It was a beautiful sand-less day and the Adventurers Association was full of adventurers from all over the place. There was 1 problem though, I couldn't find any Silent Nights or any newcomers that would fit the bill. I sighed and sipped on some Mango Punch. Where are they? Is there some International Silent Night holiday or some party I don't know about? I saw a familiar face and dove away. What is he doing here? It was Healerguy.
“Free treatment for whoever catches that guy over there!” Shit, he saw me.
I ran out of the Adventurer’s Association and went into stealth to hide from the horde of adventurers who wouldn't pass up a free treatment, that would otherwise be quite expensive. Maybe this is a blessing in disguise, whoever can catch me would be suitable as my successor. Maybe I should be a bit nicer to Healerguy. That being said…
All these adventurers were clueless… I sat in front of the entrance of the Adventurers Association for an hour and nobody could find me. How disappointing. Healerguy finally got outside and was about to look for me when I appeared in front of him. I know you mean well, I concede, none of these adventurers fit the bill.
“What are you talking about? But I’m glad that you are cooperative.” He brought me to the sick bay to check on me.
“Hmm, I’m surprised, no exotic status effects.” See I told you!
“Well, I would like to know what this is.” He showed me some fancy tablet that acts like a tv. The technology in this world is so strangely distributed. I don't know what this is, I'm not a Golden Angel.
“This here is a tox screen, it says that you've been poisoned quite badly, quite frequently.” Oh, that eh… How do I tell him that this is to gain immunity to these poisons?
“At least it seems you got resistance or immunity to them so I guess that's good news but… At least you make sure my job stays interesting, it surely is something else than the standard injuries.” I’m glad that you're entertained.
“The best-case situation is that my job is extremely boring, Don't go out there trying to make it interesting for me!” Yessir!
“Also why are your stress levels so high?” Oh, that is the reason I’m here, I’m trying to get away from a very stressful situation so I need some kind of successor. I need a Silent Night that is a bit inexperienced.
“Does this have to do with your tox screen?” Yah.
“Hmm this tox screen resembles a starting out Silent Night indeed, are you going for that role?” No, I’m quitting that's why I need a successor.
“Uhh, I don’t follow but if you are looking for someone there is this guy of about 15 years old that is very skilled at stealing in the slums of Texiha. He can effortlessly rob skilled adventurers clean with them hardly noticing.” Ooh, that's perfect! Those people always have an attitude! Exactly what I'm looking for! Hehe, he won't know what's coming!
“I don't know why but I’m starting to feel sorry for him now…” Thanks, Healerguy! I will try to not run the next time I see you! I dashed off and adventurers still tried to catch me.
Oy, I already got caught! Leave me alone!
“You can let him leave, he’s right’ Healerguy backed me up and I was free to go. I headed straight for the slums and switched to some other clothing. Something rich people would wear and I had a fake wallet dangling in the open. I had put 3 silver in it so anyone who could swipe this from me would be rewarded. I walked around and the first thief appeared.
What is with this shoddy stealth, I don't need my Elgards eyes to spot him. 2/10! I kicked his ass and continued.
Ohh this guy has a good form. His stealth could use some polish. Oh, he can use shadow magic! Some shitty execution but he has potential. Probably not who I was looking for.
I acted like a clueless rich guy and let him steal the 3 silver. He deserved it. I replaced my stolen fake wallet with a new one and this one had 5 silver. The stakes were higher now! Anyone worse than the previous one won't win a prize.
Ooh, these 2 teamed up. Let's see what they can do. One approached me attempting to distract me while the other would go for the purse. Good idea but sloppy execution. I ‘Accidently’ noticed the other guy and a fight broke out, they had good basics but that was it. They were slow and had a lot of wasted movements. I don't think they deserve the 5 silver. I kicked their ass and continued on.
The next guy actually almost caught me by surprise. I evaded out of reflex; he just went for the silver and not my life. If he can hide his intentions better, he will get somewhere. I let him steal the silver in his follow-up attack. He has a lot of potential but is probably not the guy I’m looking for.
And then I noticed him. He had been watching me the whole time. This skill, he’s the one! He had short messy blonde hair and sharp eyes. Actually everything was messy as he is a street rat.
“What games are you playing here, you act like a fool but only let those steal from you that are skilled enough.” Are you sure you should just reveal yourself?
“Pff, stop looking down on me, you had already noticed me, there was no point in staying hidden.” He had a bit of an attitude but it wasn't that bad. This is bad, I already like the kid. Are you the guy that keeps robbing the skilled adventurers?
