The Archipelago King's Hidden Hoard
Rania couldn't hide her bewilderment as she followed the path Adel led her down.
"This place..."
"To think there's something like this inside the ship's graveyard."
"Sister, watch your step. The barnacles clinging to the rocks are poisonous. They're not life-threatening, but if you accidentally crush one, it'll make moving around uncomfortable for a while."
"Oh, right."
She hurriedly lifted her foot at Adel's words. It was laughable for a hunter who slew massive sea beasts in the strait to flinch at a mere barnacle. But the scene before her eyes was so unbelievable that it justified her reaction.
"Another cave under the sea... Truly, the Archipelago King used his head."
"The Archipelago King is a pirate of renown, after all. And above all, he cherishes the treasures he's amassed over the years. Do you think a man like that would simply let it slide if his secrets were exposed, no matter how vital Sir Bucket was to him?"
"But he's an engineer who can reinforce the archipelago's pirate ships."
"The loot from those pirate ships is pocket change to the Archipelago King. He could command the ancient beast known as the Kraken, after all."
"I suppose... So you're saying he spared Bucket because his true secrets hadn't been uncovered yet."
"Exactly. He's more cunning and meticulous than he seems. He might have even used that secret as bait. If Sir Bucket ever turned traitor and came here, it would give him cause to punish the betrayal."
"Really? Is he that shrewd?"
Rania wore a dubious expression at Adel's words, but he knew better—he remembered the past life.
But even you, Sister, who thought that way, ended up losing a leg to him.
In truth, that incident had happened, but up until then, her assessment of the Archipelago King hadn't differed much from the common view. Hien had been ready to smash the archipelago at once, but the desert lacked enough ships to cross the sea. By the time the opportunity slipped away amid the tribe's turmoil from the Forgotten Ones' assault, the conquest never happened.
What remained of the Garam Archipelago slowly built its power during the central Nine Kingdoms' wars.
No one saw it coming. Who could have guessed that when the central conquest ended, one of the three great evils blocking the continent would be the Archipelago King?
During the central wars, he had hunkered down. Raiding merchant caravans and occasional pillaging were routine nuisances. The warring kingdoms paid him no mind. Then, when the pirate from across the sea declared he'd conquer the continent, one artifact hung around his neck.
Kwaaaang---!!!
Adel shattered the iron door to the small underwater cave in one blow. A barrier spell protected it, but he sliced through the entire thing in a single cut.
Thanks to your clash with the Archipelago King, more of Shan's magic power seems to have been absorbed into your body.
Kalderet remarked as he watched.
Yeah. It's definitely a high dragon's heart. There's still so much magic power left to melt down.
Adel replied, feeling the lump of ice-like magic power lingering in his bloodstream, his voice tinged with anticipation.
"Whoa..."
Unlike Adel, who was pleased at slicing through the barred door, the three behind him gasped in delight at what lay beyond.
"...Insane. Is this really the Archipelago King's treasure?"
Rania swallowed dryly without realizing it. But her reaction was perfectly natural—Kasla and Harun standing beside her wore expressions no different from hers.
Mountains of gold coins piled high. One cave wall had been hollowed out, neatly arrayed with weapons inside. These were clearly not the haphazardly stuffed armaments from the wrecked ships' crates.
"The Archipelago King has been sending pirate ships to sea for over thirty years. He dominated my father's era. A treasure or two in a chest is nothing to him."
"Indeed, you're right, Adel. It makes me realize anew how small my own vessel is."
She had become a hunter of some renown, slaying many beasts in turn. But her skill lay in the hunt alone; she still lacked much else.
"Sister, I believe your prowess wouldn't yield easily even to our brothers'. But to climb higher, you'll need various things."
"Enough. I didn't say this to you, but I won't use anything but weapons forged in the desert."
Adel nodded in agreement with her words. As Hien's daughter, bound by pride she must uphold, it was a natural stance.
"But ignoring a path to strength for the sake of pride isn't the desert way."
Adel walked to the cave wall lined with weapons. From thick greatswords to axes, spears, bows... He pulled one out from the array.
Click.
It was a massive bow. Unlike ordinary wooden bows, the grip gleamed silver, etched with unknown runes.
"What's this? It doesn't look like an engraved blessing..."
"It's a Wind Bow, used by the gray elves of old. Not a blessing, but spirit runes engraved upon it."
