Episode 17
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"Then what do you want.... Contractor?"
"No need for the pseudonym 'contractor', just call me Freddy."
"Of course."
"What I seek is the Moon Robe."
Artariaxa's eyes widened.
This was surprising, as only he, and no one else, knew about the Moon Tunic.
An "equipment" type item used as a means of protection, the characteristics of which were incredible.
When he got it by chance, he was impressed by its power. He kept it and has kept it hidden to this day.
However, how was it possible that this human knew about the robe?
The only logical explanation was that somehow the information had leaked out. Perhaps a spy had discovered his secret.
But that was impossible.
Artariaxa had wandered the abyss for ten years selling items and had never mentioned the Moon Robe to anyone.
He looked at Freddy with awe.
From the beginning, this human had seemed strange and mysterious to him.
A magical power that conveyed the feeling of being dead, and the fact that he knew things no one else knew, made him someone to fear.
Artariaxa spoke, nervously:
"I... the Moon Robe is the most precious thing to me."
Even if Artariaxa was enslaved by the contract, the Lunar Robe had been the first item Artariaxa obtained in his early days as a demonic trader.
Selling it or giving it away would be like losing his most valuable legacy.
He glanced at Freddy, who frowned and clicked his tongue in distaste.
It was obvious that Freddy was not sympathetic to the different races. Artariaxa, realizing this, kept silent out of fear.
"If you break the rules of the contract, you will die."
Though it was true, Artariaxa could only pray that Freddy would not snatch his tunic.
"You have two choices: you die, or you give me the Moon Tunic for free."
"But... it's the most important thing to me."
"Did I say that mattered to me? Two choices, that's all, Artariaxa."
He had nothing more to say.
Artariaxa looked at Freddy, whose frown was growing more and more furrowed.
A shiver ran through her body. Nevertheless, he got up from the floor and reached for something in a hiding place.
Suddenly, he pulled out a black-colored robe with a blood-red moon drawn on the back. The moon looked like a living being staring at it.
Hence the name "Moon Robe".
Freddy, upon seeing it, immediately recognized its usefulness. His eyes opened and a gleam of satisfaction illuminated them.
He flashed a smile as he saw the item in Artariaxa's hands and didn't hesitate to take it immediately.
"Wait..."
"....."
Freddy frowned and looked at Artariaxa.
"If you don't use it later.... give it back to me."
"What?"
"No... it's nothing."
"Sure."
Freddy examined the robe and looked at the information.
A panel appeared before his eyes:
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-Moon Tunic
-Type: Equipment
-Rank: Legendary
-Concept: Said to have been worn by the Moon Lord in the past. However, it was abandoned and wandered among races for eons.
-(1) Armor type: protects from magical and physical attacks by 30%.
-(2) Moonlight camouflage: also camouflages in the dark and increases movement speed.
-(3) Increased resistance in the dark.
-(4) State of non-existence in the creative abysses.
-(5) Concealment before the eyes of creators in creative abysses.
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Freddy, seeing the information, gave a thumbs up with glee.
The Moon Robe was exactly what he had hoped for.
There was a reason he sought it out, and it was because of this:
"Nonexistence" and "Concealment" before an abyss creator, as well as within a creative abyss, were just what he needed for the next abyss that would open in less than 48 hours.
However, the robe also had other features.
"An increase in speed in the dark and under moonlight."
This was even more amazing.
But that was not all.
"The Moon Robe was created by the Moon Lord."
This was no ordinary being.
"The Lord of the Moon, Araum, known as the sixth monarch of the abyss."
For this reason, the robe was so prized by Artariaxa. Of course, there was another story behind it, but the simple fact that the robe had belonged to a monarch in the past made it a priceless treasure.
Although it was an item of medium-high rank and not that extraordinary, Araum, the Lord of the Moon, wore it solely for its attractive design.
The seventh monarch was known for wearing outfits with incredible designs, but he was not an idiot.
