I Start with 13 Hidden Traits Chapter-199

CH-199. **People Searching for Randolph**

—

*“Beings refined over countless ages, perfected simply by existing.”*

Just as a creature that has lived hundreds or thousands of years is called a spirit-beast,

And just as wood or stone that has endured ten times longer is regarded as sacred—

The equipment within this treasure vault was imbued with that same sacredness and mystique.

And the flow of time involved here was so long that comparison was meaningless.

What should one call something like this?

**“A divine artifact.”**

Everything here was a divine artifact.

In fact, most of them were even concealing their value.

From the beginning, they were never created to flaunt anything.

*“An ordinary observation skill wouldn’t even be able to see them.”*

Even most Unique-grade gear is like that—
But the treasures here were on an entirely different scale.

The observation requirement was absurdly high.

But that did not apply to me.

…Because I could see everything.

Every piece of information regarding everything in this vault.

No doubt thanks to the evolved *Eye of Truth.*

Perhaps it now possessed the ability to pierce through all truths.

I slowly walked past mountains of treasures.

Because among all the “information” visible to my eyes, the most unusual thing was right there.

**【Wooden Rod That Contained the First Fire】**

…Its appearance was pathetic.

It looked like a chunk of wood cut and roughly shaved down, its exterior charred black.
Its size barely matched the width of a grown man’s shoulders.

And yet—
It was different.

Among all the primal treasures here, this wooden rod stood out the most.
Utterly exceptional.

**【Primordial Grade】**

**【A wooden rod that carried the ‘First Fire’ in the Dawn Era】**

**【“The fire carried from this rod birthed countless civilizations and became the starting point of all creation—should it not be called the Mother of Creation, the High God?”】**

**【“Even Ruin failed to extinguish the fire upon this rod. Once spread, the flame burns eternally and grants everlasting life. As long as this exists, the world shall continue.”】**

It felt as though I could hear someone speaking.

A man’s voice, thick with self-mockery and regret.

But the flame was no longer on the rod.

*“The fire is symbolic. The civilizations of countless races that began from that fire still continue today.”*

Not a literal flame—
The symbolic fire of civilization.

Destruction continued to ruin the world, yet civilization rose again and again.

Thus, *“a fire even Destruction could not extinguish.”*

*“This wooden rod is what Ruin fears most.”*

And yet, something made no sense.

The rod possessed no special functions.

Aside from its grade and description, there were no benefits.

Its stats didn’t rise. It didn’t have special skills.

Was it given such a grade purely for its symbolic value?

*“I can only select one item from the Treasure Vault of the Primordial Dragon God.”*

I had to be careful.

Choosing this rod—ignoring all the Unique-grade equipment—based on grade and poetic description alone was practically gambling.

But the decision did not take long.

《Reward selection has been completed.》

《You have selected the ‘Wooden Rod That Contained the First Fire.’》

Symbolic or not, it didn’t matter.

This was hope itself.

Letting it rot here any longer would be a waste.

And at that moment—

**FWOOOOSH!**

《The ‘First Fire’ ignites on the Wooden Rod.》

《You have gained the qualification to carry the ‘First Fire.’》

《Hidden Quest — Carry the ‘First Fire’ to its destination.》

《The place where the First Fire is placed will be beyond the easy reach of ‘Ruin.’》

《You may refine the Wooden Rod using the First Fire.》

《Achievement “First Primordial” achieved!》

《Due to the ‘Great Aspect,’ Honor gains are doubled (10,000).》

《Honor has surpassed 20,000.》

《You may obtain ‘Right of Glory’ at the Sanctum of Honor.》

The rod was burning.

It looked ordinary—yet this was the fire that was the point of origin for all civilization and creation.

The First Fire that blooms only for the one who chooses it.

Then—

*“What…?”*

A small, blurry shape appeared—a tiny dragon.

For a moment, I wondered if I imagined it.
But no.

