“Shadowless Thief? What kind of nonsense is that?”
“Miss Im Ha-yeon will become the Master of Arcane Fragrance herself.”
The third method suggested by the Master of Arcane Fragrance was making Im Ha-yeon the leader of the thieves, the Master of Arcane Fragrance.
“Me? Become the Master of Arcane Fragrance?”
“The moment Miss Ha-yeon becomes the Master of Arcane Fragrance, the Thieves Guild cannot claim her miracle. The Master is one of the five heads of the Hao Sect in Hubei Province. Since everyone is equal, no one can own another.”
The guild’s argument was about Im Ha-yeon’s ownership of miracles. However, if she becomes the Master, the guild’s claim will vanish.
I explained to her how I could get a solid backing in the form of the Thieves Guild.
“I understand the reason, but can becoming the Master of Arcane Fragrance be that easy?”
That’s a valid point.
Suddenly, asking to rise to one of the only five positions in the Hao Sect in Hubei Province.
It’s a position that takes decades to achieve through recognition and political struggles. Clearly, it wasn’t something you could just challenge lightly.
Except for being the Master of Arcane Fragrance, of course.
“That’s…”
“Other places might be impossible, but the Thieves Guild is possible.”
“Master Si-mun? I’ve been looking for you because you weren’t here.”
As I continued explaining to Im Ha-yeon, Master Si-mun approached with a relieved expression.
“Everything here is fine, but the restroom is too far, you know? Anyway, the Master can just be whoever is the most famous. So if the Shadowless Thief shows up and wants to be the Master of Arcane Fragrance, it can happen.”
“But there are other famous thieves, right? I can’t surpass those people just because I’m stealing.”
“Hehe. Name just one famous thief in Hubei Province.”
Master Si-mun chuckled and directed the question at Im Ha-yeon, whose perplexed expression was priceless.
“Uh… uh… uh?!”
Im Ha-yeon, can’t think of anyone, huh? I had the same reaction just moments ago.
“Which thief is crazy enough to want to be famous? The moment they become famous, the authorities will show up, and martial artists will start trying to make a name for themselves. Then, their options narrow, and stealing becomes difficult. In the first place, thieves shouldn’t become famous.”
Master Si-mun casually shrugged at Im Ha-yeon, who realized the truth.
“The Master of Arcane Fragrance is the face of the thieves. The Master of Arcane Fragrance has said there’s no one to represent the Thieves Guild.”
One reason the Shadowless Thief remained the Master of Arcane Fragrance for ten years in seclusion was that no one dared to step up as the face of the thieves.
“That’s right. A thief only becomes well-known when they get caught. That Shadowless Thief is just weird.”
“If I make a name as the Shadowless Thief while stealing, then…”
Surprised, Im Ha-yeon’s mouth slowly opened.
“If I’m the child of the previous Master of Arcane Fragrance suddenly showing up, it’s enough to be promoted as the Master.”
Even if Im Ha-yeon challenges the half-vacant position of the Master, the guild doesn’t have a justification to oppose it.
So, what do you think, Im Ha-yeon? A good plan, right?
“…”
Im Ha-yeon seemed lost in thought as she lowered her gaze at Master Si-mun’s words.
“I guess you need to think about it. I’ll step out for a moment. Come in when you’ve sorted out your thoughts.”
Indeed, Master Si-mun’s experience in gauging the atmosphere wasn’t to be underestimated. Look at him sneaking off to the room like a pro.
“Miss Ha-yeon.”
“…”
Even though I called her carefully, Im Ha-yeon didn’t respond.
‘I can understand why she’s conflicted.’
The idea of challenging the Master of Arcane Fragrance is an escape route. Even if you know the solution to a problem, it ultimately depends on one’s personal will to solve it.
‘She’s been hesitant about stealing from others.’
One night in Yichang, inside the residence of a tea bookstore, Im Ha-yeon cried before me, saying she didn’t want to steal.
She didn’t want to make others weep to clear her identity as a courtesan.
Looking back, even if she had stolen at that time, it would have been meaningless. Even if she stole a fortune, the guild would have had no intention of letting her go.
But that was then.
‘Im Ha-yeon doesn’t actually hate theft itself.’
Cases like the Red Ginseng Thief incident and Green Sky Express case prove that if it helps, she would easily cross over someone else’s wall.
In fact, she would even suggest crossing walls for fun during a moonlit stroll, making one wonder if she was born to be a thief.
