"W-wait! Listen to me properly!"
The carpet stomped across my body with sharp steps and punched me. I was sent flying like, well, a carpet.
It pinned me face-up and pummeled me with a barrage of punches. If the carpet had vocal cords, it probably would have been screaming at the top of its lungs.
Having been temporarily released from guard duty, I was playing with the carpet in my room at the inn.
The body slams were one thing, but the carpet's punches didn't actually hurt. If anything, they were a little fun. Getting mounted by a carpet was honestly more impressive than riding one. Who knew it had features like this.
I held back my laughter and desperately tried to make excuses.
"I'm sorry, but there was nothing else I could do at the time! I didn't want to do that any more than you did!"
Apparently, the carpet was furious because I'd secretly given her away to the fox behind its back.
But I'd had no choice. Without her, the carpet itself would have been taken. Anyone in that situation would have done the same thing.
"I had a duty to protect His Majesty! Besides, you were just hiding behind me the whole time!"
I pleaded my case to the carpet, but it wasn't listening at all. I wasn't even sure where the carpet's ears were, but it kept slapping my cheeks. We'd been getting along so well too — this was just cruel.
But it was my fault. I should accept my punishment gracefully. As I lay there enduring the carpet's tyranny, the door opened with a knock.
It was Klyus, who had also been temporarily released, just like me.
Instead of the robes mages typically wore, he was in thin pajamas. It seemed his condition from mana depletion had improved.
Still mounted by the carpet, I raised my hand in greeting. Klyus's already-wide eyes narrowed into a scowl.
"Wh-what are you doing! Weakling!"
"Are you feeling better now? Good, good."
"An-answer my question!"
"Ask the carpet."
The carpet whacked me on the head with its fringed edge. Since I doubted any creature would hit someone with its ears, that part probably wasn't an ear.
I didn't exactly look hard-boiled playing with a carpet in front of Klyus, so I caught its arm and said: "Fine, fine, you win. I'll buy you a new carpet. A really beautiful one."
"..."
The carpet's attacks stopped immediately. But it was still on top of me. I let out a small sigh.
"Okay, okay, you little loner. As an apology, I'll buy you two... no, three new ones. How about that? Will you forgive me?"
"..."
The carpet patted my head a few times, then climbed off. It seemed to be in a better mood now. I got up and dusted off my shirt.
Good grief — making someone who receives tribute from Citry pay tribute instead. Truly a terrifying Treasure Weapon.
Klyus looked completely exasperated. But communication really was difficult.
"Weakling, you really need to take this seriously."
"I am taking it seriously..."
I'd always thought I was trying my best. The lack of results wasn't because I wasn't trying — it was because I had neither power nor talent.
But I had companions. Citry and the others were apart from me now, but they'd promised to come whenever I called.
Klyus furrowed his brows, sighed softly, and looked at me as though recomposing himself.
Slender white arms and legs extended from his thin clothing. Come to think of it, Klyus was a Forest Spiritfolk, which was why his skin was so pale. But there were Spiritfolk who lived in the desert and had tanned skin. If Klyus spent a long time in the desert, would he end up looking like that too?
While I was thinking about such things, Klyus spoke in an admonishing tone.
"Listen. I'm not on your side, Weakling, but I've received orders from Lapis. A fall in your reputation means a fall in ours."
"Klyus, you're so responsible."
If all Spiritfolk were like Klyus, it'd be no wonder humans were looked down on.
"...Things worked out in the end, but the current situation is extremely precarious. That's why we should discuss it. Right?"
"Um... I don't think it's that precarious..."
In the end, we'd safely delivered His Majesty to his destination. And since we'd been attacked, they surely wouldn't skimp on the return escort.
Air travel was probably out of the question, but with enough people, overland escort should be manageable.
I'd never gone on a guard mission without being attacked by something, but I'd also never had anyone die under my protection.
"It is precarious! You brought in two 'fox' traitors, Weakling!"
"Ah... that was... a blind spot."
"I'll punch you. Hmm? If you have a plan, say it clearly! Do you have one?"
Klyus pressed in close. His skin really was pale... I wished he'd come in proper clothes instead of pajamas.
Spiritfolk were normally condescending and guarded around humans, but because I was such a pushover, their guard was lacking in all sorts of ways.
Important? Could it be that I was important to them? Trusted?
"I don't. Now that you mention it, I forgot about Term and the others... where'd they go?"