Seeing my reaction, the little dragon spoke, astonished:

— **You… can see me?**

《You have the Honor needed to ‘converse with the soul of the Primordial Dragon God.’》

《Hidden Achievement ‘Encounter with a Primordial Being’ achieved!》

《Due to the ‘Great Aspect,’ Honor gains are doubled (5,000).》

—

*High Dryad Rommel*

His day always began the same: checking the fresh green growth.

*“My brother must be doing well today.”*

After learning that the greenery was linked to Randolph, the routine began.

Randolph—Rommel’s brother and the savior of the forest.

He restored spirits to the dying Forest of Whispering Leaves, granting life,
And even planted new growth that revitalized the land.

If the Verdant ever signaled danger again, Rommel would depart instantly with every dryad to rescue Randolph.

“Hmm? My brother seems very irritated today.”

But today, the sound of the Verdant was odd.

The branches and leaves felt rough and bristling.

Was Randolph in a bad mood?

“No…”

The child who sang the Song of Nature—always beside the growth—suddenly spoke.

But if it wasn’t Randolph’s emotions… then why?

“No? Then what?”

“The elves…”

The elves.

A group of elves came here not long ago.

One was called Elder Aruwen, if memory served.

They left shortly after searching for Randolph.

The child continued.

“The elves died. Many. Mother Tree is grieving. So the Verdant grieves too.”

Mother Tree meant Yggdrasil.

All growth was like a child of Yggdrasil.
So they shared the sorrow.

Rommel asked, flustered:

“W-what are you saying? The elves died?!”

“Despair… Despair has awakened… I-I’m scared.”

“Despair…?!”

He could not understand.

Elves dying? Despair awakening? What did any of that mean?

But one thing was clear—
This was no joke.

**WHOOOOOOOM!**

**BOOOOOM! RUMBLLLE!**

The sky darkened.
A typhoon rose.
Lightning struck.

Rommel’s expression hardened.

*“Something dire is happening.”*

A bad omen.

He could almost smell thick blood on the wind.

He slowly looked toward the sky.

…He would need to prepare.

—

*Demon of Pride — King Friedrich*

King of the Iron Kingdom, and a war maniac who had already conquered more than twenty cities.

He sat on his throne, laughing madly.

“Haha! Things are getting entertaining!”

“…..!”

“…..!!”

His retainers trembled.

Whenever he laughed like this, blood was always spilled.

More terrifying than anything—
None dared speak.

If this continued, he might challenge even the Empire itself.

*“The Black King has joined hands with the Dark Elves. And now even Despair has awakened. There is nothing to fear.”*

Was the Black King’s objective killing the White King?

He thought so at first.

But now, judging by the Black King’s movements, that wasn’t everything.

*“The Imperial Eight-Fang Knights have moved as well.”*

It wasn’t just that.

The Empire itself was acting strangely.

He thought it was occupied purging criminals—
Yet its most powerful force, the Eight-Fang Knights, had mobilized.

Was it because of the Black King?
Or because of *him,* Friedrich?

But the Eight-Fang Knights only moved under direct imperial order,
Or when something threatened the Emperor.

They had not acted for the last hundred years.

The last time was when they killed the Mad Devil.

*“Could the Emperor have awakened?”*

…He didn’t know.

Even a Demon of Pride could not fathom the Emperor.

The Emperor slept in a place deepest within the Empire—
A place even gods could not peer into.

If the Emperor had awakened—

King Friedrich shook his head.

Whatever the cause, the movement of the Eight-Fang Knights alone would shake the entire continent.

Was all of this coincidence?

It felt as though a puzzle—a set of gears—was slowly locking into place.

He did not know what image would form in the end.

*“The real beginning is now.”*

And his demonic smile deepened.

This situation was delightful.

The rampaging Black King,
The Eight-Fang Knights and the slumbering Emperor,
The newly awakened Demon of Greed,
And perhaps even the Demon King.

