Chapter 46

Is life good for the Treasure Hoarders?

Not really.

Although most people join the Treasure Hoarders to strike it rich, very few actually manage to improve their lives.

Instead, because they've joined the Treasure Hoarders, they're ostracized everywhere, like rats scurrying through the streets, chased and beaten wherever they go.

"Brother Tadao, is there really treasure in there? But aside from some strange shrines, we didn't see anything."

Aken, while polishing the throwing knives in his hands, asked.

"Yeah, and when we were there, I felt really uneasy, like someone was watching us from the shadows. Won't the gods punish us?"

A fellow Treasure Hoarder named Aho, squeezing closer to Aken, chimed in.

Compared to Tadao, Aken and Aho had only recently joined the Treasure Hoarders, so they were only assigned to scouting tasks.

In team operations, they were usually responsible for reconnaissance and surveillance.

But compared to the well-off Tadao, even after half a year in the Treasure Hoarders, their lives hadn't improved much.

Even the throwing knives in their hands had been used countless times. When they got dull, they'd just sharpen them with rocks by the stream, unable to afford new ones.

With Tadao as their mentor, they shouldn't have been struggling this much.

Unfortunately, they lacked talent and, due to poor education, could barely read or write.

They were only fit for scouting work.

If it weren't for Tadao taking them under his wing this time, they probably wouldn't have had the chance to be involved in a mission of this level.

"What do you know? The stranger the place, the more likely it is to hold treasures. And remember, you can ask me these questions, but never bring them up in front of others. Otherwise, someone might use it as an excuse to get rid of you!"

Tadao had been in the Treasure Hoarders for quite some time, and he understood the internal power struggles better than anyone.

Despite belonging to the same organization, they were far from friendly.

If it were anyone else, scouts like Aho and Aken would have been treated as cannon fodder.

Take those guys over there, for example.

They were subordinates of a small-time boss named Kosuke from Narukami Island, sent to assist Tadao with reconnaissance.

If it weren't for Tadao watching over them, Aken and Aho would have already been thrown as bait to the Slimes lurking in that cave.

Those guys would have been more than happy to watch these rookies die in front of them and then loot their belongings.

Unlike other Treasure Hoarders, Tadao had some education and talent, giving him skills that ordinary members lacked—alchemy.

In Teyvat, some people use methods other than Visions to harness elemental power.

For example, the Fatui's ongoing research into Delusions, and alchemy.

Or Kseniya's ability to manipulate Cicins by exploiting their attraction to Mist Grass.

Tadao's methods were somewhat similar to those of an alchemist.

In the past, to break through the hard stones in ruins, some Treasure Hoarders with basic alchemical knowledge tried concocting potions.

These potions had properties similar to elemental powers.

For instance, explosive and flammable Pyro potions, freezing Cryo potions, damp Hydro potions, and tingling Electro potions.

Early in his career, Tadao had followed an alchemist who specialized in Electro potions.

Unlike proper alchemy, the recipes passed down among the Treasure Hoarders were more like folk remedies, lacking the stability of true alchemy.

So to inherit this craft, one needed not only attention to detail but also a sharp mind.

The reason the Treasure Hoarders' alchemical knowledge has survived to this day is largely due to the improvements made by some members.

Otherwise...

It would have been like the old days, where every use of a potion required sacrificing a member.

Right now, Tadao was using Kseniya's broken pot to brew his potions.

This was one of the advantages of alchemy—even without an alchemy table, as long as you had a pot, you could mix your own concoctions.

As the night deepened, the guards had already changed shifts, but Tadao was still studying his potions by the firelight.

"Huh?"

Putting down the potion he had just prepared, Tadao looked curiously at the other group of Treasure Hoarders who didn't belong to his team.

He couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.

To put it simply... it seemed like there were fewer people than when they first arrived.

Were they on guard duty? Or had they gone to the bathroom?

Ugh, what a bunch of rookies. How could they just wander off in the pitch dark?

If they attracted some Hilichurls, that would be one thing, but if it were the Nobushi, things could get messy.

Although the Treasure Hoarders often collaborated with the Nobushi, those insatiable devils weren't to be trifled with.

After grumbling a bit, Tadao went back to studying his potion, trying to see if he could improve it.

But a few minutes later, when he looked up again, his scalp tingled.

Because someone he had seen earlier had disappeared.

Had they gone to the bathroom?

No way!

Although he hadn't been paying full attention to that group, he hadn't been completely absorbed in his potion-making either.

He was certain that no one from that group had moved or left.

So why had someone just vanished into thin air?

A yokai? An evil spirit? Or...

Thinking back to the cave they had explored earlier, Tadao began to feel uneasy.

He gripped a potion in his hand and slowly stood up.

Based on experience, he first looked toward the guards.

But strangely, some of the guards were missing too, and their companions didn't seem to notice. They were either leaning against trees or resting on rocks, as if they were slacking off?

No! They weren't slacking off!

They were dead!

Realizing this, Tadao immediately wanted to shout a warning.

But the cold sensation on his neck made him close his mouth.

A black ghost wearing a white mask appeared in front of him.

"Shh."

The figure still held a dagger in his left hand, while his right hand moved to his lips, making a silencing gesture.

Having been in the Treasure Hoarders for so long, Tadao was no fool.

He knew that since the other party hadn't killed him, there must be a reason.

Besides, those who had been killed weren't from his group, so he wisely nodded and sat back down.

But the potion he had just prepared? He didn't dare hold onto it anymore.

At this point, the white-masked ghost stopped pretending. He didn't even bother hiding his form, striding boldly into the midst of the sleeping Treasure Hoarders.

He was like a gust of wind in the night, stealing away the warmth of the Treasure Hoarders' bodies and reaping their souls.

Tadao finally understood why some of his comrades had disappeared.

After the dagger pierced their bodies, some of them inexplicably turned into faint points of light and vanished on the spot.

This unheard-of method made the fear in his heart nearly unbearable.

Is this guy... the Grim Reaper?