearby window to scout the interior.
As he watched Nakt, Rei still felt the prickling sensation of a gaze upon them. He searched the area again, but found no sign of life. A cold, inexplicable sense of dread settled in his chest as they approached the silent house.