Chapter 80
Chapter 80
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 80
Chapter Title: Give Me More
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"Give me more."
"He must have let me wander around alone on purpose."
I decided to think positively. People need to stay positive to get through life. Yeah. You bet.
I nodded as I walked. All around me were just piles of junk. Deep down, I'd hoped for a glittering mountain of gold, but you can't expect that from a treasure vault built by a 21st-century Korean.
The huge room was crammed full of odds and ends. I had to pick from this mess. Just by their names, I could tell each piece of junk was something incredible.
The great mage hadn't gathered them and called it a treasure vault for nothing.
Around the midpoint of the original story, Isia came here and found an item that powered her up.
I didn't need that one, so I'd leave it for her and find something for myself.
"Two items."
I already had one in mind.
I opened my [Inventory]. What I pulled out was one of the items I'd taken from the demon hideout—a pendant connected to an iron chain.
The blue gem in the pendant glowed brightly. A snake ornament coiled around the gem. I draped the chain over my hand, letting the gem hang down.
It swayed. The pendant shook wildly, emitting light. When held near some objects, the light dimmed. Near others, it grew brighter.
That's what it was for. It detected mana and glowed, alerting to intruders.
It didn't react to demonic energy. So if it lit up around demons, it meant an uninvited guest had arrived.
That's how I planned to use it. But as they say, put it on your nose and it's a nose ring; on your ear, an earring.
I rummaged through spots where the pendant glowed. The gem went crazy over scrolls, mana stones, swords, and shields.
"All useless."
Scrolls were one-use. We had four mana tanks at home. And I couldn't even use swords or shields.
I turned away without regret. Even after that, the gem lit up like mad in plenty of places, but nothing worth taking.
"What kind of arsenal is this?"
The guy didn't even carry a staff, yet he had all these weapons. No idea why.
Swords especially. Not just a lot—insanely so. So many it made me wonder what his criteria even were.
"Not like he's some chili pepper head from the sticks or anything."
As I pondered the weirdo hoarding swords in his warehouse like he was an apostle of justice, the gem lit up.
"Hmm."
Probably another sword. Thinking that, I checked it out—and found something unexpected.
"A ring?"
It was a ring. First accessory I'd seen. Treasure vaults scream accessories, though.
I pulled out my phone and scanned the ring.
"Devours magic?"
Looked great at a glance. Why was something like this buried in storage? I could picture it without asking.
"Doesn't distinguish friend or foe—eats any magic, huh."
No wonder mage Isiu didn't use it and stashed it away. Seemed like it had limited capacity too.
Rare grade and all. But I had Benia. No hesitation—I picked it up and tossed it into my [Inventory].
This would definitely come in handy. My 「Mana Eye」 could only dispel limited magic. Fast incoming spells or ones I couldn't react to? This little guy would gobble them up.
Unexpected score put me in a good mood. Finally felt like I'd entered a real treasure vault.
I straightened my bent back. Used to hurt just to stoop a little, but now? Not a twinge. Guess I really had gotten younger.
Feeling oddly sentimental, I woke the cat dozing on my shoulder. Surprisingly, nothing much here—Lachesis hadn't gotten to shine.
No traps, nothing worth noting. Maybe I'd misjudged Isiu.
I explained the next item I wanted to Lachesis as she stirred. Too lazy to guide me verbally, she hopped off my shoulder and started padding along.
Lachesis stopped. At the same moment, the pendant glowed over that spot. No need to search—I saw it right away.
"This one's a gem."
She knew what it was—no need for appraisal. Straight into the inventory. Truth was, I'd had it in mind for a while.
This crossbow showed up late-game to power up the main cast. Yang Min-ji used it for self-defense.
Good enough to protect someone with near-zero combat ability. Sorry for snagging it, but Kim Tae-hyun would cover her. Probably.
Not my problem. None at all.
With that self-justification, I looked up.
