No.777 Makairo’s Storage Box.

Among all numbered items, it is a rare ‘consumable’ Numbers item.

Though it’s consumable, it feels completely different from items like the ‘Nameless Statue’ or ‘Dragonblood Potion.’

Those provide wide-area healing or powerful combat buffs that last only once, but at least this one is not like that.

‘In a way, it’s similar to the No.7,777 Garpas Necklace.’

Makairo’s Storage Box grants a random item or a permanent buff upon use.

Sometimes, though rarely, it can give a ‘dud.’

Anyway.

“We’re seeing quite a few rare items on this expedition unexpectedly.”

From numerous expensive byproducts to the Siege Slayer, and now this ‘Mystery Box.’

On a normal labyrinth exploration, getting even one of these would be considered lucky, but we keep acquiring them.

Is this why people have to explore unknown places?

“The random drops make it so fun! Let’s roll the dice right now!”

The only downside was having to compete for loot since we were traveling with Ibaekho’s team.

If I had led the clan, I would’ve just distributed it as I pleased.

“It’s been a while since I rolled dice, so it’s fun.”

“Baekho... how about we roll individually this time? I want to try too... and Baekho, you don’t have bad luck either.”

“...Me? I have bad luck?”

“......”

“Fine. Let’s roll individually this time.”

With that settled quickly, we rolled dice without wasting time.

And...

“Puhahaha! If the numbers were low, we’d have shared first and second place!”

Ibaekho and I rolled a combined total of 5.

“Oh, by the way, the sum of both numbers is 11... I-I won!”

In short, the GM won the dice roll and got the ‘Mystery Box.’

“What are you waiting for? Aren’t you going to open it now?”

“R-Right here, now...?”

“Wow, no manners, huh? Were you not planning to open it?”

“Hahaha! Sir Havelion! Don’t be like that, open it right now! We need some fun, don’t we?”

The GM seemed eager to open it alone but finally nodded under the pressure of others.

“Well... I’ll open it then.”

The GM, looking somewhat tense, reached for the box.

After a long pause, the black cube slowly floated in the air where his hand touched it.

「Jurven Havelion used No.777 Makairo’s Storage Box.」

The box unfolded like panels of a cube floating in midair.

Swishhhh.

Soon, the ‘item’ hidden inside was revealed.

“...Armor?”

Armor came out.

“Was there a Numbers item like this...?”

Something I had never seen before anywhere.

「No.???? Aegis Dragon Armor is generated.」

The armor’s appearance was very plain.

A vest-type armor covering only the torso, hardly fitting the word ‘splendid.’

Its color was a dull ash-gray, duller than iron, without any jewels, engravings, or patterns.

Yet, perhaps because of this...?

‘...Feels like part of a set.’

It matches the No.3 Aegis Barrier.

In fact, comparing them side by side, the colors seemed to perfectly match...

‘I was about time to change armor anyway...’

I was currently wearing a Rhythium breastplate.

Though it sufficed for raw stats, I thought I’d hold out until something better came along rather than spending money to upgrade.

But...

Slurp.

I found myself salivating unexpectedly.

Though I knew nothing yet about this armor’s identity,

Well, it had to be better than the multi-million Stone Rhythium breastplate—

“Why are you staring like that...?”

Hey, it’s natural to stare.

“Can I try it on?”

“...What?”

“Besides me, there’s no one else who would wear armor.”

“Ah, no? After hearing Flier’s story, I thought having some armor for emergencies might be good—.”

Wait, what? A mage wearing heavy armor?

Shouldn’t a mage wear cloth armor or something?

“So, I just want to try it on once. Who said anyone’s going to steal it?”

I stepped closer and glared; the GM reluctantly nodded.

“We’ll have to test the armor anyway.”

“Yes... so... you’re only trying it on...?”

“Have I ever lied?”

Though it looked like I was going to snatch it, this wasn’t a bad offer even for the GM.

After all, the armor’s nature was unknown.

Someone had to wear and test its abilities...

‘If my combat power rises immediately, it benefits the team too, right?’

Aures is the only one who can wear heavy armor, but due to his skill mechanics, he can’t equip armor.

Simply put, I was the only one who could wear it...

「Character equipped No.???? Aegis Dragon Armor.」

Oh, the fit feels amazing.

「Total item level increased by +13,600.」

Maybe it’s just my imagination, but I felt much stronger.

「More than two Aegis relics equipped.」

「Soul fragments resonate. (2/3)」

「All regeneration speeds significantly increased.」

「Equipment bound to wearer.」

‘...Huh?’

What’s this?

Suddenly, it felt like the armor clung tightly to my skin...

