Capítulo 6: 101 Things to Look Out for in Darkness

After conversing for a while, Light realized the conversation with Nyx wasn't going anywhere. Her boundless curiosity kept leading them into endless tangents. In the end, he decided to name her Nyx and politely ended the discussion.

However...

"Master Light, take care! Nyx will be waiting for you!" Nyx said, stepping out of the Great Hall enthusiastically and waving her hands.

Since being named Nyx, she'd referred to herself in the third person. Light didn't know why but could only smile wryly and wave back as he bid her goodbye. Today, he decided to follow Ignatius to the surface. Truthfully, he was getting bored of the underground and wanted to take a look around.

And maybe… steal something while he was at it.

Ignatius led Light through a roughly dug, man-made tunnel in the slums. It was likely carved out by Ignatius himself using his Knight-class strength. As they emerged, the bright sunlight stung Light's eyes, forcing him to shield his face until they adjusted. When his vision cleared, he surveyed his surroundings.

As Ignatius had mentioned, the area was an abandoned slum. Vacant streets stretched out before them, carrying the faint but unpleasant odors of dirt and decay. The eerie silence was broken only by the occasional rustling sound.

"This place used to house the impoverished," Ignatius explained, noticing Light's curious expression. "After the church built new housing, most people moved away. A few still wander back occasionally."

The slum had been a refuge for struggling citizens, people living on the fringes of society, always at the bottom. But since the church initiated a plan to create new streets and housing for them, the area had become desolate and abandoned, now serving as a haven for those with criminal intent.

Light nodded silently, his attention suddenly drawn to a large black rat that scrambled toward him, followed by a swarm of smaller rats and mice. The black rat climbed onto his hand and perched there, letting out a sharp squeak. Light absently petted it and murmured, "There are still a few people here... children, hiding."

"Oh, and there are a few people dressed in white. They seem to be searching for something," he added, relaying what the black rat had conveyed to him.

The black rat, leader of the slum rats, had sensed Light's kingly aura and rushed to him as though greeting its sovereign. Like a loyal subordinate, it began reporting the current state of the slums.

Light listened carefully, nodding as he processed the information. There appeared to be no immediate danger, though the mention of people in white clothing made him pause. He tucked the thought away for later and turned to Ignatius.

"All right, you've got your task. I'll take a look around on my own," Light said.

"But, Master… what about your protection?" Ignatius stammered, glancing nervously at their surroundings.

Light handed the black rat to him. "Keep this one with you. Hide him in your clothes if you must, but don't leave him behind. His name is Nathan. He can sense danger and command other rats. If anything strange happens, he'll signal you."

"A-alright..." Ignatius stuttered. He had expected something large and imposing for protection, not a simple rat. Still, he didn't complain and nodded gratefully. "T-take care, Master."

Ignatius tucked Nathan into his pocket and walked off. Unbeknownst to him, Nathan winked at Light, who nodded in response. A swarm of rats began to move discreetly through the shadows—darting across rooftops, weaving between cracks, and keeping watch over Ignatius as Light's unseen eyes.

Light stood there for a moment, watching Ignatius disappear into the distance. His lips twitched into a faint, knowing smile.

He didn't fully trust Ignatius yet. Despite the man swearing loyalty, it had only been words so far. Trust wasn't something Light gave easily—it had to be earned.

Shaking his head, Light chuckled to himself.

"All right, time to steal some food."

...

Ignatius had told Light about several important places in the city. As the capital of the Empire, it was home to notable institutions like universities, a grand public library, and sprawling marketplaces. However, Light had to be cautious—churches, noble estates, and the dreaded witchfinders also dotted the city, their presence a constant reminder of the power structures at play.

The city was large enough for Light to "play" without drawing undue attention from those forces, but only if he stayed careful.

Perched on a rooftop, Light squatted, scanning the cityscape. His gaze settled on a grand restaurant. Its ornate exterior, adorned with gilded carvings and polished marble, screamed wealth. The steady stream of well-dressed patrons entering and exiting only confirmed its reputation as a prestigious dining establishment.

"Perfect," Light murmured, his lips curling into a mischievous grin.

He moved swiftly and silently, sticking to the shadows as he navigated the maze of alleys. He approached the restaurant's back entrance, where the alley reeked of discarded trash. Rats scurried about, and Light knelt to communicate with them. After a brief exchange of squeaks and movements, they led him toward the storage area.

Slipping inside unnoticed, Light found himself in the pantry. The room was packed with crates brimming with spices, vegetables, and fruits. But when he ventured into the adjoining meat room, he froze.

His eyes widened at the grotesque scene before him.

"Bloody hell…" he muttered, rubbing his eyes as if to dispel an illusion.

The room was filled with human corpses, hung like livestock from hooks in the ceiling. Blood dripped onto the cold stone floor, pooling beneath the bodies. The metallic scent of blood mixed with the faint tang of decay, creating an atmosphere that felt more like a slaughterhouse from hell than a storage room.

Disgusted, Light grimaced. The thought of stealing anything from this restaurant sickened him, but the gnawing hunger in his stomach made him grit his teeth and press on. Fortunately, some animal meat remained untouched in the corner, and that was enough for him. No way would he stoop to eating human flesh, no matter what kind of monster he was becoming.

"Now I know why this place is famous…" he muttered under his breath, clicking his tongue in irritation.

Light gathered the remaining animal meat, storing it carefully in a crate. He then loaded the rest of the food from the pantry—spices, vegetables, and fruits—into additional crates. Despite his slim frame, his sheer strength allowed him to carry three fully loaded crates with ease, thanks to his skill:

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Giant's Strength: With every rank increase, physical strength becomes significantly higher than that of standard classes, enabling feats of extraordinary power.

