Fritte waved a tiny hand lazily in the air:
—These troublemakers are always the same. They leave a hole in the pouch of veils and they start to fall out. It's not complicated, just watch your step.
I nodded and followed his advice, leaving the narrow alley, where the air was saturated with dampness and the musty smell of old walls, and finding myself on a more lively street.
The stones under her feet sparkled in the setting sun, and it was there that her gaze caught a glimmer.
—Can I rest for a while? While you're walking, I'd like to sit on your shoulder.
—Of course, sit down. It's easier than carrying a backpack on your back.
Fairy carefully perched on her shoulder like a tiny bird, crossing her legs and dangling them down.
A faint glow emanated from her wings, making me feel like I was carrying a miniature flashlight on my shoulder.
As I walked, I noticed a few veils along the way. First, a single copper coin, followed by two more, and soon, the path led me to a place where several veils were scattered. As I picked them up one by one, I noticed a system message flashing in the air:
[System notification: You have collected 500 veils!]
"Oh! That's great, at least there's some compensation for completing this quest."
I stopped short, staring at the system window that flashed before my eyes.
—Wait... But that wasn't part of the [Unique Offer]. So, regular veils... they're also needed?
I pressed my hand against the pouch where I'd stored the coins I'd found. There were a good five hundred coins inside, and I looked at my companion with a doubtful expression.
—So what does this mean, Fritte? Are these coins part of the quest?
The fairy shuddered, and the wings behind her back fluttered like leaves in the wind. Her tiny hands clenched, and she sighed softly.
—No, the Veils are just... payment. They're like small crumbs that lead you to your main goal. But the real... special... coins are different.
—Different?
I asked, curiosity and a hint of concern in my voice. Fritte lowered his head, his thin shoulders trembling.
—Those five coins are not ordinary veils. They are the currency of my people... The Kingdom of Faeries. They look almost identical to regular ones, but each one is made of crystallized aether. They cannot be counterfeited. For us, they are both a value and a symbol of trust. Losing such coins is like losing the blessing of the Queen of Flowers herself...
I felt a pang in my heart at the fairy's words. Fritte was breathless with excitement, and his eyes were shiny, as if he was barely holding back tears.
_If my older siblings find out... They'll think I'm irresponsible, I've disgraced the family. They'll... they'll punish me. And I don't want that...
His thin fingers clutched at the hem of my dress as if it were a lifeline. Fey looked so small, so helpless, that I suddenly felt a strong urge to protect him.
I had a new perspective on the task: It was no longer just a game, but a real responsibility.
—Hey, don't cry... We'll find those coins, I promise.
Fritte raised his head, his eyes shining with a wet glint, but there was a hint of hope in them. Disava and Fritte stepped into a narrow alley.
The stone walls on either side were oppressive, and the air smelled of dampness, soot, and burning. It was clear that old chimneys were located somewhere nearby.
The coins that guided us along the route ended right at the entrance, and I tensed, as this usually signified that our destination was nearby.
—Here... I can feel the aether.
Fritte whispered, gripping my shoulder tighter. I squinted and saw a creature so ridiculous and repulsive that it was hard to compare it to anything familiar.
Small, barely the size of a cat, all red, with rough skin and peeling dirt. Two sharp black horns stuck out of its head, as if smeared in tar. Its thin chicken legs scratched the air with each flap. It had no wings, but it floated in the air, as if the power of the burning and the smoke itself supported it.
In one of its paws, the demon held a glowing blue coin. The aether inside her shimmered with a soft light, casting reflections on the walls. The creature giggled, a high-pitched, unpleasant sound like a knife scraping against glass, and I raised my hand, trying to speak calmly.
—Hey, kid! That's not yours. Give it back, and we'll be on our way.
The demon child tilted its head for a moment, as if listening. Its large yellow eyes sparkled with cunning. It clutched the coin to its chest, and then... it smiled broadly, revealing its sharp, uneven teeth.
—Hi-Hi-hi...
A thin chuckle filled the alleyway. The creature mockingly stretched out its paw, showed the coin, and swallowed it noisily in front of them.
—N-no! It's... it's real!
Fritte cried out, he was not pleased to see such a picture. I felt my anger boiling inside. M attempt to negotiate ended with a mockery.
—Well, if that's the case…
I pulled back the hood, an icon flashed in the inventory, and [Blood Rose Knuckles] materialized on my hands.