‘What she needs is a rational reason.’
A reason to overcome the morality and psychological barriers she has developed. With that alone, she could become a thief.
The best thief in the Central Plains. The Shadowless Thief.
So how will I make her the Shadowless Thief? How do I eliminate her psychological resistance?
‘I’ve already thought it through.’
Just like she guided me on what to do under the moonlit night, now it’s my turn to extend a hand to her.
—————
“I hear you’re planning to send Miss Ha-yeon away.”
Starts by suggesting a different path.
“Pardon?”
Im Ha-yeon looked up to me as if asking what I meant.
“You mentioned living in a place where the guild’s reach can’t touch. If you use that method, you won’t have to steal, and you can live without worrying about being pursued by them.”
“So then…”
“But, you’d have to part with Miss Ha-yeon forever.”
“…!”
Im Ha-yeon’s eyes widened in shock in an instant.
“I didn’t want that. So I asked for a different method. But I haven’t asked for Miss Ha-yeon’s opinion, so if she wants to leave, that’s fine too.”
I placed my hand over my heart and gazed at her longingly.
I don’t want to let you go. I want to take care of you. What do you think? I communicate my true feelings through my eyes.
“There’s no way I’d leave!”
Im Ha-yeon replied as if questioning how I could suggest that.
Great. Now that I’ve eliminated another path, let’s create a reason for her to walk the remaining one.
“I want to take responsibility for you, just as my brother did for you.”
Next, it’s time to strike at Im Ha-yeon’s trauma. When I touch upon why she learned the Shadowless Thief’s martial arts but doesn’t use them…
I gently grasped Im Ha-yeon’s hand.
“Was that guy really hiding for my sake…?”
Couldn’t believe it? Im Ha-yeon murmured in a gloomy voice, evading my gaze.
It’s an opportunity to erase her hatred towards her father. By turning everything into a misunderstanding, I have to dissolve the rejection she feels towards stealing.
“I assure you. Otherwise, what reason would my brother have for sticking to his ideals for ten years? So now it’s time for us to cut the ties from the misfortune of those ten years.”
As I promised to give her assurance, I firmly held her shoulders and spoke with newfound confidence.
“What shall we do?”
“Let’s become righteous thieves. Let’s be the Shadowless Thief.”
If I can dissolve her aversion to stealing, then all that remains is to completely smash her psychological walls regarding it.
I have a way to do that too.
“Righteous thief?”
“I know you don’t want to make others weep with your stealing. But let me tell you, there are worse thieves than those who flaunt their thievery in broad daylight.”
“Worse thieves than regular thieves?”
Landlords, unscrupulous merchants, corrupt officials—there are countless thieves in this world.
“Let’s make those worse thieves shed tears. Using those tears, we’ll fill the stomachs of the needy and bring smiles.”
She despises greedy merchants, having subtly helped the impoverished Joseon people.
Let’s punish the wicked and become thieves for the sake of the less fortunate. My last move to dismantle Im Ha-yeon’s final psychological barrier.
“Is that what you call a righteous thief?”
“Exactly. A thief yet not a thief. A thief who executes justice in the most unjust way. That’s what we ought to be—a Shadowless Thief.”
A person who carries out justice through theft.
That’s who the future Shadowless Thief will be.
*
Im Ha-yeon tightly held onto Kang Yoon-ho’s hand as if she never wanted to let go, while recalling her parents.
‘I didn’t want to become someone like that.’
A person who vanished in an instant. Her mother waited by the window, looking outside for news of that person until her dying day.
If that man hadn’t vanished, her mother could have been healed. Any famous doctor could have been at her side if he still had his legs.
If only that man hadn’t abandoned his family, they wouldn’t have gone hungry or knocked on the door of a courtesan house.
The man who discarded his precious family like an old shoe. She didn’t want to live a life like his.
But.
‘Are you saying that man was hiding away for me?’
In the whirlwind of truths crashing in, Im Ha-yeon found it hard to gather her thoughts.
Her father, whom she had resented for ten years, had actually gone into hiding to avoid losing her, just like her mother.
So what had all her resentment been about?
Each time she crossed the wall, fulfilling Kang Yoon-ho’s requests, she felt a small thrill and enjoyment—she wondered if that blood really couldn’t be helped and felt a tinge of self-hatred.
Im Ha-yeon looked at Kang Yoon-ho.
