Chapter 178
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 182
Chapter Title: Jackpot Among Jackpots
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In the past, Third Imperial Princess Arpe had tried to claim me as her own but failed. When she couldn't have me, she tried to kill me but failed again, and she paid a certain price for it.
What she cherished most.
Treasures she might have valued more than her own life.
Her painstakingly gathered intelligence and assassination organization, Green Jack, had been seized and dismantled.
...Or so I thought.
Who would have guessed that Urtega had swallowed up Green Jack whole? I never dreamed it.
"Father. It's a problem if you do this without even telling me."
"Do I need your permission?"
"Wow~ The thickness of your skin is something else... Is this the character of a duke's family head in a medieval fantasy land? Unbelievable. Just."
"......"
I shrugged as I met the gaze of the silently glaring man.
"...Well, fine. No matter what, more forces are always good."
"Ugh, ugh, uuugh...!"
Arpe hung her head and began sobbing pitifully like an NTR victim, but I tried to ignore it.
No, I tried to ignore it, but Arpe wouldn't leave me alone.
"Lord Han-gil...! Sniff, hic...!"
"...I get that you're sad, so don't cling. There are eyes watching."
"Don't gooo...! I'm so saaaad...! It feels like there's a hole in my cheeeest...!"
"Sigh..."
I stroked the back of Arpe's head as she buried herself in my chest while sniffling and looked at Nemes.
"Nemes."
"Yes."
"How strong is Green Jack objectively?"
"...If all members stake their lives, they could barely kill a Sword Master. Of course, under the premise of a surprise attack and assassination."
"Impressive. Truly."
This wasn't sarcasm; it was sincere.
In the game, there were hardly any factions of specific NPCs that could confidently kill a Sword Master.
Even without the Third Princess and Nemes, it was still the continent's top assassination group.
"Then they could handle one or two high demons?"
"Not just Green Jack, but with various supports added, they could manage three high demons. Killing them is uncertain, but they could buy time."
"I see... Good."
I nodded and turned to Urtega.
"Father. A bit gross, but an unexpected addition to our forces is welcome news. Well done."
"...Insolent."
Urttega glared with displeasure, but I grinned cheekily, unperturbed.
Oh, by the way, the retainers were shocked by my words and actions, staring at me like I was a madman.
"But you wouldn't say this is all, right? Hidden relics or artifacts... nothing like that? Like this."
I pulled out the Sacred Guardian Fortress hanging around my neck.
The duke's direct bloodline—Berga, Weller, and others who knew its existence and effects—watched Urtega with tense faces.
"...There are some. But I can't be sure they'll help."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Because most are relics whose effects are unknown."
"What? That's..."
I was about to say it was nonsense when I recalled the church's pathetic state during the first Demon King war and clamped my mouth shut.
Back then, they had hauled in piles of relics whose effects they didn't even know properly and just stacked them uselessly.
"Hm..."
Sure enough, in this world where the game had become reality, figuring out relic effects might be tricky.
There were no manuals, and many weren't intuitive enough to test easily.
For example, the Absolute Ring Set I'd used so effectively so far.
If I had to discover its functions from scratch without knowing anything, it'd be a real headache.
Not only did it require equipping all three, but you had to consciously focus on the rings while under attack to even notice the effect... No idea how the church or duke's family tested relics, but it was definitely not something you'd figure out locked in a room.
"I see. Then, may I take a look?"
"I permit it."
Urttega, who had been hoping for that, nodded readily.
"Great. Can we go right now?"
"After the discussion ends. We haven't even started proper discussion yet."
"Troop deployments, strategies, tactics? You all know that better than I do. I'll give the general direction and framework; handle the rest. As long as it's not weird or absurd... It won't matter much against the Demon King and high demons anyway. Those unidentified relics are the bigger variables now."
"......"
The retainers, led by Berga, shot piercing glares, but I leisurely downed my drink.
"So tell me the location. I'll check and judge, then decide the direction and framework."
"...Fine."
Urttega sighed, stood, opened a drawer in his desk, and pulled out a heavy key.
"The key to the duke's warehouse basement, the treasure vault."
"Th-that's...!"
"Lord Urtega! No matter what, opening that place to a suspicious person...!"
The moment Urtega finished speaking, retainers gasped and tried to dissuade him, but he stood firm.
No, he unleashed a heavy pressure toward the retainers.
"He's not suspicious. I said I approve and permit it."
"Mm..."
"Ahem!"
With that, he silenced the retainers and tossed the key to me.
"Bold decision. Impressive."
I caught the key leisurely and nodded at Murel.
