Ch. 194
“What is it?”
[There are two kinds of metal in this space that I can’t eat, Master.]
“…Two? Not one?”
So there was something else here besides the [Goblet of the Golden Star]? That made sense—this place was anything but ordinary.
I might’ve seemed unimpressed only because I was used to dragon lairs, but for something crafted by human hands, the scale alone was absurd.
The master of this dungeon was no ordinary [Spirit Mage].
Judging by the way gemstones were left lying around like gravel, perhaps there was another treasure here—something to rival the Goblet itself.
“Could it be a [Spirit Stone]?”
[No. I can eat those just fine—and this doesn’t feel like that kind of energy. This is on a completely different level.]
“There’s actually something you can’t eat? What’s the difference?”
[I can’t absorb objects with powerful enchantments—specifically when the one who cast the magic is far stronger than you, Master. If I can’t undo the enchantment, I can’t eat it.]
“Hoh.”
[One’s over here, and the other’s at the far end. I can’t tell which one’s the Goblet of the Golden Star, though.]
“Then… let’s check the closer one first.”
For the first time in this expedition, I was actually interested. Up to now, it had all felt like someone else’s adventure—but if the dungeon’s creator had been a [Spirit Mage], that changed everything.
“Let’s hope it’s something useful for a spirit mage.”
A small, hopeful tune escaped my lips.
If we found a relic with real power, I’d absorb it for myself.
It wouldn’t be quite the same kind of “gulp” as Rai’s—but the concept was similar. Once it was in my hands, it became mine.
—
Dungeons came in many types. This one was clearly a treasure vault.
Everywhere I looked, there were rare artifacts glittering under the light. But the secluded area behind the pillar where Rai led me… was different.
It wasn’t filled with jewels. It looked more like a dumping ground.
Just junk, debris, and dust.
There was even a small incinerator in the back, long unused.
“Here?”
[I’m sure of it!]
“I’m not in the mood for jokes, Rai.”
Even on my best days, I had little patience for teasing. And right now—aching, sore, and one sneeze away from collapse—if he was messing with me, I might actually consider turning into a demon.
Just so he’d understand how angelic I’d been up to this point.
[I’m serious! Go press that blue brick inside.]
I sighed, too tired to argue, and did as he said.
Stepping over decades of dust, I crouched before the old incinerator.
“There’s more than one blue brick.”
[The one right in front of you. Third brick from the right, with the bird carving.]
“Is this some kind of mechanism?”
[Yep.]
“Now that I think about it, as a metal spirit, you’d be perfect for finding mechanisms, wouldn’t you? You make it look too easy.”
Normally, archaeologists needed all sorts of equipment to detect hidden traps, but Rai found them as easily as breathing.
If any excavation team saw him, they’d probably drool a river.
[Well, a mechanism’s just metal. I can sense how each piece connects and what happens when you move it. It’s nothing.]
“…Not bad.”
[Heheh!]
“So what you’re saying is… the two of us could clear every dungeon on the continent?”
[If you’d fix that laziness first! I’m ready to conquer the whole world whenever you are, Master!]
“Sadly, that’s incurable.”
If someone with my ability also had ambition, the world order would collapse.
For world peace, it was only right that I stayed lazy.
Truly, this was self-sacrifice—not sloth.
I pressed the blue brick.
[Now the white one.]
Something clicked deep within the wall. I followed Rai’s directions, pressing several more in sequence until faint grinding echoed from below.
The fifth brick—engraved with a leaf—sank deeper than the rest.
Then the incinerator floor began to open, swallowing the ashes and revealing a hidden compartment.
A small space—barely large enough for a hand.
“Oh.”
[Now you’re impressed, aren’t you? Rai’s the best, right?]
I nodded and reached into the darkness. My arm went in up to the shoulder before my fingers brushed something square.
“There’s something here.”
[Gah! Master!]
“What?”
[You really have no sense of fear! You don’t even know what’s in there, and you just stick your hand right in?!]
“Ah… I guess not.”
My excitement had gotten the better of me.
Rai’s reaction made me realize how reckless I must’ve looked.
But no trap triggered—no blades, no poison, no loss of limb. And even if I ‘had’ lost a hand, [Endairon] could just reattach it.
[That ‘thought’ is the problem!]
“…Stop reading my mind!”
[I can’t help it when you broadcast your thoughts that loud!]
“Ugh, shut up! You have no idea how exhausting it is having your mind read 24/7! My mental endurance training is all thanks to you, you ungrateful mutt!”
Bickering, I pulled the object out of the dark compartment.
Under the light, I blinked.
It was… just a small wooden box.
Old, cracked, utterly unimpressive.
“Hm?”
[Open it, Master! Hurry!]
Curiosity got the better of me again. I pried it open, eyes gleaming with anticipation.
“…A ring.”
