I had a lot of money now — 25 gold coins, 999 silver, and 240 copper.
Things were finally going smooth.
But I needed to leave this village.
And that wasn't easy.
In this kingdom, you couldn't just walk out for a vacation or a personal trip. No, even that required permission from the village chief. There were only two options:
1. Leave without permission, which meant if I got caught, it was jail time.
2. Or… give the chief a decent reason, pay some fees, and get a Migration Certificate — the official paper that lets you go.
The laws here were crap, but that's how it was.
I sighed and stepped out of my aunt's house to get some fresh air.
The village was more crowded than usual. Nobles had arrived for some reason, walking around like they owned everything. Fancy clothes, loud voices, and all that elite attitude.
That's when I saw him.
A blonde guy, around 25 maybe. He wore rich, blue-embroidered clothes with gold-lined pants. Definitely a noble. He stood in front of a meat shop — the same one I usually bought from — and was yelling.
> "You commoner! You forget your place! How dare you give me 1 kg of meat for 200 copper?! I'll end your family!"
The poor shopkeeper was trembling, bowing, his hands together.
> "I-I'm sorry, my lord! Please, have it for free! It was a mistake!"
Then suddenly — SLAP!
A woman beside the noble hit the shopkeeper across the face. She was in similar clothes, hair shoulder-length, clearly his sister — and a noble too. Definitely a MILF.
> "You think we can't afford meat?! You dare give it to us for free? How DARE you!"
The shopkeeper stumbled back, humiliated.
He came out of the shop and knelt on the ground, forehead almost touching the dirt.
> "Please, esteemed nobles. I didn't mean to offend you. I'm sorry…"
The noblewoman's face twisted with disgust.
> "Ugh! I touched you?! My skin is ruined! Impure!!"
She began kicking him in the head, over and over again, like she was stomping out trash.
That's when things got... weird.
Suddenly — SLAP!
She gasped and turned, confused. Her head had jerked sideways. She looked around.
Only her younger brother was standing near her. The shopkeeper was still kneeling.
> "Did you just slap me?" she shouted.
> "W-what? No! I wouldn't dare, sister!" the young noble replied, shocked.
THUPPP!
Now he got slapped.
Right across the face.
> "Sister! I told you, I didn't slap you! Why are you hitting me!?"
> "Whatt?! I didn't hit you!" she cried, her voice breaking.
THUP! THUP! THUP!
Three more slaps landed on her face from... nowhere.
She looked around, terrified, then screamed.
Then... her hand moved on its own.
It reached out — and slapped her brother.
> "AAAAH! Sister, what the hell! Stop hitting me!"
> "I didn't! I didn't do anything!!" she screamed back, her voice now trembling.
Now he slapped her, right back, and she stumbled, shocked and red-faced.
The shopkeeper was just sitting there, stunned, as two nobles started slapping the life out of each other like it was a sibling death match.
A crowd gathered. People were confused. Some were laughing quietly.
Erika — that was her name, I think — started screaming again.
> "SOMEONE'S TOUCHING ME! GHOST!! GHOST!!"
She felt a hand grab her wrist, then a hug — but no one was there.
She shrieked in terror and suddenly —
Fainted on the spot.
Right in the middle of the road.
---
I just walked past them, hands in my pocket, calm like nothing had happened.
Maybe I had used Invisibility.
Or maybe I didn't.
Who knows?
As I walked away from the confused crowd, I flicked open my system casually, and right then, a cold yet thrilling notification blinked into view:
> "Slave Will"
Target: Erika Hankermen
Effectiveness: 40%
Activate [Y/N]
With a smirk tugging at the edge of my lips, I pressed [Y] without hesitation. Just another chess piece on the board.
I continued walking through the village, now with purpose burning in my chest, until I stood in front of the grandest building here—the Village Chief's Mansion. It towered in white and pale green glory. The walls were nearly 7 feet tall, made of solid graystone with vines crawling over the sides like nature itself wanted to claim the house. Sharp iron spikes lined the top edges for security.
