The moment Sakeer uttered the words "Eight Fingers", the air grew heavy with silence.
"You've been told before — don't run your mouth," the black-robed figure behind him finally spoke, his voice low and cold.
"Heh... I didn't say anything," the thief with the dagger chuckled darkly, gripping his weapon tighter. His gaze sharpened, like a wolf ready to pounce.
Their brief exchange confirmed Sakeer's suspicion — their target wasn't his money.
It was him.
The name "Eight Fingers" referred to a notorious underground organization with eight criminal branches. Their influence stretched across the entire Re-Estize Kingdom, thriving under the protection of powerful nobles.
Since slavery wasn't outlawed in the kingdom, crime networks involving kidnappings, human trafficking, and bribery flourished unchecked.
Sakeer recalled that in about a year or two, the Golden Princess Renner would push to outlaw the slave trade — a move that would severely cripple Eight Fingers.
That law was one of Renner's rare successful proposals, and its passage was puzzling given the deep-rooted corruption tied to the kingdom's elite.
Yet Renner, a princess who rarely left the palace and had no visible loyal subordinates, had somehow maneuvered her way to success.
It was no surprise people called her a monster — a cunning manipulator capable of swaying power with unseen influence.
Back to the present.
Tension gripped Sakeer's body like a vice.
In his left hand, he firmly held his short sword. Meanwhile, his right hand reached into his item box and retrieved the Magic Arrow scroll he had just purchased.
"You two must be pretty bold," Sakeer said loudly, raising his voice intentionally. "We're not far from the town square and the Adventurers' Guild. If I shout, none of you are getting away."
"Go ahead," the deep-voiced man sneered from behind.
"But just so you know... it won't matter. No one will hear you."
Sakeer's heart sank. He turned his head slightly and caught sight of the black-robed man holding a small staff — barely ten centimeters long — a miniature magic focus.
Almost immediately, text appeared in Sakeer's status panel:
[Skill Detected: Silence]
Requirement: Basic Mage Class, Level 8-14
Current Conditions: Not Met
So that's it... a Silence spell.
The realization hit Sakeer like a stone. The short staff the man held wasn't just for show — it was a magic item.
In the world of YGGDRASIL, a short staff was an enhanced version of a magic scroll.
While a scroll stored a single-use spell, a short staff contained multiple charges of the same magic — making it far more efficient.
However, unlike magic scrolls that anyone could use, short staffs typically required specific class qualifications.
For example, a short staff infused with Divine Light could only be wielded by a Faith Magic Caster, while one imbued with Fireball required a Mana Caster.
Of course, some powerful short staffs could bypass those restrictions altogether.
In this world, however, short staffs were far rarer and more expensive than magic scrolls — a true luxury among magic items.
Now that Sakeer knew his opponent's capabilities, his priorities were clear.
A thief... and a magic caster.
It was obvious which one needed to be dealt with first.
"Give up, kid!" the masked thief barked, flipping his dagger into a reverse grip.
With a sudden burst of speed, he lunged forward like a shadow cutting through the night.
Slash!
The thief's body blurred as his speed increased, leaving faint afterimages in his wake.
That's… fast!
Sakeer knew he had no time to hesitate.
With no other option — and no room for mistakes — Sakeer clenched his teeth and hurled the Magic Arrow scroll directly at the charging thief.
In an instant, the magic scroll flared with light.
Sou! Sou! Sou!
Three magic arrows, devoid of elemental attributes, materialized in midair and shot toward the thief at high speed.
At the same time, new information appeared in Sakeer's status panel:
[Skill Detected: Magic Arrow]
Requirement: Basic Mage Class, Level 1–7
Current Conditions: Not Met...
[The "Genius" class has been activated. Basic class requirements satisfied. Consume 1 skill point to learn?]
Sakeer didn't bother checking the result of the scroll's attack. Without hesitation, he spun around and dashed toward the magic caster behind him.
As he moved, he confirmed the system prompt in his mind — he had made the right bet!
[Skill Acquired: Magic Arrow (1st Tier)]
MP Cost: 5
Effect: Summon three attributeless magic arrows to attack your target. For every additional point of mana consumed, one extra arrow is created, up to a maximum of ten.
"Boy, you've got the wrong opponent."
The black-robed magic caster let out a mocking chuckle as Sakeer rushed toward him.
"Strong So—"
"Magic Arrow!"
Sakeer's chant cut him off. Before the magic caster could even finish his incantation, Sakeer had already unleashed the Magic Arrow spell he had just learned.
Sou! Sou! Sou!
Three magic arrows streaked through the air, fast and precise.
The black-robed magic caster's smug expression faltered.
Isn't he a Faith Magic Caster?!
How does he know arcane magic too?!
Instinct kicked in — there was no time to think.
"Shield Wall!"
With a flick of his short staff, a transparent barrier shimmered into existence before him.
Boom!
The three arrows struck the shield in unison, dispersing into bursts of magical energy as the barrier held firm.
"You're starting to piss me off, you littl—"
The magic caster's words froze on his lips.
Sakeer had already closed the distance.
How is he this fast?!
The magic caster's eyes widened in disbelief.
There had been at least 15 meters between them — far too much for a typical magic caster to cover in such a short time. Unless...
He's not just a magic caster…
That realization struck just as Sakeer's blade flashed.
"Quick Slash!"
A cold gleam arced through the air as Sakeer's short sword sliced directly toward the magic caster's throat.
But—
Fwoosh!
A white glow erupted from the magic caster's body, blocking the blade with a muffled thud. The magical barrier dimmed but still held strong.
That's...
"Magic equipment!" Sakeer muttered, his eyes narrowing.
"I didn't expect that."
The black-robed man's face was finally revealed beneath his hood — surprisingly young, no older than twenty. A smug grin tugged at his lips.
But the moment he relaxed —
Swish!
Sakeer flipped his grip on the sword, pressing down with force. The flickering white light faltered, then vanished completely.
Poof!
The blade carved a deep gash across the magic caster's throat. Blood spurted out in a crimson arc, splattering across Sakeer's robe.
[Ding! Gained 350 XP]
"Idiot," Sakeer muttered.
The fool should've relied on his magic equipment — yet instead, he tried to savor the moment. Worse still, he allowed Sakeer to close the distance, a fatal mistake for a magic user with no close-combat experience.
"You bastard! I'm going to cut off all your limbs!"
The enraged voice of the thief roared from behind.
The thief, who had barely recovered from the Magic Arrow assault earlier, had now closed the gap.
Didn't hear his footsteps at all…
Sakeer's heart pounded. A stealth skill? Or a class ability?
Before he could react —
A cold glint streaked toward him.
Clang!!
Sakeer instinctively raised his short sword. Metal clashed against metal in a shrill, ear-piercing screech.
The thief's blade, shrouded in a dark purple aura, was barely deflected.
The thief stumbled back a few steps, surprise flickering across his face.
Click!
Sakeer glanced at his weapon — a visible crack now marred the blade's edge.
But strangely, a smile crept across Sakeer's face.
"I just realized something..."
His gaze sharpened as he locked eyes with the thief.
"You're weaker than me."
(End of Chapter)