The Treasure Goblin King's Trial
Treasure spat out his fury, and Cheonma let out a gasp of admiration.
-Damn. When trolling reaches this level, even I gotta applaud. Does this shit happen everywhere you go?
"……My liege. Allow me to apologize on his behalf."
"……."
Carpe barely suppressed a sigh.
Another Dretsch issue?
It had happened in the elves' forest, and in Ramark's underground labyrinth too. What kind of guy racks up grudges everywhere he goes?
He'd known the man attracted trouble, but he never dreamed the resentment extended even inside the tower he'd built himself.
Regret suddenly washed over him.
I shouldn't have let Dretsch go so easily.
At least I should've asked where else he'd shat all over! Then I could've prepared myself mentally.
Dretsch's parting words came back to him.
'Just for bearing the name of the Magic King, there are those who won't leave you in peace.'
Was that what he meant?
Those 'who won't leave you in peace' weren't other Patron Spirits—it was guys like Treasure!
Staring at the vicious aura pouring off the creature, it sure seemed plausible.
"Why are you just standing there? If you're gonna shove that thick face in here, at least say something…… Hm?"
Treasure, mid-rant, suddenly stopped, sensing something off.
"What? You're not Dretsch? Then why do you have that revolting mana pattern? Even if you were him, no one could have an identical pattern…… Ah."
Treasure nodded as realization dawned.
"Human. You're Dretsch's successor, aren't you?"
"Spot on."
"And you've inherited rights to this tower too. Which means that bastard's dead……."
Treasure's tone softened considerably from his initial rage.
"He boasted he'd live forever, but what a pathetic end. Fine. What business does his heir have here?"
"Once I inherited the tower rights, I heard there were sub-managers. Figured I'd come say hi and get faces memorized."
Common sense, right? New boss shows up, time to meet the staff.
"……Say hi? To me? Pfft hah. This oughta be fun—a real character just walked in."
"Bonus if I get recognized as the tower's owner while I'm at it."
"Heh heh heh. That brazenness is straight outta Dretsch. Good—his heir should act the part. Personally, I don't hate the attitude……."
Treasure rose fully from his throne. In that instant, terrifying pressure crashed down on Carpe.
[Treasure Goblin King – Treasure's Fear]
[Targets below Treasure's level cannot resist Fear. All stats reduced by 20%.]
[Level difference of 200+. Fear intensified. Player will die in 200 seconds.]
"That's separate from me acknowledging you. Want my recognition? Prove it yourself."
Eight hundred years since forging his pact with Dretsch and settling in the tower.
By now, his attachment to the place surpassed even Dretsch's, the creator.
And this parachute drop-in expected instant recognition as owner? After 800 years of neglect?
Treasure wasn't the forgiving type to swallow that absurdity.
"Don't wanna die? Turn back. You're nowhere near ready to challenge me."
"……Yeah, you're definitely as stressful as advertised. Instant-death outta nowhere."
Carpe clocked it the moment the alerts popped.
This 'Sub-Manager Recognition' special quest had a hidden level restriction.
No mention in the description, but a 200-level gap triggered instant death. Proof positive.
The proper way: Grind levels till the gap closed.
Of course, only if going by the book.
"Which doesn't apply here."
[All harmful effects on player removed.]
[Treasure's Fear dispelled successfully!]
Carpe walked the unorthodox path like no other.
Treasure felt his Fear blocked too. He arched a brow at Carpe.
"……What trick did you pull? At your level, resistance should've been impossible."
"Luck of the draw?"
"Hmph. Still a chick, but Dretsch's heir after all? Got some hidden ace up your sleeve."
Unlock had zilch to do with the Magic King, but no need to correct the misunderstanding. Carpe just shrugged.
"Fine. You've earned trial eligibility. Pass, and I'll recognize you as this tower's rightful master."
"Trial? What do I gotta do?"
"Simple. Beat me."
Called it.
He'd half-suspected from the quest's 'earn recognition' bit. A straight-up boss fight.
-Impossible. No matter how OP you get, a 200-level gap is unbeatable. And that's lowballing it—could be way more.
Cheonma was right.