I turned on both Invisibility and Physical Boost, feeling that rush of mana flow through my limbs like a second bloodstream. My legs felt light, my body weightless. In one swift move, I jumped, grabbing onto the rough stone wall, my hands gripping tight. The iron spikes were inches away from impaling my fingers, but I slipped past with practiced ease and landed softly in the grassy courtyard.
The garden was massive.
Patches of trimmed grass stretched far and wide. Elegant flower beds bloomed with exotic purple and yellow flowers, neatly aligned like a noblewoman's vanity. Fountains in the shapes of winged lions sprayed clear water into marble basins. Guards patrolled lazily, tall men in dark leather armor, spears in hand, their expressions half-bored.
Thanks to my invisibility, I walked right past them.
I reached the back of the mansion where I saw a slightly open window with silk curtains fluttering gently in the wind. The opportunity was too perfect. I climbed through without a sound.
Inside the Kitchen
The smell hit me first. Rich spices, dried herbs, and roasted meat. The kitchen was twice the size of my aunt's living room. Black marble countertops gleamed under chandelier light. Crystal bowls lined the shelf edges. Sharp knives were placed in oak knife holders. Expensive spices, wine racks, silver utensils, and something I'd never seen before—a metal cooler filled with ice. Luxurious as hell.
I didn't touch anything. Couldn't risk it while invisible. I slipped past the room, letting the cool tile floors carry my silent steps.
Moving Upstairs
The stairs curved like a grand serpent, carpeted in royal red and stitched with gold threading. Each step was wide, polished wood, creaking lightly beneath the weight of my body even as I moved carefully.
The upper floor was quieter. Too quiet.
I walked through the hallway—marble flooring now, cold underfoot. Oil paintings hung on every wall—noblemen in dramatic poses, a woman holding a scepter, a young boy with hollow eyes. The place smelled like roses and burning candle wax.
I activated my x Ray vision
The first room I peeked into was a study. Mahogany desk. Hundreds of books lined the walls. A fireplace, half-burnt logs, and an untouched teacup on the side table.
The next door led to a bathroom, more lavish than anything I'd ever seen. Gold taps. A bathtub so big it looked like a pool. Perfumed soaps and neatly folded towels stacked like a hotel.
Then the bedroom. The master one.
Thick curtains blocked the moonlight. A massive bed with velvet red sheets and five pillows. A full-length mirror stood in the corner beside an armoire that gleamed with polished oak. Two swords hung above the bed—ceremonial maybe, but sharp enough to kill.
And finally... the last room.
The Office.
I opened the door gently. It creaked softly.
Inside, a man in his early fifties sat in a large leather chair with gold trimmings, reading a newspaper. His hair was white at the sides, black in the middle. He wore a maroon robe and slippers. His eyes flicked up to the door, narrowed.
I activated Inspect
Name : Jones Smith
Class : Alchemist
Age : 45
Mana :200
Health:100
Strength:40
Intelligence:45
Speed:20
Senses :20
Agility:15
"Who's there?"
He looked around, saw nothing, then calmly went back to reading.
That was my moment.
The Kill
I walked quietly, each step measured, silent as a shadow. My hand reached out—slowly, slowly—until my fingers were wrapped around his neck.
Then I squeezed.
His body tensed instantly, legs kicking out weakly. The newspaper crumpled in his hands. He tried to scream but only a choked gasp came out.
I leaned close, watching his bulging eyes in the dim candlelight. My hand didn't let go. The veins on his forehead bulged like worms under skin. He scratched at my invisible arm, his nails scraping through air.
Thirty seconds.
Forty.
His body started twitching less. I could feel the life draining out of him. My heartbeat was calm. Controlled.
At one minute, his head drooped forward. His limbs slackened. His eyes remained wide, lifeless.
I let go. His body collapsed onto the desk like a broken doll.
I stared at him for a second.
"Checkmate," I whispered.