Mysteries of the Imperial Treasury

The Imperial Treasury of the palace ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠had been bustling just moments ago with the clatter of carriages and the jangle of knights' armor, but after the main gate shut, an uncomfortable silence blanketed everything.

"The floor here looks super expensive, you know..." Yaruru whispered from beside me.

"The palace floor tiles are pricier than your average artifact." Yaruru let out a small gasp at my reply. One of the attendants glanced our way. Was he the one guiding us?

"Chase Roman, Lady Yaruru. I'll escort you to the Imperial Merit Registry."

His posture was polite but stiff, and Yaruru straightened up, pressing close to my side.

"Chase."

"Yeah?"

"If I trip here, do I have to pay for it, you know...?"

"...Nah, you won't."

Just as I started wondering if bringing her along was a mistake—watching her dart her eyes around nervously—the attendant stopped in front of a door.

The door swung open to reveal a few desks, mana panels, crystal orbs, and neatly arranged metal trays of unknown purpose.

'Not quite what I pictured.'

"It's different from what I imagined, you know..."

One man rose from his seat upon seeing us.

"Chase Roman. Shall we proceed with registering your pre-applied Imperial Merit Points?"

"Yes."

I sat before the registrar, who lifted a metal tray and a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠slender needle.

"This artifact is linked to the imperial records via blood authentication."

"Gotta draw blood?"

"One drop suffices."

I extended my fingertip. A sharp prick, and a red droplet welled up.

"Let it fall onto the tray."

Plip.

The blood hit the metal, sending a faint glow rippling out as red runes spread. They soon appeared on the crystal orb too, morphing into orderly text.

"Chase Roman, registration complete."

Hesitating a moment, I spoke up as he tidied the tools.

"Um... could I register merit points received under another name right now too?"

His hands paused. He eyed me intently.

"Another name, you say?"

"Yes."

I pulled out my mana panel, showing the merit points transferred to GameMakerCute and the authentication screen linking it to my real name.

"Please wait a moment."

He raised an eyebrow, then fiddled with a panel beside him.

Knock knock.

Soon another person entered the registry. He silently alternated between my panel and the orb's records.

Whisper whisper—

As they murmured, Yaruru tugged my sleeve.

"Chase."

"Yeah?"

"This feels kinda sketchy, you know..."

Fair enough—even I wasn't totally at ease. Like passing a police station or courthouse back on Earth; nothing wrong, but you still shrink a bit.

Yaruru glanced around and whispered in my ear.

"Should we bolt, you know...?"

"Bolt from the palace? Nah, I didn't do anything wrong."

"Yeah, true, you know..."

Moments later, the registrar looked up with a calm voice.

"Verification complete. No issues."

"For real, you know?!"

"Indeed. However, to confirm the same person, one more blood authentication is required."

"Phew, that's a relief, you know..."

I offered my fingertip again. The drop spread across another section.

The registrar nodded curtly.

"All procedures complete. Total merit points confirmed at 4000."

"Shall we proceed to rewards redemption?"

"Ah, yes."

As we rose and left the registry, I heard another mana panel tap behind us—but no big deal. No issues, right?

Outside waited another attendant, younger and softer-spoken.

"You've opted for rewards. Any preferred category?"

Preferred direction? Yaruru's compiled file flashed in my mind. Artifacts. Letters of recommendation. Titles. Manors. Elixirs. Weapons...

"Haven't really thought about it."

"Understood."

"Ah! Something practical would be nice, though."

He pondered briefly.

"Then Zone 7 of the treasury seems suitable for you, Chase Roman."

Zone 7. Yaruru shot her hand up.

"Hold on, you know!"

"...Yes?"

"There's only one treasury, you know?"

"Yes. But with vast holdings, it's divided into 10 zones."

"If I get a manor, is it hereditary, you know?"

"Depends on the grant conditions."

"Eh... ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠so with 4000 points, possible, you know?"

The attendant shook his head at Yaruru's barrage.

