Chapter 39
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: Empty the Bottles and Fill the Stamina
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A temporary rest spot discovered by the rat.
An old carpet lay on the floor there.
Lord Mancha swept the carpet aside with a flick—revealing a square door.
Or perhaps "iron plate lid" was a better description?
"This was the only spot where the floor sounded different."
Creak—. Creak—.
It was somewhat rusted, as if no human hand had touched it in ages.
Heaving it up with all his might revealed a pit someone had dug and a chest inside.
"Oh! A locked chest!"
It was the kind of chest that screamed it was stuffed full of valuables, no matter who looked.
Baturi poked my side.
"This is the good news I wanted to tell you about."
A hidden chest!
Even in this situation, the thought of raking in a ton of Ether made my heart pound.
He glanced at me slyly—.
"Whether it'll really turn into money is something we won't know until we open it, though."
"Us experts can tell at a glance. This is a big score."
"A big one?"
"See how that lock has three keyholes? Why else lock a chest with something that sturdy?"
I jammed a lockpick into the lock.
「Would you like to attempt to unlock it?」
「Cost: 1,000 Ether」
「Success rate: Less than 1%」
Clunk—!
The sound of mechanisms releasing, and the tightly shut lock sprang open.
The hefty lock in my hand felt pretty damn good.
"Hoo, unlocking something like that in one go. The squad leader's got some fine skills."
"Hehe, even Lord Mancha has the experience to recognize that!"
"So, what's inside the chest, exactly!"
Even Lord Mancha, who seemed above material greed, was snorting with excitement.
I was dying to know what was in there myself.
"Alright, let's take a look."
Creak—.
The chest opened with a rusty hinge squeal, revealing a mass of red inside.
Glass vials filled with red liquid, packed to the brim.
Just as I wondered what it was, Lord Mancha gasped in shock.
"These are all 'Red Potions,' aren't they! And so many of them!"
Red Potions?
The ones Felix used last time?
How much did he say each one went for—.
"Forty vials! About a million Ether each, so forty million total!"
"…Ten million each!?"
The haul exceeded my wildest expectations—my heart felt like it might burst!
Still, just to be sure there wasn't more, I checked and spotted a note.
「To Madam Edmond.」
「I've siphoned off one bottle each from the sewer guard supplies.」
「Quality guaranteed—the old man at 100 would see his son again.」
「Just send the payment.」
"Guess even regular guards got Red Potions back in the Empire's golden age."
Baturi marveled.
"Ahem! How about we split them evenly?"
Everyone nodded at the eldest's suggestion.
I was satisfied too.
'Though it's hardly fair at all.'
Ten Red Potions, plus I snagged the 'lock' to boot.
No one seemed to realize this sturdy lock was a pretty valuable collectible itself.
'I spent my Ether to pick the lock, so a little side income like this is fair game, right?'
Heh heh heh—.
Snagging these little extras was the true thrill of being a thief.
Rest was sweet, but eventually, we had to get moving.
While we lounged here, the main force was out there dancing with maggot-ridden Akams.
"Just a few more walls from here, and we'll reach the... lord's chamber. I saw it with 'Rat's Eye,' so it's definite."
According to the rat, there was a room nearby where the 'lord' resided.
We crossed the walls through 'rat holes.'
Whoosh—.
What an insanely good blessing.
And so we arrived at the lord's chamber.
Roooar—.
Dirty water spewed from drains all around, pooling in the center.
Fortunately, it wasn't rising—the water only came up to our ankles.
In the middle of that round open space.
An Erdari reeking of rot sat on a throne made of bones, eyes closed.
"That bastard hasn't noticed us yet."
Was it sleeping?
Did corpses even sleep?
Lord Mancha whispered so softly it was barely audible.
"I hear Erdari have senses sharp like wild beasts. A trap, perhaps?"
A trap?
No, I saw it differently.
That thing was definitely dulled by the constant water sounds and rotting corpse stench all around.
"This is our chance."
Starting the fight with a 'surprise attack' was a huge advantage.
Talk about good luck.
"Alright, before battle begins, let me bless your weapons."
Baturi placed his hands on Lord Mancha's lance, my throwing knives, and the rat's staff, then prayed.
Whoosh—.
Weapons glowing with radiant light.
"...Warm?"
"The blessing of light has an effect similar to an 'Ether Torch' on its own. Naturally, it's great against those corrupted by the Night Land."
Baturi, this guy.
Why was he so damn helpful?
'At this rate, model student Baturi's gonna steal all my points.'
Ahem—.
I cleared my throat and held out my palm.
"Then let's coat them in my blood too. They say it's effective against corpses."
"N-no thanks. Rat Ferry hates it..."
The rat recoiled in horror.
Combat prep was more or less done.
"Alright, rat, got any powerful spells?"
"Nope."
Best to kick off a surprise attack with a strong skill.
As I racked my brain for ideas, Baturi raised his hand.
"Then how about I invoke 'Divine Punishment'?"
He raised his mace high and chanted.
─Grant us light to banish the darkness.
Boom—!
Thunder roared through the dry air.
A yellow flash streaked down like lightning, striking the rotting Erdari.
Crackle—!
A brutal shock.
My body hair stood on end.
"Charge!"
No time for admiration—Lord Mancha gripped his lance and charged the Erdari.
The Erdari on the bone throne spat rotten blood and rose.
"What the—? How'd you get all the way here?"
Shing—.
It drew a sword shaped like a human spine from its belt and smirked.
"I'll make the men my minions and eat the priest."
"Thrust!"
Lord Mancha drove his lance at the Erdari with all his might.
In an instant, the Erdari swung its blade lightly—.
