Chapter 132: Qualification (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 132: Qualification (3)
The Sword Emperor's sudden remark that he wanted to transfer the artifact, Andvaranaut, to me. It was a completely unexpected proposal, coming out of nowhere without so much as a turn signal.
As I've mentioned before, artifacts are extremely rare items even within this world.
It wasn't just that they were scarce. The power inherent in an artifact was so immense that it was often called a 'fragment of the mythical age.'
Compared to S-rank armaments that simply enhanced physical abilities, the effects of artifacts were said to be far more complex.
But even that was just a rumor. There was almost no public information available regarding artifacts.
Moreover, likely due to their extreme rarity, most of them were managed and researched by the Hero Association.
Thus, a civilian like me only knew of their existence and had no detailed knowledge whatsoever—even though I used to be a player.
This was because artifacts were items systematically locked away from acquisition in the game Miracle Blessing M.
At least, that was the case up to the point I had played.
It was unclear whether they could be obtained later as the story progressed, or if they existed purely in the lore.
Because of this, I recalled there being quite a lot of chatter about it on the community forums.
* * *
<Guys, seriously, where do you get artifacts?>
I feel like I'm almost at the end of the story, but I still haven't gotten a single one. I mean, are they even obtainable in the first place?
I've already sunk the cost of a mid-sized car into this game, so it's too late to quit now...
―――――――――――――――――――――
ㄴ Shudder: That's because you haven't shown enough 'sincerity' to the devs. Try blowing your rent deposit and barking like a good little pay-to-win pig. Maybe you'll get one then lol
ㄴ tyh: Lmao if you can't get the item, don't blame the devs, blame your own wallet~
ㄴ Anonymous: Fr lol
ㄴ Turtle-jwa: Diaper Blessing is god! Diaper Blessing is god! Diaper Blessing is god!
ㄴ sbr: Just quit. Escaping the diaper is a matter of IQ.
* * *
The players' grievances were roughly along those lines.
The acquisition methods for artifacts were completely unclear. To be precise, the main issue was how to obtain them when the vast majority of them were held by the Association.
“…….”
But now that I had become a resident of this world, those complaints felt rather amusing.
To put it in perspective, it was like desperately wanting a museum exhibit and asking if you could buy it just because you had cash.
In the first place, the lore dictated that the Association managed them. How could buying and selling them with money ever be feasible?
I once heard a rumor that an oil tycoon offered ten trillion won to buy the Mona Lisa, only to be rejected at the door.
No matter how much money one had, there were some things that simply couldn't be bought. That was reality.
...Though it's a bit rich for me to say that, considering I literally fell into the world of Miracle Blessing M.
Fortunately, Andvaranaut was managed privately by the Nibelung family. This was because the first Sword Saint, Aaron Nibelung, had acquired it seven hundred years ago.
Among players, there had been rumors like, 'Maybe you can get it if Leon marries into the Nibelung family?'
Of course, I had never actually seen any proof of someone pulling it off.
—Anyway.
Why on earth was he trying to hand over such an ultra-rare item to me? It would make sense if it were the protagonist, Leon, but me?
What is he really up to?
I couldn't fathom the Sword Emperor's intentions, let alone his reasoning.
It was far too suspicious to simply nod and think, 'Wow, what a stroke of luck.'
So, I asked him directly.
“Um, Lord Sword Emperor. This is incredibly sudden. Could you explain your reasoning?”
“Ah! Come to think of it, I forgot to explain the reason first, haha. I suppose I really am getting old.”
The Sword Emperor scratched his cheek sheepishly before offering an explanation.
“First, let's make one thing clear. This is strictly a transfer of 'possession,' not 'ownership.' As much as I would like to simply give it to you... the laws surrounding artifacts are numerous and highly sensitive.”
In this world, artifacts were far more than mere items. They were global assets capable of shifting the balance of power between nations.
“So, please understand this as a temporary 'loan.'”
“When you say temporary, it sounds as though there is something I must do with Andvaranaut immediately.”