Those robes were not only stunning in design, but they were also of high rank and possessed the best features.
The Moon Robe was an exception, being of medium-high rank. Araum wore it for only a few days in the abyss, attracted by its design, and then discarded it as trash.
Artariaxa, while wandering in the abyss, found the robe. As she examined its features, her face paled as she understood the information it contained.
He kept it from his early days as a merchant until now, never revealing anything about the Moon Robe.
The simple fact of possessing an object, or anything, that had been used by one of the nine monarchs was a priceless treasure.
This was because the characteristics of each object used by a monarch were said to be extraordinary.
Freddy could not have been more pleased.
In the past, he did not attach much importance to the Moon Robe, as he could not see its characteristics because he was not yet an awakened one.
Artariaxa had lent the robe to Freddy in a similar manner as a few minutes ago.
Back then, Freddy only knew one detail about the robe, but now he knew much more.
His joy was more than evident.
"The features are basic, but for a low level human, hiding from the creators is valuable."
Artariaxa spoke as Freddy put on the robe.
It fit him perfectly, no adjustments needed to be made.
"I know, that's why I need it for the moment."
"Does that mean you'll be returning it in the future?"
"If you take heed, then yes."
Of course, that would only be if Freddy didn't die first or if the tunic held out until he found something better.
Still, it was a petty promise, nothing important for now.
"Ah, I was forgetting, will you show me what items you have besides the robe? If there's nothing interesting, I won't take it from you."
Artariaxa blanched at Freddy's words.
This was because Freddy was a monster who took advantage of contracts to steal other people's belongings.
Compelled by the contract, Artariaxa took out all the items he had at the time.
He had sold most of them, so there were very few left. He planned to go to the Merchants Association in two days, after getting some rest, but Freddy had arrived unexpectedly.
Freddy examined the items one by one.
There was nothing important or useful among them.
Then, he looked at Artariaxa and frowned.
"Is something wrong?"
"Yes, I said show me all of them."
"....."
Artariaxa shrugged for a few seconds.
He knew it was useless to keep anything from Freddy.
Without choice, she pulled out an item she had been holding back. It was a necklace with a black gem embedded in the center.
There was a reason Artariaxa had hidden it, just like the Moon Robe.
Because, like the robe, this necklace was special.
It was an equipment, and its name was the Necklace of Death.
Coincidentally, Artariaxa had entered a temple, found the necklace in a secret room and had taken it without hesitation.
However, what she saw at that moment was as unexpected as what happened with the Moon Robe.
There was something strange about Artariaxa: he seemed to have a peculiar luck in finding incredible items in the abyss.
"This is..."
Freddy chuckled.
"Is this also a coincidence or what the hell is it?"
No sooner had he returned to the past, he had stolen Elizabeth's Sword of Death and obtained a title related to the god of death.
Everything seemed to be linked to the god of death.
That was why he trembled with happiness.
Although this was also pure coincidence, he had never seen this necklace before.
The black gem was clearly related to the god of death.
"The system calls it a 'Death Necklace.' I'm not quite sure what it refers to, but I looked at its characteristics and they were incredible."
Artariaxa handed the necklace to Freddy as he spoke, unprompted.
Freddy responded, knowing what she was referring to.
"I have a vague idea, but this is related to my sword as well."
Artariaxa looked for a few seconds at the sword Freddy wore at his waist and then looked back at him.
"Is that sword related to death or something?"
"That's right, but this necklace I wasn't expecting it, where did you get it?"
Artariaxa didn't hesitate to answer.
"I don't know what the place is called, but it was in a temple."
"....."
Freddy knew which temple she was referring to.
That's why he was so impressed.
It meant that the god of death, or something he had left behind, was in the Temple of Eternity.
"I should look for that temple soon."
If it was related to the gods, he should find answers at the Temple of Eternity.
Freddy then examined the information on the Death Necklace and his eyes widened.
"Ha, fuck, this is... unbelievable."
He had discovered something really interesting.