As I hummed a tune on my way to the Clan Master's office, I ran into Eva, who happened to be walking down the hall.
It had been a while since I felt this lighthearted. The stress from the heavy responsibility of being Clan Master and the anxiety about the future — I'd managed to forget all of it for now.
Right now, I was — yes, in the mood to dance and sing by myself. I wouldn't actually do it since I'm not the hard-boiled type, but still.
I'd been trying not to let my emotions show, but Eva must have sensed something different from my usual poker face, because she looked at me with wide eyes.
"Is something the matter? You seem to be in remarkably high spirits."
"Huh...? Really? Do I look that cheerful? Seriously? Well, that's something..."
As expected of someone I'd known for a long time — I couldn't hide anything from Eva.
I showed her the black bracelet on my right arm — the *Dancing Light and Shadow* I'd just received — while she gave me a look of mild exasperation.
In the end, the cake never made it into my mouth, but I'd reached a level where I could laugh that off without a care.
Going to Tinno's house had truly been perfect timing.
Eva's expression changed entirely. She raised the corners of her eyes and stepped closer.
"...What?! Did you buy another Treasure Weapon?!"
"Huh? N-no, it's not like that. Tinno found it and gave it to me. My debt hasn't increased, I swear."
"...I see... That's... something, I suppose..."
Well, I had to admit it was pretty questionable myself, but I couldn't exactly stick my nose into the master-disciple relationship between Tinno and Liliz... No matter how gently I tried to advise her, Liliz wouldn't listen at all. About the best I could do was keep an eye on her and check in from time to time.
But none of that mattered right now. What was truly wonderful was the power of this Treasure Weapon.
Bracelet-type Treasure Weapons existed in countless varieties, but *Dancing Light and Shadow* had an incredibly unique ability. I loved it.
Treasures like this that couldn't be easily replaced could swing wildly in price depending on demand, making them hard to appraise, but one thing was certain — this wasn't something you'd find in a Treasure Hall around Level 1.
The mana was already charged, so I went ahead and demonstrated the power of this Treasure Weapon to Eva, who still wore a slightly puzzled expression.
I already owned several bracelet-type Treasure Weapons, so I'd gotten the hang of activation. I focused my nerves on the *Dancing Light and Shadow*, feeling it firmly around my wrist as my sense of reach extended outward. The bracelet grew faintly warm, and light danced above my open palm.
"Look, Eva! It's a cake!"
"Oh... A cake, indeed..."
The illusion I'd projected was the cake I'd brought to Tinno's house.
A special item topped with rare fruits harvested from deep within a dense forest rich in Mana Material, sitting on a bed of pale yellow whipped cream.
*Dancing Light and Shadow* was a Treasure Weapon that projected three-dimensional images as illusions. It would be tricky to use effectively and would probably require training, but I could already think of multiple applications.
Eva looked at the cake resting on my palm — whose lines were somewhat unsteady — touched it, confirmed that her finger sank into the image, and made a complicated expression.
It was true that this was somewhat different from the cake I'd brought to Tinno. The lack of scent, taste, or feel was inevitable since it was an illusion, but beyond that, the appearance was different too. That cake had been sculpted with the skill honed over ten years of trial and error since arriving in the Imperial Capital, making it look almost like a work of art. But the illusion I'd conjured was a completely separate thing that merely bore a vague resemblance in color and shape. Placed next to the real one, its inferior quality would be glaringly obvious.
...Because I hadn't been able to picture the shape very well. I'd been so focused on the taste that I hadn't paid much attention to the appearance.
I wanted to believe that with practice, I'd get better at it.
"Come on, don't make that face... Here, you can make one too, Eva! Go ahead, Eva!"
The effective range was one meter — more precisely, one meter and twenty centimeters. This was both the distance at which illusions could be projected and the maximum size of the illusion that could be produced at once.
In other words, with this Treasure Weapon, you could project life-sized images of most humans. With the bracelet as the center, extending one meter and twenty centimeters in every direction meant you could freely create any appearance within a two-meter-forty-centimeter sphere!
Anthem would be partially cut off, but someone Gaark's size would fit with room to spare. The downside was that you could only project next to yourself, but used cleverly, it could serve as intimidation or a distraction even in a Treasure Hall, couldn't it?!
The only issue was that Mages had spells that could create illusions more easily and over a wider area.
The Eva who appeared was quite convincing, given that the real thing was standing nearby. From her slim glasses to her disapproving gaze, they were practically identical. The details were probably different upon close inspection, but they looked similar enough to pass as twins.
...From the neck up, that is.
The floating Eva — essentially a severed head — slapped it expressionlessly, then glared at me with the same disapproving look as the illusion.
