I had already sent the mother and daughter duo to the county. Right now, I had more pressing matters to attend to.
The carriage was deep in the forest, and I signaled the carriage driver to stop at a certain point.
"Stop the carriage here," I commanded.
"Young master, we haven't reached Sea Mansion yet. It's still far away," one of the servants protested.
I gave them a stern warning, making my intentions clear. "Don't make me repeat myself. All of you wait here. I will be back in a while. If any of you follow me, you are dead."
They helped me alight from the carriage and stood their ground as I walked into the deep forest.
As I ventured deeper into the woods, I couldn't help but think, 'Isn't this forest quite dense? By using a bit of mana, I can at least walk for some time; otherwise, I would have collapsed on the ground.
Eventually, I reached a small, rundown hut in the middle of the forest.
Upon opening the door, I entered into a pitch-black space, and a key in my pocket flew out, revealing a door that led to an enormous, completely white hall.
This was 'The Sanctum,' where God resided. Even though it was the lowest floor of the Sanctum, it felt like I was in the realm of heaven.
The beauty of this place was truly awe-inspiring. It wasn't just a room; it was an entirely different dimension filled with gardens, springs, natural wonders, and divine weapons that seemed to have a life of their own.
But what I sought right now was here—the «Zendal's Bracelet»
.
.
As I ventured deeper into 'The Sanctum,' I began to hear voices. It was a strange chorus of disembodied voices, like echoes from a distant past.
[Hey, is that a human?]
[Oh my, it's already been thousands of years before someone arrived]
[Maybe he's an idiot who got lost]
[You are an idiot. How could someone enter without the key, you idiot?]
[Tch, he only has one key]
[Yes, like if he had two, he would choose you, you fluke.]
The voices continued their bickering and banter as I followed the direction leading to the Zendal Bracelet.
Their conversations grew louder as I approached the artifact. It seemed they couldn't fathom why I was interested in an apparently useless bracelet that couldn't even be used for attack.
Little did they know, my current overweight physique was posing more challenges than I could handle, and I needed the bracelet for its passive benefits. Losing weight was a priority right now.
As I approached the Zendal Bracelet, amidst the echoing voices, I heard something unexpected – the sound of someone crying.
It appeared to be the weakest among this group of ancient artifacts, filled with a sense of worthlessness.
"Leave, human. Choose someone else. I am useless."
"Choose someone like Brother Space Ring or Sister Appraisal Earrings; they are better than me."
"Hey, man, can't you go with me? I have too much mana, and by joining forces, you can prove to your brother and sister how useful you are."
I decided to employ a tactic I'd seen used by heroes who emotionally manipulated individuals in dire situations. The bracelet, unaware of my true intentions, seemed vulnerable.
"Are you telling the truth, human?"
"Of course, pinky promise. Please, help this weak human, almighty bracelet, sir."
I couldn't help but cringe inwardly at my own bootlicking performance. But, for now, I needed to gain control of this arrogant accessory. I planned to make it my pawn.
"Okay, then. I will help you, as I am the almighty bracelet."
The black, sleek bracelet, adorned with intricate runes, transformed into a dust-like particle before floating toward me and reconstituting into its usual form, resting on my hand.
.
.
"Oh, you are here, Your Highness. Let's depart then," a servant said to me, interrupting my admiration of the bracelet's intricate design.
I quickly adjusted its size to fit comfortably on my wrist before responding.
"Let's depart."