The Sword Emperor laughed heartily. He nodded in agreement and elaborated.
“I like how quickly you catch on. You save precious time for an old man who is busy dying day by day.”
“…I'll take that as a compliment.”
“I think of this from time to time, but your tact is far beyond your years. You carry yourself with the seasoned air of someone who has spent a lifetime dealing with elders.”
This old man had an uncanny ability to read people.
“At any rate, it is only natural that you are curious. I will get straight to the point. Andvaranaut is merely a means to an end. What truly matters is the purpose behind it.”
“Pardon?”
My eyes widened. I doubted my ears at the claim that an artifact was a mere tool. A knowing smile played on the Sword Emperor's lips.
“In truth, this is the very reason I summoned you to Castle Sigurd... To be frank, I lacked certainty back then, so I intended to train you until the end of the break. But after hearing what happened in the undead dungeon from Shail, I changed my mind. Geomma, you are already more than qualified.”
I fell silent at his words, a bitter taste in my mouth. I had cut down this old man's own flesh and blood.
Squeeze.
Suddenly, the Sword Emperor placed a hand on my shoulder, a faint smile on his face.
“There is no need to look like that. If anything, I came to express my gratitude. I will ensure you are properly rewarded. However, let us prioritize what I mentioned first. If you can accomplish this, it will be worth far more than any monetary compensation.”
“…….”
The Sword Emperor withdrew his hand from my shoulder. Then, he spoke with gravity.
“I want you to fulfill the Sword Saint's longing.”
* * *
We headed straight to the Swiss Central Bank. After stating his purpose with brief clarity, the Sword Emperor had me tag along.
He claimed that explaining any further would only make it harder to understand. The Sword Emperor had always preferred brief explanations and swift execution.
To be fair, it wasn't just him; most adults tended to operate that way.
When we stepped out to the castle entrance, Butler Karon was waiting for us.
“I shall escort the two of you safely to the bank.”
I wondered why the butler was driving instead of our usual speed-demon maid, but the Sword Emperor explained that she had been given a few days off.
Well, Shail did go through a lot.
The Sword Emperor and I climbed into the car. Butler Karon took the wheel.
...Yet, for some reason, Karon's hands were trembling as they gripped the wheel.
Come to think of it, hadn't Abel mentioned before that this old man was a terrible driver?
Just as that thought crossed my mind, Karon stiffly turned his head back.
“W-we shall depart now.”
Uttering the words with zero confidence, he pressed down on the accelerator with agonizing slowness.
“…….”
I stared out the window at the sky. The car Karon was driving moved slower than the drifting clouds. No, it was practically crawling.
For the first time, I actually missed Shail's reckless driving.
* * *
2:00 PM, at the Swiss Central Bank.
The bank manager was visibly sweating bullets, his eyes glued to the wall clock.
“Isn't the Sword Emperor way past his scheduled arrival time?”
“Yes, Bank Manager. He was originally scheduled to arrive by noon... It has already been two hours.”
Click, clack. The crisp sound of footsteps echoed through the lobby, contrasting sharply with the tense, restless atmosphere.
“A Swiss watch is never wrong. Why is he so late...? Ugh, my nerves are shot. Secretary Shim, get me two calming pills.”
The bank manager tossed the pills down his throat. Shuddering slightly as they went down, he turned to his secretary.
“Secretary Shim, you heard about it too, right? The Sword Emperor and Karon storming the Association. Thank goodness no blood was shed, but I heard it was absolute chaos.”
“Yes, sir. It didn't make the news, but the financial district is flooded with rumors.”
“I just hope we don't get dragged into this mess. Dammit, I don't even know which side to align with... It looks like the President has already thrown his support behind the Sword Emperor.”
The bank manager bit his nails, his eyes darting around anxiously.
Secretary Shim asked, “If he's backing the Sword Emperor, does that mean he's ultimately aligning with Principal Medea?”
