Chapter 91: The Royal Treasury

“Hoh? Muno Drasen, you too? A promising knight like you would choose money over an artifact?”

Unlike when I answered the Silver Knight Elorang’s request, the king’s voice was filled with surprise.

Fortunately, it felt more like curiosity than criticism.

‘If I play this right……?’

I saw a glimmer of hope.

“In the process of chasing down the magicians, I ‘unintentionally’ caused great damage to private residences.

I had initially planned to cover the restoration costs with the goodwill of Commander Pelson, but I understand that an unexpectedly large amount was spent, causing a major problem for the Steel Knightly Order’s budget.”

“Hoh……?”

The moment I felt from his voice that my humble attitude was winning the king’s favor.

‘Yes. This is it.’

I clenched my fists and delivered the finishing touch to my professional social skills.

“I would be grateful if you would replace the reward you would bestow upon this humble servant with filling that budget.”

“Aha……. Hahahaha.”

As soon as I heard the king’s laughter, I knew my words had finally gotten through.

However.

“Yes, you are very considerate for your age.

Good. I will accept that proposal as well.”

The king’s words that immediately followed made my heart drop.

‘Is that really it? No, right, Mister King?

I heard you were going to make me a hero!?’

I wanted to raise my head and question him right away, but that was something only possible in my imagination.

I couldn't even dare to lift my face, lest he read my inner thoughts.

Fortunately.

“However, it would not do for the reward for the victor of this competition to end with supplementing the Royal Knightly Order’s budget. What I originally intended to give you…….”

Assa!

The moment the king gave the answer I was hoping for, my head naturally shot up.

However.

“Your Majesty, just a moment…….”

Just then, an old man who seemed to be the chamberlain was seen whispering into the king's ear.

Soon after, the king, with a slight frown, began looking back and forth between Pelson’s face, who was in attendance in the great hall, and my own.

In that instant, as if I had suddenly developed telepathic abilities, I could clearly read the emotion in the king’s gaze.

It was a look that said, ‘What in the world did you do for the cost to be this high?’

Damn it.

“……Ahem. I will lower the reward by one level and bestow upon you a treasure-grade artifact, the same as the Blood Knight.”

How should I describe this feeling?

It's good, but should I say it leaves a slightly bitter aftertaste?

But there was only one thing to say now.

“I thank you for Your Majesty’s grace!”

* * *

As expected, King Lockhart was quite magnanimous.

- The reward will be carried out immediately, and with today’s events as a catalyst, the Iron Kingdom will begin to move to exterminate magicians throughout the entire kingdom.

I was concerned about the follow-up measures to catch the evil cult group, but right now, I couldn't help but be more interested in the artifact I was about to receive.

“Immediately, you say?”

“Yes, immediately. Please follow me. Sir Muno, Sir Anthony.”

The Royal Chamberlain, Viscount Trauni Haln.

The wrinkles around his eyes and on his forehead were faint, but his neatly combed-back white hair and the short white beard under his chin made it easy to see that he was not young.

An old man who looked unusually hale and healthy for his advanced age.

I could easily guess the reason.

He could be a knight who had undergone a peculiar evolution that increased his lifespan.

But seeing the spirits clinging to his body, feeling comfortable, there was only one answer.

‘A Spirit Master. At least 3-Class…….’

Considering that the position of Royal Chamberlain usually went to a body servant the king had kept since he was a prince, this was surprising.

And it seemed the other person got a similar feeling from me.

“So there was a reason for the Black Knight’s great name.

A friend of the spirits, it is a pleasure to meet you.”

Viscount Trauni greeted me with a smile.

At his words, the Blood Knight Anthony, who had been walking ahead with a blank face, whipped around to look at me.

“I was lucky.”

As soon as I met his slightly widened eyes, I immediately expressed my modesty.

“Unlikely. Excessive humility can be seen as mocking those less capable.

