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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 53
Chapter Title: 1+1
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As the chosen individuals entered the royal treasury with ecstatic expressions to claim their treasures, I hung back.
"Yuren, what are you doing?"
"Just a moment."
Everyone was so focused on examining the treasures inside that the only person paying any attention to me was the Marquis, who urged me to hurry in.
Even the ever-composed Beil was craning his neck toward the treasury, so intent on finding his item that he didn't notice me watching him.
Beil's gaze, which had been scanning the corners of the treasury from the outside, stopped at the far left. His hand trembled, as if he had found what he was looking for.
*Is that it?*
Behind a large, ornately decorated sword was a mysterious red horn.
[Creator's Eye has been activated.]
[Fang of the God-Slaying Beast, Gladius]
This is the fang of Gladius, a beast of the realm said to have preyed on beings with spiritual power, such as divine beasts, spirit creatures, demons, and spirits. The fang is imbued with Gladius's killing intent; if forged into a weapon, it will possess a god-slaying property, inflicting fatal damage on divine beasts, spirit creatures, demons, and spirits.
*God-slaying!*
It was such an absurd item that it explained why Beil had spent over two years in the royal court. I couldn't imagine what would happen if it fell into his hands.
I had to take it, no matter what.
Just as Dar, having received Beil's signal, put down the bow he was examining, I walked over via the shortest route and picked up the fang they were staring at with eyes full of ecstasy.
"I guess I'll take this. I don't know what it is, but I like it."
I muttered loudly enough for Dar to hear, then pretended to look around at the others while observing Beil and Dar's reactions.
*Heh.*
They both wore expressions as if their souls had left their bodies. Suppressing a laugh, I exited the treasury and went to the Marquis's side.
"Yuren, have you lost your…"
"Did you really choose that?"
Just as the Marquis was about to scold me with a dumbfounded look, the King approached and spoke to me.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Do you know what it is?"
"I'm not entirely sure what it is."
"Then why did you choose it?"
The King's face was filled with curiosity. From his expression, it seemed he didn't know the fang's true identity.
"My weapons of choice are throwing weapons, like daggers and short swords."
"I am aware."
"So, while everyone else went inside, I scanned the treasury from the back. And I realized there were no suitable weapons for me."
"Oh?"
The King nodded, gesturing for me to continue.
"There were daggers and short swords in the treasury, but none were designed for throwing."
"Can you tell just by looking at them?"
"Yes. Throwing weapons have a different form."
"Right. That was a foolish question. To you, a dagger is like a knight's sword."
The King wore a pleasant smile, as if encouraging me to say more.
"That's why I wanted to try making a weapon out of this sturdy-looking horn. Even the faint reddish glow is exactly to my liking."
"It certainly looks decent. But it's an item whose identity I'm not familiar with…"
"Is it not allowed, perhaps?"
"Did I not say to choose any one item? It matters not. This horn is now yours."
"Your grace is immeasurable."
After bowing to the King, I lifted my head and glanced at Beil. His dazed expression had returned to its usual placid state.
I felt an even greater chill from his calm demeanor and was about to check his status window when the King spoke again.
"Aside from that horn, there is something I wish to ask you…"
"I will answer anything you ask."
"Have you ever picked a flower from the royal garden?"
The people who had been listening to my conversation with the King with interest gasped. Everything in the palace belonged to the King; picking even a single flower without permission was strictly forbidden.
"I have committed a crime worthy of death, Your Majesty!"
The slight question I'd sensed in the King's mood was indeed about the flower. Thinking, *it's finally here*, I dropped to my knees and pressed my forehead to the ground. Inwardly, however, I controlled my breathing and cooled my head.
"I've heard a lot about you lately. They say both your skills and your personality have changed drastically. I asked because I believe a person like you wouldn't pick a flower from the garden for no reason."
"That is…"
"Will you tell me honestly?"
As I feigned hesitation, the King placed a hand on my shoulder and gave a gentle smile.
"Then, may I summon my butler?"
"Is he necessary?"
"Yes, he is."
"Bring him here."
At the King's permission, Peru was summoned a moment later. He wore a frightened expression, but since I had told him in advance that this might happen, he knew exactly what the situation was.
"Alright. Your butler is here, so speak now."
"Peru, take out the flower I picked back then."
"Ye-yes."
*Shing!*
As Peru reached into his magic pouch, the knights standing beside the King aimed their swords at his neck.
"Ah, you lot, it's fine. Sheathe your swords."
