Chapter 72
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 72
Chapter Title: Trap
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Twin Lotus City.
A major domain characterized by two towering spires rising on its left and right.
Conversely, this also meant that, aside from the two towers, there was nothing particularly noteworthy about it…
But few, from the common folk to the ruling family, paid it any mind.
A major domain was a precious thing in itself.
Even without any minor distinguishing features, its sheer size and population made it safer and more prosperous than ten minor domains combined.
That was why.
The market street in the middle tier of Twin Lotus City was always bustling.
And it was why no one paid much mind to who was passing through.
Unlike minor domains, countless intelligent races came and went through the satellite-class major domains with gates every day.
Unless one was from a particularly special race, they wouldn't stand out, and even if they did, it would only warrant a fleeting glance.
*Thud, thud.*
*Shuffle, shuffle.*
"Here, cheap, cheap. Flame stones, a specialty of the City of Scorching Sands, for just one low-grade magic stone… huh?"
"…What is that?"
In that sense.
It was quite unusual for so many people, from the market merchants to the passersby, to turn their heads in unison.
But it was also to be expected.
A dark elf maid, armed with steel gauntlets and steel boots that ill-suited her neat maid uniform.
And with her, a purple-haired girl, bound in chains, shackles, and a straitjacket, walking barefoot.
Either one of them was peculiar enough to draw stares on their own.
So, with the two of them together, it was only natural that all eyes would be drawn to them.
Especially since both possessed a rare and stunning beauty.
"Why is an elf walking around with a slave?"
"Kikik, she looks quite expensive."
"Forget it, you idiot. It's obvious she belongs to some noble lord."
From simple questions and admiration to overt greed.
Amidst the gazes of the crowd, filled with all sorts of emotions, the two women walked on nonchalantly.
This level of attention.
They were already used to it.
"—I have thought this before, but it is truly a bizarre world."
"What do you find bizarre?"
"The sight of all these different races mingling together."
The Vault Keeper, who had been walking along, spoke up abruptly.
Until now, she had been too busy grumbling complaints to Dion or urging him to take the King of the Dark Grotto's trial.
Parsha met the words of the girl, with whom she had rarely even spoken, with a stoic expression.
"Not all domains are like this. Many minor domains are composed of a single race."
"Hmph, I thought as much."
"It seems that in the era of the Ancient Kingdom, it was more common for races to live clustered together."
"Is that not obvious?"
The Vault Keeper scoffed.
It might be different now, where even a single manor is called a minor domain and people live huddled together.
But in the era of the Ancient Kingdom, when they enjoyed vast lands without worrying about mana contamination, each race established its own kingdom.
Of course, that was because racial conflict and discrimination were just as severe.
"The only place with such a variety of races would have been the Demon Realm, or my King's nation."
"The kingdom of the King of the Dark Grotto was different?"
"Because the King was a generous man."
"…"
"—Until he realized that mercy is an undeserved luxury for the vulgar."
He had bestowed so much with abilities that surpassed any other king in the world.
Yet in return, he was betrayed by all and lost everything—the final realization of the King of the Dark Grotto.
Those who trust and help will regret it.
Only those who betray will succeed.
And one must be vicious to survive.
Mentioning the cold logic of this ruthless world.
The Vault Keeper turned to Parsha with deeply sunken eyes.
"In that sense, I do not understand why you are playing the part of our master's handmaiden."
"Is it so strange?"
"Is it not? You are of the noble elven race."
"…"
In the era of the Ancient Kingdom, the elves were revered by kings but did not revere them in turn, and even the King of the Dark Grotto had respected them.
Why was a member of that noble race acting as a handmaiden to a fallen noble?
As if she truly could not comprehend it, the girl asked the question. After watching her with a blank face,
Parsha spoke softly.
"Indeed. The Young Master was a master so disgustingly incompetent and pathetic, it was difficult to serve him with any loyalty."
"…I did not criticize him *that* harshly."
"But even if he is worse than an insect, the Young Master is, for all intents and purposes, your master."
"Are you truly the master's handmaiden?!"
"So please, watch your words."
"You should watch your own words before saying something like that!!!"
It was dumbfounding.
Or perhaps, absurd.
After staring with exasperation at the dark elf maid whose words and actions were completely at odds,
the Vault Keeper finally turned away with a scoff.
‘Honestly, this is why one can never reason with elves.’
It wasn't that she had no regrets.
If she had gained Parsha's cooperation, many things would have been much easier.
But she was not disappointed.
The elves being needlessly haughty and old-fashioned had been a chronic problem since the era of the Ancient Kingdom.
It would have been nice if it worked out.
If not, so be it.
It was just that her proposal, made with that thought in mind, had failed.
Thus, the Vault Keeper's eyes gleamed.
‘Very well. In that case, I shall replace the master with my own power!’
The reason she had volunteered for this errand.
Recalling her objective—to abandon Dion and find a new master—she smiled triumphantly.
Of course, she was the Vault Keeper.
As a being meant solely to pass on the legacy of the King of the Dark Grotto, she had to obey his successor and could not simply run away.
Nevertheless, she could entertain such thoughts for two reasons.
One, she was both the manager of the legacy and the examiner.
And as long as he had not passed the trial, Dion was not yet her official master.
She could use all sorts of minor loopholes.
For example…
‘Fufufu. All I need to do is create a situation where the master has no choice but to either take the trial or give up on me!’