It’s okay to be a little arrogant sometimes, junior.”

For a man who became a 6-Star knight in his 30s, it was excessive praise.

I bowed my head slightly in response.

“Thank you for the advice…….”

Before I could finish, Anthony turned his head away again, so it was like I ended up bowing to the back of his head.

“……sir.”

I couldn't help but give a wry smile.

‘Is this guy always like this?’

Of course.

“Hoho. I am pleased to guide the new stars who will lead the kingdom’s next generation and the generation after that. For now, please follow me.”

Trauni’s words that followed immediately made my face light up.

And so.

After following Trauni down several levels into the palace basement.

When we faced a huge and massive iron door in front of a subterranean cavern.

I realized I had made one big mistake.

“Sir!”

“It is His Majesty’s order. Confirm it.”

“Yes.”

The knights in pure white armor guarding the iron door of the massive cavern checked the documents Trauni brought and, receiving a silver plaque, inserted it into one side of the door.

“By the way, what kind of artifacts do you two desire?”

“For me, it is definitely a sword, Viscount.”

A thought occurred to me only after hearing the exchange between Trauni and Anthony.

Ah! Crap……. Damn it!

“Sir Muno?”

“……Just a moment.”

Damn it.

Blinded by the word ‘artifact’, I had failed to consider my own situation.

When it comes to artifacts, weapons like swords or armor are usually the first priority.

But.

‘I don’t need a weapon!’

The armor covering my entire body already possessed a hardness far surpassing ordinary steel.

Of course, I still didn’t have a helmet, but I expected even that to be resolved as soon as I grew to 4-Star.

Moreover, my ‘blade’, which would grow even stronger with the growth of my Spirit Arts, was a main weapon that more than substituted for an artifact.

‘Ah, I feel dizzy…….’

The moment I sized up the situation, my legs nearly gave out.

Damn it.

‘I should have just asked for support for my family…….’

Blinded by greed, my thinking had been too short-sighted.

‘What a f*cking idiotic thing to do…….’

As I was berating myself.

“Sir Muno?”

“Ah, it’s nothing. Can I decide after looking first?”

I had no choice but to answer Trauni’s question that way.

“Ah, of course. But you can only choose one.

And you are aware that you may be rejected depending on the type of spirit contained in the artifact, correct?”

“Of course.”

“Yes, I am aware.”

If the power of the spirit contained within it did not resonate with the owner, the artifact was nothing more or less than a pretty chunk of scrap metal.

That is why they say the artifact chooses its master.

But I couldn't ask to change to a different reward now.

If there was nothing I could use in the royal treasury.

‘I’ll have to choose an artifact that my father, mother, or even Lian can use.’

To do that, I had to find a versatile artifact that didn’t discriminate between people.

Muno’s eyes sparkled with that resolve.

In the deepest basement of the palace.

The method to open the massive iron door in that space, where torches were the only source of light, was simple yet also crude.

‘A fire element?’

The moment Trauni did something to the door with his Spirit Arts.

Grgrgrgrgrng.

A sound like a giant chunk of iron moving came from within.

And soon after.

“Uoooooh!”

“Haaaaap!”

The two ‘White Iron’ knights in pure white armor who were guarding the royal treasury began to turn something resembling a windlass on the left and right with all their might.

A windlass that knights who looked to be 4-Star were turning in rhythm with bloodshot faces.

I couldn’t even begin to guess how much it weighed.

“The two of you may view up to the treasure-grade vault, which is the rank just below the transcendence-grade, so-called named artifacts.

His Majesty originally intended to grant Sir Muno a transcendence-grade artifact for its symbolism, but…….”

Trauni looked at Muno with a regretful face, but he himself didn't feel particularly disappointed.

After all, transcendence-grade artifacts that were ‘named’, like his father’s Slayer, almost always chose their masters.

Besides, if he hadn't settled that money issue, his family might have gone bankrupt, or the rest of his life might have been held as collateral.

