Exposed Secret -1-

Yuria had left a week ago. The empire was now buzzing because of the unidentified dungeon discovered in Hamel, drawing adventurers nonstop.

Word of a dungeon in Hamel had spread, and adventurers flocked there dreaming of striking it rich. As they headed to the bustling streets to gear up, they passed between the walls of our mansion, and we just stared at them blankly.

"It's definitely an unidentified dungeon, right? Please, just one juicy artifact."

"Bullshit. You think it'll be that easy? Should've prayed at the church like me."

"Ugh, you moron. Quit gambling already."

Watching the hopeful adventurers' backs as they departed, I muttered softly.

"Pfft."

The quiet second-floor lady's room. The lady frowned at the worn bundle on the bed.

"This is the four-dimensional pouch Ricardo mentioned?"

"Yes."

A shabby bundle stitched crudely here and there. When she poked it with her finger, a clear chime rang out.

"Oh...!"

The lady nodded.

"A pouch that grants wishes!"

"Exactly. This is a four-dimensional pouch that fulfills any wish."

Her eyes widened round as she focused intently on the worn bundle, treating it like a sacred relic. Afraid to touch it carelessly, she shot me a pleading look.

"Can I conquer the world with this?"

"...Do you want to?"

"Yeah."

Her utterly unexpected reply made me quickly avert my gaze. She asked again.

"Is it possible?"

"...Well, that's a bit."

"What? Lame."

Her interest ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠fading, she swatted the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠bundle with an argh, and with a rumble, gold coins gleaming brilliantly poured out.

She pointed at the gold coins, her face screaming what the hell?

"Treasure?"

I nodded.

"Treasure."

The treasures inside the bundle were what we'd gotten from exploring a dusty dungeon over a three-day, two-night trip a week ago. The get-rich-quick prizes adventurers craved were right here in this shabby pouch.

Unable to close her gaping mouth in shock, the lady's hands trembled.

"Wishes... I can make them come true."

"Not even close with this."

"...Not enough?"

"No."

"Still good."

She smiled, stuffing the gold coins into her chest pocket, her hands moving fast like a bank robber sweeping up cash. I said,

"What are you doing?"

"Saving."

"In there?"

She nodded. Seeing her odd new habit, I enjoyed the eye candy as always and felt great.

Maybe... this is even better.

I started pulling dungeon loot from the bed.

"Oh...!"

As shiny items lined up on the bed one by one, her eyes went wide and she clapped.

"See them?"

Golden bracelets, golden cups, and more. Dazzled by the blinding treasure feast, she clutched her forehead and swayed.

"Ack... My eyes are gonna go blind."

I shrugged like it was nothing.

"This is our wealth now."

"We're not poor anymore?"

"Yes."

"For real?"

She stared at me in disbelief. Today, more than anyone, she looked at me ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠with pride, making my face flush—it'd been ages since I'd gotten this treatment.

She gave a thumbs-up, flashing a fresh smile and hurling top-tier praise my way.

"I'm proud of you!"

I scratched the back of my head, blushing.

"I know."

Humming at her praise, I unpacked the rest.

This was a gift for Malik. Thinking of him, who was about due for aura awakening, I'd grabbed it from the dungeon. Aura was notorious for guzzling mana.

For swordsmen, mana was for low-cost support spells like body enhancement. But after awakening aura, you had to pump up your total mana to rival mages.

For Malik now, mana wasn't just nice to have—it was essential. Even a little boost meant one extra sword beam, potentially winning fights. He'd probably been hunting for something like this.

If the elixir mailed safely, he'd probably visit the mansion. It was that pricey, invaluable.

If he did, I'd snag some Forest Friend meal vouchers. I set the elixir aside and pulled out a sword poking from the pouch.

A pure white scabbard sheathed the blade.

This sword was for Hanna. When we parted last time, I'd vowed in my heart to gift it—the one Mikhail used mid-novel.

