Traits 35 - Dumpster

Start with 13 Traits – Chapter 35. Mythical Rank

Lightning Severance Hunter.

This was a character I created half-jokingly to check if this negligent game company was actually managing their game.

Although I put a lot of effort into him compared to how it started as a joke, he was the very definition of a so-called ‘troller’. I went around doing all sorts of nasty things all over the continent.

For example, stealing from named NPCs, joining as a mercenary in a warring city only to pillage ally supply routes, or robbing priests of the Goddess Church.

‘That was just the cute stuff.’

When no punishment was given for any of it, the Lightning Severance Hunter became bolder.

He cut off all resources heading to a city, assassinated the city’s key figures, then froze the warps to trigger a monster wave.

This was recorded as the first monster wave caused by a gamer, and while it ultimately resulted in an entire city sinking into the abyss... there were still no sanctions.

‘At the time, I thought the game company had abandoned the game.’

Why make a good game and not promote it?

The declining concurrent player count was painful to watch.

...Now that I think about it, that many people were being summoned into the game, but there’s no way I could have known that back then.

If I had known, it would have been a horror game in itself.

I was witnessing people disappear one by one in real time.

In any case, after that I had no choice but to go on a rampage with the attitude of ‘let’s see how far this goes’.

As a result, I couldn’t even log in as the Lightning Severance Hunter anymore.

...Because there wasn’t a place across the entire continent where he wasn’t wanted.

‘It’s probably been about a year since I last logged in.’

But here is the character left unattended for a year.

Of course, half of that year was spent solely playing Wilhelm to prepare for the Great Demon Realm Expedition, so most characters had been abandoned for at least half a year.

The characters I had left unattended were moving freely.

As if they had become NPCs.

‘So this is where you’re hiding.’

Kramdel. The city of monsters.

Here, even a continent-wide manhunt would never find him.

It’s a reasonably wise choice.

“To meet a Half-Dragon here. Caw. Isabella, isn’t this the first time in 150 years? Caw?”

“...Yes. It’s been 150 years since I met someone of my kind.”

Is it because she has experienced so many things in a short period of time?

Isabella no longer panics at sudden events.

She even shows the composure to play along with my act.

‘She’s grown.’

Isabella, who had been trapped in the desert, was learning about the world.

“150 years?”

Isaac was flustered.

150 years.

Because humans cannot live that long.

Moreover, beside him is me, the Corpse Crow King. The fact that I, now a monster, personally testified increased the credibility of the statement.

If Isabella has become a real Half-Dragon because of me...

Then Isaac is still a fake pretending to be a Half-Dragon.

And this is Kramdel.

The moment it’s revealed he is human, he dies.

There’s nowhere to run inside Kramdel’s fortress.

I saw panic flash through Isaac’s eyes.

“But it’s curious. Caw. I’ve seen cases of humans pretending to be Half-Dragons. Caw?”

“Yes. There were humans who used the weapons of the glorious Heavenly Dragons to pretend to be Half-Dragons.”

“What did you do to those humans. Caw?”

“...I killed them all.”

Whoosh!

Isaac stood up from his seat.

Covering only his private with a small towel.

Yet his wings remained, and the reason was simple.

‘He used an Equipment Invisibility Potion.’

Isabella is using the same thing, so it’s certain.

He had hidden the appearance of his equipment with the ‘Equipment Invisibility Potion’.

[Michela’s Helmet]

[Michela’s Sword]

[Michela’s Armor]

[Lightning Speed Shoes]

[Ring of Lightning’s Guide] [Ring of Typhoon’s Guide]

[Lightning Goblin Mystery]

Even so, all the equipment Isaac was wearing came into my view clearly.

‘The item remains the same.’

It seems the treasure-grade items I had equipped in the past were still intact.

Soon, hesitation appeared in Isaac’s eyes.

‘He’s contemplating whether to run.’

But this is Kramdel.

No matter how much Isaac is level 10 with treasure-grade items equipped, once he’s entered, it’s impossible to leave at will.

The moment he is spotted by Medusa’s eyes, he will turn to stone.

Medusa’s gaze swept every inch of Kramdel 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

There was no warp inside Kramdel, and teleport scrolls could not be used.

Therefore, escaping is only possible in dreams.

Isaac surely knew that.

“Haha! For a Half-Dragon of my caliber, I was momentarily flustered at seeing my kind after so long. Did you say Isabella? I am Isaac.”

