“Let’s take everything! Wahahahah!” A young boy dressed in black clothes and wearing a black torturer’s mask cackled like a madman, shoveling piles of gold and treasures into a dimensional space. His laughter echoed with manic glee, bouncing off the cold, stone walls of the secret vault.
“Wahahahah! They won’t ever be able to financially recover from this!” A young girl clad in knight’s armor, her face hidden behind a white torturer’s mask, laughed just as wildly. She grabbed fistfuls of glittering coins and jewels, disappearing them into her own dimensional space with a theatrical flourish.
The two stood in the noble family’s secret vault, a room said to be accessible only to those of the bloodline. Yet, using teleportation magic, they had bypassed all barriers with ease.
“Who needs to be sneaky when this vault is practically abandoned?” the girl said smugly, tossing a golden goblet into her space. “It’s like they forgot it even exists. Most of the guards probably don’t even know this place is here. That’s on them, not us. No one’s going to suspect anything when there’s no one here to witness it.” She twirled a jewel-encrusted book before stashing it away.
“Wahahahah! sniff I’ve never seen this much gold and wealth in real life.” the boy cried, his voice cracking as he got emotional, overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of riches surrounding them. Tears glistened behind his mask as his small hands trembled under the weight of a diamond-studded chest.
The girl gave him a reassuring pat on the shoulder, her gloved hand firm and confident. She raised a thumb toward him, a silent gesture of encouragement. “Don’t worry, Zero. This is just the beginning.”
Zero wiped his nose with a gesture, forgetting he still had his torturer’s mask on. “Thank you, Lia. I wouldn’t have been able to experience any of this without you.” he said, voice heavy with gratitude.
Underneath her mask, Lia blushed faintly, turning her face slightly to hide the expression. She gave him another thumbs-up. “A-anyway, let’s focus! We still have a vault to clean out.” She closed her eyes for a moment, her focus sharpening as she activated her ability to sense anyone approaching.
“Yes, ma’am!” Zero replied, snapping a playful salute as if he were a loyal soldier. The two of them resumed their looting frenzy, their small hands working tirelessly to move the mountain of wealth into the dimensional space. The glinting gold and treasure piles seemed endless, more than enough to feed entire hungry and homeless children around the kingdom.
For Zero, a boy with a bandit upbringing, such opulence was beyond anything he’d ever dared to imagine. “It’s like a dream come true.” he murmured, his voice awash with awe. As he dug through the hoard, his attention caught on something unusual buried deep beneath the treasures—a rusty dagger and a rusty sword. Their dull, timeworn surfaces stood out starkly against the gleaming splendor surrounding them.
“Huh?” Zero muttered, curiosity piqued. He clawed through the gold to pull out the two weapons, their aged and battered appearance intriguing him. “Lia, look! I found a weapon!” He held them up for her to see, his voice tinged with excitement.
Lia leaned in, inspecting the relics with a skeptical eye. “Ehh… Those look ancient. Why would you even bother with those?” she asked, tilting her head.
“Hehe~ Don’t you think these might have some hidden lore or special traits?” Zero grinned, the glint of mischief in his eye.
“Hmmm…” Lia crossed her arms, scrutinizing the rusty weapons closely. “I think you can find way better weapons than these.” she said flatly. “Besides, with class transformations, you can get free, unlimited weapons already.”
“Can those weapons be upgraded or replaced?” Zero asked, his curiosity growing.
“Well…” Lia’s voice trailed off as she thought. “I suppose they can be upgraded with class advancements. For knights like me, armor and weapons get stronger with chivalry and willpower. As for replacing them… I’m not entirely sure. Most external weapons in this world seem to be just for training or decoration.”
“I see…” Zero said, his mind wandering as he considered the possibilities. Then, with renewed enthusiasm, he beamed. “Alright, I’m taking these! Wahahahah!”
Lia chuckled, shaking her head. “Hehe~ I wonder what you’re planning to do with those.”
“Something about these weapons just calls to me,” Zero said, his grin widening as he gazed at the rusty blade and dagger. “Even if they’re nothing special, there’s no harm in trying, right?”
“Fair enough. But you’ll still need a proper weapon.” Lia said as she sifted through the piles of treasure. Her hand closed around a spear adorned with a brilliant blue gemstone and intricate carvings along the shaft.
“Here. Try this.” She handed it to Zero with a smirk. “I’ll teach you how to use a spear. Who knows? Maybe you’ll awaken the knight class too.”
“Whoa, that’s a gorgeous spear!” Zero exclaimed, taking it with both hands. He held it aloft dramatically, as if claiming a legendary artifact in a game. “Spear acquired!” he declared with a triumphant grin.
