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Translator: penny
Chapter: 135
Chapter Title: Haran's Treasure
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"Listen up, kid. We Haranians have two treasures."
Barkus began, slipping a hand into his bosom.
"Keys that existed here long before we founded our kingdom in Haran."
"...Keys?"
"That's right, keys."
When Barkus's hand emerged again, a small object gleamed in his grasp.
"The necklace the king wears... and this ring."
I let out an exclamation.
'So that's it. The treasure Arknon mentioned was that.'
I knew all about those keys.
In any trial, to enter any ruin while it was fully operational, you always needed one of those keys.
'Finding them every time was always such a hassle.'
I'd hunted monsters relentlessly,
or carried out requests from key holders,
or spent days digging through piles of waste—whatever it took.
All for that tiny thing.
Of course, it was worth the effort.
It might seem like just a key for opening doors at first glance, but even a simple key from the mage-tech era could do more than you'd expect.
'And this one's numbered 918...'
Seeing my interest, Barkus smirked and placed the key in my hand.
"Each key is a pass for two gates. The king's key opens the entrance to the mage-tech era ruin. That's the entrance to the palace he's using as the royal castle now."
In other words, the royal palace was originally an ancient ruin site.
"And the ring you're holding is the key to the ruin's most secretive chamber. Deep inside the royal treasury, where generations of Haran kings stored their most precious possessions. Take it there, and you can enter."
Right—there were many numbered keys, but 918, 111, 777, and so on were usually treasure vaults. From humanity's perspective, anyway. As far as I knew, 918 was a military warehouse.
Meaning, heading there meant a high chance of mage-tech era gear.
Satisfied, I slipped the key onto my left hand, the one with the Shape Memory Ring.
Wearing multiple rings on one hand reduced their effects and limited special options to just one, but since I'd only use this as a key, it didn't matter.
"So, as usual, I grab the advance payment, and take everything else?"
"No, take it all yourself."
"Pardon?"
As I stared in confusion, Barkus chuckled.
"Use it well and just return the key. I'm satisfied as long as I get revenge on that damned king. Heh heh heh. Even if they figure out what happened to the keys later, learning that outsiders looted their treasures will be quite the show."
"Still, I can't just accept it so easily..."
"It's fine. We've already received more than enough from you. Overflowing, even. Thanks to you, we might even achieve our long-held dreams."
"..."
I silently rubbed the ring on my left hand. An item Barkus had hidden from the royal eyes for decades.
First-run Isela hadn't said a word about it.
Either she'd held back, or hadn't gotten the key—probably one or the other.
Maybe seeing I hadn't crossed the line even under threat from Inope had earned the last shred of trust from the suspicious old man.
As I rubbed the ring wordlessly, Barkus spoke.
"What? Having second thoughts now that it's a big job? You don't have to take my offer if it's forced. Looting noble houses is leagues easier. Hell, no one in Haran could confidently claim success on this job."
"That's exactly why I have to go."
The bigger the reward.
In the selection process, rewards scaled exponentially with impossibility.
I stood up.
"Heading out right now?"
"Opportunities like this are best seized on the spot."
"Heh heh, a true Quick-Sea Gull. Linus, show him out."
"Got it, Boss."
"Oh, almost forgot to mention."
Barkus pointed out the window. The darkened harbor shimmered beautifully in the moonlight.
"See the ship at the edge?"
At the harbor's end floated a yacht about the size of a cruise boat.
"Yes, but why the ship?"
"Things might get urgent. If you can't make it back, hop on that and go."
Ha ha, what a thorough old man. Preparation for the worst case.
"It's small, but it has a mage-tech engine—no crew needed. Just handle the controls. You can manage that, right?"
"Of course. Thank you."
"Good. And when you're in the royal castle, watch out for the royal sorcerers. Your speed should handle the knight captain, but sorcerers won't be easy."
Sorcerers...
I'd never heard about sorcerers specifically. If Barkus hadn't mentioned it, I might not have prepared at all.
"With all this generous support, I have to succeed and come back."
"Hmph, cocky brat. Just survive and return, kid. See that? That trashy-looking crate over there. It holds Haran's most expensive wine. Return safe, and I'll treat you."
Haran's priciest wine. I smiled faintly and nodded.
"Then I'll be off."
"Right. Head to the usual spot to meet Arknon—he'll guide you to the secret passage into the royal castle. Good luck."
"Yes. Thanks."
"Min-jun, why are you so late? I was worried something happened."
The Saintess rushed over, concern on her face.
We usually met right after sunset, but finishing dinner with Barkus had made it quite late.
"Ha ha, sorry. Things got busy unexpectedly."
"What happened? You didn't fool around with another woman, did you?"
Shin Seo-yeon eyed me with half-lidded suspicion—practically certain. Her instincts were uncanny.
"Don't think you can dodge; I smell a woman on you."
Damn, good nose too?
"Just rescued some people who'd been locked up."
"Locked up?"
"Yeah. Locals had them captive, so I helped out and it took time."
The women's eyes sparkled.
"As expected of Min-jun! Always doing good wherever you go!"
"You truly are... more impressive the more I see."
"Oppa, you're amazing!"
"..."
But Shin Seo-yeon still poked my side suspiciously.
"You just helped? No rewards like 'suck my dick' or anything?"
"S-Seo-yeon... Don't use such vulgar words."
