With a subtle thought, a translucent system interface that only he could see materialized before Natsuki Subaru's eyes.
His gaze quickly fell upon a corner of his inventory. There, lying quietly, was a box emitting a soft, multicolored glow, standing out distinctly from all the other items, exceptionally eye-catching.
This was the Blessed Random Box the System had rewarded him with after he completed his last Class Change Quest.
Vastly different from the ordinary random boxes from his Daily Quests, which only ever yielded tissues, bandages, or ballpoint pens, this box was a high-tier reward reserved for special missions. Just looking at its brilliant light effect and hearing its name, 'Blessed,' made it feel extraordinary and filled him with anticipation.
"I bet it's just another dungeon key when I open it."
Natsuki Subaru muttered to himself, his voice tinged with a mix of resignation and habit.
After all, his past experiences with similar boxes had almost always resulted in a dungeon key, which had long since tempered his expectations. The System seemed unusually single-minded in this regard, rarely offering him any surprises.
But on second thought, dungeon keys were actually quite practical.
They were equivalent to exclusive solo dungeons, providing substantial experience points, rare equipment, and powerful weapons with each entry, offering a tangible boost to his power.
Moreover, this reward had another advantage: as his level increased, the dungeon's difficulty and rewards would scale accordingly, making it a stable and reliable path to becoming stronger. Compared to some of the more unpredictable rewards, this steady method of improvement was, in fact, more reassuring.
"Besides, going into a dungeon now is completely different from before."
At this thought, a profound, shadowy light flickered in Natsuki Subaru's eyes.
Having now changed his class to Shadow Monarch, he could summon countless Shadow Soldiers to fight alongside him at will. Those dungeons that once required dozens of hours of bitter struggle to clear could now probably be effortlessly conquered by simply commanding his Shadow Legion.
Natsuki Subaru could almost see himself leading his shadow army, sweeping through the dungeons. His Shadow Soldiers would clear the path ahead while he followed leisurely behind, occasionally stepping in to deal with a few troublesome enemies.
This steamrolling method of conquest would not only drastically increase his efficiency but also ensure his own safety to the greatest extent possible.
"Even if it is another dungeon key, I should be able to make much better use of this reward now."
Looking at the Blessed Random Box in his system inventory, a hint of anticipation returned to Natsuki Subaru's eyes.
Even if the reward was the same, the person using it was no longer who he used to be, and that was the biggest difference. No matter what came out, it would be another aid on his path to becoming stronger.
In this world fraught with danger, no opportunity to increase one's strength should be passed up.
"Well then, let's see what we've got." Natsuki Subaru took a deep breath, focusing his consciousness on the multicolored box.
"I hope it brings me a little surprise this time."
"But then again, even though it's called a 'Blessed Random Box'... how come it doesn't feel random at all?"
Natsuki Subaru couldn't resist the jab. With a light flick of his wrist, the Blessed Random Box materialized from his system inventory and landed steadily in his palm.
It was worth noting that despite its name, which suggested it could contain all sorts of rare and precious items, Natsuki Subaru was almost certain it would only produce a dungeon key, based on past experience.
It made one wonder if the System truly understood the meaning of the word 'random'.
Actually, if the Blessed Random Box genuinely produced other equipment or potions, it might have been a loss for Natsuki Subaru.
After all, Natsuki Subaru wasn't lacking for weapons or gear at the moment, and he could purchase all kinds of supplies from the System Shop at any time.
In comparison, a dungeon that offered a wealth of combat experience, rare materials, and high-tier equipment was far more practical and valuable.
"Still, always giving the same thing... the System has no creativity."
Natsuki Subaru looked at the iridescent box in his hand and couldn't help but complain again.
This monotonous reward system made him suspect the System was just being lazy.
Without much more hesitation, he decided to open the Blessed Random Box now. After all, tomorrow he had to accompany Emilia to the Royal Capital for a gathering, and he probably wouldn't have time to deal with this then.
"Open."
At Natsuki Subaru's thought, the box slowly floated into mid-air, the flowing light on its surface dancing to form a beautiful, five-colored ribbon of light.
With a soft click, the lid popped open.
In an instant, a dazzling golden light burst forth from the box, illuminating the entire room.