Stronger than even Gillian at his general peak.
Zero chance for Carpe.
Mythic-grade item reward meant insane difficulty, naturally.
"True…… but I'll give it a shot."
Carpe was a fun-seeker up for reckless challenges, but not so brain-dead he ignored impossible odds.
He'd die, sure.
So treat it as pattern recon. Drag it out, learn the moves.
As Carpe clenched his fist with that resolve, Treasure asked:
"What're you doing?"
"Huh? What? Getting ready to fight, obviously……."
"Fight? You and me? Pfft hah. Funniest thing I've heard in 800 years. Sure, if you want that route—Dretsch beat me in combat. But I don't recommend it for you now."
One scratch, max. Boring end.
Not what Treasure wanted either.
"……Not combat then?"
"Treasure Goblins have our own ways. Hey, you lot!"
Treasure bellowed, and 30 Treasure Goblins came rushing in.
"Prep it! Time for a holy war with the Magic King's heir!"
"Whoa whoa! Holy war! Holy war!"
"Holy war!"
The 30 goblins cheered wildly and dashed off somewhere.
"Dretsch's heir. Consider it an honor. You're the first human warrior to wage holy war before the Treasure Goblin god Kero."
"Holy war? You said no fighting."
"As bloodthirsty as Dretsch. Gotta clash fists for it to count as war? You'll see soon enough. Just watch."
Soon, the 30 returned.
Each hauling a massive treasure chest.
They split into two lines of 15, arranging 15 chests each in rows.
"Human. What do you know of Treasure Goblins?"
"……Zilch. Just that you hoard items?"
"Half-right. But we collect for treasure chests. Items aren't the goal."
Their greatest joy and purpose: crafting treasure chests.
Treasure Goblins lived for it.
"Elves can't survive without World Trees. We can't without treasure chests. Even I."
"What the……."
"Strange? It's natural to us. Our whole lives revolve around chests."
"……So what do I do?"
"Simple. We compete with these chests."
Greatest virtue among Treasure Goblins?
Unrivaled chest-opening prowess!
Their king was the one who mastered it best.
"No trash like Rare-grade. 5 Hero, 5 Unique, 5 Legendary. First to open all 15 wins."
"……."
Carpe eyed Treasure, thinking for real? But the goblin was dead serious.
"This contest is a sacred rite to Kero. Whew—even I'm trembling after so long."
"Wait, hold up……."
"Scared?"
"Hell no!"
"Then accept. No chest-opening skill? Pity—we'd have to fight. Not my taste."
"I got it. I do……."
"No issue then. Oh, if your minions have it too, they can join. I'll account for that. Better odds than fighting, right?"
"……."
Duh. 100% win, probably.
Carpe wanted to say it but held back.
Just stared at the chests, dumbfounded.
-……What a dogshit game. Straight-up spoon-feeding. World just bends for you, huh? Feels good?
"Can't spit out free wins…… What a world."
He'd griped lately that Unlock wasn't pulling weight. Time to retract that.
* * *
The Treasure Goblin King, Treasure, smirked inwardly at Carpe prepping by the chests.
Heh heh. As unwinnable as combat, but he loves it. Pathetic.
Born with the rare 9-star skill Kero's Hand.
Mastered, it opened even Legendaries at 70%.
90% on Uniques, 95% below.
Longer focus time, but odds crushed rivals.
Unless opponent had Kero's Hand too, victory was his.
"Both ready? Fail midway, start over from scratch."
"Ready."
"Me too."
Treasure tensed before his chests.
Not easy for me either. Even Kero's Hand gives under 15% for 15 straight.
Opponent? Under 1%.
Numbers don't lie.
Heavenly luck might swing it, but that's just luck.
Sorry, human!
Win, and he'd work the guy a year before recognizing him. That was the plan.
"Begin!"
The judge called, contest underway.
"Wh-what?!"
"Th-that guy!"
Onlooker goblins' shocked cries hit Treasure's ears.
"Hm?"
As Treasure cracked his first Unique, he glanced at Carpe.
"What kinda bullshit cheat is that!!!"
He couldn't help yelling like the rest.