Having given up escape, Isaac laughed heartily and extended his hand.

Isabella just stared blankly at the hand.

“It is still strange. Caw. Isn’t holding hands not the greeting custom of Half-Dragons? Caw?”

“Yes. It is the human way.”

As Isabella answered, the surroundings instantly became noisy.

“What, a human?”

“Was he a transformed human?”

Especially the Snow Maidens who were with Isaac.

Snow Maidens, with their translucent skin and two horns on their foreheads, are among the monsters that despise humans the most. If they find out Isaac is human, they will tear him into hundreds, thousands of pieces.

As suspicious glances continued, Isaac’s laughter began to thin.

“Haha... My apologies. I lost my parents when I was young, so I never learned the proper greeting method of a Half-Dragon. If you tell me now, I’ll try my best to do it the same way.”

His words flowed smoothly.

As expected of the Lightning Severance Swindler.

Even deep sadness seeps through his tone about losing his parents.

The bittersweet expression and self-deprecating gestures included.

It’s a character I raised, but it seems like the way he behaves back then remains intact.

However, there is no easier opponent than a swindler when you approach them knowing exactly what they are.

“Just kidding. Caw.”

“....”

“Just shake hands with each other. Caw.”

“....”

Isabella took Isaac’s hand.

Isaac was looking at me with a dazed expression.

Regardless, I slowly immersed myself in the hot spring water.

Because I was honestly curious.

Why evolved monsters were obsessed with Kramdel’s hot spring water.

‘Hm.’

The moment I immersed myself in the hot spring water, I understood the reason.

<Due to the effect of lower-grade ‘Goddess’s Tears,’ your entire body relaxes and stabilizes.>

…An extremely stable feeling washed over me.

A feeling that it wouldn’t be bad to remain in the hot spring forever.

It seems the monsters, having evolved and become unstable, can regain stability just by immersing themselves in this hot spring water.

It was then.

<The ‘Blind Goddess’s Hand’ begins to search for you.>

Kurung! Kururung!

“Caw?”

Kwaaaaaaah!

Shwaaaaaaaaaaak!

...The hot spring water exploded.

*

Due to the sudden eruption of the water, ‘Sincerity Hot Springs’ had no choice but to close for the day.

Isaac tried to escape during that gap, but it was a futile attempt.

“Isaac of Lightning Severance. Caw.”

“...Do you know me?”

Outside, at the entrance of an alley, Isaac froze.

As if he never expected to hear that name here.

I shrugged.

“Don’t think about running. Caw. The moment you try to escape with ‘Lightning Speed’, I will report you to the Gate Master. Caw.”

“...!”

The Gate Master, Medusa.

He couldn’t escape avoiding her.

And if he left Kramdel, he would die anyway.

Because those chasing Isaac won’t just leave him alone.

“You approached me intentionally from the start. So are you both human?”

“I am a Star Bearer. Caw.”

“Star Bearer? Guide of the Stars?”

I nodded.

Isaac’s entry into Kramdel wouldn’t have been just a day or two ago.

Moreover, his habits wouldn’t have disappeared, so he must be very knowledgeable about the circumstances in Kramdel as well.

“Do you know the rumor about the 33rd star that appeared here. Caw?”

“...I do know, but.”

That was when.

<‘Medusa’s’ eyes are scanning this area.>

Medusa is looking this way.

Is it because the hot spring water exploded?

‘It seems only I can see it.’

Judging by the lack of reaction from Isaac and Isabella, it seemed I was the only one who could perceive Medusa’s eye.

If I made any suspicious words or actions, Medusa would engrave her curse.

Especially if it was a sensitive topic, she would watch even more closely.

It seems we need to move locations.

The oblivious Isaac opened his mouth.

“That Star...”

“Caw! What is this commotion all of a sudden. Caw! We should go to a different hot spring. Caw!”

“...?”

Isaac blinked in puzzlement.

I immediately stepped forward and started dragging Isaac away.

“Wha- What are you doing?”

“Shouldn’t the Half-Dragons have a proper reunion. Caw! You come with us too. Caw!”

*

It seemed I needed to learn more about the star in detail.

The words that the Blind Goddess’s Hand was searching for me.

And hot spring water containing the Goddess’s Tears.

I get the feeling that it’s all related to the 33rd Star.

“Where is this...?”

Isaac, who had been dragged along, looked around.

A shabby underground warehouse.

But there was no place in Kramdel as safe as this.