Shwa!
As the golden light faded, a strangely shaped key quietly fell into Natsuki Subaru's palm. The key was cool to the touch and radiated a faint magical fluctuation.
"A dungeon key again, just as I thought... Wait, this color doesn't look right, does it?"
Natsuki Subaru held the key up to his eyes to examine it closely.
The dungeon keys he had obtained in the past were always a deep black, whereas this one was a vivid, blood-like red. Its design was also more intricate, engraved with complex runes that glinted eerily in the moonlight.
Just then, the System's information interface unfolded before Natsuki Subaru's eyes, displaying a detailed description of the dungeon key:
[Item: Key to the Demon Castle]
[Type: Consumable (Single Use)]
[Acquisition Difficulty: S]
[Usage Limit: 0/1]
[Description: A special key forged by a certain unknown monarch, used to enter the Demon Castle. The castle's structure and the types of monsters within are completely random. Successful completion will yield bountiful rewards commensurate with the difficulty. It is rumored that the Demon Castle hides a secret about the "Holy Water of Life"—a miraculous potion capable of resurrecting the dead.]
[Warning: The flow of time inside the Demon Castle differs from reality, but the risk of death is real. It is recommended that challengers be Level 70 or higher.]
"Hm? The Key to the Demon Castle? Not the usual instant dungeon key... This one actually has a proper name..."
Natsuki Subaru stared at the red key in his hand, a flash of surprise in his eyes.
"The highest I ever got before was a B-rank or C-rank dungeon key, but this one is S-rank... That's too big of a difference."
"The Demon Castle... if I'm understanding this in gaming terms, this would be a high-tier raid among high-tier raids, wouldn't it?" A contemplative look appeared in Natsuki Subaru's eyes.
Natsuki Subaru gazed at the red Key to the Demon Castle in his hand, as if he could already see the enormous experience points and rare rewards from clearing it beckoning to him.
"However... the Demon Castle corresponding to this S-rank key will definitely not be an easy place."
Natsuki Subaru stared at the key in his hand, a black light glinting in his eyes. Although danger might lie ahead, as a warrior who had survived countless life-or-death trials, he was long accustomed to facing challenges.
"Just hearing the name makes it sound much more dangerous than a regular dungeon."
Besides, with the support of his Shadow Legion, he believed he stood a fighting chance.
Natsuki Subaru's power had increased significantly recently, growing from a clueless novice into the Shadow Monarch who could now stand his ground. He was confident he had the capital to challenge higher-difficulty dungeons and was even looking forward to testing the current limits of his strength.
Since the key's acquisition difficulty was directly related to the dungeon's intensity, the challenge of the Demon Castle corresponding to this S-rank key would surely far exceed any ordinary dungeon he had faced before.
This made Natsuki Subaru feel both excited and cautious.
However, a recommended level of 70 for the Demon Castle dungeon, huh...
Natsuki Subaru looked at the key's tooltip, stroking his chin in thought.
Although he was only Level 64, with the special abilities of the Shadow Monarch and the help of his Shadow Legion, challenging it while underleveled wasn't out of the question.
What intrigued Natsuki Subaru even more was the mention of the Holy Water of Life in the description.
"A miraculous potion capable of resurrecting the dead... Resurrection, huh?" Natsuki Subaru repeated the phrase softly, musing to himself, "That's more precious than any recovery potion."
"Isn't this basically a revive token? It's even more powerful than a status restoration, able to bring the dead back to life. It's truly a rare and wonderful item."
Natsuki Subaru couldn't help but imagine the various uses for such a miraculous potion and the immense value it might possess.
In this dangerous world, the ability to revive the dead was practically priceless.
But at the same time, Natsuki Subaru knew that the greater the reward, the greater the risk.
After all, risk and reward always go hand in hand. As the saying goes, 'the rougher the seas, the more valuable the fish,' and this was the same principle.
"So, the more dangerous the dungeon, the more bountiful the rewards upon completion. It's like an investment—the higher the risk, the greater the return."
"And, the Demon Castle is a perfect opportunity to level up." Natsuki Subaru tightened his grip on the glowing red key, a determined light flashing in his eyes as he resolved,
"I have to get stronger, reach a higher level. Not just raise my level, but also obtain more powerful equipment and skills, so I can face the challenges to come."
