The Price of Greed

The dwarves’ faces lit up at my words.

“What? You’ve got something for us to fire?”

“Just say the word! We’ll blow the whole place to smithereens.”

These bastards just love firing cannons. It didn’t matter if the target was the Garden Guard or the Vigilantes; they just wanted to blast something. Crazy bastards. Still, I couldn’t exactly blame them. We had six massive cannons at our disposal. I’d want to fire them too.

“Follow me.”

I took the lead, and the pint-sized dwarves hummed tunes, marching in step with joyful enthusiasm. Wagner and I led them out of the prison. Since all the Vigilantes in the hideout were gathered in the main cavern, there was no one left to stop us. This is why internal enemies are so terrifying. Dawson had been far too complacent. No matter how well-hidden his secret hideout was, he should have kept his guard up until the very end. He was about to pay a bitter price for that negligence.

“Aha—so you want to concentrate our firepower on the central cavern.”

“That’ll be quite a sight.”

The dwarves cackled as I laid out the plan.

“Sounds fun. We’ll need to be careful with the impact points so the cave doesn’t collapse on us—”

“Better use shells with a wide fragmentation radius, right?”

“Speed is key. Let’s use the second and third volleys to block their retreat.”

The dwarves huddled together, debating and adjusting the cannon positions. If I hadn’t infiltrated this place, they would have been laughing just like this while blowing Garden to pieces. A chill ran down my spine.

“Preparations are almost done. Should we fire as soon as we’re ready?”

“No. There’s still work to be done. Wait until I give the signal.”

I hid behind a cave pillar and looked down at the cavern. The armed Vigilantes were preparing for the battle to come, and in front of them, the officers and Dawson were talking with grave expressions.

“Wagner, there’s somewhere we need to go for a second.”

I pulled Wagner away into a corner. Taking down the Vigilantes was important, of course, but there was a place we had to visit before the Guard arrived. The vault where the Vigilantes kept the wealth they’d hoarded. We had to clean it out before the Guard showed up.

Gotta grab what I can. Why else would I have risked my life to infiltrate this place? Gotta make that money.

The secret vault in the underground cave. The Vigilante who had been dozing against the door brightened up when he saw us.

“Oh, is it shift change already? A bit early, but—wait, hey, what are you doing?”

Crack.

With a single blow of a mace, the Vigilante’s body crumpled like a rag doll.

“They didn’t even bother guarding the prison, but they sure as hell protect the vault.”

Wagner wiped the blood off his mace, looking dumbfounded. It seemed Dawson wanted to protect his vault even if the world ended. Typical of a greedy bastard like him.

Works for me. I get to claim all the wealth he’s hoarded. From Dawson’s perspective, he’d be doing all the hard work just to hand it over to a dog. But that’s his own fault—who can he blame?

“The lock is pretty sturdy,” Wagner said, examining the mechanism on the vault door.

“Can’t force it open. Does this guy have the key?”

Wagner searched the fallen Vigilante’s body, but no key was found.

“Dawson probably kept the key himself.”

“Hmm. Then, Estelle, it seems we have no way to open this door.”

“Don’t worry, Wagner. Even without a key, I have a way to open it without smashing it by force.”

You didn’t think I’d come here without a plan, did you?

I focused my Clairvoyance and gripped the lock. I can see it. The complex structure inside the massive lock was visible as if it were transparent. I could feel exactly where and how to manipulate the internal mechanisms to trip the tumblers. Next, Telekinesis.

A formless magical force snaked through the keyhole and into the lock.

Click, click.

“Whoa—” Wagner let out a sound of admiration as he watched. The lock disengaged in seconds. It was faster than any master thief.

This is why mages are broken.Telekinesis alone couldn’t pick a lock, but when combined with Clairvoyance, there wasn’t a lock in existence I couldn’t open. It was a talent no other class could imitate.

“Let’s go in.”

We opened the heavy vault door and stepped inside.

“What a sight.” Wagner nodded as he looked around the vault. The yellow glow of shimmering gold coins illuminated his face. Jars were filled to the brim with gold, and valuable ornaments and jewels were piled in a corner. It looked like at least a million gold coins worth of loot.

“Let’s take every last bit of it.”

I feel bad for the Guard Captain, but I have no intention of handing over such a delicious side income. If I left it here, it would undoubtedly be confiscated by the Imperial treasury.

“Wagner, use this.”

I tossed a ring to Wagner as he opened his bag.

There were two Rings of Storage in Dawson’s vault. It was information I’d already confirmed in the game. I put on the remaining ring. It felt a bit strange to be wearing a matching ring with Wagner, like we were a couple, but... now wasn’t the time to worry about trivial things. Performance comes first.

“Pack everything into the ring.”

“Got it.”

