The Yama Raja Armor, spewing blazing crimson flames.
Tyrfing, the blade of ice, unleashing a frigid blizzard from its pure white edge.
Both artifacts were tightly bound by special chains, confined in separate cages.
Each was an A+ rank ultra-high-tier artifact—perhaps even S-rank.
This is insane.
There were fewer than 500 A+ rank artifacts in the entire world.
Each one was an asymmetrical force, considered more powerful and dangerous than nuclear weapons, with such rarity that their owners’ identities could often be traced.
If A+ rank artifacts were treated this way, S-rank artifacts needed no further explanation.
Rooooar! Crack! Crack! Crack!
A relentless clash of a fiery inferno and an icy storm.
Rooooar! Crack! Crack! Crack! Rooooar! Crack! Crack! Crack!
The bars around the Yama Raja Armor glowed red-hot, melting and regenerating repeatedly, while the bars around Tyrfing froze solid, shattered, and restored themselves.
Rooooar! Crack! Crack! Crack! Rooooar! Crack! Crack! Crack!
…Ugh, I can’t use those.
They were too much.
Far too dangerous, like artifacts designed to devour their wielders.
Without fire or ice resistance artifacts, I can’t even touch them.
But above all, the biggest reason I gave up on them was…
[The gear most trusted by His Majesty the Sorcerer Emperor was none other than me, the Yama Raja Armor, you foolish wench!]
[Who’re you calling a foolish wench, you useless lump of scrap? The gear most favored by His Majesty was me, Tyrfing, and me alone!]
The artifacts had egos.
And they were fiercely loyal to the Sorcerer Emperor “T.”
I slipped into their conversation.
“Uh… excuse me for interrupting.”
[…?]
[…?]
The intense aura from the armor and sword abruptly stopped.
I stated my business clearly and concisely.
“I’d like to pass through. Thank you. I’ll be going now. Love you guys.”
With that, I cautiously moved toward the passage to the next warehouse section.
But at that moment, the flaming armor shouted.
[Oh-ho! A warehouse keeper! I forgot we even had one—it’s been so long! Ten thousand years, maybe?]
“Ten thousand years?”
The artifacts began calling out to me in fervent tones.
[Hey, warehouse keeper! How is His Majesty? Why hasn’t he come for me or this wench lately? He hasn’t found another armor, has he? Ha! No way! Once you’ve worn the Yama Raja Armor, no other armor could catch your eye!]
[Hmph! You idiot! His Majesty fought through the Warring States era wearing me and wielding me! How could he look at another armor or blade? He knows full well there’s no sword greater than Tyrfing!]
[No, that’s strange! His Majesty was the noblest and most exalted being I’ve ever served! And the most fervent war fanatic in the history of all races! How could someone who couldn’t go a day without seeing blood not visit us for so long?]
[I’ve been feeling that’s odd too. But there’s only one answer, isn’t there?]
I nodded quietly as I listened.
Yeah, the Morgue Empire fell ages ago and was erased from the history books.
Now, countless other nations have taken its place…
Then, the Yama Raja Armor and Tyrfing started spouting nonsense.
[Continental unification! World domination! War! Never-ending war!]
[At last, everything under the heavens bows before His Majesty the Sorcerer Emperor!]
Their voices grew increasingly excited.
[Yes, no doubt! His Majesty must have won countless wars and unified the Lokpia continent! He achieved the dream of building the Morgue Empire!]
[The pinnacle of all nations and races! The first continental unification in Lokpia’s history! That’s why there are no more wars! That’s why we’re no longer needed!]
[I’m overjoyed! My lord achieved his dream! But I’m also heartbroken! To think I’m no longer useful to my lord…]
[Let’s celebrate with joy! For the infinite glory of the Morgue Empire! Huzzah! Huzzah! Huzzah! May the radiant splendor of the Sorcerer Emperor shine forever!]
Eventually, they snapped out of their collective monologue and subtly addressed me.
[…But having been steeped in my lord’s madness, I can no longer accept a peaceful era.]
[I agree. We’re legendary artifacts with egos, once human, inseparable from humanity.]
[Hey, warehouse keeper, got any plans? How about donning me, the Yama Raja Armor, and charging into battle? With me, you could burn even the mightiest mountain to ash!]
[With me, Tyrfing, you could return the world to its ancient state—covered in snow and ice, where survivors cower beneath frozen earth, barely clinging to life!]
I immediately declined.
“No thanks. I’ve got a gas stove for fire and a fridge for ice. Thank you. Love you. I’ll be going now.”
I’m twenty-four.
Too young to list “barbecue” or “ice cream” as career goals.
I almost ruined my life messing with a human-leather sack. I need to be extra careful now. Stick to the safe stuff listed in the guidebook.
I wanted nothing to do with such dangerous artifacts.
Especially not at my current low level.
The guidebook had limited entries I could access.
I planned to grab only the least dangerous or most useful items for daily life and get out.
But…
[Hahaha! Behold my firepower! Far greater than your so-called gas stove, right? No comparison! Hurry up and accept me!]
[A fridge, you say? Bring it to me! I’ll freeze it solid and preserve it in eternal permafrost!]
The Yama Raja Armor and Tyrfing weren’t about to let me go easily.
At that moment, Jeanne stepped forward slowly.
[Master, your compassion is as vast as the sea. However, as your disciple, I cannot forgive these insolent ‘tools’ for their disrespect. Please permit this unworthy disciple to act.]
I started to stop her but withdrew my hand.
Well, if she insists…
Jeanne drew a sword from her waist.
[Seven Demon First Strike: Gluttony Slash, Beelzebub]
A dark aura coiled around the blade.
A terrifying slash burst forth, halting the song of ice and fire.
BOOM!
The flames and frost in the corridor split in half, creating a path down the middle.
[Master! My skills are lacking, so I can only hold them for a few seconds! These artifacts are stronger than expected…]
The rest of her words were drowned out by the roar of flames and ice, but I’d heard enough.
Scramble—
I dashed through the path Jeanne had opened.
At that moment, the guidebook flipped open, revealing a glowing page.
Flip!
<Guidebook for Novice Warehouse Keepers>
– This warehouse maintains and repairs itself even when left alone.
– But a good warehouse keeper doesn’t rely solely on that.
– No matter how smart or diligent the warehouse is, accidents are bound to happen.
– No amount of caution can completely prevent beasts or artifacts from breaking out of their cages, and, though rare, intruders may infiltrate from the outside.
– A warehouse keeper here must strive tirelessly to prevent the loss of the warehouse’s contents and to protect their own life.
– To be a great warehouse keeper, you must first stay alive.
The complex layout of these passages must be to block both intruders and escapees.
I opened the guidebook to confirm the storage number of the item I was looking for.
“31… 31… Where’s 31…? There!”
I spotted it in the containment zone ahead.
A faint, milky light leaked through the bars.
Sticky, slimy mucus pooled on the floor.
And a faint, fishy odor wafted through.
“Found it! MRG-31!”
It was the artifact I’d been searching for.
…
No, it was a beast.