Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 688

“No.777 Makairo’s Storage Box.”

Among all the numbered items, it’s one of the few ‘consumable’ ones.

But even though it’s a consumable item, it feels completely different from the ‘Nameless God Statue’ or ‘Dragon Blood Orb’.

Items that provide wide-area healing or powerful combat buffs upon consumption are completely ‘one-time use,’ but at least this one isn’t like that.

‘In a way, it’s similar to the 7,777th Garfas Necklace.’

Makairo’s Storage Box can grant a random item or a permanent buff upon use.

Well, there’s a really low chance of getting a ‘dud’ too.

Anyway.

“We’ve unexpectedly come across many valuable items during this expedition.”

From numerous expensive byproducts to the Siege Slayer, and now this ‘mystery box’.

In a normal dungeon exploration, getting just one of these would be considered lucky, but we keep acquiring them.

Is this why people need to explore unknown areas?

“Since what comes out is random, this seems really fun! Let’s roll the dice right away!”

The only downside is that because we’re with the Baekho team, we have to compete for loot every time something comes out.

If I had come with my own clan, I could have just distributed it as I pleased.

“It’s been a while since I rolled dice, so it’s kind of fun.”

“Baekho… how about we each roll this time? I want to roll too… Besides, Baekho isn’t that lucky.”

“…Me? You’re saying I’m unlucky?”

“……”

“Fine. Let’s each roll this time.”

With that, the situation was settled, and we quickly rolled the dice without wasting any time.

And then…

“Puhahahaha! If we had gone with the lowest numbers, you two would have shared 1st and 2nd place!”

My number and Baekho’s number were both 5.

Oh, that’s the sum of both of our numbers, by the way.

“The sum is 11… I, I won!”

Anyway, to cut to the chase, the GM won the dice roll and got the ‘mystery box’.

“What are you doing? Aren’t you going to open it right away?”

“R-right here, right now…?”

“Wow, look at the lack of manners? Were you not going to open it?”

“Hahaha! Sir Havelion! Don’t be like that and open it right now. We need some fun, don’t we?”

The GM seemed like he wanted to open it when he was alone, but he couldn’t resist the others’ urging and eventually nodded.

“Then… I’ll open it.”

The GM, looking somewhat nervous, placed his hand on the box.

As he held his hand out for a while, the black cube-shaped box that his hand touched slowly floated into the air.

「Yurben Havelion has used No.777 Makairo’s Storage Box.」

The box, floating in the air, began to peel open, one side at a time.

Whoosh…

Soon, the ‘item’ hidden inside revealed itself.

“…Armor?”

Armor came out.

“Was there such a numbered item…?”

Something I’ve never seen anywhere before.

***

「No.???? Aegis’ Dragon Armor is generated.」

***

The armor’s appearance was very ordinary.

A vest-type armor that only covers the torso, which is definitely not flashy.

It’s a color closer to a dull gray than iron, and there are no decorations like jewels, engravings, or patterns.

But, is that why…?

‘……It looks like a set item.’

It’s somehow a match with No.3 Aegis’ Barrier.

In fact, when I put it next to it, the colors seem to match perfectly…

‘I was going to change my armor anyway…’

Currently, I’m wearing a Lytanium breastplate.

For now, my raw stats are enough, so I was planning to hold out until something suitable came along, rather than spending money to get a new one.

But…

Slurp.

For some reason, my mouth is watering.

I don’t know anything about the identity of that armor yet, but,

Isn’t it obvious?

There’s no way an item from a ‘mystery box’ would be worse than a Lytanium breastplate worth millions of stones—.

“W-why are you staring like that…?”

Hey, I can stare, can’t I?

“Can I try it on?”

“…Yes?”

“There’s no one else who would wear armor besides me, right?”

“Ah, no? After hearing what Flyer said, I was thinking of getting armor for emergencies—.”

Hey, what kind of mage tries to wear heavy armor?

A mage should wear something like cloth armor.

“So, I’m just saying I’ll try it on. Did I say I was going to take it?”

I approached him and glared, and the GM reluctantly nodded.

“We need to test the armor anyway.”

“Yes… then… you’re just trying it on…?”

“Have you ever seen me lie?”

It might seem like I’m taking it away, but this isn’t a bad offer for the GM either.

It’s an armor with an unknown identity, after all.

Someone needs to wear it and test its abilities…

‘If my combat power increases right away, it’s beneficial for the team, right?’

The only one who can wear heavy armor is Aures, but he can’t wear armor due to his skill mechanics.

In short, I’m the only one who can use it…

「The character has equipped No.???? Aegis’ Dragon Armor.」

Oh, the fit is amazing.

「The overall item level increases by +13,600.」

Maybe it’s just my imagination, but I feel much stronger.

「You have equipped two or more Aegis artifacts.」

「The fragments of the soul resonate. (2/3)」

「All regeneration speed is greatly increased.」

「The equipment has been bound to the wearer.」

‘……Huh?’

What is this?

Suddenly, I felt like the armor was sticking to my skin…

“Not bad.”

Anyway, even though it’s a new piece of equipment, it doesn’t feel unfamiliar at all.