At the King's command, the knights sheathed their swords. But their eyes still held a threat, promising to cut him down if he tried anything funny.
"Ah…"
"They are just friends who worry about me a great deal. Go ahead, take it out again."
Whether he was acting or genuinely scared, Peru's hands trembled as he pulled an orange Camerun from the pouch.
"What a beautiful flower. Why did you pick it?"
"This flower is called a Camerun, Your Majesty."
"Camerun?"
The King muttered as he looked at the flower. From his expression, he had no idea what it was.
"Peru, take out the nighttime Camerun."
"Yes."
This time, a red Camerun emerged from Peru's pouch.
"It looks the same, just a different color."
"It's dangerous!"
I held up the flower to prevent the King from getting any closer to the red Camerun.
"What the…"
"My apologies. This flower is poisonous, so it is dangerous to get too close."
"Poison?"
I bowed my head to the bewildered King and placed the Camerun back on the table.
"The Camerun is a peculiar flower that changes color between day and night. The orange Camerun that blooms during the day emits a pleasant fragrance, but the red Camerun that blooms at night carries a deadly poison."
At the mention of poison, the people admiring the flower took a startled step back.
"I see. So you picked it because it was poisonous? You could have just said so from the beginning. Why did you hesitate?"
"…"
I deliberately paused before slowly opening my mouth to answer the King's question.
"Because of the gardener."
"The gardener?"
"Yes. I believed that if I revealed that a poisonous flower was growing in the garden, the gardener would be severely punished for failing to notice it."
I paused for a moment and observed the reactions of the King and the others. They weren't bad at all.
"Even for someone who knows of the Camerun, it is difficult to identify unless it's nighttime. Furthermore, this Camerun was blooming in the most remote corner of the garden. I didn't think it was strange that the gardeners missed it, so I didn't want them to be harmed."
"So you're saying you kept quiet and handled it yourself because you were worried about the gardener?"
"That is correct."
"Ah."
"Mm."
Gasps of understanding erupted from here and there as people finally grasped my intentions.
"How did you come to know of this hard-to-distinguish Camerun?"
"My butler and I once witnessed a Camerun changing color at dawn. We found it so fascinating that we looked into the flower in detail."
"Then why were you keeping the flower?"
"I planned to show it to the gardeners before I left to warn them. I am truly sorry for overstepping my bounds."
"Khahahaha!"
The King burst into a laugh so hearty it was satisfying to hear.
"As I said before, I've heard many rumors about you lately. But I never imagined you possessed such a fine character."
"Ah, no. I was just…"
"What does everyone think? Is this young man's consideration not truly admirable?"
"Indeed, Your Majesty!"
"He has the qualities of a great leader."
Whatever their true feelings, the nobles praised me, at least on the surface. Looking at the Marquis and Duke Lopehr, they seemed as delighted as if they were the ones receiving the compliments.
"I am in a very good mood today. Alright. You may choose one more."
"Pardon?"
"I'm saying, in addition to that strange horn, you may choose one more item."
My mind went blank for a moment. I knew I'd earn the King's favor, but I never imagined he'd let me take another item from the treasury.
It was a 1+1 deal, like some convenience store promotion.
"A-are you serious?"
"I am. There have been people who have taken two items from the royal treasury, but never two at once. You are the first. Go on, hurry and choose."
With a dazed expression, I pretended to look around while checking Beil's status window, which I hadn't been able to see earlier.
[Name: Beil Pabian]
[Traits: Demon Slayer, Pain Resistance Lv. 4, Concentration Lv. 3, Steel Skin Lv. 3, Superhuman Strength Lv. 4]
[Favorability: -97 (Murderous Impulse)]
[Current Mood: Wants to rip him limb from limb.]
*Just as I thought.*
Beil's calm facade hid a vicious killing intent. His favorability, which had been neutral, had plummeted to -97 in an instant, and it seemed he wanted to tear me to pieces.
Inside the treasury, Dar hadn't touched a thing. He was staring at me, biting his lip so hard it looked like it might tear. Unlike Beil, his hostility was overt.
"Thank you for this ocean of grace you have bestowed upon me, Your Majesty."
"Yes. Choose well."
Pretending to be oblivious, I re-entered the treasury.
About half the people had already chosen their items and come out, but those still deliberating sent me envious glances, seeing that I now got to pick two.
[Kaix's Dagger]
[Reynon's Short Sword]
[Dagi's Trident]
As expected, the weapons seemed to be of little use to me.
"Lord Yuren."
