Chapter 19

Episode 19

It felt like I had reached max level at the start of the game.

‘Mind’s Eye’ and ‘Automatic Combat’ were already powerful skills, but now I had artifacts to enhance them.

Of course, I couldn’t be sure if these were the best items available.

This world might have spears made from demon lord horns and swords forged from dragon bones. You couldn’t underestimate Korean games.

But this was enough to prove that the Lady wasn’t just another generic mastermind.

‘How much wealth has she accumulated to amass such a collection of treasures?’

Lady Lucia’s words echoed in my mind: ‘Every action has a reason.’

Even if she was the designated mastermind, there had to be a reason for her wealth and her access to such powerful items.

But I couldn’t think of a plausible explanation.

The easiest explanation was a deal with a higher being.

Selling your soul to a demon or being chosen by a dragon to save the world were common tropes.

But this wasn’t a web novel it was a game.

‘It’s possible the developers didn’t bother with a detailed backstory…’

Regardless of the truth, I hoped she was aligned with the forces of good, not evil.

It wasn’t a matter of conscience. I hadn’t exactly lived a virtuous life. But I preferred to be on the winning side.

I realized I had been lost in thought and quickened my pace.

I didn’t want to miss dinner.

I arrived at the Lucius Inspection Unit headquarters in the old town district.

The lobby was empty. A sign at the reception desk, written in elegant calligraphy, instructed visitors to ring the bell for assistance.

‘Chloe is doing a great job.’

Jericho was a capable clerk, but he lacked attention to detail. Chloe was the perfect complement.

Technically, I was the only Inspector in the Lucius Inspection Unit.

As the leader, I was responsible for not only the success of our missions but also the smooth operation of the organization.

Human resources wasn’t my forte, but Selendis, Jericho, and Chloe were all competent individuals. I wouldn’t have to micromanage them.

*Creak*

*Clank!*

I entered the combination and opened the secret passage, leading to the safe house.

The aroma of roasted meat filled the air. I entered the dining hall and found my three subordinates gathered around a large roast.

They hadn’t touched their food. I should have told them to start without me.

“You’re finally here, Inspector! We’ve been waiting for you!”

“Am I late?”

“Not at all. It’s still warm! Come and join us.”

I placed my new acquisitions from the Lucius Club on a nearby table. Selendis’ sharp eyes followed my every move.

The ‘Sword of Chaos’ and the ‘Black Wind Bow’.

A skilled warrior could recognize a good weapon. I decided to show off a little.

“Jericho, would you mind carving the roast?”

“Leave it to me!”

He picked up a knife and began slicing the meat with impressive speed and precision.

I held up the sword and the crossbow.

“Selendis, have you ever heard of the Sword of Chaos?”

“No, Master. It’s a new one for me.”

“What about the Black Wind Bow?”

“I’ve heard of it. It’s said to be made from wyvern tendons and the branches of the World Tree.”

“This is it.”

Judging by her reaction, it was a high-grade artifact.

“And this sword is called the Sword of Chaos. The ruby embedded in the hilt is said to be formed from the condensed magma of the demon realm.”

Selendis examined the weapons with a serious expression. Jericho, having finished carving the roast, tossed his knife aside.

“That’s probably just a legend. The existence of the World Tree hasn’t been proven, so there’s no way to verify its authenticity. And if that ruby was truly formed from demon realm magma, it would have been confiscated by the paladins. It would be radiating demonic energy. The Inquisitors would be involved.”

Chloe sighed and glared at him.

“Jericho, why are you so unromantic? It’s cool for a weapon to have a legendary backstory. And if it has a name, it’s definitely an artifact.”

“I’m not being unromantic. I’m talking about being discerning when it comes to weapons. There are countless con artists out there who attach fantastical stories to ordinary weapons and sell them for exorbitant prices.”

“Do you think the Inspector would fall for such a scam? He was chosen by the Lady.”

I liked her way of thinking.

Not the part about me being gullible, but the part about me being chosen by the Lady.

“Wait a minute, Jericho. Have you ever been scammed? You sound like you’re speaking from experience.”

“Hmph! Do you think anyone can become an academy prodigy? Don’t underestimate the Kalisto Academy. It’s blasphemy!”

“You two seem to get along well.”

Jericho and Chloe both gasped.

“Oh my, Inspector! You must be hungry. You’re starting to hallucinate. Here, have some meat. I’ve finished carving it.”

“Absolutely not! I don’t associate with people who have beer bellies.”

I chuckled and sat down. We finally began our belated dinner.

“Selendis, what are your thoughts on the weapons?”

