Chapter 237 - Episode Thirty-Four - The Collector (5)
The collector sits in his chair and hums as he looks around at the large number of magical items scattered around.
He seems to be in a pretty good mood.
“Now, which one should I choose? …… Hmm, hmm …… hmm.”
The collector’s eyes landed on a golden flute.
The collector clapped his hands, and what seemed to be a chunk of treasure lying at his feet rose up.
There were jewels and other things embedded here and there in its shining gold body.
It seemed to be a golem made in the likeness of Nyarun. (a rare magical beast that resembled a cat)
Nyarun flew over to the golden flute, put it in his mouth, and raised his head toward me.
“How about the “Golden Flute of Algasta”? It is a whistle that can be used to summon demons. If you blow it, it will attract magic beasts to the area …… Not only that, but it’s also a top-notch musical instrument. Well, he ran away and ended up being forced to live in a palace by the king of the Veilgrass Kingdom. In the end, though, he ran away and was killed by an assassin in the end. Hahahahaha! This is something I stole from the treasury of the royal palace. The sound is quite good. Once you hear it, you will be convinced that it is not a myth that even magical beasts are attracted to it.”
The Veilgrass Kingdom is a small country located quite far from the Dinrat Kingdom.
He’s very proud at saying that he stole it from the royal palace, but is that okay?
He’s a top-notch adventurer, but he certainly seems to have a lot of problems as a person.
However, I have a demon, Hamelin, who can control and command magical beasts as he pleases.
In terms of attracting magic beasts, I am completely subordinate to him.
The music, too, I don’t know much about,…… and while I’m not uninterested in it, it’s not at all something I’d be willing to trade for the World Tree Ortem.
“Hmmm …… I don’t think I’ll ever use it, though it looks amazing.”
“Fuhahaha. For someone to just refuse against me. Well, this is something that I expected, though. Then, how about that?”
The collector waved his hand, and the golden Nyarun went to the tip of his fingers and touched his paw to the bow that was lying on the floor.
The string of the great bow was a metal wire. Is this glow …… mithril?
“It is the “Great Bow of the War King Bagdum”. It is said that an arrow from this great bow shot through the king in his castle, far away, even in the midst of a storm. However …… It is very doubtful that there is anyone else aside from me in the world today who has the physical strength to pull a string of mithril!”
The War King Bagdum is a famous person.
It is said that he has risen to the position of king simply by his overwhelming talent in battle.
But there’s no way I’d be able to use such a thing properly even if I were given it.
Besides, if I wanted to crush a castle, it would be much faster to release the Abel Ball. There’s no need to use a big bow at all.
“There’s no use of it with my power, that ……”
“It has historical value, you know. If you sell it, you can get enough money to live ten lifetimes over. Well, you don’t seem like the type to be obsessed with money. You’re not satisfied with what I have here …… Then it’s time for me to show you what you’ll definitely want!”
The collector swung his arm, and a jar appeared between me and the collector.
It was covered with a large amount of paper on which was drawn a magic formula.
The jar shakes from time to time, as if it is being struck from the inside, with a bang, bang, bang.
“Thi-This is ……!”
I’ve always not been good with suspicious things, even in my previous life.
It’s no different now, in fact, it’s getting stronger.
“It’s a great loss, but …… I have no choice but to give it to you! I call it the “Vase of 100 Karma”. I found it in the bowels of the great temple of the fire god Maharbo cult. It is probably the very jar that Maharbo used in the Maharbo cult to seal the hundred great demons in a jar. I can sense a tremendous aura coming from this jar. That’s for sure. Fuhahahaha! You can display it or open it as you like. Even I don’t recommend opening it, either! Feel free to take it with you. If you don’t want to change history, don’t handle it carelessly! A single one of these could destroy a great nation!”
A-. A hundred great demons!?
There are nearly a hundred of them in here, just like Zolomonia?
I want it. I want to decorate it at my house.
…… Just, well, the World Tree Ortem is also an item that represents my memories with Mea
If not, I might have been able to exchange it, but I still don’t feel like exchanging it even for the “Vase of 100 Karma”.
Mea anxiously glanced at the World Tree Ortem at the feet of the collector, and at me, anxiously.
Mea also seemed to have a special attachment to the World Tree Ortem.
When my eyes met Mea’s, I gave her a thumbs up and smiled lightly.
“Hmm …… I’m sorry, but I don’t think I’m going to change my mind.”
“What ……?”
The collector’s eyes glared at me as I muttered.
In contrast, Mea’s expression shone with happiness.
Altamir moves to my side in midair and whispers in my ear.
“He-, hey, that thing is definitely mad, you know?.”
The collector laughed loudly, drowning out his voice.
“Fuhahahahaha! You’re a real actor, aren’t you! Really, I lost! I can’t believe you’re seriously trying to negotiate with me! I’m beaten! I’ve lost! You’ve got some nerve, don’t you! It’s not every day I get to enjoy something like this!”
He didn’t seem to be angry.
To my relief, the collector stood up vigorously and lifted his arms in an ostentatious manner.
“Nice, all right! I have to have what I decide I want! You can take all the treasures I’ve just shown you! Fuhahahaha! Don’t worry about it. Don’t worry about it. I fell in love with that doll first, and I lost.”
“What ……?”
The collector grinned as I stared in amazement.
“What is it? You’re freaking on me now? Fuhahahaha! You are a small man, after persisting so long against me. I’m not going to change my mind now, even if you ask me to reduce it! Once I make a decision, I never change it!”
Altamir wiped the sweat from her forehead.
I’m not sure if there’s a need to wipe her sweat because she’s in her spirit form, but I’m sure it’s a habit from when I was human.
“I was wondering what was going to happen, but …… I’m glad it’s going to work out. But you …… went too far. I owe a debt to someone I shouldn’t have gotten involved with so much. You know what that means ……”
“Ah, no …… it’s fine. Ah …… it’s not that it’s fine, um, it’s just that I don’t want it.”
Before Altamir could finish, I announced to the collector.
Altamir’s shoulders slumped and she held her face in her hands.
“…… Huh?”
The collector picked up the golden dagger that was at his feet and immediately stabbed it into the ground.
The floor cracked with the impact, drawing a zigzag pattern. The cracks gouged through the floor beside me and I could hear the floor exploding far behind me.
Something cold runs down my spine.
It seems that that dagger…… has the power to increase the impact and control its direction.
The collector stood up slowly, glaring at me.
“Let’s hear what you’re thinking about, Abel. Depending on your answer, you may be in for a rough ride.”