Chapter 105
Chapter 105
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 105
Chapter Title: Treasures of the Royal Vault
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I lifted my gaze toward the sky. The heavens were gradually dyed in sunset hues, a reddish glow spreading across them.
I was curious about Set's request, but it was clear at a glance that it wasn't something trivial. If it had been a minor matter, that arrogant Set wouldn't have come to me in the first place.
'First things first, the report to the palace.'
With my thoughts sorted, I spoke to Set.
"Hmm, that looks like quite the lengthy tale. How about we discuss it over dinner at my lodgings later?"
"...Fine. We'll do it that way. It's not the kind of story for the open road, anyway."
Even though his matter had been pushed back, Set withdrew without protest.
That meant it was truly a weighty request.
'Already giving me a headache.'
Shoving aside the rising worry along with Set, I headed for the palace to make my report.
I needed to claim my reward first, after all.
The royal treasury of the Philador Kingdom.
Though these days it was treated like a continental granary by the rest of the world—a nation of middling power—
in the past, it had once gripped the hegemony of the alliance based on the endless resources from its fertile lands.
The treasures accumulated through such a long history couldn't possibly be shabby.
The fact that such precious items slumbered in a kingdom of ambiguous strength meant just how many eyes were coveting them.
Yet, throughout that long and storied history, not a single group, faction, or nation had ever successfully raided the Philador royal treasury.
The reason was singular.
The mystical protection enveloping the treasury—the formation.
This peculiar power, neither magic nor divine force, was said to have been created by a Black Lion who had received the kingdom's grace.
According to legend, he taught the full method of entry and exit only to the royal family.
Across generations, the kingdom's royals had passed down these methods to the gatekeepers in fragmented pieces.
Aside from a tiny handful of royals who knew everything, no one grasped the sequence or the entry methods—a vault shrouded in mystery.
That was why no one had ever plundered it.
Any kingdom's treasury held precious treasures, but the Philador royal vault proudly boasted the record of never once being ransacked, making my heart race a little despite myself.
'The royal treasury, known only by rumor. What treasures might be hidden inside?'
Guided by the attendant, I arrived before the vault, where a mystical mist filled the air despite the clear weather.
"Welcome, Young Master Jerome. We've been informed of the details."
An elderly man standing at the vault's entrance greeted me.
The old man, with eyebrows so long they obscured his vision, exuded an uncanny aura.
"I'll guide you. Follow me."
With that, the elder picked up a lantern and headed inside. I thanked the attendant who had brought me this far and followed behind.
Step... step...
Even with the lantern's light illuminating the interior, nothing was visible. I could only sense the old man's presence ahead.
How much farther did we go?
"From here on... the next guide will take over..."
Somehow, in this warped space, his voice echoed even though he was right in front of me.
Swoosh—
Before the elder's eyes, an identical old man appeared, receiving the lantern and bowing to me.
"Pleased to meet you, Young Master... I'll guide you from here."
Step... step...
How many such handoffs did we go through?
Finally, the fifth elder to receive the lantern halted.
"This is the place... Normally open for one hour, but with two keys... you have two hours to search... Choose only two items... Unlikely, but if you take more... this mist will consume you... Be especially cautious..."
Memorizing the elder's warnings, I finally opened the door to the royal vault.
'It looked like a mere speck from outside, but the inside is quite spacious.'
Clunk—!
Confirming I'd opened the door, the elder repeated the warning.
"Don't forget... two hours..."
"Yes, understood."
Reassuring him, I peered inside, where treasures beyond the eye's grasp adorned my retinas.
"Whew. At this rate, I couldn't even tour the whole place in two hours."
If I inspected each one individually, I'd cover less than 1%.
Such a brute-force method was out of the question.
"Well then, shall we begin?"
I sat cross-legged in the vault, closed my eyes, and began circulating Earth.
Suddenly, the positions of weapons imbued with energy became perceptible throughout.
The first item I sought was a weapon.
Not just any weapon, but one sturdy enough to complement my Steel.
Such arms naturally differed from the ordinary.
Shhh—
The forms of countless weapons within the vast vault etched themselves in my mind.
'Swords, axes, spears... What's this? A bow? They have those too.'
Numerous weapons passed by, but the one I desired eluded me.
'Tch. They say even famous parties run out of food... A bust?'
As I resigned and withdrew my energy—
'...Found it!'
I opened my eyes and dashed to the vault's farthest corner.
Probably rarely requested, it had been naturally pushed to the back during inventory.
The item I'd found lay deepest in the corner.
A gauntlet.
Unlike the flashy arms around it, this gauntlet appeared at first glance like a rusted lump of ordinary metal.
But I could sense it—the extraordinary power contained within.
Injecting mana into the neglected, rust-covered gauntlet, it began to tremble faintly.
Bzzz!
