Episode 952 Golden Vigo (3)
Yellow luminous objects, perfectly identical in shape, brightness, and size at a glance, were floating in the air slightly above the ceiling.The distance between the luminous objects lined up in a row was also exactly the same, as if measured with a ruler.
Artifact?
A faint magical energy is detected, and a warmth like spring sunshine can also be felt. Soon, Junia’s blue eyes, having adjusted to the light, turned straight ahead.
The Golden Road.
A dazzling hallway, which looked as if it were literally made of gold, welcomed the host and the guest. Adrian stepped out of the elevator after Magnus.
It’s a luxurious structure.
[Hohoho, it is surprisingly practical, too. By combining the rust-proof hardness and strength of gold with a seal from the realm of dark magic, a special safe that can truly be called eternal is completed. It is perfect for hiding something for a very long time.]
Magnus pretended to inhale even though he had no lungs.
[This is my first time in this passage as well. The only thing I was personally involved in was the Golden Vigo. I named the path leading to the Golden Vigo the “Golden Path” and inscribed it on my remains, but it seems Reginalf, who awakened first, actually constructed that Golden Path.]
Skull, ribs, femur.A golden path will open to the one who gathers the three golden bones.
[Hwanggeumbigo is even more magnificent than this, but the overall scenery is similar. It evokes a renewed sense of emotion. To think that it was already eight centuries ago when it feels like just yesterday…]
When he woke up, the world had changed drastically.That was Magnus’s reality.
Adrian gazed beyond the radiance created where light and gold met.
Does that mean everything is at the end of this road?
[Yes, that is likely.]
There are a total of three types of wealth in the Golden Vault.
The first is the treasury of the Xerion Empire stolen by Magnus and Castian.The second is the various weapons and artifacts of the continent collected by Reginalf over hundreds of years.The third is the untraceable, diverse array of tangible goods amassed by successive Bank Presidents Magnus and Dyna by fulfilling the duties assigned by Reginalf.
It is the result of the combined efforts of the three major banks, which wield the greatest influence in the continent’s business world, in addition to the criminal. Whatever comes out of it is bound to be beyond imagination.
“But do you really not know what’s inside? I don’t know about anything else, but you said you stole the Empire’s treasure yourself.”
[I merely assisted with the theft in various ways; I never personally entered the Xerion Empire’s Imperial Palace treasury. It is due to a matter of lineage! Of course, I could have heard an explanation from Lord Castian, but… at the time, I made no effort to understand. I hated it. The self that unconsciously tries to assess the value of precious objects whenever it comes into contact with them. My life, for which dying would have been more beneficial to the world.]
Magnus taking a step.
[Curiosity is too much for me, who is more worthless than a roadside pebble. A tool to fulfill a mission. Ever since I vowed revenge against the ancient king, I have existed solely for him.]
Magnus was an inexcusable villain during his time as a merchant.
He would sell even the souls of others for money.He used the cries of the poor as a lullaby.He ran his trading company aggressively, even to the point of driving his competitors to the bottom. Conscience? Mercy? To Magnus, goodwill was a worthless commodity.
Magnus’s extreme materialistic behavior only stopped after he directly joined the war of the Xerion Empire, or rather, the Xerion Kingdom.
It is because tragedy struck.
He financially supported the former king, contributing to the empire’s forces sweeping across the continent.His estranged wife was murdered by the former king.He lost his child, who was with his wife, to the former king.
Overwhelmed by the unbearable cruelty and the sense of loss from losing his family, Magnus let go of the money he had loved so much.It was the end of a wretched man who, until it became his own business, could not empathize with the pain and sorrow of others and had instead amassed his fortune at their expense.
[It is my karma. So I must atone.]
Every single word is smeared with self-loathing. Magnus remained Magnus both before and after regaining his memories of his life, but his attitude and heart changed as if he had become a completely different person.
Memory is one of the foundations of existence.
Magnus trudges along the golden road.
Even the brilliant light pouring down from all directions could not fully illuminate the wretchedness. The shadow of gold gently dampened the mood of those who should have naturally been jumping for joy at the sight of the treasure.
It was then.
Whoooosh───
As Magnus attempts to cross a specific boundary of the Golden Path, the wall ripples. The artifact’s light flickers intermittently from the ceiling.The air currents shift slightly.
Yunia clasped her hands behind her head.
“I knew it, this space itself was an artifact.”
Swoosh.
He extended the golden hand bone. A part of the skeleton that had crossed the invisible boundary disappeared. It vanished only from sight.
[No wonder… I thought the coordinates of the Anonium Bank and the Golden Vigo were different; so this was the secret hidden there.]
Galliac raised one eyebrow.
“What secret?”
[The Golden Path responds to my presence, having volunteered to be its gatekeeper, much like the Golden Vigo. Even with the Golden Key, entry is impossible without me. Unless that condition is met, one cannot reach the Golden Vigo no matter how far one walks through this passage. This passage gives us an idea of just how much effort Reginalf has devoted to security all this time.]
Magnus looked back.
[If you follow the path and cross the boundary, you will be able to move to another space. Please keep your distance from each other, as you must not be too far apart.]
