Chapter 16. Plans.

There’s multiple points of entry.

Though, what stands out more is that the possibilities marked.

“Just… Why are so many of the windows marked?”

It possibly couldn’t be the fear of sunlight. We’re inside a restaurant in the broad daylight. And Sylvia doesn’t seem that scared of the sun. And if it’s a banquet it should probably take place during the evening or night.

Then is it because they can turn into bats and fly through the windows?

“So that we can fly through them by turning into bats, of course.” She says with an innocent smile I didn’t think she was capable of.

…What?

“…Then what if the windows happen to be closed? Wouldn’t the plan instantly fail then?” I say, neither accepting or denying her. Leaving room for if they could transform.

“I was just kidding! Its just these humans think that vampires actually can turn into bats. That’s ridiculous.”

Like I thought, they can’t transform.

Since that wouldn’t really make vampires even the slightest easier to deal with. And I have to eventually hunt one.

As I look at Sylvia’s faux innocent smile, I really get the feel that I want her to be the first one. Her neck seems quite delicious.

Wait… These clothes can even influence this?

“Only Diamond or above rank have any possibility of being able to do that.” She continues, after seeing me not react.

I look back towards the map.

It seems like a normal enough mansion. Though perhaps a little bit simple with only 2 stories. The first one being on the ground level and having what seems to be the banquet hall to the side. The second one having the residential part, which is the merchant’s bedroom and his wife and children’s bedrooms too.

“Let’s enter from this place. Assuming there isn’t any basement, which I feel should be there.”

I say, pointing towards the kitchen which is connected to the banquet hall.

It obviously isn’t that good an idea since that place would always be under watch, if not from the cooks then from the guards who certainly would be there to check the quality of the food, and perhaps poison. She should realize this at least.

“Nah, that entrance is no good. A bit too guarded and the merchant wouldn’t visit the kitchen.”

Well, at least she knows that much.

“Also, there shouldn’t be any basement in that merchant’s house. Since he’s living in an area fairly close to the nobles, he isn’t allowed to construct things underground. While there’s no certainty that he didn’t but if he’s found out, he would be very heavily prosecuted, and I doubt he’s that dumb.”

Or that he’s smart enough to do it and continue getting away with it. It can only be confirmed after visiting the site and perhaps knowing what kind of person the merchant exactly is…

“How about this entrance then?”

I say, pointing towards another spot on the map, this time a bit harder to know exactly.

It’s an entrance to the side of the banquet hall, one that connects it to the backyard, or perhaps the garden. It’s also no good. Because since he already is organizing a banquet it’s fairly likely that there would be guards just outside the hall itself. Also, the possibility that he would make his guests come outside to watch some other performance maybe.

But, as a continuation to that, it will be easier to assassinate him if he is the last one remaining in the hall or the first one to go outside. Or by another method which would be blending into the crowd that would be his guests. Both paths can be taken.

“Could it be… You’re testing me?”

Sylvia has a questioning gaze as she looks right into my eyes.

Was I too blunt with my intentions?

But I act nonchalant as my response, with a very slight smirk as if saying ‘even if I was testing you then what about it?’

“There obviously no question about being able to assassinate him right in the middle of everyone. We need to get him secluded somewhere before we can act.”

Maybe I expected too much from them. Assassination can also be made into a form of art. Just see that whole series of games just about an assassin clan.

“His bodyguards would always stick close to him. We need to find when they would be the least hinderance to us. Only then is it possible to get to him.”

Oh, right, I almost forgot that. Maybe the merchant himself has enough strength to resist a direct attack, or the guests can interfere with the assassination. In this world where people can have strength equal to whole battalions, which I can only assume is the case since I have yet to see that, it is possible that his guests could intervene in our attempt.

“Let’s just go there. He should be out of his mansion right now.”

Getting up, she starts walking towards the entrance to this restaurant.

Wait, did she just forget to continue upon that provocation that I’m testing her?

On a second thought, I didn’t need to act that way myself either. My purpose isn’t to charm her or anything.

My actions then could have been counter-productive. Making her seek my approval by testing her to give the correct responses to my question. It’s a classic move of flipping the script, because its considered that the man would chase the woman, not the other way round. Which would seem as a very fresh change while dating…

And I’m not even seeking that. Not with a computer A.I. What is wrong with me?

Did I just do it that way unconsciously?

“Come, let’s go. She already left.”

Without me realizing it, Vera is already up and is pulling on my hand, urging me to get up. Sylvia though is already out of the place and waiting outside, as visible from the windows.

Allowing Vera to help me up from the chair, I glance around myself out of habit, just to see if I left anything.

Nope, nothing left. Good, we can leave now.

…Wait. That glass with wine I gave to Vera has disappeared now.

She took it…?

Huh. Well, not that confrontation about it here would result in anything.

She graciously opens the door, allowing me to go through before coming out herself and closing it behind us. Maybe she’s really into the maid role somehow.

“So, I suppose you know where his mansion is.”

“Yes, its unfortunately really close by.”

Sylvia says as she starts walking, not towards the main streets like expected but rather into the small alleyways.