"...Please stop fooling around."
"I'm bad with bodies... I wasn't looking closely enough to know exactly how they turn out, and I could probably manage if I covered it up with a robe, but..."
Looking at my own illusion, which made me look like a scarecrow, Eva once again said clearly: "Stop. It. Right. Now."
Returning to my private room, I added *Dancing Light and Shadow* to the collection catalog I maintained myself.
It had its quirks, but perhaps once I mastered it, it could serve as a substitute for the *Changing Human Face* for disguise purposes. The possibilities were infinite.
I wanted to start intensive training right away, but Lucia hadn't returned yet, so mana charging was going to be tough.
On a whim, I tried creating a face like Ark's over my own and checked the mirror, then burst out laughing at how terrible it looked.
The sight of Ark's golden hair with my own black hair peeking out from the edges was beyond bizarre.
Unlike the *Changing Human Face*, the illusions produced by *Dancing Light and Shadow* had no physical substance, so caution would be needed even for disguises. I might need a hat to keep my hair from getting in the way.
Come to think of it, Citry had mentioned that she cut her hair short to make disguises easier...
To check the duration, I re-examined the catalog while still roughly disguised as Ark.
My goal was — a Treasure Weapon worthy of Tinno.
She'd given me something this wonderful, so I had to return the favor somehow.
The Treasure Weapons that Liliz and Citry currently used as their main gear had also been handpicked by me from the collection. I was a Treasure Weapon collector, but not the type to display them and admire them for personal pleasure — I was the type who found joy in seeing them properly used and helping my companions.
As for when Tinno would start using Treasure Weapons, that was up to her master Liliz, but since she'd eventually join our Party, selecting one now wouldn't be wasted effort.
Excited by this enjoyable task I hadn't done in a while, I let my thoughts drift over each item in the collection.
Tinno was a Thief, so would the same type of weapon as Liliz's be best? Or since she'd be joining the same Party, would a different type be preferable?
My collection was enormous. I'd gone through everything and knew the basics, but some were powerful while others could be replaced by magic or similar means.
For a Hunter, choosing your primary Treasure Weapon could be a life-defining decision. Tinno was a serious girl, and if I was going to give something from my collection, I wanted it to go to someone who would truly make use of it. I couldn't just hand over something random.
As I leafed through the catalog I'd built up over time while lying on my bed, there was a soft knock at the door.
It was Tinno, whom I'd called for. When I answered, the door opened a crack, and a pair of dark eyes peered nervously inside.
"Pardon the intrusion... Mastaa..."
A frail voice. Quite different from usual — she was clearly very nervous.
I had no intention of giving her a Treasure Weapon today. Today was just to talk. After that, I'd take my time selecting the right weapon. Depending on the situation, I might even buy something new. For Tinno's sake, I might even be able to talk Marchis into parting with something from his collection...
As we stared at each other, Liliz burst out from behind Tinno as if giving her a push.
Tinno let out a short squeal and stumbled forward. Had she changed on purpose? Her black skirt, shorter than the one she'd been wearing when she came to my room, fluttered as she moved.
"Klye! She's here!"
"...Did you finish cleaning?"
"I entrusted it to a reliable contractor, so it's all taken care of! Besides, nothing was really that badly broken..."
Behind Liliz, who wore her trademark beaming smile, Citry entered with a grin of her own. I'd only called Tinno, but somehow both "big sisters" had tagged along.
Having Party members' and a master's input on Treasure Weapon selection was important anyway, so I didn't mind...
When Liliz saw my face, she paused for a moment, then burst out giggling.
"What's with that face? Are you imitating Ark? That's hilarious!"
"...How did you know it was me?"
"Ahahaha! I can tell by your scent and presence. With such an obvious disguise, there's no way I'd ever mistake you for someone else, Klye!"
Come to think of it, when I'd first tried using the *Changing Human Face* for a disguise, Liliz and the others had seen through it immediately.
That one had actual physical substance too, but it was completely ineffective. High-level Hunters' senses truly were terrifying. And yet... I still couldn't figure out how Eva had seen through it too.
Citry also examined my disguise carefully before giving a small nod.
"Ark and Klye have different builds, so... unless someone didn't know Klye personally, I doubt any Clan member would be fooled."
Maybe practice really was the only way... Perhaps I should have Liliz and Citry help me with some illusion training next time.
I felt a little deflated, but today's main event was Tinno.
Tinno was surrounded by her two "big sisters," fidgeting with the hem of her skirt and glancing at me timidly.
Her gaze alternated between me and the glass cases lined up in a row.
I'd already told her why I'd called her here. She probably had an idea of what she wanted.
