I Start with 13 Hidden Traits Chapter-202

Ch-202. **The Value of a Soul**

—

The reason I responded to the summons of the Golden Mask was exceedingly simple.

*Because only I can resolve this.*

Because there is no replacement.

Only I can fulfill the role of the *Golden Goat.*

It could not be entrusted to anyone else. There was a time limit. And above all, the most urgent matter was the Golden Mask’s summons.

*If it were merely a banquet, I would have refused.*

Not that I participated because it was special either.

There was simply one phrase in the Golden Mask’s letter that caught my eye:

**“Conference of the Eight Fang Knights.”**

The Eight Fangs!

Among the countless knightly orders of the Empire—this was the one most famed in reputation.

**The Emperor’s blade.**

A group that moves solely for the Emperor, and the name of that group had been written in the Golden Mask’s letter.

Holding a conference together with them could only mean that it was related to the *“Sleeping Emperor.”*

And if *they* were mobilizing—

*…Either a threat to the Emperor has appeared, or the Emperor has awakened.*

It is almost always one of those two.

But there was something strange.

The Eight Fang Knights move only for the Emperor and heed no one else’s command. Their military power is independently actionable, and they ignore even the High Nobles and the Reaper Cult’s words without a glance.

*So why would they conduct a joint conference?*

There was no reasonable explanation for why the Reaper Cult’s executives and the Eight Fang Knights would host a conference together.

So I could not skip this.

I was also curious as to what the *“Will of the Great Moon”* was.

One question led to another, and eventually I arrived at the heart of the Empire—the Imperial Palace.

“…”

An atmosphere so chilling it reached the bone, and as deadly as a battlefield.

Countless factions… countless military forces were gathered inside the palace.

And they were all wearing identical silver masks—just like the masks of the executives of the Reaper Cult they served.

Did the executives summon their troops just to flaunt their influence?

Inside the holy Imperial Palace, where the Emperor lies asleep?

*No. They are on guard.*

Against each other.

I had sensed it before, but the eleven executives were all rivals. None trusted the others.

And that tension had extended to their subordinates as well.

Moreover—

*They’re nervous.*

A subtle, sharp tension filled the space.

A hair-trigger atmosphere. It did not seem like they were about to fight, yet—

Because of what?

*…Thunder Descent.*

As I scanned the hall, my gaze froze at one point.

The being wearing a silver fox mask—the one I saw during the Empire’s auction—the one who used the Unique Skill *“Thunder Lion”*… a being that seemed to be the very character I had raised.

He did not recognize me, however.

“Golden Goat, confirmed.”

When I presented the Golden Goat emblem at the palace entrance, the transcendent beings in silver masks simultaneously turned to look at me.

Their eyes were filled with many emotions.

But the largest of them was the question:

*“Why did you come alone?”*

*Looks like there was something I didn’t know.*

There was no instruction in the Golden Mask’s letter about bringing *retainers.*

But since every other executive had brought theirs, it meant there was something everyone knew—except me.

The Golden Mask couldn’t have possibly been unaware of that.
He must have omitted it intentionally.

*Killing intent.*

And not just that.

Among all their swirling emotions, at the core of each of them—was shared killing intent.

It was absurd.

I was very much a fellow executive, yet they dared to direct such blatant killing intent toward me.

Were they implying that if I couldn’t withstand something as trivial as this, I wasn’t qualified to enter?

The killing intent of countless transcendents felt like walking across thin ice.

“Golden Goat enters!”

But of course—

It didn’t matter.

Step. Step.

With my back straight and my stride steady, I walked into the palace.

Their stares, their vigilance, their tension, their killing intent—none of it had the slightest effect on me.

—

—

 

White King’s expression twisted in frustration.

“…Where is the Fifth Main Pillar?”

The Fifth ignored his summons.

This was the first time something like this had happened.

After the report of the conquest of the desert city of Faisalmer, there had been no further news.

With the Death King absent from the throne…

Only three main pillars stood before White King:

Medusa, Gunggi, and the Great Earth Dragon.

And his daughter, Aria.

*He’s anxious.*

Aria could feel White King’s emotions.

With each passing day, White King was becoming more and more impatient.

Even after conquering every designated city in the South.

This meant only one thing: the Black King’s movements were beyond White King’s expectations.

Despite the fall of the southern cities, the Black King showed no reaction.

As if such matters were beneath him.

Completely ignored.

Which could only mean the Black King was preparing something far greater.

“…Was my summons so beneath him?”

“That is absolutely not the case, Your Majesty.”

Aria immediately stepped forward.

If relations soured between White King and the Fifth Main Pillar here, it would lead to irreparable consequences.

For Aria had seen firsthand—Fifth Pillar was one White King *must* secure.

Fifth Pillar, that ominous crow… was a man whose depths could not be measured.

Though the main pillars had grown strong, his growth rate surpassed them beyond comparison.

White King’s expression grew even darker.

“If not that—then are you saying he has something so urgent he would ignore my command?”

“Your Majesty, from what I have heard… Fifth Pillar is currently unable to respond. Instead, he has left a gift to Your Majesty.”

“…?”

At White King’s puzzled look, Aria gently pulled an object wrapped in cloth from her arms and presented it with both hands.

“Hmm… this is…”

White King’s eyes shook violently.

The cloth hid it, but he knew immediately.

“…My Fang.”

In the past—during the war with Wilhelm—he had lost one of his Fangs.

Losing that tooth weakened White King.

It stripped away his confidence.

And now Fifth Pillar had returned that lost tooth to him—as a *gift.*

White King’s trembling hand grasped his fang.