As I was about to head toward the armor section, I heard someone call my name from behind.
"Yes?"
The one who called me was Dar, his face contorted.
"About the fang—no, the horn you chose earlier."
"Yes."
"Would you perhaps consider letting me have it?"
"Let you have it?"
He spoke so quietly that others couldn't hear. I, on the other hand, deliberately raised my voice.
"Yes. From what I heard, it doesn't seem like you chose it out of dire need."
"No, that's true. But in that case, Lord Dar, do you know what that horn is?"
I put on an innocent expression, pretending to know nothing.
"Ah…"
Dar hesitated, unable to speak. There was only one reason he was being so blatant.
He believed that if he failed to resolve this, he might be disposed of by Beil.
"I don't know much about it either, but its color and shape are quite appealing."
"You're an archer, are you not? There seem to be many fine bows in the treasury. Why not choose one of those?"
"Ah, I already have a good bow, and…"
Struggling to find an excuse, Dar's face grew pale. Seeing him flustered by this unexpected turn of events, I had a good idea.
Since maintaining a good relationship with Beil or Dar was already a lost cause, I instantly devised a plan to bleed Dar dry.
"I don't particularly need that horn either, so how about we make a bet?"
"A bet?"
"Yes. The horn is nice, but I'm more interested in seeing the archery of the so-called 'Shattering Archer.' How about we have a duel, and the winner takes all?"
"What is this about?"
Suddenly, the King appeared behind us. His face was expressionless, but since I could see his mood, I knew he was intrigued.
"It seems Lord Dar wants the horn I chose, so I suggested a bet…"
"A bet?"
"Yes. I suggested we have a duel, and the winner takes the loser's right to choose. My apologies."
"Hah…"
The King laughed as if in disbelief. But he wasn't angry. Inwardly, he was delighted at the prospect of an entertaining spectacle.
"You already have two choices. You seem a bit greedy."
"I apologize. To be honest, I was more interested in witnessing the archery of Lord Dar, the Shattering Archer, than in the right to choose."
"I knew it! Just as I thought!"
The King laughed softly, patting my shoulder as if he'd expected this.
"Good. This will be interesting."
"Pardon?"
"I will personally oversee this bet."
It was unfolding just as I'd predicted.
The King was a martial arts fanatic who still swung a sword every day for training. I had been certain that a man like him wouldn't pass up the chance to see a duel between Dar, a master archer, and myself, a master of hidden weapons.
"Everyone but you two has chosen, so I will close the doors for now."
We stepped outside, and the King closed the doors to the royal treasury, returning it to its original state as a simple entrance.
"Dar, do you accept Yuren's bet?"
"I do."
"Then it is settled."
Dar answered immediately, as if there was no need to even think about it. Hearing his reply, the King grinned and looked at the nobles.
"Listen, everyone. Yuren Lox and Dar Castein will hold a duel, and the victor will take this horn."
"What in the world is that horn that…"
"Is it a better item than it looks?"
"A duel between a bow and daggers?"
"Your Majesty."
While most wore expressions of keen interest, Duke Roton stepped forward to address the King.
"These men seek to spoil the great grace you have bestowed upon them with their greed. They should be punished."
"It is fine. I rather like their greed. Young men should be ambitious."
"But…"
"It's fine, Duke Roton. When will we get to see such a duel again?"
"…I understand."
At the King's firm words, Duke Roton stepped back, but he glared at me with cold eyes.
"So, to summarize, if Yuren wins, he takes Dar's right to choose, meaning he will select two treasures from the treasury in addition to that horn. Is that correct?"
"That is correct."
"And if Dar wins, he takes the horn and uses his own, as-yet-unused right to choose. Correct?"
"That is correct."
The King looked at Dar and me with a satisfied smile.
"Excellent. This will be very entertaining. The duel will be held in two days, in front of everyone."
**
"Grand Prince, it is time."
"Alright."
I rose from my seat at Peru's words. Two days had passed in a flash, and it was time for my duel with Dar.
"There's a huge crowd of nobles outside. They seem to be looking forward to this duel immensely."
"Then they're in for a disappointment."
"Pardon?"
"It'll be over as soon as it starts. It probably won't be very entertaining."
"Aha…"
Peru, who had been flustered, let out a sigh of relief at my words.
"Huh? Grand Prince. You don't have your usual daggers. I'll go get them!"
I chuckled at Peru as he started to run outside and showed him the steel balls on my fingers.
"This will be enough for today. Just count how many seconds it takes to end."