Whoooong...
As Adel gripped the handle tightly, a faint wind arose with a sound, and the bowstring trembled.
"No one can make them now. The elves are nearly extinct... and the sources for Brilliant Mana Stones are gone."
"That bow... It's really made from that?"
"Yes. Hui-gang-seok looks like ordinary wood in light, but in darkness like this, it shines silver. Not ideal for night ambushes, but..."
Pang---!!!
When Adel drew the string, an explosive roar erupted.
"An archer strong enough to draw this wouldn't need ambushes."
"Huh?!"
He tossed the 【Wind Bow】 to Harun. Harun caught it reflexively, staring in confusion.
"Plus, Harun, with your range, you could even use it for ambushes. Ordinary folk won't even see the arrows coming."
"You want me to use this?"
"Yeah. Why? Don't want it?"
"No, it's not that, but..."
"Sister has her reasons, but you two don't. For my hunting party, getting stronger comes before desert pride."
Adel then examined gear for Kasla.
"I'll take this. I've got a sword and bow already."
Kasla had already chosen hers—a thick wrist bracer. Tilting her hand down produced a shling! as a small shield deployed.
"Kalupan. One of the gnomes' toys, but useful enough. Good eye."
"I know my weaknesses. I can't shoot arrows as far as Harun. I end up in close quarters, and I hate to admit it, but I'm outmatched in raw strength."
Adel nodded at the wrist shield.
"Balance of offense and defense is key."
"Excellent choice. Knowing your flaws is vital. No need for me to explain."
She didn't know it, but Adel was inwardly astonished for another reason.
To think she'd pick that...
Kasla's wrist shield was called Kalupan. In his past life, someone else had wielded it—one of the twenty high-god contractors who aided Karon with him: Ols of Absolute Rejection.
He contracted with Mesha, the high god of earth, after Hien's death left the seat vacant.
The desert south's hegemon was undoubtedly the Ulan tribe, but another great power rivaled them. After Hien's death as the center unified, Ulan waned, and the Lairan tribe rose as desert lords. They allied with Garam Archipelago against Azal Kingdom, and Ols had used this very Kalupan then.
Right now, it's just a small shield, but with added parts, it becomes a special weapon.
With the Archipelago King dead, only Adel knew its secret. Rania certainly wouldn't.
Adel could barely hide his satisfaction at Kasla's unexpected pick.
"How did you even know about these?"
Rania asked in wonder.
"Read about them in books. You heard I learned to read by studying them."
"...You expect me to buy that?"
"No reason not to."
She knew that meant drop it.
"What about you? Need anything?"
Reading him, she offered first.
"Can I take something? I devoured all the gear from the wrecked ship's crates earlier."
"Of course. We wouldn't have found this without you, and even I with no eye for gear can see these are leagues above the others."
She gestured to the arrayed weapons.
"You could have monopolized this place if you wanted, yet you told me... Two possibilities."
"What are they?"
"One, you truly mean to give it all to me. Or there's one item here worth more than everything else."
"Haha, impressive, Sister."
"I'm simple, but not clueless. Take what you want. Whatever it is, I know it's beyond what I can handle."
Rania nodded slightly.
"Greed is something I shouldn't indulge. What you left me is more than enough."
"Thank you. But as you said, even if I could take it all, giving you these weapons matters more than your trust—more than the gear itself."
"Is that so?"
"With these, your hunting party can rival our brothers' without relying on desert aid."
Indeed, as Adel said, Rania always felt her strait-based party lagged behind her brothers' desert-backed ones. She knew it was unavoidable to avoid clashes, but as leader, it rankled.
"Of course. And I won't forget it's thanks to you."
"Thank you."
With her permission, Adel reached under the weapon wall without hesitation.
"This one will do for me."
Everyone who expected a sword or bow stared in surprise at his choice.
"...You sure that's enough?"
"Yes."
It was a shabby pendant tied with thin cord. Inside gleamed a blue gem, dull and lightless—like cheap glass jewelry from a street vendor. No fine craftsmanship, and the pendant's crude engravings were even worse.
"Ahem... Well, if that's what you want."
Rania replied, unable to fathom its use.
Chaling—
The necklace swayed. But Adel smiled, satisfied with the sound.
The Archipelago King's artifact that had reversed countless battles.