Chapter 15: The Coffer And The Fever
Theo did not know if he should tell Thalleria the whole story. He wanted to. But at the same time, he did not want to, because none of it made sense to him yet. He still did not know if this system was a harm to the others while being a help to him.
Theo did not want anything that would jeopardize these women or take advantage of them, so he wanted to be really sure the system was on his side before he went and told them all about it.
However, there were still some things he needed to explain to Thalleria. His death, for one. He would omit the system part and include the other necessary parts, so as not to be unfaithful to them.
"Theo."
While he was still thinking about it, he heard his name and returned to the door.
Estea was still seated on the toilet seat, and the smell of her excretion was not nice, but Theo did not think about that. She had managed to wipe herself before he came in, so he only had to lift her into her wheelchair and push her back. Then he helped her onto the bed, easing her legs straight and pulling the duvet up over her knees.
She looked at him. And she kept looking, long enough that Theo had to ask.
"Do you need anything else?"
However, she did not respond, and simply closed her eyes.
[Investment detected]
[Effect: HIGH]
[You have received a new skill]
Theo was frozen for a moment.
’She was surprised for such a simple thing.’
[Another Investment has been detected]
[This is an independent investment. Acts that are done without the knowledge of your wives, but you do them anyway in order to protect them and provide for them. This is called Hidden-grade Investments. Therefore this Investment grade can grant you rare and higher rank rewards. However, the moment the actions are being done to receive rewards instead of prioritizing the safety of your wives, the Hidden-grade Investment will become hidden and the conditions will change.]
[Hidden-grade Investment Detected]
[Action: Fought subconsciously to protect your wives]
[Action grade: HIGHLY COMMENDABLE]
[You have received an item: Coffer of the Unhurried Hour]
Theo stared at it for a moment, then summoned the full info.
[Coffer of the Unhurried Hour]
[Rank: Unique]
[Type: Utility]
[Description: A squat bottomless chest of pale grey wood, banded in a material that never quite reaches room temperature. It is heavier empty than it looks and lighter full than it should be. The interior is lined with a fabric that frosts over the moment the lid is closed.]
[Effect(s):
Organic matter placed inside this coffer does not spoil, decay or degrade.
Time within the interior is not stopped, merely reluctant. Roughly one hour passes for every thirty days outside.
It has no capacity and can be stored in the Inventory. Living things placed inside are not preserved, they suffocate at normal rate.]
’This is amazing...’
Theo’s eyes sparkled for a moment. What he kept turning over was how well the thing would let him hide something. He could pack money into a container, drop the container into the coffer, and bury the coffer in his inventory where nobody could reach in after it.
Heroes did not have an inventory like his, and therefore had to purchase storage items from the Tower if they needed them, such as rings, bracelets and bags. Still, those always fell under scrutiny. For example, when bringing out monster cores, you would be searched at the gate and then charged a levy on every core you had managed to harvest, counted out one by one in front of you.
These were common school topics, so Theo was very aware. However, having this coffer and then having an inventory meant that if he ever decided to go into the Tower, he would be able to escape the levy entirely.
Theo grinned evilly.
Then he brought up his profile, which was the most important thing he had been itching to see.
[STATUS Name: Theolyne Chadwick
Age: 21
Rank: (-)F
Awakened Skill: Hardening
Skill Proficiency: 2.03%]
[INVESTOR STATUS]
[Name: Theolyne Chadwick
Age: 21
Rank: unregistered
Attribute Affinity: Shadow, Ice, Fire, Wood.
Constitution: Limitless Body (61%)
Circulation Art: Limitless Flow (89%)
Skills: [Appraisal Eye(C)0.1%], [Shadow Sword(Mythic)0%], [Good Eye(A)0.0%]
Inventory: Uncommon Fruit Salad x1, Herbal Tea Recipe, Bottomless Flask, Uncommon Quill, Bone Strengthening Broth Recipe, Common Longsword, Coffer of the...]
...
Theo stared angrily at the constitution and the circulation art. The percentages sitting in front of them read as an incomplete assimilation rather than mastery. And seeing that he had gone through all of that pain and was still unable to completely assimilate the two infuriated him painfully.
’If I get a hold of that assassin!’
Theo paused.
’Speaking of that...’
An assassin had broken into their house, on their wedding night, and just after the Disaster King had threatened them. But what Theo did not seem to understand was this: wouldn’t the Disaster King have come to do the job himself if he wanted to be sure the job was done?
’It also didn’t look like he was after me. Is it the Disaster King, or is there someone else targeting their lives?’
Theo inhaled deeply and exhaled.
’I better check on Thall.’
He glanced into the room where Estea and Sesan were sleeping. Estea was covered with the duvet, while Sesan was still asleep in her wedding gown, the hem of it hanging off the mattress.
Theo wiped the blood clean from the floor and stepped out to see Thall. The sun had risen off the horizon, and a fierce wind was sweeping the rooftop along with a blinding light that Theo shielded his eyes from as he walked across the roofs and descended.
He hurried down. And Theo had reached the fifth floor before he paused and realized.
’Wait... I’m not tired?’
He tilted his head a few times, and a small smile climbed his face as the realization really sat deep. Theo giddily leaped down the last flights and reached the third floor, which was his. He then knocked on the door.
But there was no response.
’She’s still asleep by this time?’
Theo knocked harder this time. While he was knocking, the neighbor opposite him, a shy housewife, came out with the garbage, lowered her head as she greeted him, and walked away down the corridor.
Theo sighed, somehow embarrassed about knocking on his own door, so he brought out his key and opened it.
When he stepped inside, Thall was still asleep, peacefully. Theo glanced around.
’This place has not been this neat in ages, damn.’ He looked again. ’I guess she went straight to sleep when she came.’
Aside from her heels lying on the floor where she had stepped out of them, there was no other disorganization to the place. Theo stepped a little closer, watching her sleep peacefully.
Maybe a little too peacefully.
A small frown formed on his face as he noticed how extremely pale she was. His gaze shifted to the bed, and he could see it was damp with sweat, the sheet clinging dark along her side. Then Theo touched her forehead.
He pulled his hand away so quickly, because it felt like her temperature might fry his hand.
His fingers were still shaking when he lowered them.
It seemed that Thall’s condition had worsened over the night.
***
[System Notice: As the Author promised, a bonus Chapter has been released. Keep voting your power stones for more bonus Chapters]
***
[System Notice 2]
[Good Eye]
[Rank: A]
[Type: Perception(Active)]
[Description: These eyes can see the potential of a person, regardless of their present skill.]