Chapter 9: Vesperion Treasury II
The journey from Malrik’s residence to the Treasury wasn’t particularly long. Even so, the atmosphere gradually changed as they approached their destination.
The number of servants decreased. The number of guards increased. By the time Malrik and Eliza reached the final corridor, ordinary servants had disappeared completely.
Only heavily armed knights remained. Every one of them wore the black armor of House Vesperion. Every one of them radiated an aura far stronger than Malrik’s current self. None spoke. None moved. They simply stood guard like silent statues.
No wonder security is this tight.
The Treasury was one of the most important locations within House Vesperion. Generations of wealth rested behind those walls.
Weapons, artifacts, and rare materials filled the vault. These were resources gathered through centuries of war and conquest. Many of those treasures could never be purchased, regardless of how much money someone possessed.
As they approached the massive black gate, Eliza suddenly stopped. Malrik noticed immediately. His footsteps slowed before he glanced toward her.
"You’re not coming?"
Eliza lowered her head slightly. "I’m not permitted to enter, Young Master."
Malrik raised an eyebrow.
"The Treasury is reserved exclusively for members of House Vesperion," her voice remained calm. "Servants, retainers, and outsiders are forbidden from crossing the gate."
That made sense. This place contained the family’s accumulated wealth. Allowing outsiders unrestricted access would’ve been absurd.
Still, it highlighted something he hadn’t fully considered before. Although Eliza served him directly, she wasn’t truly part of House Vesperion. At least not by blood.
"I’ll wait outside for your return."
Malrik nodded. "Alright."
Only then did his attention shift toward the man waiting beside the gate.
Eldric Vesperion.
He was one of the Elders of House Vesperion, and the current Keeper of the Treasury.
The original Malrik knew him well enough. Among the Elders, Eldric possessed a relatively easygoing personality. He wasn’t as strict as some of the older members of the family. He was generally on good terms with the younger generation.
What stood out most, however, was his appearance. At first glance, Eldric looked like a man in his early thirties. He was tall, broad-shouldered, and healthy. There wasn’t the slightest sign of old age on him.
The reality was completely different. The Elder standing before him had already lived for well over a century.
Of course, that wasn’t unusual in Valthera. The stronger an individual became, the slower time affected their body. Powerful Awakeners aged far more slowly than ordinary people. Some lived for centuries, and others even longer.
Compared to such individuals, a lifespan of one hundred years wasn’t particularly remarkable. Yet, the thought still felt strange to Malrik. Back on Earth, someone who reached one hundred years of age would’ve been considered ancient. In Valthera, they might still look young enough to start a family.
"So," Eldric smiled. "The Seventh Banner Bearer finally arrives."
Malrik greeted him respectfully. "Uncle Eldric."
The Elder nodded before examining him carefully. A look of satisfaction soon appeared on his face.
"A Hidden Class. Not bad. Looks like House Vesperion gained another monster."
Malrik wasn’t entirely sure whether that counted as praise. Knowing his family, it probably did.
Eldric extended his hand. "The token."
Without hesitation, Malrik handed over the Treasury Token. The Elder inspected it briefly before storing it away.
"You won’t be getting this back."
"I know."
"Good."
Eldric folded his arms. Before continuing, his gaze briefly shifted toward Eliza.
"As she said, the Treasury is reserved for members of House Vesperion. The rules apply to everyone. Even the Duke’s personal retainers aren’t allowed inside."
Malrik nodded. That only increased the importance of this place in his mind.
Eldric continued. "You only get one choice," his tone became noticeably more serious. "One treasure. No exchanges. No replacements. No second chances."
The Elder paused briefly before speaking again. "Most people regret their choice afterward. Almost all of them make the same mistake."
Malrik listened carefully.
"They choose with their eyes. Not with their heads."
The advice sounded simple, yet it carried considerable weight. A treasure wasn’t valuable simply because it was powerful. It needed to be useful, compatible, and suitable for its owner. Otherwise, even the strongest weapon could become little more than decoration.
"Choose something that fits you," Eldric shrugged. "Not something that looks impressive."
Malrik silently committed those words to memory.
Seeing his reaction, the Elder finally stepped aside. The black gate began to tremble. Ancient runes engraved across its surface illuminated one after another. Hundreds of symbols lit up simultaneously.
Moments later, the massive gate slowly opened. Dense mana surged outward. It felt ancient, heavy, and old. The sensation wasn’t oppressive. Instead, it felt as though countless years had accumulated behind the gate.
"Go," Eldric waved casually. "And try not to spend all day inside."
Malrik stepped forward. The moment he crossed the entrance, the gate slowly closed behind him. For the first time since arriving in this world, he stood before the true wealth of House Vesperion.
