Thief Marigold

17.

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—Marigold’s Karma has decreased.

—Current Karma Point is ’14’.

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When Lancel saw the notification that Marigold’s Karma had decreased, the first thought that crossed his mind was:

‘Did she… send someone to the afterlife?’

She wouldn’t have suddenly built a church in this situation, so he couldn’t think of anything else.

‘Did she send someone with Karma attached to them to the other world?’

But that wasn’t the case. Marigold was a thief, not a robber. She still lacked the nerve, experience, and many other things to commit murder.

Even though the person with Karma attached to them would be quite infamous, he hadn’t heard any news of anyone dying suspiciously when he inquired around.

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—Imperial Calendar 817, January 16th, Weather: Sunny.

—Marigold’s Karma has decreased.

—Current Karma Point is ’13’.

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‘Again?’

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—Imperial Calendar 817, January 22nd, Weather: Very Sunny.

—Marigold’s Karma has decreased.

—Current Karma Point is ’12’.

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‘It’s dropping fast.’

Anyone else might say it was only 3 points, but Lancel knew how difficult it was to lower that 3 points.

‘That’s enough to build three churches!’

The Saintess Church that Lancel had squeezed out of Ibil Shen, his money tree, numbered only about twenty to thirty. Yes, it had taken a whole 10 years.

In that sense, the 3 Karma Points that had dropped without him doing anything were by no means insignificant.

“…No, she’s not doing anything but performing and thieving, so why is it going down?”

The answer to his question came in March.

It was a time when stories about Marigold were starting to spread throughout the Imperial Capital.

“I wonder if Phantom Thief Honey Candy is really a bad person.”

“She’s still a thief, what are you talking about?”

“She’s a thief, but she doesn’t kill people, and she doesn’t keep the stolen goods for herself. And when you look at the people who are furious about being robbed, they all deserve it.”

“Still, don’t go around saying things like that. The victims won’t think so.”

‘Ah.’

Lancel finally realized.

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—Game Guide.

※How to lower Karma Point?

1.

Religious Achievements.

2.

Fame Achievements.

3.

Defeating Villains.

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‘Fame!’

Come to think of it, no one had ever been as suited to the word ‘fame’ as Marigold in this life.

Moreover, it wasn’t fame built by wielding a sword and killing or injuring someone.

Yes. This was fame in its purest sense.

Marigold had simply become famous. She had simply worked hard at her job. The fame she had built was simply that.

It was qualitatively different from the unilateral fame built on the battlefield. There was always light and shadow in military achievements.

Even Lancel, who was called the Knight of Dawn in the past, was also called a demon by the other side.

In comparison, how was Marigold in this life?

She hadn’t made anyone bleed. She hadn’t stained her hands with anyone’s blood. She had simply lived her life to the fullest as an actress and a Phantom Thief.

‘She stole some money, but she didn’t steal it with bad intentions, so it counts as a fame achievement… I guess?’

I don’t know.

Anyway, the conclusion was simple.

‘I need to make Mary more famous as a Phantom Thief for a while.’

Shouldn’t we get rid of all the Karma Point while we have the chance?

It would be a problem if she got caught or quit before that.

With that thought, Lancel went to Marigold’s room.

“Today, I just… fell in love with Phantom Thief Honey Candy.”

“……”

18.

The day after the surprise confession.

For a while, Marigold would twist her body and wander around whenever she saw Lancel.

“What are you doing?”

“Nothing.”

He left her alone since she seemed to be in a good mood.

But after a month, she started to change her attitude more and more blatantly.

“Lancel, heehee.”

“……”

It’s that time again.

Lancel could almost read her just by looking at her expression.

Marigold was approaching him today with a sly look on her face.

“About Phantom Thief Honey Candy. You said you saw her yesterday, right? Wh-what do you think of her?”

Time for testimony.

Lancel began to recite the prayer again to Marigold, who was flushed and breathing heavily.

“She’s pretty, beautiful, cool, and I was a little sad that I couldn’t catch her with my own hands today, but I was secretly relieved, and anyway, she’s pretty, beautiful, cool, righteous, pretty, cool… In a word, she was the best.”

Lancel was starting to reach the limit of his vocabulary as he gave the same answer every time, but Marigold’s reaction was always the same.

“Heeheehee!”

That face looked like she was about to jump for joy.

“You can’t, Lancel. What are you going to do if you like the Phantom Thief too much? It’s a problem. You’re a Knight of the Imperial Capital in Your Highness the Sixth Prince’s arrest squad… You can’t like your target, Honey Candy, too much. It’s a forbidden love.”

“……”

Huff, huff.

Marigold’s hot breath came out of her nose as she got excited while talking.

‘Forbidden love, huh.’

Lancel savored those words and recalled his memories for a moment.

In fact, he had heard the words ‘forbidden love’ directly from Phantom Thief Honey Candy herself just last night.

.

.

.

“Haa, haa…!”

The two had reached a dead end after chasing each other through the streets of the Imperial Capital.

