Chapter 34: The Treasure Room (III).
"If you wanted a share," I muttered, taking a step back into a fighting stance, "you should've waited your turn."
And then… Cerberus lunged.
"...!" I was ready to defend or parry its strikes; any attack would've been dodged or countered! My mind was preparing for any scenario that might happen with a deadly hound.
Traits: Three Heads, High Strength, High Speed, Enhanced Smell, Fire Breath, Regeneration (Minor), Magic Resistance (Medium).
I would be careful dodging any attacks related to fire, I do have water spells but I'll tire myself out with it. Not to mention the trait of magic resistance, even if it's merely a medium… I doubt I could pull off the same stunt I did with the Minotaur. I can't be hasty!
"Come on you-!" Cerberus did lunge but only a few feet away from where I was standing. He sat down like a dog on four paws and proceeded to… wait. I lowered the Adamantium dagger slightly. "...it's not attacking?"
Cerberus sat in front of me and I didn't know what to do. A vey huge scary dog seemed to be tamed by Minotaur meat that's been marinated by simple fruit and some mushrooms on the side.
"Um… this is a little awkward." I stored the knife in my [Inventory] thinking it was safe. The guardian of this floor is not doing anything, I stared at the murals in the ceiling and wondered if I completed some unknown side quest that I wasn't even aware of.
"Roarffgh!." He barks as if waiting for something.
The left head scratches his ear before lowering itself to my level.
"Hi." I hesitantly reached my hand to touch his soft fur. "Why are you not attacking me?"
"Roaf."
I could see its tail wagging behind its back, this confuses me. I thought a monster like Cerberus would know… swing at me, claw me or even conjure some badass spells so I'll die without anyone finding my body.
I was… wrong?
"Okay, I just need to understand what it wants- I mean could it want the food? Hold on… could the food be worth more than my life?" Its tail immediately slammed against the rubbles behind it hard enough to send dust and rocks scattering everywhere.
CLATTER—!
"Okay, wow. I'll take that as enthusiasm. [Inventory]." I took all the cooked Minotaur dishes and placed them on the ground. "Here."
The gigantic hellhound let out a happy rumbling growl before devouring the remaining minotaur meat with terrifying speed. For a creature that looked capable of reducing castles to rubble, the way it ate felt strangely… domestic.
Like an oversized dog finally getting fed properly.
I crossed my arms and sighed.
"This has to be the weirdest survival strategy I've ever discovered." I looked at the mountain of treasure surrounding us. "Forget slaying the dungeon boss. Apparently the secret was cooking for it."
"Whoah! Good eater, I think I can make more if you're able to, you know, eat cursed meat parts of the Minotaur. I hope I can sell it or something when I get out of here." If I made a few more dishes for him, it might work but since the [Scan] information that my phone told me I should be careful.
Cerberus doesn't pose a threat to me any longer, he means no harm as long as I fed him. It would be good too, now that the Minotaur is dead the balance of the dungeon might change if I kill another boss.
"I'm not going to risk giving you a sick stomach, but I guess if you understood what I was saying and you actually waited to get your share does that mean you can understand my language?"
"Groaf!"
Cerberus pants, licking my face.
"Ew! But um-! You're welcome?" I wiped the saliva all off from my face and felt a sense of relief now that I won't need to fight another powerful boss. "Oh well that's good! I mean at least we can make a deal? You seem to love all the meat I cooked with the Minotaur so how about I trade? You show me the exit and I'll visit the dungeon again just to cook for you personally!"
The Cerberus gave a low rumbling bark before turning around and leading me deeper into the cavern.
The moment I stepped inside-
I froze.
Mountains of treasure glittered beneath the dim dungeon light.
Gold coins were piled high like miniature hills, spilling across the stone floor in endless waves of shining metal. Jeweled necklaces tangled together atop overflowing chests while silver goblets and golden crowns lay scattered carelessly among the treasure as if they were worthless stones.
Ruby-studded bracelets shimmered crimson beneath the light of glowing crystals embedded in the walls.
There were ceremonial swords with hilts forged from gold, diamond-encrusted chalices, emerald rings large enough for royalty, and ancient armor decorated with sapphire patterns that still gleamed despite their age.
Even random objects had been crafted from precious materials.
Golden plates. Golden statues. Golden candle holders.
