I Start with 13 Hidden Traits Chapter-115

Ch-115

—

I had assumed that Golden Mask No. 1 possessed one of the two, but if all of them were in the same state, then it might not be a simple hidden trait after all.

There was no way all eleven people gathered here possessed the same hidden trait.

To have that, they would all need to raise the same talent’s tech tree.

………… And that’s impossible unless they’re either gamers or players.

Even among gamers or players, most don’t even know what “hidden traits” are.

Yet they all raised it together, as if in perfect harmony?

*What amusing bastards.*

Truly, I couldn’t make sense of them.

Which made it all the more entertaining.

I thought I had conquered everything in Panagenia.

Even though I was defeated in the Great Expedition, that had been because of unforeseen variables—hadn’t I won the battle against the Demon King himself?

Yet here, in a place I had never reached, there were this many unknown beings.

*Just as I don’t know you, there’s no way you can know me.*

Above all, the fact that we did not know each other made this a deeply fascinating situation.

I’d hidden and altered my identity countless times, but this was fundamentally different.

A contest of who uncovers whom first.

Like a game of wits.

A level of mind game I had never experienced before.

“… If it’s Three-Swords saying it, then it must be true.”

At last, the Golden Fox Mask spoke as if it were no big deal.

A husky woman’s voice.

Her demeanor was utterly languid.

Still—

*The Golden Fox Mask, huh.*

Every transcendent I had met in the Empire so far had worn a “fox mask.”

Could she be the origin of every fox mask?

Even *Lightning God’s Descent*, a sub-character I suspected I had once raised long ago, wore a silver fox mask.

And that wasn’t the only odd thing.

Ten people wore masks shaped like different beasts, but *only* the Golden Mask wore a plain mask.

It piqued my curiosity to an unbearable degree—but I kept my face still.

Showing curiosity first was the same as admitting defeat.

“In that case, he should show his ‘Lineage,’ then.”

“Mm. One last confirmation. Even if Three-Swords is convinced, seeing it with our own eyes is different.”

“Show us.”

Look at that. They’re curious on their own, aren’t they?

They want me to reveal that I am a patron of the same Lineages as themselves.

Even though the Three-Swords of the Empire had sworn everything on it, even the Golden Mask would not be easily believed.

Despite two wielders of golden masks having personally verified it.

Meaning—

*They don’t trust each other.*

These people had zero trust among themselves.

None whatsoever.

From this alone, I learned one more thing:

They were competitors.

Everyone gathered here was in a relationship where stabbing each other in the back at any moment would not be surprising.

Twelve competitors now instead of eleven—it was only natural for their mood to sour.

Regardless, I shrugged nonchalantly.

“What a bunch of clowns.”

Then I let out a faint scoff, sounding as if their behavior was genuinely laughable.

My voice didn’t contain even one gram of curiosity.

I acted as if I simply found their antics funny.

Showing curiosity first is always how one gets their hand forced.

*I need to check their idea of ‘Lineage’ first.*

And I could not hastily reveal “Hel.”

I did not yet know exactly what they meant by “Lineage.”

Even if Three-swords verified it—was it because of Hel’s appearance? Or something else? I still didn’t know.

“… Clowns? Are you talking about me?”

“Hah.”

It had been amusing at first, but now they acted as if I’d crossed the line.

One by one, murderous gazes locked onto me.

But it didn’t matter.

Even that killing intent could not pierce this “wall of light.”

*Invincible. All damage and effects nullified.*

The Throne of Radiant Light granted invincibility as long as I remained within its domain. It was the only reason I could withstand the Ancient Dragon Riley for so long.

The Most Radiant Throne functioned the same way.

Not only their glares—even full-force attacks imbued with killing intent would do nothing to me so long as I sat here.

As if answering to no one, I folded my arms and crossed my legs.

Even if I said nothing, just my posture made it clear how confident I was.

“……”

Silence washed over the tense atmosphere.

Then—

“… In any case, for the ‘Banquet’ to proceed, everyone must show their ‘Lineage.’ So, I will start.”

Golden Mask opened his mouth.

He lifted his hand and drew a circle in the air.

Crackle!

A blue line appeared following his hand.

The line sparked with static.

And when the circle completed—

—Krrrkkk!

Golden Mask’s “Lineage” appeared.