"Not particularly recommendable for a count's heir."

"Then... is the palace food tasty, you know?"

"......Different department; hard to say."

I bit my lip beside her. Yaruru dead serious; attendant's composure cracking.

"Yaruru."

"What, you know?"

"Can't eat palace food without a prior invite."

"...Gasp, didn't know, you know!"

"..."

Even I struggled not to laugh at her shocked face. Following the recomposed attendant, the corridor's vibe shifted.

The initial halls matched the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠palace grandeur—lofty ceilings, ornate carvings, portraits. But decorations thinned; guards multiplied. Knights at every door, crystal pillars at intervals. Subtle magic devices embedded in ceiling-wall seams.

Chill grandeur seeped in.

"Ugh... mood got heavier than before, you know."

"Yeah. Why whisper so much, though?"

"You're doing it too, you know."

The attendant halted before massive doors.

"From here, only merit point holders may enter."

Yaruru's eyes widened.

"Then why accept escorts, you know?!"

"Palace visits and treasury entry are separate procedures."

"No food, no point in tagging along, you know..."

Yaruru's shoulders slumped.

"Not zero point."

"What then, you know?"

"Got a full palace tour, right?"

I grinned; she pouted.

The attendant recited like a manual.

"Treasury operates solely on holder's blood authentication."

"That why they took blood earlier, you know?"

"Yes. From entry to selection, logging, and exit—no third parties allowed."

Now it clicked.

'Per-entry self-authentication, huh.'

Yaruru eyed the door and me, grabbing my sleeve.

"Came this far; sucks can't go in together, you know."

"Yeah."

"I'll die of curiosity waiting, you know..."

"That bad?"

"Didn't compile rewards list for nothing, you know."

She squeezed my sleeve again.

"Anyway, pick something good—not weird, you know."

I chuckled.

"I'll try."

"You got this, you know."

Hand on the door per the attendant, it rumbled open with a low groan.

Ruuuuumble—

Cool air wafted out, sharpening my senses. I steadied my breath and turned.

"Be right back."

"Look good, you know."

A casual wave, and I stepped in. The door sealed behind, cutting off outside presence.

"...Chilly air? Kinda creepy."

Once fully shut, I surveyed slowly. Not what I'd imagined—no gold/jewel piles, no luxury swag. Tall shelves, item plaques, seals—like a museum, not a treasure hoard.

"...Whoa."

"Wait, to hit Zone 7, gotta trek through from 1?"

Adjusting to the chill revealed more.

"Not just cold, huh?"

Thick mana permeated the air—blended from myriad items.

"Makes sense; tons of artifacts here."

Curiosity piqued, but I shook it off. Goal: practical artifact for me. No urgent need for titles or land.

Sounded cocky, but—

'Wasn't hurting for much to begin with.'

Muttering, I passed shelves. A sword with six-pronged blade, like from history books.

"Game item? Total OP... but who has aura to spare for that?"

A misty orb swirled with clouds.

"Useful, but risk-reward meh."

Zone 1's middling artifacts passed; Zone 2 brimmed with suspicious stuff.

"Not for merit holders, huh."

Most were outliers: great effects with nasty side effects, or shady plaques.

"Zone 7 won't all be like this, right?"

Passing a mana-boosting elixir that gender-swapped users, then—

Zone 2's end, abutting 3. Something different caught my eye.

Finger-sized. Ambiguous material—not stone, not metal. Surface etched with fine, dense scratches; ancient wear intact. No ominous aura; more antique than artifact.

Yet it tugged at me. I approached slowly.

"Feels... familiar somehow..."

Closer, the dissonance grew. Familiar yet alien; couldn't ignore.

Others got skipped with snark; this... ambiguous.

Sip... what? Mesmerizing or something?

The plaque made it weirder.

"Unknown thing costs 1000 points?!"

Whole vault feeling scammy now. Yet...

Just looking itched my brain. Casually, hand neared the glass case—

Ding.

A familiar chime rang in my ear.