???'s POV

-Somewhere in Arcad.

"Haha! You'd like to hear my story?"

"Hit me with a good drink, and I'll tell ya."

"Jeez, this old man doesn't only pervert, he's a stingy as well."

The man and a young boy with blond hair talked.

Standing up from his chair, the boy walks toward the bartender, getting the drink for the man.

"Hey kid, you're too early for this place. You shouldn't be here."

Wiping the glass in his hand, the bartender says.

Knowing that he'll miss the chance to listen to the man's story, he whispers to the bartender.

"Please, mister bartender, just give me the best drink to that old man over there."

"And why should I do that, a young boy?"

The boy sigh. He takes out a small pouch from underneath his green cloak and places it before the bartender.

"Hah, what a silly boy. Showing that much money in this kind of place."

I sigh, talking to myself.

A moment later, a girl comes to my table with a wooden tray in her hand.

"Excuse me, traveler! Your order's here."

"Oh, thank you."

She places the plates on the table and left with a smile.

After a long journey, I finally get to eat.

(Delicious. For this price, the foods here are exceptionally better than in Eion.)

I eat the food one by one, filling my stomach.

"Boy, listen carefully about the story I'm about to tell ya."

"Please don't drag this any longer, old man. My dad is going to kill me if he knows I'm taking his money to treat a beggar."

"Worry not, boy. It'll be worth the money."

*Slurping*

Ahh, my ear. The man really has no manner, slurping his beer loud enough to wake up the neighbor.

"It's about the hidden treasure that was once forgotten by the Arcadians. It's a seemingly powerful magical Item that was forged by legendary smith of the surface above!"

"You've read the book of Mitz Selis's "Tale of Sky-cutting gladius." right?"

"Yes, I've read all his published books, including this one too."

(The Tale of Sky-cutting gladius? I'm not interested, but It's better than listening to the crappy music playing here.)

I ended up listening to their conversation.

"For once in this a century, it's has been found!"

*Slurping*

"Here's the map of the gladius."

He takes out a crumpled roll of paper from his breast pocket for the boy.

The boy raises his eyes brow and looks at him with doubt.

"Eh, It looks like a kid's drawing, are you mistaken this for another one?"

"Nah! It is genuinely the treasure map! See this dotted line? Following this line will take you to the tomb that's beneath the ground in Gen' an."

(Gen'an is quite far away from Arcad. It takes two days to get there by carriage.)

I finish my meal. I raise my hand, calling the same girl as before.

"Thank you for coming by, traveler!"

I reach into my cloak and take two silver coins for her.

(Well, she deserves a good tip.)

"Thank you so much!"

I left the bar.

"Tomorrow, I'll have to go and get the Hesh'tooh, then get back to Utopia."

Whispering to myself, I walk on the street of Arcad that bathing in silver by the moon above.

(On the sky, the Luphis light up the sky for Arcadian.)

(It's a beautiful sight yet, inspiring.)

I stop at the front of the five stories building, The Lumbar Inn.

Pushing the door, I enter the Inn.

"Oh, hello!"

"How many days would you like to stay?"

The Innkeeper greets me with a broad smile.

"Two days."

"That will be three copper coins."

(Oh, It's cheap. I hope the room can provide me a good sleep.)

"Your room is on the third floor, 3-6."

He hands me the key and gesture to the left, guiding me to the stairway.

I walk up the stair, keeping my hand around my waist at all times.

Until I reach the third floor, I look over the door to find the room 3-9.

(Oh, found it.)

I use the key and open the door.

As soon as I enter the room, the magic lamps light up, brightening the room.

(The interior is good.)

I take out my cloak and hang it on the hanger on the wall. Then I take my sword and Rail, placing them on the table in the room.

(In my journey here, I shot quite a lot of Corruptant. There are so many of them.)

I take Rail and remove the box-shaped underneath the Rail, placing it on the table.

"Fifteen left? I spend this many?"

"Oh, no. How am I suppose to last until my next resupply?"

Leaning onto the soft sofa, I look up onto the ceiling.

"Never mind, I can handle the rest with just my sword."

I insert the cartridge back into the slot, then placing my sword and Rail away beside the bed.

Undressing, I', taking a bath before going to bed.

(I can't stand being filthy. Ugh, thinking how those creatures explode every time I shot- make me want to puke.)

(The water is at the right temperature. It's quite relaxing.)

I clean my lustrous white hair with conditioner and rinse it with water.

Finishing the bath, I'm reading for the bed.

*Swoosh*

(Ah, not again.)

But before that, a blueish figure who I know appeared before me.

"Good morning, Collector. Oh, why are you in a towel?"

"Great, you called me just right after I finishing a bath."

"Hehe, sorry then. I called you because I have an update to tap on you."

The girl with short curly hair smiles, then she takes a vial containing a similar liquid to mine from her bag.

"Today, Wise send me to investigate the falling noble's house in Ardence. I capture a spectacular person who. Here, say hello to my friend~!"

Then a young man tied to the chair appears beside her, wiggling in fear.

"What's this, Joker? Kidnapping random person again?"

(This is her umm... 377th victim.)

"Haha, no, of course. This man was the one who possed this vial. Confusing, right?"

"A falling noble who can afford the condensed magic, and this is but one sample I'm showing you, Collector."

"In this bag, there are 14 more of them."

My eyes widen upon learning the number.

(This is insane, I've been traveling around collecting this kind of thing from around the world. But this man, he's possed fifteen of them?)

"And, this man, Lumir, the eldest son of Maclala house in Ardence, was responsible for Ardence's mutation feast."

"Upon searching the Maclala's house, I've come to find traces of black magic being around. It looks like they're associated with that headmaster of Marcas tower."

"Is that so? Have you told the Wise and the Bold?"

"No, I haven't told them yet, but I bet Wise already know about his and told the Bold herself."

(Black magic's existence has slowly become more apparent.)

"Okay, I understand. Thank you for keeping me on tap, Joker."

"Hehe, It's nothing. By the way, your towel is loosening."

I quickly grab my towel, but It's still tight and secure.

*Swoosh!*

Her projection fades into thin air.

(This damn silly teased me again!)

I massage my temple.

(Let's get some sleep, then I can think more on this matter.)

3rd person POV

The Solaris clypeus light up the sky from over the horizon, while the Luphis diming.

"It's should be around this time that the package will be delivered."

"Damn, If it's not for the stingy old man, we shouldn't be working a back-breaking work like this."

"He said like he's know how to do business, but he's not!'

The two were on one of the building tops, looking down on the street while talking about their employer.

"This is a crap plan, I say. Ambushing the military shipment that was heavily guarded by a ton of skilled soldiers is suicidal."

"We have these under our sleeves, isn't it?"

The man in black said, taking a bottle containing black power out from his bag and waving it in the air.

"Take that thing away!"

The bigger man whispering yelled at him.

"Haha, don't be so scared, boss. I've known how to operate these things."

"Damn this kid, have you ever heard the tale of the red lady who's collecting the debt?"

"Huh? Who's she? Why a debt collector has anything to do with us? We can just scare her away."

"Rumor has it that she's traveling around the world taking people's artifacts and national treasure!"

"Those things in your hand were one of a kind thing. She will likely be interested in them too."

"Are you talking about me?"