Kapitel 131: Chapter 131: Tentacle monster?
The Four Reunited
"I've got the key," Amamiya declared confidently, holding up the key in his hand. Without a moment's hesitation, he added, "Let's head to the treasure room."
Turning towards Hayasaka, he instructed, "Hanamori-san, you take point and scout ahead."
He really doesn't see me as an outsider, does he?
Hayasaka remained composed, quietly pulling down the hood of her hamster cloak to better conceal her identity and enhance her stealth.
"Leave it to me," she replied calmly.
And so, the mission continued.
The path ahead was clear of immediate threats, aside from the ghostly crew members who had once been fellow players. One male player, after his death, had become a phantom, but Hayasaka had cleverly used a "bone-throwing" technique to divert their attention. Now, they stood before the treasure room door.
Amamiya produced three peculiar keys, each carved from polished coral. He inserted them into the grooves on the door and pressed them into place. With a soft click, the disc on the door began to rotate, and the door opened soundlessly.
"It's finally open," Umi sighed in relief, her curiosity piqued. "I wonder what kind of treasures are inside. Could there be a cross or holy water to fight off ghosts?"
That's for dealing with demons and vampires, not ghosts!
Amamiya narrowed his eyes and peered into the room. A message soon appeared before him:
[You've entered safely and successfully discovered the ghost captain's weakness.]
"So, no hidden danger behind the door," he muttered, exhaling lightly. Without further delay, he pushed the door open and stepped inside.
The three girls followed closely behind.
The treasure room, however, seemed rather unremarkable.
Much like the rest of the ghost ship, the room was dark and eerie. The damp, cold air carried a pervasive musty odor. In the center, a few dilapidated chests lay scattered.
"Those are the treasure chests?" Umi sounded disappointed. "I was expecting golden ones."
Hey, no need to bring game logic into real life. Gold is too precious to be wasted on treasure chests.
"I wonder what's inside," Hayasaka mused, folding her arms across her chest with a hint of curiosity.
As a gamer, the sight of a treasure chest in a real-world setting stirred an undeniable excitement in her.
"Let's open it and find out," Amamiya said, narrowing his eyes as another prompt appeared:
[After careful observation, you decide…]
To be cautious, Amamiya took a small step forward and delivered a swift kick to one of the chests. "Treasure chest mimic, I've seen through your disguise!"
"…"
The wooden chest remained still.
The three girls exchanged looks, their expressions a mix of subtle surprise and amusement.
Keeping a straight face, Amamiya stated, "Now we know the chest is safe. Open it."
Safety first. No shame in being careful.
"I'll handle this," Umi offered eagerly, raising his hand.
The treasure chest wasn't locked and opened with ease.
"Where's the treasure you promised? Why are there only vases and plates?" Umi asked, her disappointment clear.
Inside the chest, there was no gold, silver, jewelry, diamonds, or any of the treasures they had anticipated.
"To be precise, it looks like porcelain," Amamiya remarked, picking up a light-colored plate. "Ancient porcelain is incredibly valuable. If you could bring these items out of the game, you'd become a rich woman overnight."
"It's a shame we can't," the petite girl muttered, examining the contents. "What are these?"
Amamiya turned his head to see a bag filled with small, dark objects. He picked it up, scrutinized the contents, and then, with a thoughtful expression, said, "If I'm not mistaken, this is pepper."
"Pepper?" The petite girl looked up, surprised. "Isn't that just a common seasoning from the supermarket?"
It's common now, yes, but during the Middle Ages, pepper was a luxury. Along with spices like cloves and cinnamon, it was highly sought after—not just for flavoring food, but also for its medicinal properties. No matter the ailment, you could grind up a bit of pepper for a remedy. It was especially popular among men, reputed to increase stamina, reduce sensitivity, and enhance virility.
Porcelain.
Silk.
Pepper.
Amamiya couldn't shake the suspicion that this ghost ship had once plundered a merchant vessel before sinking.
Meanwhile, Hayasaka, ever cautious, remained on guard and didn't approach the chest until she was certain it was safe. Only then did she step forward and open it.
And then—
"Hmm—" The spy maid's body suddenly stiffened, and she instinctively took a half-step back, bumping into Amamiya's arms.
Inside the treasure chest lay a pale, fist-sized heart.
What in the world?
Who would put something so horrifying as a heart in a treasure chest?
"This coin... seems odd," Umi interrupted, handing over a strangely shaped silver coin.
Amamiya took the coin, and almost immediately, the game presented him with a notification.
[Item: Mysterious Silver Coin]
[Usage: Throw]
[Attributes: This silver coin is imbued with the power of fate. If it lands heads-up, your fortune will greatly improve for a set period. If it lands tails-up, you will be cursed with bad luck for the same duration.]
[Can it be taken out of the game?]
[Yes]
"Wait, you can actually take it out?" Amamiya raised an eyebrow in surprise.
It was the first time he had come across an item that could be removed from the game world. Could this be the hidden reward for solving the treasure room's mechanism?
"Eh?" Umi suddenly widened her eyes and turned around, holding up an orange. "Amamiya-kun, you can take this orange out too."
Amamiya accepted the orange, and once again, the game provided the same message.
---
[Item: Magical Orange]
[Origin: The balmy Caribbean Sea]
[Effects: Scurvy Treatment]
[Note: During the Age of Exploration, scurvy was a terrifying menace, a disease feared by sailors until someone discovered that a simple orange could banish it. This magical orange, once consumed, will purge all negative conditions from the body.]
[Can it be taken out of the game?]
[Yes]
---
Another item that could be brought out of the game world.
"Um..." the petite girl hesitated, handing over a gleaming bead. "It seems like this can be taken out too."
---
[Item: Mermaid's Tear]
[In ancient times, mermaids wept under the moonlight, drawing a trace of its power into their tears. This rare item has a chance to enhance your skills or upgrade equipment.]
[Can it be taken out of the game?]
[Yes]
---
Compared to tangible riches like porcelain, silk, gold, and jewels, items that could transcend the boundaries of the game were the true treasures.
Umi, hands on her hips, declared with enthusiasm, "Take it all. We're taking everything."
Bang.
A dull thud suddenly resounded behind them.
Amamiya spun around to see a massive tentacle, covered in suction cups, slam onto the ground.
Only then did they notice a seemingly insignificant, transparent fish tank tucked away in a corner of the room. Inside, a small, pale-gray octopus lay motionless.
At that moment, the octopus began crawling out of the tank. Its tentacles and body rapidly expanded, growing at an astonishing rate until it transformed into an enormous creature—a full-fledged tentacle monster.
A prompt flashed in front of Amamiya.
---
[Name: Octopus Paul]
[Species: Sea Monster]
[Note: I really want to drill into something.]
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It was only natural for a treasure room to have a guardian monster, right?
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Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
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