She stood silently by my side.
"I'll take only Murel. Discuss the rest among yourselves."
"Hic, Lord Han-giiiil... Don't leave me behiiiind...!"
"Let go a bit. Arpe. I'll be right back."
"You're not abandoning me, right...?"
"Sigh, abandon what... Nemes. Take care of her."
"Yes. Leave it to me."
I handed the distraught Arpe to the wryly smiling Nemes and quickly left the office.
Countless gazes followed my back.
Strolling down the duke's castle corridor, I muttered softly.
"The duke's family treasure vault in the warehouse..."
"Is something bothering you?"
Murel, sharp enough to catch the subtle tone in my voice, asked, and I wrapped an arm around her waist.
"Bothering me... Well, not nothing. Truth is, I don't know what's in the Starnassila duke's family treasure vault."
"That's... Hm. Does that mean trouble?"
Her face, which assumed I knew everything, stiffened slightly.
"Who knows. We'll see when we get there."
The setting documents did mention the duke's treasure vault.
But only vaguely, with no details.
Just that it contained 'treasures befitting the duke's prestige and authority.'
"......"
Still, there was fragmentary info to speculate from.
After all, the dukedom was fated to fall and become the empire's worst mega-dungeon.
As a high-level exclusive dungeon, it guaranteed substantial rewards in the game.
If we could claim all those rewards at once, like the Elder Lich Hegelina Crenckel's lab... No, especially if we had 'that relic' only obtainable there at abysmal odds, we might stand a chance against two Demon Kings and high demons.
Without it, things could get serious.
"What brings you here?"
Upon reaching the duke's warehouse, a fairly competent-looking keeper blocked our path.
"To see the treasure vault."
Showing the key from Urtega, the keeper stared at the key, me, and Murel before nodding heavily.
"I'll guide you."
Following him inside, a vast space and countless items greeted us.
Miscellaneous goods neatly sorted by sections.
From cloth and grain to bulk goods, duke's castle handmade potions, equipment from the duke's forge, all kinds of artifacts... and so on.
Spotlessly clean, it felt more like strolling a high-end shop than a warehouse.
"Here it is."
After a long walk, we reached the opposite wall's floor in the vast warehouse: a sturdy iron door leading underground.
"Hm..."
Magically treated, it emanated unusual mana.
"Unlock with the key and enter?"
"Yes."
"Here..."
Inserting and turning the heavy key produced a precise click and complex machinery whirring.
"Oh..."
The door opened, revealing a wide staircase down.
But no gloomy dungeon vibe.
A sparkling staircase like artwork, gems embedded in the ceiling scattering soft light, luxurious wallpaper evoking comfort.
"Fancy setup..."
"My permission ends here. Please look around."
"Got it. Thanks."
Nodding to the keeper, I descended the stairs slowly.
Soon, the treasure vault appeared.
"...Wow."
Tiny compared to the ground warehouse, but its value was absurdly high.
"Is it good? To me, it just looks like a collection of weird stuff..."
"Jackpot. Total jackpot, Murel. Jackpot! Heh, hahaha!"
I couldn't help bursting into laughter at the feast of unique and legendary relics.
Some from dungeon clears, others not.
"Kuhahaha! No confidence my ass!? Stacking strategic weapons underground without knowing! That guy... Huh? Wait, this is...!"
And among them, one relic stood out.
"It's here! Really here! Who'd have thought the Grimoire of Blasphemy actually existed! Jackpot of jackpots!"
Each Demon King had methods.
Life Demon King Otilib and Death Demon King Annus had clear weaknesses by affinity, while Space-Time Demon King Rubias uniquely had none—but user trials had piled up routes.
Well, now that game's reality, no knowing if they'd work... Anyway, the Grimoire of Blasphemy was key to Death Demon King Annus.
"Gotta Annus first..."
In game, standard order was Annus, Otilib, Rubias.
Meet conditions, and Annus died easiest and fastest among Demon Kings—ridiculously so.
Miss them, and he was worst. But with the Grimoire of Blasphemy, half the conditions were met.
"Murel! Pack everything here!"
"...Is that okay?"
"Why not! I'm the duke's family's third son!"
"Well..."
She gave me a look saying she had tons to say.
"Technically half, but whatever? Urtega acknowledged it! Come on, pack it all! I'll take responsibility!"
"Sigh... Yes. Understood."
I beamed proudly watching her store the relics one by one in the Subspace Pouch.
The duke's family's reserves were indeed tremendous.
Even if two Demon Kings and multiple high demons charged head-on, this might just do it.