I Start with 13 Hidden Traits Chapter-161

Ch-161

—

Perhaps more than a year’s worth of updates—ones that couldn’t be implemented because of me—were now bursting out all at once, surging like a tidal wave.

This was…

*‘Insane.’*

These elves were definitely the goose that laid golden eggs.

No—maybe not golden eggs, but diamond eggs.

If I could monopolize the new content unlocked through them?

If I could enjoy the entire unresolved second half of the main quest alone?

*‘This is really insane.’*

I forced down the smile threatening to rise.

“Will you join us now?”

“One person. I’ll take Auril.”

“…Auril is strong, but we can assign a warrior of an even higher rank.”

Auril’s level was 13.

And there was someone stronger than that?

I shook my head.

“One Auril is enough. If that’s unacceptable, forget the whole deal.”

Unless it was a companion I could completely control, the path ahead would be difficult.

After experiencing Lord Solbaren, I’d learned that the Tower of Rift was a fraudulent battleground where every condition was designed to favor them unilaterally.

Bringing along another elf and getting stabbed in the back there would be worse than taking along an obedient slave.

“…Very well.”

Aruwen was surprisingly quick to accept.

Perhaps it was because I possessed the traits of a High Druid.

But this wasn’t the only thing I was curious about.

“Elder Aruwen. Do you happen to know Priest Andrew?”

“…It’s the first time I’ve heard that name.”

“And Andasar?”

“That too… it’s the first I’ve heard.”

Hmm.

As expected.

When Priest Andrew had called Aruwen’s name, and when he discovered Andasar, the emotion I felt from her had been *strangeness*.

But Priest Andrew definitely knew Elder Aruwen.

If Andasar had a mother, it was likely Aruwen.

Yet if elves were newly added in this update, then a contradiction appeared.

A non-existent being cannot have a husband or bear a child.

So what was going on here?

*‘…I can’t grasp this part at all.’*

…No idea.

But one thing was certain: new content was being updated.

The Primordial Forest and the elves were likely newly added as well.

Had there been a warp connected to Balmasan Mountain earlier, I would have known long before now.

And the fact that the long-rumored elves had now revealed themselves meant the gears were finally starting to turn in earnest.

If I kept piecing the puzzle together, the answer would surely emerge.

“Um… High Druid.”

It was then.

Elder Aruwen suddenly spoke to me with a cautious expression.

“Do you have more questions?”

“Well… if it’s not too presumptuous…”

“…?”

As I stared at her in confusion, she hesitated for a long moment before speaking.

“Would you please touch my head as well?”

“…………..?”

—

—

 

Aruwen hurried across the warp with the elves.

They had achieved one of their objectives, but something even more urgent had arisen.

*‘It’s certain. He is a High Druid.’*

Aruwen herself was a Stage-6 *Laurel Warrior*.

One who had achieved complete growth of every “laurel leaf”—a fully perfected warrior.

But the moment Randolph placed his hand upon her head, leaves that could no longer grow began to bloom even more brilliantly.

An impossible phenomenon.

A miracle.

A miracle had occurred.

*‘I must inform Her Majesty.’*

She wanted to bring him to the Primordial Forest right away, but there were still matters to resolve.

She had to report this to the Elven Queen first.

Bringing him carelessly could give the other *High Elves* an excuse to interfere.

Some might even try to use the High Druid for their own ends.

*‘Once the World Tree returns, Her Majesty’s authority will return as well.’*

As the World Tree weakened, so too had the Queen.

And as the Queen weakened, disorder began to spread through the Primordial Forest.

But if they could ascend the Tower of Rift or restore the World Tree through the High Druid, then the Queen’s power would return—and the chaos would end.

The problem was until then.

Before the World Tree recovered.

*‘This is an opportunity. A once-in-a-lifetime chance…!’*

And she had given him Auril.

Auril was a child with infinite potential for growth.

Despite having barely bloomed any laurel leaves, she was still among the top three warriors of the Laurel Warriors.

If that child could bloom all her leaves…

*‘Stage 7. If it’s Auril, she could even go beyond that.’*

Stage 7 and above was a realm allowed only to High Elves.

The World Tree blessed only pure High Elves.

For an ordinary elf to ascend to Stage 7 was something that might happen once in a thousand years.

Auril may have been a normal elf, but her talent was undeniably of that once-in-a-millennium caliber.

And Auril was a loyal confidante of the Queen.

If she ascended the tower with him and expanded her limits, she would be a great help to the severely weakened Queen.

They journeyed through the warp for who knew how long.

“You’re later than I expected.”

“…Dark Elves?”

A group of Dark Elves with black skin blocked their path.

Aruwen’s expression stiffened.

Dark Elves were enemies of the Elves.

Yet this route was known only to themselves.

A path they had taken great pains to keep hidden from the outside world.

How did they know to ambush here?

“Speak, and I’ll spare your lives. Whom did you meet?”

Over fifty Dark Elves surrounded them, daggers raised.

*‘The route’s exposed. Who betrayed us? And someone who commands Dark Elves?’*

It meant there was a traitor cooperating with Dark Elves—mortal enemies of elves.

However—

*‘They don’t know who we met.’*

They didn’t know whom she had met.

Information regarding the Tower of Rift was known only to elves who served the Queen.

To the outside, the group was simply said to be away for special training.

Meaning these attackers didn’t know the important details.

