Traits 34 - Dumpster

Start with 13 Traits – Chapter 34

Fortress City Kramdel

Kramdel is called a fortress city because the entire city has been fortified.

A colossal castle so huge that it’s rarely seen in the human world. That massive structure stretching endlessly, the kind that could only be depicted in comics or movies, was Kramdel.

In its center stood the stone statue of a white tiger.

‘The White King.’

The White King, the guardian deity of the North.

Likewise, Kramdel was also under the protection of the White King.

As long as the White King protects it, neither the demon realm, the ruler of the abyss, nor humans could covet this place.

‘I did make a promise, but it shouldn't matter.’

I had promised that creature I wouldn't set foot in the north again, but this body wasn't Wilhelm but Randolph.

Besides, what I wanted was the 'Ultimate Mystery'.

All I had to do in the process was retrieve Andasar, the daughter of Priest Andrew.

There would be absolutely no chance of encountering the White King.

"W- Wow, it's incredible."

“Certainly, Kramdel is the only castle of this magnitude. Caw.”

“No, that’s not it… I mean the monsters trying to enter the castle."

Isabella whispered.

The castle entrance was packed.

It was incredibly crowded with monsters trying to gain entry.

But the monsters really varied in level.

But common sense made it hard to imagine monsters 'lining up' to enter the castle.

'Monsters with intelligence.'

They are on a different level from ordinary field monsters.

These are evolved monsters.

Just as the Corpse Crows by devouring players, they too had evolved through various methods and could now perceive the 'hidden path’.

From regular monsters to boss monsters.

There were even mythical species mixed in occasionally.

'Why do so many monsters gather at Kramdel?'

Even I, well-versed in Pangenia, don't know the exact reason they gather at Kramdel.

I think I’d heard rumors that this place was a paradise for monsters.

Grrrrowl!

'…Judging by the Glutton's reaction, it's certain.'

My ‘Gluttony’ trait is reacting even though I am mimicking the Corpse Crows King.

It seems the core of an evolved monster is Gluttony's staple food.

But I can't be swayed by just one trait.

If I cause trouble here, I might really not be able to escape.

<This area is under the blessing of the White King, teleportation is impossible.>

I can't use a Teleport Scroll here either.

Naturally, no warp functions existed inside the castle either.

It meant I had to do what I came for as quietly as possible and leave.

'There are three lines.'

The problem was the three lines.

A line for normal monsters, a line for high-ranking monsters, and a path where ancient species like mythical or phantasmal types could pass freely.

Well, monsters are even more hierarchical than humans.

I hesitated for a moment before stood in the regular line.

An endless procession. Judging by the speed it was moving, I would probably have to wait a whole day, but there was no other choice.

"A Half-Dragon and a 'King' must stand in the second line."

Then the 'Flower Cactus' in front spoke.

The Flower Cactus is a level 3 monster that appears in desert areas.

【Lv.5】

But the Flower Cactus in front of me was beyond that standard.

The original Flower Cactus is a monster with almost no intelligence.

This too was an evolved species.

"Thanks for letting me know. Caw."

I gave a brief greeting and moved positions.

The second line was much shorter.

It seemed entirely possible to enter within half a day.

"How dare a mere Corpse Crow stand before me? Move aside."

As I turned my back, there was something wearing a pointed black hood-like cloak.

An entity from the abyss called 'Chaos Cone'.

【Lv. 8】

It seemed the stories about monsters from the abyss being in Kramdel were true.

Of course, no one knows what's in the abyss, so it's not impossible for such a peculiar individual to exist.

'Ignoring is the best policy.'

What reason could there be for all sorts of monsters gathering here and lining up in an orderly manner?

“You dare ignore me?”

As I blatantly ignored it, the Chaos Cone's voice turned sharp.

“Fighting, forbidden. If fight, end up, like that.”

The burning skull 'Fire Skull' in front of me said while looking at the center of the castle wall.

At the center of the wall, countless types of statues were displayed.

"Gate's, Master, Medusa, turns, stones."

They are all monsters turned to stone by Medusa.

Seeing them displayed as decorations, it was perverse taste at its finest.