I'd searched the entire ship, but there was no sign of them. They'd probably been swallowed by the [Wandering Inn], but since I didn't have complete knowledge of that Treasure Hall either, I couldn't say for certain.
"Don't ask me! Wh-what are we going to do? That man's staff — honestly, even I don't feel confident I could beat him!"
"Hmm..."
"If he targets us, the number of guards won't matter anymore."
Klyus's expression was strained. As a Spiritfolk skilled in magic, he could accurately gauge Term's power. I honestly didn't have a very precise read on it myself.
But it was certainly a tough problem. Term's abilities were reassuring as an ally, but as an enemy, he was beyond troublesome. In fact, with that "Still Water" power of his, he could have finished off His Majesty at any time regardless of guards. Why had he gone through the trouble of infiltrating as a companion? If he was going to assassinate the target anyway, he could have just done it when I wasn't guarding.
And then there was Kechachachka. If that man possessed power comparable to Term's, he was completely beyond us. Barrier Rings wouldn't be enough either. More guards would just mean more dead. In other words, there was nothing we could do.
I snapped my fingers, imitating Citry.
"Alright, I've got it. I'll figure something out."
"Huh? Wh-what do you intend to do?"
Klyus's well-shaped eyes went wide.
"That's a secret. Just think of it as having boarded a leaky ship and leave it to me."
"...I think you mean a big ship. Hey — what do you mean, a secret? I'm your ally! Explain yourself properly!"
Klyus came at me aggressively. His energy had fully returned, it seemed.
I flashed a hard-boiled, fearless grin.
No matter how much we struggled, it wouldn't make a difference. Even doubling the guards wouldn't give us peace of mind against Term.
But I had an alchemy freak who'd rush to my side the moment I called.
Even "Still Water" couldn't match a full set of freaks (minus the most freakish-looking wandering freak of the bunch).
§ § § "What is this place...?"
"Ke ke ke..."
A dry voice echoed through the uncanny mansion.
Term Apocris had a long career as a Hunter. After studying as a Mage, he had spent his entire career honing his skills as a Treasure Hunter. But never before had he experienced anything this bizarre.
He was certain he had jumped off the ship. He'd intended to escape outside and regroup.
But the moment he leapt from the ship, an unexpected scene had spread out before him. He turned, but the exit was gone. And in the air, he sensed Mana Material of a concentration he'd never encountered before.
Term understood immediately. This dense atmosphere — it was a Treasure Hall. One that surpassed even the Level 8 Treasure Halls he'd experienced before.
It was almost impossible to believe. But there was no other explanation.
It wasn't an illusion. Even with "Thousand Transformations" of unknown methodology, it would be impossible to deceive Term without any prior indication. If he started doubting that, he'd have to doubt everything.
Even Kechachachka, who never lost his composure, seemed somewhat uneasy. The dragon's failure to appear probably only added to the anxiety.
They cautiously explored the mansion.
It was spacious with high ceilings. Most importantly, the ground beneath their feet was remarkably stable — hardly what you'd expect for something flying through the air.
Perhaps a teleportation spell had been cast? No — impossible.
Teleportation was a super-high-level magic. Moreover, in a Treasure Hall of this level, the Mana Material permeating everything would create resistance. It absolutely couldn't be used.
It was unsettling. The mansion was clearly designed for humanoid creatures. Yet there wasn't a trace of living beings.
At this density of Mana Material, one would expect to find Phantoms, but there were none in sight.
"Don't let your guard down... There must be an exit somewhere."
"Hee hee hee..."
He checked his mana reserves. The spell Term had used to wipe out the crew was extremely efficient. He still had plenty of mana left for combat.
He couldn't use magic as such, but physical enhancement was still available. A skilled Hunter typically had some grasp of areas outside their specialty. Kechachachka was probably the same.
With magic suppressed, his options were limited, but he had to work with what he had.
The corridors stretched on endlessly, clearly more spacious than the airship they'd been on.
Space itself was probably distorted. A common occurrence in high-level Treasure Halls.
Then Term noticed something strange. A painting.
On the whitewashed wall hung a wildly abstract piece.
He needed any clue he could get. He approached carefully and examined it.
Yellow lines crisscrossed the canvas, and at first glance, it was impossible to make out what it depicted — but then it hit him, and Term murmured: "...A fox...?"
"Ke!"
At Kechachachka's warning, Term stepped back and turned.
At the end of the corridor stood a small figure. A child in a white kimono. But its face was covered by a glossy white mask.
