I had settled for now in an inn in the Count's capital.
I really wanted to see his shock when he discovered the empty ruin.
Since I already possess the ability called Omniscient, it's my duty to explain it.
First of all, "Omniscient" means "all-knowing." But no, I don't actually know everything.
Then why is it called that?
There are two reasons:
First – this ability boosts my senses. My eyesight, smell, taste, hearing, and touch. And not just boosts—rather, it changes the way I perceive this world entirely. I'll explain more in a moment.
Second – the previous user of this ability was a narcissist.
Let me expand on the first point.
Take the sense of touch, for example. If I concentrate, I can feel vibrations caused by someone walking a hundred meters away.
I can hear conversations happening in the next building.
I can smell what the inn is cooking.
I can taste faint volatile substances in the air.
I can see the individual threads in the clothes folded on the other side of the room.
In battle, my five senses allow me to keep up with even powerhouses—though my body might not be able to.
Remember that cat monster? The speed-type C-Rank one? To me, it would look like it was moving in slow motion.
Combined with my Sixth Sense, nothing in this world can catch me off guard. And since I also have teleportation, I can escape even when I can't physically react.
This makes me nearly impossible to kill—even by powerhouses. But at the same time, I can't even kill a B-Rank monster.
Such a huge gap between offense and defense!
To be honest, teleportation alone wouldn't help much against powerhouses. But with Omniscient and Sixth Sense together, I can at least keep up with them. A strong powerhouse might still be able to kill me, but for an SS-Rank? It would be impossible to even touch a strand of my hair.
---
Meanwhile, a group of nobles entered the recently discovered ruin in the Great Forest of Unity.
They spoke among themselves, making all sorts of suggestions.
Count Alaric von Draemir declared:
> "I will personally ensure that no treasure goes unaccounted for. I'll have various devices set at the entrance of the ruin."
What he truly meant was:
"I won't let anyone steal a single treasure."
Viscount Thaddeus Blackmere laughed and replied:
> "I'll help you, Count, so the process goes smoothly."
What he really meant was:
"I'll make sure you don't take treasures for yourself."
Baron Edric Ironwood smiled like a gentleman and said:
> "What are you two saying? If treasures are to be taken, the responsibility shouldn't fall on one man alone. We all have a duty."
What he truly meant was:
"The treasure will be divided as we agreed, and I don't trust either of you."
Followed by their soldiers and knights, the nobles entered the ruin.
Count Alaric asked the magician they had brought along:
> "So, how old do you think this ruin is?"
The magician frowned.
> "It is far older than any I've seen before. Perhaps one of the oldest in the world. I believe that after we take the treasure, the ruin itself could be sold to the guilds for research."
Baron Edric chuckled:
> "Then why frown, magician? Don't tell me you feel sorry for that merchant. It's not like he was arrested."
Viscount Thaddeus added thoughtfully:
> "So, we take the treasures, and at the same time build better relations with the Magician Guild and the Alchemist Guild. Truly, we've hit the jackpot. It's just unfortunate that boy lost 400 platinum coins."
Count Alaric spoke with a face that looked sorrowful, though his lips betrayed his happiness:
> "He should blame his own luck. He was targeted from the start. And I had no intention of giving him the land back, even after the treasures were taken—it would only have reduced the risk of his death."
Suddenly, a knight rushed in urgently:
> "Lords, the first room has been discovered. But…"
The nobles hurried to the chamber—only to make expressions as if they had swallowed dung.
Count Alaric shouted:
> "Why is there no treasure?! Have you knights decided to keep it for yourselves?"
The knights looked wronged—because they were.
The magician, who had been to many ruins, explained:
> "Many ruins contain empty chambers. They weren't simply treasure vaults. These were important places, and so they sometimes held treasures, but not always."
Baron Edric, smiling slyly, said:
> "Oh… Count, it isn't good to doubt your knights. I never doubted them for a second."
He had, of course—but he wouldn't admit it.
The nobles pressed on, exploring further rooms. Yet each one was empty.
Even the magician now frowned deeply.
Finally, they reached the last chamber—and it too was empty.
