Chapter 18: Scaling the Wall to Evade the Hounds, the Dancer’s Chamber

Monster sieges are a beloved tradition. During the open beta, there were two Goblin Army invasion events, featuring an array of Super Boss Goblin Kings and a multitude of elite Goblin Lords—a veritable feast for players looking to level up, gain reputation, and hunt for loot.

However, those sieges always came from outside the city walls. This current cacophony of barking clearly indicated an attack from within. Moreover, these stray dogs were quite unique; they weren't classified as wild monsters, and animal protection organizations guarded them, meaning the city’s NPC guards wouldn't lift a finger against them.

They didn't kill people, either; they would just bite once and run, acting as a nuisance. At best, you’d end up with a crippled ankle; at worst, you’d contract a disease. If you were truly unlucky, you’d get both, and it wouldn't heal without spending gold on a doctor. Crucially, these dogs were snobbish—they bullied the poor and feared the rich, never biting high-level nobles in fine clothing. They exclusively targeted low-level players. It was unfathomable that a player could trigger such an annoying event!

By now, the players filling the streets realized something was wrong and began to flee, with some attempting to scale nearby walls.

Dachun, burdened with over a hundred units of weight and suffering from a "death weakness" debuff, couldn't possibly run. He had no choice but to try climbing a nearby wall.

—System Prompt: Your encumbrance is too high, and your body is weak. Climbing failed! Your muscle memory begins to recall the fundamentals of climbing.

Damn it!

Truth be told, this wall wasn't just high; it was slippery. Even if his Intermediate Climbing skill were still active, he wouldn't necessarily make it over on the first try.

Dachun wasn't the only one failing to climb. A large number of players had realized the danger and were trying to scramble over iron-railed gates, immediately drawing the ire of the guards inside the estates.

Dachun was falling behind, anxiously jumping and failing beneath the wall.

The next moment, the manhole covers in the street burst open with a roar. Countless dogs made of black smoke swarmed out, biting everyone they saw before darting away. The situation descended into utter chaos.

Dachun resigned himself to his bad luck. If he was going to get bitten, so be it—it was just one bite. His toxin immunity would likely ward off any disease, and as for being crippled...

A dog lunged forward and bit his foot!

—System Prompt: Warning! Your foot has been attacked by a stray dog. HP -15! You have successfully resisted the crippling effect.

Thank goodness, neither crippled nor infected! Could the Herculean legs he’d developed through expert-level running really be crippled by a common stray?

—System Prompt: Warning! You have suffered tearing damage from a stray dog. Damage -6!

Dachun suddenly realized the dog wasn't letting go; it was shaking its head and tearing at him, its eyes glowing red and its mouth foaming!

What the hell! Why me? Aren't they supposed to bite and run?

Dachun panicked. He kicked his other leg upward, slamming his heel into the dog's head. The force of the kick gave him enough leverage that his hands reached the top of the wall. He gripped it!

—System Prompt: Congratulations! Your muscle memory has successfully recalled the essence of digging. Unarmed effect enhanced. You have restored Beginner Climbing Level 1. Your muscle memory has gained a new understanding of Climbing. You have earned an extra achievement reward: HP +1.

Extra HP!? Holy crap, can skills be developed further like this?

No time to think. Energized, Dachun kicked the dog's head away and finally hauled himself onto the wall. Next to the wall was a luxurious high-rise with distinct window ledges. Before he could even celebrate, a red light flashed before his eyes:

—System Prompt: Warning! Your current actions constitute suspected illegal trespassing on the residence of "Count Ramirhan." Please cease immediately, or you will be flagged as a criminal with a red name!

Damn it, this is emergency avoidance! How can this be a crime?

***

The next moment, more barking erupted from within the estate. These were guard dogs, far more robust than the strays, sprinting toward the wall and leaping up!

Damn, that speed and impact—

Terrified, Dachun didn't have time to think. He leapt from the wall and grabbed onto a window ledge of the adjacent high-rise!

He regretted it instantly! This wasn't just "suspected" trespassing anymore; it was full-blown breaking and entering! If even one guard turned his head, he’d be red-named and back in prison. The real issue was the six precious Magic Stones in his inventory. If they were confiscated or he died and dropped them, it would be a massive loss.

Dachun looked back toward the estate. The guards were distracted by the barking in the streets and the players rattling the gates, busy keeping the intruders out. They hadn't noticed the guard dogs barking at his location!

What the!?

Dachun looked around and spotted an open window on the top floor.

He instantly judged the room to be empty; if someone were inside, they’d be looking out the window at the chaos in the street. As long as no guards saw him, he could climb in, hide, and wait for nightfall. He still had a chance to escape unscathed.

