100% DROP RATE : Why is My Inventory Always so Full?

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<Sanctified Gargoyle Statue>

Type: Sacred Relic

Description:

• Draws energy from the world, channeling it into a pure protective force. Gradually restores vitality, stamina and mana to those within range. (Greatly increases resistance to corruption.)

• Offers a chance to receive a blessing when a suitable sacrifice is offered

***

'Why is there no rarity? It's just the same sacred relic as my Rainbow Slime Lord Statue… Did it really come from another dimension?'

With a final glance at the relic, Lucien turned away and let the eager townsfolk lead him onward. They were giving him a tour of the territory while he waited.

Earlier, Edric and Maxim had departed for the capital to report their findings. Lucien let them borrow the airship.

In the meantime, Lucien agreed to the people's request to show him around.

Cielius and Sebas remained behind to guard the basement and the evidence locked within... while Noctra languished in a cage. Lucien had already decided that her fate would rest in the hands of those she had once brainwashed.

But first, he needed to familiarize himself with the territory.

"Baron, this is our largest smithy," one of the townsfolk said proudly. "We forge the best equipment here."

Lucien stepped inside. His eyes roamed across the blazing hearths and gleaming weapons.

He was impressed. Clearly, the Coalhearts had valued their smithies. The craftsmanship on display was distinct, different from the work produced by his own Crafting Division.

He nodded slowly as genuine fascination flickered in his gaze.

The tour continued. The guides spoke with enthusiasm. Their steps were lively and their fatigue was gone as if it had never existed.

Lucien's lips curved faintly. 'The Gargoyle Statue… its influence is already working.'

The Coalheart main territory was larger than he expected.

Distinctive architecture.

Rows of workshops.

A training ground.

And a vast barracks stretched before him.

But as he walked, silence settled over him. A pang of guilt stirred.

They had slaughtered most of the soldiers earlier... men who had families still living here. Listening to the locals share stories of husbands, brothers and sons who once served made his chest tighten.

In the end, he straightened his back. 'No use drowning in it. I'll take responsibility. I'll care for the people here as best I can.'

He sighed.

"Tch. Being a good person is exhausting…" he muttered. His gaze flicked toward a grieving mother as she spoke warmly of her hardworking husband. His eyes hardened but his resolve held.

He cast another look around. The once-militarized streets now felt strangely exposed. Fewer soldiers remained. The territory was vulnerable.

'Maybe I should station the brainwashed group here…'

As he spoke further with the people, Lucien uncovered another truth.

Their loyalty to the Coalhearts was less than to their so-called "guardian." The Coalhearts themselves had fueled this belief, always telling the people that it was thanks to the guardian's blessing that they lived in peace.

It's no wonder why they became angry at him earlier when he spoke badly of the statue.

Lucien smirked inwardly. 'Their own false advertisement became their downfall.'

He also resolved to visit the other villages under Coalheart's domain in the coming days.

One in particular caught his interest. The fishing village that had been plundered, perched directly above his own territory.

'It's been a while since I tasted fish,' his mouth watered at the idea.

Along the way, townsfolk eagerly tore down Coalheart banners... stripping away the old rule piece by piece.

It was clear to them that if anyone were to be their new lord, it would be Lucien. They had no objections. Even Maxim had vouched for him and though Lucien carried a certain intimidating aura, he was easy to get along.

Meanwhile, Lucien's mind was already working ahead. He was shaping plans for the territory's future.

'I don't want this land to be a copy of my own. That would be dull. I'll make this place unique. Something different.'

And with that thought, the foundation for his new vision was already taking root.

Soon, the people spotted a titan in the distance. The airship loomed against the sky. Its silhouette was impossible to miss.

Even though they had seen it once before, awe rippled through the crowd again. Many here carried a craftsman's spirit and to them, the flawless construction of such a vessel was nothing short of divine artistry.

Lucien's eyes lit up.

"Uncle Ed and Uncle Max… efficient as always." With their connections, they could bypass endless bureaucracy and speak directly to the King himself. And now, after only a few hours, they had already returned.

He moved forward to greet them.

The airship descended with a low hum. The ramp lowered and the first to step out were castle officials, followed by several nobles.

Finally, Edric and Maxim appeared. But their expressions... they were complicated.

They seemed to be on edge.

No. Not just them. The other nobles carried the same unease.

Lucien's gaze sharpened.

Then he understood.