The metal was maroon, with engraved spikes resembling open rose petals, but each "petal" edge had a sharp, deadly edge. A slight bloody glimmer of the artifact effect appeared on the knuckles.
—Now I'm going to beat the crap out of you.
Fritte sighed barely audibly, realizing that the negotiations were over. The demon child only laughed louder, clearly preparing for a game that was about to turn into a fight.
I narrowed my eyes, extending my palm and activating the target analysis. A semi-transparent window with the characteristics flashed before my eyes.
[Veil's Thief]
Level: 13
Type: Demon / Parasite
"Habitat: abandoned houses, basements, and attics in human cities."
My eyes skimmed the lines, and I felt a prickling sensation in my stomach.
— A Thief?
Fritte nodded, clenching his fists as if to confirm my suspicion. The text flashed with new information:
"Veil's Thief are lower demons born from human greed. They don't feed directly on coins, but they consume the "echo of greed" that has been absorbed into the gold and silver by the touch of its owners. The longer a coin has been passed from hand to hand, the sweeter and more nutritious its taste becomes for them."
—So these creatures don't eat money itself, but... traces of greed? How cute.
"They are invisible to regular players. Their 'leaps' and chaos are often attributed to bugs: disappearing items, rustling sounds, and doors opening on their own. Only those who have accepted a special offer from spirits or fairies can see the true form of the Thief."
—Now I understand why everyone looked at me like I was crazy.
"Behavior: they live in packs of 2 to 5. They don't kill, but they steal small items, food, potions, and small coins. They are extremely cowardly: if they take more than 20% damage, they start running away, sometimes dropping some of the stolen items. In battle, they use chaos and "buffoon tricks": jumping, spitting gold crumbs, and wild laughter that interferes with aiming."
Fritte squeezed the edge of my cloak and added quietly:
—I warned you... they're not dangerous if you're stronger than them. But they're terribly annoying.
[Clinking Coins - Lvl. 4] - a sharp metallic sound that stuns the target for 5 seconds.
[Greedy Paws - Lvl. 3] - steals a random item from the inventory.
[Fake Laughter – Lvl. 5] – Breaks concentration, -3% accuracy for 10 seconds.
[Veil's Flock – Lvl. 3] – Summons another Thief if the fight is prolonged.
– Great! A little bastard with a bunch of dirty tricks.
Fritte frowned and added in a barely audible voice:
—If one is already here… then the others are nearby. They always come in a pack.
I clenched my fists tighter, feeling the [Bloody Rose] brass knuckles grow heavy and warm. The thrill of it all rushed through my veins.
—Don't worry Fritte, I'll be done pretty quick.
The Veil's Thief laughed hoarsely, hopping on the spot and clicking its beak in mockery. But as I rushed forward, the laughter turned into an angry hiss. The creature didn't expect such speed from a level 10 player. It lunged forward, crossing its chicken legs and forming an awkward block.
Claws with a nasty scratching sound scraped my skin, leaving a thin strip of a scratch on my hand, from which red pixels of pain broke out.
— Damn!
I breathed out, feeling how I lost concentration for a second. Fritte stirred, sitting on my shoulder, he tore off his cloak-leaf and stretched out a thin stick, more like a toy. His golden eyes flashed with determination.
— Heal!...
A soft light burst from the tip of the wooden stick. A green glow enveloped my hand, and the wound healed as if it had never been there, and the unpleasant burning sensation disappeared. I even blinked in surprise, not expecting such a tiny ally to possess the ability to cast spells.
—Thank you!
Thief chuckled and took a few sharp leaps back, as if to taunt. But I was already in rhythm. My heart was pounding, and my adrenaline was overpowering my doubts.
—Have you had enough?
I said coldly, and I lunged forward. My [Blood Rose Knuckles] flashed with crimson veins as my fist crashed into the demon's pot-bellied body. The blow was so sharp that the air was torn from it with a lash of sound.
The thief shrieked, his eyes bulged, and he wheezed and choked and spat out a shining blue coin with a loathsome clatter.
For a moment, the creature twitched, as if trying to grab its prey back, but its body shuddered, began to melt, and disappeared into the fog like smoke.
[You have received the "Ether Coin" (1/5). Unique offer: "Let's Play Hide and Seek" - progress updated.]
—One down!
—Four to go... But be careful, Thief's are rarely alone.
—Perfect. Let them try to come up!