Chapter 10
Although the sun had already set, Ethan had no time to rest. He had headed straight to the secret vault he had discovered.
‘This is incredible.’
Perhaps because of the heavily guarded atmosphere, the secret vault was shrouded in darkness, its air thick and oppressive.
Beneath the faint glow of lanterns placed along the walls, gold coins glittered in mountains of treasure.
And it wasn’t just gold.
Silver coins and other currencies occupied another section, while finely cut gemstones were neatly arranged among them.
Rubies, sapphires, emeralds, and even rare black opals. Their radiance spread in mysterious patterns, emitting dazzling colors that seemed almost intoxicating.
The purpose of coming here was to reward Ethan for passing the test.
Realizing once again just how extraordinary this opportunity was, Ethan grinned mischievously and asked Walter,
“Is all of this mine?”
“Unfortunately, everything here is scheduled to be returned to the national treasury. You may take exactly one item, Ethan.”
“…So much abundance, yet so much poverty.”
“There have been cases where people got their hands chopped off for being too greedy.”
“I’ll take my time looking around, then.”
Deciding that he might get smacked if he kept talking back, Ethan returned to carefully considering his choice.
‘Unless there’s some special reason to choose otherwise, I’ve basically got two options. Take one incredibly expensive item and live comfortably for the rest of my life, or get myself a weapon.’
Of course, this dilemma only existed from an ordinary person’s perspective…
As someone who had no choice but to continue living as a tax collector, Ethan naturally found himself gravitating toward the weapons.
Passing the piles of gold coins, he walked farther inside until he reached an area where countless weapons were displayed in neat rows.
Every single one looked like a treasure worthy of being called a national heirloom.
Ethan’s gaze settled on a particular section.
Each sword was an exceptional masterpiece, but what mattered most was finding a weapon suited to him.
No matter how good a weapon was, it would be useless if it didn’t fit its wielder.
‘So things like these really do exist.’
It was like hearing about a Stradivarius violin.
He had heard the name countless times, but how many people actually got to see one in person?
And the items Ethan was looking at were even more extraordinary. Each was one of a kind in the entire world.
The first sword he examined was Roar of the Red Dragon.
Shhhh.
Magical runes running along the blade glowed red.
The fact that it could breathe fire was fascinating, but a greatsword simply wasn’t suited to him.
Beside it was another sword overflowing with magical energy.
‘This is Judgment of the Heavens.’
Crackle!
The blue blade seemed to hold lightning within it.
It was powerful, but the moment Ethan reached for its hilt—
Crackle!
Perhaps because it had the ability to choose its own master, sparks of lightning burst out, rejecting him.
“Ptooey!”
“Hey, you little punk!”
Annoyed, Ethan gathered saliva in his mouth and spat on the sword’s hilt. Walter and the other tax collectors flew into a rage.
Finally, there was a sword with an impressive, elegant curve.
‘Guidance of the Moonlight.’
It was a sword that glowed in the dark and allowed its wielder to move without making a sound.
It was certainly appealing, but even just holding it made Ethan realize that he wasn’t its chosen master.
‘What would actually suit me?’
Ethan reconsidered his background.
He had once been the master of the Thieves’ Guild, and now he was the head of the Information Guild.
Given the nature of his profession, he was naturally accustomed to lightweight weapons. Massive equipment simply didn’t suit his physique or fighting style.
‘Looks like these are my only real options.’
Ethan passed the longswords and greatswords and headed toward a display of small daggers.
Every dagger was sleek, refined, and razor-sharp.
Ethan picked up several, testing how they felt in his hands.
One was called Night’s Turmoil.
Its black blade settled into his grip as though it had been made for his hand.
The dagger had been enchanted with a sound-dampening effect, allowing its wielder to ambush enemies without making a sound.
He also tried Medusa’s Fang, a dagger imbued with poison, and a few others, but he merely added them to his list of potential candidates.
He couldn’t make up his mind.
Then—
His hand reached for yet another dagger.
At the same moment, the dagger slipped from his grasp and dropped with a clatter.
‘It’s heavy…!’
When he first lifted it, the dagger was so heavy that he could hardly believe it was a dagger at all.
His arm nearly buckled under its weight.
But then something strange happened. As he tightened his grip, the weapon gradually became lighter.
“W-what is this?”
Even Ethan’s extensive knowledge couldn’t help him identify this particular item, so Walter stepped forward to explain.
“That’s Heavy Stalker. It’s a special dagger whose weight can be freely increased or decreased.”
Ethan picked up the dagger again.
This time, he held it slowly, paying close attention to its weight.
It had undoubtedly been incredibly heavy at first, but as time passed, it became lighter.
He swung the dagger experimentally.
A solid, weighty sensation remained in his hand.
This wasn’t an ordinary weapon.
“What are its weight limits?”
“Let’s see. Its minimum weight is zero grams, and its maximum weight is said to exceed one hundred kilograms by quite a bit.”
‘Now we’re talking.’
For the first time, a genuine smile spread across Ethan’s face.
“I think this will do.”
“Good.”
“Thank you!”
Thrilled, Ethan immediately unfastened the belt attached to the dagger sheath and strapped it around his waist.
Watching him, Walter asked with an intrigued expression,
“There’s something I’ve been wondering about. Mind if I ask?”
“What is it?”
“There are plenty of more expensive and supposedly better items here. Why choose that one in particular?”
Whoosh!
In response, Ethan casually spun Heavy Stalker around before smoothly slipping it into the sheath attached to his belt.
“Because this is the best one.”