“And what if I am? What will it do for you? I already realize that I can’t rob you so there is no point to this, cya!” He was about to walk away when I started flipping a gold coin and playing with it. How about this, if you show me what you can do you get this.
“Ha! I won't fall for that there must be some sort of trap or something there is no way you would just give me 1 gold.” Several noob thieves thought differently and rushed at me and I easily kicked their ass assassin style. I sat on the pile of knocked-out thieves and flicked the coin up and down.
“Wait, you're one of those Silent Nights I heard about, I could never steal from them!” What if I told you that I’m looking for applicants and I’ve chosen you as a possibility?
He got his daggers out. “Heh, it’s not as if I have anything to lose, I might as well try!”
He came at me with a speed that I have never seen in a human. It was still slow by my standards. I parried his dagger strikes and dodged a relatively sloppy shadow skill thrown at me. I dodged another shadow blob thrown at me and he dropped into stealth. This seems to be his specialty, erasing his presence. Impressive, without these eyes I would have no clue where he would be, it was cleaner than any assassin in Silent Night. This kid’s got talent. I blocked his strike from stealth by making my shadow block his when he dropped out for the strike.
“What? How!?” He was confused because it looked like his strike got blocked by something invisible. I flicked to coin to him. You pass. There is more if you follow me. I started playing with 2 more golden coins.
“You... you are not playing a prank, are you?” He inspected the gold coin thinking it was fake. He realized it was real.
“This is real?! It’s mine?!” He dropped to his knees. Come on kid you need to keep the arrogance up else I will feel sorry for leaving you behind with Io. Come on, don't show weakness, are you in or not?
“I will trust my instinct and trust you. I can’t join you unfortunately, my brother is held by debt collectors. My parents racked up a huge debt before they discarded us and died. I’m scraping by to stay alive. I send the rest to them to pay off the debt.” Interesting, tell me more.
I sat down on the pile of passed-out thieves and he was reluctant but he told his story. I could sense he was leaving a lot out though. Your story doesn't make any sense but I understand.
“Huh, where did I lie?!” I never said that you lied just that it made no sense but thank you for confirming you were lying, I don’t mind because I get the gist. You're lying because the situation is more dangerous than you described, you make it seem like they’re debt collectors so I would help but they’re more like ehh how to describe it? Cult, I guess? He wanted to protest but realized that he got seen through.
“Who are you? None of the Silent Nights were anything like you.” Hmm, well I actually am not a Silent Night I don't have a role yet, but I’m looking for someone who wants to, you said you're interested right? Let's save your brother so I can get what I want.
“You're a weirdo, you are going to help me to get what you want? Why not just kidnap me? That surely should be no problem for you.” That is true but since you will be sticking with me for a bit you should know 2 things about me, I place value on doing anything to keep close family and friends safe, if I had a brother and he was in the same situation as your brother was, I would level this city no questions asked, secondly. I hate cults. They bring more harm than good so I’m doing this place a favor for surgically removing them.
“Is this what a Silent night is about?” Surgically removing threats? Yes, what do you think are you up for it?
“I would level this city to save my brother!” Good! He can't come with us after we save him though
“What?!” Do you want your brother to know what you did to get him out?
“Ehhh.” I know a Healerguy that likes to stick his nose in other businesses he can help your brother maybe even teach him to become a Golden Angel or something and after both of you have mastered your skills you can take over the world with your Silent Night and Golden Angel skills!
“You… you are crazy… but maybe you’re right, it’s time we learn to stand up for ourselves. Thank you ehh, what is your name?” Right about my name, please don’t throw it around a lot, I’m Agnis Hourai.
“Rich guys are weird… at least it seems you are not as ignorant as others, the name is Kyle,” Kyle what?
“Just Kyle.” Nice to meet you Just Kyle.
“Hey come on you know that's not my name!” Hahaha but at least you're not so tense anymore, are you ready to burn down ehh infiltrate a cult, and save your brother?
“Sure.” Your stealth is immaculate so let’s use mainly that, follow me I think I found a cultist.
We entered stealth and slipped through some alleyways. I followed someone who had a strange shirt on and an 8 that was laying on its side.
Just Kyle pointed at the cultist. “It’s a cult member indeed, a member of Ouroboros.” Hmm I’ve heard that name before, isn’t that mythology?
“They are striving for immortality and doing some weird stuff to get it, my parents were part of it but they stole something to sell it and that's how they got killed and got the debt.“ Did they stole some sort of elixir or something?
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
“No, a shard that was capable of producing endless water, they went to the desert to sell it.” The world surely is small…
“Hmm?” Why did the cult need this shard for?
