Chapter 42
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(463F) : It wasn't the wind that stripped the Wanderer... It was the sun...
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(316F) : ㅋㅋ There really is a way to increase your balance, too.
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(431F) : Are you a genius?
It was a change in perspective.
Taking them was certainly risky, but giving them away carried less risk.
At least, there was no reason for it to get angry just because I gave it gold coins.
And I had money coming out of my ears.
I currently had a whopping 700,000 gold.
400,000 from the intruder bounty, and around 300,000 in promotion-match winnings I had received on my way up to Floor 99.
And this money wasn't even being spent.
Once I killed it, all the gold coins here would be mine anyway.
But…
This had limits too.
The next moment, Floor 574 pointed that out.
ㅇㅇ(574F) : But giving it a few, making it count them, then giving it more and making it count again... That doesn't make sense. It's too unnatural.
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(432F) : For real, it'll probably ask why you can't just give them all at once lolㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(322F) : That's kind of annoying, though… Should we make it do punishment drills?
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(543F) : I'd just not count them lol
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(233F) : Can't you just scatter them like crazy with some time in between? What can it do?
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(643F) : Isn't that just asking for a fight lolㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ It'd notice right away that you're trying to get rid of the keys lolㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(351F) : Agreed. That'd just be another one-time trick.
A one-time trick.
That seemed right.
Then: steal once, give once.
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(99F)(Author) : Okay, assuming those use up two keys, what do we do with the other three?
Even if one or two worked, the remaining keys were the problem.
Then, a cautious suggestion appeared in the gallery.
Macanon : Sis... how about playing hide-and-seek...?
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(148F) : Hey!!!! Adults are talking!!!!!!
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(431F) : ?
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(249F) : What the hell, that no-kids tantrum had lightning-fast reflexes lolㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
It was the same regular user I'd seen on Day 1.
Macanon : Er…ㅜㅜ
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(148F) : Sowwy... I'm kidding...
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(151F) : Is this kid really a kid? Seems like one hell of a persona.
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(543F) : Don't try to gaze into the abyss...
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(249F) : Seeing them talk about hide-and-seek, they really do seem like a kid.
Hide-and-seek.
The gallery's mood grew awkward at the somewhat adorable idea.
‘I get what they mean…’
Macanon : The time you need an ability to find someone most is when playing hide-and-seek...! I'm saying we should play hide-and-seek with that monster…!
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(249F) : Right, right. We absolutely have to.
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(324F) : How do you play hide-and-seek in the Tower? It's wide open everywhere.
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(647F) : Ugh, quit being so serious and play along.
ㄴ Macanon : There are tons of places to hide in there, though...?
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(647F) : Hiding places adults can't see ㄷㄷㄷㄷ
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(249F) : Huh? I could see them because I'm pure. You guys can't?
‘There are lots of places to hide.’
That was definitely true.
Though it didn't seem like the situation would ever actually turn into a game of hide-and-seek.
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(99F)(Author) : You mean hide in the gold coins?
ㄴ Macanon : Yes, that's right...! As expected... you're smart...!
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(249F) : Eh.
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(647F) : No way it's that deep? lolㅋㅋㅋㅋ
ㄴㅇㅇ(219F) : They said the gold reached halfway up the door.
But Floor 574 responded as if intrigued.
ㅇㅇ(574F) : Yeah. Seems worth suggesting at least once.
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(312F) : You're going along with this?
ㅇㅇ(574F) : We should frame it as a detection test, not hide-and-seek.
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(247F) : What test?
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(574F) : A test to evaluate its detection ability. It fits the inspector concept too.
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(246F) : Hmm…
…It wasn't a strategy I could call worse than the alternatives.
But the fundamental problem remained.
ㅇㅇ(432F) : If we keep doing this shit to get rid of its keys, even an idiot will figure it out lolㅋㅋ. This plan is fucking lame.
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(249F) : No, when you're brainstorming, you're supposed to throw out lame ideas ;;
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(513F) : If we don't at least try this, there's no way to test anything lol
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(454F) : How the hell did that person who robbed it in the past manage it?
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(643F) : How the hell did Hood Guy do it lolㅋㅋㅋ
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(249F) : I'm telling you, he beat the shit out of it and threatened it.
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(647F) : Maybe he just got lucky when there was only one key left?
Various opinions flooded in.
I soon synthesized the gallery's suggestions.
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(99F)(Author) : Okay, no other ideas, right? Then I'll suggest making it count the coins by giving and taking them away. Operation Give-and-Take, then hide-and-seek. Yeah.
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(431F) : What the fuck kind of plan is this lolㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(358F) : You seriously think that'll work, fuck lolㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(148F) :
??? : Oh, you took the gold coins? I'll count them.
??? : Oh, you gave me gold coins? I'll count them again.
??? : Wanna play hide-and-seek? Hehe!
??? : Oh, there are no keys left now? The chest opened. I'm an idiot…
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(344F) : For real, this is exactly what it sounds like…
‘This is too much.’
