Chapter 14 - Exposed
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(Night)
Luna and I were currently outside, walking through the Forest—and the reason is, were here to return to the secret vault my father hides his riches into.
"Here Master." Luna who was holding a lantern, crouched and opened the trapdoor that's covered with leaves that's purposedly placed to keep it from being hidden.
I firstly head downstairs followed by Luna and went into the room where the treasures where carefully hidden.
The reason we came here is for us to stea— I mean, to use my father's items to prepare in case we have to fight my brother Drake.
His status was pretty average, the only problem is his mobility focused accessory and his weapon which is the 『Kusanagi』 that is a pain to deal with. Our HP are currently at its base—so being hit once by his sword can be very fatal—not to mention the poison debuff it inflicted when hit.
After reaching our destination, Luna slowly opened the wooden door and went inside to flip the switch for the lights to open. The room that's designed with stone bricks was illuminated by the light and the items lying on the ground were exposed, tempting us to steal them. Oops.
On our first time that we arrived here, we didn't really take long so I didn't completely saw every item that lies here; I only took the items needed as the others were still unnecessary at that time.
I carefully checked the items simultaneously, and after doing some attentive examination, here's the 3 things I noticed:
First, all the item here are the items you can only get by buying from any Shop or to a person called the "Travelling Merchant". No monster drops or crafted items whatsoever.
The second is very disturbing, there is another section of the edge of the room that is placed by dozens of containers that's comprise of [Human Flesh].
When Luna and I saw the inside of the container, the stench and the horror of the grotesque content made Luna and I baked out and puke ourselves—sending chills to our spine.
"This is awful..." Luna sickly said, covering her mouth with her hands—looking nauseatic.
"Y-you don't say..." I replied, with the same expression as Luna. "Ugh! What the hell happened here. Luna, do you have some clue or something...?"
"Yes, I think... It's probably the old Maids that the family killed and is being used as an experiment. It's just my speculation Master."
"I see..." I curtly replied to Luna's remark.
If it's only her hunch, then I commend her for her instinct as she was actually right—for the purpose of the [Human Flesh]. It was near of being found its existence in this world but in the game, the purpose of the [Human Flesh] is used to craft a summoning item that would summon a 『Boss』 called the 『Real Abomination』.
Yes, you read that right. Anything can almost be considered an item, the [Human Flesh] is no exception.
『Real Abomination』 is a ground type 『Boss』 that exhibits unbelievable mobility fictionally conflicted to its size. Its appearance is of a gruesome giant flesh with multiple small limbs that it uses to walk that's faster than a running person.
I don't know if it's a good thing or bad, but I currently can craft it. Though, it needs a particular crafting station to be crafted.
But there is a reason why I mentioned earlier that it was near of being found its existence. You see, that particular crafting station that I mentioned is currently present here in my father's vault.
Yes, the third and last thing I noticed in this room is that there is a natural occurring crafting station called [Demon's Tusk]. That's right, this crafting station cannot be build and is only found naturally in the underground or in the certain 『Biome』. It has an appearance is of a circular grotesque flesh similar of a mouth that is covered with a set of tusks covering its whole insides.
The people in this world are almost in near of finally discovering how to summon a 『Boss』. With that thought in mind, I managed to think a plan which I smiled on the thought of it.
"I see, with this..." I mused.
I took out my 『Magic Pouch』 and spread it open in front of the containers. After a brief moment and the 12 containers were magically sucked inside the pouch. Man, dimensional storage sure is mesmerizing no matter how many times I think of it.
There are currently 13 full containers with [Flesh] inside of them. It really disturbs me that my family had killed so many people just for this kind of horror. I don't know anyone of you, but I swear that I'll get your revenge for you.
I didn't take the last containers as I'll only need 6 [Flesh] to craft an item that can summon an abomination.
I pour all the [Flesh] through the [Demon's Tusk] and after a moment, the [Demon's Tusk] started to move as if chewing the [Flesh] until it finishes in which it spits the item afterwards.