The shape it depicted was — a fox.
A Phantom. No question about it. The Mana Material radiating from that tiny body was extraordinary.
Without magic, he couldn't win. Term's bracelet was an exceptional weapon as a staff, but it couldn't be used for striking.
However, he still had a trump card.
The inability to use magic was likely a property of this Treasure Hall. But physical enhancement still worked because the dominion over his own body hadn't been stripped away.
It was well known among high-level Hunters that the rules of super-high-level Treasure Halls could change. But as long as the rules allowed it, he could forge weapons within their framework.
Water existed within his own body. In fact, bodily water was the easiest to manipulate. Naturally, he had preparations for this.
The fox-masked child was approaching. Its movements were slow.
Let it lower its guard, then finish it in one strike. He'd been through ordeals like this before. This time would be no different.
But the mask was curious. A glossy white base with vermilion markings. It looked familiar, yet unfamiliar.
His mind was unsettled.
The name of the secret organization Term belonged to — the "Nine-Tailed Shadow Fox" — derived from a Treasure Hall. A Treasure Hall where a god in the form of a fox reigned supreme.
The organization's founder had once, through ill fortune, encountered that god — and survived. Enamored by its power and phantom-like nature, the founder had borrowed its name.
Even as a seventh-ranked member, Term had only heard rumors, but the organization's highest-ranking executives were said to be given a fox mask the founder had brought back from the Treasure Hall, as proof of their loyalty.
A chill ran down his spine. Kechachachka's face had gone rigid too — he must have realized the same thing.
"No way — this is—"
Impossible. That Treasure Hall's location was unknown to the world — no, its very existence was uncertain.
The founder, who had entered the realm of a god and survived, had never encountered another Treasure Hall again, so the stories went.
This was fate. What was needed for such a meeting wasn't mere luck. One had to be destined for it.
He pulled himself together. He hadn't looked away, yet the fox-masked child that had been approaching moments ago had vanished like an illusion.
In its place, a voice came from behind.
"Welcome, honored guest."
"!"
"I know the situation. There's no need for caution. Term Apocris. Kechachachka Munk. Pitiful humans abandoned by Sir Crisis."
There had been no presence. Moments before, the space had definitely been empty.
This was a different individual from the approaching child. The earlier one had been a child, but this one could pass for a young man. The only commonality was the fox mask.
Another chill. The quantity of Mana Material within this being far exceeded that of the fox-masked child, which had already been beyond common sense.
He couldn't win. His body instinctively wanted to retreat, but he forced himself to stay.
He recalled the founder's words. The founder had said: "Never give up."
Whether true or not, the founder had been an excellent Hunter. And he had actually survived. He'd brought back the mask. If that was the case, then Term Apocris, feared as "Still Water," could do the same.
"You are — a god?"
He had to touch it. Phantoms in human form often possessed structures similar to real humans.
Which meant they should have water inside them too. If he could make direct contact, manipulation was possible. As someone who had mastered water manipulation, he should be able to do it. No — he had to do it.
Let the opponent lower its guard. To Term's words, the young man replied: "I want to put your mind at ease. We are fair. Your safety is guaranteed. However, there will be a price. Also, I'm not a god."
"A price...?"
"There's no need to be afraid. We only take physical things, and your lives are excluded. However, we will take what you hold most dear."
The young man surveyed Term and Kechachachka, both on guard.
There were openings. No — he was riddled with openings. He wasn't wary of their attacks at all.
The young man nodded slowly and opened his mouth.
"We'll be taking the 'Blessing of the Water God' and the 'Mark of the Anti-Dragon.'"
"!"
He'd read their minds. Term was certain of it.
The "Blessing of the Water God" and the "Mark of the Anti-Dragon" were the foundation of Term and Kechachachka's power. Without the Blessing of the Water God, Term's abilities would be drastically reduced, and it was irreplaceable. The Mark of the Anti-Dragon went without saying.
More than anything, if both were taken, they wouldn't have the slightest chance of victory.
Cold sweat slid down his cheeks. The fox mask smiled.
"What will you do?"
"...And if I refuse?"
His heart was pounding painfully. The young man's composure hadn't changed. He stood there, calm and exposed before Term's eyes.
He manipulated the water inside his body. He had to touch him. If he could make contact, the fight would be decided.
To Term's provocative words, the fox-masked young man smiled gently.
"I didn't have time to tell Sir Crisis, but — of course, you do have the right to refuse. We are... very fair."