Ch. 1: Land of Thieves
Rogue in the Land of Thieves, Month of Sunlight…-
Soft clouds drifted across the bright, blue sky…-
(I’m sure we were supposed to meet around here…)
Different kinds of shops were lined up in rows, and the loud voices of the shop keepers filled the air.
I had come here, to Rogue, at the invitation of Toni.
Toni: “OO! There you are!”
OO: “Toni!”
Toni came out of the crowd with a smile on his face and rushed over to me.
Toni: “Let’s just put a stop to the formalities right there! You’re my rescuer after all! Don’t use any of that formal language or titles with me, ok?”
Toni looked at me closely, a mischievous smile playing on his lips.
OO: “R-right.”
Toni: “Good! Glad that’s settled!”
Toni tousled my hair, smiling in satisfaction.
(He acts so innocent.)
Then…-
Townsfolk: “There he is! Prince Toni!”
OO: “…!?”
Following the voice, I saw a number of men running towards us.
Toni: “Uh oh! This way!”
OO: “What!?”
Toni grabbed my hand and started running in the opposite direction at full speed.
OO: “W-what’s going on!?”
Toni: “Can’t you tell? We’re being chased!”
OO: “Chased…”
Toni: “This is the Land of Thieves after all! Of course we’re being chased!”
I was putting all my energy into running at that moment and didn’t really have the chance to get my head around what he’d said.
Ch. 2: He's a Thief
We ran full speed through the town, me being pulled along by Toni’s hand …-
Toni: “This should be good.”
We had arrived at a forest a short distance from the town when Toni finally stopped.
(Running full force like that…I’m out of breath.)
Toni: “What, you’re done already? That’s no good.”
Even though we’d been running hard, Toni stood there breathing normally, his arms crossed over his chest.
OO: “W-well…!”
Toni: “You should really train your body every day, you know?”
OO: “I-I’m fine!”
Toni: “I’m surprised; you must really hate to lose.”
OO: “A-anyway…you’re the prince, so why are you being chased?”
Toni: “You know this is the Land of Thieves right? We live by stealing the minimum of what we need to survive from other countries here. Eeeeeveryone is a thief, the royals included.”
(They’re all thieves!? I’ve never heard of such a thing…)
OO: “Then those people chasing us were from another country?”
Toni: “Hmmm well…let’s open this door up.”
OO: “Eh?”
Once again, Toni smiled mischievously.
Toni: “Hurry.”
I wanted to say something, not understanding what was going on, but before I could, Toni opened the doorway and tossed something inside.
(That’s…)
A sweet smell drifted out of the doorway.
OO: “Candy?”
Toni: “Yeah. Kids learn how to steal from those guys’ candy shop. They’ll chase after like it’s a race. It’s a kind of arrangement.”
(So that’s how it is…)
Toni: “Though once in a while they lay traps or something! If you fall into their pit traps, there are pointed bits at the bottom and you have to figure out how to get out of it!”
Toni spoke with that innocent smile on his face as I closed the open door.
Toni: “Now, since our pursuers have given up, let’s go to the castle!”
OO: “…”
(I’d prefer if nothing happened while I was here in this country but…)
I chased after Toni as he walked away, feeling a twinge of unease.
Ch. 3: The Thief's Rule
After that…_
I accompanied Toni to the castle and we arrived in the grand reception hall.
Within, a great crowd of people had gathered, and there were all sorts of different dishes laid out.
Toni: “Geez, thieves having a party, do they think this is a gala or something…everyone got all excited when I said you were coming after you woke me from that ring.”
Toni folded his arms and furrowed his eyebrows.
OO: “Thank you, for going through all the trouble.”
Toni: “No thanks necessary!”
OO: “Sorry.”
Toni: “You don’t need to apologize!”
Toni: “Oh yeah, there’s something I want you to help me with.”
OO: “Eh?”
Toni led me by the hand a little forcefully and started walking towards a platform in the hall.
OO: “To….Toni?”
Castle Thief 1: “Hey! It’s Prince Toni! We were waitn’ for ya!!”
Castle Thief 2: “Show us somethin’ cool!”
Amidst the shouts of encouragement, we got up on the stage and Toni quietly whispered in my ear.
Toni: “When I give you the signal, throw this at me.”
My shoulders stiffened as Toni pulled a dagger from somewhere and handed it to me.
OO: “What…!? Throw it…!?”
Then, Toni pulled out two more daggers and started juggling them like beanbags.
The blades danced in the air, and the crowd let out a cheer.
(Wow…!)
Toni: “OO! Now! Throw it!”
OO: “Eh…!”
Toni: “Hurry!”
OO: “B…but…”
Toni: “It’ll be fine! Trust me!”
At his words, I made my decision and threw the dagger…-
Toni caught it easily and masterfully worked it in among the juggling daggers.
The crowd applauded even louder.
(Wow…that’s so amazing!)
Toni ended the show with a bow of his head to the audience, then rushed over to me with a smile.
Toni: “Great job!”
Toni gently patted my head.
OO: “Toni, you were amazing!”
Toni: “You know it!”
OO: “T-that was a little scary.”
Toni: “But it was fun, right?”
OO: “Yeah…!”
Even after the show, there was no end to the voices raised in laughter.
(Everyone here is a thief…)
Toni: “We don’t steal from the weak ya know.”
OO: “…eh?”
Toni spoke, as if he could see what I was thinking.
Toni: “The people here are forced to do severe manual labor, so this castle is kinda a way for them to get treasure and fill their pockets. Cause of that, we only steal the things we need. We leave everything else for the people.
OO: “So you have a rule about it…”
Toni flashed his teeth and smiled proudly.
Not long after that, I would have my own experience with thieving.