Chapter 7

Whenever this happy life could continue forever.

Before falling asleep, I wished every day as if praying to someone.

But is human greed truly endless?

Faster than I anticipated, reality led me to a cruel fate.

“Hmm? Customer. This cash card… it seems the balance is insufficient?”

“…!”

It had been about a month since I met Greg.

Perhaps it was because of my indulgent lifestyle, having succumbed to desire.

The money I thought would last comfortably for two months disappeared in the blink of an eye.

If only I hadn’t stupidly resolved to eat steak sandwiches for every meal!

Depressed by the shopkeeper’s troubled voice, I had no choice but to return the chocolate-filled bread I’d picked up.

“Hmm… Customer? Since you’re a regular, one chocolate-filled bread wouldn’t hurt….”

“…!!”

An angel in the underworld!

Thanks to the shopkeeper’s warm generosity, I was reunited with my beloved chocolate-filled bread.

‘It looks delicious.’

The chocolate-filled bread was warm.

Even with a cloth covering, I could smell the rich buttery aroma.

If I tore it open now, the alluring chocolate would reveal itself, steaming hot.

Just imagining taking a bite made my scalp tingle with excitement.

Cradling the chocolate-filled bread carefully, I thanked the shopkeeper and left the store with light, happy steps.

‘Huh? The sign’s a bit crooked.’

As I exited cheerfully, I noticed the weathered exterior of the shop.

The sign was tilted to one side, making the name hard to read, and weeds were sprouting messily from the ground.

This would surely drive customers away.

Feeling pity, I checked that no one was around and then casually used telekinesis, which had become second nature to me.

*Kiiikiiikiii*

The reason the sign was leaning was due to rust on one side caused by rain and wind.

I pulled at the unseen metal inside to balance both sides.

Then, pushing the sign upward, the heavy board swiftly returned to its original position.

For the rest, I simply spun the weeds with telekinesis and tossed them into the drain—normalizing the shop’s appearance in mere seconds.

‘Getting one free chocolate-filled bread makes this worth it.’

After confirming the straightened sign was sturdy, I turned without hesitation and headed toward the dark alley.

*Crunch.*

The well-baked chocolate-filled bread broke softly against my teeth, and the moist chocolate oozed out.

This shop really knows how to make bread.

The perfect harmony of bread and chocolate naturally brought a smile to my face.

‘I should start earning some money soon. Lately, I’ve just been playing around.’

During my first month in the back alleys, I robbed at least one person daily.

But once I grew comfortable, I lost both the reason and motivation to do so.

However, now I clearly have both the reason and will to steal again.

Thus, it was time to restart Operation Thief-Thief.

*

Operation Name: Thief-Thief Mk2.

Thief-Thief Mk2 differed significantly from Mk1 when I first entered the underworld.

The biggest change was that I no longer flicked foreheads with telekinetic force.

Initially, I thought flicking foreheads was standard practice, but later realized it was too conspicuous.

If all my victims walked around with blue bruises on their foreheads, it’d be like confessing my crimes.

Therefore, Thief-Thief Mk2 targeted the crown of the head instead.

My telekinesis could strike through helmets if focused enough.

By aiming where hair obscured visibility, I confused my victims further.

The second major change was hiding completely during operations.

Now, I wrapped myself in large cloths taller than me, resembling a ghostly Halloween figure.

Though not ideal, exposing my face or body would risk being recognized.

Using telekinesis while jumping from rooftops, I kept the cloth steady and spun the nearby air rapidly to blur my form.

From afar, I probably looked like static interference—a faint white blur zipping around.

While not overly taxing, maintaining telekinesis required focus.

But each operation took about three minutes max—not too burdensome.

Considering this effort reduced future worries, it seemed like a fair trade.

Overall, these were the main updates in Thief-Thief Mk2’s patch notes.

Minor details included washing the cloth occasionally with water and telekinesis to prevent odors, wearing a cheap goblin mask bought from a souvenir shop, and switching to sandals so I didn’t walk barefoot anymore.

These weren’t crucial but still added improvements.

All things considered, the revamped Thief-Thief Mk2 had been cruising smoothly for a month.

Night Haven’s underworld was always full of troublemakers, and no one cared if I emptied their pockets.

At this pace, I might avoid entanglement in the main events of the original story and survive until everything ended peacefully.

‘Once the crime syndicates are gone, I’ll start a new life! A fluffy bed, warm blanket, steak sandwiches three times a day!’

*BAM!*

“Gwack!”

“Eek!”

A thwack landed on the head of a thug attempting to assault a woman in the back alley.

He was a chameleon beastman—his long tongue extending down to his chest was quite grotesque.

Kicking him over and rummaging through his belongings, I quickly found his wallet.

The contents were mediocre—enough for two meals today.

‘Steak sandwiches are out of reach. Guess I’ll settle for chocolate-filled bread today.’

Still, chocolate-filled bread wasn’t bad either.

Satisfied with today’s haul, I tossed the wallet aside—it felt sticky and unpleasant.

Alright, time to go.

With the cash stuffed in my pocket, I prepared to leave without regrets when suddenly—

A delicate female voice called from behind.

Turning quickly, there stood the woman who had nearly been assaulted.

“A-ah… Um, excuse me!”

“…?”

“T-thank you!”

She can’t see me clearly, can she?

Confused by her unexpected gratitude, I tilted my head quizzically.

Ah, I see.

From her perspective, she must think I saved her.

Though I didn’t intend to, if she wants to believe that, let her.

Without replying, I slipped out of the alley.

Once hidden, I telekinetically leapt onto the rooftop.

‘Let’s grab some food.’

Hmm… maybe it’s because a pretty lady thanked me?

I didn’t feel too bad about it.

Maybe tomorrow I’ll work harder to find bad people?

Unconsciously, I found myself humming a tune.

…Hmph, no one heard that, right?

*

Recently, a peculiar rumor spread through Night Haven’s underworld.

People were mysteriously losing consciousness in back alleys and getting robbed of their belongings.

Some claimed illegal drugs were to blame.

But half the victims hadn’t consumed anything suspicious.

Others suggested it was an artifact with knockout magic.

Yet none of the victims reported hearing incantations.

Some even speculated it was the work of corporate shadow assassins.

But why would such elite operatives merely knock people out and steal their items?

Then, someone discovered a common thread among the victims—they were in the middle of committing theft or sexual assault before collapsing.

This revelation shifted the atmosphere drastically.

Even in the survival-of-the-fittest underworld, tormenting the weak was low-tier scum behavior.

Especially those harassing individuals under organizational protection faced severe consequences.

Thus, the incident’s heat died down as people concluded the victims deserved it.

Rather than focusing on the severity of the crimes, residents were captivated by the mystery of the perpetrator remaining unidentified after a month.

Not drugs, artifacts, or assassins—but something else entirely.

It was like a ghost that didn’t exist in this world.

So, they named the elusive culprit “Ghost” and wondered purely out of curiosity who—or what—it could be.

“Ho ho, a ghost, eh? Hey, could you tell me more about this story?”

“Eh? Who are you?”

“My name is Victor. I’m a small-time pixie bounty hunter. Your story sounds interesting. If you elaborate, I’ll reward you properly.”

Clearly distinct worlds existed within Night Haven—the front and the back.

Victor, the bounty hunter specializing in bridging them, was once famed as a mage killer who could down airborne battleships.

Now, he gleamed with childlike curiosity, intrigued by a new target.

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