Chapter 71
“Are you talking about the treasury of the Ancients?”
“Yes. I’m sure everyone here already knows what that is.”
“Well, yes, but…”
In the novel, there were beings known as “the Ancients.”
It was the name given to a civilization of humans who ruled the world tens of thousands of years ago — still humans, just like us.
Except for one difference.
“Is it really all right to meddle with something like that?”
Islynn asked sharply.
Artifacts of the Ancients were already scattered all across the continent.
Even the Golden Bank’s vault was filled with those relics.
But most people didn’t know how to use them — at least, not yet.
After the Golden Bank raid succeeds, the remnants of the Emperor’s faction will use those relics to rapidly expand their power.
Of course, no group can monopolize information forever.
Once those people start using the relics, word spreads — and within ten years, everyone, from nobles to commoners, will be wielding the relics of the Ancients.
The problem is me.
Would it be all right for me to use them now?
If the relics’ power or methods leaked out too soon, it could reshape the balance of the entire continent.
That’s why I’ve avoided touching them — until now.
But things have changed.
The Golden Bank heist happened earlier than it should have, and with Prince Gallen stirring up chaos, there was no longer time to hesitate.
The only option left was to grow stronger — as quickly as possible.
Originally, it was Count Venner who discovered the treasury hidden beneath the Endello Mine.
But with the Venner family now destroyed, I would simply be taking his place — just ten years earlier.
As long as everyone here keeps their mouths shut, there won’t be a problem.
They’re all trustworthy, after all. That’s why I dismissed the miners before coming here.
“I’m really looking forward to this, my lord! The treasury of the Ancients, of all things!”
“Heh. You don’t even look surprised anymore.”
“Haha! You, of all people, knowing about such things—it’s only natural, isn’t it?”
Priana was nearly bouncing with excitement, nostrils flaring as she spoke.
Maybe she thought this might be the key to the rank-up she’d dreamed of for so long.
Sorry, Priana… but that’s not going to happen.
There was nothing inside the treasury that could raise anyone’s rank.
If anything, it was closer to the opposite.
“But, my lord,” Isbart said, “we reached the deepest point of the Endello Mine, yet there’s no sign of any treasury.”
“Of course not. You’d have to dig much deeper to reach it.”
“Deeper than the deepest point?”
Isbart fell silent, his face tightening in worry.
The deepest part of the mine was called that for a reason.
Digging further risked disturbing the dragon vein below — something no sane man would do.
The dragon vein, also known as the earth’s lifeblood, carried the planet’s mana through the ground in immense quantities.
Disturbing it could unleash lava or even cause an earthquake.
Do that, and you’d be buried alive before you could even scream.
“I’ve got a way,” I said confidently.
Isbart’s expression brightened a little.
He knew I wouldn’t risk something suicidal.
“Let’s start the preparations.”
Clink.
I changed into the light leather armor I’d brought with me.
To enter the treasury beneath Endello Mine, mobility was more important than heavy plating.
Of course, this wasn’t ordinary leather armor.
It was custom-made by Harun himself.
[Leather Armor of a Dwarven Artisan]
Crafted by Bronze Beard, master smith of the Dwarves. Lightweight yet remarkably durable.
- Imbued Skills: Lightweight, Swiftness, Toughness.
It hugged my body perfectly — light as a thick shirt, flexible and comfortable.
And with layers of imbued skills, it was tough enough to resist even sharpened blades.
It might not be enough… but it’s better than nothing.
“Where’s the Giant Worm now?”
“We’ve made a resting pit for it near the deepest point. You’ll see when we get there.”
“Good.”
Together, we descended toward the mine’s lowest level.
The further we went, the less sunlight reached us, but the lamps lining the tunnels gave off enough light.
After a long descent, a hot, dry wind brushed against my skin — and soon, we arrived at the bottom.
The space was massive, crisscrossed with tunnels the Giant Worm had burrowed through.
“Here we are, my lord.”
“Phew. A bit warm down here.”
“Be careful,” I warned. “From here on, we’re walking directly above the dragon vein. One wrong strike and lava could burst out.”
“Lava? Then—”
“Touch it, and you’ll melt before you even have time to scream.”
“R-right…”
Priana clutched her sword tightly to her chest, afraid even the scabbard might graze the ground.
The closer you were to the dragon vein, the purer the ore became.
As long as you didn’t disturb the vein, mining here was safe — and profitable.
“I’ve already told the miners to only dig near the Giant Worm’s tunnels.”
“Then we’re safe.”
The Worm naturally avoided the dragon veins when burrowing.
