Securing the S-Rank Rune
‘But?’ I waited calmly for Karimru’s next words, wondering if there might be some unexpected snag. If I couldn’t get the item I wanted, there’d be no point in even entering the treasury. A slight tension crept in. One slip-up here, and I’d have to go through the whole roundabout process again.
“Regrettably, you can only access the first floor.”
Ah, that was it? I let out a quiet sigh of relief inside.
The Sama Battleground treasury consisted of three floors in total. The third floor housed only the rarest treasures—items so valuable that even one leaking out could spark a bloodbath. The second floor wasn’t quite at that level but was stocked with high-grade treasures starting from B-rank at minimum. And the first floor? It held treasures that were comparatively less precious by comparison. It was the floor opened periodically to distribute rewards.
This was where the most treasures from the Sama Battleground treasury were checked out—and checked back in. That was the first floor.
The thing I’m after is on the first floor anyway. I smirked inwardly. As long as I could pick what I wanted from there, I didn’t care.
“Of course. That’s all I had in mind anyway. Though... I’d like to take a look around first before choosing my reward...”
Before I could even finish saying I wanted to pick my own item, Karimru cut in.
“Naturally. Though you can only choose one, anything on the first floor—whatever you desire—take it with you.”
“Thank you!”
I bowed my head immediately in gratitude. Things were going exactly as I’d hoped.
As long as that item is still there.
It has to be. No way it’s gone.
“Oh, and one more thing! The elders’ meeting decided to grant Kind trainee a small spirit pill as well. Coincidence or not, his discovery of the ghost ant code was recognized as a merit. We’ll summon him separately to hand it over, but give him a heads-up beforehand, will you?”
I couldn’t help but admire that inwardly. Kind, you lucky bastard. It was all thanks to me, but who knows if he’d realize it. Still, it eased my guilt a bit about putting him out front.
Might as well raise him properly while I’m at it?
Kind seemed to have decent talent. His loyalty to me felt genuine too. Train him right, and he could become a reliable subordinate to handle my dirty work.
Hmm, I’ll think it over more.
* * *
The treasury was right next to the main palace of the Sama Battleground. It was always guarded by a heavy contingent of warriors standing ironclad watch. Even the flies buzzing around numbered in the hundreds. One might call it overkill, but considering it held all the Sama Battleground’s treasures, it was anything but excessive.
“Here we are. You have one hour, so take your time examining the items and make your choice before time’s up.”
Haon, Karimru’s secretary, had escorted me to the treasury entrance.
“If you don’t pick anything within the hour, that’s it. Keep that in mind.”
He handed me a palm-sized hourglass as he spoke. When the sand ran out, exactly one hour would have passed. It had a string attached, so I took it and hung it around my neck.
“Look carefully—sometimes treasures worthy of the second floor get mixed in. Choose wisely. Good luck.”
Haon flashed a warm smile of encouragement. I nodded back, thinking to myself,
I’m already planning to snag something that belongs on the third floor.
If he knew what was on my mind, Haon would’ve keeled over in shock.
Screeech.
As the guards opened the door and I stepped inside, the musty scent of the warehouse hit me, and my eyes widened at the sight.
Whoa.
A soft exclamation escaped my lips. Even on the first floor, treasures glittered and sparkled from every direction, scattering brilliant light.
Weapons, armor, accessories. That wasn’t all. One section held runes of every variety. Another was stocked with spirit elixirs.
So this is what it looks like inside.
Ironically, this was my first time in the treasury. I’d received plenty of support before, but never come in person.
I knew it existed, but it was always out of my league.
By the time I’d grown strong enough to qualify, the Sama Battleground had already fallen apart. All its treasures had ended up in the hands of the four great lords.
If I devoured all those elixirs, I could molt straight into the juvenile stage.
I eyed the elixirs longingly. I was at the cusp of juvenile stage, so they tempted me fiercely.
Pie in the sky. I smacked my lips once, then began surveying the first floor.
It was vast—easily over 3,000 square feet. Thoroughly checking every item in an hour was next to impossible. So I headed straight for the spot I’d heard about.
Far left corner. That’s where it was found.
I moved quickly. Past the dazzling displays, I stopped at a dimly lit area piled with faded, dusty items.