They knew only of this route.

“…I don’t believe we owe filthy Dark Elves any answers.”

If they didn’t know, they would deny it until the end.

Even if she died, she could never speak of the High Druid.

Aruwen glanced at the elves with her.

They all nodded with firm, resolute eyes.

“Tch. Stupid even when shown mercy. Let’s see if you can say the same when you’re dying.”

Swish!

Slash!

The Dark Elves charged.

—

—

Shortly after the elves departed—

Priest Andrew stared blankly at the warp.

He still felt as if he were dreaming.

*‘It was definitely Aruwen.’*

There was no way he had mistaken her.

She reacted when he called her name.

Yet she treated him like a stranger.

Same with Andasar.

*‘It was definitely her…’*

Why didn’t she recognize him?

But he couldn’t bring himself to speak to her.

He was afraid.

Afraid she truly had forgotten him.

And because he had no excuse for what he’d done to Andasar.

“Altemia, Balmasan Mountain, Palantir.”

“…Sir Randolph?”

Randolph approached and spoke three names.

Andrew stared, not understanding. Randolph shrugged.

“I hear they’re cities connected to the Primordial Forest.”

“Why are you telling me this?”

“Thought you should at least know.”

“…”

Andrew’s eyes wavered.

Warp points connected to the Primordial Forest were top-secret.

Telling him this was a sign of trust.

And if he went to one of those cities, he could reach the Primordial Forest—where Aruwen was.

But he still lacked the courage.

And besides, elves had shown immediate hostility toward Andasar.

Going there would be tantamount to suicide.

“Thank you. Truly.”

“When I challenge the 2nd floor of the Tower of Rift, I’ll be taking Andasar.”

“Wh-what…?”

Shock flared across Andrew’s face.

The elves had come specifically to ascend the Tower with him.

Since Randolph had cleared the 1st floor, he had some understanding of the 2nd.

Meaning he planned to bring Andasar to the elves’ location.

“I’ll be going with Auril among the elves. And since the ‘Contract of Winter’ is in effect, they won’t be able to attack Andasar.”

“B-but… even so, isn’t it far too dangerous?”

“Don’t worry. And in truth, I have a favor to ask of you.”

“…Just say the word.”

Andrew answered heavily.

Randolph had granted him far more than one or two favors.

Even if Randolph asked the unreasonable, Andrew was prepared to risk his life.

“Go to Balmasan Mountain and check the warp connected to the Primordial Forest.”

“Understood.”

Priest Andrew nodded without hesitation.

Balmasan Mountain was among the harshest of harsh terrains.
Traveling there would take a considerable amount of time, but for Andrew — a regular priest of the Goddess Church — it was, in its own way, a manageable path.

That was because all the lands connected to that region were associated with the Goddess Church.

No doubt this was also why Randolph had asked *him* specifically to verify Balmasan Mountain.

*‘Just check. Just… check it and be done.’*

Andrew steadied his heart.

All he had to do was confirm the warp.
There was no scenario in which he would head to the Primordial Forest himself.

“Then, Sir Randolph, are you preparing to ascend the tower?”

“No. There’s something I must do first. And there is also something you must do before you leave.”

“What is that?”

“A joint officiation.”

“…Who is getting married?”

In the ‘Garden of Knights,’ it was fairly common for Priest Andrew to officiate wedding ceremonies.
But lately, because of the chaos of recent events, no one had been getting married at all.

Yet in the midst of all this, had someone’s love managed to sprout?

Even more surprising was that Randolph himself was the one making this request.

Andrew gave him a questioning look, and Randolph smiled faintly.

“Hudson and Serengeti, apparently.”

“…Excuse me?”

“The Marquess Weiser has given his permission, so the sooner the ceremony is held, the better.”

“Th-they’re really… what?”

Impossible.

That stubborn Marquess Weiser — actually permitting *that* marriage?
What on earth had happened?

Wasn’t Marquess Weider the type who wouldn’t even spare a glance at a lowly merchant?

*‘Insane. Tomorrow the sun may as well rise in the west.’*

A miracle had occurred.

*

*

Hudson stared at his reflection in the mirror.

*‘The curse… it’s truly gone.’*

The curse from the Empire had finally lifted.
He had regained his true appearance — not Serengeti’s form, but Hudson’s own.

Yet his expression was anything but bright.

*‘Marriage, huh…’*

Those two sudden characters — marriage — had appeared before him without warning.

And… it wasn’t even something he had brought up.

— *Serengeti! Look, you’re finally back!*

— *Congratulations! So, shall we start preparing the ceremony?*

…A fastball.
The most direct fastball imaginable.

To make matters even more embarrassing, Serengeti had been the one to propose first.
She had even secured Marquess Weiser’s permission.
She had even asked Sir Randolph to officiate.

While Hudson was still disoriented from the change in his appearance, Serengeti had already taken several steps forward, envisioning a future with him.

But Hudson still lacked confidence.

*‘Ha… I still haven’t told her.’*

He still hadn’t revealed that he wasn’t originally a human of this world.

Even if his Earth-born body had been restored, here in this world… he was a *criminal*.

Would she be able to accept that?

Perhaps it would be better to hide it forever.
After all, ignorance could be a blessing.

“…I’ll tell her.”

But he couldn’t bear the thought of living his entire life while hiding the truth.

 

 

 

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