บท 15: Pandora

"Now then…"

After a minute of navigating through the narrow passage, Elish emerged from the depths of the ruin, entering a vast room that lay naked before him.

One would expect a room brimming with magnificent treasures befitting the difficulty of his journey. After all, such would be the reward for all the trouble he, or anyone else, would be deserving of.

In contrast, however, the Store Room lay barren, devoid of any ostentatious wealth.

The room stretched into nothingness, offering only a stark, empty expanse with a scattering of unremarkable rocks and stones.

Elish couldn't help but grin wryly at the unexpected anticlimax. He strode forward, scanning the lifeless ground until his gaze landed on the very object that had drawn him thousands of miles to this desolate place – "Pandora."

It was a ring, its ebony surface adorned with a dark purple jewel at its center and an intricate purple inscription.

Elish reached for it, grabbed it, and simply couldn't resist indulging in a bit of theatrics, blowing on the ring as if it held a layer of dust that required removal.

Of course, that was unnecessary since the room was pristine.

"There you are," he whispered to his cherished prize.

Normally, adventurers would gauge the worth of a dungeon or ruin based on its level of difficulty, expecting greater rewards for conquering tougher challenges. This ruin, known for its near-impenetrable defenses, should have concealed a great treasure within its depths.

Thus, finding an empty room defied conventional expectations and could imply two possibilities.

First, another adventurer had already plundered the treasure, leaving behind nothing but disappointment. Second, the entire endeavor had been an elaborate ruse, a fruitless pursuit from the start.

However, Elish, the creator of this intricate puzzle, was not one to disappoint.

He rewarded diligence and perseverance, and it would have been a gross injustice to expend such effort in creating traps and barriers for an empty prize. He may have been inscrutable and enigmatic, but he was no sadistic trickster.

The barren room itself served as a diversion, a misdirection to confound potential invaders.

The true treasure was not an array of riches but a singular object – the ring he now held. Its worth eclipsed the empty room's apparent desolation.

"Pandora," Elish intoned, his words resonating within the chamber.

The dark purple jewel sprang to life, emitting a vibrant glow as though welcoming its master.

"Show Inventory," Elish commanded, his voice carrying an air of authority.

~VWUUUUMMM!~

The ring suddenly began to glow, as if coming to life. A warbling sound dominated the entire room which Elish stood in, echoing throughout its vast space.

"List Object quantity and quality."

"[Confirmed]," the Jewel responded obediently, almost as if it has a sentient soul trapped within it.

In an instant, a holographic screen materialized before Elish, displaying an inventory of staggering proportions.

Pandora was more than a mere repository of wealth; it was an unparalleled storehouse of power and rarity.

"Coins are numbered 999,999,999,999," Pandora reported, confirming Elish's status as a financial titan.

But it didn't end there. The ring's capabilities extended far beyond mundane currency.

"Sacred Grade Treasures are numbered 9,999," it continued, unveiling the vast array of priceless artifacts.

"Divine Grade Treasures are numbered 999," each number representing an unparalleled level of rarity.

"Primordial Grade Treasures are numbered 9," the most exclusive and legendary category.

"Failures are numbered 99,999," a stark reminder of the experiments that didn't quite reach perfection.

"Miscellaneous are numbered 999,999,999,999,999..." and so on, suggesting a myriad of unique and miscellaneous items.

Elish couldn't help but savor the moment. He had recovered one of his most cherished treasures, and his unparalleled wealth was once again at his disposal.

"Hehe… now this is more like it," he mused, a self-satisfied smile playing on his lips.

In essence, Pandora encapsulated his most vital possessions, many of which held sentimental value in addition to their intrinsic worth.

It was a symbol of his primordial power and mastery over the world's Essences.

With the ring back in his possession, Elish knew he was one step closer to navigating the intricacies of the current world. As he prepared to depart the ruin and return to Astra, his thoughts were filled with possibilities and plans for the future.

"Now then, it's time to head back. I wonder how much time has passed since I left the inn," he pondered aloud.

[TIME PASSED: 1 minute. 12 seconds]