‘Medusa is a Super Elite Raid Boss Monster.’

Medusa is a level 11 Super Elite Raid Boss Monster.

A monster among monsters that requires at least twelve 1-star transcendents, or at minimum three 2-star transcendents gathered together to defeat.

While said to be level 11, she is practically an absolute being who could be considered beyond that.

Monster levels, unlike players, are determined by their specifications.

'The longer the modifiers in front of a monster, the more powerful it is.'

For example, if a normal monster is level 11, it means a single player level 11 can hunt it sufficiently.

A monster with the 'Boss' modifier requires at least two level 11 players, and a monster with the 'Raid Boss' modifier means four players are needed to face it.

An 'Elite Raid Boss' monster requires eight characters of the same level, and a 'Super Elite Raid Boss' monster requires twelve to coordinate an attack just to begin attempting it.

The only specifications beyond that are beings like the White King or Demon Lord.

'She was definitely one of the White King's four trusted subordinates.'

Furthermore, Medusa is one of the Four Heavenly Kings serving the White King.

She was an existence feared by all.

The Fire Skull turned its gaze to the Chaos Cone and spoke.

"Cone. On cheek, mark, appeared."

“What?”

Before they knew it, Medusa's mark had appeared above Chaos Cone.

A warning and curse sent by Medusa.

"Hiiiiek!"

Chaos Cone made a fuss and spun its body round and round.

As expected.

Ignoring it was the answer.

There was a reason why the notable monsters were lining up orderly and there was no fighting.

If Medusa, who never lets go of anyone she has cursed once, is guarding the gate, then they have no choice but to be obedient.

If I had reacted to Chaos Cone, Medusa's curse would have been engraved on my cheek too.

…What an interesting place.

"'Star Guardians'!"

"And two of them at that!"

It was then.

The surroundings suddenly grew noisy.

'Star Guardian?'

Turning my head toward the center of the commotion at the somewhat familiar term, I saw two creatures, a Phantasmal Species and a Mythical Species, approaching the gate.

One was a Phantasmal Species phoenix whose entire body blazed with blue flames.

The other was a Mythical Species serpent so long you couldn't see its end.

"That snake is...?"

As if surprised too, Isabella was staring at the snake with wide eyes.

I was equally surprised.

...Why is Dramuth here?

Being called Star Guardians means they entered this place with that qualification.

But weren’t Star Guardians incapable of leaving the stars’ vicinity?

The question lasted only a moment.

In an instant, the phoenix and Dramuth slipped inside the castle.

The Fire Skull spoke.

"The rumor, about, a new, star, appearing, must be, true."

“What is a new star? Caw.”

"Rumor, has it, the thirty, third, star, appeared, in Kramdel."

What does that mean?

There are thirty-two stars on the continent.

This has been unchanged for 5 years.

It's the same looking at Pangenia's history.

But a 33rd star?

‘The Stars are the thirty-two fragments the Goddess split into when she died.’

Does that mean there was a piece hidden somewhere?

I quietly stroked my chin.

Dramuth, who never leaves his sanctuary, has appeared in Kramdel.

Even the monsters were talking about a 'thirty-third star'.

But, it doesn't make sense.

However, my interest was gushing forth like crazy.

'If it's true, I absolutely can't miss this.'

It looked like I needed to investigate.

If I could secretly make contact with Dramuth, that wouldn’t be bad either.

*

Inside Kramdel.

Surprisingly, the interior wasn't much different from human cities.

But if there is one feature that stands out in particular.

"Come to Compassion Hot Spring for purification of body and mind! Half price today only!"

“You must purify your unstable flesh! We serve with kindness, come to Kindness Hot Springs!”

Smoke rising from everywhere.

It all seemed to be steam from hot spring water.

But this is the north. The outside is covered entirely in snow, yet hot springs?

Seeing that even the monsters who come here go to the hot springs first, it seems their very purpose is there.

'It has changed a lot since I came as Wilhelm.'

I once infiltrated Kramdel as Wilhelm to hunt the White King.

Just one year ago.

Back then, there weren't this many monsters in Kramdel.

Moreover, there were no hot springs either.