“Something about it being a part of the world and discovering its properties might lead to immortality and eternity.”
I hate to say it but these cult members are on to something. They sound dangerous though. Humans aren't supposed to mess with this. I still had the shard on me since I had to yet seal it away. Although I could use it to easier infiltrate this cult. This could be a piece of cake to get in and save the brother. Getting out might not be but I was planning on destroying it anyways so I just have to wipe them out when things become rough.
I am wondering. Is Isi doing this and putting these things on my path? There seem to be a lot of coincidences that it feels like someone is pulling the strings. I surely hope I’m not being manipulated. I did sneak into that mansion on a whim though and Io wanting to spy on random rich guys was probably also a whim. I stood still.
What if Io is secretly a mastermind and pretending to be like that and has been pulling the strings all the time? She certainly convinced me that she wouldn't be a mastermind. Then again, she is a dragon and I didn't detect deception. I don't think Io is the mastermind. It wouldn't be a good mastermind if I could guess this in several seconds.
Listen, Kyle, this might be our lucky day. This might actually be quite easy. I took the duck out of my dimensional pocket and it sprayed water on Kyle.
“Hey! Wait is that? My brother’s ducky?! Where did you get it?” Bought it for 500 gold and 1 silver but that's not the point, this is the item they’re looking for so you're going to give it to them, get your brother back, and escape then I will wipe them out.
“Just like that?” Luck is also important in life, let's follow the cultist and make him tell us where their headquarters are.
“Hey, asshole!” The cultist turned around and Kyle decked him. “Where is my brother!” I don't think he will tell you but maybe his friends will. We got surrounded by guys in robes with the Ouroboros logo.
I’m here as protection for Just Kyle to deliver this item to your master. I showed the duck and it made one of the cultists wet. Woops sorry. Turning this thing off is a bad idea.
“It seems the real deal, guys the boss might want to see this." We got led through some alleys and then were led into the sewers.
“Yuck!” Kyle pulled a face of disgust. Which made me wonder, he is a street rat shouldn't sewers be a part of his natural habitat?
Ah of course, that makes perfect sense!
Kyle looked at me as if he had no idea what I was talking about. They blindfolded us and led us to their base. Blindfolds don't work on me so these guys were wasting time. They even made some wrong turns on purpose to confuse us. We finally arrived.
This didn't seem like a full-fledged cult. Maybe they were just starting out or this was a branch. Branch was more likely, to underestimate cults is a bad idea. We got brought to their leader and got our blindfolds taken off. Are you the leader of this cul... Ouroboros?
“I am not the leader but I’m in charge here, I heard that you found our item." Let Just Kyle’s brother go and we can have an exchange.
“Hey, my name is Kyle! Only Kyle!” Just Kyle...Only Kyle protested.
“And why would you give you what you want if we can just take it from you?“ Because I can break it. I took the shard out of the duck, augmented my hands with spatiotemporal magic, and pinched the shard causing it to bend.
“Whoa! Spatiotemporal magic, shit! Ok, we will get his brother, do you have any interest in joining us?” Does that ever work? Of course not! Get Only Kyle’s brother and let them go their debt should evaporate.
They got Kyle's brother and they were finally reunited. Is their debt settled?
“The item has returned but their parents…” Their parents are dead, are you truly so petty to dump the mistakes of the parents on their innocent kids?!
“Listen you might not understand but money is important and…” You mean your ego is important, how you look to your cult members, you guys aren't hurting for money because else you would do regular jobs even adventuring instead of sitting on your asses in the sewers walking around in robes and harassing children. Last warning let the kids go.
“Ha, what can you do by yourself.” I gave Only Kyle another gold coin and my adventurer's ID. Only Kyle, you are excellent in stealth and sneaking around, bring your brother to the Adventurers Association and ask for ehh shit what's his name. Call for Healerguy and show my ID which should be good enough. I hid a shadow clone in the shadow of my ID so if they think you stole it, he will help, now go!
“I don’t know how to get out of here though… And my name is Kyle, there is no 'Only'... " The shadow clone jumped out of the shadow of the ID. He does now go! They went into stealth and disappeared.
“Don’t let them escape!” The fake cult leader shouted as he pointed at Kyle.
I shifted stance and blocked the entrance with [Water Dragon Festival]. Now that I have your attention. What do you guys plan to do with this thing?
“None of your business!” Trying for immortality, eh? Humans have sought after this since the dawn of time, I know what you guys are after, I just wanted to see your response and it’s unsatisfactory so let me ask again, what do you plan on doing with this?
