Chapter 2: The Tragic Noble Thief
I heard that a noble thief showed up!
It's the return of the tragic noble thief.
Sounds like trouble.
You heard that? A noble thief!
Sounds like a protagonist of a picaresque novel! Isn't that cool?
They said it's the return...
Perhaps it's a fan of the past criminal's exploits.
Weiss, the way you say it sounds too pragmatic.
No matter how you spin it, theft is still a crime.
A noble thief daunts the strong and helps the weak
and definitely has a strong antihero charisma!
As an info broker, I'd love to find out the face behind it.
I want to sell that info to the military police.
Jeez, you're so unromantic.
But I certainly am interested in the tragic noble thief's identity.
And there you go.
Let's gather info by hearing out what the townsfolk would say.
Everyone's afraid and we didn't get any possible leads.
Looks like we'll get more info about it on the south side.
Wanna check it out?
The tragic noble thief is the most well-known folk tale here on the south side.
220 years ago, there was a band of noble thieves here in Sucesor.
They stole from the bad nobles
and gave away to us needy and impoverished.
But one day, they were captured by a corrupt merchant.
"Your members will all be spared if you manage to bring
the legendary treasure from Heaven's Ladder by full moon."
That's what he told the leader of the noble thieves.
The leader ultimately failed to make it back until the deadline.
All of his companions were executed and the leader would die in prison.
That's why he is called the "tragic" noble thief.
I guess people are ignoring the "tragic" part.
It's such a tale with no redemption.
We couldn't get any leads about the new thief, though.
It's unfortunate but let's leave that search for another time.
Right, let's get back to conquering Heaven's Ladder.
Whoa, what an awful place...
Muck Abyss is a place filled with poison and miasma.
I've heard about such a part of Heaven's Ladder before.
This is probably the very same place.
You won't see that many people who reached this place even through history.
I'd rather know how many people got out of here alive instead.
I'm afraid that's beyond my knowledge.
Huh? It sounds like an ongoing battle. Hide somewhere, Weiss!
Whoa, could that be the area boss?
Most likely.
Or rather, will that guy be alright?
Ahh!
Quem-san!?
Your wound is deep.
Hang in there!
A-Are you an adventurer?
Yes, I am.
I'm Rivaston.
I have an urgent favor to ask you.
I don't think we have any reason to hear his request.
Let's at least hear him out.
There goes your bad habit again.
Any number of lives won't be enough for that naive attitude.
Anyone afraid to die can't become an adventurer.
What...
Uhh... Do as you please.
So, what do you want to ask from me?
Somewhere here in Muck Abyss
is a treasure called "crystal mirror".
I need it at any cost.
If I remember it correctly, it is known as a magic tool
that reflects the sins of anyone who looks at it.
Ah, that's it. Bring that to me
and I'll give you all my fortunes, so please!
I'll focus on recuperating from my wound here.
Bring it here if you manage to find it.
That very much looks like an altar with a warp magic circle.
It feels like something awaits upon there.
Wanna take a look?
"Carefully check things out."
That's what my adventurer's instinct is telling me.
That sounds extremely vague.
Well, I'll retrieve your remains if you die so don't worry.
Ehh!?
There you are, Area Boss!
The faster one wins!
Wait, Quem-san!
Wh-What's happening? My body feels numb.
Quem-san? Pull oneself together, Quem-san!
What's this? What's happening here!?
Am I inside the area boss, by any chance?
Did it swallow me?
Oh no, the curse!
Eh?
No way... H-Hold on, not down there!
It hurts!
Stop! Stop that!
This isn't sex at all.
It only feels like my pussy is gonna get ripped apart!
Ouch... It hurts...
Ouch... It hurts, and yet...
It's the curse's fault that even this is making me...
...f-feel good!
It hurts... It feels good... It hurts... It feels good...
It feels great!
Ouch... It feels good...
This is bad. It swallowed Quem-san whole!
Gosh, what is she even doing!?
I have no way to beat that monster!
Wh-What are you doing? Let go of me!
Damn you, ugh... Let go...
Huh? Stop... Wait!
Huh!?
This damn thing even went after me.
Quem-san is supposed to be your opponent!
If this goes on, Quem-san will end up dead!
Dammit, how dare you use my body as you please!
I have to do something! Do something!
Cupid-sama...
How's that!?
Ah, whoops...
Rivaston, is it this one?
This is it! There's no mistaking it!
You're amazing! I'll be able to save them with this!
Save them?
You're a lifesaver, thank you!
Here's your reward.
All my fortunes are in the place indicated there.
You're not lying, are you?
I believe you, Rivaston.
"Do the right thing as a person regardless of rewards and praises."
You're someone worthy of respect.
What do you mean?
It's our motto as noble thieves.
I won't forget this debt that I owe you. I'm really grateful.
Rivaston-san, what's the current year?
It's Year 324, right? I'll be going now.
Year 324?
We're from 544.
That means we're currently at Heaven's Ladder 220 years ago.
220 years ago... Noble thieves...
Huh? Hold on, does that mean...
Rivaston-san is the original tragic noble thief.
No waaaaay!
I have to stop him!
You mustn't!
Why not? Rivaston will be caught and end up dead!
Haphazardly messing with things from the past would alter history.
Ah, that's true...
Let's first go back to Sucesor and confirm it.
Quem-san...
Where were you at?
I looked up at how the history changed.
I asked around about it. The leader was able to bring the treasure back.
The noble thief punished the corrupt merchant and was granted nobility.
He seemed to have changed afterward and started oppressing the weak.
It's now called the legend of turncoat thieves.
That dead man seems to be a descendant of the turncoat thief.
History has really been altered.
Isn't this my fault? If I hadn't changed the events,
maybe Rivaston would've stuck to his principles.
People's hearts can easily change.
Don't let it get into you.
Is that how it is?
This certainly is upsetting for her.
I guess I can prop her up a bit.
Quem-san, let's take a look at where he hid his fortune.
It'd be a stroke of luck to find even a single gold coin here.
Oh?
That's the crystal mirror.
And there's a letter.
Eh?
I see it now. He got into a political conflict
and had no choice but to tax the citizens.
He then wanted to use that money to improve the town.
It appears that things didn't work out well, though.
Rivaston never had a change of heart.
Weiss, He hadn't changed!
However, this made him and his household end up
becoming the "tragic noble thieves" in word and deed.
Nobody knew what they thought, recognized their actions,
and nobody saved them.
Rivaston gave himself for his ideals.
Humans aren't a lost cause, aren't they?
Ah... Where are you going?
Do the right thing as a person regardless of rewards and praises.
That's it.
That's enough!
I am the tragic noble thief.
I will not tolerate any further desecration of the dead!
I'll be taking this deceased man as a noble thief would.
I am the tragic noble thief.
I'll do the right thing as a person regardless of rewards and praises.
Whenever injustice occurs, I'll be there without fail!
Farewell!
Are you satisfied now?
To be honest, I wanted to explain the truth about Rivaston's household.
Pat yourself on the back even a bit.
Humans aren't a lost cause, as you've said.
I know but somewhere along the way I wasn't sure about it myself anymore.
Would seeing this make you believe in yourself again?
The crystal mirror reflects the sins of anyone who looks at it.
Does it show you taking the dead and giving it a proper burial as sins?
That's not a fake item, right?
Unless the tragic noble thief lied, that is.
Thanks, Weiss.
I-It'd be a problem if you couldn't do your work.
It'd be inconvenient for me if your mind wasn't into it!
You're right.
Then let's get right to it, Weiss!
Hey, wait a second!
Quem-san!