A cataclysmic level of change had occurred in just one year.

“Are you by chance a Half-Dragon? There is a Half-Dragon at our hot spring right now. how Would you like to join them for a mixed bath?”

A goblin wearing a white helmet approached Isabella.

All the goblins promoting their shops wore that same white helmet.

The monster rat that had guided us was wearing a black helmet. It seemed the color of those helmets held different meanings.

“You say there is a Half-Dragon? Caw.”

“Yes. The very Half-Dragons said to be extinct. Wouldn't this be a perfect opportunity to catch up with one of your own kind?”

The Heavenly Dragon option that activates when wearing the Michela set.

But that Heavenly Dragon option merely grants the wings of a Heavenly Dragon.

It's not a real Heavenly Dragon, which is why they're called 'Half-Dragons'.

You can think of it as a Half-Heavenly Dragon. But the true Half-Dragons went extinct long ago.

'...They're human.'

Therefore, they're human.

There is a human who, like Isabella, infiltrated Kramdel while wearing the Michela set.

They might even be a player.

'I should check.'

Anyway, I'm currently Corpse Crow King.

And I only needed to make them believe Isabella was a real Half-Dragon.

“What must I pay. Caw?”

"Ah, is this your first time in Kramdel? It's 10 minutes' worth of 'Evolution Fragments.'"

"Evolution Fragments. Caw?"

“This is it.”

A faint golden light surrounds the goblin's entire body.

Soon, as the goblin gathered the golden light, a very small amount of gold dust floated above its hand.

'...Fragments of the broken Golden Rule?'

The shattered fragments of the Golden Rule were being used like currency here as well.

Strange. Weren't the fragments of the Golden Rule something only players could possess?

More importantly, the fragments of the Golden Rule were being called Evolution Fragments here.

'So fragments of the Golden Rule are the cause of evolution.'

Evolved monsters.

Thus, they gained intelligence and became stronger.

I never would have thought the cause would be the shattered Golden Rule fragments.

That means, just like the Corpse Crow, all the monsters here possess shattered Golden Rule fragments.

'And they can even trade them...'

Fragments of the Golden Rule could be traded.

The Golden Rule Shop suddenly came to mind.

Perhaps it's a similar concept.

When I attempted it with the same sensation as using fragments in reality, the light of the Golden Rule began to rise around me.

"Oh?"

“That's quite impressive for a Corpse Crow.”

In an instant, the gaze of the surrounding monsters focused on me.

The remaining Golden Rule time I have is about 19 hours.

That alone seems to be a significant amount here.

Like the goblin had done, I touched the light of the Golden Rule and detached a fragment.

“Is this enough? Caw.”

"You two are most welcome!"

*

Sincerity Hot Spring.

It was a hot spring of quite decent size, located slightly away from the center of Kramdel.

I don't know why all the names are like this, but this size is sufficient for unraveling the secret of the hot spring water.

After paying at the lobby and being guided deep inside, the hot spring came into view.

Among numerous monsters enjoying the hot spring.

“…Hmm? A Half-Dragon?”

A man with Heavenly Dragon wings was enjoying a hot spring bath at the center along with snow women.

The man looked at the newly entered Isabella and frowned.

Of course, I too couldn't help but furrow my brow upon seeing the man.

'Human.'

As expected, that guy is human.

【Lv.10】

And a powerhouse at level 10 no less!

The lightning-shaped scar embedded on his forehead.

The golden hair design as if struck by lightning.

Even a Special Grade Mystery in the form of static electricity hovering around him.

From any angle, that guy who couldn't help but stand out was definitely someone I knew.

And the shock of seeing him was greater than, or at least equal to, the shock of seeing Dramuth.

'...Why is that guy here?'

I couldn't have seen it wrong.

There's no way I could mistake those features.

Just like Isabella... because he's a character I raised.

'Lightning-Severing Hunter.'

Isaac of Lightning Severance (뇌절(雷絶))!

He was at max level and equipped with quite a few treasure-grade items, but because he had done so many bizarre things, it was impossible even to log in as him.

That ill-fated character who faced the crisis of being immediately killed by a named NPC upon login—he was now looking at me right before my eyes.