“Ha you wouldn't understand anyways!” Try me. The guy started his whole life story of how about how his life was hard and more bullshit I never asked for.
Hey, asshole! Answer the question I don't care for your life story! What are you planning to do with this?
“Become immortal of course!” Yes, I get that, but why do you need this and how are you going to achieve this?
“It will make us more powerful to stand up against the world!” You don't know do you? You kill people and ruin families for a goal you don't even know how to reach. Instead of finding out you're here playing evil organization in the sewers and holding children hostage. You disgust me. I sent shadow clones to find out if there were more prisoners.
I will ask you again, what do you plan to do with this item, and how are you going to achieve immortality with this, give a clear and concise answer, I am going to kick your ass if you give an answer that doesn't directly answer my question.
“It is as the lord and mistress Biian dictates!” Wrong answer and for mentioning that name you deserve to get your ass kicked even more.
My clones were evacuating all the children and adults held here against their will, probably to extract resources from their loved ones. They put haste behind the evacuation because I was losing patience and wanted to bring this place down. It reminded me a bit of the cult we found close to the root. I moved the [Water dragon festival] around and interfered with cult members that tried to stop the evacuation.
“You will regret this! Justice will prevail and come after you! Consider yourself marked by our goddess of immortality!” And I should be afraid because? I am already marked by her.
My head stung and my nightmare flashed through my head. Yes yes, I know that nightmare had her in it but that doesn't mean anything, the fact that I'm a 9t means I am marked by her. It will only be a matter of time before she knows about my existence. I don’t remember the Sarian goddess Biian being a symbol of immortality.
“She is justice and justice is immortal!” So is water, time, and other things, and gods in general are immortal so I don't see how this only applies to her…
“Silence!” He took a cane out and cast something. I got hit by some light magic but it did nothing. Hmm, I was expecting something.
“Impossible! It’s supposed to instantly kill any human!” Oh… I might want to dodge this then the next time. I can't have people think I’m not a human. The guy backed off. My shadow clones had completed the evacuation and were fighting the other cult members.
“Wha… what are you?!” Ooh someone is asking the question, let's try a line I like to say.
I am currently your worst nightmare. I shifted from [Water Dragon Festival] to [Drowning Pulse] and started to slowly flood the place.
Let's flush you like the pieces of shit you are. I completely flooded the whole area and smashed everyone into the walls with strong currents or popped their lungs by sneaking in some [Pressure] and after everyone died, I flushed them through the sewer system.
I have 0 tolerance for crazy cults. I decided to call this new technique [Flush].
I teleported to the surface and went to the Adventurers Association. Some adventurers were accusing Kyle of being a thief, rightfully so, and Healerguy was defending him with some others. Sup I’m back, is Only Kyle’s brother, ok?
“He is and the other people you sent over also, we’re kind of full now. Can you help out? These guys have it out for Kyle.” Healerguy said as he pointed at the battle ready adventurers Yoo guys chill, I gave him my ID.
“He’s still a thief!” And you're an asshole! He’s a kid just drop it.
“You're just a kid too!” And a kid is telling you to act like an adult, you should be ashamed. The adventurers didn't like it but this was enough to drive them off.
Did you see that, Kyle? As long as you're a kid you can use these lines, you got to come up with something better once you turn into an adult though.
“As usual you are up to something crazy. Kyle and the patients have already told me enough. You said you wanted to train Kyle and have me instruct his little brother? I can do that. Kyle listen, Agnis here is a bit crazy, he gets into a lot of trouble I want you to look after him.” I sighed as Healerguy said something unnecessary.
“Is he that crazy? He seems strong though.” Come on Healerguy that's unnecessary!
“Think about it Kyle what sane person would jump into an unknown cult to help a street thief and his brother?”
“Hmm, you have a point, I will keep an eye out.” Hey guys really? I did something good here!
Healerguy shook his head. “For the wrong reasons but that's fine. At least the situation in the slums might actually improve now. You’ve been a lot of help.” Are you ready Kyle? I’m a stern teacher.
“Well, you came out alive with no injuries after jumping into a den of crazy cultists so I assume you’re at least very strong.” Hehe, praise me more!
“Don’t stroke his ego, he might get even more reckless…” Healerguy warned. You have a good basis so this won’t take too long but you might want to gain a lot of experience afterwards because basics get you into the door but experience keeps you alive. And the best place where you can practice is what I call home! Cya Healerguy! Kyle and I were at the front door when a guy ran in.
“Guys! We need help the sewers are clogged with bodies!” Kyle let's see first how hard you can run!
Healerguy looked at me. “Agnis!”