IRVB 04

Chapter 04

Iklis wondered if there had ever been anyone in his life who had angered him this much.

At first, he thought it was a lie—but the old man had been telling the truth.

They had even captured a master thief who had never once failed to crack a safe, yet he threw up his hands, saying he couldn’t do it, and ran away.

“I’m sorry! I’m sorry! If you just spare me, I’ll live an honest life from now on!”

They had even made a request to the Mage Tower once.

But when they demanded half of whatever was inside the safe as payment for opening it, he kicked them out on the spot.

“Then a quarter! How about a quarter of a quarter?!”

“Get lost.”

They even brought in a renowned fortune teller.

But upon hearing Iklis’s conditions, the fortune teller suddenly claimed to feel unwell and that their spiritual powers had waned, and gave up.

Staring at a safe that couldn’t be forcibly opened nor thrown away, his frustration had been building for quite some time.

Just as he was about to shove it into storage, one of his subordinates brought him a small piece of information.

That was when the investigation began.

And so they found and brought in this black-eyed little brat—someone who could see through things.

Lodi stopped walking and looked at Iklis, who was grinding his teeth while staring at the safe.

What’s with him all of a sudden?

He looks really mad.

“Hey, kid.”

“I’m Lodi.”

As Lodi flapped his arms, Gambil lowered the arm he had been holding.

Lodi trotted over to Iklis.

“See that?”

“Yeah. The big one?”

“One of them is the door to the safe. The other is the door that explodes.”

“Okay.”

“If you pick the correct one, I’ll give you enough money to live on for the rest of your life.”

Lodi blinked.

Enough money to live on for life if he found the safe.

He had followed them thinking it must be something very difficult if they were offering so much money… but it was just this?

Lodi tilted his head in confusion.

“So I just have to pick one?”

“Yeah.”

Iklis scratched his eyebrow, pulling his hand out of his pocket.

Is this really right?

They brought him because he had the ability to see through things, but now that he stood him in front of it, it felt ridiculous—what were they even doing, relying on a half-pint kid?

“My lord Iklis, wouldn’t it be better to request the Mage Tower again? Leaving the entire safe to just one eye of that child is…”

“Then do you want to open it?”

At those words, Gambil shut his mouth tight.

If he failed, not only would at least 1 billion Libra vanish instantly, but his own life would likely follow.

As Gambil lowered his head, Iklis turned his gaze back to Lodi.

If the kid said he couldn’t do it, he was planning to just open one at random.

Sure, he wanted what was inside, but he wasn’t so desperate as to let this irritating safe keep bothering him any longer.

It was just the old man’s taunt that had gotten under his skin and stirred his competitive spirit.

“Take as much time as you need. If you need anything, tell him. Call me when you’re done, Gambil.”

“Yes, understood.”

Iklis, clearly tired of even looking at the safe, pressed his fingers to his eyes briefly before turning to leave.

“Okay!”

In contrast, Lodi answered brightly and walked straight toward the safe without hesitation.

“H-hey! Don’t touch it carelessly! At least think about it a bit more—!”

Gambil shouted in alarm, worried the safe might explode.

Inside was a staggering 10 billion Libra.

Not 10 billion Delo—Libra!

Well, that is, if the amount written on the note was real.

Ignoring him, Lodi took quick, short steps and reached the safe in an instant, grabbing the left red handle and turning back.

“This one.”

Before Iklis had even left the room—

“This is it. The safe door.”

Lodi had already made his choice.

Iklis paused and turned back.

“You picked already?”

“Yeah. You said to choose the one with the gold, right? This one—it’s the safe. There’s paper and boxes inside too. That’s what you’re looking for, right?”

“…”

“…”

Both Iklis and Gambil looked stunned.

Even with the ability, wasn’t that too fast?

Earlier, they had tested his skill, but that was just a small pouch right in front of him—this was a special safe made of thick metal.

And it had an annoying barrier on it.

Iklis slowly walked toward the safe.

“You sure?”

“Yeah.”

