Buried Treasures and Demonic Whispers
Various weapons and armor lay scattered across the floor. Jewelry encrusted with huge gemstones. Piles of gold and silver bars both big and small. All of it stacked in front of their home.
Jeombaki gaped in shock. “I never imagined there was gold and silver in this world too.”
“There’s iron as well—what’s the big deal?”
“That looks like diamond, and over there are emeralds and jade.”
“Don’t get your hopes up. If anyone saw this, they’d think we were just some reckless bandits who never stole a single gem.”
“I’m just happy, that’s all. Happily happy.”
Of course. Discovering the same things in an entirely different world would make anyone grin like an idiot.
Jin Chen nodded. “Put the bracelets down. You don’t want to die, do you?”
“H-H-Hah. How did all this… end up here…”
“What the hell am I supposed to do with this idiot?”
Jin Chen’s narrowed brows made Jeombaki glance away. Then he spotted Gannon running toward them from afar, eyes sparkling.
“Master Gannon is coming!”
“You’re the best at spinning tales.”
“I humbly accept the praise.”
Jeombaki’s sly smile earned a chuckle from Jin Chen just as Gannon reached them.
“Hehe! ᨆᨉᜋᎏ!”
Gannon immediately cast the translation spell.
“Lord Jin, you have returned.”
“Where did you go?”
“I moved every orc weapon to the forge just in case. I went to check.”
“So you brought all of them back?”
“Yes! Would you like to see?”
Gannon handed the greatsword to Jin Chen.
The massive blade was coated in thick green rust everywhere.
Jin Chen examined it, then smiled faintly. “This is the sword the blacksmith used.”
“Is that so?”
“I hit it a few times before killing the owner, and it was surprisingly sturdy.”
“Probably because meteorite was mixed in, making it even harder.”
“It doesn’t look ordinary at all. Do mages know that kind of thing? Can you just look at it and know?”
“That’s not it. I once worked on artifact crafting and enchantment engraving, so I picked up a few things.”
Artifacts? Enchantments?
Jin Chen still didn’t quite understand the terms.
“So basically you know a lot, huh?”
“Yes! Yes!”
“Good. Since you started, go ahead and sort the rest of these.”
Jin Chen jerked his chin toward the pile. Gannon answered in a booming voice.
“I’ve already finished!”
“You’re pretty sharp.”
“I simply did what I could.”
The words felt almost too perfect, as if he’d rubbed his hands the whole time.
What a weird guy.
Jin Chen chuckled and stared at the greatsword in his hand. The stubborn green rust made him pour mana into it.
CRACK!
Clear sound as flakes of rust fell away. The greatsword now glowed with an unusual dark luster.
“Not bad.”
Jin Chen nodded and looked at Gannon.
“What else is there?”
“Ah! I sorted them so it would be easy to explain. Over there are the precious metals and gems, this side has high-grade weapons and armor, and this is the artifacts.”
“Artifacts?”
“Simple terms, think of anything enchanted with magic and you’ve got it.”
“Start explaining.”
“Yes! This is armor enchanted with shield magic, these shoes with speed magic, this staff with fire wall engraved on it, and this bracelet that translates.”
Gannon kept talking at lightning speed until Jin Chen cut him off.
“What did you just say?”
“Uh? The staff with fire wall engraved?”
“Next.”
“The bracelet that translates.”
Gannon flinched when Jin Chen repeated it, then quickly handed over the bracelet. Six small blue gems were set at even intervals into the iron band.
“How do I use it?”
“Basically… just say the word ‘thousand’ and the spell activates.”
“Just say the word?”
“Yes. The gems in the bracelet are low-grade mana stones, so no mana supply is needed.”
“Nice. I like it.”
“It’s not high-level, so I can only use it a few times a day for about five minutes.”
Gannon’s nervous fidgeting made Jin Chen grin.
“I’m not the one who’s gonna use it, so don’t worry.”
“Jeombaki, take this.”
“What is this?”
“A bracelet that translates. Just say the word and it’s easy to use.”
“Oh my! Thank you!”
“You know why I’m giving it to you?”