[A ring?]
“An old ring.”
[Huh?]
Our excitement deflated instantly.
“What the hell? This dingy thing’s supposed to be as valuable as the Goblet of the Golden Star? What kind of magic does it have? What’s it made of?”
[Uhhh… I don’t know?]
“Don’t you dare try to act cute as an excuse!”
[Wait, listen! That’s exactly why it’s amazing! For me, a metal spirit, not to recognize the material—that means it’s made from something ‘divine’!]
“…So?”
[So it could be a gift from the gods! And it’s definitely older than I am!]
Now that sounded promising.
I stopped myself from tossing it back into the hole and examined it closely.
Its body was silver but not quite platinum. It wasn’t orichalcum or mithril either.
Rai was an expert in metals, yet he couldn’t define it.
If Rai didn’t know, I certainly wouldn’t.
“See, Rai?”
[Yeah… and it’s resizing itself.]
The previous owner must’ve had large hands, because it was huge on me. But the moment I tried it on, it shrank perfectly to fit my finger.
“…Okay, definitely not ordinary.”
The design was simple but not crude.
The oval gem set in the center was so clear it looked like liquid. Through it, I could see the faint tone of my own skin.
[What could it be?]
“Judging by how it was hidden, I’d guess it’s from the same era as the Goblet of the Golden Star. Lox might know—he’s good with stuff like this.”
If anyone could identify an ancient silver ring with a transparent stone, it’d be Lox.
Experts were good for things like that.
“But he’s too sharp. If I ask, he’ll know I found something.”
[Then kill him.]
“…Even I’m not that bad.”
[He’s always in the way, though! If you kill Lox, Ash will be yours! Eliminate the rival—it’s classic strategy!]
“Tempting, but Ash wouldn’t like that. So no.”
I turned the ring in my fingers, muttering softly.
Ash was my friend. I didn’t want to do anything that would make him sad. I didn’t have many friends to begin with.
“When we get back to the city, I’ll check the libraries. Maybe one of the old relic compendiums will mention it.”
I played with the ring a bit longer before putting it back in the box, then slipped the box into my pocket.
[Master… you say that so casually, but you just stole your friend’s treasure.]
“Hey! Stop reading my mind!”
[Your guilt is loud, that’s all.]
“Anyone have a problem with me taking it? No? Good.”
[It’s just me here, but sure.]
“Then it’s settled.”
I was perfectly confident—and felt zero guilt.
I was the one who found this place, opened the door, and made entry possible. And since this wasn’t the Goblet, it was fair compensation.
“I’m taking my service fee!”
“You there! What did you just take?”
Ah. Busted. Guess I’ll have to kill him.
[Didn’t you just say you ‘wouldn’t’?]
“Let’s say Lox betrayed Ash.”
[That’s… not even remotely believable.]
Turns out he wasn’t talking to me anyway—he was yelling at Chad, who’d just gotten caught.
Chad had found a jeweled crown and was wearing it proudly until Lox snatched it off.
“Honestly! Do you think we’re looters? Stop hoarding things! Technically, all this treasure belongs to Ash! Without his family crest marking this place, none of us could’ve entered!”
“Come on! Just this one!”
“Put it down!”
Lox only spoke informally to Ash and Chad—and he was currently confiscating everything Chad had taken, which was a lot.
Watching from behind the pillar, I suddenly felt uneasy. If Lox started searching everyone, he might confiscate my ring too.
He could be annoyingly persistent when he wanted to be.
After a quick thought, I tucked the ring box into my chest.
I’d seen busty women hide coin purses there before and always wanted to try it once.
Plus, if Lox touched me there, I’d have every right to kill him. Genius.
[Master! It’s obvious—you’re too flat for that to work!]
“You little—!”
[If you’re going to hide it, do it properly! Here!]
Rai opened his jaws wide toward me.
The safest place really was inside Rai’s belly.
I’d already stored two [Spirit Stones] that Sis Anel gave me inside him—they were being repaired there. It wasn’t absorption, just storage.
His wolf form could hold anything smaller than his body, but if he transformed into a serpent afterward, you could see every outline of what he’d stored.
Basically, a wolf-shaped piggy bank.
But one only I could open—an invincible vault.
“Keep it safe until we leave.”
[Yes, Master!]
Technically, I was smuggling it. But that didn’t make it theft.
They wouldn’t even notice it was gone!
“Now ‘that’s’ the perfect crime.”
[It’s still a crime, though.]
“You’re really not on my side, are you?”
[A true friend just doesn’t say it out loud!]
Whose spirit even are you, anyway? Infuriating creature.
“Everyone, gather up! We’ll divide the loot later—right now, focus on finding the [Goblet of the Golden Star]! Please!”
Lox’s desperate shout echoed through the dungeon, and the scattered group finally began to regroup—reluctantly, but surely.