The Treasure Goblin's Trial
Click. Click. Click!
“Um, ex-excuse me…!”
Even before the Magic King's heir could touch the treasure chests, they sprang open with a sharp crack.
What in the world was this sorcery? Not even a scalding-hot clam would pop open like that.
Treasure couldn't believe his eyes, even as he watched it happen right in front of him.
“How can this be?!”
Opening a chest might seem like a simple act at first glance, but in reality, it was anything but.
Activating a skill on a chest required intense concentration for a set duration. If anything internal or external disrupted that focus, the skill canceled out.
In short, all chest-opening skills were channeling skills.
Powerful as they were, they could be interrupted mid-cast, nullifying their effects.
Every single chest-opening skill followed this rule. There were no exceptions.
That's why it was a law. Apples always fell to the ground—no different.
Or so it should have been…
Click.
Another chest opened at the human's touch. No preparation needed.
“Human! This is bizarre! Utterly bizarre!”
“The chests are broken!”
The other goblins watching from nearby erupted in chaos.
It was only natural. Their common sense was crumbling before their eyes.
Anyone would freak out if an apple suddenly shot up into the air.
But the real shock was yet to come.
“Whew, is this it?”
Carpe, who had been ripping through chests at a ferocious pace, muttered to himself. Ahead loomed a Legendary chest, standing like a gatekeeper blocking his path.
“…I see. So that's how it is?”
Treasure let out a sigh of relief at the sight.
Of course. There was no way a no-delay chest-opening skill could be normal.
Unique grade and below might open without prep, but Legendary ones surely had a harsh penalty preventing it…
“Not enough MP to open them all at once. Should I pump more points into Magic?”
Carpe said this casually, then pulled an Upper MP Potion from his inventory and chugged it. His MP, down to half, refilled in an instant.
“Alright, round two… Unlock!”
Click. Click. Click. Click. Click!
Carpe activated the skill again, and five Legendary chests burst open as if waiting for him.
No cast time whatsoever.
“…”
Treasure could only stare in dazed astonishment.
Carpe walked toward him, his face utterly impassive.
It was only natural. Who celebrates successfully breathing?
For Carpe, opening treasure chests was as routine as inhaling.
“Guess I win.”
“…As you say, Magic King's heir.”
It defied Treasure's common sense, but he couldn't deny the result.
Rejecting a fairly conducted holy rite was tantamount to denying their god.
No tricks worked in rituals offered to Kero.
The absence of divine punishment mid-opening proved Carpe's actions were pure.
“In Kero's name, I declare your victory. But unrelated to that, I must ask.”
“What?”
“What is that skill? Even I, king of the treasure goblins, have never seen it. A 9-star skill like that…?”
“9-star? Nah.”
“…What? You're not saying it's an 8-star skill, are you?”
The divine prowess on display was beyond anything an 8-star could touch.
“You expect me to believe that…?”
“It's a 10-star skill. Not 9.”
“…”
Treasure fell silent at Carpe's words.
But only briefly. He soon smirked dismissively.
“A dull joke, but understandable. Everyone has secrets. Humans are especially touchy about them, I've heard.”
“No, really—”
“Just say it's 8-star. That'd be more believable.”
Of course he won't buy it. I wouldn't either without seeing it myself.
‘Truth not getting through is such a sad thing.’
No point convincing someone who wouldn't believe it anyway.
“So, test over?”
“You think a rite to the great Kero ends so simply? We've only done half.”
For treasure goblins, chest-opening skill was paramount, but not everything.
Judging what to put inside—what made a true eye for treasure—was equally vital.
“Eyes are as crucial as hands. Bring them here!”
At Treasure's command, dozens of goblins rushed off, soon returning with assorted items.
Thirty in total.
Like with the chests, they lined them up in two neat rows of fifteen.
“…No way.”
“Indeed. All unappraised items, as you see.”
The second holy rite to Kero: an appraisal showdown!
“A treasure chest is complete only when it holds an item befitting its grade.”
“…”
“You look uncertain. Heh. I acknowledge your overpowered chest skill for a human, but appraisal is another matter.”
“Fair enough.”
He lacked confidence. He might lose.
“Human, behold the might of my 9-star skill, Kero's Eye! Even Legendary items appraise at 70% success…”
“Yeah, yeah. We start now, right?”
Carpe was starting to feel time slipping away.
A brief moment later.
“Done. I win again, right?”