With the vibration, rust flaked off in showers, revealing a gleaming golden true form.
True gold—orichalcum.
"This... I think I snagged something better than expected."
Slipping the gauntlet onto my arm, it automatically adjusted to my hand's size.
Click! Snap!
Unlike ordinary gauntlets, upon donning, the section below the elbow extended—like a shield.
Wiggling my fingers a couple times, it felt as comfortable as if nothing were there.
"Got myself a fine piece."
Satisfied with the gauntlet, I surveyed the surroundings.
I wielded two powers: aura and Heterogenous Power.
Having secured a weapon to bolster my aura, next was naturally a treasure to enhance my Heterogenous Power.
"Now, where could it be..."
Heterogenous Power was, in truth, the power of discovering one's inner myriad forms.
The talentless couldn't learn it—that was normal.
Yet, a rare few Black Lions could implant their myriad forms as script.
Such scripted tomes were called secret manuals.
Due to their rarity surpassing most weapons or treasures, and the need for waveform compatibility with the authoring Black Lion, acquiring Heterogenous Power via manual was nearly impossible.
Still, you never know.
'Nothing to lose.'
As one of the world's greatest treasure troves, the royal vault just might hold a Heterogenous Power matching my waveform.
Thus began the hunt for a manual.
Unlike the quick find of the gauntlet, manuals proved elusive.
Books required content inspection—unlike weapons—making checks time-consuming.
And manuals were inherently ultra-rare.
Time flew by; no suitable item appeared.
"Tch, a shame, but maybe settle for this?"
While searching manuals, I'd spotted silver thread that seemed useful for Saladin—kept as insurance if no manual turned up.
But without even glimpsing the manuals' end, regret lingered.
"Sigh, time's almost up. No choice—go with this... Huh?"
As I mechanically selected the next book, intending the silver thread as my second pick—
A sensation hit.
This was a manual.
And by that feeling, it matched my waveform.
—Cloud Mist.
That was the book's title.
Flipping the first page, text brimmed with overflowing arrogance assaulted my eyes.
—One who enters the Cloud Mist shall not kill without your permission, one who enters the Cloud Mist.
Shall not fight without your permission, one outside the Cloud Mist. Without your permission, none may eavesdrop on our words.
You who obtain this Cloud Mist—in here, you are as a god.
"Whoa, what an arrogant opener."
Even Black Lions prided themselves on their power, but comparing to a god?
"Hope it has abilities to back up the bravado."
I delved into the Cloud Mist manual.
And soon realized—
This wasn't penned by an ordinary soul.
"This book... It's from the vault's founder."
Before entering.
Despite clear skies, thick mist persisted endlessly—the power of the Black Lion who aided in building the Philador royal vault. The formation.
It detailed exactly that.
Perhaps the Black Lion's will inscribed therein was strong; it vividly imprinted in my mind.
Unwittingly engrossed in the Cloud Mist manual, the guiding elder returned.
"Young Master Jerome... It's time to go... Have you selected all your items...?"
"Ah, has time passed already?"
I closed the book I'd been devouring.
And without hesitation, tucked it into my bosom.
"That book... Are you sure...?"
The elder reconfirmed.
I nodded readily.
"Haha, yes. This book, and as you see, the gauntlet on my hand. These two."
This reward was more than ample—overflowing, even.
'I expected something from the famed royal vault among vaults, but this jackpot exceeds imagination.'
The gauntlet was great, but the formation held strategically immense value.
Hardship ends in bliss, they say. For such bliss, I'd brave prior labors again.
"......"
Yet the elder merely stared fixedly at one spot, unresponsive.
"...What's wrong?"
His gaze refused to shift.
Following it naturally led to—
The silver thread I'd meant for Saladin, now coiled around my arm.
"Oh dear, my apologies. I grabbed it as insurance earlier in case nothing else turned up, but forgot. Haha."
I dropped the silver bundle casually, without attachment.
'Saladin. Sorry.'
I'd briefly considered upgrading his Puppet ability, but only if no manual appeared.
With a manual secured and a satisfying gauntlet, I naturally chose for my own growth.
'Eh, I can buy him some decent silver thread later.'
A manual and silver thread weren't even comparable.
"Gauntlet and book... Understood... This way, Young Master Jerome..."
Only after dropping the silver did the elder note it in his ledger and lead on.
After the same arduous process inbound, we emerged—the sun long hidden shyly.
"You've worked hard, Young Master Jerome. May success fill all your paths."
The vault gatekeeper elder delivered his piece crisply and retreated inside.
Utterly indifferent to my choices.
"At that level, even Philador entrusts him as gatekeeper."
Murmuring admiration, I hurried along the darkened path to my lodgings.
If my guess held, a guest awaited at my door.
And—
My prediction was spot on.
Set Vulcan.
He stood before my door.