A chill ran down my spine. Goosebumps prickled my skin. Chicken skin everywhere.
As if confirming it, Lachesis leaped onto my shoulder and whispered.
She curled up on my shoulder, bracing for combat so she wouldn't fall off.
With those words, the mountains of junk shuddered. That's when I realized. All those swords I'd seen earlier.
Why would a mage's treasure vault be stuffed with them? At first, I figured collector's hobby. Guy built a vault, after all.
Something unintended must have filled the gaps. Or so I thought.
「Oh......」
No. It was simple, really. I just hadn't thought that far.
「Ooooooh!!」
Armored figures gripping swords roared in my ears. Blue spears filled my vision.
This was the gift meant for me.
Isiu sat on the sofa, sipping tea. His legs were naturally crossed, eyes closed.
Hot black tea slid smoothly down his throat.
"Father. Why did you say not to go...?"
He didn't answer the voice. He wanted to right then, but dignity demanded restraint.
He set down the teacup. Eyes still closed, he spoke softly.
"You'll know soon enough."
Isia tilted her head at the cryptic words, but Isiu just rested his chin on his hand.
Soon. The sounds would come soon.
Isiu had tampered slightly with his treasure vault.
First, he'd disabled the barrier that kept everyone but him out.
No choice. He wasn't one to go back on his word, nor in a position to.
Treasure had to be given. He'd opened it for that, but he couldn't just hand it over.
'Time to break those bad habits.'
His second measure was the security system.
Two layers. The annihilation spell he'd mentioned beforehand.
The other was simple. The moment the intruder took two treasures, the armors and swords would gain life.
Infused with Isiu's mana, they'd rebirth as knights guarding the vault.
'Not planning to kill him.'
Just make him beg for mercy, then spare him. With Isiu's personality, he had to see the man groveling pathetically.
That's how he'd lived. Cut down any who defied him. It preserved his status and dignity.
'Not because of Isia.'
Absolutely not. Some suspicion lingered, but he trusted his daughter. He'd never raised her to fall for trash like that.
He reached for the teacup again. Dignified, he lifted it, tilting it as hot liquid flowed down his throat.
'No way he wins.'
Designed that way. He knew the man could break spells. So he'd prepared something else—not magic.
A gift for him, even. The armors ran on mana like golems, but weren't spells.
Call it necromancy if you like. Artificial monsters blending both arts' strengths.
Cores instead of hearts, mana for blood. Lower-rated due to being man-made, but numbers made up for it.
Enough to crush a student. Even low-rank heroes.
No matter how bold, the man was just a nobody—not even a hero yet.
He set down the cup. As the nearly empty vessel touched the table, he felt it.
'It's started.'
Mana drained from his body. A vast ocean like Isiu's mana depleted noticeably. That's how meticulously he'd prepared.
'Come on, beg for your life.'
Pound on the vault door in shame, wail for mercy. Then he'd be spared.
Isiu waited, chin propped.
But.
30 seconds passed in silence.
'Trying to fight? Foolish.'
1 minute.
'Taking a while.'
5 minutes.
'No way.'
10 minutes.
'Nah.'
At 30 minutes.
Anxiety cracked his eyes open. Eyes sealed shut for half an hour finally moved. Pride-blinded gaze first spotted his daughter humming over snacks.
Isiu projected the vault's status. His mind reeled.
One hit, dead. Didn't even reach the entrance. No begging—just gone. Fine by him.
Better that way. As long as it wasn't the scenario creeping into his head—
"Impossible."
"What is?"
Defying expectations, the scene in his vision was unbelievable.
A mountain of armor. Piles of fallen, lifeless suits. Atop them sat a black-haired man.
Catching his breath. A mystery blonde kid with him too.
What the hell happened? Isiu's mind couldn't process. But it was clear.
The man suddenly turned. As if aware of him. Grinned like he'd won, then mouthed words.
No sound transmitted, but the lip movements were plain.
—Give me more treasure.