The pound of [Flesh] that I poured just now had turned into a different item. It has a peach-colored orb shaped appearance, as if all the [Flesh] had turned into a ball shaped that's the same size of a basketball. It feels pretty hard to the touch but never mind that.
It spits 2 of them so I put it both inside my 『Magic Pouch』.
"Alright," I put both my hands into my waist. "With this, we're almost done with our preparations."
"Master what even is that..." Luna curiously asked but sighed as if she won't get it even if I answer. "Do you have a plan, Master?"
"I'd say it's for emergency purposes. We can't fight Drake head-on, you see? So, a bit of chaotic disturbance is needed to break his attention." I replied sarcastically.
"L-little disturbance huh..." Luna strained a smile as she replied. "P-please do it in consideration."
"Don't sweat the small details." I fanned away with my hands, then added. "Anyways, just in case, I need an [Arrow] for my Bow."
I need a weapon I can use from a distance since that 『Monster』 will outrun and kill me if I fight it head on. It would be bad if I summoned it without a way to beat it after all. We would all be dead if that happens.
"Arrows huh," Luna ponders for a bit and points her finger on a small container. "There, I think I saw a container full of [Arrows] right there, Master."
"Nice one, Luna" I complimented and patted her head.
"Hehe~ No problem, Master."
I took the containers full of [Arrows] and put it inside my 『Magic Pouch』. I then opened the Menu to see how many [Arrows] it has.
"800 [Arrows] huh... I guess 200 per container then."
I'm half sure if this amount is enough to defeat the 『Boss』 or not. It only has a low damage per hit. Moreover, we're fighting a boss type monster with this.
"Ah!!" I shouted when I remembered something.
Oops, looks like I accidentally startled Luna. She then breathes out a sigh of relief and put her palms into her chest. My bad Luna. I didn't mean it.
Anyways, I used the [Gels] and the leftover [Wood] in my inventory and crafted a bunch of [Torch]. Now coupled with the [Arrows] I managed to craft and turned everything into 800 [Flaming Arrow].
"We should probably get out of here; it's getting pretty late now. Moreover, I got everything I needed." I stated.
To my response, both of us turned the lights off and left the room. We covered the trapdoor with leaves and head back to the Mansion. But just when we were about to leave...
"Where do you think you're going?"
Luna and I froze—eyes widened in surprise. A voice of a man in his 30s starts to call behind us. An expose which felt like a sudden chill down our spine. Now of all times...!
"What a naughty guy you are, brother." A voice can be heard on a shadow approaching behind us. "I was wondering where you got that bravado coming from you earlier this morning."
That voice... I see, I finally get it.
"A partner in crime, eh?" I quipped and turned to the voice behind us.
What came to my vision is of course, none other than my father and the most troublesome, Drake.
Could this have been any worse... I can't help but strained a smile thinking of such absurd thing. Luna was still silent, perhaps the unexpected circumstances left Luna frozen stiff.
"Since when?" I asked to the two shadows in front of me.
"Ah, just earlier. Actually, I saw you two heading towards the direction of the vault, you see? I was a bit doubtful so just in case, I called father who also know about this only to have my guess right." Drake remarked, then asked. "So? What did you see?"
"Who knows?" I quipped, then glared daggers at them. "But it sure made me feel like I won't be eating for days now."
"Well, that's too bad." Drake started to play with his sword. "There's a reason why our house is isolated, see? We can't have some pests knowing our secrets. It might taint our family name regrettably."
"Disgraceful." I furiously said.
"Yeah. So?" Drake started to spread both his arms. "Rejoice! I can spare you because you are our family." Drake then pointed the sword towards Luna. "But we can't have Luna live though."
I quickly took out my 『Katana』 and whispered at Luna who was frozen still. "Luna, draw out your weapon...!"
"Oh, scary!" Drake sarcastically said, then hysterically laughed. "You think you can beat me?!"
