章 4: Securing My Loot

I would love to just get on the carriage and drive it, but that would get me in trouble in record speed. What if they ask me where I am from? I don't know a single settlement's name. I also must look suspicious to these rag-wearers with my high quality apparel that is clearly not manufactured with methods available in such a primitive world. What's more, I can't even drive the carriage.

I take a glance at Mr. Merchant. It would be smart to take his clothes and equip them instead of my 21st century modern apparel but you will never catch me looting a corpse's bloody rags to wear them. Nope, zero chance.

Well I did take the merchant's belt which also hoisted the sword's scabbard in the end. Holding the sword in my hand for who knows how long wouldn't be ideal.

Then I take the crate which holds the textiles to where I was hiding while watching the scene. After thinking a bit I decide to take them even further away as I don't know if the guards or police or whatever it is they call them here, would investigate the surroundings.

After some searching I found a nice hole that is surrounded by bushes and other forest foliage. I grunt as I place the box down. It really is heavy. On a positive note I made the discovery that my new body is much better than my old one. I regain my strength faster, I sweat less than I should. My back and arms which were hurting a bit from the strain of this laborious activity quickly regained their full vigor.

Amazing.

The process takes about fifteen minutes per box, give or take a few. Every time I move back to the road I wait half a minute while still hidden to check if anyone is coming.

I put two wood figurines and two textile products, one hat and one glove, into my bag to take with me. I intend to ask for their worth in a bigger settlement. I hope I can find the next one today.

Once I'm done I place some fallen leaves and branches on the boxes for good measure. Sadly I don't have a shovel to bury them with dirt. I can only hope no one finds my valuables.

[Thief lvl 1 → 2]

Oh! Nice, I got a level up. It didn't appear when I took them off the carriage, only once I secured them in a hidden spot. It is then safe to assume that simply stealing stuff is not enough, I need to secure my new loot. Of course, that is if I wish to level up my Thief class. Stealth is OP and, well, I'm very happy to steal from the undeserving rich, I'm somewhat of a Robin Hood after all, without the redistributing to the masses part. I would certainly rather be a thief than a farmer or construction worker.

For one final time I return to the carriage. I pick up the guard's spear and upon closer examination I realize that his helmet is still usable and, most importantly, spotless. I strap the helmet onto my head, feeling a slight comfort knowing I have some barebones protection now. It's not a perfect fit, but it will have to do. With the spear in hand, I look around the scene one last time. The blood on the ground is already attracting flies, and the forest is eerily quiet.

I need to move quickly. I don't want to wait in this shady place any longer than absolutely necessary.

I decide to remain hidden in the forest and travel through the trees rather than walk on the road, moving slowly and cautiously. My goal is to find a settlement where I can assess the value of my newfound items and possibly purchase some essentials. The sun is still high up in the sky, so I should have enough daylight to reach one such place. Unless the sun itself works differently in this strange land...

The brutal reality of this world serves to provide a very grim contrast to my previous life. Yet, there's a part of me that feels an immense amount of excitement. The strange feeling my new primordial body provides me with combined with the mystery of this world's intricate game-like mechanics, and the potential to become an incredibly powerful individual- all of it combined to create a sense of purpose I've never felt before. This is exactly what I have been wishing for for years. What I was so greatly missing from my life.

After a couple of hours of walking, I spot a large, imposing structure in the distance. As I get closer, I realize it's a town, fortified with sturdy walls. It looks well-defended. I slow my pace down to a complete halt, deciding it would be best to observe from a safe distance before making any decisions.

I find a hidden spot in the forest where I can watch the town without being seen. The town is overflowing with activity; I can see people moving in and out of the gates one after the other and many guards are patrolling the walls. It's a lively place, but also intimidating for someone like me, who knows little about the world and has no established identity.

I spend hours observing while my mind is busy racing with possibilities. What kind of story should I come up with? A wandering traveler looking for work? A displaced villager seeking refuge? Perhaps I could pose as a simple merchant, though my lack of goods and experience might give me away instantly. The town is big enough that blending in should be possible, but I need to be careful.