Beyond the light of the lantern in Lancel’s hand, he could see Phantom Thief Honey Candy, who was only turning her upper body to look at him.

Her pure white cloak fluttered wildly in the blowing wind.

“It’s you again. My rival and pursuer of fate, Lancel Dante. Well, you’re probably the only one fast and agile enough to chase me!”

Even though she was at a dead end, she didn’t seem scared or flustered at all.

Her lips were full of smiles as she pressed down on her hat, which looked like it would fly away in the wind.

“How far are you going to chase me? Why are you so desperate even though you know you can’t catch me? Do you want to catch me so badly and take this forbidden love? Tell me, Knight Lancel!”

“Forbidden love…?”

“Yes. Forbidden love. It’s no use denying it. Your heart is already in my hands! I’m a master thief who steals everything in this world. Even if it’s people’s hearts.”

Phantom Thief Honey Candy couldn’t help but twitch her lips under her mask.

“Knight Lancel. The stronger your desire to catch me, the more uncontrollably your love for me will grow day by day. By the time you come to your senses, you’ll already be my prisoner. Too bad. A Knight of the Imperial Capital who loves a Phantom Thief! Hmph.”

‘Is she getting too cocky?’

He felt like flicking her forehead, but it was okay. After all, it was the picture Lancel wanted.

“So, how are you going to escape now? It’s a dead end, isn’t it? And…”

Lancel said, pointing behind him.

“It’s this way!”

“There! I see her!”

“Lancel Dante! Catch that damn woman right now!”

The Sixth Prince and the Knights of the arrest squad, who were joining them late, could be seen.

“Looks like we’re already surrounded.”

“……It seems so.”

Marigold shook off her cloak.

“We have uninvited guests, so let’s call it a day.”

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—Marigold’s ‘Intermediate Stealth (100%)’ has been mastered. You can now learn ‘Advanced Stealth (0%)’.

※Chasing after your rival will increase your thief skills even faster! Stamina, Charm, Sexiness, Condition UP!

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Swoosh!

Marigold’s figure disappeared from sight in an instant.

It felt as if the hem of the night sky had wrapped around her and erased her in an instant.

“Try to catch me next time. Knight Lancel! It’ll be difficult, though!”

Marigold’s low, androgynous voice echoed far away.

“What, where is she?”

“She escaped again!”

“That damn bitch again! Again and again and again!”

.

.

.

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Charm 95.

Morality 31.

Elegance 18.

Sensitivity 35.

Sexiness 181.

Magic Power 1.

Strength 47.

Stamina 72.

Faith 41.

Condition 93.

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.

.

.

“Lancel!”

Lancel returned from his memories of last night to the present.

Marigold, who was clinging to him after practicing at the theater, was back in his sight.

“What if… What if that Phantom Thief turned out to be someone nearby? Just hypothetically. Just in case.”

Her eyes were full of anticipation.

“So, what if Phantom Thief Honey Candy, who you’ve been chasing so much, is actually someone Lancel knows well? It could happen, right?”

You’re being very obvious, Marigold.

“Hmm.”

Lancel pretended to think for a moment before opening his mouth.

“If Phantom Thief Honey Candy is someone I know when I confess my love someday…”

“Confess!”

Marigold’s face flushed red.

Lancel continued to speak.

“Whoever it is, I’ll have no choice but to promise them my whole life. My heart has already been stolen by Phantom Thief Honey Candy.”

“Heeeee!”

Marigold shuddered.

It seemed to be a pretty satisfactory answer.

“You like her so much. Hehe, heeheehee!”

“……”

She was poking him in the side and didn’t know what to do.

Lancel suddenly opened his mouth.

“Phantom Thief Honey Candy seems a little dumb, though.”

“Eugh!”

Marigold’s body stiffened.

Marigold, who was forcing a smile and saying, “Why, why do you think so?” looked a little teary-eyed.

“In my opinion, someone with Phantom Thief Honey Candy’s abilities could become much more famous, but she doesn’t seem interested in that.”

“…A way to become more famous…?”

“Yeah. Let’s just say it’s showmanship.”

“Show…? What’s that?”

Was it a difficult word?

Lancel changed the word.

“In a word, it’s directing.”

“Directing…! Is it a performance?”

“You could see it that way.”

.

.

.

“What?”

The Sixth Prince’s face twitched.

“The Phantom Thief… gave a notice of theft?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

He seemed to recoil at the report from the Knight of the arrest squad. Mortification, shame, and anger were mixed together, and his face was turning red.

And for good reason.

“This is the content of the notice. The place, date, time, and even the item to be stolen are all listed.”

“So, this has been plastered all over the Imperial Capital since this morning…?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

The note that the Sixth Prince received contained a brief message.

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[Honey Candy’s Notice]

-Date of Theft: July 8th.

-Place of Theft: Rodniss 3rd Imperial Auction House.

-Item to be Stolen: Tear of the Stigmata, Silver Coin Jar.

-This is also a theft permitted by God.

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A thief who announces a theft.

It was a moment when laughter burst out from the faces of everyone in the arrest squad.