Lia couldn’t help but laugh at his antics. “Careful now.” she said, stepping closer. “Hold on, I’ll resize it to fit you.”
Her eyes glowed white as she focused her energy into the spear. Slowly, the weapon began to shrink, reshaping itself to suit Zero’s smaller stature.
“Whoa! You can do that too?” Zero’s voice was full of awe.
“Of course!” Lia said, puffing up her chest with pride. “Though, it’s not as flashy as my teleportation ability.”
“Not flashy? Are you kidding me? This is so cool! That explains why my clothes and mask fit me so perfectly!” Zero said, excitement bubbling over.
“Oh, you noticed that too,” Lia said, scratching her cheek bashfully.
Together, they continued looting the vault, their laughter and chatter filling the otherwise silent chamber.
“Alright, I think we’ve taken all the gold and loot we need.” Lia said, exhaling deeply as she stretched her arms, a gesture of relief after the hours of effort they had put in.
“Phew, that was a lot. It took us three whole hours.” Zero added, wiping imaginary sweat from his forehead with an exaggerated motion.
“Those corrupt nobles really don’t care about this vault. Lol!” Lia snickered, her voice tinged with amusement as she glanced at the now-barren chamber.
“Yeah, but are you okay? Won’t all this gold and treasure take up a lot of space in your dimensional storage?” Zero asked, his tone laced with concern as he peered at her.
“Oh, it’s fine. There’s still some space left before I hit the limit.” Lia replied, brushing off his worry with a nonchalant wave of her hand.
“If you say so... Just don’t push yourself too hard, okay?” Zero said, his thoughtful expression hidden behind his mask but clear in his voice.
Lia’s fingers twitched, a sudden urge to pinch Zero’s cheek bubbling up inside her. But the mask covering his face stopped her. Instead, she threw her hands up in frustration, her movements exaggerated and theatrical.
“What’s wrong?” Zero asked, tilting his head slightly, curiosity evident in his tone.
“Hmm, no, it’s nothing.” Lia said, shaking her head and quickly shifting her mood.
“Alright, should we head back for now?” Zero suggested, adjusting the straps of his gear as he prepared to leave.
Lia’s glowing white eyes shimmered as she activated her ability, scanning the area with precision. Her gaze pierced through the layers of earth and stone, reaching the depths below the noble manor. What she saw made her jaw tighten, a flicker of disgust crossing her features behind the mask.
“Wait, Zero. It seems these nobles are doing something very disgusting.” Lia said, her voice dropping into a serious tone as she described what she had witnessed.
“What did you see?” Zero asked, curiosity sparking in his voice as Lia’s glowing eyes began to dim.
“Hmm…” Lia hesitated, her thoughts racing as she considered whether to tell Zero right away. After a pause, she sighed. “I’ll explain once we’re safely away from here. For now, hold my hand.”
“Alright.” Zero said, nodding as he quickly secured his newfound treasures. The rusty dagger and sword he had discovered earlier were now snug in scabbards attached to his belt, one on each side. His new spear, shimmering faintly with its blue gemstone, rested diagonally across his back, secured with straps.
He reached out and clasped Lia’s hand. Almost immediately, a radiant white light enveloped her, spilling over to him in ethereal glow. In the blink of an eye, the two vanished, leaving the looted vault behind—a barren chamber filled only with objects deemed worthless in their eyes.
* * *
“What did you see?” Zero asked Lia again as they rested on a sturdy branch of a tall tree, the leaves rustling softly in the wind.
munch munch munch
“To be honest, I’m not sure if I should tell you or not, but…” munch munch Lia said, her voice muffled as she chewed her food.
Zero paused, his mind racing with possibilities of what Lia might have witnessed. His brows furrowed in thought. “Hmm, is it inappropriate?” he asked, his fingers gesturing as if to aid his contemplation.
“You could say that…” munch “…but it doesn’t seem as simple as that,” Lia replied between bites.
“Was it like… those twisted medieval things?” Zero asked, his imagination conjuring visions of grim medieval horrors.
“Yeah…” munch “…kinda like that.” Lia said, swallowing the last of her food with a small sigh of satisfaction.
“I see…” Zero murmured, leaning forward slightly, expecting Lia to elaborate further.
“You know the vault is unguarded, right? I saw a lot of guards not too far from where the vault room is locked up. It seems none of them even bother checking the vault room. Instead, they were busy transporting something through an underground tunnel.” Lia explained, her tone growing serious.
