Extra's Perfect Ending

Chapter 117: Sneaking in

Theia looked at the papers again, considering how she and Hilda should proceed. It was the various information about Ulla’s manor that Hone had prepared for them.

After a long consideration and the idea sound from both HIlda and Theia, They decided it would be best to sneak in at night, if they were going to find something on Ulla, the cover of darkness would be their best bet.

The operation began after the sun had set.

Hilda and Theia arrived at the manor in the central district. Owning property here meant having substantial wealth and connections, as the area was packed with tall buildings designed to maximize space. The street was adjacent to the main road, a prime spot for transportation and other conveniences.

By contrast, Theia’s home, on the outskirts of Lememore, wasn’t nearly as convenient, and living in the central district would cost far more.

The manor’s walls were built with stone and brick, quite high, with a pointed fence on top meant to deter intruders. Guards patrolled the premises regularly, while two were always stationed at the front.

"So, are we going in like this? Or should we wait a bit?" Theia asked Hilda, who was wearing a hood. Theia pulled her own hood down to hide her face.

"Based on the information Holen provided, we should be able to sneak into the garden when the guards change shifts."

Theia sighed deeply but said nothing. Hilda noticed her reaction and asked, "Are you feeling alright?"

"No, no, I’m fine..." Theia replied, looking at Hilda. "It’s just that yesterday we were fighting a demon, and now we’re sneaking into another potential demon’s lair... And this time, Reeva isn’t here to help."

Hilda gazed at Theia for a moment before asking, "Miss Theia, have you been training?"

"Yeah... but..."

"You still have me. Believe it or not, I’m the mystic here, not Master," Hilda said in her usual deadpan tone. Theia chuckled lightly, realizing she was worrying about Reeva when she had a third-circle mystic who specialized in killing right beside her.

"I’m sorry. This operation will go smoothly with you... and me!" Theia said, her confidence boosted. She raised her small hand with as much cheer as she could muster, still a little hesitant, but determined nonetheless.

Hilda glanced away briefly, hiding a small smile. She quickly returned to her serious demeanor as the guards began switching places.

They were currently on the third floor of a nearby building. No matter how high the manor’s walls were, they couldn’t be taller than the manor itself or the surrounding structures. Building walls that high would be costly and would also ruin the aesthetic of a beautiful manor—something a wealthy person would want to avoid.

For that reason, Hilda had found the perfect vantage point to observe the manor. Every place has some vulnerability. Even the most guarded location or system is often undone by human error. And what could be a more tedious job than walking the same path every day for eight hours straight?

Maybe the guards would catch a thief or two while patrolling, but that would only happen if the thief was either desperate or not thinking clearly. It was easy money, but eventually, complacency would set in.

Judging by their posture, Hilda could tell the guards were relaxed. It wasn’t just because the sun had gone down; it was nearly time for their shift change. Hilda had trained to notice these differences as a personal maid of House Antores.

"It’s time," Hilda whispered.

Theia got the signal and ran down from the building along with Hilda. They needed to move fast to avoid the patrol. During the shift change, there was a brief gap in which they could sneak past and get to the wall of the house.

Both of them wore leather pants for this mission; their usual maid skirts and noble dresses were ill-suited for such a task.

The guards patrolling the manor’s perimeter had a small gap in their route. Normally, two guards walked in opposite directions around the manor, each constantly on the lookout for anything unusual.

However, during the shift change, the new guards didn’t start at the same point where the old shift ended, leaving some spots unchecked for a few moments. These spots were quickly covered by the new patrolling team, but there was always a slight delay. No one wants to work full hours if they can slack off a bit.

The new shift guards were likely to arrive a little late for their garden check-up, and the duo of girls could use that time.

Hilda quickly set up a rope, hurling it over the wall and catching it on the fence. Like a nimble cat, she scaled the wall using the rope. When she reached the top, she glanced around to confirm no one was nearby. Once she was sure, she reached down, grabbed Theia’s hand, and pulled her up and over the wall.

They landed on a patch of grass inside the manor grounds. Theia looked a bit nervous, but she followed Hilda with determination. They needed to move fast. Their infiltration was a success, but now they had to get into the main building, which had more surveillance than the outside.

At this time of night, the manor would be cleaned by servants, meaning more eyes could spot two shady figures wandering around. Their plan was simple: avoid entering through the front or back gates.

They needed to enter through the wine cellar door—a slanted door at a 45-degree angle that led underground into the cellar where most nobles stored their finest wines for social gatherings.

Soon, the duo found the wine cellar door. Hilda only needed a moment to pick the lock before it opened.

"Look out for me"

Hilda opens his bag of infiltration gear. little needle and handle to pick the locks. Theia nervously peeks around the corner to survey the guard who is about the guard the new shift. Her eyes peel on the moving gaud that is half dozing off starting the patrol a the start of the night.