We ran through the market, jumping and sliding beneath the wooden carts filled with merchandise. I can't even count how many shouts we received for disrupting their sales, knocking down a few to slow down the guards who were annoyed because they couldn't use their weapons in such a crowded place.

That's why we deliberately chose this escape route. I know it sounds disgusting, taking advantage of innocent residents who are just trying to make a living. But what else can we do?

Glory? Ahh, do you mean the two bracelets that are now starting to glow on my hands?

I already have my own plan for them, so I can't use them right now. Besides, where's the fun if everything has to rely on Glory?

Life would feel too easy and less thrilling. Especially since our opponents are just steampunk guards. They're humans too, just like us. The only difference is the technology. If we use electricity, they use steam as their main source of energy.

Why are we running from them, you ask?

Imagine something so precious to them, now within my grasp.

Oh! I believe this object surpasses the word "precious."

Priceless? Meh, who cares.

I just have to deliver this to the client and receive a hefty payment in return.

Shameful, isn't it?

From someone who fought alongside knights, facing dangers to save others, to becoming a paid thief. That's right, a paid thief.

What?

I don't want to be an assassin for hire. Besides, I only steal from those who deserve to be stolen from, then give it to those in need.

Okay, that's a lie. I steal from targets, not out of personal desire.

However, the real reason I'm doing this, you should already know. I'm just trying to capture his attention, by doing various things he enjoys, one of which is making the Steampunk elites angry for whatever reason.

I think he just dislikes them.

It can be said that I've become a character in a game moving on "auto" while he watches from somewhere with a cheerful smile.

Once we arrived in a spacious area, Kyle turned around, using his Glory to create a special snowstorm in this specific area. Of course, after I provided protection to the people around so they wouldn't freeze to death.

Thanks to the ice storm, the movements of the guards slowed down, especially since they rely on steam-powered body armor. Without steam, they wouldn't be able to move the heavy metal mass.

And true enough, they instantly fell, unable to bear the weight, making me cringe at the thought of broken bones. Hopefully, no one is severely injured. I don't want my criminality level to rise from being a legendary thief to becoming a paid assassin.

How can I face Celine and the princess later? How can I show my face to them?

We continued running away. As planned, we used the underground passage we had prepared to escape from this grand kingdom surrounded by walls, where Sarah was waiting in a carriage disguised as a merchant.

Who is she, you ask?

Don't worry, you've already met her.

We entered the hiding place, hurriedly moving wooden crates aside and descended the stairs. Once the lights were turned on, I closed off the entrance using the Glory so that even if they found this hiding place, it would take time to determine which direction the tunnel led.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

Moreover, this underground tunnel was not just a one-way passage; it is already interconnected with another tunnel we had used during previous missions.

The reason we fled the city is because this is the final mission in Clockheart, the beloved Steampunk kingdom. Countless memories were formed within it.

The memories, almost all of them, consisted of escaping, fighting in bars, and detonating machines. Don't worry, we detonated them when everyone was resting, so there were no casualties.

What allowed us to steal the most crucial device for Clockheart, which you could call the heart of this city.

You're asking what it is?

Of course, it's the Glory! HAHAHAHAHA!

"Zent, are you okay? You've been talking to yourself since the beginning," Kyle interjected, looking slightly annoyed.

"Oh... Sorry, I got carried away. It's our last day in the city that feels like a sauna, so naturally, I'm excited to leave," I replied with fervor.

"Isn't it because you get to return to Alfcity and see Princess Celine?" Kyle asked, his smile filled with meaning.

"Do you forget that we're no longer together?" I retorted sarcastically.

Actually, that's not true because we... Well, we...

I don't know what to answer.

Since I left Alfcity three months ago, I haven't seen her. It's highly likely that Celine is with someone else now, or perhaps she's still waiting for me, which is an empty hope because I know she wouldn't wait that long without any certainty.

I don't know when I can go back to them. I don't even have enough power to face him. Every day, I train using the Glory, trying to understand how it works.

But I'm still the same as before. Just a weak young man who is nothing without the Glory. Just a body marked with scars from fights and battles.

Nothing more.

"You say that, but every night you dream of her," he coughed, then began to mimic my voice, saying, "Celine... Ahh, Celine... I miss you. I love you so much... Celine," and he laughed uproariously, choking on his own saliva.

I sighed deeply, giving him a warm smile, and said, "oH SaraHhh.. " But my words were quickly silenced by him, as he looked back as if there was someone else besides us.

"Alright, alright, I'll stop. You should stop too, you know?" Kyle urged, his face turning red.

As he pulled my hand, I exclaimed, "AaaHHh!" and it was my turn to burst into laughter, watching his irritated, tomato-red face.

I ended up sleeping outside because of that. Of course, I wouldn't let go easily.

"Hey, Zent, what do you think that white powder is?" Kyle asked.

"You mean, our second mission?"

"Which one do you think I'm referring to?"

I thought for a moment, shrugged, not really caring, and said, "I don't know. We don't have the right to ask. All we do is follow orders and get it done."

Kyle looked back, his forehead creased, and said, "But don't you find it strange? Why would someone ask us to dump white powder in the sewer? Why can't they do it themselves?"

"Perhaps it's drugs, and they don't want to get caught. Or some other strange powder. I don't know, Kyle. I'm just like you, stepping foot here for the first time."

We continued our journey, traversing tunnels that felt damp and hot, causing sweat to continuously pour out. I must have wiped my forehead with the back of my hand countless times to avoid getting it in my eyes. It was a mistake to wear such thick clothing in these tunnels.

I should have created a summer version of the "outlaw" uniform.

Ahh! I can change it now!

Thanks to the Glory, I transformed my black pants into shorts above the knee and put on a sleeveless black shirt paired with two black gloves. I also created a lightweight black vest that was more open than the usual long and heavy black jacket I used to wear.

I stretched my body, feeling the satisfying sensation of being free like this after wearing the previous uniform for so long.

If you're wondering if I ever washed it, the answer is no.

Why would I bother washing it when I can use the Glory?

It saves a lot of energy and time. Besides, where would I hang the clothes to dry without raising suspicion? There have been so many posters of me plastered around with the words 'WANTED' in big red letters.

Luckily, I always change my hair color to black before going on a mission. Otherwise, I might have been captured by now.

"Is your white hair natural?" Kyle asked, diverting my thoughts from the sudden discomfort.

"How many times do I have to tell you? They're natural. Ever since I was born, they've been white."

"I'm just confused. Usually, there would be news about someone like that. Like when there was a model from Russia who..."

"Perhaps my parents took care of it."

"Are you rich?"

"Maybe."

The atmosphere fell silent again. The feeling of unease returned, as if something was amiss.

I don't know how many times I looked back, checking if there were any soldiers who accidentally stumbled upon our tunnel. However, we had sealed off all the entrances using the Glory. We should be safe down here. At least, for the next few hours.

What if this unsettling feeling is because of Sarah?

I flew up through the ground, ignoring Kyle's confused and frustrated calls. I used the Glory to swiftly glide to where she was, only to find several guards surrounding her.

Not because they knew she was a part of our group, but because of her beauty, which could easily rival Princess Celine's.

"Hey, beautiful miss, come with us. We're sure you'll feel happy tomorrow morning," one of them cajoled, followed by laughter from the others. He stepped forward, holding Sarah's chin, prompting me to quickly intervene.

It wasn't because I was afraid that Sarah was in danger, but because I didn't want the guards to turn into minced meat.