Chapter 130
Chapter 130
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 130
Chapter Title: Taming the Robe
-----------------------------------------------------------------
While heading to District 6 to acquire another hidden piece...
“But hey, number one, what’s this even for? I can’t figure it out no matter how I look at it.”
Thompson asked out of the blue.
In Thompson’s hand were two golden rings.
“Oh.”
Come to think of it, I’d distributed them but hadn’t explained.
“Those are artifacts called [Rings of Oath].”
“Artifacts?”
[Rings of Oath].
They were rare-grade, and the usage was simple.
You each take one ring, state the contract terms with the other party, and it activates.
If the contract is broken, it delivers a powerful electric shock to the violator.
Of course, this artifact worked even if the target wasn’t human.
In other words, it could be used on artifacts with egos too.
“......Is that for real? It’ll actually work?”
“Don’t believe me? Give it a try.”
“Alright, got it.”
After I explained the usage in detail, Thompson nodded with a resolute expression.
He then headed straight for the neatly folded robe.
I followed and picked up the robe too.
[Heeeng! What nonsense are you up to now! You think I’ll fall for such tricks?!]
Even before starting, complaints poured from the robe.
Thompson ignored it and opened his mouth.
“Swear obedience to me for a hundred years, and after the contract, I’ll grant you freedom. Oh robe!”
Then.
[Puhuhu... A hundred years? You see me as a total sucker! Do I look that pathetic to you?!]
Flutter! Flutter!
The robe threw a fit, flapping in rage.
No surprise—it was an absurd condition.
But.
Thwack!
Thompson had no intention of making a fair deal from the start.
With flesh-morphing magic on his right hand, Thompson began pummeling the robe outright.
And he repeated the same words.
“Swear obedience to me for a hundred years, and I’ll grant you freedom. Oh rooobe!”
[Wh-what is this...?!]
Thwack!
[Kuaaaak!]
No blood or gore flew, but it was a brutal scene.
The robe’s screams went on endlessly, and I gripped it tighter with every wail.
“Hold it firm, number one!”
“Yes!”
Thwack!
Even after a long while.
[You bastards... I’ll never forget this humiliation! I’ll make you pay, so prepare yourselves!!]
Flutter...! Flutter...!
It could barely hold itself together, yet showed no will to submit.
As Thompson had said, its stubbornness was no joke.
Then, Thompson let out a world-weary sigh.
“Whew, no good. Number one.”
“Giving up already?”
“No choice. It won’t listen even if it dies.”
“Still...”
“We’ll have to dispose of it.”
“Huh? Dispose?”
That’s when.
Snip! Snip! Snip...!
A metallic sound rang out from behind out of nowhere.
Turning around, there stood Barundel holding enormous shears.
The blades gleamed sharp enough to cut steel.
“When did you even...?”
“Made ’em just now. Dwarves are pros at tailoring too.”
“Dwarf sir. Cover the rear.”
“Leave it to me. Miss Kayla!”
“Yes, let’s go.”
Whoosh!
At Barundel’s signal, Kayla ignited a blaze.
A fierce fire, visibly scorching hot.
I watched to see what they were planning, then froze in shock.
Sizzle!
Barundel was heating the shears with Kayla’s fire magic.
No need to ask what for.
I quickly grasped the situation and stoked the robe’s fear.
“Hey robe, you gonna be okay...?”
[You crazy bastards! Let go! Let this go right now!]
“No can do. Sorry about that, robe.”
[Uwaaaaa!]
Step, step, step.
Sizzle!
Barundel, shears now red-hot, advanced slowly, snipping the air.
His expression was so terrifying it sent chills down my spine.
“Heh heh heh, oh robe. I’ll rebirth you in a finer form.”
[N-no! No need for that! Get away! Get awaaay!]
Sizzle!
The instant the searing shears neared the robe.
[Stoooop!!]
With the robe’s howl, everyone’s movements halted abruptly.
Only then did the robe speak in a sobbing, relieved voice.
[I... I’ll do it. The contract.]
The ego robe bought from the black market.
That was the moment we secured its obedience for a hundred years.
***
“Ehehehe...”
Thompson let out sleazy chuckles now and then.
Though forced by threats, he seemed thrilled about the robe contract.
“That happy about it?”
“Of course. Who gave me this gift? Heh heh heh, finally got something useful!”
“......Glad to hear it. Suits you well.”
“Yeah?”
Not empty words.
Broad-shouldered Thompson in a perfect-fitting mage robe looked more reliable than ever.
And with the contract, its performance would surely shine.
Anyway.
“We’re already here.”