The Ring of Storage is an essential accessory you absolutely must obtain in Nine Stars. Frankly, without this, you’re basically living without basic human rights. Unlike the Large Capacity Storage Bag Wagner had been using, this ring didn’t add any weight no matter how much you packed into it. Even if you tried to buy this ring with money, it would cost at least 500,000 gold.

I think that’s everything worth taking.

Unlike when we first entered, the vault was now empty and barren. It was so clean, like a house before moving out, that I felt a sense of refreshment.

“Estelle, shall we get going?”

“Yeah.”

But at that moment, a strange pull stopped me in my tracks. Something in the empty vault was calling out to me.

This feeling... I’ve felt it before.

Back at the Garden shelter. An empty curry can had pulled me in like a magnet. The call of the Phylactery. It meant there was something in this vault suitable ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠for holding my soul.

“Estelle?”

“Ah, could you wait a second?”

I scanned the vault. I’d taken everything of value. What could be calling to me?

If there was anything left—

A lamp.

A lamp hanging on the wall caught my eye. It was an ordinary lamp, the kind you could see anywhere. If I polished it well with an oily rag, would a genie pop out to grant my wishes? I pulled the curry can out from under my cloak and held the lamp in my other hand.

With a distant sensation I’d felt once before, the whole world spun around. When I came to, my soul had settled into its new vessel.

Perfect. It couldn’t be better. Thanks to the addition of Ability Tuning, I no longer had to stick to an all-or-nothing fight. Until now, I’d had to be incredibly cautious, using the Phylactery’s power only for the most critical battles. But now, I could call upon half, or even a third, of the stored power, removing that burden entirely.

Ability Distribution is also great. If things get hairy, I can dump all my power into magic for a single, decisive blow. Or, I can massively enhance my physical abilities for a moment of superhuman movement, or invest in stamina to tank an attack. Managing my abilities is going to be so much easier.

I’d gained an unexpected new power in the vault. Dawson, you bastard, thank you. You’re giving me so many gifts. I suppose I should return the favor.

“Let’s go.”

Now, it’s time to crush them.

Dawson was certain of his victory. What an idiot. Making such a blunder.

Dawson sneered at the Guard Captain. The Captain had clearly lost his composure at the end. He was definitely getting desperate. Was he really going to storm this cave, which was a natural fortress in its own right? Truly foolish.

I’ll slaughter every last one of them.

A cruel smile played on Dawson’s lips. He looked around at his subordinates gathered in the cavern. The Vigilante emblem—two crossed swords—was showing off its might everywhere. Unlike the Guard, who only knew how to act high and mighty, his men were veterans who had honed their skills in real combat. They were equipped with the best gear, too. The glory of victory was already in his hands.

“Listen up, you bastards.”

When Dawson spoke in a low voice, the commotion in the room died down instantly.

“Living hidden under the ground ends today. After today, you’ll be the masters of Garden. You won’t have to worry about anyone’s eyes. The Guard? Don’t make me laugh. Let’s beat them all down and piss on their barracks.”

“Oooooh!”

“Dawson! Dawson!”

“The Vigilantes are the best!”

The Vigilantes shouted, raising their weapons. He’d said that to boost their morale, but of course, Dawson’s true intentions were different. The master of Garden wouldn’t be the Vigilantes; it would be Dawson alone.

They’re all so stupid. I’m the only one here who knows how to use his head. Dawson smiled contentedly as he looked down at the enthusiastic Vigilantes. That’s why I’m going to be the king.

A Vigilante officer standing behind Dawson whispered to him. It seemed the Guard had formed up and was approaching the hideout. It was time.

“Let’s go. Tear them all to pieces without mercy!”

“Kill them!”

“Dawson! Dawson!”

Dawson tightened the chin strap of his helmet. The Vigilantes moved to their assigned groups.

“Cannon Squad 1, follow me!”

“Cannon Squad 2, this way!”

It took three men to operate each cannon, which would be the core of the battle. Just as everyone was moving in an orderly fashion to their positions—

“Hey, Captain.” The officer narrowed his eyes.

“Those cannons. Were they always there?”

“What are you talking about, you bastard?”

The officer craned his neck, looking up at the cave ceiling. Dawson followed his gaze. It was definitely strange. The muzzles of the cannons surrounding the cavern were all pointed toward them. As if they were being surrounded.

“Which bastard did that? I didn’t order that.”

Dawson clicked his tongue. These guys really did have heads just for show. There must be nothing but udon noodles inside their skulls instead of brains. They didn’t listen when you talked to them, so if you didn’t berate and beat them whenever you had the chance, they couldn’t act like human beings.

“After this battle is over, all the guys in charge of the cannons are coming to me—”

The next moment, Dawson couldn’t finish his sentence.

With a massive roar, black smoke erupted from the cannon muzzles all at once.

BOOM—!

Fire and screams, scattering blood ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and flesh. Hell had arrived deep beneath the earth of Garden.