This Bastard is Too Competent

Ian walked confidently.

And he finally stopped in front of an iron door with a painting of all kinds of demons reaching for a shining orb.

[Pandemonium]

It was a place where all kinds of treasures except swords were kept.

At the same time, Ian glanced at the [Tomb of Swords] at the different crossroads.

‘Those who aim to become the king of Kaistein must have chosen the Tomb of Swords.’

He chose this place instead of the Tomb of Swords chosen by all his brothers.

He made a choice that would never be recommended by any Kaisteins.

But Ian was confident.

‘It must be here.’

The relics left by the First King.

Of course, Ian couldn't enter this place in the past.

Therefore, he had stayed up all night researching records of various ancient documents and legends.

That's why he got to know.

‘There are no relics of the First King in the Tomb of Swords.’

This was the royal treasury where all the treasures of Kaistein were buried.

Naturally, the belongings of the First King, the man hailed to be the greatest in history, would also be in this place.

Everyone thought so.

But.

“Tomb of Swords? There's no way the things of the first king of Kaistein will be in such a place.” 

An eccentric historian Ian ran into by chance. That fellow, who was ostracized for his strange theories, was different.

Surprised that the historian had the same idea as him, Ian asked him why.

Everyone believed that the relics of the First King would be in the Tomb of Swords.

But the historian shook his head.

“Everyone must have thought so. But that's a trap.”

In fact, the royal family searched [Tomb of Swords] to find the relics.

The exact form was lost in history, but it was said to have contributed immensely in winning the battle against the Kingdom of Magicians.

Naturally, everyone thought it was a sword and hence searched there.

“The relic in the legend is not a sword.”

Of course, neither the historian knew what it was. But he inferred it from history.

“The First King cherished his sword. There is no way that such a knight would lock up his beloved sword in such a warehouse.”

Honestly, Ian was a little surprised because he thought the same thing. However, there was insufficient evidence to be sure. This made sense. That man was a scholar who was rumored to be crazy, befitting his moniker ‘eccentric.’

In any case, this [Pandemonium] was the place the historian deduced to hold the legendary relics.

‘Of course, the king may wish for me to bring out an outstanding sword from the Tomb of Swords.’

Ian's thoughts were different.

In fact, he once had been scolded by Duke Garcia in the past. 

It was when he was given the opportunity to make a contribution and take one royal weapon.

The treasury he entered at that time was not as grand as the treasury of the trial now, but either way, he picked up a sword from there.

‘Kaistein had a strong perception that it should be a sword.’ 

Ian, who was so young back then, chose a great sword. But later, he heard something from the Duke.

“Why would someone who can’t swing a sword properly choose it?”

At that time, Ian had been told that he had no talent for swords as well as any weapons.

Moreover, there was nothing special about the great sword.

All of its parts were decorated with various jewels and gold.

It seemed the most expensive, but it was the least valuable among them.

When the Duke saw it, he rebuked the young Ian in public, saying he should have brought out a piece of armor instead of a sword that he couldn't use.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. How could you waste it? Tsk.”

Ian had to drag it out because he couldn't even lift it properly.

That’s how much others looked down on Ian.

Anyway, even considering that, the correct answer would be to bring out a sword that everyone looked up to.

‘I personally need that item.’

Therefore, Ian carefully headed to [Pandemonium].

Actually, he had no reason to find an excellent sword here in the first place. 

Because he already had the sword. 

Sure enough, he looked at the entrance of Pandemonium and took out the [Small Subspace Ring].

And when Ian activated the ring, a sword popped out from inside.

Shiiing.

That sword, the royal treasure sword stolen from the Second Prince.

And in truth, the real reason why Ian chose the subspace ring was because of this sword.

‘If I chose a different magic tool, I couldn’t bring anything inside.’

However, since the subspace ring had neither an attack nor a defense function, he was allowed to enter with a weapon other than a magic tool.

‘And this sword is not a magic tool.’

So, of course, he could bring it in.

And although it looked like an ordinary sword, this sword was of a higher level than any magic tool.

[Ego Sword]

Of course, that fact was only known to Ian, who was its owner in the past.

‘Whatever it is, the true power of the Ego Sword can’t be activated now.’

Now that he was not the official owner, he was unable to awaken the Ego Sword.

Because of that, it was now simply a heavy sword.

Needless to say, it was thanks to her mother's relic that he was able to hold this sword that even his brothers could not. 

Pendant of the successor of Kaistein.

Those who possessed it could wield the sword. 

He didn't realize that because it was not available to other royal family members.

And unlike in the past, now Ian had found the pendant early, so he could wield the sword. 

‘Well, someday you will wake up. Isn't that right, Bud?'

Of course, to become the official owner, some conditions had to be fulfilled, and until then, it did not have much power. In spite of that, however, its existence alone now was very useful.

Because he knew well what this sword was made of.

Ian smiled and opened the door of [Pandemonium].

***

The inside of [Pandemonium] was like a cave. 

However, there were luminous grasses blooming on every road, and all kinds of treasures were scattered in between.

Following the drooping treasures, Ian’s mouth opened without him realizing it.

‘It's certainly different from what I've only heard of.'

There was a cavity spread out like an underground city.

In a way, it looked like an underground city, and at the same time, like a huge library.