‘Chainman is sealed forever. F*ck.’

While imagining beating up his past self in his mind.

“It’s alright. A treasure that doesn't suit one’s station only invites disaster.”

I put on a transcendent smile as if I wasn’t bothered at all.

At the words I said to try and shake off my lingering attachment, Trauni nodded his head in admiration.

“Oh, as expected…….”

I wondered what kind of image of me was being painted in Viscount Trauni’s mind.

I was suddenly curious.

Grgrgrgrgrgrng.

But the iron door that began to open just in time and the auspicious lights shining from within pushed away such trivial thoughts in an instant.

Sparkle, sparkle.

A feeling where that mimetic word suddenly hit home.

The first thing visible inside the iron door was a mountain of precious metals.

Gold coins from an unknown era that his limited knowledge couldn’t even identify when they were minted, and jewels that looked so exquisitely crafted even to an untrained eye.

“Wow……”

“Incred……ible.”

If all this was released, would all the poor people in this country disappear? Or would massive inflation occur…….

The moment such a thought naturally came to mind.

“Let’s go inside.

This is just bait, made so that if a thief were to break into the treasury, they would only rob this part and leave.”

This is bait?

Trauni casually walked past the mountain of treasure with that incredible statement.

“Follow me. The place you need to go is a little deeper.”

His nonchalant attitude quickly calmed the heart that had been startled by the mountain of treasure.

And.

After passing the mountain of treasure and moving a shabby-looking pedestal inside the warehouse.

A door just big enough for one person to enter came into view.

“The place you will see is this way.”

Trauni’s silver plaque was inserted into the crack of the door again, and the Spirit Arts of fire that moved from his fingertips seemed to manipulate something.

Grgrgrgrgrgrng.

With a heavy sound, the small door opened.

And inside, about 30 items that looked almost simple were neatly displayed in divided compartments.

“This is the treasure-grade artifact room.

There are currently thirty-six treasures stored here.

You may each choose only one from among these.”

It was less glamorous than the mountain of treasure I had just seen, but.

“Ho……”

To Muno, a Spirit Master, the brilliant flow of mana filling this room now looked even more beautiful.

As if knowing his heart.

“Isn’t it beautiful?”

The vibrant old man spread his arms and smiled as if introducing this place to him.

Muno couldn’t help but nod his head.

A conversation that only a Spirit Master could understand.

Perhaps that was why.

Thud, thud.

Anthony, as if uninterested in what the two were talking about, began to walk towards a longsword visible in the distance as soon as he entered the room.

“Now, Sir Muno, please take your pick.

A Spirit Master will be able to recognize an artifact that suits him at a glance.”

Those words made Muno feel gloomy again.

“……Yes. Thank you.”

Though it’s not for me to use, but for my family.

Sigh.

As I sighed and looked around.

Fortunately, perhaps for those who were not Spirit Masters, there were kind explanations written below the treasures displayed in each compartment.

For example, like the helmet in front of me.

[Helmet of Blazing Flames]

[Ability: Grants the owner powerful resistance to fire and light, and provides vision in the dark as bright as day.

Its defensive power as a helmet is also perfect, capable of deflecting even a knight's charge once by consuming mana.]

‘……It’s a shame, but it doesn't suit me.’

The mana I felt was the mana of a hot flame.

I could clearly feel the fire spirits hovering around it, looking at Trauni beside me with pleasure.

Of course, it seemed there were also treasures in this treasury that stimulated the metal mana I possessed.

“Hmm……”

If it was a weapon useless to me, it would be better to find something my family could use.

‘With an item containing non-attribute mana.’

But the more I thought that, the more tempting the presence of the metal spirits pulling at me felt.

On top of that.

“Please take a look, Sir Muno.”

With Trauni’s words added to the mix.

As if unable to resist, Muno began to move as if possessed, following the energy of the spirits that led him.