Using that instinct, we could mine close to danger without actually triggering it.
“Priana.”
“Yes!”
“Check the ground.”
“Hm… looks solid.”
“Not with your eyes. Use your mana.”
“Ah.”
Her eyes flared blue, veins standing out at her temples as she focused.
“Ooh…”
She stared at the ground, transfixed.
“It’s like… an ocean. A furious, churning ocean beneath us.”
To the untrained eye, it was just dark stone.
But to those with higher ranks, it looked different — waves of mana crashing and swirling beneath the bedrock.
Touch that, and molten death would erupt.
“Keep looking. You’ll notice something strange soon enough.”
“Something stra—oh!”
Priana suddenly gasped.
I squinted, trying to see what she saw, but my eyes weren’t trained for it.
Tch.
I hadn’t broken through my first limit yet — I couldn’t perceive the flow of mana directly.
“There’s… something odd over there.”
She walked as if drawn by an unseen force and stopped near one side of the chamber.
“Beyond this point… the dragon vein is blocked.”
“Blocked?”
Isbart frowned, clearly not understanding.
Blocking a dragon vein — the earth’s flow of mana — was something no known technology could do.
“Have the Worm dig through this spot.”
“Yes, my lord!”
The massive creature squirmed over and stopped in front of us.
“Dig here, Komul.”
Buuuu…
It hesitated, but after Priana pointed the way, it opened its maw and began to dig.
Crunch, crunch.
In moments, the Worm bored through the rock at incredible speed.
After about ten meters, it suddenly stopped and recoiled, letting out a low, trembling wail.
Buuuu! Buuuu!
“Huh? What’s wrong with it?”
“That’s far enough. I’ll handle it from here.”
The creature could sense danger — something hidden beyond that wall.
I drew the Dragon-Scale Blade from my waist.
Shhhh!
Infusing it with aura, I slashed.
Slash!
The solid rock split like tofu.
“Eek!”
Priana stumbled backward in shock, and even Islynn and Isbart’s eyes went wide.
“Heh. Surprised?”
“I—I thought I’d die of fright! Swinging a sword here, of all places, where the dragon vein flows…”
“I’ll warn you next time.”
“Please do…”
Thankfully, no lava erupted.
Instead, the cut ground gave way, revealing something hidden behind it.
“…A door?”
A massive iron gate stood behind the rock, its surface corroded by time.
To think it had endured for thousands of years inside a dragon vein — that alone was a miracle.
“We’ve found it.”
“This is it? The treasury?”
“Most likely.”
No modern craftsmanship — not even the dwarves of Zygelond — could have kept metal intact in a place like this.
Priana stepped forward, awe and tension written all over her face.
She tapped the door lightly; rust flaked off in clouds.
The exterior was decayed, but the inside seemed untouched — that’s why it had survived the heat and pressure.
“Done admiring it?”
“Yes, but… I have no idea how to open it.”
“There’s a way.”
I pressed my palm against the center of the gate and gathered my mana.
Zzzzt…!
Like a blade drawing in aura, the mana swirled at my fingertips and seeped into the metal.
Woom…
The door vibrated, rust peeling away to reveal smooth, polished steel beneath.
[Input password…]
“Huh?”
A distorted, mechanical voice buzzed through the air.
“What… what was that?” Priana stammered.
“Nothing strange. It’s asking for a password.”
“Ahh, of course! You really can handle anything, my lord.”
“So, what’s the password?” Isbart asked hopefully.
“I have no idea.”
“…What?”
Their faces went pale.
A moment later, small glowing dots appeared in front of the door — twenty-seven of them, forming a cube-like grid.
It reminded me of a three-dimensional lock screen — like on a smartphone, but in midair.
You had to trace a pattern to open it.
And that’s exactly why I don’t know how.
I only knew the text version from the story — not the exact pattern.
Something about it looking like a star… but there are a million star shapes, aren’t there?
Not that it mattered.
Even if I got it wrong, the next part was inevitable anyway.
“Prepare for battle.”
“Yes, my lord!”
They obeyed without hesitation — a sign of trust.
Shrring!
I ran the Dragon-Scale Blade down the center of the door.
Rust scattered in a faint cloud.
Soft.
It had weakened over the millennia — once, it might have been unbreakable.
Now, even a Rank 4 aura strike could cut it.
A weak security measure, for something so ancient…
But that was only because we hadn’t yet met the guardians within.
[Unauthorized entry… detected.]
[Security protocol… initiated.]
The air filled with a warped, metallic screech — and the entire treasury of the Ancients began to tremble violently.
