I Start with 13 Hidden Traits Chapter-160

Ch-160

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An elf bowing before a mere human!

And not just any elf—an elder among their kind.

Yet Aruwen didn’t care at all about the elves’ reactions.

Instead, she spoke with an even more solemn expression.

“Please forgive Auril’s mistake. If you would, I will even offer my own life, Druid.”

“······!”

“······Druid?!”

The elves who heard this couldn’t hide their shock, their faces full of disbelief.

It was only natural.

A druid!

They were the highest beings of the nature-aligned races, legendary figures said to no longer exist!

“Hrm.”

The man showed no signs of agitation at Aruwen’s words.

Instead, he simply looked at Aruwen with an inscrutable gaze.

‘Ah!’

Only then did Aruwen realize her mistake.

This man was no ordinary druid.

The miracles he displayed went far beyond what any ordinary druid could achieve.

“Could it be… you are a High Druid?”

A High Druid!

The leader of the druids.

He, too, was said to have perished while standing against annihilation.

A High Druid was nature itself, coexisting with all life and mastering the forces of the world.

The man before her could very well be a High Druid from ages long past, a being thought lost to time.

Naturally, all eyes turned to him.

After a moment, the man shrugged casually as if it were no big deal and spoke.

“That is correct.”

“Ah······!!”

Aruwen immediately dropped to one knee.

She realized this wasn’t a mistake that could be resolved with a mere apology.

A druid—especially a High Druid—wasn’t someone whose forgiveness could be bought with a single life.

Moreover, it wasn’t unusual for a High Druid to possess such immense desires.

High Druids were said to be able to influence all living things, not just nature itself.

In other words, they were the embodiment of desire itself.

Indeed, nothing in this world was more desire-driven than the great forces of nature.

“I-I am sorry. I failed to recognize you properly.”

“You would offer your life?”

“If you wish it…!”

Aruwen nodded resolutely.

A High Druid could even communicate with the World Tree.

Perhaps he could even resolve the problem of the dying World Tree.

Offering her life was a small price to pay.

“Elder!”

Auril, too, snapped back to reality.

“The fault is mine! Even if it costs my life, I will offer it!”

“Calm yourself, Auril. It is my fault for failing to stop this properly.”

“Please, I beg you! Elder, you are not at fault!”

Auril, too, dropped to her knees before the man.

She had rushed after the undead, and this was her crime.

Her hot-headed nature had even hindered her harmony with nature, slowing the growth of her leaves.

“Please, spare the elder and take my life…!”

“I offer my life!”

The accompanying elves all rushed forward, each trying to offer their own lives.

It was a scene beyond rare.

Elves, a species even a lifetime couldn’t allow one to see easily, all kneeling and begging forgiveness before a human.

‘What to do.’

…As events took an unexpected turn, I stroked my chin in thought.

What should I do with these elves?

My hidden trait, “High Druid of Nature,” seemed to accelerate their growth.

Seeing that, the elder had knelt of her own accord.

But I couldn’t forgive them without any compensation.

Nor could I actually take the life of the elder they desperately called out for.

Better to play it practically.

I raised *Winter* and held it to Auril’s neck.

“I will show mercy and punish only those who have erred. Offer your neck, your life.”

“I willingly…!”

Auril trembled but complied.

This disaster had come about because of her.

A High Druid was the supreme being of the natural world.

Those belonging to nature simply followed their leader.

Auril tightly shut her eyes.

But the next words from the man were utterly unexpected.

“You have offered your life—then become my slave.”

“············?”

‘Slave?’

Auril thought she must have misheard.

But as an elf, she knew she hadn’t.

Slave. A servant. A possession stripped of all rights and freedom.

She would rather die than become a human’s slave.

Especially Auril, whose pride as an elf soared as high as the heavens.

Even before a High Druid, it made no difference.

Following willingly and being a slave were entirely different matters.

“…Yes. If that will appease your anger.”

“Elder…?!”

But it was not Auril who answered, it was Elder Aruwen.

“Auril. Nod your head.”

And that gaze—telling her that even as a slave, her life would be spared.

Auril stared back and forth between Elder Aruwen and the man, dazed.

‘Ah…’

Her mind went blank.

She hated the thought of being someone’s slave more than death itself.

Yet if she refused, the elder’s life would be forfeit.

Die together, or become this man’s slave.

Auril squeezed her eyes shut.

“I-I will… become one…”

“What will you become?”

A confirmation shot, if ever there was one.

Auril gave Elder Aruwen a resentful look.

There was no turning back.

After all, it was her sword that had been suddenly raised.

“N-Slave… ugh!”

*

*

Elves are a rare race.

Being highly secretive, little was known about them, and the way they communicate with the World Tree remained a mystery.

Most didn’t even know what the World Tree truly was.

“The World Tree is one of the roots supporting the floating continents in the sky.”

But I knew better.

The World Tree was one of the key structures of the world.

It was the goddesses who lifted and connected the sunken continent, but that alone couldn’t sustain it.