“Impossible! How can a mere human outdo treasure goblins?!”
While Treasure appraised his fourth item, Carpe finished all fifteen.
“You… are you truly the Magic King's heir? It'd be more convincing if you were Kero's descenda—gasp?!”
Treasure paled as the idea struck him as plausible.
“We greet Kero's apostle! Forgive our rudeness!”
“…Not an apostle.”
“Nothing else explains it!”
“I said no!”
Annoyance turned to fatigue.
As Carpe eyed him wearily.
“…My apologies. I got carried away. Forget what I said. Ahem.”
Embarrassed by his outburst, Treasure cleared his throat repeatedly.
“Magic King's heir, you have passed splendidly. What is your name?”
“Carpe.”
“Very well, Carpe. I recognize you as this tower's master. While the contract holds, I swear to aid you to the utmost. This oath is made before great Kero.”
And at that moment.
You have passed sub-manager Treasure's trials completely.
Treasure recognizes you as the tower's rightful successor.
From now on, you gain strong authority over tower finances.
The number of installable facilities inside the Magic Tower increases.
Finally!
Recognition from one of the tower's sub-managers—and the authority that came with it!
“From this moment, I move at your command. Any orders?”
“First, confirm something. The stuff in this treasury—is it mine now?”
“In principle, yes. Realistically, no.”
“Realistically?”
“Better to see for yourself. Follow.”
Treasure strode ahead.
Toward where Carpe first entered—the item pile.
“Huh?”
But the scene had changed drastically.
The mountain of items and gold was gone. Hardly any treasure goblins in sight.
“When you first arrived, items had just gathered temporarily. This is the usual state.”
Items in the tower cycled constantly.
Treasure goblins collected player drops, made chests, and placed them around.
But lately, fewer deaths meant supply shortages.
“Probably strategy guides circulating among humans. You outworlders have infinite lives, after all.”
Yeah. RaSe IpVen alone has a whole Red Tower board. Low-floor guides are everywhere.
“Makes sense…”
Carpe nodded.
The emergence and sharing of strategies were inevitable in a game.
“Two months ago, the tower went into the red. At this rate, operations will falter in years.”
“That bad? With all these visitors?”
“Numbers mean nothing if they don't die.”
“…Thought you were solid. Turns out it's a sinking ship.”
Carpe sighed shortly.
Like mistaking a prime Gangnam firm for cooked books!
“Frankly, your arrival is a relief. A head manager lets us try more things.”
Like the shop on floor 9.
Some Magic Shop profits went to Carpe; the rest sustained the tower.
“Installing the shop was wise. Eased things up.”
“Good to hear, but…”
No big worry. Tweak a bit, money floods in. Toss in dungeon traps, death rate skyrockets.
The deficit was a fleeting breeze.
The tower's potential was limitless.
“Anyway, got it.”
Couldn't demand warehouse items amid red ink.
Controlling such loot as a solo player was absurd anyway.
RaSe wouldn't allow it. Could crash the item market. System-blocked for sure.
‘Yeah. Still a tiny bit disappointing.’
Treasure's trial was objectively tough, even if Carpe breezed it.
Clearing it for just recognition? A letdown.
“Carpe, one request.”
As if sensing his regret, Treasure changed topics.
“Request?”
“Yes. Unusual for a treasure goblin to ask a human… but you might manage. Bring it!”
Goblins dashed off at his order.
“It?”
“Our clan's secret wish. Kero's divine relic.”
Soon, they returned carrying a treasure chest.
But vastly different—easily ten times normal size.
Four goblins grunted, barely setting it down.
Thud!
“This the relic?”
“Yes. Never opened in treasure goblin history. Legend says Kero made it when creating us.”
“…Wait. Something's off.”
Carpe frowned at the unease from the relic, then pinpointed it.
“Why's it this color?”
Like many items, RaSe chests had grade-based colors: Rare yellow, Hero purple, Unique magenta, Legendary deep orange.
This one? Black.
A subtle, sucking darkness emanated from it.
What? A black treasure chest? Legendaries are the top in RaSe.
A special chest even RaSe veterans hadn't seen.
Right then.
You have exceeded Treasure's trial with overwhelming results.
An astonishing feat. Treasure acknowledges you deeply, beyond mere physical power.
Hidden condition met: Special quest Treasure Goblin Clan's Secret Wish unlocked.
The 10-Star Player's Lucky Draw