Chapter 53: Treasury (4)

Perseus POV

As I stepped into the treasury, my eyes widened at the sight that greeted me. Neatly stacked piles of gold glimmered in the soft light, casting a warm glow over the chamber. It was a sight to behold, the culmination of centuries of wealth and power amassed by the empire.

But what struck me the most was the complete lack of security measures within the treasury. There were no guards, no traps, nothing to protect the vast riches that lay before me. It was as if the empire had grown complacent in its dominance, believing itself to be untouchable and invincible.

With a sense of incredulity, I approached the nearest pile of gold and reached out to touch it, feeling the cool metal beneath my fingertips. It was a surreal moment, standing amidst such wealth, knowing that it was now within my grasp.

"Good job, kiddo." a guy said as he slapped my shoulder, "No one actually won the rite of passage before, I was almost executed myself."

"Yeah, sorry for us keeping quiet, we just had to keep like that until the newbie passed the rite of passage." Another said as he slapped my back and head for the gold, "I was left in jail for a week before they rescued me."

They were now all no longer silent as everyone gathered all the gold and other treasures, most will go to the organization itself, but Lind says that she's not going to really monitor what we take for ourselves, especially the gold coins, most of us could use financial help, and I'm not really going to fight it.

I couldn't help but gawk at the riches surrounding me. Vaults upon vaults filled with all sorts of treasures: ancient books, shiny armor, and a plethora of weapons.

Swords, axes, and spears of all shapes and sizes, each one a deadly work of art.

In another corner, suits of armor stood tall and proud, their metal surfaces gleaming despite the layer of grime. I couldn't resist trying on a helmet or two, feeling like a knight from some long-forgotten legend. But I still just stored them on behalf of this truth organization as the others joined me and introduced themselves, breaking away the tense atmosphere until now.

As I filled my pockets and storage spell with the empire's treasures, a strange feeling washed over me. Here I was, robbing the very government that had once enslaved me and my people. It felt surreal, almost poetic, to be reclaiming what was rightfully ours. We helped them gain this money after all.

This organization, essentially terrorists, who had orchestrated this mission were the only ones who had ever treated me as an equal, as more than just a slave. Until now, the only ones who treated me well were basically terrible people and outcasts from the town of the forgotten.

It was a strange sensation, to be embraced by those whom society had deemed the lowest of the low. These were the world's worst people, and yet, in their eyes, I was no different from them. I was one of them. It could just be an act...but it was sometimes a bit more than what I needed.

But why? Why were the world's best people, the nobles, the royalty, the elites...heck, even commoners are the ones who treated me with disdain and contempt? Was it because of my lowly status as being born into slavery?

Or was it something deeper, something ingrained in the very fabric of society itself? As I pondered these questions, I couldn't help but feel a sense of bitterness creeping over me. Why should I be judged by the circumstances of my birth? Wasn't I worthy of respect and dignity, just like anyone else?

I've never treated anyone with malice in mind...and yet the world's worst people or society's outcasts should not be the ones who treat me the kindest outside of my fellow slaves.

It still brings me to the same question, why should I bother to save a world that had never shown me any kindness or fairness? I hadn't asked to be born into this world, into a life of servitude and oppression. And yet, here I was, expected to be the hero to those elites who had never lifted a finger to help me.

And yet, as I pondered these questions, a small voice whispered in the back of my mind.

"Find me."

"Hmm?" Elpis gave me a questioning glance, "Find you?"

"No...it's what's been whispering and echoing in my head recently, it's...weird."

I couldn't turn my back on them, no matter how tempting it might be to walk away and leave this world to its fate. Why? Why do I feel like this?

"Do you need to rest?" she asked

"I'm fine, thanks for the concern, Elpis."

"You're having one of those moments where you keep having bad thoughts, you should just expel them away."

"Maybe if there's a beautiful woman who can help with that."

"I'm a beautiful woman."

"You're a bit too tiny for my liking."

"But certain fairies can turn into human size."

"Well, can you?"

"...no."

"There you go."

[A: What about me?]

"Are you a beautiful woman?"

[A: I am a woman.]

"Really?"

[A: I am the most beautiful in the multiverse.]

"Big claim, even for you, let's rob the place quick since the official inspection time is in 3 days."

*****

As news of the robbed treasury spread like wildfire through the Southern Empire. The loss of the treasury was not merely a financial blow to the empire, it was a direct challenge to the new king's authority, a slap in the face to his newly started reign.

The stolen gold and treasures were symbols of his power, his wealth, and his dominance over the land, and to have them snatched away so brazenly was an affront that could not be ignored.

"They will pay for this," he thundered, "Mark my words, no one steals from the Southern Empire and lives to boast of their deeds. Find them. Hunt them down. And bring me their heads on a platter!"