Treasure Delivered to the Trash Warehouse #1

The annex commonly known as the Trash Warehouse. The carriage carrying Nikolai and Lawrence arrived there.

It had drawn quite a bit of attention on the way. No doubt everyone around knew exactly who was riding in that carriage.

Nikolai, perhaps worried about that, asked Lawrence as he stepped down from the carriage. After all, this was a place where one wrong move could lead to serious trouble.

"Young master, why didn't you go to the main house? This place could be dangerous."

"What's the difference between there and here? If anything, I find this more comfortable."

"Hmm... If that's your decision, then..."

Lawrence flashed a grin. It wasn't just his imagination—that smile carried a wicked edge.

"If you're that worried, come visit for some coffee. Often."

"I shall."

"Then..."

Lawrence headed inside without a backward glance. Watching his retreating figure, Nikolai felt a swirl of complex emotions.

How much hardship must that young master have endured to carry himself with such composure? That was probably what made him so mature.

May only good fortune come your way.

Nikolai offered a formal bow before climbing back into the carriage. The madness—no, the venom—he'd shown at the magic evaluation still lingered vividly in his mind.

"Let's go."

"Yes."

He had displayed his abilities. Now, he would have to face all sorts of pressures. Nikolai couldn't even begin to imagine how grueling that process would be.

Hearing the sound of the arriving carriage, Rachel came rushing out in a fluster. Seeing her young master return unscathed, her eyes welled up with tears.

"Young master! You're not hurt anywhere, are you?"

"I won."

"R-Really!? Ah, no, how...?"

Lawrence showed Rachel his adorably tiny fist. Even something this small would hurt like hell for kids his age. At the very least, Arthur Goldvein and the kids from the branch families would fear this punch.

"I smashed 'em with this."

"No way..."

"What, you don't believe me?"

"No, no! I believe you, of course I do. You must be hungry? Come inside. I'll make something delicious."

Believe him, my ass. Lawrence chuckled and headed inward. Rachel fussed over him, checking everywhere, and somehow whipped up a meal to suit his tastes using whatever ingredients they had.

Afterward, Lawrence mentioned he'd be in the warehouse—now converted into his workshop—and thought to himself.

That woman should be making her move soon.

He had to prepare. He recalled Media's favorite methods. This was one of the perks of regression—data on people piled up neatly in his mind.

"Poison. Gotta prepare for poison and curses."

That was why he'd left one slot open. He just hadn't found the right medium or extract for poison yet.

Should I head to the market?

Media wasn't the type to send someone directly. She preferred dragging out the suffering, inflicting prolonged agony. A body that wouldn't grow no matter the effort. Mana that wouldn't accumulate no matter how much you gathered. Wasting away precious time. Psychological and physical ant pits—that was Media's specialty.

Did Mother go the same way? I had suspicions, but no solid proof.

Just thinking about it made his blood boil. Powerless back then, he couldn't investigate, spending his days filled with resentment.

So now, he'd craft an artifact to counter it—and once he had power, he'd dig into it.

#2

The next day.

"Damn, no matter how much I search, nothing."

Lawrence had ransacked the entire house. But there were no satisfactory results. None of the materials here related to poison.

Do I really have to go to the market and check one by one? Just as he thought that, Rachel's voice rang out. That was also when the quiet annex suddenly grew noisy.

"Young master! A carriage from the main house is here!"

"A carriage? For what?"

"Looks like ingredients?"

"Ah... Really?"

She'd probably claim it was a gift from the family head. Loaded with poison and curses, no doubt.

The scenario played out naturally in Lawrence's mind.

Hmm, what to do with that.

Supplies had arrived, so he should accept them. He opened the annex door himself.

"The family head has bestowed various daily necessities and ingredients as a consolation prize."

"Rachel, show them in."

"Understood. This way..."

They unloaded the goods smoothly without issue and withdrew politely. He'd expected some hassle, but they behaved more meekly than anticipated.

Confirming the carriage had left, Lawrence checked the ingredients with Rachel. Magic-preserved meat and vegetables to prevent spoilage, fruits, spices, and more. Even without artifacts, buffs could keep them fresh for months.

The boxes brimmed with enough for the two of them to eat for months. Rachel exclaimed "Wow!" with every box she opened.

"Young master! Starting with lunch today, I'll make tons of delicious food!"

"Hold on a sec."

"Yes?"

Rachel paused her hand reaching for the meat. This innocent maid... how scary is this world, and she's grabbing it like that?