‘A righteous thief.’
The method he suggested to keep her near him. Surely, that path would allow for more laughter than tears from others.
Im Ha-yeon could feel his feelings towards her, hidden within that suggestion.
She didn’t want to part. She wanted to be by his side.
Wake him in the morning, laugh and cry together, hold his hand to return home at night.
To achieve that, she’d need to steal.
‘Righteous Shadowless Thief.’
Im Ha-yeon gazed at her love.
If crossing over another’s walls is for the sake of happiness rather than tears, just like her parents had sacrificed everything for love, then to be a righteous thief for love…
“Alright. I’ll become the Shadowless Thief.”
Willingly, she decided to become the Shadowless Thief.
*
“Have you made up your mind?”
Once inside the room, holding hands with Im Ha-yeon, the Master of Arcane Fragrance asked, putting down his pipe.
“Yes. I will challenge the position of the Master of Arcane Fragrance.”
Im Ha-yeon’s expression was filled with determination like never before.
“When you start your work, I will contact the people of the Thieves Guild.”
“Just crossing a few walls will make you famous quickly. My companions will spread the word for you.”
Both Masters nodded towards us.
Once Im Ha-yeon starts her activities as the Shadowless Thief, the support from the Masters will make her famous. If the two Masters throw themselves into it, the news of the Shadowless Thief will spread in no time.
That was the plan the two Masters had.
“That isn’t enough.”
The plan is good, but there are many loopholes.
In a firm voice, I chose to critique the Masters’ strategy.
“Not enough?”
“For Miss Ha-yeon to become the Master of Arcane Fragrance, she needs to become the representative thief of Wuhan. Even if she can’t rob the Zhuge Clan or Mount Wu, she needs to rob famous sects, express delivery offices, merchant guilds, and wealthy households enough to ring out her fame. That’s going to take too much time.”
It’s impossible to accumulate the fame needed to become the Master in an instant.
Consistent achievements or shocking feats must be gathered. For that, an immense amount of time and risk is necessary.
“If both Masters are determined to spread the news, it isn’t impossible.”
“The problem lies with the people of the Thieves Guild. Would they elevate her to the position of Master just because she robbed a few wealthy households?”
You could become famous by spreading rumors, but to become the Master of Arcane Fragrance, she needs approval from the Guild members.
If the guild members refuse to support her, saying she became famous for trivial reasons, the entire plan will fall apart.
“Do you have another thought?”
Yes. Of course, I do. I already have a plan for the Shadowless Thief.
A plan that would give Im Ha-yeon something special, unlike other thieves.
I nodded at Master of Arcane Fragrance, who looked at me with an intrigued expression.
“Miss Ha-yeon will become a righteous thief, the Shadowless Thief.”
“A righteous thief?”
“Rumors about a thief robbing a wealthy household will soon fade from people’s interest. However, a righteous thief is different. A thief acting with justice? That will catch everyone’s attention at once.”
“Explain in detail.”
“I will steal from the homes of the wicked. People will cheer just at the notion of a wicked person being robbed. But if the stolen goods are distributed to the needy, what will happen?”
I didn’t just suggest becoming a righteous thief to dissolve Im Ha-yeon’s psychological barriers.
Righteous Thief.
There’s no better way to build fame quickly than that.
“People will be elated that the wicked are punished, praising the Shadowless Thief.”
“Rumors will be generated and spread.”
“The more activities the Shadowless Thief engages in, the wealthy will dread the night, while the needy will eagerly await it.”
“Everyone in Wuhan will be closely watching the movements of the Shadowless Thief.”
“Yes. Before long, not just Wuhan, but even in Hubei Province, no one will be oblivious to her.”
Just robbing one wealthy household will make her a household name in Wuhan. The next house will constantly be the talk in everyone’s mouth.
The Righteous Shadowless Thief.
That was my strategy to make Im Ha-yeon the Master of Arcane Fragrance in a short amount of time.
———————
“Alright. Do as you both intended.”
Getting approval was not difficult.
“Now I can go home.”
Sure, I need to discuss the activities of the Shadowless Thief, but I could finally return to my daily life.
A life with Im Ha-yeon and Miss Zhuge…
“Ah?!”
“Why are you like that?”
Im Ha-yeon asked me, surprised by my reaction.
This is bad.
Really bad.
“Ever since Miss Ha-yeon left home, I haven’t returned to the mansion.”