“Exactly. There are already rumors that the Association is trying to muscle in on Joaquin Academy, and very soon at that. Next year at the latest, but it could be as early as right after the break.”
“…Then the power struggle inside the academy is going to be brutal.”
The bank manager shrugged and gave a slight nod.
“Indeed. Even if the Association's influence grew after the Council of Elders was ousted, they still lack legitimacy. It's only natural they'd covet Joaquin Academy.”
“That makes sense.”
“The Council of Elders didn't cling to the academy despite being sidelined for nothing. There's no strategic stronghold quite like it in this world. Plus, for the Association, it's a goldmine of talent they can scout early. They're tired of losing prospects to American agencies all the time.”
Ending the conversation, the bank manager stepped up onto a small platform and barked orders at his staff.
“Anyway, keep your heads on straight today! We have a direct order from President Gaines to accommodate our three guests with the utmost care. And above all, keep your mouths shut. If anyone leaks a single word of this, a forced resignation will be the least of your worries.”
Swiss banks prioritized client privacy above all else. Combined with the President's personal directive, this was a top-secret matter that couldn't be whispered even to one's own family.
But...
“Three people? I thought only the Sword Emperor and Lord Karon were coming.”
At Secretary Shim's question, the bank manager frowned and let out a heavy sigh.
“Yeah. I only found out yesterday myself. But it's highly suspicious. For some reason, the President seemed far more concerned about the third guest than the other two. You could practically hear it dripping from his voice.”
Secretary Shim's eyes wavered. President Gaines was a man of sharp political calculation—a leader perfectly suited to govern a neutral nation like Switzerland.
Yet, there was someone Gaines was paying closer attention to than even Sword Emperor Siegfried or Rakshasa Karon?
They had to be someone extraordinary. Instantly, an urge to introduce himself to this mysterious figure welled up inside him.
Secretary Shim swallowed hard, his throat dry with a strange sense of anticipation.
Secretary Shim's gaze shifted to the bank manager.
This toad-faced manager had only secured his position by aligning himself with the right people.
Meanwhile, Shim had worked at the Swiss Central Bank for nearly ten years and was still stuck as a mere secretary. He was desperate for a promotion.
This is my chance... I have to make a lasting impression.
A tense silence settled over the lobby. Just as the rest of the staff were lost in similar calculations—
Creak—
The heavy doors swung open. As if on cue, every eye in the room snapped toward the entrance.
Butler Karon was the first to step through, followed closely by the Sword Emperor, whose boots clicked against the polished marble floor.
The bank manager scrambled toward the entrance.
“Lord Sword Emperor! It is an honor to see you again. I trust you have been well?”
The Sword Emperor cast a chilly glance at the bank manager. Under the oppressive weight radiating from those golden eyes, the manager's lips puckered up like a squid shriveling on a grill.
The Sword Emperor let out a soft sigh at the reaction, giving a brief nod.
“I'll be imposing on you today.”
“Ah, of course, of course! The item you requested has already been secured in the VIP vault.”
“Thank you.”
The Sword Emperor gave a curt reply. In the next moment, another shadow stretched across the threshold.
Step, step.
The eyes of everyone in the room, including the bank manager and Secretary Shim, locked onto the doorway. This was the individual who might demand even more deference than the Sword Emperor himself.
The footsteps echoed as they crossed into the lobby.
Finally, a black-haired youth stepped forward, flanking himself right between Sword Emperor Siegfried and Rakshasa Karon. It was Kang Geomma.
With his hands shoved deep into his pockets, Kang Geomma swept his gaze across the room with indifferent eyes. Despite the palpable shock in the air, his posture remained entirely relaxed.
“……!”
The eyes locked onto him wavered violently. Amidst the heavy silence, hushed whispers began to ripple through the crowd.
The initial daze faded from their eyes, replaced gradually by sheer disbelief.
Murmur, murmur.
The sight before them was a silent declaration: Kang Geomma already stood on equal footing with the two legends beside him.
The boy was only seventeen years old.