Yuuto led Alister past a massive metal door, the echo of their footsteps filling the stairwell as they descended into the guild’s deep underground treasury.
“Why stairs instead of an elevator?” Alister finally broke the silence.
“I prefer walks like this,” Yuuto replied calmly, “Sometimes silence can help one appreciate the good things they have in life.”
“Is that so?” Alister’s gaze narrowed.
Yuuto glanced over his shoulder at Alister, walking by his left side. “Is there something on your mind?”
For a few moments, silence hung between them.
Then, Alister spoke up, his voice cutting through the quiet stairwell. “Since I was young, I’ve grown accustomed to the concept of ‘hard work is necessary in order to survive’, nothing good comes easy, nothing easy lasts long, and nothing long-lasting can be achieved without immense cost involved.”
Alister continued, his tone sounding a bit edgy, “What exactly is your motive behind all this? What exactly are you expecting me to shoulder by being so kind towards me?”
Yuuto couldn’t help but laugh softly, a sound that made Alister suddenly feel uneasy.
“Never in my long life would I have expected to hear such lines from a nineteen-year-old,” Yuuto remarked, his voice echoed with a touch of envy, “To be so wise yet so young. I’m already feeling envious.”
Yuuto placed a hand beneath his chin, a thoughtful expression settling on his face. “As for my motive…” His voice trailed off, the silence broken only by the sounds of their footsteps.
Then, a sudden smile graced his lips. He turned to Alister. “Let’s just say I have a debt I wish to repay.”
“Debt?” Alister was confused. “I don’t even know what-”
Yuuto cut him off. “Kids aren’t supposed to overthink things. Leave that to the adults. Besides, we’re here.”
A feeling of unease came over Alister. He was beginning to think Yuuto was stranger than he’d initially believed.
‘He’s a strange one my lord, but he doesn’t seem to harbor malice.’ Terra’s said.
‘Never the less I believe it would be best to keep your eye on him.’ Cinder spoke up as well.
Finally, they stood before a colossal double door, its sleek white surface covered with a cosmic design and a central, luminous comet emblem. It was breathtaking. Alister paused, his mind reeling. The image of the megacity’s colossal gates flashed before his eyes. This was almost as massive as they were.
Yuuto stood beside him, his gaze fixed on the door. “Alright, this is the Guild’s treasury. All my most valuable resources are stored here. I don’t know what you’re after, but please be considerate in your choices.”
Alister hesitated. “Understood. But I won’t hold back if what I need happens to be one of your prized possessions.”
Yuuto chuckled. “Ouch. You’re bold too. Well, let’s get this over with then.”
Yuuto then turned to face the door, placing his hands on the two sides, he leaned forward slightly.
Watching this Alsiter’s thoughts raced, ‘Wait… what is he up to, isn’t this one of this slide and open doors?’
With a sudden surge of strength, Yuuto pushed against the massive doors. They creaked before slowly creaking open, revealing a massive chamber bathed in a soft, warming glow. Alister watched in shock as the immense doors yielded to Yuuto’s strength.
‘I thought his talent was Absolute Regeneration? How is he so strong yet so small?’
‘With strength like that… wouldn’t it be possible to say he’s as strong as, if not stronger than guild master Anya?’
The question echoed in Alister’s mind.
Yuuto wiped a bead of sweat from his brow, his expression one of exertion. “Opening these doors never gets easier,” he grumbled, his voice echoing in the cavernous space.
Alister was speechless. The moment the doors fully swung open, he was greeted by a sight that bordered on the surreal. Mountains of gold ingots stretched as far as the eye could see, interspersed with piles of gleaming armor and weapons. freēwēbηovel.c૦m
Exotic artifacts, strange and wondrous machinery, and countless other treasures were
scattered haphazardly throughout the vast chamber.
It was a treasure trove on a scale he had never imagined. His mind raced, trying to process the sheer magnitude of wealth before him.
“This… is a treasure trove,” he said in awe, his voice barely audible over the echoing silence.
“How exactly am I supposed to look through all of this?”
‘My lord, I can assist you,’ Terra’s voice echoed in his mind. ‘My eyes are capable of
identifying and discerning treasure from afar.’
Hearing Terra’s words, Alister felt reassured, he let out a sigh of relief as he eased up slightly.
‘I’ll be relying on you then,’ Alister replied in his thoughts.
Yuuto, oblivious to their mental conversation, stepped aside.
“With my help, of course. If you’re looking for something specific, you’ll need to tell me. I may be old, but my memory is still sharp.”
Alister shook his head. “I don’t need your help.”
Yuuto smiled knowingly, strangely unsettling. “Very well. I’ll be waiting here then.”
With that, Alister turned and stepped into the treasure hoard. The sheer scale of the room was overwhelming.
Towering piles of gold were practically glowing, and the glint of precious metals and jewels filled his vision. He felt like a child in a candy store, but instead of sweets, he was surrounded by unimaginable wealth.
It was a daunting task, but with Terra’s assistance, he hoped to find what he was looking for. Terra’s voice echoed in his mind, ‘My lord, what are you searching for?’
Alister focused his thoughts, ‘System, open the crafting list.’
The yellow system holographic interface appeared before his eyes, displaying a list of items
that would be used to craft the Omnipotent Elixir.
Below the elixir’s name was a list of required ingredients:
[-True Dragon Heart Crystal: A rare crystal forged within the heart of a dying true dragon, possessing immense life force.
-World Tree Sap: A viscous, life-giving liquid extracted from the ancient World Tree found at the center of the earth.
-Phoenix Feather: A single feather plucked from a living Phoenix, imbued with regenerative
properties.
-Ethereal Moonstone: A gemstone infused with the essence of celestial bodies, capable of channeling lunar magic and enhancing spiritual insight.]