Sometimes while playing games, you come across maps or areas where NPCs and monsters coexist.
The 'Slums' in the original 'Hero Legend' were like that. Pickpocket NPCs and pickpocket humanoid monsters existed side by side. There were too few monsters to call it a hunting ground, and with aggressive mobs present, it wasn't quite a safe zone either.
So why bring that up now?
"Ugh!"
"Such courage is commendable."
Unlike the original, in the remake version, nothing floats above their heads, making it impossible to distinguish between mobs and NPCs. Jeez.
I almost got pickpocketed after approaching thinking it was an NPC.
"God has forbidden certain things. One of them is theft."
Incidentally, that explained why the Inquisitor had looked somewhat displeased—more like bitter—throughout the entire trip to the slums.
Our uptight kimchi dumpling seemed a bit uncomfortable having to deal with people who violated the word of God.
"Fuck, what rotten luck..."
The guy who had reached for his waistband only to get kicked and sent sprawling spat out curses. The Inquisitor's expression turned icy as he gripped his mace.
"Thieves shall have their wrists—"
"That's enough, Inquisitor."
"Yes?"
"Upholding doctrine and discipline is not a bad thing, but it can't be done every moment."
"But he's a sinner."
"Sometimes mercy is necessary, isn't it?"
"...Mercy, you say."
"Yes, mercy."
"..."
Even after the Archmage spoke, the Inquisitor didn't seem to understand. Her stubbornness was starting to shine through clearly in that lack of comprehension.
Well, not my problem to care about.
"I've heard pickpockets have decreased lately around here. Is that true?"
He seemed like he'd be classified as a mob since he tried to pickpocket me, but just in case, I attempted a conversation. Unlike the original where they were just monsters to kill, they might have been upgraded to hostile NPCs. Or maybe this was part of the story—interrogate if caught, pursue if escaped?
If not, I'd just handle it according to the situation.
"W-What're you saying?"
And he comes out this uncooperative?
"I won't ask twice."
From what I saw of the Inquisitor's reaction, this place seemed to be the wrist-chopping type for thieves, so I figured I'd put any info I got to good use.
Without hesitation, I drew my longsword. The Archmage, who had been gently coaxing and soothing the Inquisitor from behind, gasped in shock, but that wasn't my concern.
"Your wrist or an answer."
I pressed my foot firmly against the pickpocket's chest and shifted the sword tip from his throat to his wrist.
The sunlight breaking through just then vividly highlighted the movement of his Adam's apple.
"Eek! I-I don't know! It's true the territory's gotten looser...!"
"Be precise. Why has it gotten looser?"
"The pickpockets who ruled the roost cleared out of the area. Th-That's why."
"Whereabouts."
"No idea. Hiding out is just everyday life in this business for a guy or two!"
```
❖ Ominous Signs
∎ Talk to Pickpocket 1 / ?
∎ Talk to Vagabond 0 / ?
```
What a guy who knows so little. The moment I thought that, the count ticked up by one.
Since the number of people to ask wasn't fixed, it seemed I just needed to chat with a few and gather the desired info.
Plus, I could get info even from guys who might be mobs or hostile NPCs.
"No one who knows more than you?"
Well, still had to ask that.
"The Kingpin might. All the pickpockets in this area pay tribute to him."
"Location."
"W-What?"
"Location."
Ugh. So I can squeeze that out too? Regardless of whether he gave the answer he wanted, interrogation was fun.
Sticking to my concept, I questioned him in a cold voice, savoring the thrill. In other games, you were limited to given choices, but here I could ask whatever I wanted—that was a fresh fun point.
Though I lacked confidence that I was nailing the keywords better than specified.
"If I tell you that, I'm dead!"
"Then I'll sever your wrist."
"Fuck!"
The pickpocket NPC thrashed as if to resist, but my foot pressing on his chest was stronger.
And the thrill of interrogating an NPC while immersed in my concept outweighed any guilt over cutting off someone else's wrist, so the blade headed for it without hesitation.
Unlike tongues, cutting wrists didn't bother me much—it happened often enough while monster hunting.
"Damn, damn it..."
Would it sever cleanly in one stroke? Scraping the ground might dull the blade more.
Better to stab. I raised the arm gripping the sword overhead, planning to pierce and slice through the wrist center in one go.
"I'll talk, just let me talk!"
Right as I was about to swing down, the NPC squeezed his eyes shut and finally cried out in surrender.
Thud!
I slammed the blade into the ground right next to his wrist.
"Guide me."
