Chapter 132: The Collector

In the creature's lair, Ryu could make out the layout of the place. The moment they reached the second floor, they faced the old creature. It was standing in the center, planked by four columns. There was a small room on each side of the crumbling walls, and there were piles of things on the very far end of the front wall.

There were also others rummaging some stuff, but Ryu and Seraphina didn't pay them any mind as they went directly to the old creature.

"Welcome to my lair. .. ," it said, voice shaking and guttural. "If you offer me something I deemed valuable, then I'll let you search through the vast treasures that I collected. . ."

Ryu and Seraphina slid their eyes at each other before they took a peek at the piles of treasure the old creature had. 

From afar, the loads of things looked fancy. But upon closer inspection, it was filled with nothing but rotting items. Rusty metal plates and torn cloaks. Fancy daggers and swords that seemed like they would fall apart when handled. Despite that, they were some areas that twinkled when the torches shone upon them.

Licking her lips, Seraphina showed the many precious stones upon the old creature. "Is this enough?" she asked, excited. She might find something in the piles of junk. Though everything looked old, it was something fun to do after all the fighting they encountered.

"Hmm. .. You can search there. .. ," the old creature croaked. Its bony warts filed finger pointed to the left room of its lair. "A warning. .. you can only search in that area and get only an item. .. and nothing else. . ."

"Okidokie!" Seraphina looked at Ryu and grinned. "I'll be going first. Let's see who'll find the most valuable treasure here."

Seraphina trotted into the left wing, skipping as she went. Ryu blew his fringe as he watched her in high spirits and a smile effortlessly made its way on his lips.

Looking at the lifeless eyes of the old creature and how its dry skin stuck on its bones, Ryu decided to give it food.

"Here," Ryu said, face smug as he gave some Ancient Crab meats at the old creature.

".. ." the old creature looked at the tender, fresh meat on his hands and flicked its dull eyes on Ryu.

Ryu might have mistaken it. .. but the old creature just smiled at him?

"You can search. .. at the center wall behind me," it said and warned, "You can only search in that area and get only an item. .. and nothing else."

Ryu nodded before he trotted into the center area. Two explorers rummaged the right-wing while Seraphina was the only person on the left-wing and Ryu on the center wall.

Ryu's nose trails enlarge, inhaling the scent of dust and rot. He puffed some air through his nose and shook his head when he was about to sneeze.

Shaking his head one more time, he looked through the piles of scraps. Some goblets were about to fall from their handle. A broom that lost most of its hair. An old map of Septverden and some minor healing potions. 

The only notable item Ryu thought was a ruby-encrusted jewelry box. He was thinking of gifting it to Cecily. 

He took it and noticed that something was inside the box when it rattled. Opening the chest, he found a coarse metal stone the size of his palm, laying on its soft velvet cushion. It was like around coral with its many holes but only heavy and metallic in color.

"A Legion Steel!" 

Before Ryu could take it, a Demon took it from the box. He didn't spare Ryu a glance as he pocketed the steel and smirked. "Who knows that I'll find a Legion Steel in here from all places? This is such a rare find, indeed."

"That's mine." Ryu's eyes turned to slit when the Demon shrugged and smirked.

"I don't see your name on it."

Ryu's throat rumbled. He remembered that it was one of the items that they owed to Rigulus. If that really was the Legion Steel, then he must have it at all cost.

"I found it first," Ryu said with an edge.

The Demon didn't even bother to look at Ryu anymore, pretending that the halfbreed was invincible. "And I touch it first."

Ryu's claws extended, and his canines itched from his gums. There was no use talking. He'd fight the arrogant Demon if he had to.

But before Ryu could attack, something was going on with the Demon's body.

"W-what. .. what's happening?" the Demon shouted, garnering all eyes in their direction.

Ryu stepped back when the Demon's legs were melting like acid. Its flesh was rotting, and his bones crumbled to dust.

"What's going on?!" the Demon screamed as he fell on the floor with only half his body left. He concentrated his mana to heal himself, but no matter how many times he did, his legs continued to rot. It even spread to half his body, and soon even his arms were decomposing that no innate ability of the Demons could regenerate.

"Hey! Old man! What is this?! What did you do to me?!" The Demon's face twisted in a horrendous sight as his mouth ripped open wide, and his spit flew in every direction.

The old creature turned and looked at them with a smile that almost reached its wrinkly eyes. "I warned you. .. anyone should stay in their assigned area. You even stole an item that is not meant for you to take. .. the punishment. .. is your soul."

"What?!" the Demon almost bit his tongue from rage, but soon his anger turned to horror as his head was the only body part he had left. "Curse you!"

The melting acid swallowed the Demon's screams as he rotted into nothingness, and his soul flew towards the old creature's hands.

"Hmm. .. a dark soul. kekekeke." 

The strangest thing happened when the old creature swallowed the soul in one gulp and burped while rubbing its hallowed tummy. 

"Bitter," it spat and resumed guarding his lair like nothing happened.

Ryu blinked, and he looked over at Seraphina's ashen face. He then noticed the twinkling objects on the floor and found the Demon's traveler's ring and the Legion Steel.

Ryu didn't know if it was safe to take the Demon's traveler's ring but decided not to since he had a hunch that it became the old creature's possession.

Ryu grabbed the Legion Steel and walked towards the old creature, avoiding close contact with the left and right-wing.

"Can I take this?" Ryu asked, couldn't contain his eagerness.

The old creature's dull eyes didn't even move as it nodded its head.

Ryu breathed the air he held. Then he watched Seraphina make her way towards the old creature with a healing potion in her hands.

"Uhm. .. this?" Seraphina stuttered, still shaken by what just happened.

The old creature nodded again, and the two proceeded downstairs. Suddenly, they felt that staying too long in the old creature's lair was too dangerous while the others who were left behind also grabbed some random item, showed it to the creature, and went down on the flight of stairs with all haste.

"Whew. A good thing I didn't go to your side," said Seraphina as she wiped the invincible sweat on her face. "I almost wanted to when I couldn't find anything valuable on my side."

"Mm. . ." Ryu rolled the Legion steel on his hand. He was in a happy mood that he finally found one of the items that they owed Rigulus.

Now, only the Queen Horn Mackerel was left. Ferris would be proud of him. Ryu couldn't hold his grin.

However, his grin was replaced by a scowl when two demons and three mortals suddenly surrounded them.