Starting Off With Space-Time Magic!

With a loud bang, the trapdoor to the basement flew open, and someone leapt into the room with incredible speed.

Naizel, the mage who had kidnapped me, reacted instantly, his voice sharp as he cast a spell.

"Mind Crush!"

The dark magic, capable of shattering a person's consciousness and rendering them unconscious, roared forward. So that's what he had used on me earlier.

But the intruder barely paused, tearing through the spell with a ripping sound like paper shredding. Before Naizel could react further, the figure was upon him, grabbing him by the neck and lifting him off the ground.

Naizel's face twisted in agony as the grip tightened. He gasped, unable to speak, his strength rapidly fading. Without the ability to chant, he couldn't cast any spells. His attacker showed no mercy.

Within moments, Naizel collapsed to the ground, his body limp, his eyes rolling back as he foamed at the mouth.

"Are you alright, Matthew?" a familiar voice called out.

I blinked in disbelief. Standing in front of me, ears twitching and tail swishing, was Mia, the catfolk innkeeper from The Bird's Perch. Relief washed over me, but confusion quickly followed.

"Mia… You saved me?"

She nodded, but her expression was oddly sheepish. "Sorry about that, nya. We've been tracking this human trafficking ring for a while."

"Wait…" I narrowed my eyes. "Did you use me as bait?"

"...Sorry, nya," she said again, ears drooping.

I sighed, exasperated but too tired to argue. "Fine. I'll let it go. But who are you, really?"

"I'm part of the Thieves' Guild," she said casually.

The revelation caught me off guard. The Thieves' Guild was infamous, an underground organization that handled everything from information brokering to assassination. According to Mia, Naizel and his group were operating independently, abducting and selling children without the guild's permission—a serious offense in their world.

Using me as bait, they had successfully drawn out Naizel and his accomplices. The ambush had worked, with Naizel now incapacitated.

"What's your role in the Thieves' Guild?" I asked.

"...An assassin, nya."

That explained her incredible speed and precision. "I see. Well, I guess that makes sense after what I just witnessed."

"Scared?" she asked, tilting her head.

"Not really. You didn't kill him in front of me, and it still doesn't feel entirely real. Honestly, I'm more worried about this Geas. Can you get it removed?"

Mia nodded. "We've already arranged for the temple to help, nya. The priests will lift the curse tonight."

I was surprised to hear that the Thieves' Guild worked with the temple, but I decided not to question it. What mattered was that the Geas would be removed.

After being untied, I was escorted to the temple, where the priests performed the dispelling ritual. With the Geas lifted, I returned to the inn and collapsed into bed, utterly exhausted. Whatever remained to be done was now in the hands of the adults.

The next morning, after breakfast, Mia took me to the Thieves' Guild. On the surface, it looked like a regular tavern. But once we were led into a back room, the space expanded into a sprawling lounge connected to neighboring buildings. A group of stern-faced men and women waited there, their gazes sharp and assessing.

"For your efforts in capturing Naizel, you deserve recognition," Mia said, giving me a firm pat on the back.

"Efforts? I was just the bait…"

One of the leaders, a broad-shouldered man with a commanding presence, tossed a heavy pouch onto the table alongside my confiscated short sword. "Matthew, right? Sorry for what happened. This is your reward. Take it. No need to hold back."

"Are you sure? I didn't really do anything."

"You got caught. That's enough. Take it as an apology for putting you in danger."

"Well… if you insist."

I picked up the pouch and immediately noticed its weight. Judging by the heft, it contained a considerable amount of money. I also reclaimed my short sword, fastening it securely at my hip. It may not have been much of a deterrent, but it was a gift from my village, and I had no intention of losing it.

As I prepared to leave, the man spoke again. "The city's safe for you now, but you're heading to the royal capital, right? Think you can manage that on your own?"

I hesitated. "I'll admit, after last night, I'm a little worried. If someone as strong as Naizel appears again, I wouldn't stand a chance."

"Then use some of that money to hire a bodyguard," he suggested. "Talk to Naana at the Adventurers' Guild. She can set you up with someone reliable."

Mia chimed in. "Most of the catfolk here have ties to the Thieves' Guild, nya. We'll make sure you're safe."

"Really?" I asked, surprised.

"Yeah, it's in our nature to excel at stealth and observation, nya. It's what makes us so useful."

With that, the conversation ended. I left the guild and headed for the Adventurers' Guild to resume my usual work with Cleanliness.

I didn't bother asking what happened to Naizel and his group. Some things were better left unknown.

Locke and Claire seemed oblivious to the previous night's events, and I decided not to burden them with the details. We worked side by side as usual, the two of them none the wiser about the chaos that had unfolded while they slept.