"Fuck, thought I'd at least make it through the morning..."
Yeah, who picked me as their first customer of the day?
Shing.
Anyway, I got the promise. I sheathed my longsword and lifted my foot. Of course, I didn't relax my body in case he bolted—I stayed ready to grab him.
"He's a thief."
The Inquisitor, who had watched it all, couldn't hold back and chimed in.
"Not my business."
It wasn't a big deal to me anyway. Sure, attempting to steal my stuff pissed me off, but wasn't tracking down a potential demon's tail (per my concept) the priority?
"And if you don't want to test how fast my sword can pierce you, don't entertain any funny ideas."
But that didn't fully erase the annoyance, so I warned the pickpocket.
"G-Got it."
Just testing, but he really was thinking of running. I narrowed my eyes at the pickpocket who flinched mid-rise.
Looks like he'd ignore my warning and bolt once he hit that alley. Nothing more I could do here. Oh, tracking magic?
But asking for it first felt a bit off. I still needed to play it more independently. Like we were just walking the same path, people from different groups.
"Archmage. How about casting that spell?"
"...Tracking magic?"
"Yes. He might run."
After catching the demon contractor, I'd pondered using unspent skill points on tracking.
But in the meantime, the Inquisitor beat me to it. Not that he read my mind—just seemed he didn't like the pickpocket, so it was conditional.
Or maybe it was just story progression.
"What?"
"...I'm not sure if this is right."
At the mention of tracking magic, the NPC jumped, and the Archmage let out a faint sigh.
"I've cast tracking magic on you. Even if you run, we'll catch you."
But she didn't refuse in the end.
Her staff waved once, imprinting a mark on the pickpocket NPC. He panicked and tried to wipe it off, but magic wouldn't yield to physical force.
"Let's go."
"F...uck."
* * *
"What, crawling back alr—?"
With the surefire leash of magic in place, the pickpocket led us to the Kingpin with a resigned face.
"W-Who the hell are you!"
The NPC, pudgy in a way unbefitting a thief, leaped up in alarm. His build and the food scattered around screamed he was gorging well as a boss.
"What the hell did you bring—"
"That depends on your answers."
"Guh."
How much he skimmed off wasn't my concern, so I ignored it and casually booted his bulging belly. He'd grabbed a dagger from the table.
"Not exactly a friendly greeting."
"If you have complaints about my methods, turn around and handle it your way right now."
The Archmage seemed to be growing dubious about her companions' character. But my concept was like this from the start. Uhahaha. Concept play is the best.
"Short words, long sentences are fine."
I kicked away the hand of the fallen man to send the dagger flying, then drew the knife holstered in my own tunic.
With my experience spinning balisongs adding a bonus, even the fixed blade knife spun smoothly between my fingers.
"W-What do you want to know?"
Somehow the boss seemed less tough than his underlings.
Still, his fear made interrogation easy. In a relaxed stance, I slowly asked what I wanted to know.
The results were abysmal if abysmal, but there was something to gain.
"W-Why ask me? The Heresy Inquisitor should know better. You took them to the temple for reeducation."
"...What did you just say?"
The quality sucked, but at least I got a direction to head next.
"Swear on God! You're certain they were taken from the temple?"
The Inquisitor, who had barged in, pressed angrily. Her tone and temper overlapped a bit with my concept, making it mildly irritating, but reminding myself it was criminal-limited fixed it.
"Y-Yes... I swear. Not a word of lie in what I said."
"Timeframe?"
"P-Properly noted from a month ago... but probably started even earlier."
"...Blasphemy!"
And the Inquisitor spat fireballs.
"Reeducating criminals is only allowed during periods permitted by the Grand Temple! To presume it otherwise!"
...That was a pretty grating reason. I'd thought it was something hugely suspicious.
"...Isn't that not the important part?"
"Then what could be more important?!"
Leaving the even paler white lion—Mage—and Inquisitor behind, I gazed down at the Kingpin intently.
"Started taking people a month ago."
"Y-Yes."
"Did they take a lot at a time?"
"No... The kids said they quietly took just one or two."
As he spoke, the Kingpin glanced slyly.
"Real quiet, like human traffickers sneaking people away. N-Not that it was actually that. How could the temple do such a thing? Just a figure of speech..."
Whoa. At this point, even without remembering the original, it's obvious. The development's so predictable I'm starting to feel solemn. But the game system is so fun it doesn't matter.
"What did you just—"
"Was taking people done regularly?"