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With the crates balanced on his shoulders, Light glanced back at the now-empty storage room. A small, satisfied smile crossed his face.

"Thanks for the food," he whispered before slipping out through the back door.

He moved swiftly through the alleyways, keeping low to the ground and running on all fours for speed and stealth. Guided by the rats, he avoided any passersby, sticking to the shadows until he reached the abandoned slum.

Dropping the crates onto the dusty ground, he paused to assess the situation. The man-made hole leading to his underground refuge was too small to fit the crates. Just as he began to consider his options, his instincts flared with urgency. A sudden, chilling sense of danger washed over him, the feeling radiating from the southwest.

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Battle Instinct: Can sense danger from afar, including the hostility level of opponents. Enhances battle intelligence, improving tactical decision-making in combat.

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"Have I been discovered?" Light narrowed his eyes, his thoughts racing. The first possibility that crossed his mind was betrayal—Ignatius reporting him to someone. But that seemed unlikely. Nathan, the black rat he'd sent to monitor Ignatius, hadn't reported any unusual activity. If Ignatius hadn't betrayed him, then the approaching presence must belong to another force.

Whatever it was, it was heading straight for him.

Acting quickly, Light stashed the crates in an abandoned house nearby. The rats under his command swarmed the area, taking up defensive positions. They would protect the supplies until he returned. He then covered the entrance to the man-made tunnel with planks and dirt, camouflaging it to blend into the ruined slum.

With the danger drawing closer, Light darted off in the direction of the public library.

Sometime later, a shadowy figure crept into the slum's hiding spot. The creature sniffed the air, its sleek form darting around with unsettling precision before disappearing into the shadow. Shortly after, two more figures arrived.

The first was a man wearing a dark military-style coat, cinched at the waist with a thick leather belt. A bright red cape draped over his shoulders, flowing dramatically with every step. His face was obscured beneath a peaked military cap, casting shadows over his features.

Beside him stood a woman in similar attire, though she lacked a cape. Her look was meticulous and efficient—polished boots, a neatly pressed coat, and a pair of glasses perched on her nose. She carried a book under one arm, her demeanor cold and analytical.

Alessio glanced around, exhaling in mild frustration. "Ha… the rat got away."

The woman adjusted her glasses, flipping open the book. "Sir, the mutant was first spotted near the butcher's shop. Should we investigate there?"

"Really? Can't we just let the enforcers handle it?" Alessio's voice carried an air of laziness, though his sharp gaze betrayed a calculating nature.

The woman's expression didn't change. She stared at him blankly. "Sir…"

"Fine," Alessio muttered, rolling his eyes as he waved her off.

As they moved, the woman suddenly paused, her sharp gaze locking onto the man-made hole that Light had concealed. She adjusted her glasses, and faint magical patterns shimmered faintly into view. "Wait, sir. There's a trace here. Someone moved through this area recently."

Alessio raised an eyebrow, crouching to remove the planks. He glanced into the hole, frowning. "This leads to the sewers. Is it from the mutant?"

The woman shook her head. "No. This is... something else."

"Then we leave it to the enforcers. Our job is dealing with monsters." With that, Alessio stood and leaped effortlessly onto the rooftop, his cape flaring dramatically. Embroidered across its fabric in bold letters was a single word: "Destroy."

The woman sighed, pushing her glasses up the bridge of her nose. She closed her book and followed him.

...

Meanwhile, at the public library in the Riverhood district, Light was immersing himself in a world of knowledge. The grand, three-story building was one of the city's most prominent landmarks. Its towering spires and intricate carvings symbolized the church's commitment to spreading enlightenment. Once, knowledge had been a privilege reserved for nobles and scholars. But when the churches rose to power, they established public libraries like this one to give common citizens access to vital information, claiming it was a step toward "enlightenment for all."

As Light flipped through an open book, he muttered to himself. "This world is more dangerous than I imagined. Even making a fire can be lethal…"

The book he was reading, 101 Things to Look Out for in Darkness, was highly recommended by the library staff. It outlined numerous survival precautions, categorizing them into sections like Basic Darkness Safety, Dangerous Spaces, Anomalies and Portents, Unnatural Entities, and Final Warnings.

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Examples from the book:

Basic Darkness Safety: Refrain from calling anyone's name in the dark. The dark might answer back.

Dangerous Spaces: If a lighthouse shines red, head inland immediately. It's a warning, not a guide.

Anomalies and Portents: If the stars rearrange into unfamiliar constellations, hide._ Something is watching.

Unnatural Entities: If an animal speaks, do not respond. It's testing whether you're worth keeping.

Final Warnings: Always leave an offering at the threshold before midnight. It keeps the house quiet.

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Light's expression tightened as he absorbed the warnings. "Starting a fire in total darkness has a 50% chance of attracting... something. And it doesn't even explain what."

The sun outside was beginning to set, bathing the city in hues of orange and purple. Realizing time was slipping away, Light gathered a handful of books, including 101 Things to Look Out for in Darkness, a history text, and a few others he deemed valuable.

"Too bad the system doesn't have a storage feature. These would be so much easier to carry," he muttered.

Carrying the books in a bundle, Light slipped out through the library's back door, where no guards patrolled. Moving swiftly, he navigated the narrow alleys, using the growing shadows for cover.

As he darted between houses, a rat scurried up to him, chirping urgently. Picking it up, Light narrowed his eyes as he listened.

"Ignatius… is being chased?" he murmured, piecing together the rat's message. He sighed and nodded. "Alright. Let's go help him."

With his books secured under his arm and the rat perched on his shoulder, Light vanished into the shadow heading toward his embattled companion.

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