He had cleverly left out the words for me, but Walter simply curled his lips into an amused smile.
‘Now I think I understand why Lowfang chose this kid.’
Ethan always came up with answers no one could predict.
And then he went on to accomplish even more than anyone expected.
Walter was already looking forward to seeing just how far Ethan could go.
Early the next morning.
As usual, Ethan finished his morning jog with Nicholas.
Official training had been suspended because of the previous night’s commotion, but that hardly mattered to the two of them. Training had become such a routine part of their lives that they didn’t need an official schedule to keep going.
The showers.
Whoosh…
Ethan let the hot water pour over him and slowly drew in a breath.
Then he looked at his reflection in the mirror and was once again struck by just how much he had changed.
‘All that brutal training really is paying off.’
Over the course of nearly five months, his physique had improved beyond recognition.
The thin, frail body he had possessed when he first arrived here was nowhere to be seen.
His well-developed muscles and lean, athletic build were clear evidence of the results of his training.
After showering, Ethan headed to the dining hall with Nicholas.
“It’s crowded.”
“It always is.”
The hall was already bustling with trainees from various classes.
Ethan and Nicholas sat beside each other as usual and began eating breakfast.
As they watched the two of them, the people around them began whispering.
“How did he improve so quickly?”
“I heard Lowfang is personally keeping an eye on him. What makes him so special?”
“Lucky guy. I wonder what he took from the secret vault.”
Jealousy, envy, and admiration mingled in the gazes directed at Ethan.
Nicholas, however, seemed completely unconcerned. He simply spread some citron jam over his bread and took a bite.
“Sleep well? Mind if I join you?”
Just then, Koren suddenly sat down across from Ethan.
Ethan looked at him.
They weren’t particularly close. Koren had no reason to sit down so casually unless he had some ulterior motive.
Smiling warmly, Koren asked Ethan,
“What? Is there something on my face?”
“No.”
Koren was a strikingly handsome young man with blond hair and clear blue eyes.
His well-proportioned features and gentle smile gave him the sort of appearance that would naturally make him popular with women.
Looking at him, Ethan casually muttered under his breath,
“You just look annoying.”
“What?”
Nicholas and Koren both looked startled.
Koren raised an eyebrow, clearly taken aback, while Ethan added nonchalantly,
“Just talking to myself. Anyway, what do you want?”
Koren studied Ethan for a moment before slowly speaking.
“I’ve just gotten curious about you.”
Then, in a voice so low that no one else could hear, he continued,
“How someone with no sense for mana managed to master Hittite Body Arts faster than anyone else.”
“I’m just that talented.”
“Why Lowfang, a first-class tax collector, is taking such an interest in you. And what exactly you took from Count Lloyd’s secret vault last night.”
At that pointed remark, Ethan met Koren’s gaze coldly.
He didn’t know about the other things, but the fact that Koren had brought up Lowfang could only mean one thing: Koren had been digging into his background.
Koren wore a smooth, easygoing smile, confirming Ethan’s suspicion.
“And why is the master of the Thieves’ Guild here?”
“What?!”
Nicholas stared at Ethan in shock.
Ethan, however, showed no sign of panic. He merely scoffed and replied,
“Really? Well, I’m not the least bit curious about you. What are we going to do about that?”
Koren’s expression stiffened slightly.
His eyebrow twitched almost imperceptibly, making his growing irritation obvious.
Ethan continued in a casual tone,
“Doesn’t seem like this conversation is going anywhere. There’s nothing for us to exchange.”
Koren curled his lips into a mocking smile.
“Is that so?”
Ethan brushed his red hair back from his forehead, lowered his gaze briefly, and then looked at Koren again.
“So, what’s your plan? Use that information to blackmail me? Or is this… affection? Love?”
Ethan responded with a sly grin.
Koren’s cold, sharpened gaze revealed the disgust he felt toward Ethan.
“I don’t like the fact that trash with no proper background like you thinks he can become a tax collector. So… get lost.”
“Who do you think you are? What’s your problem?!”
Nicholas suddenly flared up. He shot to his feet and grabbed Koren roughly by the collar.
BANG!
The dishes on the table clattered and scattered, sending bread crumbs and jam flying in every direction.
Several trainees flinched in surprise.
Ethan sighed and raised a hand toward Nicholas.
“No need to overreact. Leave him alone.”
Nicholas glared furiously at Koren but eventually released his grip.
Koren shot Nicholas a vicious look after being let go, but—
“Koren.”
When Ethan spoke again, Koren turned his attention back to him.
“You’re nothing more than a tax collector candidate yourself. Evaluations aren’t made by people at the same level as you. They’re made by those above you.”
Ethan leaned back at an angle and raised one corner of his mouth.
“From their perspective, you’re an inexperienced brat who can’t even stand on his own two feet, while I’m an inexperienced brat who’s so exceptional that I stand out. So don’t forget your place.”
Koren’s face turned deathly pale.
His hands were visibly trembling, but he could only grit his teeth, unable to come up with a retort.
“Ethan really doesn’t hold back, does he?”
“Seriously. And Koren looks like he’s from a noble family, too.”
The trainees around them began murmuring.
Some watched with interest, while others whispered cautiously, keeping an eye on the situation.
“Munch.”
Ethan, however, calmly took another bite of his remaining bread.
Strangely enough, the citron jam tasted sweeter than usual.
But then a shadow suddenly fell over them, and his expression stiffened.
“Ethan. Koren. I see you’re both finding life at the training camp rather comfortable.”
‘Don’t tell me…’
Ethan turned around with an ominous look in his eyes.
