Chapter 41 – Sneaking In Like a Pro (Or an Idiot?)

The Tiger Girl Won't Let Me In

The girl eyed me suspiciously, her grip on the reins firm.

Her tiger let out a low growl, its sharp yellow eyes locked onto me.

✔ She was clearly experienced.

✔ She wasn't buying any bullsh*t.

✔ And she had the advantage here.

"We don't let outsiders in without a reason," she said flatly. "State your business."

I sighed. "I'm just a traveler."

She raised an eyebrow. "A traveler? Crossing that mountain alone? With no supplies?"

Tch.

Smart a.

I rolled my shoulders. "What, you think I'm some kind of spy?"

She didn't answer.

"Look, I'll just leave, alright?" I clicked my tongue, pretending to be annoyed. "No need to keep staring me down like I stole your lunch."

Her glare didn't soften.

But she didn't stop me either.

Good.

I turned the horse around and started walking away.

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Ditching the Horse – Time to Sneak In

I led my horse away from the gates, deeper into the forest.

✔ Somewhere hidden.

✔ Somewhere safe.

✔ Somewhere that tiger girl wouldn't find it.

I tied the reins to a sturdy tree. "Alright, buddy. Stay put."

The horse huffed.

I rolled my eyes. "Don't give me that attitude. You'll be fine."

It flicked its tail at me.

Tch. Even my f*cking horse was a smartass.

I sighed, took a deep breath—and activated my skill.

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[Shadow Step: Activated]

Darkness wrapped around me, blending me into the shadows.

✔ No sound.

✔ No movement detected.

✔ Completely invisible in the dim light.

I smirked. "Let's see that tiger sniff me out now."

With one silent step forward, I vanished into the city.

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Roaming the City – Time to Plan

Once inside, I stayed low, weaving through the alleyways.

The city was bustling with life.

✔ Blacksmiths hammering away at weapons.

✔ Hunters dragging in freshly killed monsters.

✔ Merchants shouting about enchanted gear.

This place was built for warriors.

And somewhere in this chaos was what I needed.

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Remembering the Plan – Where's the Artifact?

In the game, the hidden artifact was inside a cave.

But not just any cave.

✔ A place filled with failed monster experiments.

✔ A labyrinth of tunnels, half-collapsed and dangerous.

✔ And at the very end… a relic that no one had ever truly identified.

I needed to find the entrance.

And to do that…

I needed information.

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Final Thought – Time to Dig Up Some Secrets

✔ I successfully snuck into the city.

✔ Now I had to find the cave entrance.

✔ And something told me… this was going to be a pain in the a.**

I sighed, rolling my shoulders.

"Alright. Let's get to work."

The sword hummed. "This is gonna be fun."

I smirked. "For me or for you?"

It chuckled. "Both."

I sighed. "Of course."

With that, I stepped out into the bustling streets, blending in.

Time to start digging.

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To Be Continued…