Chapter 159
Chapter 159
"So this is the so-called storage area? Why does it look so... ordinary?" I said, a little confused.
"Yes, these low warehouses in front of us make up the storage area." The old servant glanced carefully at the Youngest Princess on the other side, then added:
"Most of the storage area is underground, Knight. What you're seeing is only a small part above ground."
"What does the storage area store?" the Youngest Princess asked, sounding curious.
The old servant led the way while slowly explaining:
"The storage area is divided into three levels — upper, middle, and lower.
The upper level stores war supplies, including weapons, armor, clothing, and various military equipment.
The middle level holds all kinds of magical tools, with a fairly decent variety.
As for the lower level......"
The old servant reached the entrance, hesitated, glanced at the Youngest Princess, and said nothing more.
"Let's go in first," she said, then spoke a string of syllables — "Open."
The heavy door slowly slid open. On the inside of the door was a thick layer of something that looked like cotton padding.
I reached out and touched it. Very soft.
The old servant noticed my gesture and gave a brief explanation.
The gist of it was that this was a plant fiber made through magical craftsmanship — warm and moisture-resistant.
Thinking about the thick fog that filled the castle, I understood completely.
Weapons and armor would deteriorate quickly in that kind of environment.
After entering, we walked downward for a stretch, then passed through two more doors.
Beyond them was a wide, pitch-black space.
No surprise — the lighting here had failed as well.
"It seems the magic grid here has been corroded too." The old servant shook his head, then cast a spell, conjuring a glowing orb of light.
Just like the lighting magic I had seen in the energy tower, the orb lit up a wide area.
Only then could I make out my surroundings.
Row after row of identical standard-issue weapons and armor were neatly arranged, stretching off into the darkness in the distance.
Looking closely, I could see that every weapon and every piece of armor was identical down to the smallest detail — something that couldn't be explained by a single blacksmith's work.
My expression grew serious. This wasn't something simple magic could explain either.
This had to be the product of a well-developed industrial chain.
I felt a little dazed. These weapons and armor weren't just supplies.
They represented this world's methods of production, its social structure, and its political system was probably very different from anything I knew.
I glanced sideways at the Youngest Princess and noticed she only looked mildly surprised, not particularly shocked.
So the production level of the outside world was probably not that far off from what was here.
We kept moving, passing all kinds of weapons and armor, until we reached the section storing curved swords.
I stepped forward for a closer look and found they were identical to the sword at my side.
So these weapons were mass-produced, too.
"What a shame. I was hoping there'd be some legendary divine weapon or something."
I shook my head. "Looks like this is just a plain warehouse. Not the treasure vault full of rare artifacts I had in mind."
"Most of those legendary things are just made up in stories. How could they actually exist?"
The old servant said with a smile, then accidentally glanced at me and quickly corrected himself:
"Of course, I'm not referring to you — you are a true legendary Knight."
"But if we're talking about treasures......"
The old servant hesitated, then went on:
"The most precious thing in this castle is probably the Sunsteal Runic Array. Come to think of it, that does count as a legendary treasure......"
I was at a loss for words. A world with magic, dragons, and Runic Arrays, and yet people here held beliefs like that.
We moved on to the section with clothing.
I hesitated for a moment, but took the Youngest Princess's suggestion and changed into a fresh set of clothes.
I put on an outfit suited for movement — brown fabric overall, with some leather protection at vital points and joints.
I probably didn't need it with a Knight's strength protecting me, but it was better than nothing.
Speaking of which...
"You just broke through the front lines. How is your dress still looking brand new?" I asked the Youngest Princess.
The Youngest Princess gave me a look of pure disdain and was just about to say something when the old servant jumped in with a smile.
"That is Her Highness's ability — the creative power known as 'Gold.'"
"Gold? Why that name?" I didn't quite follow.
The old servant thought for a moment and said, "If you had the power to create anything at will, what's the first thing you'd imagine making?"
Gold...... I was speechless. I already knew what the old servant was getting at.
"Exactly — gold."
The old servant didn't wait for me to respond and continued:
"That's where the name comes from. Everyone's magical power is limited. The more valuable the thing you create, the greater the return. What name could suit this power better than 'Gold'?"
I tried to picture it — a girl who could conjure anything out of thin air......
She really was, in the most literal sense, a "Golden Princess." She herself was probably the most precious treasure of all.
We passed through the first level of the storage area and came to the second.
"This is what you call 'magical tools'?" I looked at everything in front of me, the corner of my mouth twitching as I asked.
We were standing in an area packed with lanterns. Not far away, I could also make out various components from the castle's facilities.
"Of course, Knight. Is something wrong?" the old servant asked, looking puzzled.
My head was full of questions. I pressed my hand to my forehead, completely at a loss.
This was nothing like what I had imagined when I heard "magical tools." I had been picturing something like a magic drone I could send flying over to self-destruct.
Looking more carefully, these lanterns were identical in style to the one hanging at my waist.
The Youngest Princess picked one up and fiddled with it until the light came on, a bright glow rising inside the glass.
Only then did I notice that my own lantern had grown a little dim after all this time.
So I picked up a fresh one from the floor to replace it.
We walked through the second level. The stock here was also mass-produced, arranged in neat rows just like above.
"Wait a moment, Knight — this should be useful to you. You'd better take one."
As we passed a section stocked with large quantities of mechanical "masks," the old servant suddenly motioned for me to stop.
"What are these?" I examined the masks, which looked something like gas masks with an intricate mechanical design.
I picked one up and put it on. With a light click, it fit snugly against my jaw and covered the lower half of my face completely.
I moved around a bit — no discomfort. Breathing was easy, too.
I turned to ask about it, and saw the old servant clap both hands over his ears with a look of horror.
The Youngest Princess was a beat too slow and didn't manage to cover hers in time.
Then a thunderous sound burst from my mouth:
"What is this thing!"
The enormous sound rolled through the underground space, sending wave after wave of echoes crashing back.
The Youngest Princess was knocked sideways by the blast, eyes glazed over.
The old servant, with his ears covered, fared a little better.
I was fine myself — it seemed the mask protected my own hearing.