SWNOVELXO Chapter 28
Episode 28 Treasure
But why is there a library here?
Is it really a library?
No, with books spread out all around, I can’t think of anything else it could be.
If this space were a storage room, the books would be scattered messily, not neatly arranged like this.
My guess is that this library doesn’t seem to be for learning.
If it were, everything wouldn’t be made of silver.
But why would there be such tools in a place where just monsters live?
I couldn’t figure that out.
I didn’t even understand why there was a gate leading to this dungeon appearing in our land.
It couldn’t be proven with scientific technology.
These meticulously crafted furniture.
As if people once lived here.
The craftsmanship is flawless compared to our outside world.
It is an undeniable trace of humanity.
【Ugh, it’s heavy.】
While I was lost in thought, Chaewon made a whining sound.
【Hey, wait a minute. This is way heavier than I expected!】
Is it difficult just to lift two books?
“Lack of exercise.”
【Hah… Oh, but you know.】
“What?”
【What are we going to do?】
“What? Attach a subject to that.”
Seeing her speak without a subject made me want to gently hit her on the head.
【No, think a little.】
“Uh?”
Chaewon’s strong tone caught me off guard.
“What, what is it?”
【No, how are we going to get out of here? You want to remain isolated in this silver library forever?】
‘Ah, that’s what it was.’
【You seem pretty calm… But hearing this without panicking must mean you already have a plan, right?】
Listening to her, I drew my sword.
【W-What? Did I speak too harshly? Why are you drawing your sword…? I was wrong -】
“Why are you freaking out? I’m just going to pierce a hole in the door with this and check the situation outside.”
【Ah… Who’s freaking out?! Hmph!】
Chaewon turned her head sharply.
She turned it so hard I thought her neck would snap.
But unfortunately for her, a suicide attempt wouldn’t help.
After all, she’s already dead.
“Hmm… But since this door is made of stone, will a hole even work?”
– Scrape, scrape.
I started scraping the door slowly, like crafting a sculpture with the sharp edge of my sword.
【… Are you really going to do that all day?】
“… Should I try a little harder?”
【Of course, you should, you fool.】
I acted a bit recklessly to create a hole.
As a result.
The sword pierced through the door.
【Oh, nice! Make a round peephole with that momentum!】
“What kind of hole?”
I was so concentrated on making the hole that I didn’t hear her well.
【Um… A reconnaissance hole?】
That didn’t seem right, but it wasn’t important now.
I pushed the sword with more force and managed to create a rather rough, but still round hole.
And the moment I pushed the part with my hand to clear the hole.
Through that opening, a flood of skeletal hands came pouring in.
– Clatter! – Clatter! – Clatter! – Clatter! – Clatter! – Clatter! – Clatter! – Clatter! – Clatter! – Clatter!
“Whoa!”
【Eek! W-What is this! Quickly, block it again!】
It was already too late to block that hole again.
Because the round piece of stone I had pushed out when making the hole had already fallen to the external ground.
Common sense dictates that you can’t pull a hole once you’ve made it.
I took a few steps back.
“Oh?”
Now that I look, those bony hands were flailing in the air.
If I stood back a little, I wouldn’t take any damage.
“Hey, Chaewon.”
【Eek!… Ah… Why are you calling me?】
“When that thing is distracted, let’s look for a back door.”
Chaewon tilted her head like someone who didn’t understand what I said.
“Do you think there’s only one door in this huge library? Let’s hurry and look for another door. The door we came in might be the back door, so whether it’s the main entrance or whatever, get off my shoulder and look around.”
【Ah, okay. But you hold this book for a second.】
I briefly took back the two books from Chaewon.
We spread out to look for doors.
We began searching for an entrance or exit, gradually moving away from the book-filled area. It could be anywhere that looks like a way out.
However, in the left area I checked, I couldn’t find anything that could be considered a door.
‘Hmm… It seems like there’s nothing that can be called a door over here… What about over there?’
【There’s no door on this right side either… but there’s a window! Should we go out this way?】
‘Okay. I’ll head that way again.’
I quickly moved toward where Chaewon said she found a window.
– Thud.
But something blocked my foot while moving toward her.
“What’s this…? A box?”
【Hurry up! I’m scared…】
‘Just wait a second.’
I initially suspected the box lying on the ground might be a mimic, but seeing its size, I quickly dismissed that thought.
I picked up the box.
Now that I see it, it looked like a small treasure chest.
I tried with all my strength to open that small treasure chest.
However, it wouldn’t budge.
It seemed that a ‘key’ was needed to open this treasure chest.
【Hey, what are you doing not coming?】
In this urgent situation, I had to think.
All those skeletal hands were aggroed.
They were all drawn to the hole I had just made.
Should I escape?
Or should I look for the key?
Honestly, there was no need to think.
Didn’t I already have the key?
I promptly took the key I had from my pants pocket.
One could wonder who would carry such a precious item in a pants pocket.
But the truth is, I thought the same thing.
I should quickly gather G-Coins to buy an inventory.
‘Even the system’s shop reflects the hellish conditions.’
【… System..? Stop babbling and hurry up and come to me! What are you stalling for with those skeletons coming?】
I immediately tried to use the ‘Defector’s Key’ to open the small treasure box.
However, the key never got into the keyhole.
The Defector’s Key was just a few centimeters too large for the keyhole of the treasure box I was holding.
‘Then it means there is a separate key that fits this box…’
【Aaaah! The skeletons are almost tearing the door off!】
‘Ugh. I’m going now!’
