Naked Heist

After the raid on the camp. Leofric and his men found villagers that were captured. We went back to report to the Duke, and it was decided to head back to the city of Sanseine.

….

The Duke allowed me to stay within his palace. The city was massive, harboring around a hundred thousand people. The city itself was built neighboring an ocean.

The city was surrounded by a series of fortifications, such as a moat, towers, and, of course, walls. The city harbored a double wall, and the outer layer was smaller than the inner. Allowing defending forces to retreat to the stronger inner layer, both layers had a moat to slow any attacking forces.

The palace itself was massive. How large exactly? I'm not sure. Gardens surrounded front and sides, with fountains capable of launching water high into hair.

The interior of the palace was not any less impressive, The palace ceiling was adorned with illustrations of places, people's and beings unknown to me

As I walk from the hallway to room to hallway, I'm bombarded by gold, marble, and paintings of scenes I don't know.

I was given a room on the third floor. Apparently, there were over a hundred and fifty rooms for visitors and guests.

"Thank you for your hospitality, your grace"

"No thank you for your assistance, Alex. You did more than I thought you were capable of. I heard from Leofric that you were able to behead an elf with a Javelin from tens of meters away during the night" Wessel said to me.

I looked over to Leofric, who was to the left of Wessel.

Brown haired, blue-eyed, a scar running through his left eye. Leaving an intimidating appearance.

He smiled at me when he saw me looking at him. I turned back to Wessel and said

"Yes, I am quite talented with a Javelin I had been practicing since childhood, my father would teach me."

"Alex, have you ever thought of joining a professional army? You are quite talented from what I heard of the soldiers taking part with you in the field."

"I must apologize to your grace. I do not intend to serve in such a profession, though I have great respect for all those who do. I feel as if it isn't my calling."

Wessel looked slightly disappointed, but he did not contest my decision. After a while of back and forth, eventually, time came to depart. I retired to the room I was given and slowly drifted to sleep.

….

The day came, and I had been informed that the building I was promised was ready. I was guided to it by Leofric.

The building was two stories. The first floor was shop with shelves to show off goods, and the back of the first floor consisted of a kitchen and storage unit. The second floor has two bedrooms and a laboratory with alchemical machinery.

"Thank you for guiding me Leo, send regards to his grace for his kindness."

"Of course, Alex, I'll personally tell Wessel"

His grace and Leo must be close for him to refer to the Duke in such a way?

Leo left me and returned his way to Wessel side.

I entered the shop and made my to the Laboratory, I had been wanting to test this since meeting the shady God and learning of mad doctor creating a homunculi.

The process would be the most complicated yet, but with the knowledge and ability provided with mad doctor essence, I have no chance for failure.

The process consisted of shaping clay into the ideal shape, blood of the desired species, and ritual circle.

I shaped the clay into a female form. Mature figure, shapely curves, decent chest. I used my blood to denote the race and species. Lastly, the ritual itself.

Creating the circle with black powder, I drew the Ouroboros dragon surrounding the clay structure. Marking the four cardinal directions.

After creating the circle, I performed the ritual. As the ritual continued I could see the clay structure taking form, its slowly changed from clay to skin, as the ritual continued the changes kept happening eventually by the end it had fully taken the form of a human woman.

The homunculus looked towards me and kneeled.

"Greetings, Master, your will is my command"

"Uhhh, just call me Alex. Being called Master is awkward."

It's strange to be called Master from someone, especially because such relationships between individuals were scrutinized in my previous world.

"Then, Master Alex."

"Not giving in, huh, Then what should I call you?"

She turned her head in confusion before saying.

"Mhm, please decide my name for me master"

"Alexandra? No, that's too similar, Alexa? No, not that either. All right, it's decided your name will be Miriam."

Sigh, my naming sense is terrible.

"So, with that out of the way, let's get on with your job interview. How good are you with Alchemy?"

"I have been imparted with all your knowledge related to Alchemy. Master Alex, since I was created for Alchemy specifically during my creation process"

"I see, then i'll need you to man the store and make the potions. i'll also help here and there"

It seems the purpose in the creation process of a homunculus relates to the skill and knowledge the homunculus is imparted with from the creator.

So, if I create a homunculus for combat, it will be imparted with my knowledge in combat.

I should try creating more homunculus in the future.

"Okay, Miriam, let me give you a tour of our home"

"Of course, Master Alex"

After that, I showed Miriam around the home. I then put her to work crafting potions while I went out to town.

Discovering the town. I went to the merchants to sell the fur from the warg. I was able to find a broker for a merchant, and he gave me three hundred raptures. The currency was called rapture in this place.

Three hundred was just a decent amount. Enough for a family to feed themselves for three months, not accounting taxes and other expenses, so more appropriately, probably. two months.

After traveling around the city. I learned their was no public library, only the universities had them, and the general public weren't allowed entry, only university students and faculty. Only university existed in Sanseine that was funded by the Duke himself.

I needed to get my hands on those books to learn both world history and of the magic in this world. Right now, I'm probably more uneducated than a peasant who never left his village.

So, I had to find a way to get a position as either a student or a member of the faculty. Or, on the other hand, I just sneak in and steal all their knowledge.

Plan two is decided.

Before we start on operation 'steal yo knowledge' I had to prepare and plan.

One, I had to get the layout of the university, so I actually know where I need to go. Two, I need to make some potions such as invisibility and sleeping potion. And poison potion in case of emergencies.

So, I went back home and ordered Miriam to make the potions needed while I scouted the university.

….

Two weeks went by, and the business was thriving. Apparently, adventurers exist in this fantasy world. The profession is difficult and always had the risk of death as if the sword of damocles was floating atop their head.

Not only was it popular with the adventurers. travelers, merchants, soldiers, guardsmen, and mercenaries were regular customers, too.

The deal with the Duke allowed us to make large sums as the Duke would regularly need large amounts of potions from us.

Nuff said I was filthy rich, is all.

As this business was thriving thanks to Miriam, I was planning the largest heist this city had ever seen.

I made a map of the university on some parchment I purchased from a merchant. The library was located on the left wing of the university main campus.

There was a back door into the library. However, it was guarded, as was all entry points. This meant I had to either find another way to sneak in or knock them out.

Which is what I planned to do, knock them out, of course.

Overlooking the university from atop the roof, the students left and went to their dorms. As the day was coming to a close.

Once it got dark enough, it was time for action. Looking below at the guard slowly drifted into sleep and out, I decided to help him out by making him have a good sleep.

As the potion landed on the ground and the glass broke, the liquid splashed on the guard, and he passed out with just a touch of liquid.

I drank the invisibility potion and got rid of my clothes going in nude. Only carrying a bag for the books and my belt which stored the potions. And no, I'm not a nudist. I tested the potions with Miriam and discovered the potion doesn't make the clothes invisible, so this is all for the mission, trust me.

As the guard passed out I went into the library, passed a few hallways until entering the main part with all the shelves of knowledge for me to steal.