Chapter 54
“Hold Your Breath”
“Knight? What are you here for?”
“Huh?”
“What’s your reason for visiting?”
“Uh… just looking around. The building is pretty.”
I rushed out of the Holy Artifact Storage.
“They’re way stricter than I thought!”
If they suspected me the wrong way, I felt like I could end up dead.
I had just tried to borrow something quickly, but… my head hurt.
“Ughhh.”
…What should I do?
I stood next to the bushes, running through the scenario over and over. But…
‘I’d like to borrow the Dagger of Light.’
‘What are you going to use it for?’
‘To kill monsters.’
‘The Dagger of Light is used for summoned beasts. You don’t even have a permit for a summoned beast. Are you really saying you’ll kill one?’
‘Uh?’
‘Please come with us to the interrogation room.’
“…!”
That’s the only conclusion I could see.
The problem was that you needed permission just to deal with summoned beasts.
Asking for a weapon to kill a summoned beast when I didn’t even own one…
It would be lucky if I didn’t get arrested.
“I need another plan.”
For the next several days, I researched and brainstormed again on how to get the Dagger of Light.
Even I, who normally couldn’t survive without sleep, stayed awake for days thinking about it.
Finally, I found another option!
There was a temple in the southwestern region of Dejes that owned the Dagger of Light, and I could request a loan from there.
But—
“You’ll be able to receive it in fifteen weeks.”
“Fifteen weeks?”
“Yes, there’s an ongoing issue with summoned beasts… so after fifteen weeks.”
The moment I heard that, I remembered the Necroquad’s energy surrounding Roitz.
“No. That’s too late.”
Four months? By then, the Necroquad would definitely lose control.
“What should I do now?”
I buried my head in my hands and simulated every scenario hundreds of times.
I even considered just praying for nothing to happen and waiting fifteen weeks, or officially applying to the Holy Artifact Administration.
But no matter how I ran through it, there was only one answer.
“Close your eyes… and steal it.”
I would borrow it secretly for just a little while.
If the Necroquad went berserk, I wouldn’t be the only one to die.
Trading my conscience to save many lives… that was what I told myself.
A few days later, on the night before the central temple’s charity ball, I put my plan into action.
It was the night before the full moon. Wearing a black robe, I quietly moved toward the temple’s Holy Artifact Storage.
The reason I picked this night was simple.
It was the one day the guards left their posts at the storage.
Of course, that wasn’t official.
But the original story mentioned the night before the annual charity ball.
The charity ball was a huge yearly event, held at the Imperial Central Temple’s rose garden.
The imperial family and the temple hosted auctions and events to raise donations. People attended to build connections and enjoy the party.
Because it was such a big event, it required many workers.
It took a long time to plant the roses used in the decorations, so the day before, everyone left their posts.
“Between nine and ten, when the moonlight is strongest, even the storage guards leave their posts.”
I didn’t remember everything from the original story, but this trivial detail had stuck with me.
It was one of those pointless pieces of info you read multiple times thinking the author was just padding the word count.
But right now, it was a lifesaver.
And that night—the eve of the Imperial Charity Ball—was today.
“I’m nervous.”
On the quiet night, my footsteps were hidden under the noisy workers’ sounds.
The third Holy Artifact Storage, which held the lower-ranked items, was near the temple’s west gate.
As expected, the security wasn’t tight because everyone was busy.
I confidently walked up to the entrance, then hid in the shadows once I was closer.
“It’s quiet here.”
Because almost everyone was busy at the rose garden, the storage area was still.
The area was dim, no one had even lit the lamps. Only the bright, almost-full moonlight lit the space, but that was better for me.
When I finally reached the storage behind the western chapel, I saw it.
“The guard is still there.”
I hid behind a tree and waited.
Luckily, it took less than ten minutes before someone came to call the guard away. He looked annoyed as he left.
I quickly slipped toward the storage.
“The door’s not even locked.”
At least I didn’t have to break the lock. I had even prepared a matching spare lock in advance, but… forget that.
Creak.
The door opened.
Even small noises made me nervous.
But with the loud party preparations outside, it would go unnoticed.
“This is why you should live honestly. My heart’s going to burst.”
I took out a small lantern from my cloak and lit it.
Using its faint light, I headed deeper inside.
“There it is.”
Inside, there was a section with swords.
The Dagger of Light was shoved haphazardly inside a tube-shaped container.
They were so strict about lending it out, but the management was sloppy. Was this just how the world worked?
“Would they even notice if it disappeared?”
Honestly, I could have grabbed it in broad daylight and they wouldn’t have known.
I pulled out one dagger. Its blade was a pure white porcelain color.
Because it was called the “Dagger of Light,” the blade wasn’t long.
“I’ll use it quickly and bring it back.”
Sorry, conscience.
I quickly tucked the dagger inside my robe.
It seemed everything had gone smoothly.
The guard was gone, I didn’t have to break in, and I found the dagger easily.
“Now, let’s get out of here.”
Step by step, I quietly moved toward the door.
“Time to go.”
I pulled my hood down low and slowly opened the door.
Creak.
The door opened again. Nothing happened.
I let out a sigh of relief as I stepped outside.
“Thank goodness.”
But as always, trouble started the moment you thought you were safe.
Just as I turned from the Holy Artifact Storage, relieved that I’d secured the dagger—
“You there! Who are you?!”
“…!”
The loud shout came from behind me.
It was clearly directed at me. My entire body froze with shock, like my conscience had just slapped me.
“I knew it!”
Of course it wouldn’t be this easy!
“Who are you?!”
I felt like a bear caught stealing honey.
I started running immediately.
“Should I have just walked out confidently instead?”
Maybe I should have acted shameless, like I’d just been passing by.
But it was too late. I was already sprinting.
“Catch them!”
But the original story had clearly said everyone would be gone today!
Was this the original’s fault?
Punishments for artifact theft varied wildly.
Sometimes it ended with a warning, but if I got a strict judge, it could mean serious charges.
Considering how strict the lending process was, I had to prepare for the worst.
“If that happens…”
Visions of prison and being expelled from the knights, left with nothing, flashed through my mind.
“…No way!”
I ran around the back of the storage and turned the corner.
I wasn’t exactly slow, but the footsteps behind me were getting closer.
They were now just around the corner I had turned.
“…They’re going to catch me!”
Panic gripped me.
I pushed my legs to move faster.
Just as the threatening presence behind me was about to reach me—
Suddenly, a hand reached out from a narrow gap between the walls.
The hand pulled me in hard.
“…!”
A man’s large, strong right arm trapped me in place.
His left hand covered my mouth.
I instinctively tried to use self-defense, but then I met his eyes.
The moment I saw his face, I had no choice but to stop.
“Hold your breath.”
Roitz held me close and whispered low.
“…”
I froze, pressing my face tightly against his shoulder.
