Mochi blinked. She was now in a bedroom—more tidy, more comfy-looking than the prison-like room from before.
A bed, a window, a bathroom, and a desk with paper on it.
Mochi sighed deeply, her steps wobbling before she picked up the paper. The ink was still fresh.
Resolve the Western Plague. And I shall reveal a half-truth to you, cute little Thief.
"How gentle of you. Almost pulled my heartstrings."
She clutched her chest. Still beating.
For some reasons, she recalled the honeyed taste of that woman's blood before the 'heart-wrenching' moment a minute ago.
Liar. Mochi complained in her heart.
No honeyed drops. Only a false game over screen.
…Not good. She can't lose control again.
"System." She looked for a distraction. "The rest of the reward."
<...computing...>
"Equip." She set aside the paper, extending her hand.
Pixels formed, then from her wrist, a black metal bracelet coiled inside her long sleeve—part of the Thief Guild's outfit.
"Hm..." Mochi examined the crossbolt bracelet, the blue mana shimmering inside a crystal. "A mini-crossbolt. Discreet. Lightweight. Pretty stylish."
"Takes time to draw the string, but maybe someday."
Mochi's eyes scanned down to the dried blood.
"Let's take a shower first..."
First time a speedrunner slowed down.
Mochi chuckled tiredly as her steps wobbled toward the bathroom.
---------------
"Ah... at least they have hot water here..."
Immersing herself in the wooden bucket, the naked Mochi finally relaxed.
First blood. Then a terrifying Final Boss. Last, a speedrun and some near-death experiences.
"Life has really gone by in a flash..."
What a cliché line. Mochi's hand slid water over her skin.
...was this really her skin all this time? Too smooth. Too milky.
"The relatives would have doted on me even more if they knew I was this cute."
Oh. The bath calmed the meter. Good to know.
Guess she didn't have to beg the Guildmaster about lowering it again.
...
...truth be told, everything had come smoothly to Mochi.
Novice's Mage Ring. Reduction of mana consumption for dual-casting by 50% (limited to low-tier spells).
Thief Guild Cloak. Increased movement speed by 15%.
And of course...
She summoned the mask into her hand.
Thief Guild Mask. No effect.
Except hiding her identity.
Alongside her knowledge and the skills, the route had written itself for Mochi.
"Coupled with that bandit's ring...hehehe..."
Ah, she really liked this feeling.
Hm... but there was something different.
"I'm so exhausted..."
Relief. Satisfaction. Pride. All swelled into the most potent mix of energy drink for Mochi.
Too much had happened. Too many accomplishments. Too much to adapt to.
"System." She dismissed the mask. "Don't tell me you're male behind that screen."
<...>
"We... is it?"
Come to think of it... Mochi squinted. "You never addressed yourself as anything other than 'we.'"
"Again with that... sure." Mochi grumbled as she waved. "Tell me what I need to know about the Western Plague."
"How about that woman's true identity?"
"Then something that isn't a spoiler."
Her palms gripped the water, grunting.
<...loading...>
<...>
"Oi." A crack, in her veins. "Tch... fine. Let's go with..."
Mochi smirked. "Haelmira and her knights."
Permission? Mochi frowned. "Play footage if you can."
Mochi wasn't a streamer.
But a speedrun of that record? And with no Discorp here?
Her smirk widened. As always, she could use an ego-boost from time to time.
----------
"Commander! We just confirmed the charred remains belonged to the snake-eyed Rook, and the headless body is his brother!"
"Commander! News has arrived that Silas has fallen in his kitchen!"
"Commander! The same goes for Vespera in the East!"
"Commander! Countless bandits are escaping to the Outskirts!"
"Commander! Ple—"
"Shut the fuck up!"
Haelmira stomped the muddy carpet. The Howling Maul's corridor would have been divinely flamed if not for her discipline.
"That damn assassin bitch!" she screamed. "Twenty minutes! It hasn't even been twenty minutes since we raided this HQ, and you tell me all four are fucking dead?!"