“Medusa was watching near the hot spring. Caw.”

“...!”

Isaac’s eyes twitched.

The mere imagination of what would have happened if we had kept talking there was horrifying.

“How did you notice Medusa’s eye?”

But there is no being that can sense Medusa’s gaze.

At least not among the monsters he knew.

“Nothing is impossible for a Star Bearer. Caw.”

“...That’s absurd. So, is this place safe?”

"It’s a place Medusa’s eyes cannot reach. Caw."

"There’s a place in Kramdel where you can avoid Medusa’s eyes?"

Isaac asked in genuine surprise.

It’s not just here. There were a few places Medusa’s eye couldn’t reach.

But there was no reason to tell him all of them.

“Tell me about the stars. Caw.”

"Why should I?"

Having regained his composure, Isaac was acting prickly.

Even so, Isaac was like Sun Wukong in Buddha’s palm.

"I know where the ‘Appearance Alteration Potion’ is. Caw."

"...You think I’d want something like that?"

"Don’t you want to freely roam the continent. Caw?"

Just like Isabella, Isaac must have a desire too.

Isabella wanted to lift the Queen’s curse and leave the desert.

Likewise, Isaac would also want to obtain true freedom.

The common point was that both of their lives were restricted due to my playstyle.

As if my prediction was correct, a subtle change began to appear on Isaac’s expression.

"...It must be a Supreme-Grade Appearance Altering Potion."

A Supreme-Grade Appearance Altering Potion.

It’s a potion that allows you to change not just your appearance, but even the name engraved on your soul.

Simply changing one’s appearance isn’t enough to avoid pursuers.

Pangenia is overflowing with observation-type skills and methods to track someone precisely using their name, appearance, or other evidence.

The only way to completely avoid that was a Supreme-Grade Appearance Altering Potion.

Using it was the same as being reborn as a new person.

But it’s that hard to obtain. No, it’s nearly impossible to obtain.

Because the materials to make it are insane.

‘Wish Orb, Scales of Valhalla, Giant’s Finger...’

Each and every one of them is a supreme-tier treasure.

It’s practically like they designed it to be unmakable.

However, I know where the only Supreme-Grade Appearance Altering Potion on the continent is located.

"Of course it’s that one. Will you trade. Caw?"

"Why should I trust you? You could be lying?"

"Whether to trust or not is your freedom. Caw."

"...It was nice meeting you. Let’s not cross paths even by chance."

An immediate answer. Isaac was about to turn away.

I opened my mouth slowly.

"The ‘Mining City’ was a place that deserved to disappear. Caw."

“...!!!”

Isaac stopped.

Isaac froze. Turning his head, his eyes were trembling violently. As if he had never expected that I would know even that.

"If left alone, more people would have been kidnapped and died in the mines. Caw."

“I don’t know where you heard that, but don’t pretend to know me.”

"The corrupt priests of the Goddess Church, the city lords who recklessly started wars for their own gain... They all had their reasons, didn't they. Caw."

“....”

Isaac’s eyes shook.

Lightning Severance Hunter was, in his own way, a righteous outlaw.

At least in the beginning.

It's not that he didn't commit evil deeds, but he acted according to his own rules.

He later went on a rampage, but there was no need to bring that up.

“Serve me for a year. Caw. Then I’ll give you true freedom. Caw.”

“Serve? Ha, I don’t move without payment.”

"Then consider this an advance payment. Caw."

I took out an item from my bosom.

When Isaac saw the item I handed him, his entire body trembled slightly.

"...The Talisman of Cataclysm?"

"If you're lucky, you might get the 'Complete Transformation' option. Caw."

Talisman of Cataclysm!

I purchased it from the Golden Rule Shop.

It's a talisman that completely randomizes all options, and while extremely rare, there was a possibility of getting the Complete Transformation option.

It’s a bit of a pain to get, but I’ll just buy another one from the Golden Rule Shop.

Getting Isaac on my side was the top priority.

When I casually handed over this extremely rare item, Isaac asked with suspicious eyes:

"What makes you trust me enough to give me a Talisman of Cataclysm?"

"I trust everything about you. Caw."

Since he is a character I raised, it would be a contradiction if I didn't trust him.

Isaac stared quietly into my eyes.

‘What kind of guy is he?’

Isaac couldn’t understand the current situation.

It felt as if this being knew everything about him.

But it didn't make sense that a mere Corpse Crow King, even if a Star Bearer, would know all of this.