This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
Zero listened intently as Lia continued, “At first, I thought it was because they didn’t know the vault existed when I first scanned the area. But instead, they were guarding a different location, as if they were waiting for something. It’s a shame, I couldn’t hear what they were saying.” She frowned slightly at the memory.
“But from what I saw…” Lia continued, her voice tightening, “they were transporting kids… wrapped in sacks.” Her expression darkened as she recalled the small feet sticking out of one of the sacks.
Lia’s face twisted with disgust as the memory resurfaced, but Zero remained silent, processing the weight of what she had just revealed.
For a moment, Zero’s thoughts drifted. Just a few days ago, he had been living as a bandit, a world where everything had felt brutally real. But after what Tommy had revealed and reuniting with Lia after nine long years, the lines between reality and the game-like nature of this world had begun to blur. What Lia described felt disturbingly real, the kind of horror that went beyond simple mechanics or NPC programming.
He couldn’t shake the relatability of their situation. Being kidnapped, stripped of agency, and subjected to horrors was a fear he knew well. It wasn’t so different from his time as a bandit, forced into a life of crime.
Yet, even then, he had clung to his moral compass, choosing to betray the bandit group instead.
If I could only choose between reality and the game… what would I choose? he wondered, his thoughts clouding for a moment.
He shook his head, as if physically casting aside the unnecessary doubts. “Lia, don’t you think our plan is somehow connected to this event?” he asked, snapping back to the present.
“Now that you mention it…” Lia mused, her eyes narrowing thoughtfully.
“Since we’ve got plenty of resources now, don’t you think we should help those in trouble?” Zero suggested, his tone resolute.
“But wouldn’t that delay our plan? What if it uses up more resources than we expected?” Lia countered, her practical side shining through.
“It’s fine,” Zero said, a grin spreading across his face. “We can always steal and loot from more evil nobles later.”
“Hehe ~ okay, if you say so. Let’s just hope this side quest is worth it.” Lia said with a soft chuckle.
“Thanks!” Zero said, smiling.
“It’s fine! Honestly, even if you hadn’t mentioned it, I would’ve investigated it myself.” Lia admitted. “It’s better to have you with me for this.”
“Alright. Should we start by gathering information in the city?” Zero suggested.
“Sure. We’ll probably need to stay the night in the city too.” Lia replied.
“I wonder what the inns look like in this world.” Zero said, his curiosity piqued.
“Well, the cheap ones are bad, and the expensive ones are good.” Lia quipped with a smirk. “But since we’re technically rich now, of course we’ll stay at the expensive one.” She flipped a gleaming golden coin in the air for emphasis.
“I won’t say no to that.” Zero said with a chuckle, already looking forward to the comfort.
“Let’s store all your equipment in my inventory first.” Lia suggested. “Wouldn’t want to arouse suspicion.”
Zero complied, handing over his newly acquired equipment, a bluish spear, a rusty sword, and a rusty dagger. Finally, he removed his torturer’s mask.
“That’s everything.” Zero said, passing it all to Lia.
“Hmm…” Lia eyed him critically, her gaze lingering on his black attire. “Won’t you take that off too?”
“…Are you serious?” Zero asked, his face blank with disbelief.
“I’m perfectly serious.” Lia said, her expression stoic and unflinching.
“Okay.” Zero sighed, reaching for his clothes.
“Eh! I’m joking, I’m joking!” Lia burst out, laughing.
The two of them erupted into laughter, their earlier tension easing in the wake of Lia’s nonsense.
* * *
The two entered the city.
The guards cast suspicious glances at Zero, their eyes lingering on his dark attire. Lia, quick on her feet, stepped forward and activated her knight transformation. Her armor shimmered briefly in the sunlight as she addressed the guards. "We’re from a nearby knightly village, here to buy necessities." she explained with practiced ease.
"A young knight? And a…?" one of the guards asked, narrowing his eyes at Zero.
"Oh, my friend here hasn’t awakened his class yet." Lia said with a warm smile, "But don’t worry, he’ll be a knight soon enough."
The guards exchanged hushed whispers, their gazes flicking back and forth between the two. Lia couldn't help but notice how much stricter the security seemed compared to her last visit. Have they figured out most of the treasure in a noble’s vault has gone missing? she wondered, her mind racing.
“Recently, there have been kids around your age going missing.” one of the guards finally said, his tone heavy with concern. “I don’t have an issue with you, but your friend… it’s concerning to see children traveling without an adult.”
“Oh, it’s fine.” Lia said reassuringly, her voice light. “We won’t be staying long, just a night or two. Once we’ve got everything, we’ll head straight back.”