It felt like it was part of my body as soon as I put it on.

“Wow, this Baron just puts on something he doesn’t even know about. What if it’s a cursed item?”

As I stretched my body as if doing gymnastics, Baekho looked at me with a dumbfounded expression.

But I had nothing to say.

Because I didn’t have any anxiety or suspicion. It felt like it was mine as soon as I saw it.

“Anyway, you can figure out the equipment stats later on your own… Let’s move on for now, okay?”

“Alright.”

I wanted to test the new armor’s performance, but it would be rude to make everyone waste time because of me.

“Alright, let’s go. It’ll be a pain if there’s a time limit gimmick.”

I decided to investigate the armor later and searched the room one last time.

But as expected, I couldn’t find anything else, and then we went down the stairs we had come up.

Thump, thump.

The stairs that took us hours to climb up didn’t take long to go down.

Soon, we stepped down the last step, and a narrow passage similar to the previous one appeared, and at the end of the passage was a golden stone door.

“…A golden ruin?”

The GM also seemed to realize the identity of this place after seeing the golden stone door.

“Why is a golden ruin here…”

“Why are you surprised? It’s not like there was anything logical in our journey so far.”

“That’s… true.”

“Hey, I wouldn’t be surprised if a different area suddenly appeared beyond this. That’s what being an explorer is all about.”

Baekho said that and came forward to slowly push the door.

And…

“Oh my?”

He stopped, uttering an incomprehensible exclamation.

I approached to see what was wrong, and I couldn’t help but flinch as well. It wasn’t like a different area suddenly appeared as Baekho said, but…

“Why are they all open?”

There was nothing left to conquer beyond the stone door.

***

The order of conquering the ‘golden ruin’ is very simple.

Starting in a lush forest, after completing a few missions, a temple appears, and upon entering the temple, the staircase part we were in earlier appears.

And…

‘The next part is here.’

After opening the golden stone door like now and entering the main hall, the real conquest begins.

Since it’s a 4th-floor rift in the lower levels, the conquest itself isn’t that complicated.

If you enter the stone doors on the left and right based on the entrance and activate the devices, a guardian appears in the main hall, and a treasure room that was tightly closed opens up, but…

‘Including the treasure room, it’s already all open.’

Even when you open the stone door and enter, golden light should pour down from the ceiling and brighten the surroundings, but that effect didn’t happen either.

Also…

“Wow… look at all the dust…”

“It feels like we’re exploring an abandoned house!”

The entire ruin was covered in dust, and the walls that should have been shining gold were chipped and broken all over the place.

“Let’s brighten the area first. It’s too dark to see properly.”

At Baekho’s request, the GM summoned several light orbs and floated them in the air, and in that state, we carefully explored the surroundings.

“As expected, the treasure room has already been completely looted.”

The first place we searched was the treasure room that opens when you defeat the rift guardian, Calphion.

Originally, three numbered items are sealed here, and you can choose one of them using the keys you obtained during the rift clear process.

But when we arrived, it was empty.

“Should we check the snake room or the mummy room first?”

Therefore, the next search course was the left and right doors, and we started by searching the left door where a snake-type mid-boss appears.

‘…Even the pieces are all gone.’

From the ‘golden orb’ that appears when you press the lion mural to the ‘eagle candlestick’ hidden in the trap room, etc.

We went around the maze-like paths and checked everything, but there was nothing to gain.

The mid-boss room with the lever-type device was similar.

“It’s kind of eerie since there’s nothing here…”

The lever device is turned, and the mid-boss is nowhere to be seen.

Also, the pieces here are already gone.

Unfortunately, it was no different in the right door, which belongs to the mummy room.

“It seems like we’ve searched everywhere…”

“Haha! This is quite perplexing!”

We searched the entire ruin, but there was nothing to find.

And this was a big problem.

We need to find something to conquer, right?

That’s how it is in games too.

The really difficult parts are not when you face difficult trials.

Rather, it’s when you don’t know what to do next.

That’s when gamers lose their way and waste time.

Just like now.

“I’ll… investigate the stairs…”

“Me too. I’ll take a look around to see if there are any hidden passages between the walls.”

Even though they were top-tier explorers, they didn’t lose their motivation and went to do their own things, but it wasn’t very meaningful.

One day, two days, three days, four days…

As time passed, there was really no place left to search, and as a result, anxiety and unease began to spread among the group.

“…We’re not going to be trapped here forever, are we?”

“Maybe they were trying to starve us to death.”

“I didn’t know they could drive people crazy like this…”

Everyone said something weak, and surprisingly, the one who showed the most extreme reaction among them was Baekho.

“Damn it, what are you all doing? Instead of resting, you should be looking for a way out! Huh?”

Baekho glared at people with sharp eyes and a sharp voice.

‘This guy’s mental state is so weak?’

It was a relief that he didn’t show that attitude to me, but…

That was over after a few more days.

“Baron, give me the armor.”

“…What?”

“Well, that’s all we have. Since it’s an item we got here, maybe the escape method is hidden in that armor?”

His attitude was a bit unpleasant, but…

If I take out the emotions.

“…That’s not wrong.”

It was a plausible story.