This was a trial.
To assess the master's qualifications.
And to help him grow.
It was something she, as the examiner, ought to do and was capable of doing.
Her resolve hardened, the Vault Keeper's eyes darted around, looking for an opportunity.
And in a moment when Parsha, who had been roaming the market, negotiating prices with merchants, and gathering various supplies, was briefly distracted.
She tiptoed out of her line of sight and spoke up.
"You there, commoner."
"…?"
"Yes, you. The vulgar beast who has been sneaking glances at me."
"…Are you talking to me?"
"Indeed."
A beastkin with the head of a hyena.
While the hunting dog clansman wore a look of bewilderment,
the Vault Keeper asked with a haughty attitude, as if granting him a special opportunity for which he should be honored.
"You, do you not desire power?"
"Power?"
"The absolute power to command an army of a hundred thousand with a single word and rule over the entire world."
"Well, if I had that kind of power, of course I'd want it, but…?"
"Then challenge my master. If you defeat him and claim me, I shall specially grant you the chance to obtain such power."
"…"
"Of course, it will be difficult for a lowly commoner alone, so I shall permit you to bring your comrades."
Even as a poor, fallen noble,
the power of Dion and Parsha, high-level Awakened Ones, was not to be taken lightly.
Even for the lowly hunting dog clan, if they sacrificed two or three hundred of their own, they might get lucky.
And if they failed, rumors of the treasure would spread, drawing in ever more distinguished heroes.
In the end, finding a new master would only be a matter of time.
At her own perfect plan,
the Vault Keeper was triumphant.
And…
"Ptooey, just a crazy slave."
"…What did you just say?"
"I was wondering why a slave was tied up so tightly. What rotten luck."
"H-Hey, you there!"
The hunting dog clansman clicked his tongue as if he had seen a madwoman and walked away.
Stunned by this, the Vault Keeper tried making the same offer to others nearby, but…
"Puhaha, what an amusing slave."
"A shame. She would have sold for a pretty penny if she were sane."
"Y-You…! How precious my offer is, yet these ignorant commoners who don't know their place…!"
From ridicule to scorn.
Watching the passersby leave with nothing but mockery and derision, the Vault Keeper ground her teeth.
Of course, she knew such rabble would never pass the King of the Dark Grotto's trial.
She had only intended to use them for a short while before discarding them.
But to be the one managing the legacy of the great King of the Dark Grotto, to be given the trial of his successor, was an honor of three lifetimes.
The foolishness of those who would kick away such fortune with their own feet made her seethe.
What was worse, not everyone had simply ignored her.
"Kikik. Power and all that aside, I'm more interested in your body, missy."
"Wha…?! Know your place! How dare a mere commoner try to touch me!"
"Kik, a slave talking about knowing her place."
"You… you commoner…!"
A hobgoblin, revealing his lust.
The Vault Keeper flinched at the sight.
With her seal only partially released, she was hard-pressed to deal with even a single goblin. She frantically looked around for help, but…
there was no one willing to help someone dressed as a mere slave.
Instead, there were only those who watched with smirks or revealed their own greedy intentions.
This was Odobaekryeong.
The weak were nothing but targets for exploitation.
In this place, there were no fools who would protect someone without expecting anything in return.
And so, as she stumbled backward, cornered at the end of the alley, the Vault Keeper's face turned pale.
"—Who gave you permission to lay a hand on my shuttle, you?"
"Kik?"
A single, cold voice rang out.
Only upon hearing the voice did the hobgoblin realize someone was behind him. He tried to turn around in a hurry, but…
by then, a kick was already flying toward the space between his legs.
*CRACK!*
"…!!!"
Wherever and however he was hit,
the hobgoblin clutched his groin, his eyes rolling back as he collapsed.
As the other passersby, witnessing the scene, scattered in terror,
the Vault Keeper looked at the boy who appeared from behind the fallen hobgoblin—a boy prettier than most beautiful girls—and felt an unwitting sense of relief.
Then, as if ashamed of that very fact, she blushed and shouted.
"You are late! What took you so long?"
"…I don't think I ever promised to come?"
"Hmph, as the successor to the King, it is your natural duty as my master to protect me."
"You have a point."
With a chuckle,
Dion let out a dry laugh and glanced to his side.
He then casually spoke to the dark elf maid who had appeared at some point.
"Where did you go, leaving my shuttle all alone, Parsha?"
"If you must blame someone, blame this scatterbrain who wandered off on her own while I was attending to my business."
"Did you just call me a scatterbrain?!"
"If she's a scatterbrain, you should have kept a better eye on her."
"Master, why are you so readily agreeing that I am a scatterbrain!?!?"
Regardless of the Vault Keeper fuming at his side, Dion paid her no mind.
He simply asked Parsha.
"Is the errand done?"
"Did I not already tell you? I have attended to my business."
"You did? Then let's head back."
"You wish to return when we have not yet finished buying supplies?"
"Yeah."
While the Vault Keeper looked on, puzzled, and the dark elf maid watched with her usual stoic expression,
Dion turned around.
And as he walked through the crowd of onlookers who were sneaking glances at him, he smiled faintly.
"—Things have changed a bit. I think we can move the plan up."
***
[You finally caught his tail, you say?]
"…"
[No, there is no need to rush.]
"…"
[Now that we have his tail, the Seventh Young Master is already a rat in a trap.]