Chapter 218 – Elsolium’s Treasure Vault
Had he waited about three minutes?
In the distance, light flashed from the warp gate.
Soon, someone came running in a fluster.
It was the five elders—the real powerholders of Elsolium.
“Huff, huff. Th-that really is Black Scythe!”
“To think Black Scythe would visit our elf village.”
What was funny was that despite it being their first meeting, these NPCs recognized his face.
It wasn’t just acting familiar—if you read their thoughts, they truly knew.
‘I saved the princess in Round 8, so it’s not strange my face would be known… but still. To recognize me like this and welcome me so openly.’
With the way they treated him like a hero who had saved their homeland, Ryu Min stopped trying to understand.
It was absurd to “logically” understand a reputation system in the first place, when the system could even resurrect people.
“I apologize for making you wait so long. Please, come this way! We will escort you into the palace.”
“Do so.”
Ryu Min followed with his hands clasped behind his back, as if he really were a hero.
If the elves wanted a hero, he would act like one.
“Please step up here.”
The moment he stepped onto the warp gate, it flashed and he was instantly moved inside the palace.
“This way.”
Following the elders to the VIP guest room, they found maids who had been resting—startled, they sprang to their feet.
“What are you doing! A precious guest has arrived, and you aren’t even bringing tea at once!”
“Y-yes! S-sorry, Elder!”
As the maids hurriedly scattered, an elder smiled broadly.
“Make yourself comfortable here as if it were your own home. We will soon bring warm tea and refreshments to warm your body.”
“Do so.”
Ryu Min didn’t refuse, leaning back comfortably in a chair.
If they wanted to treat him as an honored guest, there was no reason to refuse.
He’d already completed the quest, so he had plenty of time.
‘I’ve come to Elsolium many times, but it’s always strange. To think elves live like humans.’
If you changed only the race, you could mistake it for an ordinary kingdom—the elves’ society here closely resembled human society.
‘That means they have a lot of exchange with humans. Things like this weren’t made here—they must’ve been procured from human society.’
But on the surface, elves and humans weren’t close at all.
Elves who loved nature had no reason to like humans who destroyed nature.
That was why humans got turned away at the entrance, too.
‘And yet, they know how convenient human goods are. They’ve built proper buildings and live like this.’
Some people likely chose Elsolium for reputation grinding.
But improving relations with elves wasn’t easy.
‘Among all races, you could say it’s the hardest.’
Unless you saved their life in a specific situation like Ryu Min did, you wouldn’t receive this treatment anywhere.
“We have brought tea and refreshments.”
Ryu Min accepted the tea and first inhaled the scent.
A strong pine-needle aroma rose, calming his mind.
‘Sometimes, a rest like this isn’t so bad.’
Sip—
Ryu Min drank the tea with an easy heart.
He didn’t suspect poison.
There was no reason to target someone who was practically a national hero, and he trusted the reputation system.
After about three sips—
The elders who had left the VIP room returned with someone.
The princess, Eupinelcia, and the knight commander, Yugrito.
‘So that’s where they went. They went to bring the princess.’
They must have discussed among themselves what would be best to offer a precious guest who appeared so suddenly.
And the result was the princess standing here now.
‘They must think offering the princess and strengthening ties with me wouldn’t be a loss for them either.’
Sure enough.
When Ryu Min read the elder’s thoughts as he approached with a beaming smile, that was exactly it.
“Black Scythe. How is it? Is the tea to your liking?”
“Mm. The aroma is good.”
“It is tea made from Tiberi leaves we purchased at great cost from the Braham Kingdom not long ago. When you drink it, it has the effect of clearing the head.”
“It does seem that way. But elves who revere nature appear to have active exchange with humans?”
“Can we really live forever in isolation from the world? If there is better culture and technology, we must accept it. That said, we are not friendly with humans. We still maintain neutrality, but…”
The elder checked Ryu Min’s expression.
“Unlike other humans, we want, if possible, to maintain a good relationship with Black Scythe. Like this.”
“I’d like that as well.”
Did he take it as meaning the relationship could fall apart if things went wrong?
The elder, slightly flustered by Ryu Min’s response, gave a hearty laugh and introduced the princess.
“Ah, pardon the late introduction. You’ve met before, yes? This is Princess Eupinelcia.”
“It has been a while, Black Scythe. It is an honor to meet you again.”
Eupinelcia lifted her dress slightly and gave proper courtesy.
The princess, who had seemed only young back then, felt more mature now.
-Heh-heh, is it because Black Scythe is human too? He can’t take his eyes off the princess.
-Humans really can’t resist the beauty of our elf tribe, it seems.
The elders’ thoughts came through.
They were misunderstanding just because he glanced at the princess.
“Then, we have pressing matters and will take our leave.”
“We hope the two of you enjoy your time together.”
The elders tactfully tried to withdraw, but Ryu Min couldn’t let them leave like that.
“Wait. Aren’t you going to ask why I came here?”
“Excuse me? Why…?”
“Did you not come because you thought I came to see the princess?”
They truly seemed to think that, because the elders waited for an answer with blank expressions.
Even Eupinelcia looked at him with eyes full of faint expectation.
‘There’s no need to disappoint the princess.’
Ryu Min let a slight smile form at the corner of his mouth and spoke.
“Of course, part of it was concern for the princess’s safety. A delicate young lady was attacked—what knight wouldn’t worry?”
“Ah.”
Eupinelcia’s cheeks flushed red.
