Chapter 49
Translator: Kell Editor: Weasalopes
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Underground City of the Ancient Gods 8
As Lavia said, her condition wasn’t severe . Hand in hand with Hikaru, they walked at a brisk pace . They could feel the giant getting closer . How far was it?
The giant knew “someone is in the castle” . If Hikaru used Group Obfuscation and left the castle, they would be fine . He didn’t have to worry about his Skill not working . If the giant could see right through it, it would’ve come the instant they entered the place . The best way to get out of this situation, then, was to run .
Man, I can’t really run knowing I have the key and the treasure room is just around the corner!
They could just return later, but there was no guarantee the giant wouldn’t destroy the treasure room . After all, it was a giant . When he looked at it through the window of the archives, they were pretty much at eye level . The thing was more or less ten meters tall .
「All right, let’s try it . 」
Hikaru inserted the ring he took from the king into the dent in the key . It was a perfect fit .
「I knew it . 」he said as the key shone for a bit .
「Yeah!」Lavia exclaimed .
They exchanged glances, then Hikaru thrust the key into the keyhole .
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「………」
「………」
「…Uh, it’s not moving . 」
「What?! Are we missing something?!」
Hikaru thought about it for a bit before letting go of Lavia’s hand . Suddenly everything went bright . There was a mechanism in place that made the lights turn on when a living human was detected . Not wasting any time, he immediately grabbed Lavia’s hand once more and turned on Group Obfuscation . In the meantime, something was happening before their eyes .
「Ah…」
A ripple of light came from the keyhole with the key still stuck in it . The door shook, its surface seemed to undulate .
「So that’s how it works . 」
When no one was around, the “power” in the castle was turned “off” . Just like electricity . It was surprising how it still worked after six hundred years . Although, perhaps it still worked because no one had used it all this time . Slowly, the door opened . At the same time, the rumbling was getting closer .
「H-Hikaru…」
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「It must’ve responded to the light . Damn, this giant is sharp . Let’s go . 」
The door was opened just enough for one person to go through one at a time . It was plenty bright inside . The room wasn’t really huge, just long and narrow . Items were packed on the shelves that lined both sides . The aisle was wide enough, but items were also displayed on the center which made the place feel cramped .
「Let’s just get the good stuff . 」Hikaru said .
「It feels like we’re robbing the place . 」
「The difference between a thief and an adventurer is that the latter steals from monsters . Anyway…」Hikaru glanced around . 「This place is incredible . 」
「Yeah…」
After staring at the darkness too long, the light was too bright for their eyes . That might’ve contributed to their awe . But even if that wasn’t the case, the room was still as impressive .
A box made of gold overflowing with precious stones . A necklace with a pearl the size of a thumb . Full armor made of scraped crystal . Carelessly leaning against the wall was a spear, shining bluish-white . Even the books were adorned with gems . Five crowns placed alongside each other . A cloak with diamond ornaments . The room was basically like a king’s walk-in closet .
It was dazzling . Blinded by greed was a fitting phrase .
「Lavia, let’s take what we want . Just pay attention to the weight . 」
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「Are you sure? Can we really do that?」
「I thought about getting permission, but the guy couldn’t talk so nothing we can do about it . There are no undead around so I’ll let go for now . 」
They split up and took every treasure they could . Hikaru walked deeper into the room . If this were an RPG, the best stuff would be in the deepest part of the room .
「Three…」
By the wall on the farthest side were three pedestals . In the center was a table about fifty centimeters in diameter, a velvet spread out on it . A pale-blue, square crystal sat on top, only slightly smaller than a baseball ball, with sparks running around inside it . The metal plate on front read “Holy Mana Ball” .
Poking it seemed fine . Hikaru wrapped it in the velvet and stuffed it in his bag . Next was the treasure on the left . He froze for a moment .
「No way…」
He certainly didn’t expect to see something like this here . A grip made from what seemed to be scraped ivory . A silver piece of metal, so smooth he could see his own reflection . Barrel with six chambers . Hammer linked to the trigger .
A real gun – a revolver sat there .
Hikaru reached for it and took it . Heavy, he thought . It was the first time he’s ever held one . Elaborately made, it wasn’t a model gun . After checking it wasn’t loaded, he pulled the trigger, and the hammer made a clinking sound . Shiny silver bullets lined up beside it . He grabbed them and loaded the chambers .
Can I… shoot it? It would be loud . I can’t try it here . What’s this thing even doing here? This here is technology beyond current capabilities .
Wait a sec .
A member of the Four Stars of the East is clearly Japanese . There was another reincarnated being as well… even before six hundred years ago . Maybe he or she made it… But there are no guns in this world . Did they make it themselves, but then never taught how to make or use it? Is that possible? It’s easy to copy once you’ve seen it .
Hikaru then realized something .
Taking the bullets out from the chambers, he could feel mana flowing in them . If this gun was something that couldn’t be recreated, then it would be an extremely precious weapon with only six rounds . Like the previous item, there was a metal plate placed in front of it .
「Hmm? I can’t read it . Sorcery… Crea…ted by Lugantz… one of four… Wait, what?」
Hikaru hadn’t had difficulty reading ancient language up until now . That only meant that it was probably an even older language . Or perhaps other language was mixed in .
Then, Hikaru’s Instinct sensed danger .
「Lavia, get down!」
She looked confused . Hikaru dashed towards her, tackling her to the ground .
The wall to the treasure room got blown off . An arm emitting ominous, purple mana peeked in from the hole .
The giant .