Chapter 41: Wolf Hunt #3

Chapter 41: Wolf Hunt #3

My words brightened the dwarves’ faces.

“What? There’s something to shoot?”

“Just say the word! We’ll blow it all away.”

These guys just love firing cannons.

Whether it’s the Garden guards or the Vigilantes, they seem eager to shoot at anyone.

‘Crazy bastards.’

But I can’t entirely blame them.

There are six large cannons.

If it were me, I’d want to fire them too.

“Follow me.”

I led the way, and the small dwarves cheerfully followed, humming a tune.

Wagner and I led the dwarves out of the prison.

All the Vigilantes inside the hideout had gathered in the central common area, so there was no one to stop us.

This is why enemies from within are so terrifying.

Dawson was too complacent.

Even if it was a well-hidden secret hideout, he shouldn’t have let his guard down until the very end.

He will soon pay dearly for that complacency.

“Ahaha- so you plan to concentrate firepower on the central common area.”

“It’s going to be quite a sight.”

The dwarves chuckled as I explained the plan.

“This will be fun. First, we need to be careful about the impact points so the cave doesn’t collapse-“

“Wouldn’t it be better to use shrapnel shells that spread widely?”

“Speed is important. Let’s use the second and third shots to block their retreat path.”

The dwarves put their heads together, discussing and adjusting the cannon positions.

‘If I hadn’t infiltrated, they would have laughed and blown up Garden like this.’

A chill ran down my spine.

“The preparations are almost complete. Shall we fire as soon as they’re done?”

“No. There’s still something left to do. Wait until I give the signal.”

I hid behind a cave pillar and looked down at the common area.

Vigilantes in gear were preparing for the battle about to unfold,

and in front of them, Vigilante executives and Dawson were talking with serious expressions.

“Wagner, I need to go somewhere with you for a moment.”

I took Wagner and slipped away to a corner.

Suppressing the Vigilantes is important, of course.

However, there’s a place I absolutely must visit before the guards arrive.

The vault where the Vigilantes have stored their accumulated wealth.

We must empty it completely before the guards arrive.

‘I need to take what I can.’

Why else would I have risked infiltrating in the first place?

I need to make money.

***

The secret warehouse in the underground cave.

A Vigilante dozing against the warehouse door brightened upon seeing us.

“Oh, is it already shift change? It’s a bit early, but I’m… Wait, hey, what are you doing?”

Crack.

With a single blow from the mace, the Vigilante’s body collapsed like a rag doll.

“They didn’t even post guards at the prison, but they’re fiercely guarding the warehouse.”

Wagner said, bewildered, wiping the blood from his mace.

It seems he wanted to protect the warehouse at all costs, even if the world collapsed.

Typical of the greedy Dawson.

‘I don’t mind. I can take all the wealth he’s accumulated.’

From Dawson’s perspective, it’s like giving away the porridge he made.

But it’s his own fault; who can he blame?

“The lock is quite sturdy.”

Wagner said, examining the lock on the warehouse door from various angles.

“We can’t break it by force. Does this guy have the key?”

Wagner searched the body of the fallen Vigilante. However, no key was found.

“Dawson probably took the key with him.”

“Hmm. Then Estel, it seems we have no way to open this warehouse door.”

“Don’t worry, Wagner. There are ways to open it without breaking it by force or needing a key.”

I wouldn’t have come here so leisurely without a plan.

I focused my Thousand-Mile Sight power into my eyes and grasped the lock.

‘I see it.’

The complex structure inside the large lock was transparently visible.

I got a sense of where and how to manipulate the internal mechanisms to unlock it.

Next, 「Telekinesis」.

Formless mana penetrated the inside of the lock through the keyhole.

Click, click.

“Ooh-“

Wagner, who was watching, exclaimed in admiration.

The lock was released in a few seconds.

It’s faster than a skilled thief.

‘This is why mages are OP.’

Telekinesis alone cannot open a lock, but when combined with Thousand-Mile Sight, any lock can be opened.

It’s a skill that other classes can’t even imitate.

“Let’s go in.”

We opened the thick warehouse door and entered.

“Magnificent.”

Wagner nodded, looking around the warehouse.

The yellow glow of the shining gold coins illuminated Wagner’s face.

Gold coins piled high in every jar.

Valuable accessories and jewels were also gathered in a corner.

It looked like it would easily exceed a million gold when converted.

“Let’s take everything, not leaving a single thing behind.”

I feel sorry for the Guard Captain, but I have no intention of giving up such delicious side income.

If left untouched, it’ll surely be returned to the Imperial treasury.

“Wagner, use this.”

I threw a ring to Wagner as he opened his bag.

「Ring of Storage

-Accessory Item

-Durability: 15/15

-A magic ring connected to a mysterious magical subspace.

-Additional Option: 「Subspace Storage」」

「Subspace Storage

-You can store other items within the subspace of equipment with this option.

-Until the equipment is destroyed, the items inside will be preserved in their original state.

-The 「Ring of Storage」 can store 150 items.」

There are two Rings of Storage in Dawson’s warehouse. This was information I had already confirmed in the game.

I put on the remaining ring.

It feels a bit strange wearing the same ring as Wagner, like a couple’s ring…

But now is not the time to worry about such trivial matters. Performance comes first.

“Put everything in the rings.”

“Got it.”

The Rings of Storage are essential accessories that must be obtained in “Nine Stars”.

Frankly, without them, it’s like having no basic human rights.

Unlike Wagner’s previous “Large Capacity Storage Bag,” these rings don’t get heavy no matter how many items you put in them.

