In this era where material desires run rampant, hearts are not what they used to be, and even bosses refuse to drop loot, only that pile of controllable stones offered Allen's battered spirit a sliver of solace.
Yet, even this last bit of warmth was interrupted—the system had something to say about those stones.
Although far less pressing than the need for that sword, its insistence was still strong.
Of course, Allen could choose to ignore it—after all, the system, though a bit tricky, didn't demand everything. Sometimes it even had its picky moments, outright refusing items that weren't "good enough."
Even knowing that these stones could be exchanged for a pile of Galleons, Allen didn't leave a single item in the bag untouched. Compared to unlocking legacies via gold coins, item-based unlocking was clearly more thorough. Alongside the stones came the so-called "artifact sword," yet to Allen's shock—the system refused to accept it!
What a joke!
System, what the hell do you mean? The artifact I painstakingly obtained, the very item you marked, and you refuse it? Have some shame!
Naturally, the system ignored him as usual. Instead, it marked a large area again, displaying an urgent priority—the region beneath the tomb.
Mm—if Allen guessed correctly, this was likely the seal containing the creature named Yamata no Orochi.¹ Its prestige far surpassed that of the Snake Monster—although the Snake Monster appeared more often, in the end, it was just an unnamed extra.
Indeed—history correcting itself, huh? Secret chambers always require battling snakes…
And Allen understood the system's intent—family comes first; keeping it all together is the priority.
The tail of the Yamata could be made into a massive sword, and the rest of its body surely had some usable value. Maybe it had a nickname like Swordbone, or its internal bloodline was called Corpse Veins. Sure, calling a body full of artifacts "unrealistic" makes sense—but dismantle it carefully, and who knows what might be extracted?
Mm, system, your shamelessness knows no bounds, Allen thought, having already reopened the Iwazumi legacy for a second time.
Now the question arose—how to kill it?
This was a legendary creature from ancient times. Though its body had been partially dismantled, its combat power was undoubtedly formidable. And a crucial problem remained—his dear teammates were on a sealing mission!
Thanks to the mysterious old man's modifications, the seal existed so that Allen could better absorb Yamata's power. But there was no doubt—the old man had not given the team a way to break the seal, only ways to reinforce it. After all, if the seal were destroyed, Allen would have no way to continue absorbing power—the mode would immediately switch to "escape for life."
As for the promised compensation for Allen and his team? Cough. Nonexistent.
Once all the sealing work was completed, the old man would have complete control over the house, to an extreme. Whether Allen and his team could get out would be a serious problem. In short, the old man intended to make them work for nothing. Why involve Allen and the others instead of doing it himself? Simple—he had to stay put to prevent Yamata's counterattack. Each reinforcement of the seal was a stimulus to the creature; under normal circumstances, the unbreakable seal could potentially be broken during this time.
Mm, Allen thought as he pondered—the seal was already under intense pressure. Surprisingly, the one who had been following Valor was diligently reinforcing it, showing no intent to cause trouble.
This was simply Allen's limited experience speaking. He had mostly been catching up on sleep during magical history lessons at school, and most of the curriculum focused on his country's magical history.
Had he actually paid attention to each class, he would have known that this terrifying creature had nearly crippled half of Japan's wizarding community in the past. In other words, this thing was the magical equivalent of a mysterious figure in Japan—explaining why the team obediently went to reinforce the seal under such lies.
So, yes—the old man's spirit probably rested uneasily. And the clueless Allen now stared at the seal, dazed. Should he destroy it now and unleash Yamata for a fight, or wait until next time?
This time, he had powerful teammates, but there was the risk of stolen loot.
Waiting would be harder, but undoubtedly, the treasures would be his. Judging by the diligence of his teammates, they likely wouldn't interfere.
However, before Allen could decide, footsteps echoed from the entrance. Then, before anyone emerged, dozens of spells were hurled—powerful enchantments erupted across the floor. Thanks to magical safeguards in the room, the damage was minimal, but the noise was immense, easily heard by those underground.
Next, the exit echoed with the soft sounds of Apparition. The area had already been memorized, and in the absence of control, this commonly used spell could be cast without restriction.
Having extra hands was always good, but Allen's brow furrowed—the fox, acting a bit crazy, leapt toward a magical item on a shelf. Specifically, a massive snake orb.
This insane woman!
Allen suddenly remembered a critical rule before causing trouble—he and someone had sworn an unbreakable vow.
Though made at the time to grab more loot, and considering the other's identity, it was impossible they would harm themselves, it now posed a serious problem—if a fight broke out, he had to protect her!
Facing over thirty incoming wizards, Allen felt immense pressure. While their skill levels varied, there were certainly capable ones. He could handle himself, but protecting the fox? That was dangerous. The fox's combat ability was decent, but what if something happened?
Seeing her satisfied expression clutching the snake orb, Allen didn't dare take the risk. She clearly prioritized loot over life. To prevent accidents, he decided to run—once he got the fox out, the vow would be fulfilled, and he could roam freely.
Good. Now it was time to create chaos—and escape.
Yet someone was faster. One of his dear teammates fired a spell directly at the wooden shelf. After several flying enchantments, three magical items fell into their hands. Without even stopping to inspect, the trio cast escape spells.
Excellent—Allen and the others had been sold out. After all, with the seal completed and insufficient magic, combined with the opponents' strength, why not grab a haul and let Allen's group act as rear guard?
Clever strategy. Allen summoned an item with his left hand, wrapped his right arm around the still-shocked fox, while Valor clutched one item with his claws. A yellow-brown stone wall instantly rose under their feet. After casting two random spells to disrupt enemy vision, Allen vanished in a flash—moving in the same direction as the previous trio.
Running in one direction prevented the enemies from splitting forces. Just a race to escape—dream on if you think you can beat me!
Not just a matter of survival? Sorry, I'm faster than you…