Jeombaki’s eyes lit up as he glanced at Gannon. Then he bowed deeply with a strange smile.
“Yes, Lord Jin!”
“Good. Next.”
“Eh? Ah! Yes.”
Gannon resumed explaining. Besides the translation ring, a few more items caught Jin Chen’s eye: a green-glowing bow, a giant double-headed axe, and two huge backpacks.
He handed the four items to Jeombaki.
“Are these artifacts expensive?”
“The price varies depending on what magic is enchanted into them, but since artifacts themselves are rare, the cost will be high.”
“Really? Then we can sell the rest.”
“S-Sell them?”
“Yeah. At a very high price.”
Jin Chen smiled oddly while staring at the shopkeeper among the men pushing the stones. Unlike their first meeting, the plump man now looked thin.
***
The next morning.
Inside the shop where the shopkeeper and workers were gathered.
“Tastes just like I imagined.”
“It really is too delicious.”
“I don’t get tired of it even if I eat it every meal!”
“I can see why nobles go crazy over this.”
Every eye turned to the dishes in their hands.
Today’s Kogirash meat had everyone spellbound again.
As they ate with blissful expressions, one of the younger workers cautiously spoke up.
“But why are they giving us such high-grade meat?”
“Shut up! Eat your food—where did that nonsense come from!”
“Someone shut that kid’s mouth.”
“Hey, look at me! Get up and work!”
Several older workers shot up from their seats. The young worker hurriedly shut his mouth.
Then, as if a thought struck him, he suddenly raised his hand.
“I-I’ve thought of something! There’s another reason they’re giving us such rare meat!”
Everyone fell silent and stared at him.
The young worker continued.
“To offer as a sacrifice?”
“What? Sacrifice?”
“That terrifying strength they used to wipe out the orcs! Do you really think a young man like that could muster it alone? There must be something behind it!”
The shopkeeper and workers froze.
“That’s true.”
The young worker raised his voice again.
“There’s another suspicious thing. Continent-wide, there are many people with black hair and black eyes—rarely mentioned anywhere.”
“That’s true.”
“I was pretty shocked the first time I saw them.”
“I’ve never seen anyone like that in my life!”
The workers nodded in agreement. The young worker nodded vigorously.
“Exactly! That fact surprised us! We need to focus on it. Think back— what happened in Dragon Mountain Range a thousand years ago?”
“The demon war, right?”
“But why does that matter?”
The young worker glanced around, then lowered his voice.
“What if the demons secretly left their seeds with humans back then? And what if those seeds grew in Dragon Mountain Range without anyone noticing for a thousand years?”
“Whoa! I just got chills. If it’s a new species created by the demons, then the strength, black hair, black eyes, and even the language they don’t understand—all of it makes sense!”
“This… could really be true? There could be dark humans just like dark elves?”
“Then… is it to fatten us up?”
Everyone’s minds flashed with one thought.
Demon summoning.
“If that’s the case, what do we do?”
“What do we do? We just die.”
“We barely survived the orcs—how can we die like this? Never!”
Most workers shifted nervously.
“But… can we even summon demons with just us?”
“They say it requires tons of sacrifices.”
“Fattening us up sounds the same. Demons don’t just want souls, do they? I heard that.”
“Offering us feels like we’re being neglected.”
“And we can’t understand them. They don’t seem like bad bandits.”
“I thought the same thing!”
“That’s what those demons are after……”
The young worker’s expression turned desperate. He reached toward the door, shouting, then froze.
His fingers were perfectly resting against the doorframe—Jin Chen standing there with arms crossed and a smirk.
Jin Chen uncrossed his arms and walked over, placing a hand on the young worker’s shoulder.
“Hearing that, I really want to see how demons look and how strong they are. How… shall I start by offering you as a sacrifice?”
Gannon’s translation made the young worker tremble and stutter.
“Hic! Hic!”
“Kid, shut up and sleep.”
Jin Chen chuckled and glanced at the shopkeeper sitting to the side.
The shopkeeper stood up quickly, looking tense.
“Load up the wagons. We’re leaving right now.”