Unlike the neatly categorized treasures elsewhere, these were a jumbled mess of miscellaneous goods.
Items whose uses hadn’t been fully figured out—and thus neglected.
They called this the gacha pile, right?
Occasionally, something from here turned out worthy of the second floor. That’s what Haon had mentioned before I entered—the treasures exceeding first-floor quality mostly came from this spot.
But it wasn’t called gacha for nothing. Most were pretty junk.
Where’s that necklace...
What I sought was a necklace—an amber one with an amber gem at its center.
I scanned the junk intently, eyes sharp.
...It’s not here?
My face hardened as I swept the area again. The amber necklace I’d heard about was nowhere in sight.
Maybe it hasn’t been checked in yet? No, that doesn’t make sense. I heard it was obtained here not long ago.
I circled back, examining carefully. Then I spotted an unassuming, dusty old box tucked away.
Could it be...
I carefully pulled out the box. About the size of two palms pressed together, thick dust coated the top.
Something told me this was it. Heart pounding, I pried it open.
Whoosh.
A burst of yellow light erupted from within. Nestled inside was a necklace radiating a soft amber glow.
Found it!
My eyes gleamed at the amber necklace. First time seeing it for real, but instinct told me an S-rank rune slumbered within that gem.
No hesitation—I snatched the box.
* * *
“This is what you’ve chosen?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm... Understood. There must be a reason.”
Haon had been waiting outside. He eyed the box with a hint of disappointment. To him, it wasn’t some hidden second-floor gem—just a pretty bauble of unknown use.
No eye for treasure.
Haon muttered inwardly. A slim mantis like Aleck should’ve picked a rune to boost his physical stats. The first floor had plenty that could help right away, even if not top-tier. And body-enhancing elixirs overflowed.
Yet he’d dug through junk for a necklace.
Did I jinx him?
Haon clicked his tongue inside. Mentioning second-floor treasures might’ve swayed him. No take-backs now. He just hoped the necklace had some hidden option that’d prove useful.
Otherwise, he’d feel bad for saying anything.
But the odds are slim.
Even if it did, would it suit Aleck? Haon shook his head inwardly—but he had no way of knowing the truth.
That necklace held an S-rank runestone, one that would prove a massive boon to Aleck now and far into the future.
* * *
A quiet night. Tonight, a new chapter in my history would begin.
I sat cross-legged in the center of my room, gazing at the amber necklace before me.
Click.
Prying out the amber gem, it shimmered with a proud, iridescent glow.
The rune’s inside.
The gem was thumb-sized, round. Peer closely, and a tiny yellow stone—like a thumbnail—gleamed within.
That was the S-rank runestone I’d strived for.
Lucky break.
Securing it was my top growth priority, but odds were fifty-fifty. Yet through twists and turns, it was mine.
Heart racing, I gripped the gem between thumbs and forefingers.
Crack.
It split cleanly, spilling the runestone free. I could break it because it wasn’t real—a fake gem crafted to house an S-rank rune.
The necklace’s glow came from this runestone, not the amber.
I stared at the S-rank rune on my palm, enraptured. This would be my second.
Equipping two runes from infancy? Unprecedented.
Runes maxed at five in ultimate body. First in infancy. Second in maturity. Third in complete body. Last two in ultimate.
So what were runes?
Mysterious crystals holding unknown powers.
You couldn’t change your innate traits, but you chose your runes. They could shatter species limits, break through bottlenecks.
Choosing right was crucial for growth.
Once absorbed, no swapping.
They fused instantly with your body. You could upgrade later ones, but not replace.
Hence, caution. Standard was growth stage or later, after self-understanding.
But not this life.
I’ve had three slots open since infancy.
Perks of reaching ultimate before? Or something else? Runes’ secrets were barely unveiled even twenty years post-regression.
In the game on Earth, no one started with three.
But I have a hunch.
The legends of ancient races devs revealed. They wielded dozens of runes, unleashing transcendent might.
So my three slots? Inheriting Megaera Mantis ancient power.
Logical. And who knew how many more I’d unlock?
Absorb all the irregular runes I couldn’t before due to slot limits, without mistakes...
My power would be unimaginable.
Shiver.
Thrilled at the thought, I popped the S-rank runestone into my mouth.
Rumble rumble rumble.
Thunder roared in my gut.