In Natsuki Subaru's view, his current Level 64 was far from enough.
Although he was countless times stronger than when he first arrived in this world, his current strength was nowhere near sufficient to handle the ever-increasing threats.
The dangers facing Emilia were growing by the day, the Witch Cult's activities were becoming more frequent, and those fanatics had a massive obsession with silver-haired half-elves like Emilia.
He had to increase his strength as quickly as possible to protect the important people around him, to prevent anyone from getting hurt.
"But now is not the time."
Toying with the cool key in his hand, Natsuki Subaru made a rational decision.
Because tomorrow, he had to accompany Emilia as she prepared to go to the Royal Capital for Crusch's gathering. This was an important diplomatic occasion that couldn't be delayed by his personal affairs.
Once all that was over, he would challenge the Demon Castle with his full attention. Then, he could focus on clearing the dungeon without any distractions.
"Leveling up should be pretty fast, I imagine..."
Natsuki Subaru thought with anticipation, his mind already starting to plan his strategy for conquering the Demon Castle. After all, every time he had entered a dungeon before, he had gained more than ten levels in a row. This Demon Castle would surely be no exception.
And with his current strength, plus the assistance of his Shadow Legion, he should be able to clear the dungeon much more efficiently.
"Oh well, it's getting late. I should get some rest and tackle this when I'm fully prepared..."
After returning the Key to the Demon Castle to his system inventory, Natsuki Subaru turned off the magic lamp, and the room was instantly plunged into darkness.
Moonlight streamed quietly through the window, spreading a silvery glow across the floor.
And in his system inventory, the red key emitted a faint light, quietly waiting for the moment it would be used.
.........
The Royal Capital.
In front of the Crusch mansion.
A luxurious dragon carriage came to a steady stop at the entrance. Natsuki Subaru, Emilia, and Beatrice alighted from the carriage one by one.
"No matter how you look at it, this mansion is seriously impressive."
Natsuki Subaru gazed at the mansion before him, unable to hold back his admiration. Its magnificence even surpassed that of Roswaal's own mansion.
Speaking of which, Crusch was the head of the Karsten Duchy.
With the royal bloodline now severed, she belonged to the noble class closest to royalty.
The Karsten family had been deeply involved in the nation's governance for many years, thus commanding immense prestige among the kingdom's officials. If one were to pick who among the five royal candidates was most likely to ascend the throne, Crusch was undoubtedly a top contender.
Currently, Crusch and Emilia were still rivals in the Royal Selection.
Come to think of it, Crusch's solid standing as a candidate was largely thanks to Natsuki Subaru. Not only had Natsuki Subaru fought alongside Crusch to subjugate the White Whale, winning immense prestige for both their camps, but more importantly, he had rescued her from the Sin Archbishop of Greed, Regulus.
He had helped Crusch preserve the power of the Karsten family, completely averting the tragic fate from the original story where she had her memories eaten by the Sin Archbishop of Gluttony.
Now, Crusch's advantage in the Royal Selection was even more pronounced than Emilia's.
But Natsuki Subaru had no regrets about helping her. Everything he did was based on his own principles, and he firmly believed that as long as it was a fair competition, he was confident he could help Emilia win the throne.
"Subaru..." Beatrice, who was beside him, gently tugged on the corner of his clothes, her voice sounding a bit listless.
"It's so boring out here, in fact. There isn't a single readable book. I'd rather be back in the Forbidden Library."
"You think everyone has a library specifically for forbidden books like Roswaal does?" Natsuki Subaru snapped out of his thoughts and lightly flicked Beatrice's smooth forehead, speaking in an exasperated but amused tone.
"Besides, you've already spent a whole four hundred years in that library. Now that you're finally out, can't you try to see more of the outside world... Clinging to your books all day, you're really becoming a little shut-in spirit who only knows how to stay indoors."
"Subaru, Betty is not a shut-in!" Hearing this, Beatrice instantly flared up, planting her hands on her hips and glaring at Natsuki Subaru. Her golden twin-drills swayed slightly with the motion.
"Betty was guarding the Forbidden Library, in fact! It's what Mother asked Betty to do!"
______
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