“Not bad.”

Anyway, despite being the first time wearing it, it didn’t feel unfamiliar.

Like it was part of my body the moment I put it on.

“Wow, the Baron just puts on unknown stuff right away. What if it’s a cursed item?”

As I stretched like doing gymnastics, Ibaekho looked at me with a bewildered expression.

But I had nothing to say.

I felt no unease or suspicion. It just felt like it was meant for me.

“Anyway, figure out the stats yourself later... Let’s keep moving.”

“Got it.”

Though I wanted to test the new armor’s performance, it would be selfish to waste everyone’s time for just me.

“Come on, let’s go. If there’s a time limit or gimmick, that’d be a pain.”

We decided to investigate the armor later and searched the room one last time.

Still, we found nothing else, then took the stairs back down.

Step, step.

Though it took hours going up, coming down didn’t take nearly as long.

At the last step, we found another narrow corridor and a golden stone gate at its end.

“...Golden Ruins?”

The GM seemed to realize this place’s identity upon seeing the golden gate.

“Why are the Golden Ruins here...?”

“What’s there to be surprised about? Have you ever encountered anything reasonable on this journey?”

“Well... that’s true.”

“Hey, I wouldn’t be surprised if a different area suddenly opened beyond here. That’s what it means to be an explorer.”

Ibaekho said and slowly pushed the door open.

And then...

“Whoa?”

He uttered an incomprehensible exclamation and stopped.

I was equally startled approaching to see why.

Like Ibaekho said, it wasn’t a suddenly unfolded new area—

“Why is everything open?”

Beyond the gate was nothing left to conquer.

The Golden Ruins’攻略 sequence is very simple.

Starting from a dense forest, clearing some missions reveals a temple.

Entering the temple leads to the stair section we just came from.

Then...

‘Next is here.’

After opening the golden gate and entering the main hall, the real攻略 begins.

Being a lower-level fourth-floor rift, the攻略 itself isn’t too complicated.

Activating devices in the side gates summons a guardian in the main hall and opens a treasure room, but...

‘Including the treasure room, everything’s already open.’

Usually, opening the gate would trigger a golden light effect from the ceiling, brightening the surroundings, but none of that happened.

Also...

“Wow... what’s all this dust...?”

“Feels like exploring a haunted house!”

Dust had piled thick everywhere; the once golden walls were chipped, broken, and scattered.

“Light up the place first. It’s too dark to see well.”

At Ibaekho’s request, the GM summoned several light spheres floating in the air, and we cautiously explored.

“As expected, the treasure room’s been completely emptied.”

The first place searched was the treasure room opened by killing the rift guardian Kalpion.

Originally, three Numbers items were sealed there, and a key obtained during攻略 allowed choosing one.

But when we arrived, it was empty.

“Which should we check first, the snake room or the mummy room?”

The next search route was the left and right gates, starting with the left with the snake mid-boss.

‘...Even the pieces have all been taken.’

From the golden orb under the lion mural to the eagle candlestick hidden in a trap room.

We checked everything in the maze-like corridors but found nothing.

The lever device in the mid-boss room was turned and the mid-boss was nowhere to be found.

Also, the pieces there were already taken.

Sadly, it was the same for the right door leading to the mummy room.

“Looks like we’ve checked everywhere...”

“Haha! This is really troublesome!”

Despite searching the whole ruins, nothing came up.

And that was a huge problem.

You can’t攻略 without anything to do.

Even in the original game, the hardest part isn’t facing a tough trial.

It’s when you don’t know what to do next.

That’s when players waste time aimlessly.

Just like ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) now.

“I’ll check the stairs again...”

“Me too. I’ll look around if there’s a hidden path between the walls.”

Though top-tier explorers, no one lost motivation and each searched their way, but it wasn’t meaningful.

One day, two days, three days, four days...

As time passed, there really was nowhere left to search.

Anxiety and nervousness spread among the party.

“...We’re not going to be trapped here forever, right?”

“Maybe they want to starve us to death.”

“I didn’t think they’d drive people crazy like this...”

Everyone spoke weakly, and surprisingly, Ibaekho reacted the strongest.

“Damn it, what’s everyone doing? Instead of resting, shouldn’t we be looking for a way out?”

He snapped at them sharply.

‘Is his mental state really this weak?’

At least he didn’t treat me like that, which was a relief...

But after a few more days, it was over.

“Baron, give me the armor.”

“...What?”

“Well, there’s nothing else. Since it’s from here, maybe the escape method is hidden in that armor?”

Though his attitude was a bit unpleasant...

If I put emotions aside,

“...Not wrong.”

It sounded reasonable enough.