Whoosh, clang—!
A motion as casual as swatting a fly—but.
"Urk!"
Lord Mancha hit the ground hard, as if the weight meant nothing.
'Is this for real?'
How could a twig-thin body like that pack such power!
The Erdari licked its lips.
"Lately, Rendo don't know who I am? I'm the 134th Ascendant—wait, what was my name? I forget..."
The Erdari scratched its head with its fingers.
Splurt, drip—.
Brains oozed from its rotting skull, but it didn't seem to care.
'Now!'
I hurled a throwing knife at the opening while it dug at its brain.
Whoosh, crunch—!
The knife pierced right between its eyes.
"Gaaargh!"
The Erdari screamed, spewing black blood.
"Guh... What is this, poison?"
Sure enough, the upgraded Lv.3 Serpent's Blood worked on Akams!
"How's my blood taste!"
"Heh heh, good poison. To dull all my senses like this and still make me feel such exquisite pain?"
But—.
This psycho Erdari grinned like it was enjoying my poison.
"I'll sink my fangs in your neck and drain you dry!"
—What!?
The mad Erdari lunged at me.
Splash splash—.
So fast it looked like it was running on water.
"Kaaah!"
Fangs reached for my neck.
Oh no, I'm done for, my blood's as good as gone—when.
"Necklace—?"
It froze.
Then it clutched its head and started screaming!
"—Bring the necklace...? No! No! Get out of my head!"
Shing, shing—!
Now it swung its blade wildly in all directions.
Like it was dancing.
"I'm Shando's Ascendant! Not your damn collectible! Aaaargh!!!"
Slash, slash—.
The wall sliced like tofu, and Lord Mancha's thick lance was sheared clean in half.
"My steel lance...!?"
Clang—!
Even my precautionary throwing knife bounced off its mystical sword aura.
"Aaagh!"
Then the Erdari slashed the rat.
The rat's left arm flew off with a splurt—but as Baturi reached to heal, his hand got sliced off too.
"Kyaa!"
This wrist-slicing maniac bastard!
"Gaaah! Ugh, huff, m-my, my hand...!"
The rat scooped up its severed hand.
It tried attaching it to the stump and grabbing a Red Potion from its belt, but one hand made it clumsy.
"M-my haaand... Why won't it stiiiick!!!"
The rat teetered on the edge of passing out.
"Kyaaa!"
Priest Baturi clutched his wrist, screaming nonstop.
Beside them, the mad Erdari clawed at its head in frenzy.
"Uwaaah! Shut up! Shut up! Get out of my head! Uwaaaah!"
A sight that'd drive anyone insane just watching!
Lord Mancha slapped my shoulder.
"Squad leader, we gotta admit the plan failed! Let's retreat for now!"
"Leave them behind?"
"We'll die trying to save them by force!"
He was right!
But abandoning comrades I'd grown attached to... my feet wouldn't move.
Plus, the biggest reason I couldn't just run.
'Fail the mission here, and my top-five graduation goal's toast!'
What the hell do I do!
Only my blood can land solid hits.
Throwing knives just bounce off.
"Ughhh, don't leave me...!"
Baturi's eyes met mine.
Eyes full of desperate will to live.
Those glassy eyes shining in the dark!
"Ah! Glass!"
A brilliant idea flashed in my mind.
"Lord Mancha, give me all your remaining potions!"
"What? You thief, still greedy at a time like this! Fine! Take 'em all—just run!"
"That's not it!"
I spilled one Red Potion on the ground and slashed my wrist with a throwing knife.
Splash—.
Blood poured out.
I filled the empty glass vial with it and hurled it.
"Die!"
Slash—!
The mad Erdari cleaved the vial.
But the liquid inside splashed across its face.
Splash—.
Sizzle—.
"Gaaaaaaaah!!!!"
"Fuck! How's that taste, you demon scum!"
Cathartic as hell—tears streamed down anyway!
These are million-Ether bullets!
Who knows how many it'll take to drop this corpse demon—I'm going insane over the cost!
Seeing my tears, Lord Mancha's face turned serious.
"Those tears... pure concern for your comrades! Makes me ashamed!"
He set his weapon down.
Tears streaming, he charged the Erdari.
"I'll hold this bastard somehow—hit it with the vials, quick!"
"Reeeah!"
I used Shadow Companion in the brief opening.
Two shadows hurling poison vials doubled the attack.
My poison damage boosted by the 20-year Breakthrough Stone to boot!
My head spun from blood loss, but chugging a Red Potion restored my strength.
"Empty the bottles, fill the stamina! I'm a genius!"
"Grah!"
"Squad leader! It's working! The thing's losing strength fast!"
"Guh... grrr..."
The corpse Erdari melted into tatters, exposing bare bones.
The frenzied beast dropped to one knee and slumped.
"...I remember... I, my name is... Shando's... Ballarada."
Thud—.
Down went the Erdari.
"Fuck off! Never cared about your name!"
I rummaged the Erdari's corpse.
In its pouch: refinement stones for gear upgrades and a key!
Refinement stones!
As I thrilled over them, Lord Mancha shouted even happier.
"That bone key should open the bone chest over there!"
While my shadow supported the rat and Baturi—.
I slotted the key from the Erdari's pouch into the corner bone chest.
Click—.
The lock released smoothly.
Opening it—flash! Dazzling gold shot toward the ceiling.
Craaaack—!
It formed a pillar-like shape.
What the—? The rat, clutching its severed hand and grimacing, forgot the pain, face lighting up as it spat excitedly.
"G-g-golden light pillar!!! That means it's got something insanely good inside!!!"