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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Chaos
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The best is always saved for last.
I reached for one of the three black Cubes, the one with the faintest golden aura.
A single High-Grade Mana Stone was required to unlock it.
A stone worth ten gold coins, enough to support a single person for almost nine years.
The stone vanished into the small black box, and its contents were revealed.
“…Earrings?”
A pair of earrings, their design elegant and understated, materialized.
I examined them with Dantalion’s Monocle.
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Magic tool earrings imbued with the Message spell.
User registration is possible by injecting a small amount of blood and mana into the jewel-shaped mana supply unit attached to the tip. Allows for long-distance communication with the owner of the matching earring.
Cannot be used in locations where a certain amount of starlight is not present. If the recipient does not meet the starlight condition, the message will be delivered once the condition is met.
Maximum message length is five seconds. Long communication range.
[These are for emergency contact, not casual chit-chat. Modifications to extend message length void the warranty and are not eligible for returns or exchanges.] – Excerpt from an official document –
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Hmm, a long-range communication device with some quirky limitations.
The “certain amount of starlight” condition was vague, but it probably meant indoors or underground.
Despite the limitations, it was still quite useful, considering most communication magic tools were either too large, requiring installation in a building, or too small, sacrificing performance for portability.
My excitement growing, I used two Mana Stones to unlock the remaining two Cubes simultaneously.
I froze, staring at the objects that materialized.
…What were these?
I wasn’t the only one confused.
Regret tilted her head, asking, “A black plate with marbles? And a piece of metal?”
She was right.
One object was a flat, palm-sized plate with bumpy switches on one side and eight marble-like spheres embedded in egg-carton-like depressions on the other.
The other was a metal shard, shaped like a cross between an awl and an icicle.
The metal itself was tinged red, giving it a sinister appearance.
I used Dantalion’s Monocle to examine them.
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A magic tool used to create Cubes.
In the past, when the power of the stars was abundant on the surface, Cubes were widely used as convenient storage, locks, and portable containers. However, with the decline of the Magic Jewel’s power and the subsequent decline in artificial Mana Stone production, Cube culture gradually disappeared.
To create a Cube, place the desired object in the center and arrange the eight spheres at the vertices. Operate the control panel to activate.
Cube creation requires a Mana Stone of the same rank as the one intended to unlock it. It is also possible to create a Cube by injecting mana directly, but the Cube’s lifespan will be limited to approximately one week. Furthermore, the contents can be accessed simply by channeling mana into the Cube, making it less secure.
[Damn it, orders are dwindling. My business is ruined.] – Lament of a Cube Creation Device craftsman –
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An old stake that pierced the heart of a blood-drinking monster and the heart of the hunter who slew it.
Though most of the lingering resentment has dissipated over time, the metal itself still holds a strange power.
[It’s finally over. For both of us.] – ????? –
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As I read the descriptions, a particular phrase caught my attention.
I reread it several times.
The red stake…I’d deal with that later.
It seemed ominous, but it wasn’t my priority right now.
The last line of the Cube Creation Device’s description:
‘Cube creation requires a Mana Stone of the same rank as the one intended to unlock it. It is also possible to create a Cube by injecting mana directly, but the Cube’s lifespan will be limited to approximately one week. Furthermore, the contents can be accessed simply by channeling mana into the Cube, making it less secure.’
‘It is also possible to create a Cube by injecting mana directly…’
‘…the contents can be accessed simply by channeling mana into the Cube…’
My hands trembled as I turned to Dorf.
“Dorf, change of plans!”
“S-sir? What do you mean?”
“Don’t sell the treasure. Use some of it, along with the company’s inventory, to prepare bundles of 100, categorized as follows: weapons (swords, shields, spears, etc.), potions, and rare antiques or art. The quality ratio should be 70% low, 25% medium, and 5% high.”
“And find craftsmen who can produce these items. We need a steady supply, at least one high-quality item per week. If it takes time to find craftsmen, use the items I’ve already pulled from the Cubes to fill the high-quality slots. If you can’t handle it alone, contact Theo Midas. Can you do it?”
Dorf was momentarily stunned, but the shrewd merchant quickly caught the scent of profit.
“The high-quality items should be rare enough that even the children of prestigious families would struggle to acquire them?”
“So rare that it would make their peers green with envy.”
“Understood. Low-quality items are a dime a dozen, and medium-quality items are just a call away. If we use your personal collection for the high-quality items, we can prepare three bundles immediately.”
“Good.”
Regret, watching us exchange sinister grins, asked suspiciously, “What are you planning?”
“A beautiful cultural exchange.”
I replied.
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Sunday morning.
Lotto, having finished breakfast at the academy cafeteria, was enjoying a leisurely stroll.
One of the things commoner students like Lotto appreciated most about the academy was the food.
Three square meals a day, all free and of exceptional quality.
While the noble and wealthier students took it for granted, for Lotto, it was a feast of delicacies he’d never experienced before.
Many students endured the grueling classes just for the meals.
“Ah, what a beautiful day.”
The sun was warm, the breeze gentle and refreshing.
A week had passed since that insane group project.
Lotto, having enjoyed a week of peace and quiet, was finally able to worry about his friend, whom he hadn’t seen in a while.
‘It’s been a while since I’ve seen Chrom…was it too rude of me to refuse him without even seeing him in person?’
He had his reasons.
The medical report wasn’t fake, and he knew that if he’d faced Chrom directly, he would have been talked into another dangerous adventure.
He owed Chrom a lot, but self-preservation came first.
‘Another dungeon raid right after that ordeal? Doesn’t he ever get tired?’
Shaking his head, Lotto continued his walk.
He noticed a large crowd gathered ahead.
“Step right up! First come, first served! One hundred free Cubes! Unlock them with a touch of mana! Amazing prizes inside! Test your luck!”
“Cubes? Those surprise boxes with ancient artifacts? I’ve never seen a translucent one before.”
“Are they really free? There’s no catch?”
“Hmm, sounds like fun.”
“I wonder what’s inside.”
“Don’t get your hopes up. Even real Cubes are mostly junk. What do you expect from something they’re giving away for free?”
“It’s free. And they’re limited. Might as well grab one.”
Lotto stared at the scene, a thought crossing his mind.
‘…Did he hit his head in that dungeon?’
This didn’t seem like something a sane person would do.
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Thanks Chaos!
👹 for Profit
Thanks Chaos