Baron Edric shouted angrily:
> "Knights! If you've taken the treasures, confess now, or the consequences will be dire!"
So much for claiming he "never doubted them."
The knights stood speechless.
Viscount Thaddeus muttered:
> "Don't tell me that merchant dug everything up."
The others nodded grimly.
But the magician denied it:
> "Impossible. I personally oversaw most of the excavation. The paths were sealed. Even if they had been magically sealed, I would have sensed the difference."
Count Alaric noticed his hesitation.
> "Speak. What's on your mind?"
The magician replied:
> "Though the chances are slim, a few ruins have been found that looked empty at first. But they held hidden chambers. Those contained treasures. As I said, though—the chances are low."
Count Alaric nodded:
> "Then tomorrow, we search again."
The next day, the nobles returned. Yet by the end of it, the truth was undeniable.
Viscount Thaddeus said bitterly:
> "There are no treasures."
The Count sighed:
> "At least we can lend the ruin to the guilds."
But the magician now spoke words none of the nobles wished to hear:
> "Such empty ruins often hold nothing worth studying. Guilds will focus their resources on those that contained something of value."
The Count frowned.
The magician continued:
> "Besides, the kingdom's policy is that any ruin may be freely researched by guilds after twenty years of its discovery."
Baron Edric frowned:
> "I've never heard of this."
The magician shrugged:
> "Ruins are so rare that most don't."
Count Alaric, regretful, sighed:
> "At least I profited from that merchant when he sold me the land."
The magician suggested:
> "You should donate the ruin to the guilds."
Baron Edric frowned again:
> "Why? Won't they get it anyway?"
The magician explained:
> "Yes, but you still seized private property. If you present the ruin as a donation, they won't look too deeply into the matter. And later, if you ask something of them—something that doesn't harm or benefit them—they might still help, out of goodwill."
The nobles realized the benefits, however small, were better than nothing.
In the end, they held a meeting and agreed: the ruin would be donated to the Magician Guild and the Alchemist Guild.
---
Meanwhile, I felt relieved. Now I no longer needed to hide so much.
I still couldn't solve problems, but at least I could avoid them.
But then, news came—the World Dragon had moved.
It had fought a demon general. Though the general escaped, the event shocked the world. Everyone wanted to know the reason.
You see, "World Dragon" is a title. It goes to the strongest dragon in the world.
The current World Dragon usually avoids the conflict between demons and other races.
So, this sudden action alarmed everyone, who rushed to investigate.
In Hope Remains, the MC was still weak, so although this event was mentioned, the reason wasn't revealed.
To be sure, I went to the Information Guild.
---
There I stood before a man who thought himself hidden.
But to me, he was plainly visible.
He asked:
> "Sir, what kind of information do you need?"
I replied:
> "Anything regarding the recent movements of the World Dragon."
The man stiffened for a moment, then forwarded my request.
Meanwhile, I was sent to a waiting room.
In this city, there were ten such rooms. Inside, your appearance, clothes, and voice were hidden. If bored, you could talk with the other waiting patrons.
After an hour, I was called back.
The man said as soon as I sat down:
> "The fee will be three platinum coins."
I expected as much—valuable information is always expensive. I paid with physical coins.
After receiving the money, he handed over the report.
Back at my lodgings, I began reading.
In short: no one knew why the demon general was attacked. But the assumption was that he had crossed the Golden Line.
---
Along one section of the continent stretches a massive mountain range—the Great Line of Separation.
The range is so vast that flying over it requires the strength of a powerhouse. While some areas have higher or lower peaks, in theory even an SS-Rank could pass through.
But that's only theoretical.
In reality, this is where the strongest dragon in the world—the World Dragon—resides. And he allows no one to cross overhead.
That doesn't mean he has isolated the other side of the continent.
At the base of the mountains are about a hundred tunnels that cut through.
But one kilometer above the ground, an invisible boundary encircles the range. It's called the Golden Line.
No one is permitted to cross it.
Unless,
of course, you want to fight the World Dragon—or you have something important to discuss.
And if your discussion is deemed worthless, you will be killed.