Zero, sensing the tension, suddenly dropped into a shadow-fighting stance. His movements were sharp, fluid, and confident, a silent demonstration of his prowess.
“See? How slick is that? There’s nothing to worry about. We’re a perfectly trained knight and her apprentice!” Lia said with a laugh, gesturing to Zero’s showcase with playful pride.
The guards exchanged another glance before one of them nodded. “Alright, let them in. But if you see anything suspicious, find a guard or mercenary patrolling the area immediately,” he said firmly. “And please, don’t wander around carelessly.”
The massive wooden gates creaked open, revealing the city within.
What greeted them was a street teeming with patrols, guards and mercenaries walking in pairs, their armor gleaming under the midday sun. The lively buzz of children’s laughter that Lia had once associated with this place was conspicuously absent, leaving a faint tension in the air.
Every building around them was crafted from wood, no matter how grand or humble. The differences lay in the intricate patterns carved into their surfaces and the richness of the stains, which hinted at the wood’s age and care. Above the doors, wooden signs dangled, neatly painted to indicate the nature of each establishment.
“Woah…” Zero murmured, wide-eyed as they wandered deeper into the city. His gaze lifted to the towering wall of trees at the city’s edge. From outside, it had seemed like a simple barrier of colossal wood. But now, up close, he could see life bursting from it, roots spreading through the city like veins, leaves rustling faintly even without wind.
“Pretty, right?” Lia said, glancing at him.
“Yes…” Zero replied, his voice filled with awe, struggling to capture the breathtaking sight in words.
They continued down the streets, weaving through the quiet yet bustling city until a golden-hued building caught their attention. The sunlight hit its surface just right, making it glow softly, not harshly, as if the gold had been polished to perfection.
“This is it.” Lia said, gesturing toward the inn.
Lia activated her knight’s armor again, the faint shimmer adding an air of authority as they stepped inside. They were greeted by a woman in her forties, her expression lighting up as she saw them.
“Hello there.” the innkeeper said warmly. “Oh my, what adorable little guests we have here!”
“A charming young knight and her dashing apprentice.” chimed in another staff member with a playful giggle.
Lia approached the counter with a smile. “We’d like to stay the night. Do you have two rooms available?”
“Of course.” the innkeeper replied, though her tone carried a hint of sadness. “As much as we’d like to welcome more guests, it’s been difficult lately. Ever since the recent incidents, many travelers haven’t been allowed into the city.” She sighed, her shoulders sagging as she shared her woes.
Lia and Zero listened attentively, their expressions thoughtful as they absorbed the innkeeper’s story.
“But oh well, now that we have two adorable little guests around, we’ll make sure to provide the best hospitality!” The innkeeper’s demeanor shifted as a cheerful smile spread across her face.
“We’ll even give you sweet little angels a 70% discount. It’ll be just 30 denar for one person.” she said with a warm grin.
“Make it 25.” Lia countered smoothly, placing 25 denar coins on the counter, seemingly pulling them from thin air.
The innkeeper raised an intrigued brow, her smile turning sly. “Hoh, I didn’t expect someone so young to haggle, especially after I already gave a discount.” she said. “29. That’s the lowest I can go.”
Lia’s playful expression hardened slightly. Her tone sharpened. “23.” Her eyes gleamed faintly, glowing white as two of the denar coins vanished from the counter in an instant.
The innkeeper’s eyes flickered with interest, her smile unfaltering but her gaze now serious. “Interesting.” she said, her voice lower. “28. Consider that my gift to you, little cutie.”
“20.” Lia replied calmly, locking eyes with the innkeeper. Three more coins disappeared in an instant.
“Ghh…” The innkeeper winced, feeling the pressure of Lia’s relentless negotiating. She leaned forward slightly, clearly on the defensive now. “Fine. 25.”
“15, with free food.” Lia said flatly, as five more coins faded away without a sound.
“Wait! I wouldn’t get any profit from that!” The innkeeper staggered, holding her head dramatically.
Lia remained silent, her piercing gaze unwavering.
“Ugh, fine… Fine! How are you so good at this?” The innkeeper sighed, defeated. “20 denar, and all the food in the house, but only if you stay more than one night!”
“18.” Lia said without hesitation. “Two nights confirmed, with a possible extension depending on the situation.”
The innkeeper groaned in frustration, throwing her hands up. “Fine! Ugh, you win again! I don’t know how you’re so good at this.”
As their deal was finalized, coins materialized from the air, dropping onto the counter with a faint metallic clink. The innkeeper reluctantly but gleefully gathered the payment, counting it with a mixture of exasperation and amusement.