"Madam... according to Silas' autopsy report, it should be within fifteen minutes... actually, maybe thirteen, cutting out the escape time..."
"One more word, and I'll burn you on a stake like a marshmallow."
"Y-yes..."
"Ugh..." Haelmira's palm slid over her face. "What in the world am I supposed to make of this?"
Four bandit leaders. All gone within fifteen minutes.
Even the most brilliant knights would take more than three hours, accounting for escape routes.
"Then that settles it..." She gritted her teeth. "This is too coincidental. It is highly likely that masked assassin is the one who killed Aldric Veyne's family. And..."
The knight shook her head, sighing. "How's the bounty progress?"
"All reports sent! Mercenaries and wandering knights are coming! Alongside... the Third Princess herself."
"Of course that spoiled monster has to butt in." Haelmira turned. "Lead me to the Howling Maul's office. We'll check if any documents are missing."
--------------
"...wait."
Mochi frowned, the satisfaction from watching the clown show fading.
"Aldric Veyne and his family were murdered?"
Water crackled. Mochi's frame trembled.
"System!"
<...Host.>
"Essential information I missed. Tell me every part of it!"
Her gaze swiped. Thorny text twitched.
<...compiling...>
"Ha. So that's why Haelmira was sent here!" Mochi slammed her fist into the water.
Aldric Veyne? Unimportant.
That essential NPC, though? She couldn't know, but it had to be important enough to draw the Northern Knight to the West.
"But who the hell kill them?"
A certain purple silk-haired figure drifted in her memory before she shook her head.
Not enough evidence. She would analyze it in due time.
"Although I'm more than certain the Guildmaster has something to do with—"
Wait...
Aldric Veyne and FOUR family members.
Mochi... when she had awakened...
...
...ha?
Wait. Mochi held her head. Something was absolutely off.
"System." She glared. "Five souls. Five fucking souls."
<...>
"Say something." The emerald eye's coldness could chill even the hot water beneath. "How in the fuck did I have five souls already when I awakened?"
<...>
"I murdered them. I was the one who murdered them. Wasn't I?!"
<...>
"Screw your spoilers." Her eyes cast needles. "Answers. Now."
<...>
Ashvein... the place where the Plague originated.
"Tch." Mochi plumped back down, water splashing.
The North and the South benefited more from the 'plague' due to the manpower or cheap labours escaping from it, but some treated Vesperal Hollow as a temporary stop before the Plague would die down.
Aldric Veyne's corrupted embezzlement, and clumsiness in handling welfares and relieves, however, failed utterly to take advantage of it.
"More importantly... that plague persisted in the Vanilla game."
No solutions.
No documents.
No dialogues.
The community had dug up implications about how the plague happened. And they concluded...
"Black Death. Or Mouse Plague."
The environmental design of Ashvein gave off that atmosphere, with... well, the abundance of rats.
"System. This body is immune to disease, right?"
"Which one?"
Ah, great. A second perk that cost two skill points...
"...no other alternatives?"
"Right... I'll think more when we arrive there..."
Hm... something still felt off, but Mochi's pounding head couldn't quite place it...
Her mind already exploded once. She wished no more for now.
Her back leaned against the wooden bucket. Yes…she would allow herself to relax, leaving behind everything.
Too much to think about. Too much to break down.
Not to mention, she might have accidentally discovered she was the killer of Aldric Veyne and his family.
For now... she needed rest.
"Ironically..." Her hand loosely hung over the bucket. "I wouldn't mind being hugged by that Guildmaster right now..."
Being a pet sure beat whatever was going on in her head...
Mochi touched her chest again, furrowing.
When would her heart be tasted next time?
And…she wondered how would hers taste as well.
"...ah."
She squinted at the System. "You forgot something?"
<...>
"Try not to miss next time."
<...>
How oddly cute. Mochi purred in the water's warmth.