Chapter 48: 7777 Years

Enchantments in Artifacts were like Skills in individuals or Items. They represented the special advantages an Artifact bestowed upon its users, and depending mostly on its Rank, Class or Tier, an Artifact could possess more than one or two Enchantments of various measures. But at the same time, they could also possess just one.

In the end, it was all entirely based on luck.

And it seems I struck out this time...

The Ring of Solomon Artifact possessed not one or two Enchantments, but four of them.

As if the Crown's Veil enchantment wasn't good enough already, there was also an Enchantment with effects that similarly counterbalanced the aforementioned.

...

[{Ruler's Authority}: Magnify your presence and authority with a single gaze. As a king, all subjects shall bow. Note: this induces a psychological paralysis on its victims, but effects may wane and vary depending on the mental fortitude of the victim and repeated exposure.]

...

As if the Crown's Veil enchantment wasn't good enough already, there was also a last and final Enchantment displayed on the list!

...

[{Solomon's Court}...]

...

The Enchantment read in bold and the descriptions followed.

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[{Solomon's Court}: This Ring possesses the mark of The King's Authority, and servants shall beckon at your call. Note: the enchantment summons a servant. Certain restrictions, risks, and plausibilities may apply to this enchantment. The 'Servant' summoned may be a Demon of a much higher level rank than the user, and this can lead to the Summon attacking the user if they deem them unworthy and weak. Consequently, the user is also liable to add a member or members, to your Court or Family based on the user's power level...

Number of current Slots available: 0/2]

...

The second Enchantment was some sort of intimidation skill, while the last and final one was like some summoning skill.

'But what's this about a Demon... My thoughts were drawn to this particular aspect.

The descriptions this time had a lot more details and explanation, and some part were particularly disturbing and worrying, and there were three particular aspects to deliberate on.

The Solomon's Court enchantment allowed me to summon a 'servant' from my 'court' to my side at any time I wished, but the servant summoned could be a Demon, and even worse, one that was very high level and higher ranked than I am. At the same time, I could also add a member to my Court...

This doesn't make sense...I mumbled inwardly as I peered down at the ring. It was still sucking and absorbing bits of my Aura little by little, leaving me constant drained.

'It says I can summon a member from my Court, but I don't have anything like that.'

Wasn't a Court like one of those things made up of a close group of people or aide gathered together to help or serve a king or an emperor? I more or less was familiar with this system from earth because even if it seems like it had been long abolished, it more or less still existed in nearly every corner of the present day Earth.

It didn't take too long until I received a response form Meta.

[Affirmative. The keyword once again here is in the name of the Enchantment.] It was curt and succinct as always, but Meta's response was the right push I needed to understand the direction the Ring was proposing.

The keyword is in the name of the Enchantment... Solomon's Court.

That was it.

The Court I can summon from isn't from mine, but from King Solomon, the initial owner of the bronze ring.

Taking a second look, it also kind of said so in the description.

'...the ring possess the mark of the King's Authority.' although this could be defined as a few other meanings.

"No, but this just brings in more question. Why does King Solomon have a Court of Demons?"

Unless...he was a Demon himself?

My eyes sharpened.

'That's possible.' as soon as I concluded this, i looked at the Throne sitting Infront of me, and at the grand grandeur of the golden Throne room.

Laplace's Dungeon. The Demon Lord of Entropy.

What was a seemingly 'ordinary' Artifact like this doing in such a place? But why does it say Solomon's Ring, and not Laplace's Ring. Or even Laplace's Dungeon instead of Solomon's Dungeon?

'How are the two related?

Could Laplace be Solomon? Or was Solomon Laplace, or some kind of relative or something?

"This is getting troublesome." I knew I'd eventually get tangled up with the Demon race eventually after that vision, but this was just too soon.

I restrained a sigh for the moment and continued with the descriptions. This was the part I wouldn't enjoy.

...

[>FLAW<]< p>

[{7777 Years of Unluck}

Description: You shall never know peace, unluck follows you like a shadow. Note: This Ring can not be taken off once put on.]