I even spotted a completely unnecessary golden spoon buried beneath a pile of coins. Some treasures looked ancient enough to belong in a museum while others radiated faint traces of mana, likely magical artifacts collected from adventurers who never made it back out alive.
The entire cavern sparkled like a sea of stars.
"That's… a lot of treasure." The Cerberus puffed its chest slightly, almost proudly. "Are you guarding all of this?"
The three-headed beast let out a deep "Rrruff," as if confirming it.
I stared at the enormous creature sitting in the middle of unimaginable wealth and suddenly remembered something.
"In my old world, the legend of Cerberus guarded the gates of hell." I scratched my cheek awkwardly. "I guess there's another Cerberus that guards dungeon treasure too."
The beast tilted one of its heads curiously.
"If you think about it…" I looked around the empty cavern. "If you've been stuck here guarding this place your whole life… then you've probably only eaten raw monster meat all this time."
The Cerberus slowly lowered its heads.
"…Oh."
That explained everything. To me, the meal I cooked earlier was mediocre at best. But to a creature that had spent its entire existence eating raw flesh in a lonely dungeon… It must've tasted like an unforgettable delicacy.
Among the mountains of glittering treasure, one object stood apart from everything else.
It rested alone atop a dark velvet pillow placed upon a stone pedestal at the center of the chamber.
A dagger.
At least… it looked like one.
Unlike the golden relics and jeweled artifacts surrounding it, this blade possessed no extravagant decorations. Its sheath was entirely black, smooth like polished obsidian, while faint silver patterns curled across the handle like flowing moonlight.
Yet the moment my eyes landed on it- I couldn't look away.
"What's that?" Cerberus lazily lifted one head from its pile of treasure and glanced toward the pedestal. "It's… a dagger resting on a fancy pillow?"
But something about it felt wrong.
No—
Different.
The treasure around it glittered brilliantly, yet somehow this single dagger overshadowed all of it. It felt as though the air itself bent subtly around the weapon, quietly demanding attention.
My chest tightened. A strange pull tugged at me from deep within.
Why did this one feel so important?
I looked toward Cerberus carefully.
"Can I touch this one?" The massive guardian blinked sleepily before giving a slow nod. "Thank you."
I stepped closer. The closer I got, the colder the air became. Ancient markings were engraved faintly along the sheath, symbols I couldn't recognize no matter how hard I stared at them. They almost seemed to shift whenever I focused too long.
Then- I grabbed the dagger.
The instant my fingers touched the handle, blinding light exploded outward.
"Agh-!"
The chamber vanished beneath a storm of silver radiance. Wind roared around me violently while strange symbols spiraled through the air like fragments of stars. The unreadable inscription along the blade illuminated brightly, glowing one letter at a time as though awakening after centuries of silence.
Then a voice echoed directly inside my mind.
"I congratulate thee… thou hast freed me from my form." The light slowly faded.
I blinked repeatedly, trying to clear my vision. Standing in front of me was no longer a dagger.
A girl stood there instead.
She looked human at first glance - pale silver hair cascading down to her waist, luminous golden eyes, and skin so flawless it almost seemed unreal. A white dress trimmed with faint glowing patterns wrapped around her slender figure while fragments of light drifted lazily around her body.
Yet despite her appearance…
Something about her presence felt unnatural.
Not monstrous.
Not human either. Her golden eyes locked onto mine with unwavering intensity as she took a small step forward.
"What art thou name… my new master?"
Wait… what did she just say?
"Master?" I repeated blankly. I instinctively glanced toward Cerberus for help. The giant guardian merely yawned loudly before curling deeper into its treasure pile, completely unconcerned as if this situation were perfectly normal.
"Lazy dog," I muttered under my breath. The silver-haired girl tilted her head slightly.
"I'm sorry, little girl, but I can't be your master," I said quickly explaining to her that I'm not qualified to be anyone's master. I'm born from a common family with no blood of nobility. "W-Where's the dagger I was holding?"
The girl blinked and slowly pointed at herself. "Thou art looking at the dagger. I have never left your side, master."
"…Wait a minute." A cold realization crawled up my spine. "You're the dagger?"
She nodded calmly, her face coming close to mine.
"I can become anything thou desirest." Her body shimmered faintly. For a brief moment, her arm dissolved into glowing particles before reforming into the shape of a black blade.
"A dagger. A sword. A bow." She stepped closer. "Even weapons that do not yet exist. If thou can imagine it… I may assume its form."
