IDWGT 4

Chapter  4

It was a miracle that never could have been achieved if I hadn’t been thirsty, if the water in my canteen hadn’t run out just then, and if I hadn’t been unable to bear the thirst and gone looking for the stream.

No, at the very least, if the screw hadn’t caught the light and reflected it, whoever had taken on this quest never could have completed it.

So I savored the thrilling feeling of having completed the quest.

But that lasted only a very short while.

I glared fiercely at Pants. I’d been so caught up reminiscing about the hardship I’d just been through that I’d let it slide, but his tone and expression had been deeply irritating.

How should I put it—it was as if he couldn’t believe I’d actually found this thing.

The quest-complete notification window I checked belatedly drove the point home.

For a moment I nearly choked up, but I suppressed my anger, looking forward to the reward for completing the quest.

‘Since I completed an absurd quest like this, he’d better toss me something at least. If he’s cheaper than a brute’s wing, I’ll cut his lifeline.’

Even then, Pants still hadn’t handed over the reward and was busily examining the screw-shaped component I’d given him, still wearing that expression of disbelief.

I wasn’t the type to just let that slide.

“You still haven’t given me my reward, I notice.”

“Oh, right, that’s true. I never thought you’d actually complete the quest, so I didn’t prepare anything in advance… I’m so sorry, what to do? Could you come back tomorrow? If you don’t want to receive it, you don’t have to come.”

Srrng.

“N-no, I’m joking. Here it is, here!”

Seeing me draw my sword, Pants hurriedly brought something over and set it down in front of me.

‘That’s right, you should hand it over when I’m asking nicely.’

A quick check showed it was an opaque cube roughly a meter across in each dimension.

The very same 3×3×3 cube used for brain training or solved for fun.

“Son of a—”

For a moment, veins bulged on my forehead. I drew the sword I’d paused mid-draw.

“You think I ran around in circles for two months just to get a cube like this? Are you messing with me right now?”

And as I raised my sword to swing, Pants hastily lifted the cube to shield himself and spoke.

“Listen to the story to the end. This isn’t an ordinary cube. This is a cube with treasure hidden inside.”

“Treasure?”

At the word “treasure,” the strength in my sword hand loosened just a little.

I stared blankly at the cube. But no matter how I looked at it, I couldn’t bring myself to think the cube in front of me was treasure.

When I made a less-than-pleased expression, Pants added further explanation.

“The true reward is inside this cube!”

“Is that so?”

“Why would I lie? But what you said is a bit—”

“So you don’t want to give it?”

“N-no. I just meant that’s how it is. Hahaha.”

“Stop with the laughing and hand over the transfer rights.”

“……”

Seeing Pants’s face looking like he’d eaten shit calmed my excitement somewhat.

See? Compared to what I went through, this is nothing.

[You have obtained ‘Mysterious Opaque Cube’ as a quest reward item.]

I scanned the cube this way and that.

It wasn’t easy to see, but there was definitely something faint inside, so it didn’t seem to be a scam, at least.

But Pants’s expression was strange.

When I’d snatched the cube from him, he’d clearly looked like death, but now he was wearing a fishy smile.

Something about this feels ominous.

And soon I heard the reason from Pants’s mouth.

“That thing will never open. So be grateful I’m giving it to you. Kuhahaha!”

While I stood there dumbfounded, Pants dashed into the smithy and slammed the door shut, locking it. He was so quick I had no time to stop him.

“You crazy bastard!”

I spat the curse belatedly and ran over, but the door wouldn’t budge.

I was about to break it down and go in, but guard NPCs had appeared at some point and were watching me. It had clearly been arranged in advance.

‘Phew… Right. Patience, patience.’

I approached the cube, calming my seething chest.

Looking at the cube, the hardship of the past two months flashed through my mind like a kaleidoscope, and a sigh escaped me along with it.

“Still, it’s better than getting nothing at all. If there’s something inside, there must be a way to open it.”

Even as I said it, something felt off, but there was nothing to be done. I had no choice but to console myself like this.

Still, I’d thought that being the chairman of the Artisan Union, he’d give me something special.

“Teddy’s the same and this guy’s the same. Good grief, there’s not a single NPC in 『Legend World』 you can trust.”

I gave a bitter smile and reached my hand toward the cube.

Since I didn’t know how to open it right away, I intended to at least put it in my inventory.

But the moment my hand touched the cube, something strange happened.

Fwoooosh—

Clank, clank!

With thick smoke and the sound of metal, the cube aligned itself on its own and then began to open!

What startled me out of my wits was the message window that followed.

[As the being that has slumbered for a long time within the Mysterious Cube acknowledges you as its master, the cube is unsealed.]

[You have become the master of the ancient magical weapon ‘Gigantes Dark.’ It is presumed that this was influenced by the title you possess.]

For a moment I doubted my eyes.

But I hadn’t seen wrong. No matter how many times I looked again, the message window clearly stated that I had become the master of Gigantes.

Having encountered a completely unexpected situation, I was so shocked that no thoughts came to mind for a moment.

“Gi-Gigantes!”

As my blocked speech was released, all the information I knew about Gigantes unfurled in my head in a rush.

Starting from its rarity to its market price.

‘The first Soul-grade Gigantes that appeared was 300 million, right?’

My mind snapped to attention.

Even if it wasn’t Soul grade, just by its rarity alone, a Gigantes was something that could easily net you at least ten million won.

In short, a jackpot—and not just any jackpot, but a…

“Mega jackpot!”

