LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 8: Chapter 8: The Scholars.
"I'd start heading out now if I were you. The moon will be rising soon," the old man advised, his voice carrying the weight of indifference. He stretched leisurely, preparing to lie down in comfort.
Veins bulged from Aziel's neck as he glared at the old man, but after a few tense seconds, he exhaled sharply, unclenching his fists.
'Thanks to this old man, that strange screen appeared in front of me… I still don't know what it is, but it might be connected to the key or how I ended up here. In other words, it could be a clue to getting back home.'
The uncertainty of the quest's outcome gnawed at him, yet it was the only lead he had. He could only hope that completing it would either return him home or at least point him in the right direction. There was no time to waste. Without another word, he turned and disappeared into the crowd, casting a final glance at the yawning old man.
'Damn that old bastard,' Aziel thought bitterly as he weaved through the bustling streets.
***
Aziel moved through the town with practiced ease, his sharp gaze scanning for potential targets. The streets were filled with all manner of people—merchants, travelers, commoners—but he focused only on those who looked wealthy.
It wasn't out of any moral obligation; he simply had no interest in robbing those who already struggled to survive. Besides, wealthier individuals carried more money, and he didn't want the old man accusing him of cutting corners—stealing a single pouch and filling it himself just to claim he had completed the task. He wanted no room for excuses.
As these thoughts lingered, his eyes locked onto his next target—a well-dressed elderly man in elaborate eastern-style robes, standing outside a store and engaged in conversation.
Aziel casually approached, slipping through the crowd as though he were just another passerby. As he brushed against the old man, his hand moved with near-invisible speed before he continued walking without pause.
Once he was a safe distance away, he glanced back. The old man hadn't noticed a thing. Smirking, Aziel pulled the pouch from his shirt, confirming his success before tucking it away again.
'That's one down… Did the screen update?'
As if responding to his thoughts, the translucent screen materialized in front of him.
[Quest: The Homeless Man's Trial] [Quest Objective: Acquire ten pouches from ten different individuals before the midnight bell tolls.] [Progress: 1/10 pouches obtained]
'Perfect. It's working.'
Without hesitation, he resumed his search for the next target.
***
Hours passed, and the weight of the stolen pouches pressed against his body, making it harder to move discreetly. Still, Aziel continued, his dexterity unhindered, and the quest tracker ticked upward until—
[Progress: 9/10 Pouches Obtained.]
Only one more to go.
His final target stood just ahead—a young man with long black hair tied into a ponytail and a sword resting on his hip. He was engaged in lively conversation with a group of similarly armed individuals—both men and women, all appearing to be warriors of some kind.
Aziel's confidence surged. The swordsman was distracted, just like the others before him.
Moving with precision, he brushed past the young man, his fingers moving swiftly to secure the last pouch. As soon as the weight of the pouch hit his palm, the notification flashed before his eyes.
[Progress: 10/10 Pouches Obtained.] [Quest Complete!] [Would you like to receive the rewards? (Y/N)]
A triumphant grin began to form on Aziel's lips—
Until a firm hand clamped down on his shoulder.
His heart sank. His body tensed as he turned sharply, only to lock eyes with the very man he had just stolen from.
'Shit! I underestimated him! Did I get careless after all those easy successes?'
He gritted his teeth, eyes flicking to the warriors surrounding him, their hands resting on their sword hilts.
"Another pickpocket," the young swordsman mused with a nervous smile. "Why me, though? Do I really look like such an easy target?"
A girl with long brown hair and piercing blue eyes stepped forward, crossing her arms.
"You do have a pretty innocent-looking face, Gao Minzhe. But let's not pretend—you made yourself look like an easy target on purpose," she stated knowingly.
Gao Minzhe chuckled. "Well, it's not every day we get to leave the sect. I was bored, and he seemed like he'd provide a bit of entertainment, Huang Meifeng."
Huang Meifeng sighed, shaking her head. "You and that twisted sense of amusement… So, what do you want to do with him? Shall we cut his tendons?"
Aziel tensed at her words, his breath hitching. He could feel the overwhelming strength of Gao Minzhe's grip—running wasn't an option. How powerful was this guy?
"Huh? Nah, I was planning on letting him go," Gao Minzhe said with a relaxed smile.
Huang Meifeng raised a brow. "Let him go? He's clearly a repeat offender. Just look at all the pouches he's hiding under his shirt. You should at least punish him."
"Yeah, before we draw too much attention," another warrior chimed in.
Despite their protests, Gao Minzhe merely loosened his grip, letting Aziel drop to the ground. Aziel looked up at him, confused.
"Here you go."
To his surprise, Gao Minzhe handed him the pouch Aziel had just stolen.
[Progress: 10/10 Pouches Obtained.]
[Quest Complete!]
[Would you like to receive the rewards? (Y/N)]
Aziel ignored the glowing text in his vision, his attention fixed solely on the enigmatic swordsman before him.
'Is he… pitying me?'
He wasn't sure what to make of Gao Minzhe's strange act of mercy, but he knew one thing—he had completed the quest. And that meant he had no reason to stick around.