They all appeared to move to different rhythms, but lined up together, their pattern matched.

What remained was a single missing piece at the center.

*“Who… will be the final puzzle?”*

It wasn’t decided yet.

It could be anyone.

But one thing was certain:

“Raise the banner. I shall head to the Kingdom of Valan myself.”

To prepare for that day—
He needed more power.

He would settle things personally with the King of Valan.

…Unconditional surrender or death.

There would be no third option.

—

*Return to the Labyrinth City*

Returning to the Labyrinth City, I was struck speechless.

*“The city developed this much while I was gone.”*

It finally looked like a true city.

Most citizens were monsters, not humans, but—

“Labyrinth City! Good place live!”
“Plenty work! Many mana stones!”

Like Cramdel, it was becoming a city where countless monster races lived together.

No doubt because the Labyrinth City had been declared the City of the Fifth Pillar.

“Kahahaha! You’ve finally come back!”

**THUD! THUD! THUD!**

A massive goblin rushed toward me.

The King of the Golden Goblins!

“Behold! Treasures we found in the Labyrinth with the Golden Goblins!”

*Ki-kik!*

*Ki-kik-kik-kik!*

Portals burst from the ground, spilling out Golden Goblins.

**CLATTER—!**

They opened their bundles and poured out heaps of treasure and gold.

He had begun exploring the Labyrinth and retrieving treasure with his tribe.

Normally, Hudson would have handled it—
But the Golden Goblin King clearly wanted to brag to me.

“You worked hard.”

“20% of this is mine!”

“Yes.”

I nodded.

We had agreed—
In exchange for guarding the Labyrinth and retrieving treasure directly, he received 20% of what he found.

Even excluding his share, the total was easily tens of millions of gold.

“KRAHAHAHAHA! To think, 18% of this is mine! I’ll find even more next time!”

“…18%? Didn’t you say 20% just now?”

“Hm. I suddenly felt like 18% would be enough.”

…Did he go mad after having every treasure he originally owned robbed by me?

He just shaved off 2% from his own share—of his own accord.

And he was happy about it.

No doubt due to Honor or a trait linked to me.

*“The First Fire should definitely be placed here in the Labyrinth City.”*

The city was developing rapidly.

Growing in power was only beneficial.

If we placed the First Fire here and built special structures, it could become the greatest city in the world.

*“And I must place the Fire first to refine the Wooden Rod.”*

Refinement required the First Fire.

So placing the fire was top priority.

I was still considering where in the city to place it when—

“Lord Randolph!”

A familiar voice called from afar.

Hudson was rushing toward me.

I muttered quietly as I saw him:

“So he was here.”

“Yes! But that’s not the problem!”

“What’s happened?”

Hudson approached and lowered his voice.

“…The White King has sent an official summons for all main pillars.”

“The White King?”

“Yes. And Marquis Weiser also sent a summons. He wishes to visit the King of Valan—and requests you accompany him.”

“He wants *me*? Serengeti is available, isn’t she?”

“I do not know the details. Only that you are *specifically* requested. And… there’s more.”

“There’s more?”

“A letter arrived from Priest Andrew.”

Hudson handed me a letter.

*RIP—*

I broke the seal and immediately frowned.

*“Elder Aruwen and the elves have not arrived at the Primordial Forest. I will be heading there myself and may not return for some time. I ask for your understanding…”*

So Andrew had gone into the Primordial Forest.

And the letter hinted that he wanted *me* there as well.

The White King.
Marquis Weiser.
And Andrew at the Primordial Forest.

All searching for me—and on the same day.

But I only had one body.

I could only go to one place.

And that wasn’t even the end of it.

“…Lastly, a letter came from the Empire.”

“The Empire?”

“Yes. Sent to my trading company. The contents cannot be read unless two matching seals touch.”

Hudson handed over a second letter—bearing the Imperial seal.

If opened by force, the contents would burn.