'Are you glad it's the sturdiest one?'

'Yeah, thanks. That's great.'

Ava brings me a large glass box on casters.
My private quarters are a hidden room. It's simple enough for any hunter to figure out, but I can't let anyone in.

My room was supposed to be spacious, but it was a bit cramped due to the overabundance of treasures.
The treasure trove is not only a collection for me, but also a weapon that I actually use. If I put them in a place where I can't use them immediately, it would be a complete disaster.
Well, it doesn't make you much stronger, but it's just a feeling.

I'll ask Luke and the others to help me place it after they come back, and put the box in the corner for now.
It is a very sturdy item made of special glass. It is also used in museums and can withstand the power of hunters to some extent.

After struggling to open the heavy lid, I put the fake "Reverse Face" inside, which has a dejected expression.
The expression that had changed when I put it on did not seem to return for any length of time. The weirdness of the face is reduced by half when it becomes a frowning face.

According to what Ark told me, this mask possessed the young lady and caused a big commotion.
It is said that it greatly improved the young lady's strength and made her more powerful than a mid-level hunter.

If that's true, it's the treasure I've been chasing for years.

Although it has a big name, a treasure trove is just a tool.
In my collection, there are many treasures that can only be utilized if the user has a certain level of physical ability. If I can easily boost my power with this mask, I may not have to spend my days in such fear.

I check with the mask, which is in a glass box with a relaxed expression on its face, just to be sure.

'Hey, are you sure you can't?

Normally, it would be a fool's errand to talk to a treasure trove.
However, the hole in the mask's mouth began to move slowly in response to my question.

'It's impossible. Your potential cannot be unlocked with my power. Find a higher mask. But if you go further than me, it will be for military use with limited users that your body can no longer withstand--'

I wonder if he was lonely. I sighed deeply as I looked at the talkative mask.

Apparently, this mask has the power to bring out the potential in people.
And yet, it seems that my potential is too small to be released.

There are not a few treasures that have certain conditions for use, not just this mask, but that means that my potential ability is no better than a noblewoman's. Isn't this world too harsh on me?

I sighed and consoled myself without saying it out loud.

It's a disappointing performance, but it's a rarity. I've never heard of a mask that talks without even being touched. It will probably stop working when its magic runs out, but it could be a good person to talk to.

The treasure trove has a backbone. Although it looks very ugly, this treasure trove must have been created out of necessity.
Even though it draws out the latent power, it seems to strengthen even the emotions, and it is doubtful whether it is worth 200 million guild, but since it was given to me for free, I have no reason to complain.

I wanted to get the Reverse Face, but...

Ava, who was listening to the conversation between me and the mask behind me, interrupted me with trepidation.

'Um, Mr. ...... Cry, about that mask ......'.

'Hmm? Eva, are you sure you want to wear it? I think it would be better if you didn't.'

If Eva wears it and becomes stronger than me, my glass heart will be shattered.

'No, sir.'

At my words, Eva looked at me as if she were looking at a freak, then said resignedly.

'............ Is that perhaps a "library of knowledge"? I've never seen it before. ......

'............'

......What?

The moment I heard that word, a shock went through me. I frowned and checked the mask again.
The mask is speaking in a disapproving tone.

'My name is "Overgrown", and I am the one who advances people. I don't like being lumped in with something I don't understand.

I'm a fool. I've collected more treasures than anyone else and never noticed.
A mask that speaks as if it has a mind of its own. The Library of Knowledge. It meets the criteria.

Embarrassed, I nodded plausibly.

'...... You understand well.'

'Well, I've studied the treasure trove myself, and I can tell by looking at it. ............ should only appear with astronomical probability, but ...... I never thought I'd see it with my own eyes. --I don't know.

I'm not sure why Eva's face was so drawn out. I should be more impressed than I am, but I'm missing the opportunity. I'm always ragged when I need to be.

The Library of Knowledge.

It is not the name of a treasure trove, but a general term for treasures with certain characteristics.

Ava takes a deep breath and shakes her body. She seems to be unusually a little excited.
Her normally calm tone of voice was slightly raised.