"You know not to take stuff from strangers carelessly? It'll cause trouble."

"Huh? But it's from the family head..."

"Whatever. Don't touch it until I say so. Got it?"

"Umm, yes. I trust you, young master!"

Her face full of curiosity, but she nodded obediently. What choice did she have when her young master said no?

Or maybe... he has some other plan?

She pondered, chin in hand, but nothing came to mind.

Lawrence let out a hollow laugh at the ingredients. Media Montemer. He knew her power was immense, but this level of execution was impressive.

"The lady of the house is the lady of the house, alright."

But too bad—he had eyes that pierced everything.

Lawrence gazed at the mana residues floating over the meat. Ominous hues blanketing the ingredients. That meant they were poisoned.

Dragon Eye. The guardian's pupils held the mystical power to see through all things.

And one more thing. Something Media, seething with malice, couldn't have imagined was happening.

To think I could extract it even from a hunk of meat.

A grin crept across Lawrence's face, curling his lips devilishly.

Negative Energy. A magic that converts negative mana like poison or curses into one's own power upon ingestion.

The Benoman family's unique mana cultivation method—and the magic that elevated them to a formidable assassin clan. Assassins who turned horrific curses and poisons back on foes by converting negative energy into mana or physical prowess.

The source that made the poison-and-curse specialists Benoman stand unrivaled. In a world where artifact tech was practical, one of the few families that could replicate something similar.

It would fade over time, but best to exploit it fully. Negative Energy worked best in youth; adults typically discarded it once fully grown. Perfect timing for Lawrence.

Did they get this meat from there? Anyway, jackpot's a jackpot.

Maybe. Either way, this was a golden opportunity. Negative energy was lethal to mages, knights, and commoners ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠alike. Converting it to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠positive power meant no more worries about poison or curses.

With this prime extract secured, he just needed a suitable medium. And conveniently, there were more supplies.

"Time to find a medium in the daily goods."

Lawrence chuckled softly. They thought they'd dumped trash in the Trash Warehouse. But they'd never dream that what they saw as refuse had become priceless treasure to him.

"You'd better brace yourselves."

They hoped he'd grow weak. Conversely, they'd want her own children—his siblings—to thrive.

Too bad. They'd essentially tossed him spirit pills.

Lawrence's steps lightened. Rachel's gaze lingered on the piled ingredients.

"I wanted to make something tasty..."

Her regret echoed through the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠annex.

Meanwhile, Lawrence opened a daily goods box.

"Found it."

Finding the medium took less time than expected. Media's scheme had backfired hilariously. Just as he'd predicted, not an inch off.

Blackened mana shrouded the goods. Another curse from who-knows-where?

"She slathered curses everywhere. Did she prepare these in advance?"

How could she curse so many daily items in less than a day? Her connections were beyond imagination, so not impossible.

Crackle—

As Lawrence picked up the plate, black mana seeped into his body. Text promptly appeared on his retina, perfectly describing his state.

What curse could be more devastating to a growing child? But it was fine. All these poisons and curses would soon turn into tonics.

He headed straight to the workshop.

"Rachel! Don't touch the ingredients or daily goods! Got it?!"

"Eek! Y-Yes!"

He didn't forget to warn Rachel firmly. Negative Energy or not, better safe than sorry.

"Alright, then... Shall we begin?"

Still, beggars can't be choosers. Better ones later, after I grow.

The magic circle materialized. Lawrence boldly took up his pen and began drawing.

Scratch, scratch. The circle etched onto the plate bit by bit.

"Ah, this is fun."

He was born for crafting, after all.

#3

Lawrence eyed the completed plate-shaped artifact. Plain-looking, but its value would tempt anyone.

Without hesitation, he implanted it.

Crackle-crackle-crackle—!

The artifact seeped into his body, granting new power. Knowledge on using Negative Energy flooded his mind.

No mana roads, so pour it all into physical ability. Lawrence eyed the curse infiltrating his body and activated the artifact.

Mana sucked toward one spot—his heart, the core of mana roads where circles should form. A small mana clump appeared there.

"Invest it all in physical ability."

Even with mana, no roads meant he couldn't use it. Expecting martial artist paths or new systems? No such luck.

"Heh heh heh..."

Lawrence chuckled, shoulders shaking. Time for explosive growth.

He kicked open the workshop door.

"Rachel! Steak for dinner tonight—!"

"Really!?"

Rachel's joyful scream echoed.