“This way, please.” another staff member chimed in, guiding them to their rooms.
“Wow…” Zero whispered, awestruck as they followed.
“Hehe ~ In any world, haggling is a skill worth mastering.” Lia said, shooting him a sly smile. “Weren’t you the one who told me that?”
Zero remained silent, a small smile forming on his face.
The golden wood inn was nothing short of extravagant, an opulent structure complete with every amenity a traveler could imagine. Its seven floors towered over most of the buildings in the kingdom itself, making it one of the largest inns around.
The staff led them to a circular platform in the center of the lobby. “This platform will take you to any floor. Simply press the button corresponding to the floor you want. Since your room is on the seventh floor, press the topmost button to ascend. To come back down, step onto the platform and press the lowest button.”
As she demonstrated, the platform began to grow. It extended upward like the trunk of a tree, smoothly ascending toward the desired floor. The wood’s texture shifted, bark giving way to polished smoothness, and roots spread outward at the top, stabilizing it as it connected to the floor.
“Woahhh…” Zero gasped, his wide eyes reflecting the intricate mechanism. “Isn’t this… a lift?” he asked Lia.
“It is! What do they call it again in this world?” Lia tilted her head, searching her memory.
“It’s called the Treescender.” the staff replied with a polite smile.
“Ah, yes! That’s it.” Lia nodded, satisfied.
Zero couldn’t hide his excitement as his mind raced with possibilities, imagining all the marvelous sight he might encounter in this world.
They stepped off onto a spacious hallway. The warm, golden glow of the wood was soothing, the corridor lined with intricate carvings of vines and leaves that seemed to move subtly when touched by the light.
“Here it is.” the staff said, stopping before a pair of doors. She handed them a sturdy green leaf. “Please enjoy your stay.”
Lia demonstrated the leaf-key for Zero. She pressed it against the handle, which resembled a living branch. The leaf melded with the wood, unlocking the door with a soft click. Lia plucked the leaf back out and handed it to Zero.
“You can also lock it safely from the inside,” she explained.
“Interesting…” Zero said as he inspected the door, admiring the seamless craftsmanship. He ran his fingers over the sliding wooden mechanism but could only marvel at its ingenuity.
“Let’s rest for a while.” Lia said as she entered the room across from Zero’s. “I’ll come get you later when I’m ready. See ya ~”
“Oh, and by the way.” Lia added, tossing Zero a small bag of coins. “Use this if you want to buy some snacks.”
Zero caught the bag, blinking as he felt its weight. “Thanks…” he murmured, already envisioning food and snacks he would buy.
Zero entered his room, his eyes immediately drawn to its spaciousness. The warm, polished wood that made up every corner of the room exuded a natural charm, its intricate grain patterns adding character to the space. A gentle, pleasant aroma wafted from a small plant delicately placed atop a wooden drawer, its vibrant green leaves standing out against the earthy tones of the room.
As he looked around, his gaze fell on the bathroom. It was a marvel of design, clean, inviting, and functional. The bathtub and shower gleamed, their wood-accented fixtures blending harmoniously with the aesthetic. Curious, Zero turned on the water. The temperature was perfect, not too cold, just the right level of warmth to feel refreshing and comfortable.
The main room featured a single, generously sized bed. Its luxurious interior design included transparent wooden panels that could be adjusted to allow sunlight to stream in, bathing the room in a soft golden glow. Zero tested the mechanism, and the panels obediently shifted, enhancing the tranquil atmosphere.
He walked over to the window and opened it, revealing a breathtaking view of the city. The tall tree-wall that protected the city seemed even more alive from this vantage, and the sprawling wooden structures below created a picturesque scene. A cool breeze swept into the room, carrying with it the faint scent of forest and earth, filling him with a sense of calm.
Deciding to freshen up, Zero stepped into the bathroom and took a bath. The water eased away the sweat and grime that had accumulated from their exploits earlier. He relished the feeling as he scrubbed away the day’s toil, the tension in his muscles dissolving with each passing moment.
Once finished, he dried off with the soft, neatly folded towels provided in the room. Returning to the bed, he stretched out on it to test its comfort. The mattress surprised him—it was springy yet supportive, a premium feel unlike anything he had experienced before in this world.
Lying there, staring at the wooden ceiling with its elegant carvings, Zero felt a wave of tranquility wash over him. The memories of the last nine years in this world played in his mind, surreal and fleeting, like an autumn leaf drifting away from its roots. For a moment, it all felt like a distant dream, fading softly into the present.