Published: January 15, 2026
It seemed there was a mechanism on one side of the floor. The part where the floor had been turned into a staircase of a somewhat unusual shape, leading directly to an underground passage.
Cosworth took the lead, with Panamera and me right behind him, followed by Makan and Dee. The corridor was narrow, barely wide enough for two people to walk side by side, so naturally, Panamera and I walked side by side behind Cosworth.
We walked about twenty meters down the passage before reaching a dead end, where a black metal door appeared. Cosworth took out what looked like a key from his chest and unlocked it.
“This is the Wang family’s hidden treasure vault.”
Saying that, Cosworth opened the door. As it opened, light poured into the passage despite being underground, causing me to squint. The brightness was as if we had just stepped outside. Looking up to see what was causing it, I was amazed to find several enormous magic ores embedded in the walls. Normally, magic ores are about the size from a fingertip to a fist, and multiple ones are placed to provide illumination. However, the magic ores in this vault were of a staggering size—each one bright enough on its own. There were six of them at a glance, making the room even brighter than a clear daytime sky.
Most striking, of course, were the countless treasures placed in the center of the room. Piles of gold, silver, Mithril armor and weapons, platinum coins, gold coins, and jewels were stacked like mountains. At the very center lay a magnificent precious sword, unsheathed.
“…An Orichalcum longsword. This is an extravagance used to its fullest. It’s a splendid sword that’s seldom seen. Not only its performance as a sword but also its value as an art piece must be very high.”
Panamera spoke, and without a word, Cosworth walked further inside and picked up the Orichalcum longsword.
“Step back.”
Dee’s low voice came from in front of me. From behind Dee’s large back, I peeked out like a mushroom and looked at Cosworth.
“…Dee is stronger than a dragon, you know?”
Feeling sorry, I offered some heartfelt advice. Cosworth smiled faintly at the corner of his mouth and walked toward us.
“I never intended to fight. I only wanted to deliver it to the victor with my own hands.”
He murmured this and then offered the sword to us. Holding the sword horizontally with both hands extended, Cosworth looked straight at us. Panamera took the sword with one hand.
“Hmm, a commendable act.”
Panamera raised the sword in front of her face and examined it carefully.
A few seconds passed. After finishing her inspection, Panamera gave a gentle smile.
“…So, with this, all the hidden treasures are accounted for. Is that correct?”
“…What do you mean?”
“Soon, the Kingdom of Scuderia’s investigation team will return for another inspection. If there are other treasures hidden elsewhere…”
Panamera’s smile deepened as she spoke the threatening words. Cosworth answered without moving an eyebrow.
“This is everything.”
After Cosworth’s reply, Panamera studied him for a moment, then let out a sigh.
“…It seems they are not lying.”
Panamera muttered quietly and lowered the sword. Watching this from the corner of my eye, Cosworth looked at me.
“…There is no need for such trivial threats. We have fought with swords crossed and given everything, yet we could not win. I have no intention of acting disgracefully beyond that. Besides, I don’t want to add any more injuries.”
After telling Panamera this, Cosworth raised his arm in front of his face. It was completely wrapped in bandages, with no skin exposed. The injury must have been so severe that even healing magic couldn’t fully cure it.
Cosworth looked at his hand and spoke.
“We analyzed why our nation lost. We examined the differences from our assumptions before the battle. The Fertio Marquisate, Count Ferdinand’s Domain, and all the key battles... we lost every crucial fight. The reason is likely the emergence of van nei fertio, a new noble.”