He made a split-second decision: Climb! Compared to the tall, slippery wall, the window ledges and fixtures here were much easier to grasp.

The players rolling in agony on the street saw his movements and exclaimed, "Look at that camper!"

"How is that even possible? Aren't the guards coming?"

Dachun’s scalp tingled. He just wanted to lay low, but he’d become a spectacle. Screw it—maybe being more conspicuous would make him less suspicious.

Finally, amid the astonished gasps of the players below, Dachun scrambled up to the top floor and slipped through the window.

It was a small room with sparse furniture: a bed, a wardrobe, a table, and a vanity mirror with small bottles arranged on it. A poster of a famous mage adorned the wall. It was so minimalist; clearly, this was a maid’s room. But living on the top floor, this maid likely held a position of some importance.

Dachun looked for a place to hide. With so little furniture, it was hard to find a spot. The bed had no valance to hide under, and there wasn't enough room beneath it. He had to check the wardrobe.

Dachun gently opened it, revealing a dazzling pink, sheer silk nightgown hanging inside.

—System Prompt: You have discovered the Dancer class equipment "Dancer’s Garb." Base stats: Attack Speed +5, Movement Speed +5, Weight 1, Durability 48, Aesthetic 100. Note: You notice a dark, blackened stain on this garment.

Dancer gear! So this was a dancer’s room. Equipment that added +5 to speed was absolutely top-tier; this dancer was definitely someone significant! But that dark stain... it was clearly a quest item!

Dachun instantly thought of Vivian. He knew her temper well, but he knew nothing of her professional background or where she lived, and she never mentioned it. This had been the biggest obstacle in getting closer to her.

Looking at this room now, the dancer’s glamorous exterior hid a life of such misery. And this was a high-ranking dancer in a Count’s mansion. What about someone like Vivian, who had to frequent bars and suck up to obese barons?

Dachun began searching the table, but the drawers were empty!

Damn, it couldn't be this poor! This game was a simulated society; the NPCs’ lives followed economic laws. Unless the room was unoccupied?

Dachun started flipping over pillows and mattresses. The pillow fell with a thud—hm?

He immediately tore open the pillowcase and unearthed a book. No, a diary! Damn, as expected of a diary, hidden so secretively. He was worried he didn't know enough about dancers.

Dachun flipped directly to the latest page marked by a bookmark: "...The effects of the medicine are wearing off again. I don't know how much longer I can hold on. If I die like this, the Master will take my sister to settle my debts. Poor Amy cannot follow this path. I must hold on and break through to become a High Dancer..."

Dachun was stunned. Medicine? Dancers advance to become High Dancers? The date on this page was March 25th, but in the game, it was April 2nd!

Dachun immediately flipped backward: "Lola is gone today. Has she been 'disposed of'?"

He flipped again: "Woke up in pain in the middle of the night and took another pill. My symptoms are the same as Lola’s now."

He flipped to a page that contained a magic circle stained with dark ink: "Bought this technique from a mysterious witch. It only requires a bit of blood to use. I hope it helps me break through."

Damn, she was even using magic? The ink was the same color as the stain on the Dancer’s Garb. Could it be blood?

He flipped again: "The Master brought in a new batch of medicine. He says the cost of this medicine alone will take me ten years to repay... I am my family’s only hope. I must break through..."

...

Dachun read on, horrified. This dancer’s life wasn't just bleak; she was being tortured and trained with drugs and magic. Those who couldn't withstand it were "disposed of." Was the owner of this diary already dead? Was Vivian suffering from these drugs too? What on earth was this medicine?

He flipped to the first page, which contained only a few inexplicable words: "Pink, Purple, Blue, Black, White."

What was this? Usually, the most important information was written on the first page. Dachun instantly noticed the cosmetic bottles on the vanity mirror—there were exactly six of them, matching those colors. Could it be a password?

Dachun rearranged the bottles in the order written in the diary.

The next moment, the mirror reflected the image of the bottles, and a series of lights flashed, revealing clear signs of magical fluctuation.

Damn, a magical mirror with a password! As expected of a Count’s mansion, high-end stuff.

Then, a cloud of pink mist erupted from the mirror.

—System Prompt: You smell a heavy scent of roses.

Dachun’s scalp tingled. Vivian always smelled like roses, too! So, she didn't actually like roses; she just needed them to mask the scent of the medicine?

The next moment, a glass box popped out from the mirror.

Dachun immediately opened it. It was full of pills.

—System Prompt: Warning! You sense a familiar, highly toxic drug.

Familiar? Could this box of pills be made of the same material as the mushrooms I’ve been eating?

Just as he was in shock, the sound of barking and hurried footsteps drifted into the room from the hallway.

Damn, they’d followed him upstairs!