A low hum filled the chamber.
From the center of the collapsed battlefield—where the werewolf's remains had dissolved into fading traces of crimson energy—a faint glow began to rise.
Not sudden.
Not loud.
But inevitable.
Rio's gaze sharpened instantly.
"…There."
Ryota shifted slightly against her shoulder, still half-asleep, his breathing slow and steady.
"…Mm…"
She didn't move him. Not yet.
Her eyes remained locked on the light.
The glow deepened—no longer faint, but deliberate. As if something beneath the surface had finally accepted defeat… and was now responding.
The air itself grew heavier.
Not oppressive like before—
But watchful.
The light condensed.
Gathered into a single point.
Then—
It formed.
A dagger.
But the moment it appeared, Rio knew—
This wasn't just a weapon.
It felt alive.
The blade curved like a predator's fang—sleek, elegant, but undeniably dangerous. Crimson veins pulsed faintly along its surface, as though something inside it still circulated with a heartbeat of its own.
The air around it shimmered with a faint, suffocating pressure.
Like the presence of something far above their level.
[ITEM ACQUIRED: Fenrir's Fang]
Fenrir's Fang — Weapon
Type: Dagger | Rarity: Epic | Required Class: Assassin
Physical Attack: +1.5 Attack Speed: +0.4%
Skill: Blood Pact of the Twin Wolves
Summons two spectral wolves to assist in combat:
Skoll — A black wolf who engages enemies head-on, known for vicious attacks and applying pressure.
Hati — A white wolf who marks targets, follows them, and strikes from blind spots with debuffs.
Trait
The wolves act independently but synchronize with the wielder to hunt and overwhelm targets.
Warning
Non-compatible users suffer heavy stat penalties when equipping.
The system's voice echoed, but Rio didn't react to it.
Her focus never left the dagger.
"…So it really dropped," she murmured.
Ryota stirred.
"…Mm…?"
His eyes slowly opened, unfocused at first, then sharpening as he followed her gaze.
"…Is that… the dagger you were talking about?"
His voice carried the last traces of sleep—soft, slightly heavy.
Rio nodded once.
"…Yeah."
Ryota pushed himself up slightly, though he still leaned lightly against her for balance.
"…That's the weapon from that boss?"
"Mm."
A pause.
Then Ryota tilted his head, studying it.
"…Why not just equip it?"
Simple.
Logical.
A question most players would ask without hesitation.
Rio didn't answer immediately.
Instead, she studied him briefly—just enough to confirm he was serious.
Then—
"…No."
A clean answer.
Final.
Ryota frowned slightly.
"…No?"
Rio exhaled softly, as if she had expected this exact question.
Her tone remained steady.
Controlled.
"…This isn't a normal weapon."
She lifted her gaze back to the dagger.
"…Weapons like this are bound to class systems."
Ryota listened quietly.
The slight tilt of his posture changed—more attentive now.
Rio continued.
"…If you equip something outside your class…"
She raised a hand slightly.
"…Your stats drop."
Ryota blinked.
"…How much?"
Rio didn't hesitate.
"…More than sixty percent."
Silence.
The weight of that number settled instantly.
Ryota's eyes widened slightly.
"…That's… basically suicide."
"Correct."
Rio's voice remained calm.
Unwavering.
"…And that's only the beginning."
She gestured faintly toward the dagger.
"…Mana consumption increases significantly."
Ryota frowned.
"…So skills become harder to use?"
"…Not harder."
Rio corrected.
"…Less efficient."
Another pause.
Then Ryota spoke again.
"…And there's more?"
Rio nodded once.
"…There is a debuff."
Ryota's expression darkened slightly.
"…What kind?"
Rio's voice lowered slightly.
"…'Weakness.'"
She didn't like saying it.
"…It reduces your damage output while increasing the damage you take."
Ryota exhaled slowly.
"…So basically… if I use that…"
He looked at the dagger again.
"…I become weaker in every possible way."
"More or less."
Rio's tone was blunt.
"…Unless you're an Assassin class… it's not worth equipping."
A quiet pause lingered between them.
The dagger pulsed faintly in the center of the chamber.
Patient.
Waiting.
Ryota looked at it, then back at Rio.
"…Then why keep it?"
The question wasn't argumentative.
Just honest curiosity.
Rio didn't look at him immediately.
Her gaze remained on the dagger for a moment longer.
Then—
"…Because someone else shouldn't have it."
Her voice was quieter now.
More serious.
"…Especially Tamer."
Ryota's expression shifted slightly.
"…You're worried about him."
Rio's eyes hardened.
"…Yes."
A pause.
Then—
"…I don't want to imagine what he would do with something like this."
Her hand tightened slightly at her side.
"…New players… inexperienced players…"
Her voice stayed controlled—but there was weight behind it.
"…He would destroy them."
Ryota leaned back slightly, processing her words.