His footsteps gradually slowed, then stopped entirely.
The Treasury was enormous, far larger than the building itself. The only explanation was spatial magic. Not that Malrik found that surprising anymore. If House Vesperion couldn’t afford such luxuries, nobody could.
Rows upon rows of treasures stretched into the distance. Weapons occupied most of the visible area. Swords, spears, axes, halberds, bows, and armor lined the shelves.
Yet those weren’t the only treasures present. Entire sections were dedicated to rare materials, including monster bones, scales, horns, crystals, rare metals, and ancient herbs. The amount of wealth gathered in one location was almost absurd.
No wonder House Vesperion stood at the pinnacle of the Empire
This wasn’t the collection of a noble family. It was the accumulation of countless generations.
As he walked deeper into the Treasury, a massive crimson greatsword eventually caught his attention. The weapon rested upon a black pedestal. Even from several meters away, faint waves of heat radiated from its blade.
Streams of crimson mana flowed across its surface like veins carrying molten lava. A system window appeared.
[ Flameheart ]
[ Rank: Awakened ]
[ Description: A greatsword forged from the fang of a Flame Tyrant Morveth. Continuously generates fire mana and greatly enhances fire-attributed combat techniques. ]
Malrik studied the weapon for several moments. It was powerful; there was no doubt about that. Any warrior specializing in fire-based combat would likely treasure such a weapon.
Unfortunately, he wasn’t that warrior. As a Necromancer, the weapon offered little value to him. After a brief glance, he moved on.
Several minutes later, another treasure attracted his attention. It was a silver bow crafted from the horn of an unknown beast. Unlike ordinary bows, its string appeared to be made entirely from condensed mana. The weapon possessed an elegance that immediately stood out.
The system reacted once more.
[ Moonpiercer ]
[ Rank: Awakened ]
[ Description: A mana bow capable of creating arrows from pure mana. Significantly increases range and penetration. ]
Malrik found himself impressed. The ability to create arrows automatically eliminated one of the greatest weaknesses of traditional archery.
However, the problem remained the same. The weapon didn’t suit him. Choosing a treasure simply because it was powerful would’ve been foolish. Eldric’s warning remained fresh in his mind.
As he continued exploring, he encountered numerous treasures. Some increased physical strength. Others enhanced mana reserves. A few possessed unusual abilities. Each treasure possessed value, yet none felt right.
Eventually, Malrik arrived before a dark spear. The moment he saw it, he stopped.
Unlike many of the treasures surrounding it, the spear wasn’t flashy. There were no glowing runes, no dramatic aura, and no extravagant decorations. Yet for some reason, it immediately attracted his attention.
The weapon stood silently upon its pedestal. It was elegant, simple, and deadly. Its black shaft appeared to be forged from a metal darker than steel, while the spearhead reflected faint silver light whenever the mana lamps above touched its surface.
The system window appeared.
[ Blackstar Spear ]
[ Rank: Awakened ]
[ Description: A spear forged from a rare Starsteel alloy. The weapon possesses extraordinary mana conductivity, allowing mana to flow through it with minimal loss. ]
[ Skill: Armor Piercing ]
[ Description: Allows attacks to partially ignore physical defenses, significantly increasing effectiveness against armored opponents and creatures with naturally tough bodies. ]
Malrik’s eyes narrowed.
Mana conductivity alone would’ve made the spear valuable. A mage incapable of defending himself in close combat was little more than an easy target. The spear offered reach, control, and distance. These were advantages that remained useful regardless of his future growth.
Then there was Armor Piercing. Many powerful Morveth relied on their natural defenses. A weapon capable of bypassing those defenses would remain relevant for a very long time.
The more he analyzed the spear, the more attractive it became. In fact, among everything he had seen so far, this was the first treasure he could genuinely imagine himself using.
If I had to choose right now... it’d be this one.
Just as that thought crossed his mind—
[ Ding ]
Malrik froze. For a brief moment, he thought he had imagined it. Then the sound appeared again.
[ Ding ]
His expression changed instantly.
The system.
His gaze immediately shifted toward the spear, but nothing happened. No new notification appeared. Which meant the source wasn’t the weapon.
Slowly, he began examining the nearby shelves. Several rare materials rested there. Most appeared ordinary compared to the surrounding treasures. There was a crystal, several monster bones, and a strange metal ingot.
Then his eyes landed on a small emerald-colored gem resting quietly between two containers. Compared to everything around it, the gem looked completely insignificant.
Yet the moment his gaze settled upon it, a translucent screen appeared before him.
[ Material Suitable For Absorption Detected ]
[ This Material Can Be Absorbed To Obtain Evolution Points ]
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