*

*

A strange light flickered across the Golden Mask’s eyes.

*Now then… how will he react?*

That man who had first appeared as Hudson’s escort.

He knew he was using Hudson to hide his identity, but he had never imagined he would be a patron of an “Lineage.”

But within the Cult of the Reaper, there had always only been eleven Lineages.

For ages, *eleven* had been the perfect, unshakeable number—yet now that prejudice had been shattered, and twelve had been completed.

So was he a fake?

But if the Empire’s Three-Swords had sworn upon it, then it could not be false.

Those who bore the title of Three-Swords were “Executors,” and also “Loyal Servants.”

And servants always recognize their master.

If the twelfth Lineage truly existed, then what remained was the identity of its patron.

Thus, Golden Mask decided to measure the capacity of this new patron.

*Ordinary people would suffocate within this overlapping domain.*

This was a space where they all warily watched each other.

When the “energies” they exuded tangled, the destructive force was unimaginable.

Even the strongest would have no choice but to react.

Even if they possessed the hidden trait, *Heart of the Iron-Blooded Monarch.*

Even the White King, the Black King, or beings above them.

But—

He simply took out a Throne of Light, sat down, and remained completely unaffected.

Rather, he even provoked them.

*… What an entertaining fellow.*

Where had such a man appeared from?

Or was it the power of that throne?

Either way, he was definitely beyond expectations.

Would his “Lineage” be the same?

“You’ve gained an extra wing since last time.”

“Well, he did consume that many ‘souls of sinners.’ It makes sense.”

“Six wings. Three pairs.”

Golden Mask’s Lineage emerged through the warp.

Everyone’s eyes focused on it.

Some were impressed, some surprised, and some looked displeased in silence.

—Krrrkkk!

Golden Mask’s Lineage was a small reaper wielding a sickle, with six black wings.

Perched upon the Golden Mask’s hand, it cackled unpleasantly while looking at the other golden-mask bearers.

“Hmph. I can’t let the star of the banquet be Golden Mask. I should show my own Lineage’s growth too.”

At the same time, the one wearing the golden lion mask drew a small circle with his finger.

Sparks danced along its path.

And when the warp opened—

—Krrrhh!

A burly reaper appeared this time.

Small in height but thickly built, with five wings and a large horn on its forehead.

“… Another horn, huh.”

“I think its body grew too.”

“What does he even feed it? It’s bigger every time I see it.”

The patrons murmured, slightly impressed by the reaper’s imposing form.

Not as dramatic as Golden Mask’s, but undeniable growth.

Unwilling to lose, they began summoning theirs one by one.

—Kehehehe!

—Kikikikiki!

A mischievous, skinny reaper summoned by the Golden Wolf Mask.

A round, smugly grinning reaper summoned by the Golden Sheep Mask.

More “little reapers” appeared—each with different quirks.

All the beings called “Lineages” took on the form of reapers with wings—some with horns, some with void-like eyes with stars floating in them, but all unmistakably winged reapers.

Thus, all eleven Lineages revealed themselves.

“Now. It is your turn.”

… Golden Mask looked straight at me.

Now, I understood clearly.

The difference between “Hel” and the other Lineages.

The difference between me and them.

“Why do you remain still?”

“Can’t you draw the ‘line’?”

“That can’t be. A patron of an Lineage must at least know how to draw the line.”

“So he is a fake after all.”

The *line*.

When they drew a circle, a warp opened.

And the Lineages emerged from it.

But I didn’t need to draw this so-called “line.”

Rrrrip!

Space tore apart.

In the shape of a scythe.

Crackle—crkckck!

Sparks raged across the torn line.

A scene incomparable to the tiny sparks they created with their fingers.

“Hm?”

“That’s—!”

“Is the Lineage opening the warp *itself*?”

They realized it too.

Their Lineages required their patrons to open space for them.

But Hel could open the door on his own.

A patron is someone who guides—someone who summons and leads the Lineage.

That was their relationship.

This was the first difference between them and me.

I didn’t need to know how to draw a line. I simply didn’t *need* one.

But the first difference was nothing compared to the second.

The decisive second difference—

—Kyahahahahaha!!

With an unrestrained, roaring laughter, Hel cleaved through space and emerged.

—

 

 

 

---