abcnovels
Chapter 48
Chapter 48
Chapter 48
[Translator – Prøks]
[Proofreader – Prøks]
Chapter 48. The Treasure of Kyrin (1)
1.
On a nameless, remote island, once the desolate tomb of Eagle Eye, a bustling crowd now gathered.
These were not ordinary people.
“Anything nearby?”
“Nothing.”
Everyone was armed, their eyes sharp, their vigilance unwavering.
At their center, a pirate flag fluttered. A skull, its eyes gleaming with emerald green.
Captain Kyrin!
It was her flag.
No one dared approach an island marked by her emblem. This was the first rule of survival in the vast ocean.
“Maintain vigilance.”
“Yes.”
They had come here for one purpose.
“Until the Golden Eye arrives.”
To protect Kyrin’s disciple.
“Yes, Murat.”
Kyrin had even sent Murat, one of her officers and a 6th Circle mage, for this task.
This was excessive protection.
Murat knew it.
‘This won’t be easy.’
Despite knowing that, Murat came here because it meant the island was dangerous.
It meant there was a high chance of trouble.
‘There’s a possibility of interference from the Black Mage’s followers.’
Murat knew the Black Mage’s followers were out there, hiding and plotting in the shadows.
‘They could be anywhere.’
In a moment that demanded vigilance from all sides, it happened.
“They’re coming through the portal!”
People emerged from beyond the Mystic Gate.
The crew of the Nautilus.
“It’s Miner!”
And when Miner finally appeared, the gathered pirates erupted in cheers.
“They conquered Eagle Eye’s tomb!”
The impossible had been achieved, and by none other than Kyrin’s disciple!
But Murat felt differently.
He could hear it.
‘Miner’s heartbeat… it’s telling me something.’
There was no joy, excitement, or happiness resonating within Miner.
“What the…? They’re alive?”
Just then, El Paume appeared.
But no one cared about his arrival.
All they could think was:
‘Thanks to Miner, we’ve got ourselves a new claim to fame.’
‘He’s a lucky bastard.’
They believed El Paume’s survival was solely due to Miner and her crew.
That was common sense.
But Murat disagreed.
He was certain.
It was El Paume, not anyone else, who conquered Eagle Eye’s tomb.
This wasn’t surprising.
In fact, it was expected. That’s why Murat had arranged for negotiations with him.
Yet, Murat couldn’t help but be surprised.
‘He feels nothing.’
Even after achieving such a feat, El Paume’s heartbeat remained ice-cold.
“Murat.”
El Paume, with his frigid heart, approached Murat and spoke.
“I want to use a coin.”
2.
Ranking adventurers used to be difficult.
But the advent of Mystic Gates changed everything.
Adventurers were now ranked by the highest-level gate they conquered.
Captain Kyrin was ranked 6th.
This was a remarkable achievement.
It meant she was among the top ten strongest adventurers in Maple World.
It meant she was someone rarely seen.
“El Paume.”
There she stood before El Paume.
Her beauty was breathtaking, her golden hair tucked beneath a pirate hat, her emerald eyes fixed on El Paume.
But those eyes held no warmth.
“Miner, thank you for helping her.”
Despite her gratitude, her gaze remained cold.
This was unusual.
Captain Kyrin, a 7th Circle mage!
One of the greatest adventurers of the time.
And the leader of the pirates aboard the Nautilus. A fearsome figure who could send anyone to a watery grave.
She had spilled plenty of blood.
El Paume knew this.
‘Tens of thousands have died by her hand.’
He knew she was a ruthless killer.
But he trusted her.
‘She wiped out the Black Mage’s followers.’
She was one of the few people he could rely on.
Of course, this was El Paume’s perspective. To Kyrin, El Paume was suspicious.
Their relationship could never be deep.
And El Paume had no intention of deepening it either.
Kyrin was trustworthy, but the Nautilus crew was not.
‘She was killed because of them.’
The Black Mage’s influence had already seeped deep into the Nautilus.
Therefore, there was only one thing El Paume could do here.
“I want to use a coin.”
‘Just finish the deal.’
Complete the pre-arranged agreement, nothing more.
Kyrin sensed El Paume’s intention, and it suited her just fine.
For her, simply paying the price for saving her disciple Miner was the best course of action.
“There are three coins.”
Paying the price wasn’t difficult either.
“One item per coin, that should be enough, right?”
Kyrin had conquered countless Mystic Gates, so she had plenty of items. Giving away three wouldn’t even make a dent.
“I’ll get one item for three coins.”
Of course, El Paume wasn’t doing all this for just a few insignificant items.
Kyrin wasn’t surprised by his proposal.
It was a rational choice.
Adventurers couldn’t use all the items they had, even if they had a lot.
If they had three Circles, they could only use three skills at a time. No more.
El Paume was the same.
He usually used only three spells during combat.
When using Fire Arrow, Telekinesis, and Clairvoyance, he couldn’t add any more spells.
There was no need to have too many.
“So, what do you want? Do you have anything in mind?”
Therefore, Kyrin remained calm.
Even if he wanted a Unique item, she could easily afford it.