There’s no choice.
I hurriedly gathered the box and sprinted toward where Chaewon was.
She was sitting on the window frame as she opened the window, not far from the door we came through.
【Hah… You finally came? Now let’s hurry!】
– Clatter!
– Rumbling.
“… I think I heard an ominous sound from the door?”
【Forget about it. Let’s just hurry!】
I squeezed my body through the window.
“… It’s a bit tight… you’ll get stuck.”
【I’m a ghost, so I can pass through just fine!】
I barely squeezed out from the window.
“Hurry, you come out too.”
Chaewon easily slipped out.
Honestly, it would have been more interesting if she got stuck here.
【Phew… That was really tough.】
“Really? Now hold the book.”
【.. Can’t you be lenient?】
“I have to fight. I’ll carry it later.”
It’s tough being so weak.
【Oh? But what’s that small box?】
“Oh, this? I was late because I took a detour to pick this up earlier.”
【Oh… A treasure box? It’s locked!】
“Yeah, I wanted to look for the key too, but given the circumstances, I have to give up on getting it.”
Chaewon snatched the small treasure box from me and started inspecting it.
I regained some composure and used the King’s Insight on that small treasure box.
‘King’s Insight activated.’
– Ding!
[Checking the information of the object.]
[Information]
Name: Unknown Treasure Box
Type: Unknown
Characteristic: Small
– Current Status –
An old treasure box.
==========
The information indicated that it was old, but it didn’t visually appear worn at all.
It likely meant it was well taken care of or had some specific magic on it.
“That’s awkward… I can’t exactly carry this around.”
It’s a size that’s awkwardly too big to just put in my pocket.
It’s the size of an adult male’s fist.
While it’s far too small to really be considered a treasure box, it’s somewhat large for portability.
The sharp-cornered areas could tear the pocket if kept in it too long.
‘Looks like I have no choice but to give it to Chaewon again.’
【What are you giving me this time!.. Can’t we just smash it once and see?】
“Does that even make sense—”
She placed the small treasure box she was holding on the ground.
“Ah.”
【What’s the harm? Let’s just try it!】
Whether my current stats would work or not is uncertain.
‘System.’
– Ding!
‘My information.’
[Checking your information.]
[Information]
Name: Han Shiwoo (21)
Level: 20
Position: Dealer
Holding Stats: 0
– Current Stats –
Strength: 6
Agility: 3
Intelligence: 5
Luck: 7
– Holding Skills –
Dampen-Nerf (EX) LV.1 (Max)
[Using an order after physical contact with a being of the same race decreases that target’s ability by two levels.]
P.System’s Blessing (EX) LV.1 (Max)
[Helps holder Han Shiwoo to grow. Along with growth, various rewards can be obtained.]
Inheritance of Powers (S) LV.1 (Max)
[Can inherit powers from the corpse of a being you have killed. (1 can be selected.)]
King’s Insight (S) LV.2
[Can obtain more information. (The amount of information received increases as the level rises.)]
Soul Protection (S) LV.1
[Negates the effects of abilities that cause mental damage. (Cooldown 24 hours. / Only negates harmful effects.)]
Soul Summon (A) LV.1 (Max)
[Can summon the soul contained within the sword. (Though, both parties must agree to free them.)]
Transparency (A) LV.1
[Makes the body transparent during non-combat. Duration is proportional to intelligence stats. (Intelligence stat x 5 minutes)]
P.Basic Swordsmanship (D) LV.4
[Can handle the sword more sharply.]
3-Consecutive Attacks (D) LV.4
[Attacks three times quickly.]
P.Pothead’s Blessing (D) LV.2
[Increases the duration of beneficial effects of drugs by 10 times.]
==========
Strength of 6.
Luck of 7.
What a joke. Even gamblers have a higher luck stat than strength.
With a mere 6 strength, I don’t think I can open this treasure box.
“How ignorant. If smashing the treasure box could open it, what would you call that? This isn’t some basic locker lock… You need to make sense.”
Not having confidence, I subconsciously tried to relay that this action was a risky move.
【Ugh… So noisy! Just try it! Even if it doesn’t open, there’s no loss, and if it does, then it’s a win! Break through that shell! You old-fashioned thing!】
“Hey, to be precise, you are older than I am, right? So why do I have to take that from you?”
【You? I died at 20, so I’m forever 20! Besides, if we follow your logic, all the things you’ve done to me until now have been things suitable for an older sister? You little brat—】
“Okay, okay, I’ll just try it.”
I cut her endless tirade short and decided to try it out of necessity.
【I’m not done talking!】
Ignoring her machine-gun-like chatter, I struck the small treasure chest on the ground with my sword.
Worried if my enhanced strength would finally show some effect before entering this gate.
– Clang!
Did my luck stat increase from 6 to 7 before coming in help?
Lucky Seven had surely lent me its strength.
I didn’t want to admit that the ridiculous ghost girl was right.
The small treasure chest I struck broke apart, and the keyhole was all ragged now.
“… What was that?”
【… This really works?】
I sheathed my sword and picked up the broken small treasure box.
“I wonder what’s inside…”
【Is there a really amazing treasure in there?】
With great anticipation, we opened the small treasure box.
Inside that box.
Upon opening the small treasure box.
There was treasure inside.
Yet there were two gold rings.
And each gold ring held a bright red ruby.
Inside the treasure box.
There was a pair of golden rings adorned with stunning and small rubies.