CHAPTER 70……………………………………………
The moment I stepped into the vault, the room instantly darkened, and I couldn’t help but frown.
Was this… magic too?
It had been so bright outside.
‘It even feels a little chilly…’
I rubbed my arm absentmindedly.
Well, I couldn’t just stand by the entrance forever.
Blink, blink.
I fluttered my eyelashes rapidly.
Then, little by little, the darkness began to lift from my vision.
Wait—
‘There’s light now?’
Just a second ago, it had been pitch black.
This must all be some kind of magic, right?
“This looks like something Dad Harzen would love.”
Even earlier, he had that look in his eyes—the one he gets when he wants to study something.
Maybe once Dad Harzen gets closer to Grandpa, he’ll be able to come in here too?
Although honestly, if he just asked, Grandpa would probably let him in right away.
“Wow…”
Anyway, this place is incredible.
I looked around the vast chamber and couldn’t help but gasp in awe.
It was like… a gigantic museum.
Every single item on display was some kind of treasure you’d never find outside.
“There’s so much…”
I glanced around again, tongue clicking in amazement.
Treasures on the floor, treasures on the shelves, treasures locked in glass cases—
Then I tilted my head.
“It’d take forever to look through all of this.”
Now I get why Dad Kyle is always complaining about the imperial palace.
All these treasures, just sitting here collecting dust.
And Grandpa even called them junk…
‘Alright, let’s take a look around!’
I clenched my fists and stepped into the maze of treasures.
The first things I saw were accessories displayed inside a glass case.
“Whoa.”
How can a diamond be that big? And it’s such a deep, vivid blue.
It would look perfect on Mom…
‘—Focus!’
Sure, it would look amazing on her, but!
What Mom needs right now isn’t a sparkly necklace!
Jewels don’t matter if the person can’t live to wear them!
“This isn’t it.”
Before I got too distracted by the shiny things, I hurried away.
Leaving the glittering gems behind, I walked forward, keeping my eyes straight ahead.
Next were golden vases and beetle-shaped ornaments made from silk threads.
Not what I needed either—pass.
‘Still, everything’s organized really well!’
I’d been worried everything would be piled up randomly, but no—
It really did feel like a proper museum, each section neatly arranged.
Anyway, what I need right now is…
‘Something magical I can’t find outside.’
Something like the treasure Dad Kyle… persuaded Grandpa to hand over last time.
Dad Kyle can make almost anything if he has the materials, but that’s the problem—he needs the right materials.
No matter how brilliant his ideas are, without the components, they’re useless!
‘I don’t even know what I’ll make yet, but…’
If I can just find some rare materials here, we can make something out of them, right?
Sure, it’s a vague plan—but it’s the only one I’ve got!
…Or is it? Wait.
‘Now that I think about it, wouldn’t the imperial research lab have more of that stuff than the vault?’
I paused mid-step, lips pursed.
Maybe I should’ve asked to raid the research lab’s storage instead…
I sighed lightly at the thought, then froze.
“Gasp.”
My eyes widened at the shelf in front of me.
From here on, the items seemed related to magic.
But there was one big problem.
‘I have no idea what any of this is!’
Exactly.
That’s why my plan had been so vague from the start—
I don’t know a thing about magic.
I can’t help it; I’m just a regular seven-year-old who’s never studied it!
Maybe things would’ve gone differently if I’d sent Dad Harzen or Dad Kyle instead…
‘No, wait.’
Maybe Dad Harzen, but if Dad Kyle came in here, he’d instantly turn into a not-so-noble thief.
I could already imagine him stuffing treasures into his pockets and both hands—ugh, no.
I shook my head quickly to get rid of the image.
Anyway.
If I don’t know what I’m looking at, how am I supposed to find something useful?
“Well, that’s fine!”
Because—I do have something to rely on!
I spotted a booklet sitting on the edge of a shelf and grinned.
Of course Grandpa let me in here a few days later than usual.
‘He must’ve wanted to include this guidebook for me.’
Since none of the other areas had labels or instructions, Grandpa must’ve known I’d take an interest in this section.
He’s always one step ahead.
Thank you, Grandpa!
“Let’s see, let’s see…”
Judging by the layout, this section seemed to be for magical potions.
I began examining the bottles on the shelf, flipping through the guidebook as I went.
So this one is…
“A potion that makes hair grow back?”
The legendary cure for baldness?
My eyes went wide.
As expected of the imperial vault—
They even had something like this!
And for such a miraculous potion to just sit here like old junk…
‘Guess Dad Harzen won’t ever have to worry about going bald.’
Even Grandpa, at his age, still had a full head of hair.
Truly blessed genetics…
I nodded and continued checking the other bottles.
Most of them had incredible effects—stuff even Dad Kyle probably couldn’t replicate.
There was even one that could make you ten years younger after drinking it.
‘Who on earth made these?’
They must’ve been crafted with materials that no longer exist.
Otherwise, Dad Kyle would’ve mass-produced the hair potion ages ago and become filthy rich.
‘But Mom already has beautiful hair.’
And honestly, she really doesn’t need to get any younger.
“Isn’t there a potion that can bring someone back from the dead?”
But no matter how hard I searched, there wasn’t a single potion that could help Mom.
There were some for faster wound healing—but Dad Kyle could already make something like that.
‘So there’s no elixir of immortality, huh…’
If only there were, Mom wouldn’t have to worry about dying.
I sighed and placed the booklet back in its spot.
Thanks for thinking of me, Grandpa.
But none of these are what I need…
Still, it’s too soon to give up!
“Next up—the enchanted artifacts section!”
There has to be something useful there!
I steeled my resolve and was just about to head toward another section when—
“Huh?”
Something caught my eye in the corner, and I stopped walking.
Even with the magic lights, I’d never seen a spot shine that brightly.
‘What is that?’
I was sure I hadn’t noticed such a bright area before.
Curious, I tilted my head and slowly approached.
It felt like I was being drawn in—like something was calling to me.
What could be under that light? Could it be the very thing I’ve been searching for?
And then, when I finally got close enough, I saw it.
An egg.
A pure white, perfectly round egg.