I hefted it. Too light for me, blade too short. Elegant design and dual effects made it a shame, but it didn't fit my grip. More importantly, it suited a woman like Hanna better than me.

Mikhail was such a prodigy, he'd grow fine without it. No worries. He didn't cling to gear anyway, and with his talent, this handicap was fair.

Setting aside gifts for the Histania siblings, I felt an odd gaze.

-Stare... The lady pretending disinterest while eyeing the pouch for her gift.

"..."

Expectant, sparkling eyes. Dodging playfully, I heard her deep sigh of woe.

Whew, good thing I prepared separately.

I'd set aside something special for her. Smiling awkwardly, I pulled a necklace from the pouch.

Wonder if she'll like it.

"This is for you, miss."

Gold frame with a red gem. Her eyes widened in delight.

"Ex...pen...sive-looking."

"It is expensive."

"Ooooh..."

She held it to the sunlight, admiring its sparkle—twirling left, upside down. Even chomp.

I said,

"It's dirty."

"Gold doesn't get dirty."

"What nonsense."

"Ricardo, Mom said once: Shiny things are always right."

True enough. I nodded. Shiny was always right—gold coins, gold, the lady's chocolate-smeared... anyway.

Her words held, but biting a dusty dungeon necklace wasn't hygienic. Monsters might've played with it, or the owner dirtied it.

I snatched it, wiping dust with a white handkerchief.

"Anyway, it's dirty."

"No it's not."

"See."

I showed the black grime on the cloth.

"Eww."

She grimaced, rinsing her mouth with water—spit spit—then fixed on the necklace.

"How much if we sell it?"

"The necklace?"

Right away, asking price—such a proper noble lady, loving material things.

I pondered her question, wanting to boast, mixing truth and hype.

Dungeon artifact, so probably...

"Ten thousand gold, I'd say?"

"Hiet...! That much?"

"Probably."

She gazed lovingly at it.

"I like it."

"Glad you do."

She hesitated.

"But it's so expensive... okay to give me?"

"You wore pricier before."

"Still... this is pricey. Could buy ten years of beef?"

Post-beggar life, her economic sense was spot-on. Admirable, but I'd decided it was hers upon seeing it.

"It's fine. Suits you."

"Really? It does?"

"Yes. Thought you were a goddess."

"Heehee.."

She beamed happily. I wiped it clean and clasped it around her snowy neck. The ornate piece fit perfectly. She was so pretty with great skin—obvious, but seeing it suit her so well filled me with pride.

Good call bringing it.

Not in the novel, but solid ability, so I brought it. Her liking it made me happy too.

In that brief distraction—

-Rustle... rustle.

She was rummaging in the pouch already. My gifts not enough? Face buried in dust, I spitefully sealed the opening.

"Eeeeek...!"

"Ricardo...! The pouch is eating me!"

She flailed.

"Eek."

Before her foul curse, I opened it. Dust-caked, she glared fiercely.

"Ugh... "

Dust ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠clumped in her hair. I glanced at the window, whistling.

"Pouch monster must've found you tasty."

"Liar. You did it."

"Busted?"

"Yeah."

Brief silence, then she thrust her arm vigorously—aiming to hurl a gold coin from the pouch.

"Such lame attacks won't hit m—"

I dodged, but she grabbed my wrist instead, offering a gold bracelet.

Beaming innocently, she said,

"This is for Ricardo."

"For me?"

"Yep."

She smiled brightly, dust in hair, pure grin stirring warmth in me.

She took my right wrist, about to clasp the bracelet herself—then froze stiff.

"Ricardo."

"Yes?"

Staring at my right sleeve, question mark over head, eyes full of reproach—I had no clue why.

"You have bandages on your hand?"

"Ah..."

I smiled awkwardly.

"You hate tattoos."

She stated firmly.

"I like them now."

"I'm embarrassed."

She called me.

"Bad."

Today too, I was hated.