MARVEL-THE MULTIVERSE TRADER

MASS RELEASE CHAPTER → 3

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After spending a few more days at the church, Nova finally took his leave — much to the reluctance of the children, who clung to him with pleading eyes and desperate little hands. Their small faces pressed against him, cheeks warm and eyes shimmering with a mixture of sadness, admiration, and childish devotion. He had become their favorite big brother, a figure of wonder and warmth, and now they were being asked to let him go.

He ruffled their hair one last time, offering reassuring smiles and playful winks to ease their sorrow, though it tugged at his heart more than he cared to admit.

Clutching the slightly worn broom Father Orsi had gifted him — its handle smooth from years of use and the bristles fraying at the edges — Nova kicked off the ground and shot into the sky. A reckless grin plastered itself across his face as the wind whipped through his hair and tugged at his clothes. He weaved and darted through the air like an overeager child with a long-coveted toy in his hands, dipping low over treetops and shooting up toward the clouds with wild, carefree abandon.

Flying on broom might not be same as capability for independent flight like his future abilities would someday grant him, but right now, none of that mattered. Flying was flying. And in that moment, with the endless sky above him, the sprawling world beneath his feet, and the sun warming his back, Nova felt utterly, gloriously free.

Hours later, as the initial thrill wore off and the horizon stretched into unfamiliar lands, he finally slowed. Reaching into his system inventory, Nova pulled out a well-worn map. His gaze scanned over the markings and landmarks for a few moments before his lips curved into a small, satisfied smirk.

He had arrived.

The location lay at the tense, unclaimed border between the Clover Kingdom and the Heart Kingdom — a wild, neutral region of land neither kingdom officially governed. Its untamed stretches were rife with ancient ruins, forgotten relics, and hidden dungeons, making it a favored hunting ground for fortune-seekers, relic hunters, and wandering mages. Both kingdoms sent search parties here on occasion, hoping to recover treasures, ancient tomes, or powerful artifacts to strengthen their nations.

Which was why flying openly and recklessly through the skies had been a foolish move — one that could've easily drawn unwanted attention. Nova grimaced at the thought, chastising himself as he descended, landing smoothly amid a thicket of trees. He dismounted, shouldering the broom and tossing it back into his system inventory with a thought.

Now came the real reason for his trip.

Hidden somewhere nearby was a dungeon — not just any dungeon, but the very one where Asta, Yuno, Noelle, and a few others had once been sent on a mission. The same dungeon where Yuno had earned the allegiance of the Wind Spirit, Sylph, and where Asta had laid his hands on his second sword: the Demon Dweller.

And Nova intended to loot it.

Every relic. Every coin. Every precious artifact the dungeon had to offer would be his. With those riches, he would lay the foundation for his new life here — and more importantly, for his business.

According to the memories integrated into his mind, the Ashbourne family had once been a noble house known for their mastery in artifact creation. It had been a profitable, prestigious trade — one that made them influential among the lesser noble circles. That was, until disaster struck. During a coordinated attack, every known member of the Ashbourne family had been slaughtered… or so the world believed.

But as fate would have it, the sole heir yet lived, Nova Ashbourne.

Shaking his head with a faint chuckle, Nova reached into his system inventory and pulled out a small, ornate compass. The polished metal casing gleamed faintly in the dappled sunlight, and as he flicked it open, the needle inside immediately began to twitch and spin.

A smug smile tugged at his lips.

Children really were far too gullible — and easy to bribe. A few simple toys, a bit of playful flattery, and Hollo, one of the more wide-eyed kids from the orphanage, had eagerly made a wish using Nova's ability.

And what had he wished for? A magical, treasure-hunting compass.

Nova had simply guided the wish in the right direction.

The result was better than he'd hoped for. This wasn't just any compass — it was a Treasure-Seeker's Compass, a rare magical tool that would forever point toward the nearest treasure within a given range. But that wasn't the best part.

The needle changed color based on the rarity of the treasure it detected.

Green for common. Blue for uncommon. Purple for rare. Gold for legendary. Red for cursed or dangerous.

And if there were multiple treasures within the vicinity, the compass would project a faint, shimmering holographic map above its face, marking the surrounding area and indicating the treasures' locations, their rarity, and potential danger levels.

As Nova watched, the needle started to rotate very fast.

As the compass settled, a soft hum emanated from its enchanted surface, and a shimmering holographic map projected above its face. Faint lines traced the surrounding terrain, the hologram had various coloured markings, indicating treasures but Nova's attention was only on two distinct golden markings that pulsed brightly on the display.

One of the golden markers was a deep, pure gold, its glow steady and strong — a sign of something exceptionally valuable and likely stable. The other, however, flickered between gold and a sinister crimson tint, as if warning of danger laced within its worth.

"It seems he got very lucky. Two locations which contain legendary rank treasures." Nova muttered, tilting his head as he studied the readings.

Experience, from watching movies and reading novels, fanfictions etc., had taught him not to charge blindly into the unknown, especially when valuable treasures were involved. The flickering gold-red marker practically screamed cursed or heavily guarded — not something he wanted to tangle with before securing easier, safer loot.

Play it smart, then.

He made his decision quickly.

"Let's grab the pure gold first." Nova smirked to himself. "No sense in courting trouble before lining my pockets."

Pocketing the compass, he moved swiftly, weaving through the dense undergrowth and following the path illuminated on the holographic map. The wind carried the scent of damp earth and wildflowers, but beneath it all, Nova could feel the faint, intoxicating pulse of magic in the air — ancient, dormant, waiting to be claimed.

The dungeon with the deep, pure gold reading would be his first stop. Once he'd emptied it of its riches, then — and only then — would he consider dealing with whatever cursed treasure lurked at that other, blood-tinted mark.

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Before long, Nova arrived at the location the compass had indicated. The needle quivered steadily, pointing directly beneath his feet as the holographic map shimmered and marked this very spot.

He glanced around, scanning the dense thicket and uneven terrain. Moss-covered rocks, scattered tree roots, and waist-high grass greeted him — but no sign of a dungeon entrance. Not a single ruined archway, weathered stone door, or ominous set of descending stairs.

Nova frowned, scratching the back of his head.

"Am I in the right place…?" he muttered, arching a brow in confusion.

Yet the compass remained unwavering, its golden glow undimmed.

And then, like a spark catching dry kindling, realization struck.

"Wait a second… it's underground."

A crooked grin tugged at the corner of his lips as the pieces clicked together. Of course. Old dungeons weren't always dramatic towers or crumbling temples — sometimes they were buried relics of ancient civilizations, sealed away from sight.

Without wasting another moment, Nova raised his hand. His grimoire shimmered into existence beside him, pages fluttering open as its soft glow illuminated the ground. Crouching low, he pressed his palm against the earth.

"Reality Script: Stairs."

Golden script-like runes flared into existence beneath his touch, spreading out in intricate patterns along the ground. The earth trembled, loose stones rattling as the soil parted before him. Grass and dirt sank away, revealing a wide, spiraling stone staircase descending into the darkness below.

A musty, ancient draft wafted up from the depths, carrying the scent of dust, old magic, and long-forgotten secrets.

Nova smirked, standing upright.

"There you are, you greedy little vault."

With a flick of his wrist, he summoned a sphere of soft light to hover above his shoulder, illuminating the passage ahead. Then, without a backward glance, he descended into the darkness, the promise of treasure urging him onward.