Gharun pounded on the golden wall.
You said you were seeing this passage for the first time, but you know a lot.
[The Golden Vigor is intertwined with my existence, having undergone the ritual of immortality. The same goes for this path, which seems to be rooted in the Golden Vigor! Even if you know nothing, your bones will react on their own.]
That’s really convenient.
[Hahahahaha! So that’s why it’s magic, and isn’t it an artifact?]
Magnus, having lightened the mood with a good laugh, specially supported Bank President Anonium, who was the slowest walker in the group.His cane was trembling because his body was old and he found it difficult to control his excitement.
We’re almost there, comrade.
Ah, th-thank you.
You’re welcome.
Magnus volunteered to act as a staff and kept pace with the bank manager. They crossed the boundary line first. The Golden Path shook repeatedly.While the vibrations were occurring, Adrian and his party also entered another space one by one.
* * *
“……her.”
God slowly raised his head. His glasses slipped down to the tip of his nose. Galliac, Nerien, Junia, and Bank President Anonium opened their mouths.
An underground cavity enclosed on all sides.A huge, glowing golden gate that filled it.
Hoho.
It was a sight that even G’harun, the legendary dwarf, would genuinely marvel at.The cavity itself was narrow and empty, but the entrance to Vigo, reaching tens of meters in height, erased the emptiness.
Adrian said.
Just how much money did you have?
[If he had intended to self-destruct, he could have paralyzed a significant portion of the continent’s economy at the time. Of course, one must take into account the fragile economic conditions immediately following the War of the Transcendents! In any case, he amassed a fortune that could not be concealed by humility. Even if it was dirty money, money itself is not sinful. That wealth served as the cornerstone of his grand scheme.]
There was a tiny gap in the gate at about the chest height of an average adult.
Magnus twisted the golden key, which he had inserted precisely into the gap, 90 degrees. Then he twisted it 30 degrees again and turned the key a full circle.
Click.
The sound of friction from the machine is heard loudly.
Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click.
As the dark magic reacts, the countless gears inside mesh together. It is the largest vault, crafted by pouring in every ounce of the era’s technological prowess.While it differs from dwarf technology, its level of craftsmanship is no less than theirs.
“So, even among ancient humans, there were some with quite decent manual dexterity.”
They were the best on the continent.
Magnus’s skeleton flashed whenever the interconnected locks were released.
Bank President Anonium’s heart raced.
“It is much more complex than our bank’s vault, but… it has a similar structure. I see. Is this where Anonium Bank’s vault design technology originated…!”
Learning something you didn’t know before is like a blessing. The president of Anonium, who finally understood the background of the birth of the three major banks, trembled with emotion.
Kugugugugugugugugugugugugu.
The Golden Vigo opens.
Junia’s blue eyes, growing larger and larger, began to sparkle. She hit Adrian hard on the shoulder and jumped up and down.
“Wow, wow……! Is what we are seeing real? Not some kind of illusion? That’s real?”
Of course.
Magnus politely pointed to the golden Vigo.
[They are all real objects.]
Everyone entered the vast interior.
Weapons and armor lined up in rows on display stands crafted by the Anonium Bank. Countless cylinders and boxes were filled with weapons.High-grade magic stones and ores such as Mithril formed mountains. The ores were unsmelted, but even so, there was an excessive amount.
This was also nothing compared to that.
Various byproducts of several special entities that turned the continent upside down are also thoroughly preserved, and ingots of the finest metal occupy a corner.Although it appears to be a relatively small amount, the thought of its value made my head spin.
There were quite a few magical items, which are mainly called magic items in modern times.
“crazy…….”
Galliac laughed while sweating profusely.
“Just the things over there could arm a few small nations, couldn’t they? There would be more than enough to establish a Continental Alliance or whatever.”“Uh-huh-huh.”
God and Nerien merely trembled their lips, as if they had forgotten how to speak. To ordinary adventurers, the true value of the Golden Vigo was a powerful stimulus.
“The Golden Vault was closed. How on earth did you move this? Is there a separate door?”
Bank President Anonium was captivated by the sight and soon replied.
“The Bank of Anonium has a separate place in the Golden Vault to store items. We secretly transported the weapons sent from the Bank of Dyna and the Bank of Magnus there. Of course, only the Bank Manager knows where the missing items end up.”
It was just as Reginalf and Castian had mentioned.
Thus, the Golden Vault is being safely protected even at this very moment. However, there is one thing that distinguishes this vault from other vaults.
───The difference?
───The very point is that it is one-way. You cannot take what is stored in the vault out, but you can store things from the outside in the vault. It is perfect for hiding something for the long term.
Adrian recalled his conversation with the sinners and opened his mouth.
“How does it look, Gharun?”“I see two ancient artifacts. And quite remarkable ones at that.”
Gharun displayed his unique observational skills and saw through the mountain of treasures.
“Indeed. It truly deserves to be called a tremendous treasure. You really collected them with such tenacity. I have lived a long life, but this is the first time my eyes have been so delighted.”