It was the embodiment of his own condensed magic power—his very strength.

“Your Majesty, Fifth Pillar also asked me to tell you this: ‘This is a gift that requires no price.’”

“…No price?”

Was he apologizing for being unable to answer the summons?

Even though he returned the tooth White King had desperately searched for, he claimed he wanted nothing in return.

He *said* so… but surely, he didn’t mean it literally.

*What is it you wish for me to give you, Fifth Pillar…?*

At that thought, White King felt his mind settle.

Now that his fang had returned, he could once again prepare for a decisive battle with the Black King.

He could finally begin acting properly.

Until now, he had acted passively because of the lost tooth—and because of lost confidence.

Now that both had returned, nothing held him back.

He had received an incredible gift.

And when given a gift, a return gift was only proper.

Ignoring the summons could now be forgiven—easily overlooked.

Now then… what to give in return?

“I shall head for the ‘Primal Forest.’”

“…Yes?”

“You mean… you will leave Cramdel?”

Everyone recoiled in shock.

White King planned to leave Cramdel himself and go to the Primal Forest—

Even while the Black King was actively hunting him.

“Yes. The rest of you will stay here and defend Cramdel.”

But White King’s resolve was unwavering.

If the Black King had allied with the Dark Elves, then White King too would ally with the Elves.

And there—he would search for it.

…The gift he would give Fifth Pillar in return.

—

—

 

When I stood intact and unfazed at the banquet table, several patrons’ eyes gleamed.

*Oh ho.*

*So he really was hiding his strength.*

The arrogance I displayed during the first banquet—apparently it had not been mere bluff.

To calmly endure the killing intent of the transcendents waiting at the palace entrance—

*But… something is different from the first banquet.*

*Indeed.*

The atmosphere had changed. No—more than just atmosphere.

The *level* I emanated was nothing like before.

Even though I suppressed it, something faint—almost like holy radiance—could be felt.

I couldn’t define it precisely, but if I had to put it into words—

**It was majesty.**

The Golden Goat now exuded a majesty that had not been present before.

Furthermore—

*…This is simply ridiculous.*

*Again?*

I summoned the **Throne of Light** by the window and sat there once more.

Even though they had *definitely* prepared a formal *“seat of the Golden Goat.”*

That lunatic clearly wanted attention.

Either way, without the slightest twitch, the Golden Goat sat firmly and stared at the Golden Mask.

And the banquet began.

“The *Will of the Great Moon* watches over us. May this banquet become the *Last Supper.*”

Night.

A full moon evening.

Outside, the moon had been yellow; but once inside the palace, its light scorched down in **crimson**.

“First, let all of you summon your *Lineage.* The Will of the Great Moon wishes to see them personally.”

Tracing a seal in the air, the Golden Mask summoned his Lineage.

The others followed in turn.

There was little difference in their appearance from before.

But their reaction—was drastically different.

*Krrk-krrk-krrk-krrrk!*

*Ki—ki—ki—ki—ki!*

The Lineages reacted violently to something.

The crimson light of the full moon was driving them into frenzy.

Their eyes burned red like the moon, drool falling from their mouths.

*Kyak—kyahahaha—krrrk!*

…Hel was no exception.

The Golden Mask smiled.

“Heh. Today is the closest to *‘Feast Day.’* Under the Crimson Full Moon—the Will of the Great Moon—Lineages feel an extreme hunger.”

In short, they could eat much more than usual.

Meaning the order of the feast mattered.

But that wasn’t the only reason.

“As you know, the number of *souls* allowed for today’s feast is not one. Several may be offered simultaneously—and each will be assigned a ‘value.’ Present every valuable soul you possess.”

…Not just one?

This too had never been written in the letter.

At the first banquet, each patron could offer *only one soul.*

But not this time.

Every soul presented would be evaluated, and the total value would determine ranking.

Then my eyes met those of the Golden Mask.

*So you don’t intend to let me be the first challenger again.*

He had intentionally withheld critical information.

Previously, because it was the *first banquet,* Hel was allowed to take the first feast—yet this time that variable had been eliminated entirely.

If Hel ate and spat it out again like last time, it would become problematic—so he was blocking all possible advantages.

Then the Golden Mask turned away and spoke:

“So—who will reveal the first ‘Feast’ they have prepared?”

“I shall go first!”

The man wearing the lion mask stepped forward, brimming with confidence.

He was the one who had previously offered *‘Gracia’s Youth.’*

“The soul I captured this time is incomparable even to the ‘Gracia’s Youth’ from before. Expect much!”

More special than that?

Under everyone’s gaze, the lion-masked man clapped.

And behind him—countless *Reapers* appeared.

They carried countless souls.

Among them, one—

“What is that…?”

“Ho…”

Several patrons widened their eyes in surprise.

All staring at the same soul.

Laughing triumphantly, the lion-masked man spoke:

“Hahaha! Indeed—*the soul of a Star-bearer.*”

A Star-bearer—

The mysterious followers of the stars.

He had captured the soul of one of them.

Star-bearers never appear unless they choose to; normally, they are impossible to find.

How did he catch one?

“This one is no ordinary Star-bearer. He knows the location of the ‘Mother Star’ guarded by the *Giant of Ruin.*”

“Impressive.”

“Of course, the other souls are no less valuable. A true feast beyond measure.”

“…Excellent. Then the Will of the Great Moon shall assign value to these souls.”

The Golden Mask nodded in acknowledgment.

And then—

**【194,876】**

Scarlet numbers floated before the lion-masked man.

The Will of the Great Moon had evaluated the value of the souls—

And it totaled…

**approximately 194,000.**

—

 

 

 

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