Even buying just one of these rings would cost at least five hundred thousand gold.

‘Have I taken everything I need?’

The warehouse was now empty, unlike when we first entered.

It felt refreshing, as if the house had been cleaned out before moving.

“Estel, shall we go?”

“Yeah.”

But at that moment.

A strange pull stopped me.

Something in the empty warehouse was calling to me.

‘I’ve felt this before.’

I had experienced it before at the Garden resting area.

An empty curry can had drawn me like a magnet.

The call of a holy relic.

It means there’s something in this warehouse that’s suitable for containing my soul.

“Estel?”

“Ah, can you wait a moment?”

I looked around the warehouse.

I’ve taken all the valuable items. What’s calling me?

What’s left-

‘A lamp.’

A lamp hanging on the wall caught my eye.

It’s a common lamp, easily found anywhere.

Perhaps a genie that grants wishes will appear if I polish it with an oil-soaked rag?

I took out the curry can from my cloak. Then, in my other hand, I held the lamp.

「I will now replace the holy relic.」

「Your true body may become somewhat vulnerable during the soul transfer process, so please be cautious.」

With a distant sensation I had felt before, the whole world spun around.

When I came to my senses, my soul had already settled into the new holy relic.

「Estel’s Holy Relic

-Unique Item

-Durability: 18/18

-A holy relic containing the soul of Lich Estel Frostwind. If this holy relic is destroyed, Lich can no longer be resurrected.

-It is a bronze lamp that used to light up the warehouse.

It exudes an antique atmosphere with the scent of ages.

-Additional Option: 「Ability Calibration」「Ability Distribution」」

「Your soul has been transferred to a higher-grade holy relic. New abilities are imbued in the holy relic.」

「-Ability Calibration: You can extract only the necessary amount of abilities stored in the holy relic.

-Ability Distribution: Abilities stored in the holy relic are now integrated into one, without distinction.」

‘Perfect.’

It couldn’t be better than this.

Thanks to the addition of the 「Ability Calibration」 function, I no longer have to resort to all-or-nothing battles.

Until now, I had to be very careful and use the holy relic’s abilities only for one crucial fight.

But now, I can summon half or even a third of the stored abilities, removing that burden.

「Ability Distribution」 is also great.

If necessary, I can pour all my abilities into magic for a one-hit kill.

Or, I could greatly enhance my physical abilities for a moment of superhuman movement, or invest in stamina to withstand attacks.

‘Managing abilities will be much easier.’

I gained new power from the warehouse that I hadn’t anticipated.

Dawson, you bastard, thank you. You’ve given me so many gifts.

Then I should give you something in return.

“Let’s go.”

Now, it’s time to kick some ass.

***

Dawson was confident of victory.

‘How foolish. He’s making a bad move.’

Dawson scoffed at the Guard Captain.

The Guard Captain clearly lost his composure at the end. He must have been impatient.

Is he really going to charge into this cave, which is a natural fortress in itself?

Truly foolish.

‘I’ll kill every last one of them.’

A cruel smile flickered across Dawson’s lips.

He looked at his subordinates gathered in the common area.

The Vigilante emblem of two crossed swords was proudly displayed everywhere.

Unlike the guards who only knew how to brag, these are veterans honed by practical combat.

They are also equipped with the best gear.

The glory of victory was already within Dawson’s grasp.

“You bastards.”

Dawson opened his mouth in a low voice, and the commotion in the hall instantly subsided.

“Hiding underground ends today. After today, you will be the masters of Garden. You don’t have to bow to anyone. The guards? Don’t make me laugh. Let’s beat them all down and piss in their barracks.”

“Ooh!”

“Dawson, Dawson!”

“Vigilantes are the strongest!”

The Vigilantes raised their weapons and shouted.

Although he said those words to boost morale, Dawson’s true intention was different.

The master of Garden would be not the Vigilantes, but Dawson alone.

‘Everyone is so stupid. I’m the only one who uses my head.’

Dawson smiled with satisfaction, looking down at the frenzied Vigilantes.

‘That’s why I will become king.’

A Vigilante executive, standing behind Dawson, whispered in his ear.

It seemed the guards were forming ranks and approaching the hideout.

The time has come.

“Let’s go. Let’s tear them all to shreds without mercy!”

“Let’s kill them!”

“Dawson! Dawson!”

Dawson tightened the chin strap of his helmet. The Vigilantes moved to their assigned squads.

“Cannon Squad 1, follow me.”

“Cannon Squad 2 is this way!”

Operating the cannons, which would be the core of the battle, required three people per cannon.

As everyone moved in perfect unison to their positions.

“Hey, Captain.”

An executive narrowed his brows.

“Were those cannons always there?”

“What, you punk?”

The executive craned his neck and looked up at the cave ceiling. Dawson followed the executive’s gaze.

It was indeed strange.

The muzzles of the cannons surrounding the common area were all pointed this way.

As if they were encircling them.

“Who the hell did this? Doing something I didn’t order.”

Dawson clicked his tongue.

Indeed, these guys must have heads on their shoulders just for show.

They must have udon noodles in their skulls instead of brains.

If you don’t discipline them by beating and kicking them whenever possible, they can’t function as people.

“After this battle, all the cannon operators will report to me-“

The next moment, Dawson couldn’t finish his sentence.

With a huge explosion, black smoke was simultaneously emitted from the cannon muzzles.

Boom-

Fire and screams, scattered flesh and blood.

Hell had descended deep within Garden’s earth.