“This can be considered a commercial district for the fairly wealthy and noble-lite.”

She doesn’t need to repeat what she already said.

“These alleys are more like a quicker way to get places rather than some shady crime scene.”

I wasn’t really wondering that but thanks for telling me I suppose.

As she leads me through the alleyways quite devoid of any life, I keep an eye on the minimap, while also looking towards my surroundings. To see if there are any inconsistencies in the map compared to what I could see.

…Nothing.

Well, the minimap itself isn’t that detailed to spot inconsistencies, cause there’s always the possibility that it simply isn’t that precise. It may have high accuracy but low precision.

Mapping experience gained.

You have levelled up.

You are now level 27.

Stats have been automatically distributed according to previous pattern.

Oh right, I almost forgot that professions also gave experience.

But shouldn’t they give experience to that profession itself rather than general experience? Though I can only assume so from the records of other RPGs I’ve read about. So, maybe it works differently here.

Chris Val

Level: 27

HP: 30 of 30

MP: 50 of 50

FS: 170 of 170

Hit: ??

Str: 28

Con: 2

Int: 5

Res: 4

Spd: 24

Crit: 4

Mov Spd: 105%

Luk: 46

…Show Details… (Currently unavailable.)

Seems fairly normal… Except the movement speed to increased too, somehow.

Summing all the stats except movement speed… it comes to 113. And if my memory serves right, at level 20 it was exactly 100. And 2 stats per level means that my 14th stat point was put into movement speed?

1 stat in movement speed equals a 5% increase? Well, not like it’s possible to put any stats in either movement or luck, so I can’t particularly test the hypothesis.

“We’re here.”

A large mansion comes into my vision.

“You brought the map, right? Let’s see which side is more suitable to scope out first or a better entry point.”

The map…

What?

I look into my inventory but of course, it isn’t there.

Could I have forgotten it even after explicitly remembering to check for any things left in the restaurant?

But I need to act normal. I can’t let her have the upper hand.

Sylvia looks towards me expectantly. Making me turn my gaze towards somewhere else.

That somewhere else happens to be towards Vera. Who as if on cue takes something out from her pocket. The pocket on clothes are connected to the player inventory, so she’s taking something out from there…

And it’s the map in question.

She hands it to me and I very casually open it as if nothing was wrong.

Yes. Nothing’s wrong. Everything is as expected. Just according to keikaku.

She really is getting too into her role.

As I open the map and look towards it, with Sylvia once again peering into the map by the side. A menu pops up over the map.

Raider ability, ‘planning’ used. (Beginner)

You can now better read the map and use it to plan your raid of the building.

Certain abilities require specific conditions and intent to be used. (You have ‘skill activation by thinking’ turned on.)

Ah, I get it now. These skills must have started activating now when I have the intent to do a specific task, making the skill related to the profession come into play.

But a Raider profession? Truly there’s way too many professions to remember.

“The right side looks like a good entrance.”

Unexpectedly, Vera is the first one who speaks up.

I focus towards the right side of the building in the map.

The map lights up with translucent grids, marking positions for objects that weren’t there before.

An even more detailed blueprint, huh.

One of the wall seems to be marked differently and as I focus on it, a bit of text appears near it, explaining its purpose.

There might exist a secret entrance on this wall.

However your discernment ability is not high enough, nor the map too detailed.

There is only a 60% certainty.

60% is certain enough.

“The right side it is, then.”

“Why?” Sylvia asks.

“Judging from the overall layout of the mansion. That spot looks like it could have a secret entrance.”

“Really? How come I don’t see it?”

Of course you don’t see it. I just made that up in relation to what the system told me.

But looking at the map more carefully. Going straight across from that wall would lead into the small garden in the middle of the mansion. It would make sense to have the entrance to a secret passageway there.

At least I would build one there in case someone tried to trap me inside the house.

Now that I think about it, it would also be possible to jump down to the garden from 1-2 stories up. Considering that the merchant is strong and willing enough to do that. A fine placement for a secret passageway indeed.

“We can just go there and confirm for ourselves.”

Sylvia leads us around the right side of the mansion, taking paths and being careful to avoid any potential witnesses.

The walls themselves aren’t that high. Except the barbs on top and what I can only assume are shards of glass. About twice my height. So, about 12 feet high. I get the feeling I could vault above it in a single leap. And if not, I could use Valentine like I did in the forest.

While there are some concerns on if the edge on the blade would get chipped because of that. Vera should be able to help with that so, not such a big problem.

“So, now where is it?”

I look towards the map in my hand. It’s not as convenient as it just telling my current position on the map itself. But judging from the map of the building. And how the spot on the wall could be found out by using the windows on the upper floors, which are visible from here, as a reference, it’s easy to calculate its position.

I walk along the path adjacent to the wall and…

“Here.”

“So that secret passage exists here?”

She sounded a bit skeptical.

Well, there doesn’t seem to be anything special here at a glance.

Which is why it would be a secret passage.

“Vera, I suppose you know what to do.”

“…?”

I turn to look at her and the abject cluelessness on her face.