Upon hearing that the Desert Spirit had answered Verden’s call, I resumed my investigation, but even Gharun had not yet been able to identify the cause.Feeling frustrated, I accepted Adrian’s suggestion to clear my head… and it was worth following along.
“If we unite the forces of the continent and unleash this storehouse, it will become a formidable military power. Verden would be pleased to see this. However, this surely isn’t the end.”
Gharun looked around.
“Where is the treasure of the Xerion Empire?”
[I heard you are a legendary dwarf, but your discernment is truly astonishing. Please follow me. You have a separate space, Castian. As I mentioned, I have never been inside, though.]
While everyone was looking around, unable to take their eyes off the Golden Vigo for even a moment, Magnus guided the two to the center.The hidden central disc rotated, transporting them underground.
“It’s full of gadgets.”“That’s the romance.”
As expected, you know what you’re talking about.
Boom.
The disc touched the floor.At the same time, a golden light illuminated the darkness.
Magnus paused.
[Lord Castian said that on that day, you brought out ‘three items’ from the Imperial Palace, placed in a storage artifact… …Hehoho, surely not. I didn’t know they would be things like that.]
A huge heart beating very slowly.A stone shining like the Milky Way.A sphere of dark crystal.
“That sphere looks like an ancient artifact…… but these two are different.”
Gharun approached the heart first.A violent life force could be felt.
“How on earth did you get the heart of a living dragon?”
[The ancient king controlled a massive Bone Dragon and even slayed a dragon. Furthermore, he commanded servants of the Glory of the Corpse. I do not know much about black magic, but there must have been a specific method to preserve a heart like that.]
The Dragon’s Heart… … .
It was the first time Adrian had seen the actual internal organs of an adult dragon. At best, G’harun had only used the dragon blood stored in the Red Volcano Clan.For reference, dragon blood was used to craft Verden’s [Interis].
Hooooo.
Gharun licked his lips.It was as if a creative urge was welling up inside him.
“I do not know exactly what purpose the Dragon’s Heart is meant for, but if entrusted to G’harun, a formidable weapon will surely be created. It is a great harvest that exceeds expectations. My Lord will surely be pleased.”
Adrian smiled faintly and turned his attention to the remaining treasure.
“What is that rock? Is it some kind of ore with a high content of top-grade metals?”
Magnus clutched his jawbone.
[I’m sorry, but since it’s my first time seeing this, I’m not sure… … .]
“No, I’ve seen countless ores, but I’ve never seen anything like this. I can assure you it’s not some top-tier metal. This… I mean, this is…”
Gharun stared intently at the stone that seemed to hold the night sky. A very strange feeling. An unfamiliar sensation pounded on Gharun’s nerves.
“I don’t know?”“…….”“Why are you staring at me like that? So what?”“If you don’t know, take it and examine it.”“Alright, thanks.”
Gharun paused.
But is this yours?
[Hohohoho, ownership of the Golden Vigo belongs to Lord Verden. The same goes for this Imperial treasure. That is because we have decided so. Please use this as a bridgehead for the re-establishment of the Continental Alliance.]
If it belonged to Verden, it belonged to Adrian as well.Because he was Verden’s agent.
“I have confirmed that Golden Vigo possesses the power to arm the Continental Alliance. Then, next.”
Adrian asked.
“What is the plan to establish the Continental Alliance?”
The key is the formation of an alliance.Even with so many weapons, they are useless if they do not join hands.
Magnus tilted his head.
[Uh… … why are you asking me that?]
“what?”
[yes?]
“what?”
[yes?]
“……??”
Magnus placed his hand on his sternum.
[As you can see, we are the undead. No matter how much we reveal the truth and plead, who would believe us? It would likely end with us being annihilated by the Luas Cult, having the Golden Vigo stolen, and that is the end for us. That is why I chose Lord Verden. Lord Verden is the most suitable person to serve as the central figure of the Alliance.]
“We do not know when our Lord will return. Do we have the luxury to wait until then?”
[So, Adrian, you should do it.]
Magnus thrust his skull forward.
[You are the acting authority, aren’t you, Lord Verden?]
“…….”
Adrian’s expression hardened.Cold sweat ran down his face.
I’ll be right back.
* * *
A spatial teleportation circle deployed across the silent desert, and the central signal device was connected.The communication device lit up.
“wait a minute.”
Isabella left the manager and Verden behind and received a call in a quiet place.
“what’s the matter?”
Has the Lord woken up?
“what?”
Isabella asked back in disbelief.
“It hasn’t even been a day since I went to see the manager, so do you think the head of the household would be awake already? What’s wrong all of a sudden? Did something urgent come up?”
───That’s not it… … .
“Then what is it? You don’t have any urgent business. You didn’t go so far as to ask me to open a spatial teleportation circle just to ask that, did you? I know exactly how difficult it is to draft a long-distance spatial teleportation circle. Besides, you know how expensive it is to maintain one continuously, right? Come on, surely not.”
───… … .
I can make an excuse.But it doesn’t seem like a good choice.
“hey.”
I’ll explain later.
Adrian turned off the communication device before Isabella scolded him any more.
