Arthur spotted the beggar!
The beggar he had given "alms" to twice had somehow made his way to Kirk Street and appeared right across from his house!
Holding the wooden cup from Aivor's snack stall and the food basket from the White Rose Restaurant, the beggar sat below the steps across the street, stuffing food into his mouth while twisting his neck unnaturally. He looked a little dim-witted and a little mad.
Arthur saw all this through the peephole after quietly closing his front door.
Was it a coincidence that he followed me here?
Or have I gotten mixed up with another dangerous character?
Surely my luck isn't that good?
Arthur pondered this without taking his eyes off the beggar.
He kept watching even after the beggar had eaten his fill and lain down across the street, snoring away.
Arthur needed to observe him longer to determine whether his arrival was a coincidence or whether he had some other purpose.
Unfortunately, even after two hours, he had discovered nothing.
Judging by his behavior, the man was an ordinary beggar, no different from those who came to the Shire District from the other districts of South Los and might be driven away at any moment.
But Arthur did not give up.
He had considerable patience.
For that reason, he did not cook. Instead, he sat behind the door, chewing toast and drinking plain water.
He was preparing for a prolonged battle.
For Arthur, who had killed a supernatural being with malicious intentions just yesterday and a police chief today, even the slightest disturbance demanded vigilance.
Unless he wanted to die.
Time ticked by.
The beggar across the street was still snoring away.
Arthur, however, had gained something.
It had nothing to do with the beggar.
It was XP!
The Horn Newspaper's special edition had gone on sale and was spreading through South Los faster than Arthur had imagined.
Arthur was so certain because of the notification before his eyes-
[Published in the newspaper, your name and the so-called "curse" have drawn more attention, earning you some renown; XP +5]
Most people probably won't believe in this so-called "curse" until they see it for themselves. They're just enjoying the spectacle. But once the next special edition reveals that I exposed the Axe Murderer's true identity, and with Madam Caesar fanning the flames, my renown should soar dramatically and bring in a huge amount of XP!
Arthur was quite certain of that.
It was not just because of the momentum built up by the previous two special editions or Madam Caesar's efforts, but also because the Axe Murderer's true identity was none other than Police Chief Lark.
News like that would be explosive and eye-catching at any time.
Once published, it would cause a sensation.
But there were advantages and disadvantages.
He had killed Lark, one of South Los's seven police chiefs. Even with just cause, the remaining six would probably regard him with hostility.
They might even make trouble for him.
Arthur did not care. Given another chance, he would do the same thing.
After all, the man had already intended to kill him. If Arthur had still hesitated and held himself back, too afraid to act, he would have been courting death.
Of course, Arthur understood something else even more clearly: Lark's death had left the position of police chief in the Shire District vacant, which would inevitably bring a period of upheaval.
As the wealthiest and most unusual of South Los's five major districts, the Shire District surely had plenty of people eyeing its police chief's post. That position would occupy their attention.
Simply put, until a new police chief took office in the Shire District, Arthur would be quite safe, aside from a few minor problems he had already prepared for and could easily handle.
And once the Shire District had a new police chief?
I hope the Shire District's new police chief stays sensible!
With that thought, Arthur put his newly acquired 5 XP into [Basic Swordsmanship], raising it another level.
[Basic Swordsmanship Lv3: Prolonged practice and repeated actual combat have made your swordsmanship dangerous. The slightest lapse in your opponent's guard will expose them to your fatal strike.]
His body and knowledge synchronized once again. Arthur instinctively wanted to draw his sword and practice, but he could not do that while watching the beggar across the street. He could only suppress the urge, leaving his fingers trembling incessantly.
The feeling was deeply uncomfortable.
What made Arthur even more uncomfortable was that neither his [Physique] nor his [Spirituality] had increased this time, either.
Is [Basic Swordsmanship] at its current stage still unable to increase my 1.6 [Physique] or 0.1 [Spirituality]?
Despite gaining no attribute points from two consecutive level increases, Arthur did not give up. Instinct told him the next level of [Basic Swordsmanship] would bring a pleasant surprise.
He reflexively glanced at [Basic Swordsmanship Lv3 (0/10)], his heart full of anticipation.
At the same time, he felt a little dissatisfied regret.
It's a shame [Talents] can't be upgraded with XP. Otherwise, none of this would need to be so troublesome!
Arthur glanced at [Omniscient Cuisine], [Death Intuition], and [Remnant Dark Serpent].
Even setting aside [Omniscient Cuisine] and [Death Intuition]-
If he could upgrade [Remnant Dark Serpent] and obtain greater power, he would be able to do much more.
At the very least, he would not have to acquire XP as passively as he was now.
He could take the initiative instead!
For example, by blowing up the White Rose Restaurant.
Unfortunately, XP had its limitations. Or rather...
[Omniscient Cuisine] had its limitations!
Then what if [Omniscient Cuisine] itself advanced?
After all, he had only "taken" the [Herc White Silver Potion]!
Herke, Herke...
Repeating that unfamiliar name inwardly, Arthur decided to gather everything he could about the person without attracting attention.
For now?
Naturally, he would keep watching.
Time continued to pass.
Just before evening, the beggar who had slept all afternoon woke up and sat there blankly.
As dusk fell, Arthur saw Aivor returning after closing his stall.
Pushing his food cart along Kirk Street toward Dale Lane, Aivor was about to pass Arthur's front door. The stout owner clearly noticed the beggar sitting there vacantly and was going to keep pushing his cart onward, but after another two steps, he stopped.
Then he turned and doubled back.
He held one of his cheapest fried fish. Breaking it in two, he considered for a moment, then tossed the slightly smaller half into his own mouth and placed the larger half, which included the head, into the bowl in front of the beggar.
"You'd better leave. The patrolmen come around here after dark. They'll chase someone like you away, and you might even get a few blows."
With that, Aivor turned and continued pushing his cart.
But the beggar casually tossed aside the wooden cup and basket, both smeared with his own filth, then followed Aivor with his chipped bowl in hand and the fried fish between his teeth. He seemed drawn purely by the food. Even when Aivor noticed and scolded him, he paid no heed and merely grinned foolishly. As soon as Aivor turned to leave, he immediately followed again.
So it really was a coincidence that he followed me to Kirk Street at noon?
Watching the beggar recede into the distance, Arthur still did not lower his guard.
He even began to wonder whether Aivor had some connection to the man.
If anyone knew about Arthur's habit of "implicating the innocent," they would surely call him crazy.
But Arthur did not care.
It was precisely this sort of "craziness" that had kept him alive so long.
Unfortunately, accidents always struck when least expected.
That dump truck. Tch!
Arthur curled his lip. He swore that if he encountered one again, he would come through unscathed.
Of course, that did not apply only to accidents involving dump trucks.
There were other accidents, too-full of coincidences, with implications he could not afford to dwell on!
He would turn every danger into safety-
As long as he was strong enough!
After all, every accident stemmed from insufficient strength!
Strength! Strength! And more strength!
Arthur watched Aivor and the beggar walk away, his eyes flickering. Only after their figures disappeared did he turn his gaze to the notifications that had been flashing nonstop for a while.
Then his eyes filled with delighted surprise.
Before you continue