The Mage's Hidden Trove
The Treasure Island party watched the small cabin cautiously.
“What is this place?” Pinara voiced her curiosity about the sudden cabin, unaware of its significance.
Naturally, Seojun knew thanks to his Super Sense. This was undoubtedly the home of the dungeon's owner, the mage. And fortunately, there were no signs of life. The mage had either gone out or was already dead.
“Let's head into the cabin. But everyone, stay quiet.”
At his command, the party entered the cabin. Inside the modest structure, furniture covered in thick dust—bed, desk, dining table, cooking stove—hinted at a simple one-room setup where a single person had once lived.
The party members began carefully inspecting the cabin, and Dmitri shouted upon discovering something.
“Seojun!”
At her call, Namgung Seojun moved to her side, where a small pouch lay.
“It's a pouch full of gems.”
When she opened it to show him, it brimmed with diamonds, sapphires, rubies, emeralds—gems large and small filling the tiny bag.
“This must be worth quite a bit.”
“At least ten thousand gold? Probably more.”
“Not a bad haul, right?”
As the party admired the gem pouch, they figured this was the treasure of Treasure Island. It wasn't some overwhelming fortune, but it was still an impressive gain.
While the others were distracted by the gems, Namgung Seojun felt something was missing.
There has to be more.
His Super Sense strongly signaled additional hidden treasures, and this was a mage's home. There had to be something concealed. He began searching the cabin more thoroughly.
“Huh? Keep searching?”
“Let's look around some more.”
The rest of the party joined him, scouring the place again.
As Namgung Seojun moved about inspecting the cabin—
Thud. He sensed a subtly different sound from the floor in the corner.
Here it is!
He tapped the spot with his hand to confirm, then turned to Pinara, who was right beside him.
“Pinara, smash this floor section with your blunt weapon.”
“Yes.”
Following his order, Pinara struck the floor hard. With a crack, it shattered, revealing hidden stairs.
“A secret passage!”
Pinara shouted excitedly, and the party gazed at it with pounding hearts.
Confirming with his Super Sense that it was safe, Seojun descended first. Even so, they proceeded cautiously, wary of potential mage traps or attacks. The rest followed, and at the bottom lay a small library filled with books.
“Hold up.”
He halted the party and checked the underground area alone. In the center of the library sat a desk with a white skeleton perched at it. Visually confirming, then double-checking with Super Sense—
All clear.
Namgung Seojun finished his sweep and announced, “Safe area. Search it.”
Relieved, the party began roaming the library like kids hunting treasure.
“What? Just a ton of books?”
“Experiment tools? An alchemist maybe?”
“Definitely a mage who dabbled in alchemy.”
While they poked around, Seojun headed to the desk at the far end. There sat the skeleton in robes—the presumed owner of the cabin and the mage. He'd been writing something right up to the end: his diary.
He foresaw his own death and wrote this.
The mage, anticipating death from old age, had penned his final diary entry and passed away at that desk.
Over a hundred years ago? And a 6-circle mage?
From the diary, Namgung Seojun gleaned that the mage was a 6-circle practitioner, along with a few other details.
As he read and absorbed the info, the other party members gathered worthwhile books from the shelves.
“Leader, we found a few magic skillbooks here.”
Left by the mage, they included several spells up to 5th circle.
“And a bunch of reagents over here?”
The alchemist-mage had stockpiled expensive materials too.
“Plenty of good stuff scattered around.”
The party meticulously collected everything of value from the library.
While Namgung Seojun and the warrior party members explored the cave, interim party leader Gisohee led the others to the coastal cliff where the boats were.
“They're doing fine, right? Safe?”
As she voiced her slight unease, Pharos chuckled beside her.
“Worried?”
“Well, uh...”
Pharos reassured her to ease her mind. “The leader's incredible. I've seen plenty of adventurers, but no one with senses like his. Don't worry.”
Gisohee thought, Yeah, it's Seojun. I should trust him.
As Gisohee and the party waited at the coastal cliff—rumble... rumble rumble! Crack... crackle crackle!—part of the cliff shook and began to split.
“Whoa...”
Gisohee and the others watched in mild surprise as the cliff parted like gates, and a boat emerged from within.
“We're out!”
Dmitri bellowed from the bow, and only then did Gisohee and the rest realize it was the dungeon team with Namgung Seojun aboard.
Once the small boat returned everyone to the Prokho, Namgung Seojun summarized in front of the captain and party members.
“The dungeon belonged to a 6-circle mage. We got some decent skillbooks and various valuables.”
They'd hauled out key items: gold, gems, reagents—all sellable. The skillbooks stood out most, a whopping seven of them, commanding the highest value.
Oh... this place?
Pharos eyed the spoils, particularly the mage's diary, with keen interest. His gaze shifted as he discreetly pocketed it.
.....
Their eyes met for a moment. Pharos gave an awkward smile and a subtle request; Seojun, having already read it all, pretended not to notice.
In the captain's quarters, the regular party members and Captain Kang Inho gathered for settlement.
“Party leader, I've tallied it up.”
Kang Inho and the crew had neatly sorted the loot: gems and reagents worth about 12,000 gold, plus the seven skillbooks.
It was a massive 12,000-gold haul, but to party members who'd struck bigger jackpots before, it felt routine. Still, Lee Guho openly showed his greed in front of everyone.
“All seven magic skillbooks—I want them. I'll buy them outright.”
Three were spells he could learn immediately; the other four were high-circle ones he couldn't yet, but even more valuable. That's why he was pushing.
Namgung Seojun turned to the party. “He wants to buy them. Sell at a fair price? Any objections?”
All agreed. It was the core attacker Lee Guho asking, and he'd pay separately—no reason to refuse.
Seojun mediated the price. “I don't know the exact value, but at least 50,000 gold each? What do you think?”
Everyone nodded. Pharos and the captain figured more, but stayed quiet.
Price set. “I'll pay 50,000 gold right now.”
Lee Guho had over 50,000 in personal funds. He paid on the spot and tucked the seven skillbooks away.
Treasure Island's total profit hit 62,000 gold instantly. Leto the lizardman and Li Zhangwei, having opted out of 30-40 floor shares, were excluded from distribution. The rest, including Captain Kang Inho, split it per the agreed rates.
“As expected of Seojun! Amazing!”
Dmitri beamed most happily, and the others deemed it a solid adventure.
Settlement done, Namgung Seojun addressed the regular members and Captain Kang Inho. “Our travel time's dragged on too long.”
All nodded, though unconcerned.
“It's fine. We've had good times.”
“I liked it.”
“Even if it took longer, adventures like this? Welcome anytime. Heh heh heh.”
The captain had planned six months from 30th to 40th floor. They'd been sailing over a year now. Considering the distance left, they were way behind.
Yet the immense profits from adventuring with Namgung Seojun's party left everyone—members and captain alike—satisfied.
“Still, let's push ahead faster now.”
Adventure and income were great, but the delay nagged at him. Namgung Seojun proposed speeding up, and Captain Kang Inho plus the party all agreed.