The furniture that looked like a bookshelf was not filled with books but with various objects on display.

Truly a treasury of everything except swords.

But it was just then.

“!”

Ian, who was walking down the pathway as if possessed, flinched and hid himself.

Grrr.

Not far away, the gatekeeper came into view. 

It was a giant three-headed hound.

It was clear that it was guarding the treasury.

And this was the location of the trial.

Everyone must have put on the invisibility cloak from here on and searched for what they were looking for.

If they had a keen eye and knowledge, they could find out which items were more valuable here.

‘And the more difficult it is to reach, the more precious the object will be.’

In fact, Ian saw an armoire towering high into the sky.

The armoire’s layers gradually increased in number toward the base like a pyramid. The layers extended upward like a maze, leading up to the head of the armoire, which rose as high as a tower.

‘It certainly looks like there's a lot of good stuff over there.’

Everything around him was cheap stuff. There were a lot of ordinary items that Ian could just buy at some store.

And would the thing he looked for be up there?

Right at that moment. 

As Ian was about to sneak away from the monster and head upward.

Tuk!

“!!”

He had unknowingly stepped on something strange.

‘Crap!'

Panicked, he raised the sword first.

He sensed something flying from ahead.

And as soon as he raised the sword, a crisp metallic sound rang out!

Ting!

Something hit the sword and bounced off.

It was an arrow painted in black. It must be a trap intended to kill the intruder using the dark interior.

But this much was nothing.

‘I've already learned how to figure out the trap.’

It was something Ian had experienced on the battlefield. Although his physical abilities were not yet fully built, he was able to roughly determine where the trap was installed by knowing the trajectory of the targets and the structure of the space.

The moment Ian tried to go up to avoid the trap.

Srrrkk!

“!!”

The tail of the gatekeeper monster swung wildly. Ian reckoned he had to avoid it so that he wouldn’t catch its eyes. 

"Ugh!"

Ian’s shoulder throbbed after the attack.

He blocked it with the sword, but the thorn in its tail had brushed against his shoulder.

Red blood seeped out from the wound.

‘Damn it.'

Ian swallowed back his groan.

That monster was a very lazy sleeper. It would keep sleeping without reacting to a bomb, a flash, or anything.

The previous attack must have been an unconscious movement in sleep.

No, the tail was moving as if it were a different creature.

Of course, that alone was very threatening.

‘I guess you don't want me to go smoothly.’

He took out the herbs from the subspace ring and endured the pain. These were some consumables that were prepared in advance for the challenger. However, it didn’t seem easy to go up with an injured shoulder.

‘I wouldn’t even mind gobbling up the recovery potions in the armoire over there.’

Pandemonium was said to have all treasures. There were all kinds of recovery potions around him.

But it should never be used.

Before entering the trial, the chamberlain firmly told him.

“The moment you use it, even if you don't bring it out, the Seal of Trials will determine that you have chosen it.”

In other words, it meant that the things here should not be eaten or drunk. 

‘Damn. Then, I'll have to draw its attention even if it's a little too much for me…'

Ian took some food out of the [Subspace Ring].

At that moment, something caught his eye.

‘A door?’

It was revealed after the monster moved a little as it attacked him.

Ian saw something lying underneath the monster's stomach. And it was definitely a hidden door.

‘Don’t tell me there is a basement?’

At that moment, Ian felt a thrilling sensation.

That's right, there's only one rule here.

The more difficult it was to reach, the higher the item grades would be.

And where would be the most difficult place to reach from here?

‘Obviously over there.’

Ian was not sure.

But it was worth trying. 

At the same time, he stopped climbing and started taking food out of the [Small Subspace Ring].

Then something surprising happened.

Sniff sniff.

The sleeping monster reacted. The fellow who didn't respond to any roar or shock opened its eyes.

"Krrrr."

The gatekeeper stood up.

And when Ian threw the food, it began to run following the smell as if possessed. 

Ian's eyes lit up.

‘Now.’

Ian immediately lowered his sword over the door. And as soon as he let go of his hand, something unbelievable happened.

Crack!

Boom!

Once he let go of his hand, the heavy sword caused the door leading to the basement to collapse.

Ian jumped into the basement without delay.

Thud!

However, after falling down into the basement, Ian's eyes grew bigger in disbelief.

"Oh my god."

There were things he was looking for.

‘It's exactly what I saw in the royal painting.’

But it wasn't just one.

[Helmet]

[Cloak]

[Shield]

[Armor]

[Shoes]

A total of five items were in the armoire.

Ian's eyes then narrowed.

‘I thought there was only one. I didn't know there was everything.’

It was a set of red armor with a dragon painted on it.

But Ian couldn't take all of them. No matter how big the subspace ring was, it was the same. There's only one item he could take anyway.

When he was pondering about which to take.

Kiieeekk!

Bang!

A tremendous howl broke out outside. A voice so fierce that he could feel the wrath in it.

Ian flinched as the voice was getting closer.

‘It's coming here.’

What would be the correct answer?

Ian's heart raced.

But he no longer had time to choose.

No matter how many swords he had, there was no need for him to fight too hard when he had already found the object.

‘It will be better to get out of here quickly.’

Ian quickly picked up one of the five items.