“Like last time.”

Come on, we didn’t do it that quite so long ago.

“Ah!”

As if getting an epiphany, she kneels down and starts to search around.

Just as she starts that, a menu pops up in front of me.

Notice

The registration for the UnReality: Battle Royale has started.

Players interested in participating must register. Since there are some terms and conditions that require express permission.

Registration can be done at the arena for all cities. In towns and other places not having an arena, it can be done at the city council, or you can register outside the game by visiting the website.

The registration will be open till Sunday 6 am, as the competition starts at Sunday, 11 am.

It is possible to participate in teams. The main objective is to be the last one standing, be it through survival or through defeating other players. More details could be found out at the time of registration, by visiting the website, or help section in-game.

Quickly reading the message pop up, I look at Vera, who looks at me and nods in an implicit understanding, and then continues searching.

Wait, implicit understanding about what? About participating in the competition together?

But we never even talked about it…

Not like I have anyone else to be in my team.

There is the option to go solo… But it would be easier in a team.

As long as the teammates are competent that is. An incompetent one could make it much worse than just solo but Vera isn’t incompetent.

“Found it.”

As she says that, I look at Sylvia who has apparently understood what was being searched for. She crouches down and after inspecting the ground a little, gets up.

“Good work finding that trapdoor.”

She continues, “Now we need to find a way to open it and we could get inside the mansion quite easily.”

“We ca-” As Vera is about to say, I quickly shut her mouth by covering it with my hand.

Since Sylvia says that she needs to find a way, that would mean that such a way isn’t known to her or found just anywhere.

And that would make sense since they must consider the pond entrance outside their hideout to be fairly secure so that no one could break in that easily.

“Hmm…? Well, we’d need a high-level thief from the organization to come here with specialist equipment so we could open this.”

So, Vera being able to do what she did must be a really rare thing. Perhaps I should have known just from her class name ‘Valkyrie’ that something about it was special. Or maybe I’m overthinking it.

“Shouldn’t your team already have a thief or such profession in it?” I ask her. Assuming that the team she mentioned earlier actually does exist and isn’t some form of imagination of hers.

“Yeah, but he’s only a silver rank. We need a gold or a very skilled silver rank to open this.”

So, it does exist.

“And, where exactly is your team right now?”

“Yeah… They were supposed to be waiting for us here already.”

And I wonder if that’s a problem.

“They would be fine. In fact, I know where they probably are. Or at least how to find them.” She says with a little stern expression.

So, they’re in some sort of trouble or maybe lazing around. Probably the former judging by how the letter was written. Perhaps they’re tailing the merchant.

Letting out a little sigh, she says,

“I’ll go get them and a gold rank thief. You can walk around the city till then. It wouldn’t take more than an hour.”

And what about the merchant himself then? Weren’t we on a time constraint on him returning to home?

Seeing my expression, she explains,

“He wouldn’t return till a bit late at night. We have enough time till then. This secret entrance is an important discovery.”

Just as she finishes saying that, she starts walking away, towards another unknown alley.

“Have fun.”

Fun, right.

“Let’s go register now. We can look at the city after that.” Vera speaks up for what seems like the first time in a while. I guess she really was quite acting her part as a maid.

“Do you know where’s the way, then?”

“Yes, the arena’s right there.” She says, pointing towards a direction.

How…

“I overheard a few people mention it in the restaurant, while you were daydreaming. They were thinking of going there to bet or watch a duel or something like that.”

A duel… Right. Those shouldn’t be that uncommon in this era.

That makes a lot of sense then. It could also act as a bit of entertainment for the populace. Would be fairly logical to place it nearby in the commercial-like district.

“By the way, what do you know about Valentine?”

“Valentine? Ah, you mean your sword? It’s like an antique piece.”

“An antique?”

“Yeah, didn’t you see the hilt is a little odd?”

Now that I think about it, I did notice it earlier too that the hilt itself was quite unique and was embossed with runes or the like.

“Master Fidulir obtained it from a miner when he came to sell us ore. The sword itself was in pieces but it was very unique in its design. So, he tried to recreate that original blade-like thing, whatever it was.”

As I thought, it wasn’t completely an original weapon. So, it was obtained underground, in a mine? I might need to look more into it later.

“Could you fix it if it perhaps got damaged?”

“Damaged? Its very durable just the way it is. But if it did get damaged… I could try… But my skills right now might not be enough…” She stopped walking and turned around, slight helplessness visible on her face.

“You don’t need to feel bad about it.” I say with a gentle smile.

She’s already done enough as it is.

We reach the ‘arena’ or perhaps a stadium would be a more apt description. It’s quite bustling with people. People with all sorts of outfits. A few even carrying weapons in open.

It’s also really hard to tell players from other NPCs. I could only assume players must be there considering the notice that came not that long ago.

“I have a feeling we might-”

Just as Vera was saying that, a message pops up in front of me.

You have been challenged to a duel.

I shake my head, it’s obvious what I need to do. No need to duel right now.

You find yourself unable to refuse the duel.

“…*sigh*”