"I can't see why not." I put on a Guard Stance. "Sorry father and Drake, but I can't have you kill Luna. She's special to me, you see?"
"Wow! What romance! So, Andrew is right about you having some relationship with her." Drake broad a creepy smile. "But we can't have that, brother; After all, I left a promise.
Luna who heard Drake's remark trembles in fear—biting her lips helplessly. So, I put my hands on her shoulders with some weight into it and whispered some reassuring words.
"Just do what you think is right. No matter what happens, I'll be there for you."
Luna, in response to my words paused for a moment. Strengthening her resolve, she took a deep breath to keep her composure and quickly took her 『Scimitar』.
"Yes...!" Luna firmly nodded. Her eyes visibly full of resolve now.
"You—?!"
"Short tempered aren't we, big brother?! I laugh in a mocking manner. "I wonder how you got accepted into the Capital. Haha, you probably threatened them, didn't you?"
Veins started to pop in his head. Gritting his teeth, Drake looks at me furiously.
(Well then, how will you—?!)
Just when I was thinking, Drake swiftly ⟨⟨Dash⟩⟩ at me in surprise and attacked me. I managed to defend on the last second thanks to my high stats, but the strong force flew me away.
"Guhh!!"
"Master—?!"
Luna shouted in concern but was attacked by my father which cuts her shout of concern. Luckily, she managed to react and dodge at the last second. Luna started to us the ⟨⟨Appraisal⟩⟩ skill at Greg Crimsonheart.
『Greg Crimsonheart』
『HP: 200』
『MP: 20』
『Armor: 16』
『AGI: 15』
『DEX: 10』
『ENDURANCE: 30』
He is now strong, but I can't let my guard down... is what Luna is thinking. Luna quickly withdraws and printed to the place where I flew away. Suddenly, she was attacked by Drake out of nowhere which she barely defended against—locking their swords to each other.
"We can't have you do that." Drake stated, trying to force his sword against Luna.
"Guhh...!!"
I, who had flown away sprinted back to where Luna and Drake were fighting. I positioned myself to where Drake's blind spot and kicked him in the liver with all my strength.
"Guhaa?!" Drake cried in pain, staggering.
"Luna, run!"
I shouted at Luna which she immediately responded. We'll need to think of a plan as we can't beat Drake with the current us right now.
Drake has an item called 『Steampunk Boots』, a 『Mobility Boots』 accessory which have the ability to use a skill ⟨⟨Dash⟩⟩ and has a passive stat that gives you a high percentage of mobility. It is one of the necessary items you'll need until the endgame.
The both of us sprinted back into the Mansion in a hurry—waiting for them to come.
"Sorry brother, change of plan. I'll have you killed right now." Drake furiously declared, putting his hands on his liver.
"Shit...! That was too fast. He's already here...!"
Luna and I hid at the wall behind the backyard opposite of where Drake is coming. Suddenly, the door at the back of the Mansion opened, and a guy started to approach us. It was pretty dark so we can't see who he is.
"AGHH!!"
After some deep breathes the guy, holding a knife shouted and starts to thrust his knife against us. Unfortunately, he was pretty slow, so we dodge it with ease. Finally, the light illuminated the face of the person trying to stab us.
"Andrew..." I said with a conflicted expression.
Andrew looks at me in pure anger. It was also time for Drake to come and went behind him.
"Good news, we have permission to kill them." Drake cheerfully announced, licking his mouth. "So have fun. I'll be taking Luna with me."
"Well, he's a failure anyway."
"He— No, they're both strong. I don't know what the fuck happened but be careful. His kick left me immobile for a while." Drake warned Andrew.
"You're kidding..."
"Don't worry," My father who also came back added. "I'll help you with that."
"Goodness me, you never considered me a family, did you?"
So, I've been completely abandoned huh. Well, at least no regrets after this. I guess it's time to release that monster. We can't win in a 2 vs 3 but we sure in hell can win with a 2 vs. 3 vs. 1.