My jaw slowly dropped.
A transforming weapon…?
No.
Not just a weapon.
Something far stranger.
"Master," she repeated softly.
I gulped, I'm not used to this.
"P-Please stop calling me that."
"As thou wish… Master."
"That's literally the opposite of what I asked. But ahem, for now do you have a name?" She moved even closer until her face was suddenly only inches from mine. Far too close. I could see my reflection in her glowing golden eyes.
Her eyes… are really beautiful.
"I have been granted a name long before," she said quietly. "Celestia. A [Divine Weapon]."
Divine Weapons are sacred armaments touched by the will of gods, ancient spirits, or celestial beings. Unlike ordinary weapons, they are alive with authority, carrying a presence that can overwhelm weak minds and awaken miracles in the hands of chosen wielders. Some take the form of shifting blades, spears, bows, or staves that change shape according to their master's intent. Others are blessed relics that release immense destructive power, purifying light, divine flames, or protective barriers strong enough to turn the tide of war.
Among the rarest divine weapons are those with a soul of their own.
These can manifest a humanoid form, appearing as beings born from steel, light, and sacred energy. In this state, they may speak, think, and fight alongside their chosen wielder as both weapon and companion. Their power is said to grow through trust, faith, and recognition, not merely through bloodshed.
To wield a divine weapon is not just to hold a tool of battle, but to be acknowledged by something far beyond mortal strength.
"A weapon with will." (Celestia) nodded gently. "A weapon with its own conciousness. A weapon capable of choosing its master and I am now yours, I will serve you till your dying day. I will die the moment you die. I will grow as you do the same."
Her expression remained calm and unreadable, yet there was unmistakable curiosity in her eyes as she studied me.
Then, without warning- She leaned even closer.
"Master," she whispered in my ear, "why art thou trembling?"
First, I'm getting too much information overload and I just got past one of the scariest bosses on this floor to only win it over with food. Second, a girl around my age appeared and claimed herself to be the same dagger I was touching. Lastly, this said girl is too committed towards me!
What do you mean you'll serve me till your dying day?!
I mean, thank you but you should serve yourself! I'll be fine on my own!
"I-I'm not trembling." I could only pray she believed the terrible lie. In reality, my legs were absolutely shaking. Not because she looked dangerous- But because she kept getting closer.
"Master, you are."
"…It's because you're standing too close."
"Oh." (Celestia) paused thoughtfully. "Is that so?"
Then somehow leaned closer anyway.
"I could hear your heart beating, I… Is it my fault?" (Celestia) asks. It seems that she is not aware of known social cues. I am kind of sensitive when it comes to my private space.
"I-I mean- maybe a little?" I admitted weakly.
Celestia tilted her head curiously before slowly raising a hand toward my chest.
"W-Wait-"
Her palm rested directly over my heartbeat. The warmth of her touch passed through my clothes instantly, and my entire body stiffened.
Then she leaned forward. Way too forward. Her silver hair brushed lightly against me as she pressed her ear against my chest, listening carefully.
"Could it be that you love me?"
"N-No?!" My voice cracked immediately. "W-We literally just met!"
"My mother fell in love with a human too, from the moment they met," (Celestia) explained innocently. "She told me a human loves you if their heart beats loudly like a drum."
She looked up at me.
"I do not know what a drum is," she admitted honestly. "But your heart… is loud."
I looked away, "I-It's beating normally!"
It absolutely was not.
The problem was that Celestia was unfairly beautiful up close.
Her silver hair shimmered softly beneath the dungeon light like threads of moonlight woven into silk. Her golden eyes glowed with an almost hypnotic warmth, unwavering and completely focused on me alone. Every small movement she made felt graceful without effort, and the calm curiosity on her face only made her feel more unreal.
Worst of all-
She kept staring directly into my eyes while speaking with complete sincerity.
No hesitation. No embarrassment. Just innocent boldness.
Meanwhile, my brain was rapidly failing under the pressure.
"Master," she asked softly, "why is your face becoming red?"
"I-It's not red."
"It has become redder."
"…Please stop noticing things."
Celestia blinked slowly. Then, somehow, she moved even closer again, close enough that I could feel her breath against my skin.
"I think," she said thoughtfully, "that humans are difficult to understand."
Cerberus snored loudly from atop the treasure pile in the background, completely abandoning me to this bizarre situation.