Michael, reining in his excitent, stored the white silver chest in his spatial pouch. The now empty and pristine storehouse left him with a strange sense of emptiness.
"[Where would you like to go next?]" Lucrecia asked.
After a mont's thought, Michael replied, "Take us to the weapons and armor storehouse."
"[Very well. Please close your eyes,]" she instructed.
The weapons and armor storehouse, like the jewel storehouse, was nearly empty.
Michael's attention was drawn to a suit of armor in one corner. The lower half of the armor glowed with a fiery red hue that transitioned into a silvery sheen toward the top.
"[That's armor made of white silver and teorite steel. It's lightweight, durable, and resistant to magical attacks. It also has an adaptive feature, adjusting to the wearer's body,]" Lucrecia explained.
Michael reached out to try on the armor, but Lucrecia stepped in his way.
"[There's better armor than this. This one is just standard knight armor.]"
Standard? Michael wondered if the craftsmanship from 10,000 years ago was truly so superior. Even the armor of Zenon, the Radiance Church's Paladin Commander, couldn't compare to this.
"In that case, I'll take it for the knights of my estate. How many of these are left?"
"[Twelve sets remain. Shall I prepare them for transport?]"
"Yes. Load them into my spatial pouch."
Twelve sets of armor floated into the air and disappeared into Michael's pouch.
Lucrecia frowned slightly at the pouch. "[Why are you using such a low-quality spatial pouch? Wouldn't a spatial ring or earring suit you better?]"
Michael was caught off guard. Spatial rings and earrings were relics, only passed down through royal families.
"Do such things still exist? In today's world, only a handful of spatial rings remain," Michael admitted.
"[Is that so? How long has it been since the goddess fell asleep?]"
"Ten thousand years."
"[Ten thousand years... That explains it. The Radiance worked hard to erase all remnants of wonder from the world,]" Lucrecia said with a sigh.
Her words made Michael think back to the Radiance Church's doctrine. Even in a ti when the Radiance's kingdom housed magical towers, fundantalists still opposed magic.
"[I was once a shaman from the Pamir Plateau tribes. The Radiance's dogs accused of deceiving people with my magic. They gouged out my eyes, severed my limbs, and impaled before burning alive. The goddess saved ,]" Lucrecia explained, slowly lifting her head.
Where her eyes should have been were empty sockets. Her hands and feet were missing as well. The sight made Michael's stomach churn.
"[But it's fine now. I exist only as a spirit, and I'm grateful to the goddess for giving a purpose,]" she said softly.
"Her husband was the god of blacksmiths. One of his last masterpieces remains. Do you have a particular weapon or armor in mind?"
As she spoke, a red aura began forming in the air.
Michael considered what he needed most. "I need a bow and arrows. Archery is my specialty, but I don't have a bow that can handle all my strength."
"[Visualize its form. Whatever you desire will take shape,]" Lucrecia instructed.
Michael imagined a bow that could transform into an accessory when not in use and arrows that regenerated automatically upon being fired.
As his thoughts solidified, the red aura began to take form. The energy coalesced into a crimson bow and floated toward Michael.
"[Draw the bowstring,]" Lucrecia urged.
Michael raised the glowing red bow. Its smooth surface seed to ripple with the intensity of fire, and intricate fla-like patterns adorned its fra.
The bow felt perfectly balanced in his hands—light yet substantial. When he pulled the string, an arrow matching the bow's color materialized, its tip flickering with a small fla.
"Can the bow's strength and range be adjusted?" Michael asked.
"[As long as your mana permits, the power and range are limitless,]" Lucrecia assured him.
Satisfied, Michael lowered the bow. It transford into a bracelet, wrapping snugly around his wrist.
Marcus stared at the fla-inscribed bracelet, awestruck. To console him, Michael took out a gemstone from his pouch and handed it to the dragon. Marcus sniffed the gem, then purred contentedly.
"What about that armor you ntioned earlier? Is it also made by the blacksmith god?" Michael asked.
Lucrecia summoned a suit of black armor, floating it before Michael.
"[While it's not as exceptional as your new weapon, this armor is another of the blacksmith god's creations. It is highly durable, offers magical protection, and increases its defensive capabilities based on the wearer's mana,]" she explained.
Michael accepted the armor. Made entirely of black tal, it was a masterpiece, closer to art than equipnt.
"How do I put it on?" he asked.
"[Wear this bracelet and speak the activation word. It will equip itself,]" Lucrecia said, handing him a bracelet adorned with obsidian.
Grumbling about collecting bracelets, Michael put it on. The obsidian glowed faintly.
"Press the obsidian and choose an activation word. It's never been worn, so you can decide," Lucrecia added.
After a mont's thought, Michael pressed the stone and declared, "Armor!"
The straightforward command made Lucrecia pause. "[...Well, at least it's unforgettable.]"
The armor adjusted itself perfectly to Michael's body. It was so light he almost forgot he was wearing it.
"Add any remaining weapons or armor to the pouch," Michael instructed.
Lucrecia gestured, and various weapons and pieces of armor floated into the air—gleaming swords, sturdy shields, and intricately crafted helts. In total, about thirty items hovered before him.
With the armor he'd already gathered, Michael was confident he could equip a large number of knights.
"[Where to next?]" Lucrecia asked.
"Food supplies, magical materials, and fabrics are what's left, right? Just collect everything—you'll know better than what's valuable."
"[There are also spatial rings and earrings available. Shall I store everything in those?]"
Michael's eyes lit up. "Yes, please!"
"You ntioned a training room earlier. I'd like to test the bow and armor there," Michael added.
As Lucrecia summoned grey mist, a grand bronze door materialized. Its surface was adorned with ancient carvings, radiating an air of mystery.
"[Be cautious. The training room will generate opponents matching your abilities. If you feel overwheld, shout 'enough,' and it will stop,]" Lucrecia warned.
The others opted to rest in the bedrooms they'd been assigned. After bidding them farewell, Michael stepped boldly through the bronze doors.
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Inside, a vast training arena unfolded. The dod ceiling stretched high above, and the space was imbued with a strange, electric energy.
With his bow in hand and armor equipped, Michael strode to the center of the arena. This was the perfect chance to test his newfound power.
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