It was an absurdly flimsy plan.
And when there was truly only one key left, it would know the chest was about to open, so it would never use the waves.
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(99F)(Author) : If all else fails…
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(645F) : Just pass on it?
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(99F)(Author) : No, no. I'll try threatening it with the scythe.
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(436F) : ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(346F) : Knew this bastard would do that ㅇㅇ
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(466F) : He's a devil…
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(247F) : Fact) All of it.
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(99F)(Author) : But I'm only threatening it. I can't actually kill it with the scythe.
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(466F) : Why?
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(99F)(Author) : It seems pretty strong, and I need to use it as a gatekeeper, so I can't make resurrection impossible.
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(497F) : Calculating everything solely according to his own benefit ㄷㄷ
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(249F) : Sociopath ㄷㄷㄷ
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(99F)(Author) : What if I say I need to inspect the item inside the golden chest?
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(324F) : That's way too obviously what you're after lol
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(574F) : Well… I guess it all depends on how obedient it is to your orders.
Quite some time passed.
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(99F)(Author) : I'll combine what you suggested and give it my best shot for now…
With no more ideas forthcoming, I closed the gallery.
After organizing my thoughts, I approached the guy standing in front of the golden chest again.
Its head turned toward me.
<Have you finished your report?>
“No… There's been a problem.”
First attempt.
‘Steal.’
But I couldn't just do exactly what I had before. I had a tactic of my own in mind.
I clicked my tongue and furrowed my brow.
“What am I supposed to do…?”
<What is the matter?>
“It seems my subordinates have sticky fingers…”
At that, it radiated a flustered air.
<Are you saying your subordinates stole the gold coins…?>
“Yeah… Seems so.”
I gestured at the hapless Blood Knight with my chin.
Treasure Keeper flailed in surprise.
<Please order them to return them at once!>
I scratched my head, pretending to be troubled, and said,
“Ah, but… I didn't actually see it myself, so I only have circumstantial evidence, and that makes this difficult, you know? It certainly seems like they stole them, but I can't wrongfully accuse a subordinate, can I? Could you count them one more time to be sure?”
Treasure Keeper looked visibly troubled.
Treasure Keeper fidgeted its six arms, then finally bent at the waist.
<...Understood.>
Hummm-!
The circular wave swept through the chamber on Floor 100 once more.
Fsssh-!
One of the keys clutched in its hand scattered like sand and vanished.
‘Success for now.’
Four keys remained now.
I wanted to ask about the conditions or timing for replenishing the keys, but held back.
Treasure Keeper withdrew the wave and gave its report, sounding puzzled.
Now it was time to act.
<Er... They haven't disappeared.>
“What? Really?”
Was that a little awkward?
But it didn't seem to notice.
Treasure Keeper had grown extremely serious.
<Eight billion one hundred seventy-five million seven hundred fifty-five thousand two hundred nineteen. It matches the original count exactly, without a single discrepancy.>
8.1 billion... If the SSS-rank item user found out, they'd flip their lid.
“Haha. Sorry for suspecting my subordinate. I thought it stole the gold coins out of resentment after you half-destroyed it with a single blow earlier.”
Now, smoothly move on to the second step.
‘Give it money and make it count.’
I pulled a hefty bundle of gold coins from my inventory, filling both hands.
It immediately showed interest.
<…What are these gold coins?>
“I'll give them to you. I did tease you earlier, and I'm sorry for troubling you just now. Think of it as a personal encouragement bonus.”
I expected a little back-and-forth.
‘No, Inspector! I couldn't possibly accept this!’
If it stubbornly refused, I planned to force them into its hands, then pretend to stumble and drop them on the floor.
That would make it count the gold coins again. If it refused to count them, I could claim I needed to report exactly how many I had given it.
However.
<Oh…! Really?! I shall gratefully accept them!>
It seemed not to know the Korean-style refusal ritual.
‘Isn't it being a little too eager to accept them…?’
Treasure Keeper neatly brought together its two empty hands and thrust them out toward me.
It was so genuinely delighted that I couldn't bring myself to say anything.
“Oh, yeah…”
In that case, there was nothing I could do.
I pretended my hand slipped and scattered the bundle of gold coins into the air.
Shrrrattle-!
“Whoops.”
The gold coins struck its torso and shoulders, then mixed into the heaps of gold coins on the floor.
I covered my lips and feigned nonchalance.
“Sorry, I slipped…”
<Please do not worry! I shall count the gold coins, so put your mind at ease!>
It answered spiritedly, then…
Hummm-!
It used its wave technique.
Fsssh-!
The third key disappeared.
<You gave me three hundred fifty gold coins! I shall accept them gratefully!!!>
It politely folded its six arms together.
Half of them were empty-handed.
‘Good. Things are going smoothly.’
Now, there were three keys left.
Its opinion of me seemed to have risen quite a bit after I gave it the gold coins.
It now seemed like it would do anything I asked.