"…And you've seen that before."
Rio didn't deny it.
"…Yes."
A brief silence.
Then she added—
"…That's why we keep it."
Ryota nodded slowly.
"…Even if we don't use it."
"…Yes."
Another pause.
Then Ryota leaned back against the stone again.
"…So it's not useless."
Rio glanced at him.
"…No."
"…It's just… dangerous."
"Correct."
A faint silence followed.
Then Ryota let out a small breath.
"…You're not as cold as you act, you know."
Rio didn't respond immediately.
She simply looked at him.
Then—
"…Only to idiots like you."
Ryota blinked.
"…Rude."
A pause.
Then Rio added quietly—
"…I want people to enjoy this game."
Ryota tilted his head slightly.
"…Huh?"
Rio's gaze softened—just slightly.
"…Not everyone should have to suffer."
A faint pause.
"…That makes the world better."
Ryota watched her for a moment.
Then leaned back.
"…Yeah…"
Softly.
"…That makes sense."
The dagger pulsed faintly between them.
And then—
[SYSTEM NOTICE]Treasure Room Access Granted.
A low mechanical hum echoed.
Behind the boss's remains, the stone floor shifted.
Panels slid apart.
A hidden passage revealed itself.
Rio's eyes sharpened instantly.
"…There."
Ryota blinked.
"…There's more?"
Without waiting, Rio stepped forward.
Ryota followed immediately.
The treasure room wasn't impressive at first glance.
No towering gold piles.
No overwhelming glow of legendary artifacts.
Just rows.
And rows.
Of chests.
Some cracked.
Some sealed.
All waiting.
Ryota let out a low whistle.
"…That's a lot of chests."
Rio didn't respond immediately.
Her eyes scanned the room—methodical, precise.
Checking angles.
Checking shadows.
Checking for anything out of place.
Only after confirming safety did she speak.
"…We split the work."
Ryota nodded.
"…Got it."
They moved.
One chest at a time.
Wood creaked.
Lids opened.
Contents revealed.
Some empty.
Some filled with dust.
Others—
Useful.
Ryota opened one chest and paused.
"…Oh."
Inside—
Twelve copper coins.
Alongside them:
Small health potions
Dried herbs
Basic cloth wraps
"…Not amazing," he muttered.
Rio glanced over.
"…Standard."
Ryota shrugged, pocketing a few items.
Another chest.
More herbs.
Another.
Simple leather clothing.
Ryota picked it up, testing the weight.
"…Better than what I've got."
Rio nodded.
"…Take it."
Then—
Ryota stopped.
"…Oh."
He pulled something out.
An iron sword.
Plain.
Simple.
But solid.
He tested the grip.
Balanced it in his hand.
Then looked at Rio.
"…Can I keep this?"
Rio glanced at it.
Then—
"…Yes."
A faint smile touched her lips.
"…You can."
Ryota brightened slightly.
"…Nice."
He looked back at the sword.
Paused.
Then—
"…I'm calling this Iron Steve."
Silence.
Rio blinked.
Once.
Twice.
"…What."
Ryota nodded seriously.
"…Iron Steve."
Rio stared at him.
Completely still.
"…That is… a sword."
"Yep."
"…And you named it."
"Yep."
"…Steve."
"Yeah."
"…Why."
Ryota shrugged.
"…Feels right."
Rio said nothing.
But her silence said everything.
Hours passed.
Chest after chest.
Sorting.
Choosing.
Discarding.
Keeping.
They gathered:
All mana potions
All health potions
Antidotes for poison and paralysis
Several sets of leather armor
Finally—
One last chest.
Ryota opened it carefully.
Inside—
A pendant.
Simple.
But refined.
Soft magical glow.
Rio examined it.
"…Magic jewelry."
Ryota asked:
"…Good?"
Rio shook her head.
"…No."
"…Then?"
"…We sell it."
Ryota nodded immediately.
"…Got it."
He set it aside.
When they finished—
The room felt different.
Not empty.
But controlled.
Rio exhaled softly.
Then—
She stored Fenrir's Fang.
The aura vanished.
"…We're done."
Ryota stretched.
"…Finally."
A light formed beneath them.
Warm.
Soft.
[SYSTEM NOTICE]Teleportation Ready.
They stepped onto it.
Side by side.
Exhausted.
But alive.
The light grew brighter.
The world blurred.
Then—
They were gone.
Town of Beginnings
Sunlight.
Noise.
Life.
The familiar streets welcomed them back.
Ryota exhaled.
"…We're back."
Rio looked around.
"…Yes."
A pause.
Then—
"…Let's sell what we don't need."
Ryota grinned.
"…And upgrade Iron Steve."
Rio glanced at him.
Then sighed softly.
"…You really name everything."
Ryota smirked.
"…Only the important ones."
A faint pause.
Then—
Rio's lips curved into the smallest smile.
"…Let's go."