“I agree with Chloe. A good backstory adds to a weapon’s value. What about the Sword of Chaos? What kind of abilities does it have?”

“It’s said to adapt to the wielder’s potential. I’ll have to test it out to see what it can do.”

“It seems like a good sword.”

“Would you like to try it?”

She politely declined.

She was a devout knight, bound by a strict code of conduct.

Knights were forbidden from handling weapons that didn’t belong to them. A weapon was a knight’s life.

“And Jericho, don’t worry about being scammed. These weapons were a gift from the Lady. Or rather, I acquired them from a place called the Lucius Club.”

“The Lucius Club? What’s that?”

“A place where you can acquire rare and valuable items.”

I gave them a brief explanation, describing it as a shop exclusive to Inspectors.

“Wow… I had no idea such a place existed!”

I had shown them the Sword of Chaos and the Black Wind Bow to gauge their reactions.

They say that a person’s true nature is revealed when they encounter something valuable. I wanted to see how they would react.

“That’s amazing! Congratulations, Master! With such powerful equipment, you’ll be even safer in battle!”

Jericho’s response was typical of a healer. He was concerned about my well-being.

“I’d like to spar with you sometime, Master.”

Selendis was still driven by her desire for strength. And perhaps she wanted to help me test the Sword of Chaos.

“Do you have any snacks? Can you bring me some next time? I want to try some fancy snacks.”

Chloe… well, that was a typical response for someone her age.

Unlike the mature Selendis, Chloe was still a child at heart. She hadn’t even reached adulthood yet.

Snacks. I made a mental note to bring her some next time.

“Let me know if you need anything. I’ll pick it up from the club next time I’m there.”

“I don’t need anything right now. Our first mission ended so abruptly.”

“I agree.”

“Me too!”

They were all content.

None of them had shown any signs of greed.

But I wasn’t going to hoard everything for myself. I would provide them with whatever they needed.

My strength was important, but my subordinates needed to be strong as well. It would make my job easier.

I was planning to give Selendis the aura-enhancing elixir.

‘She doesn’t need a lot of aura right now. Increasing her affinity is more important.’

After my experience at the Lucius Club, I was convinced that affinity existed in this world.

And it was wise to maximize the affinity of my subordinates.

You never knew what kind of hidden routes it might unlock.

“What about the Lady? Did she say anything about our first mission?”

“She was already aware of the situation thanks to your timely reports. She praised your efforts and promised a reward. You can look forward to it.”

“Wow, a reward for simply doing my job? Hahaha, this is great! We should celebrate with some drinks!”

Jericho, having finished distributing the meat, retrieved a keg of beer from the storage room.

“Anyone want a drink?”

Since we didn’t have any missions lined up, I raised my hand. Chloe joined me, but Selendis remained silent.

“Selendis, it’s okay to have a drink. It’s good to unwind after a stressful situation.”

“Very well, Master. I’ll have one drink.”

We raised our mugs and toasted our success.

Jericho drained his mug in one gulp, letting out a satisfied sigh.

“Ah, that hits the spot! Come on, don’t be shy. Have another!”

I took a bite of meat and was surprised by its flavor. It was even better than I had expected.

“Jericho, you could open a restaurant after you retire from the Inspection Unit.”

“I’ll consider it, as long as you provide the funding. Hahaha!”

“I’ll be your kitchen assistant!”

“I don’t need an assistant.”

We chatted and laughed, setting aside our work for the night.

***

Later that night…

Selendis and I returned to the Walker estate. Jericho would keep us updated on the situation.

We would monitor Hylix, Baron Roman, Lady Rosalyn, and the others while waiting for our next mission.

“Welcome back, Master. Shall I prepare a bath?”

“Yes, please. Selendis, what are your plans?”

“I’ll be inspecting the guards and conducting night training.”

She was always diligent.

In a way, Selendis was the Captain of the Walker Knights. She was responsible for the safety of the estate.

The Walker guards might only number ten, but they were highly skilled soldiers provided by the Lady.

“Come to my room before you start training. Don’t be late.”

“As you command, Master.”

I took a quick bath and sat down at my desk, wearing a robe. Selendis arrived moments later.

She hesitated, her eyes fixed on me.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, Master. You called for me?”

“I’m repaying a debt.”

I handed her the ‘Fairy Handkerchief’ from the Lucius Club. She accepted it, her expression confused.

Then she remembered the debt.

A strange sensation washed over me, a tingling warmth.

But I pushed it aside, reminding myself of my position.

“You didn’t have to do this…”

“I acquired it from the Lucius Club. It’s supposed to remain eternally clean. And this is the real gift. Drink every last drop.”

I handed her the small jar.