A firm answer. Unwavering eyes.

Lodi nodded energetically.

For a moment, it felt like time had stopped as Iklis stood frozen.

Then he moved Lodi aside and grabbed the red handle himself.

“My lord Iklis! What if it all burns up—?!”

“It’s fine. If it fails, I’ll just bury the whole safe where that old man is. Let him suffer nightmares forever.”

As if he had been waiting for this moment, Iklis pulled the handle open with force.

Click—creeeak.

With a strange crackling sound, the tightly sealed door opened—

“…”

“…”

And from inside, along with a brilliant light, a flood of golden coins poured out.

“Th-this can’t be…”

Gambil staggered back in shock at the endless stream of gold.

There was 1 billion Libra in cash, along with a bank check worth another 10 billion Libra.

And on top of that—countless jewels, and thick envelopes containing titles and deeds to buildings.

“Wow! I got it right!”

It was a jackpot.

The gold coins inside the safe spilled out in a cascade.

It was a literal wave of gold.

Not the slightly silver-tinted Delo, but pure Libra.

Lodi jumped up and down in excitement, while Gambil stood there with his mouth wide open, drool nearly falling.

‘What is that kid?!’

The entire Chails crew had struggled so much, and it was solved this easily?

Even the mages from the Mage Tower had made a huge fuss, saying they needed to create a magic circle to prevent the explosion.

Sure, the barrier was designed to open easily if you picked the correct answer—but the odds were still fifty-fifty.

And yet it took him less than five seconds.

Even after seeing it firsthand, it was hard to believe.

Only then did Iklis feel like he could finally breathe again.

“I got it right! Did I do good?”

Lodi looked up and asked. Iklis, coming back to his senses, smirked.

No matter how he looked at him, the kid was fascinating.

“You’re useful.”

“So, is it over now?”

I don’t have to pay back the bread, right?! Lodi’s eyes sparkled.

“No.”

Iklis gestured to Gambil.

“Why…?”

“What do you mean why? You need to take your money. Bring a sack about his size.”

Gambil hurried out and brought back a sturdy sack.

It was large enough to fit Lodi inside.

“Take as much as you want. If one bag isn’t enough, say so.”

“In this?”

“Take as much as you like.”

Contrary to expectations, Lodi didn’t jump in excitement like before.

“…”

Instead, he stared at the safe with a thoughtful expression.

“I won’t take it.”

Lodi answered shortly.

“What?”

“I won’t take it. It’s heavy. And even if I take it, the headmaster will just take it all anyway.”

Listening from behind, Gambil felt more frustrated than anything at the child refusing gold coins.

It was completely different from how his eyes had sparkled earlier at the mention of money.

Well, he was only seven.

At that age, moods changed quickly.

Thinking it couldn’t be helped because he was young, Gambil decided to step in.

Even if he had been in an orphanage, he might not understand the value of gold compared to copper coins.

Refusing money—it was like gaining something without lifting a finger.

“This is my lord Iklis’s generosity. Stop arguing and accept it.”

At that, Lodi simply dropped the sack he had been handed onto the floor.

Without a trace of hesitation.

Gambil was horrified at how he defied Iklis’s words.

No matter how young he was…!

At that moment—

“Hah!”

Iklis, whose expression had been growing colder, suddenly burst out laughing.

Both Lodi and Gambil flinched.

But Lodi didn’t look away.

With his hands in his pockets, Iklis stared at him with interest.

Feeling the gaze of a predator fixed on him, Lodi flinched slightly—but straightened his back even more.

His eyes didn’t waver, his chin lifted defiantly—but his clenched fists trembled, betraying his fear.

‘Well, well.’

This tiny thing was picking a fight with him.

And turning his back on all that gold while doing it.

How many people, regardless of age, would have that kind of nerve?

He had underestimated him—but the kid had some guts.

More than most fools, he looked like he could at least take care of himself.

And Iklis had already been interested in Lodi’s ability.

Bending down to meet his gaze, Iklis finally spoke.

“What do you want me to do for you?”