"Unnie, facts need blunt language for impact. That's how you drive it home."
"Isn't that just low-class? I can see your inner hag shining through."
"...Flat-chest, wanna get hit?"
Shin Seo-yeon glared at Isela, flames flickering in her palms. Isela quietly drew her weapon(?).
"Calm down, both of you. And like Ha-na said, our pretty Seo-yeon shouldn't use crude words. It'd make her look cheap. Right?"
As I slipped my hand into her panties and stroked between her cheeks, Shin Seo-yeon shivered, cheeks flushing red before snuffing her flames with a "tch."
Feeling her ass nibble at my fingers, I continued.
"Anyway, that's not the point. Barkus gave me a job."
"A job?"
"Raid the royal treasury. And he said take everything inside."
Eyes widened in shock.
"For real? Wow, did that geezer lose it? Jackpot!"
"B-But is that okay? Giving so much seems suspicious."
"Whoa, big-boobs unnie's sharp today. Even I'm a bit wary."
I shook my head.
"No need to overthink. Check the quest details again."
"Ah..."
The quest covered Barkus advising the king, his family massacred as a result, his rise as godfather.
And allying with us outsiders for revenge.
"Revenge... When blinded by vengeance, wealth means nothing."
"And even if he uses and discards us, who cares? If he acts up, we smash him instead."
Shin Seo-yeon grinned wickedly. No one but the Saintess disagreed as they nodded.
"But isn't it dangerous?"
Han So-hee voiced concern. This target was the royal family—the most fortified place in the nation. Infiltrating to steal...
Even a child could tell it wasn't easy.
"Ha, dangerous how bad? Right, shorty?"
"Yeah!"
Death God Isela—the one who'd guided me this far—replied, stirring odd feelings as I shook my head.
"This one could really be dangerous."
"?!"
"R-Really?"
"Yes."
"Dickhead, I hate teasing with food in front of me. If you're messing around, knock it off after one round?"
Shin Seo-yeon clenched, pressing my fingers with her flesh.
But as I smiled calmly, they sensed it was no joke, faces hardening one by one.
"...How dangerous?"
Fair question. This was practically the first time I'd seriously warned of danger.
"I don't know the place. All I have are guesses about the risks."
"Ugh, that's a problem."
Knowledge was sometimes the strongest weapon.
Unfortunately, first-run Isela and I weren't close; I'd only overheard her drunken tales by chance.
So no fine details. But.
"You all know. Thanks to grinding through the first and second trials, we're farming comfortably here instead of lost in some labyrinth."
Safety mattered.
It was priority one.
"But when it's time to run, we run. That's how we survive the next trial, and the one after. No matter the headache."
Better to suffer early.
And convince the party first.
Thankfully, they nodded with renewed vigor.
"Alright, let's do it!"
"Yeah!"
"Worst case, we burn it all down, right?"
Trusting gazes turned my way.
We looked to our last member, Han So-hee, staring at the ground.
"...I'm still anxious. Anyone can make a plausible plan."
True. Inope probably had one too—before becoming an outsider's urinal.
"But you've proven you're no mere dreamer. So I'll trust and follow."
Han So-hee met my eyes with trust, overcoming trauma step by step.
Not an easy wound to shake, but surviving countless brushes with death would heal it fully someday.
"Good, it's decided. Split into two teams, rest 30 minutes each, then move out."
"Yes!"
Time to farm the last bit before the third trial.
"Yo, golden goose."
Near midnight at the rendezvous, Arknon and his crew were already waiting.
"Heard you're pulling off a big one tonight?"
"Yep. Good timing?"
Meaning, ripe for raiding the castle. Arknon smiled.
"Always is. The castle's busy with endless banquets. Splashing in cool water, boozing, shaking hips all night. No big issue sneaking in for loot—as long as you don't rush."
He led us to the boundary of noble district and market.
A massive boulder jutted from the ground, with a small cave on one side.
"What's that? Looks familiar."
"Yeah, the light and wall patterns feel familiar."
"Figured. It's a passage to the Ancient Sewers. Leads right under the castle."
Shin Seo-yeon frowned, scanning around.
"Do we have to go this way? Feels risky entering openly in such an exposed spot."
"Sewers are collapsing everywhere now; that's the only path to the castle. And no one cares who goes in."
"Why?"
"You outsiders know best. You've been clearing janitors from the ancient sewers lately."
"Ah."
Meaning, Mage-Tech Golems roamed inside—suicide for most. No one minded entrants.
Sure enough, no guards nearby. Patrols passed without glancing, avoiding it like the plague.
"Anyway, take this. You'll need it inside."
Arknon handed me a scroll.
"What's this?"
"Map. Boss made it twenty years ago. Charts the maze-like sewers to the castle—easy navigation."
"Not coming with? Join us this time. Grab a proper cut."
Arknon and crew looked tempted, but he shook his head regretfully.
"Weaklings drag you down at crunch time. Can't risk it on something big. Go on; we'll watch from here."
"Fair enough. Wait up—bringing gifts."
"Ha ha, no expectations."
I pocketed the map and entered the Ancient Sewers. Soon, smooth walls and glowing stones greeted us, ruin-style.
At a fork, I unrolled the map.
'Hm?'
In the center, a note and item.
『This necklace saved me from death countless times. Wishing you luck, golden goose.』
'...Gotta bring back a good gift.'
I hung it around my neck and strode on, following the map.
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