...

Another difference between Artifacts and regular items aside from the stark difference between power and abilities...is the presence of a Flaw.

But...

"What the fuck is this?!"

Flaws were probably an aspect to balance out the power scaling between Artifacts. They were like the drawbacks, risks, or requirements of the Artifact in question. And these Flaws could be anything, depending on the Artifact.

I still didn't know much about Artifacts or Items, or aspects concerning this topic, but I had never seen a shitty ass flaw like this before.

7777 years of unluck...this was basically cursing me.

Worse yet, I can't pull the ring off!!

The first thing that came to my mind when seeing this flaw is...

"I don't want it! Take it back! I'm already miserable as I am now, no!!" I pulled at the ring on my finger desperately, but the damned thing refused to budge.

Then I did the next only thing I could do.

"Meta!!!!! Help!!!"

I whined.

In response, a system window blared before my eyes.

...

[Warning! Warning! External interference has been detected. You have been cursed. Luck stats have been debuffed.]

__ __

[Luck: (-7777) ]

...

I really have been cursed!!

Then Meta said.

[Unfortunately, there is nothing that can be done in a case like this. The Flaws of Artifacts are mostly absolute and follow an order of authority. They are designed to keep in balance the power's offered by the Artifact in questio—]

"Bullshit! What is fair about this?!"

But after trying to pull it off a couple of more times, even I was slowly beginning to be compelled by Meta's explanation.

Yes. I was screwed.

I started at the blasted ring in my hand and had a dark thought.

"... It's just one finger."

[...Your kidding.]

But I wasn't...

My life was already shitty...my luck was probably already the worse. If I had something like this, I'd definitely die the next time I tripped over!

I chuckled sinisterly.

"I'll cut it o—"

[Even if you did that, the Flaws of Artifacts are absolute.] Meta suddenly said, and continued. [There's most likely a reason the Ring can't be taken off, and with this thought process, there's most likely a mechanism set in place in case the wearer decides to test it.]

"You're saying something could happen to me if I try to continue to force the ring off?"

[...]

It's official, I hate this world.

I had to suffer a shitty flaw, and be under threat of something much worse happening to me even after taking my finger because of the same damned flaw.

[Affirmative.] Meta responded curtly, but her words were deep enough to leave me with doubts.

Again, my experience in this topic was vastly limited, and the only thing I had to lead me on was Meta. The system has also proven in numerous, and in its own twisted and sick ways how much it wanted me to live, and even now, Meta was stopping me from cutting my finger, despite it being an almost insignificant injury.

After all, I was sure there were measures for me to heal a chopped off finger in this world.

So for Meta who has seen me suffer far more detestable and bloody damages to stop me from cutting off a single finger meant that the consequences could be severe enough to actually and utterly kill me.

Staring down at the Ring of Solomon with disdain, I had a thought...

Artifacts are scary as fuck...

[But there might be a way.] Meta suddenly injected and I felt a small spec of hope.

"Ooh, Meta, you Deux ex machina, you may be shitty, but you always pull through when it counts!"

As expected of a System that was supposed to be my cheat in this twisted and broken world.

Meta ignored my comment and continued coldly.

[Only another authority can challenge an authority.]

I was quick to pick up one what get words meant.

"An Artifact can negate the effects of another Artifact!"

That made sense. So there really was still a chance I could get rid of this damed Flaw.

[Affirmative. And perhaps maybe the answer may lie in the next reward.] Meta concluded and went silent.

The next reward... I shifted my gaze.

There were still two more glowing orbs of light floating before my eyes.

Aside from the Flaw, the Ring of Solomon had its own immense advantages, and this was just one of three rewards I was allowed to return with.

'I wonder what the other two are...' maybe one of them held the answer to resolving the Flaw of the ring somewhat.

With that expectant thought, I didn't hesitate to stretch my hand unti the second orb.

Just like before, the light vanished and dissipated, and what appeared in my hands this time...was a black obsidian mask.