The World Tree was one of the roots holding up the floating continent.

“Then the elves who guard the World Tree are effectively holding the continent in place.”

I only realized this during the final chapter when playing Wilhelm.

The fact that I learned it only then shows its importance.

“Perhaps elves are related to the endgame content.”

There was no need to antagonize them.

It was wiser to treat them amicably and exploit Auril as a slave while uncovering their secrets.

Endgame content.

Stories I had yet to experience, or updates that had not yet been revealed.

After Wilhelm died, what had been “paused” had begun to “start” again—this must be the story of this update.

“The final gamer’s character Wilhelm dies, and content that did not exist is being updated.”

When a gamer, the number of concurrent players was always zero or one.

I maintained one when I logged in, but in reality, every gamer was already a player.

This might have blocked updates.

Like defeating the Demon King yet failing to truly kill him, perhaps the game locked Wilhelm’s character so updates would only progress once everyone became a player.

“Because I played as Wilhelm longer than expected, the update was delayed…”

It had truly been an “un-update.”

For a long time, no content had appeared.

But everything changed once I became a player.

Finally, all gamers awakened as players, and the “start” occurred.

“Even the Annihilator and the Tower of Rift didn’t originally exist.”

What didn’t exist now appeared; what didn’t exist now emerged.

Level caps expanded, stronger beings appeared.

What did this mean?

Wilhelm’s death had triggered the update.

Moreover:

“The Primordial Forest and the elves might have only existed in the story, perhaps not even truly existing.”

Their sudden appearance was utterly strange.

In all my time playing, I had never seen elves.

No one had entered the Primordial Forest.

“There aren’t even any connected warps.”

Normally, a location would have at least three connected warps. But none existed here.

Even if the World Tree supported the continent, this rule was inviolable in the floating continents.

Yet it was only mentioned in the final chapter, and only regarding the World Tree—not elves or the Primordial Forest.

Something was off.

One might say it connects to an unknown city, but:

“Even the Goddess’s Map shows no connected warps.”

I knew all city names and warp points.

The item called the “Goddess’s Map” showed all cities and warps.

Not a single warp connected to the Primeval Forest.

“…This must be newly updated.”

So if it’s an “update,”

And if it’s truly related to the endgame content—

“I must be the first to claim it.”

I had to seize it.

Absolutely.

This might be a heaven-sent opportunity.

“······ High Druid. Would you not join us in ascending the Tower of Rift?”

Inside the manor.

Sitting in a lavish room for receiving guests, Elder Aruwen asked solemnly.

Her business with me clearly had something to do with the Tower of Rift.

I lounged in the seat of honor, speaking at ease.

“Why should I climb the Tower of Rift with you?”

“We can be of help.”

“Help? Hah. You can’t even approach my side, and you claim to help?”

I snorted.

Elder Aruwen bore her patience, but the other elves barely dared to look at me from afar.

How could they help clear the second floor?

We barely cleared the first floor with bug-level gameplay.

Without the Eternal Monarch’s Heart and the infinite indulgences, we wouldn’t have even dreamed of clearing it.

I leisurely crossed my legs and sipped my milk tea.

Elder Aruwen bit her lip and said,

“…We elves can perceive ‘desire.’ High Druid’s desire is so immense that we cannot approach easily, but with time, it will be fine.”

Desire.

I didn’t consider my desire unusually large compared to others.

I didn’t know what exactly they saw in me, but it seemed more than mere desire.

Anyway.

“You want me to waste time adapting? The risk is too great. I gain nothing.”

The Tower of Rupture’s second floor opened only in 60 days.

To spend that time with beings who may not even adapt was a waste.

“What is it you desire?”

Desire? I had but one.

“The warp points connected to the Primordial Forest.”

“…Excuse me?”

“Speak. Which cities are connected to the Primordial Forest?”

Elder Aruwen’s expression hardened like stone.

But confirming this point would make everything clear.

The secretive elves wouldn’t add more warp points.

“I-I cannot say…”

“None? Then this deal is off.”

I pushed firmly.

The elves had sought me out immediately after clearing the Tower of Rift; clearly, their urgency exceeded mine.

Perhaps the Tower was the start of content tied to the elves.

Either way, urgency was not mine.

Elder Aruwen pursed her lips, thinking deeply.

After some time:

“…Altemia.”

“Altemia?”

“…Yes.”

“Hrm.”

I set down my cup and stroked my chin.

Unexpected. I’d never heard of a city named Altemia before.

‘Another new city, then.’

Land yet to appear.

Elves must be connected to new content.

From the names she revealed, it seemed I was learning previously unknown locations.

“And? Surely it’s not only Altemia?”

“…Balmasan, Palantir.”

Elder Aruwen gave the names as if giving up halfway.

At least one sounded familiar.

‘Balmasan!’

I knew that place.

But Balmasan had no warp points connecting to the Primordial Forest.

A new warp had appeared.

Now I was certain.

“…New content is being updated!”

At an incredible speed.

All the previously delayed schedules poured down like a monsoon.

—

 

 

 

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