'Depending on the details, Mr. Cry's debts may disappear. I thought it was just the usual sickness--'

As Citry said, isn't the sickness sickness ...... too much?

Now, do you know what the most expensive piece of jewelry has ever been sold for?

You'll be able to get a lot more than that.
A bracelet that allows you to fly freely when equipped?
A "space-time bag" that can hold an entire castle's worth of items?

No, no, no.
The most expensive and perhaps most famous treasure trove in history is the book-shaped treasure trove at .......

The Book of Sand.
So named because of the color of its cover, it was an illustrated book of the types of treasure that existed in the age of advanced magic tools.

It had probably been created at the height of civilization. The book did not possess any special abilities, but it did contain enough information to change the common sense.
Most of the treasures found in the Treasure Hall were products of one of the great civilizations that had once existed, an advanced magical civilization in which humans had prospered through the mass production of various powerful magical tools. The book revealed the abilities of more than 50% of the treasures that had been unearthed as unidentifiable items.

Some say that the discovery of the Book of Sand marked the beginning of the age of the treasure hunter.
I don't know where the book is now. But those who found it sold it and used the money to start a nation.
This is the origin of the Kingdom of Mir, now known as the largest kingdom in the world over a thousand years later.

It is a fairy tale known to all treasure hunters.

The Library of Knowledge.
It is a general term for an item that provides its owner with information about the civilization from which the treasure came.

It comes in many forms. There are many types, including books, posters, and monuments, but this is probably the first time a mask has been used.


Although this kind of treasure rarely appears, it is very useful from an academic point of view, and is traded at a frighteningly high price.
I don't know how much knowledge he has, but if he has a certain level of intelligence and can communicate orally, I can't imagine how much it would cost.

It was completely unexpected.

'I guess 200 million was cheap.

'Even ten times that might be cheap. ......'

Besides, I didn't pay for it.

Most of the information in the Book of Sand has spread over the millennia since it was found.
In other words, there's a high probability that this mask is not the product of an advanced magical tool civilization where the information is already well known. If that is the case, even if we leave aside the performance of the treasure itself, it would be a considerable amount of money if we handed it over to the government. It would not be wrong to say that the debt would disappear.
You would also gain honor. Zebrudia's emperors are known for their pragmatism. Your accreditation level may be raised, and if you're not careful, you may even be given a knighthood.

...... But it was Miss Eclair who bid on this. I'm not sure if I should give it back or not.

You'll be able to get a lot more than just a few of these.
In the event that you've got a lot more than one of these, you'll be able to get a lot more.

Ava is muttering with a serious expression.

'Let's negotiate carefully. Should it be a merchant association or a nobleman - or perhaps it would be better to take the matter to another country. It seems that the Kingdom of Mir has been putting a lot of effort into collecting the Library of Knowledge for many years.

'No, I'm not selling it.

'............? ...... Didn't you use a trick to get it in order to sell it ......?

'...... Have I ever acquired a treasure trove for resale?


It's hard to say, since I didn't realize it was a library of knowledge, but I'm a collector of treasures.
I can't use it for myself. It sells for a lot of money. Selling off rare treasures for such a reason is not a collector's fault.

Eva rolls her eyes and retorts in a panicked manner.

'...... It's too much for one person to handle. It's certainly valuable, but I think it would be better for Mr. Kry to just extract the knowledge and let it go. ......'

'So, this is a secret between me and Eva, just the two of us.

'I'm sure it's been passed on to Ark-san and Sir Gladys. ......'

It's true that Miss Eclair knows that the mask can speak and has a high level of intelligence.
If you don't have blind eyes like me, it wouldn't be surprising if you noticed that the mask is a 'library of knowledge'.

You can keep Ark quiet. He's the epitome of a treasure hunter with little greed or honor.

I thought about it for a while, but in the end I decided to leave it to chance as usual. It's not like I'm doing anything wrong, I can handle it.

'............ Well, I'm sure you'll be fine. In the meantime, deliver a cake to Miss Eclair to put her in a good mood. It's a whip-and-sweat strategy. And don't forget the candles.

'............ Yes, sir. ............This is your chance to get out of debt. ......'

Eva agrees, a little frustrated.
I'm sorry for the inconvenience.