Two of the supposed "officials" stood apart. Their presence was different. Their faces were ordinary and their attire was unremarkable but their aura could not be hidden.

It clicked.

'The King… and the Pope?'

Lucien almost laughed aloud.

'So that's why Uncle Ed and Uncle Max look like that. They've must've taken their Mask of Thousand Faces...'

Suppressing his smirk, Lucien gave a short bow.

After the formal greetings and pleasantries, the group moved directly toward the site.

"Be sure to suppress your mana traces… and do not use any skills," Midas whispered.

"I know," Augustus replied quietly. "That man must never learn we came here."

They soon reached the ruins where the Coalheart mansion once stood. There, they found Cielius speaking with Sebas as if they were old acquaintances.

Cielius had already sensed their presence long before they arrived. His gaze lingered briefly on the two disguised figures whose aura set them apart from the rest but he made no move to expose them.

Instead, he gave a subtle nod.

Midas and Augustus returned the gesture.

Then Cielius raised his hand. The seal broke.

The ground shuddered violently and the hidden truth clawed its way to the surface.

What emerged was a grotesque tableau. The monstrous disaster born of the Coalhearts' corruption.

Gasps tore through the air. Even the seasoned castle officials who were hardened by years of grim duty, recoiled at the sight. Their faces twisted in revulsion.

And for a moment, silence reigned... broken only by the sound of disbelief hanging heavy over them all.

Even Midas and Augustus faltered. Their expressions hardened as the grim scene unfolded before them.

"Midas…" Augustus's face twisted with anger. "Why didn't you stop this before it happened?"

Midas's fist clenched at his side.

"Don't blame me, Augustus. I'm as furious as you are. But do you think it's so easy to rewrite the future? I've tried. Each time I interfered, my clairvoyance blurred, becoming more unreliable. I didn't even foresee it would be this… catastrophic."

"At the very least," Augustus pressed, "you could have lessened the victims."

"You know full well why I couldn't," Midas snapped back then lowered his tone. "I've been distancing myself from the border. If I suddenly showed concern, that man would have grown suspicious. Restraint was the only choice. Fate demands balance. If I save one land, another falls. And worse… our "hope" might have been dragged into the collapse."

Augustus fell silent, unable to refute him.

Midas's gaze lingered on the carnage.

"Besides… I saw it. This is the young man's trial. Through this, he will glimpse the truth of the world."

A heavy sigh escaped Augustus. His anger dimmed into something wearier.

"Ever since I foresaw the end of my life, I've grown impatient. Perhaps… I am selfish too."

The two men lapsed into silence. The weight of inevitability pressed down between them.

Midas finally spoke.

"And so… we are here to fulfill our duty. We will hide the young man's traces for as long as our power allows. In this way, he can grow stronger naturally... without interference." He paused, eyes narrowing. "If all goes as it should, we will not have to wait long."

"Good," Augustus muttered. "Then I needn't involve myself with that bleak 'subject' of yours. Not that I ever wished to. After seeing this disaster, I doubt your 'subject' would turn out any different." He exhaled heavily.

Silence lingered between them.

"…I only wished to bless their souls," Augustus's voice was low. "But doing so would expose my mana traces."

Their quiet conversation ended there.

Meanwhile, the officials worked diligently, recording every detail of the scene.

Among them was the noble artist who had once drawn the King's portrait during the banquet. Now his hands shook as he sketched the horrors laid bare.

When the officials finished their work, they looked to the disguised Midas, awaiting his approval.

Midas gave a faint nod.

And so, the people were gathered once more.

...

A royal official stepped forward.

"As the representative of His Majesty the King, I speak with the weight of the crown. The evidence before us is undeniable. The one who claimed dominion here was false. His rule was built on lies and blood."

He held aloft a parchment bearing the royal seal.

"By decree of the King and the law of this land, authority over these lands is stripped from the deceiver… and bestowed upon the one who has revealed the truth. The man who stands before you now."

The crowd stirred. Cheers erupted. Others bowed deeply with their conviction set.

"From this day forth, Baron Lucien Lootwell is recognized as the true lord of these lands. Let all who dwell here honor his seal and standard."

The square exploded with voices. What began in uncertainty now roared with certainty.

Lucien smiled.

He bowed and the official handed him the documents sealed with the King's crest.

Lucien's eyes gleamed.

Coalheart was his. Officially. Completely.

'Now… time to make it thrive.'