“Give me the ring.”
“What ring?”
“Freed’s ring.”
El Paume shattered Kyrin’s composure.
3.
Freed.
No one was unfamiliar with that name.
The great mage who unlocked the 9th Circle, the companion of the Onyx Dragon King Afrien, the creator of time magic.
“Everyone in Maple World should be grateful to the great mage Freed. If he hadn’t sealed the Black Mage, Maple World would have been destroyed.”
And the one who gathered the Six Heroes to seal the Black Mage.
“He is truly great.”
A revered name.
That’s why…
“But no one has yet inherited the legacy of the great mage Freed.”
Adventurers around the world coveted Freed’s legacy.
It wasn’t just a simple desire.
Many adventurers made obtaining Freed’s legacy their ultimate goal.
And Freed was great enough to warrant such a goal.
Finding his legacy wasn’t just about earning a lot of money, but about finding his will, the traces of that great hero.
But so far, only the Hero Tracker Pir, twenty years ago, had found Freed’s legacy.
“Give me Freed’s ring.”
And now, El Paume was demanding that legacy from none other than Captain Kyrin.
Kyrin’s eyes narrowed at this revelation.
Lying was out of the question.
‘He knows.’
Kyrin knew El Paume wouldn’t believe her if she said she didn’t have Freed’s ring.
She couldn’t escape the situation with a lie that wouldn’t hold up.
In the end, there was only one answer.
“That’s an exception. I can’t give it to you. I’m just holding onto it for a while.”
Stating the reason she couldn’t give it.
El Paume wasn’t disappointed by her answer.
‘Of course.’
He never expected to receive Freed’s ring.
‘I wouldn’t be able to use it anyway.’
He knew she wouldn’t give it to him, and honestly, it was useless to him.
‘Only those recognized by Freed can use it.’
But the reason El Paume brought up Freed’s ring was simple.
“Is that so?”
“Yes, so choose something else.”
“I apologize, but I don’t know what Captain Kyrin has besides Freed’s ring.”
“Really?”
Kyrin would never want to end the deal with El Paume here.
After all, El Paume knew something no one else did – that she possessed Freed’s legacy.
So, what should she do?
Should she send El Paume away?
Or should she try to forge a deeper relationship?
“Then choose from what you see.”
If El Paume knew Kyrin at all, this was her answer.
And he knew exactly what card she would play to deepen their relationship.
“On my treasure island.”
4.
Famous heroes and adventurers in Maple World often stored their treasures in vaults or warehouses.
These places became targets for other adventurers.
“The most coveted treasure trove is Phantom’s, one of the Six Heroes.”
The greatest of them all was the treasure trove of Phantom, the Phantom Thief who stole half the treasures in Maple World.
“Though its existence is questionable.”
But the stories of Phantom’s treasure trove were hundreds of years old.
“Captain Kyrin’s treasure island is different.”
On the other hand, Captain Kyrin’s treasure island, where she gathered all the items she obtained, existed in the present. Many adventurers sought it.
It was a heavily guarded place.
That was where El Paume was headed.
Of course, he couldn’t go there in his normal state.
“Your eyes will be covered, your ears plugged. Your nose and mouth will be covered with a cloth soaked in special herbs. In this state, do not make any movements or actions. If you try anything, I will kill you.”
El Paume boarded the ship to Captain Kyrin’s treasure island, his senses and freedom sealed.
‘I know where it is.’
Unable to gauge the location.
‘Golden Eye told me.’
El Paume knew where Captain Kyrin’s treasure island was.
‘But I can’t get there with my current strength.’
El Paume knew all too well what would happen if he tried to reach the island on his own.
There were numerous trials one had to overcome to enter.
So, he complied without resistance.
“Get off.”
After a full day of sailing, bound and blindfolded, El Paume finally arrived.
“This is it.”
It was a cave on an island.
The cave itself was ordinary.
But the objects scattered inside were far from ordinary.
‘They’re all Unique items.’
Each one was priceless, beyond measure.
‘There’s a phoenix feather and dragon scales.’
El Paume recognized each item.
But he didn’t let it show.
“Can you explain these items to me?”
Valerie, the guardian of the treasure island, responded with a wry smile.
“Have you ever seen a pirate reveal the value of their treasure?”
Don’t even think about it.
“Only one. You get one.”
El Paume nodded.
He had asked the question simply to avoid suspicion, as he mentioned earlier.
Now, he could choose without raising any doubts.
El Paume moved through the cave, examining each item.
‘There’s a lot more than I expected.’
Even El Paume couldn’t help but agonize over this decision.
‘There are things here that could be useful.’
Above all, El Paume possessed the talent of the All-Master. He could utilize the full potential of any item.
This made his choice even more difficult.
But his contemplation didn’t last long.
‘Wait a minute.’
El Paume’s eyes widened.
He, who had remained calm in the face of countless treasures, now revealed his emotions.
‘Could that be Zeus’s Ring?’
This time, he couldn’t help it.
‘Why is a lightning-based item here?’
[Translator – Prøks]
[Proofreader – Prøks]