We’d passed District 7 and entered District 6.
A place you could call our hometown, in a way.
This time, we’d collect the hidden piece here.
“But there’s really a hidden item here? With all these people around...”
“They’re everywhere. Just tricky activation conditions keep anyone from finding them.”
“True, the first one was like that.”
The first item Thompson mentioned: [Elixir of Mana Regeneration].
He’d already explained how he got it.
Filled a puddle with demon goblin blood, covered it with nearby weeds, and chanted the incantation.
The others were similar.
Navigating hidden underground traps or cooperating with others to unlock mechanisms.
Most couldn’t be obtained normally.
So others likely didn’t even know hidden pieces existed.
‘As expected.’
My hunch proved right again.
Reflecting District 6’s sunlight with a mirror onto a specific spot revealed a new space that hadn’t been there before.
Rumble!
From it, we retrieved our target hidden piece.
A flask shaped like a gourd, filled with iridescent liquid.
[Junior Growth Potion].
Usable only before level 20, it raised a player character’s level by 1.
Most importantly.
‘My current level is 19.’
Exactly what I needed right now.
I claimed it immediately and told the group.
“I’ll take this one.”
“Oh! Finally grabbing one for yourself?”
“Yeah, I need it. Only I can use it anyway.”
“What’s the effect?”
Pop!
Instead of answering, I uncorked the flask.
“You’ll see.”
Then downed the liquid in one go.
Gulp, gulp.
“Ugh... tastes like total shit.”
Awful flavor, but the effect was real.
Right after swallowing, an inexplicable fullness welled up inside.
Soon.
Fwoosh!
In an instant, green light enveloped my body.
A welcome sight, no matter how many times.
I’d finally hit level 20.
Thompson, who’d seen this phenomenon countless times, backed away trembling.
His hands shook—he was genuinely shocked.
“N-no way...? Did your soul just grow?”
“Yeah, pretty much.”
“An item like that exists...? Never heard of it.”
“It’s rare. Wouldn’t work on anyone but someone like me anyway.”
NPCs drink it and nothing happens.
No levels for them.
Only players benefit.
So I drank without hesitation.
‘......Finally level 20.’
I’d reached the long-awaited level 20.
But for some reason.
It didn’t sit entirely right.
I knew exactly why.
‘Too slow.’
This unease stemmed from my leveling speed being too sluggish.
More precisely, my realm advanced faster than my levels could keep up.
‘Abnormal, totally abnormal.’
7th circle realm, yet only level 20?
I’d raised countless characters, but never this unbalanced.
The cause? Obviously my ‘mythic trait.’
‘......Realm shoots up thanks to the trait, but levels lag behind?’
No matter how fast the realm grows, without levels to back it, efficiency suffers.
Time to fix this chronic issue.
Maintain realm growth speed while skyrocketing level-ups.
Fortunately, a solution came to mind.
‘Next up: Alvheim.’
Alvheim.
A mystical land where elves and nature dwelled in harmony.
Our next destination was set.
***
Meanwhile, in Alvheim on the western continent.
Always serene and peaceful, yet today the atmosphere felt off.
Birds, beasts, spirits—all silent, holding their breath, watching the elves.
Bam!
Elder elf Ervehim slammed the table, veins bulging on her forehead.
“Those stupid dwarf bastards...!”
Her rage was simple.
Kazandur, the continent right next to Alvheim.
The dwarves there were steadily expanding territory.
Encroaching on Alvheim’s land.
“Have those thick-skulled idiots forgotten the peace treaty? We agreed never to invade each other’s territory, no matter what!”
“We mentioned that, but... they said they absolutely can’t back down for some reason, Elder.”
“Some reason?”
At her subordinate’s report, Elder Ervehim’s pointed ears twitched.
A habit unique to her when furious.
“There’s no ‘reason’ that excuses breaking the peace treaty. It must be upheld unconditionally. Isn’t that right?”
Realizing his slip, the subordinate bowed deeply in shame.
“Y-yes, you’re right.”
“We can’t keep letting them encroach. Right?”
“......Y-yes. Exactly. We must make an example now.”
“Good, you think so too.”
Twitch twitch!
Ervehim’s ears trembled rapidly.
Truth be told, she was tense too.
This decision could cause massive casualties.
For elves and dwarves alike.
But no choice.
She was an elder elf.
With them invading elven territory, she had to act decisively.
“They must be prepared for this too.”
Finally, Ervehim declared with resolve.
“Prepare. We’ll make those shorties feel nature’s wrath!”
A call to prepare for war with the dwarves.
This war would likely end only when one race—dwarves or elves—vanished.