Chapter 190: Secrets of the Dungeons (2/2)

The spear represented the air element, the double-edged sword representing fire, the battleaxe representing earth and a strange pair of angled metal batons that Rino never saw before representing the water element.

Under every weapon display, there was a short write-up introducing the weapon's name and crafter. Rino never lamented how he was unable to read a language more than now. He was far from illiterate, but he felt like one when faced with such a wonderful treasure of knowledge.

Initially, Rino thought that they were the mana weapons born from modern alchemy. In his previous world, Rino worked hard and succeeded at helping his dwarven friend create the first mana-steel ingot that the dwarves turned into a magical bracelet for him. The weapons here vibrated and had an aura that made Rino think they were alive. These creations were alive, and the chains were meant to restrain the strong spirit living inside the weapons.

Then, the lich flinched when he came too close to the metal batons.

For a very brief moment, Rino sensed killing intent from the weapons. He backed off cautiously and examined it from a distance. No, these weapons were more powerful than mana-steel. They were living weapons with consciousness. Only a master crafter could create such a thing, and most of these things in his previous world had to possess a long history to accumulate such power.

They were known as artefacts. Artefacts were similar to minor deities and gods across the land that people helped cultivate through centuries of worship or forged by the will of a powerful crafter who poured his soul into that one creation.

Rino always admired the dwarves for being able to create something using sheer will that rivalled magic. These weapons were the product of a master crafter's will and spirit, and they are alive. The lich classed them as low levelled artefacts. No wonder there was no need for sentry guards for the dwarven treasure trove. The dwarves already had powerful guardians sleeping here.

Although Rino did not know where the dwarves were now, he was determined to find them and include them in his empire's history. If they were extinct, Rino would build them a monument in Town Zera and spread stories about them for generations to come. Every blacksmith and artisan must know of the dwarves. He would introduce world history in the crafting examinations once he set up his capital and only grant the title of a crafts master to those who passed his exams.

Yes, Rino had great plans for the future with or without the dwarves. They had no say in how Rino wanted to portray them now that he was convinced by their awesomeness. Even if they were dead, they still had to accept all the praises Rino would sing to them using his minions.

There were four low-levelled artefacts in this treasure trove, and Rino knew what he wanted to do now. There was no way he could safely transport everything here out of the cave. In fact, he did not want anyone else coming here. It was a game of finders keepers, and the dwarves were not coming back.

Rino took up the duty as a cultural preserver to protect such a precious historical site and chanted a time freeze spell enveloping the whole treasury, including the library. Rino knew that he could set up a private teleporting array on the library floor that only he could access easily. He would be back for more in the future, but now, Rino finally had some answers. It was time to make preparations for the future.

The four artefact weapons were coaxed into a slumber by Rino's powerful infinite illusion so that the lich could set up his protective spells and link this place to his mana web array. Compared to the defensive spells Rino used to protect Noir Province, the lich expanded more effort to protect this place. Even if someone found the location of this treasure trove, they would not be able to take anything away from here or touch them. Rino cast a very powerful illusion that fed on a person's greed and fears. He made the illusion convince them that they succeeded in their heist with a lot of realism that will trigger a memory wipe curse an hour after they left this place.

It was a little cruel to do so, but Rino didn't feel sorry for cultural asset thieves. Normally, this level of security was used to guard the forbidden books in the magicians' tower. Nothing else was as important enough to warrant such a time-consuming spell. The magicians also condone unnecessary murder, so this trap was designed to preserve peace. The price to pay was a little hefty for petty theft, and Rino knew how those people under a memory-erasing curse lived an uneasy life plagued by uncertainties and not knowing who they were. Some were driven insane by the insecurity and committed suicide, but Rino did not feel responsible for that.

If anything, they could take it up with karma. In Rino's opinion, they had it coming. The world could use a little fewer idiots.