The line landed—perfect for a princess who liked cheesy words.
“Well, that is one reason. And another reason is that I wished to confirm one piece of information.”
“Information…?”
“They say Elsolium has a treasure vault of the elves, hidden and passed down through generations.”
As if on cue, the elders’ shoulders jolted and their eyes darted around.
They clearly knew.
“Where did you hear such information?”
“The source isn’t what matters. What matters is this: if a treasure vault exists, why did you hide it and not say a single word to me?”
“H-hide it? We had no such intention! We never even thought of such a thing!”
“Then you can guide me. To the place where the treasure is.”
The elders exchanged looks and, reluctantly, nodded.
-How in the world did he learn information about the treasure…?
-Is the princess not enough for him?
-He truly is different from humans who only chase lust.
Reading their thoughts, it was clear they felt reluctant to hand over treasure.
‘Understandable. The treasure vault is where the elves’ heritage for hundreds of years has been gathered.’
Even if he was a hero, they would feel it was a waste to give the vault’s treasures away.
No matter what, he was still an outsider.
When Ryu Min deliberately looked displeased, the elders moved as if pushed along.
“Ah… we will guide you. Th-this way…”
If his reputation weren’t high, simply bringing it up wouldn’t have made them guide him.
They would have insisted it was only a baseless rumor.
‘And it’s not like I can just go and break the door down myself. The system is set up that way.’
A barrier was placed on the vault—no attack could break it.
No matter how strong Ryu Min was, he couldn’t open it by force.
Whether in reality or the other world, the system’s power was absolute.
He knew well, because he had already tried in a previous run.
“This is the place.”
Where the elders led him was a large stone chamber beneath the palace.
“Inside lies hundreds of years of history that proves Elsolium.”
“I’d like to see it.”
“Please wait a moment.”
The five elders gathered before the door and recited a spell.
A ring of light made of grotesque letters sank into the stone door and began spinning.
It was a barrier that could only be undone when the five elders’ spells combined.
Ruuuumble—!
The door opened on its own, and at the same time, a message appeared.
<Sub Quest – Elsolium’s Treasure Vault>
└Condition ▶ Open the treasure vault door together with the five elders
[You have completed the Sub Quest!]
[As a reward, you may choose three treasures.]
“Please, come in.”
Ryu Min entered the vault behind the elder.
Brilliant jewels and treasures glittered, illuminating the dark stone chamber.
‘Jewels, magic swords, magic equipment, magic books, artifacts… a wide variety.’
As Ryu Min looked over the treasures with interested eyes, the elder quietly whispered.
“These are treasures Elsolium has gathered over the last five hundred years. You may take what you like.”
“Any number is fine?”
“W-well… it is, but since these are items that hold our history, perhaps it would be best if you took only about three…”
The elders looked anxious, worried he might demand more, but Ryu Min had no such intention.
‘I don’t need anything else. Three are enough.’
And even if he demanded more, it would be impossible under the system anyway.
“I’ll choose only three.”
“Thank you!”
Ryu Min scanned the items and selected without hesitation.
As if he had already decided what he would “shop” for.
[You have chosen the Rune of One vs. Many Fragment.]
[You have chosen the Rune of Resistance Fragment.]
[You have chosen the Rune of Endurance Fragment.]
[You have selected all rewards.]
Once all three rewards were selected, Ryu Min smiled at the elders and said,
“I’ll go with these.”
“You chose Mana Stones?”
“Oh, an excellent choice.”
The elders, who had secretly been worried he might pick something more expensive, finally relaxed, smiling with relief.
But they didn’t know.
That for a Player, there was nothing as valuable as rune fragments.
Ryu Min used all the rune fragments and engraved the runes into his body.
[Rune of One vs. Many]
-Effect: Your stats increase by a percentage equal to the number of enemies within a 100m radius. Applies up to 100 enemies, increasing up to 100%.
[Rune of Resistance]
-Effect: Resistance to status ailments increases by 50%.
[Rune of Endurance]
-Effect: Resistance to attribute damage increases by 50%.
After obtaining the three runes, Ryu Min smiled broadly.
All of them were on the list of runes he absolutely had to obtain.
‘Now I’m even stronger.’
He was already strong enough, but since he didn’t know what enemies might appear next, he couldn’t afford to settle.
‘They say the more money you have, the better. Same thing here—there’s nothing bad about becoming stronger.’
He was done with the elves now.
“I’ve seen what I needed to see. Let’s go.”
“Y-yes.”
After leaving the stone chamber and returning to the surface, Ryu Min thought of someone and used Tracking.
[Face and name match. Tracking the target’s location.]
[You have located the target “Russell Daniel.”]
[The target is currently 4,395m away.]
[To track the target, follow the arrow displayed ahead.]
‘Now, should I go to the dwarf village with Russell?’
While I’m at it, I should help Russell grow, and also secure God-grade materials in advance.
“I should get going now. I have something to do.”
“Excuse me? A-already leaving?”
“Yes. The tea was good.”
Leaving the quietly disappointed Eupinelcia behind, Ryu Min walked out of the palace.
“Takeoff.”
Flap—
When wings of darkness spanning over ten meters spread behind him, the princess and elders who had come out to see him off flinched in shock.
“Then I’ll see you again next time. Eupinelcia, stay healthy until then.”
“……Y-you too, Black Scythe.”
Eupinelcia spoke shyly, but Ryu Min was already soaring far into the distance.