‘It’s a very low probability, almost close to zero, but....’

Isaac looked at the Talisman of Cataclysm in his hand.

Slim as it is, this Talisman of Cataclysm is a possibility.

It is the hope he had been searching for so desperately.

"...Damn. You're a guy I can't figure out. Fine. I'll help you as long as I'm in Kramdel."

That alone was enough motivation for Isaac to act.

He doesn't even ask about the details. It means he'll help regardless of what it is.

Isaac was a powerhouse at level 10 equipped with treasure-grade items all around.

His assistance would accelerate everything I needed to do. The investment was worth it.

*

The rumors about the 33rd star began when the Star Guardians started visiting Kramdel.

More than ten Star Guardians had already gathered here in Kramdel, and I could also tell that they were investigating the hot spring water.

It seemed deeply connected to Dramuth's appearance as well.

'I need to find the mystery first.'

So I needed to set a priority order.

There are many things I'm curious about, but the most urgent is still the mystery.

《You have met the entry conditions for the 'Casket of Mystery'.》

《You can obtain a special Mystery from the 'Casket of Mystery'.》

《Main Quest 5: 'Obtaining a Mystery' has begun.》

《This quest will end the moment you obtain your first mystery.》

《Reward: Differentially awarded based on the mystery obtained.》

《TIP: You can also purchase mysteries from city Mystics.》

Casket of Mystery.

The name of the massive tower located here in Kramdel.

True to its name, nothing is known about it. Among gamers, there was zero related information.

'Only non-human races can enter the Casket of Mystery.'

It is only natural when the entry conditions themselves do not even allow humans to enter.

Kramdel itself was beyond human reach. Even among players, Kramdel was something spoken of like a myth.

They would inevitably be even more ignorant about a tower built in such a place.

'There are the Ultimate Mystery that can only be obtained in the Casket of Mystery.'

Only I knew that Mystery called the Ultimate Mystery could be obtained here in the Casket of Mystery.

It couldn't be helped.

You only qualify by transforming into a Half-Dragon using the Michela set.

The difficulty of obtaining Michela's Sword from that set is brutal.

There are even fewer humans willing to risk their lives to enter Kramdel.

Only someone like Wilhelm would even think of entering.

'When playing as Wilhelm, I didn't know you could only obtain one Mystery.'

But even with that Wilhelm, I didn't obtain the Ultimate Mystery.

It was due to another damn hidden condition.

That you can only obtain one Mystery from the Casket of Mystery.

If I had known that condition, I would have obviously acquired a better Mystery.

It was a mistake made because the provided information was too scarce.

I just took the first Mystery that was offered.

'That's why I regretted it so much later, even beating the ground.'

I climbed the Casket of Mystery repeatedly, but I couldn't obtain another Mystery.

It was like having delicious seolleongtang (Korean ox bone soup) in front of you but not being able to eat it.

Just thinking about that time still makes my teeth grind.

‘That won’t happen anymore.’

One mistake was enough.

I won't repeat the same mistake.

With a firm resolution, I stepped into the Casket of Mystery.

《Entering the Casket of Mystery.》

《Hidden Tip: The state of the casket you enter may vary depending on your Race Value. However, the human race is excluded.》

《The currently confirmed races of the entrant are: Void (10), Giant (10), Druid (10), Heavenly (20), Corpse Crow (5).》

《Race Value 55 points. You have achieved the tower's hidden final condition.》

《A 'Hidden Quest' has arrived from the master of the casket.》

《Hidden Quest: Clear the 'Mythical Casket of Mystery'》

《Wil you take on the challenge?》

《If you decline the challenge, this quest will disappear and you will enter the normal Casket of Mystery.》

'Hidden Quest?'

Faced with content I've never seen before in my life, I couldn't help but pause.

Was there such a condition?

The names set as my races also seem somewhat familiar.

It seems all the related hidden traits have been applied.

'Mythical.'

However, if I had to choose the most important content that came to mind, it would undoubtedly be the Casket of Mystery named mythical.

All quests related to myths possess a difficulty that transcends imagination.

A name one cannot dare to surpass, nor even dare to consider.

...However, there was no need to hesitate.

《Enter the Mythical Casket of Mystery》

This adventure was the light of my life, the fire of my body, my very soul!

《Achievement ‘Adventurer who challenges the Myth’ attained.》

《All constellations of the 'Hundred Sacred Hall' begin to watch you.》