"So… let's see what we got," Morgath muttered as he sat down among the bushes.
Several weapons and items lay spread out before him.
"Let's start from the first one," he said, picking up a pair of golden bracelets.
A blue glow briefly flickered in front of his eyes.
Golden Phoenix Bracelets
Equipped with special defensive barriers
Left Bracelet: Provides a protective shield against magical attacks
Right Bracelet: Provides a protective shield against physical attacks
Special Note:
The two shields cannot be activated at the same time.
Morgath studied the bracelets carefully.
"Hmm… this is pretty impressive," he said quietly.
"Just as I thought—these guys weren't carrying ordinary stuff."
A faint grin appeared on his face as he tightened his grip on the golden metal.
"Looks like I made the right call stopping them."
Scout Boots
Movement speed increased by 7%
Trap detection accuracy increased by 15%
Fervel Iron Sword
Grants +3 Strength when fighting opponents using sharp weapons
After consecutive strikes, has a 13% chance to release a shockwave
Mana absorption rate: 27%
"Oho… these aren't bad at all," Morgath muttered.
"If anything, I hit the jackpot."
He quickly checked the rest of the loot.
"Five hundred gold coins.
Five high-grade mana stones.
Three pieces of special high-quality fabric.
Seven silver wolf hides.
Two highest-grade regeneration potions… and one highest-grade strength boost potion."
He let out a slow breath.
"Not bad. Not bad at all," he said with satisfaction.
"This should be more than enough to get a solid start."
A familiar blue screen appeared once again.
Morgath began transferring the gold and miscellaneous items into it.
"I'll store these in the inventory for now."
He slipped on the boots and fastened the golden bracelets around his wrists.
"And these—I'll equip."
Finally, he lifted the Fervel Iron Sword, examining its balance and edge carefully.
"…Yeah," he said after a moment.
"I'll put the old one into storage."
The sword vanished into the inventory window.
Morgath stood up slowly, feeling the subtle changes in his body.
His movements felt lighter.
Sharper.
A faint smile crept onto his face.
"This world…" he murmured,
"…sometimes doesn't disappoint."
At that moment, inside the palace of the Feldenvert Lordship.
"So what exactly are you trying to tell me, Elizabeth?"
The man's voice was sharp and disbelieving.
He was of medium height, dressed in a luxurious deep-blue robe that marked his status. His hair was neatly combed—black, though streaked with white—and faint wrinkles lined his face, betraying his age.
"Are you saying that a mere half-orc attacked you and stole everything?"
Standing before him was the same girl Morgath had attacked earlier.
She was still wearing her armor.
"Father, I'm telling you—he was strong," Elizabeth said, her voice strained, different from usual.
"He captured a simple cart driver and threatened to kill him. I couldn't allow an innocent man to die because of me."
She clenched her fists.
"But in the end… he still took everything and left."
The man's expression darkened.
"Fine. Let's say he attacked you," he said irritably.
"But how is it possible that seven soldiers couldn't stop a single orc?"
He scoffed.
"Worse than that—he didn't even kill you. He simply knocked you unconscious and walked away."
"It's as if he was mocking you."
The room they stood in was a special chamber, lavishly decorated with ornate furnishings and symbols of nobility.
The man walked to the table and slammed his hand against it.
"You knew this already, my daughter," he said heavily.
"Our situation is dire. This war has taken a severe toll on our family."
"I know, Father," Elizabeth replied quietly.
"But I didn't choose for this to happen."
He sighed and rubbed his forehead.
"I know… I know," he said.
"It's not the lost items that trouble me the most."
He paused, his voice lowering.
"It's the fact that my daughter couldn't defeat a single orc."
He clenched his jaw.
"If others hear of this, the honor of our family will be dragged through the mud."
The room fell into a heavy silence.
"Elizabeth," the man said, looking directly at her.
"You were said to be one of the candidates to become one of the next Eleven Heroes."
His voice trembled—not with anger alone, but with deep disappointment.
"How could something like this happen?"
He looked as if he might tear himself apart from the inside.
"I'm sorry, Father," Elizabeth said with difficulty, lowering her head.
"I've shamed you."
"No," he replied firmly.
"You don't need to apologize."
He exhaled slowly.
"I was the one who sent you there."
"Father, if you allow me," Elizabeth said quickly, lifting her head,
"I'll take several soldiers and go into the forest—"
Before she could finish, her father cut her off.
"No. That won't happen."
His tone left no room for argument.
"You can't search an entire forest just because of a single orc.
Nor can you attack every orc village you might come across."
He turned away slightly.
"We need our soldiers. Now more than ever."
"But the money we lost—" Elizabeth began.
At that moment, the door opened.
A deep, heavy voice echoed through the room.
"Elizabeth. I believe Father is right. There's no need to go that far."
Elizabeth and her father both turned sharply, surprise—and a hint of unease—crossing their faces.
"…Richard?" the man said slowly.
"What are you doing here?"