Before the furious Inquisitor could rant, a stern voice cut in first. The Archmage, looking grave.
"Y-Yes. Two or three times a week, Heresy Inquisitors come around at set times. That's why we've restricted going out then."
A 2-meter bipedal white lion just needs to harden her expression a bit to feel chilling. The NPC shivered as he affirmed. The Archmage's face darkened instantly.
"No way... Sacrifices to demons...?"
From this testimony alone, she seemed to picture the worst scenario aptly. Well, same for me.
"What do you mean sacrifices?!"
"...Just a hypothesis. But..."
"The Church wouldn't do that!"
Thud.
Anyway, I slammed the dagger I'd still been holding into the holster in my tunic.
"Nothing's more useless than saying they wouldn't."
"...!"
By the way, this wasn't just concept—this came from my life experience. Truly, nothing's less trustworthy than "they wouldn't."
But sticking to concept, I muttered while fiddling with my right arm. The gulp from behind was very satisfying.
"Know where they were taken?"
"N-No, I don't..."
That was the answer when I asked while possessed by an icicle. This guy's knowledge was suspect. Well, quests are like that.
"I-I know!"
Then someone shouted from the back. It was the pickpocket who guided us here.
Thought he'd bolted, but waiting this long was surprising. Story progression for sure?
"Not exactly what I know, but I know someone who does... If demons are involved, this is big, right?"
The guy, receiving my gaze, stammered but persisted stoutly. His first impression sucked, but I really liked him.
Creak, creak.
I turned from the Kingpin and walked to him. The old wooden floor groaned with each step, but it oddly created tension.
The guy who bravely shouted backed away, swallowing hard.
"W-What."
Did I overdo the atmosphere? But that's the 'con.cept.'
"Guide me."
"...Follow me."
I followed him. The twisting alleys welcomed me back.
"Let's go, Inquisitor."
"...Yes."
The Archmage and Inquisitor naturally followed.
* * *
"The place I'm taking you is the roughest back alley around here."
After passing a couple alleys, the pickpocket NPC spoke to me. Unexpected, nearly missed it.
"So... Be careful not to draw your sword there. People are super touchy. Especially that Heresy Inquisitor! They hate temple folk, so warn him."
Thanks for the advice, but the back half isn't for you to tell me, dude. Still, Archmage seemed to hear, so fine.
"I don't deal with lowly thieves—"
"Inquisitor."
See?
"Don't drag me into danger with your bullshit! Got it? I'm just helping 'cause it seems important to everyone!"
More than that, this pickpocket's got a bit of tsundere vibe now. Rude as hell, but reminds me of my cute bratty cousin.
"Even if things go south, I'll let you live, so spill and guide without whining."
"Hmph, bragging 'cause you're skilled? Unless you're a knight, you won't survive?"
Is that so. But coincidentally, I'm a former knight.
I furrowed my brow at the now chattering pickpocket. Honestly wanted to hear more chatter, but concept hates noise. Gotta show irritation to avoid OOC.
Rustle.
"Be careful from here. Don't draw your sword no matter what..."
But the moment we entered a path he guided to, I reflexively gripped my sword hilt.
```
A hostile target exists within 20m radius.
```
"Fuck, what're you doing! Don't draw!"
"If you want me not to draw this, relay it. Tell your people to sheath theirs first."
Good thing I leveled up Keen Sense. The expanded radius is nice, but it marks the closest target visibly only to me and even indicates position.
"What?"
"Come out."
I threw glances one by one, counting faint breathing sounds I could barely hear with focused ears, toward the clear single target.
"...Here?"
The Archmage and Inquisitor apparently couldn't hear those breaths.
The tanky Inquisitor aside, shouldn't the Archmage have sharp senses? Given her job and Shaggi race, her ears should be better, right?
"You want me to come to you?"
And why aren't they coming out even after the hint?
"...Hoo."
As I reached into my tunic to hurl a dagger, someone stood on a nearby shack's roof.
The closest hostile to me—a figure with deep green cat ears poking from under a deep hood.
Animal ears but human facial features below? Probably 'Curti' tribe. If Shaggi, the lower face would be animal too.
"When did I ever hear about a guy like you?"
But if that silhouette feels familiar, is it just my imagination?
"Two-toned hair. Gauntlet on one arm only. Right eye covered."
Probably not.
A Curti tribesman with dark green fur, unkempt beard stubble on the chin—no way that's common.
Especially with that laid-back speech.
"Demon Knight, right?"
High chance he's the poster boy for the thief class.
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