"A-ahem... Mastaa —"
"Klye, give her something super powerful! Tea hasn't even finished absorbing enough Mana Material yet, so she's still a work in progress! She needs something that can cover for that! Even if you gave her something like *Origin of the Heavens*, it'd be completely wasted on her, right?"
Liliz said this with a perfectly innocent expression, then tapped her own feet with a cheerful bounce.
The Treasure Weapon I'd given Liliz was simple and didn't have any game-changing powerful abilities.
The power of *Origin of the Heavens* was — it allowed the user to kick off the air itself. It was the kind of weapon that only shone when paired with its wielder's relentless effort.
Truly, it might still be too early for Tinno.
While Tinno struggled for words, the other "big sister" nodded slowly.
"Yes, there are limits to what we can cover for as well... If there were a Treasure Weapon that purely increased durability or physical ability, that would be ideal. Something that could provide a significant boost, that is..."
"Big sister... that's —"
Tinno's eyes grew moist. Among Hunters, it was said that using Treasure Weapons to enhance physical abilities was a sign of inadequacy. Those aspects could be compensated for through Mana Material absorption.
I personally didn't care at all, but there were some who didn't hesitate to look down on Hunters who used such weapons. That was why enhancement-type Treasure Weapons were unpopular among Hunters.
After hearing both their opinions, I tilted my head.
It was a bit unfair to Tinno, but a Level 8 Treasure Hall was supposed to be brutal, so Liliz and Citry's words couldn't be dismissed entirely as a joke. They weren't trying to bully the cute junior member.
What to do. Personally, rather than just deferring to Liliz and Citry's opinions, I wanted to put Tinno's own wishes front and center. There was such a thing as compatibility between a person and their Treasure Weapon.
I closed my eyes and groaned for a while, then remembered that I didn't have to decide today and gave a big nod.
My collection wasn't going anywhere. I could call her in as many times as needed to find the perfect match.
But physical ability enhancement, huh... That was a tough one. Tinno was working hard, but the *Mourning Specter* Treasure Hall clearance speed only kept going up. She might never catch up no matter how long she waited.
"I want to hunt with Tea as soon as possible. But honestly, there are still many areas where I'm lacking. There are ways to compensate, but... Klye, would you entrust Tea to me? I promise I won't let you down."
Citry shifted awkwardly while casting a sidelong glance. Tinno was trembling beside her.
That was when I remembered something I'd recently acquired.
"I do! A Treasure Weapon that massively enhances physical ability!"
"Really?!"
I wasn't sure it suited Tinno, but trying it cost nothing. I probably still had enough mana left.
Passing between a deflated Citry and a wide-eyed Liliz, I opened one of the glass cases.
When I took out the contents, Tinno turned pale and took a step back.
"Huh? Mas... taa...?!"
"I only just recently acquired this one."
Liliz whistled while Citry clasped her hands together with a radiant smile.
What I'd pulled out was the *Evolving Demon Mask* — the one that had turned me into a pathetic sight every time I put it on. It seemed to have zero motivation, because even when held up like this it showed absolutely no sign of moving. A useless Treasure Weapon.
Tinno was in complete bewilderment.
"Huh? What? Me, with Mastaa — Wait, you're joking, right?"
"It looks creepy, but I think it's incredibly powerful! Noble daughters have gained enough strength to rival mid-tier Hunters with it. Ahahaha... When I put it on, it told me it couldn't increase my power, though —"
I let out an awkward laugh, but Tinno didn't crack a smile.
Ark had told me that he'd had a terrible experience with this mask, but a Treasure Weapon was ultimately just a tool. Depending on how you used it, problems could arise.
Liliz and Citry were here too, so even if something happened, it should be fine. I already knew it could be pulled off from the outside.
"Why don't you... here, just try it on? Apparently it activates just by putting it on. I'd like to see the effect with my own eyes too."
"No way... Mastaa, do you hate me?"
Tinno tried to back away further, but Citry, who had circled behind her, grabbed her shoulders. Liliz gazed down at the fleshy mask with sparkling eyes.
As if right on cue, the *Evolving Demon Mask* let out a hoarse voice.
"Oh, a new morsel! What a vigorous soul you possess! Praise me! Release that passion and the sealed power within! I am the one who evolves humanity. Your very existence shall become a blade that cuts down all enemies."
"No! Mastaa, help me! Mastaa, please! This is definitely, absolutely cursed!"
"It's fine. It doesn't hurt. It didn't hurt when I wore it either... See, relax. It's just a Treasure Weapon. Take a deep breath."
"N-nooooooo!"
From the mask, convenient tentacles squirmed out to hold it in place. A piercing shriek rang through my private room.
What followed was a merciless battle of Tinno versus Liliz and Citry, but that's a story for another time.