Adrenaline surged. At the same time, a burst of mad laughter erupted.

‘I too, I too am finally hitting the jackpot!’

It felt like the hardship of the past four months was melting away like snow, and my eyes, gazing at the thick smoke, naturally filled with intensity.

After a moment, the smoke began to slowly clear.

Come to think of it, the name is cool too! Dark!

With my swelling expectations, Gigantes Dark revealed itself completely.

A pitch-black body as if coated in jet, and red eyes that seemed like they would suck in your soul.

But it was a bit… small.

[Kuu!]

Correction. Not just a bit small—very small. It barely reached my knees, so aside from its appearance, it was like standing before a five-year-old child.

And one more thing.

I lifted the absurdly small thing, which even let out a cute cry, with both hands.

For its small size, it was quite heavy.

But the problem was that the texture at my fingertips wasn’t metal but stone.

An awkward laugh escaped me without meaning to.

“Hahaha… Well, whatever. Haha, what matters is the options!”

With those words, I immediately checked the item.

And then…

Gigantes Dark

Like its name, everything is hidden in darkness. In its current state, it seems difficult to expect anything from it.

Category: Gigantes

Grade: Normal

Level: 1

Attack Power: ???

Defense: ???

Durability: ???

Ability: ???

Special Notes: ???

“…What kind of options are these?”

The moment I confirmed Gigantes’s grade, all my energy drained away. The level went without saying.

The expectations that had soared endlessly plummeted, but I tried hard to think positively.

“It’s fine. At least I got a Gigantes.”

It was Normal grade, the lowest among all Gigantes revealed so far, but it wasn’t bad. Even if it was Normal grade, as long as it bore the name Gigantes, it was worth ten million won.

“Let’s sell it right away. And then be freed from this wretched poverty.”

I logged out right there. And I posted on an internet item auction site that I was selling a Gigantes.

“Are you messing with me right now?”

“……”

“I didn’t take you for that kind of person. Good grief, what rotten luck. Tsk!”

About three hours after obtaining the Gigantes.

I was experiencing the sky turning yellow while logged into 『Legend World』.

All I could do was blankly watch a regular customer walk away.

“……”

[Kuu!]

“Kraaagh! I knew things were going too smoothly. Of course, of course—a jackpot, my foot!”

And I screamed at Dark, who was tilting its head at me.

Just moments before, I’d been lost in soaring dreams.

The moment I posted about selling the Gigantes on the internet, an explosive response erupted, and the auction price had climbed to an unexpected amount.

Thirty million won.

It was three times the amount I’d expected.

While I’d been running around frantically for two months thanks to Pants’s scheme, the market price of Gigantes had skyrocketed.

This was because no other listings had appeared for two months after the Soul-grade Gigantes showed up, and Gigantes’s power had been revealed one after another, making it a hot topic.

At the forefront was, of course, the 300-million-won Soul-grade Gigantes.

I cheered and decided to sell Dark for thirty million won.

But wouldn’t you know it—when I met the buyer and tried to hand over Dark, the transfer wouldn’t go through. When I checked again to see what was going on, a line of text had been added to Dark’s information.

<Untradable>

I doubted my eyes.

But since the transfer absolutely wouldn’t go through, I had no choice but to accept reality.

The deal fell through, and my credibility on the internet item auction site hit rock bottom along with it. Thirty million won went up in smoke, and I lost my reputation at the same time.

“Fine! If that’s how it is! I’ll just use it myself!”

Having writhed in bitter frustration, I sprang to my feet. I couldn’t just collapse here. This was a jackpot opportunity I’d obtained somehow.

If selling is impossible, I’ll just work it to the bone!

“Let’s go!”

I immediately took Dark and headed out to the field.

The place I headed to with Dark was a hunting ground called the Forest of Blue Vegetation, a level 20 area.

But this guy—its aura is pretty impressive, actually.

Arriving at the hunting ground, I glanced at Dark and saw it gazing at the monsters with a serene stare.

That look seemed as if it were assessing its enemies, and a slight expectation arose.

‘Yeah, it does live up to its name after all.’

Just then, monsters that seemed suitable for testing its abilities were passing by in the distance. They were level 20 Orc Warriors.

I gave Dark a command.

“You see that one over there? Take it down!”

[Kuu!]

Dududududu!

The moment I gave the command, Dark dashed forward.

Outwardly, because of its small frame, it looked like it was toddling along, but the ground rumbling with every step instilled a fair amount of anticipation.

‘Good, just ram right into it!’

Thwack!

[Gigantes Dark has acquired ‘Body Slam.’]

The Orc Warrior’s body staggered from Dark’s surprise body slam, and its face was filled with bewilderment.

Up to that point, things were fine.

The problem was what followed.

Thwack, thwack! Thwack-thwack-thwack-thwack!

It was one-sided pummeling.

And the one being beaten was Dark. After succeeding with its first attack, it had just stood there blankly, and the tide had turned.

I hurriedly jumped in, cut down the Orc Warrior, and checked Dark’s condition. And I gaped in disbelief.

Dark’s body was cracked and crumbling in places.

It was the moment confirming that it was made of stone.

“Th-this can’t be.”

Even my body, clad in my armor, was harder than stone.

That aside, what was with this pathetic performance?

I’d already suspected when its red eyes grew dim and it stopped moving, but Dark had fainted.

A Gigantes, of all things, fainting to an orc?

It was something that couldn’t happen, and shouldn’t happen.