I Start with 13 Hidden Traits Chapter-211

Ch-211. **Absolute Sword Aura**

—

The meeting ended far sooner than expected—
as if there wasn’t a single moment to waste now that the Emperor had begun to awaken.

*‘…There were three agendas raised in the meeting.’*

I slowly exited the chamber as the discussions from just moments ago replayed in my mind.

There were exactly three items presented.

The first: **to lend power to Friedrich, the Devil of Pride and King of Arrogance.**

The second: **to grant the one who finds the Golden Spirit King the first audience with the Emperor.**

And the third: **to gather the people of the Empire and host a “tournament.”**

*A tournament for the unity of the Empire, huh.*

The justification was solid.

A world in turbulence—
what better opportunity was there to gather strength and discover talent within the Empire?

However, the scale of the tournament was beyond anything I had imagined.

*‘It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call it the Supreme Martial Arts Tournament.’*

In this competition, social rank meant nothing.
Anyone with ability and talent had a chance to overturn their fate in a single instant.

And the prizes at stake far surpassed even my boldest expectations.

*‘…The Path of Light and the Sacred Light.’*

Two pieces of equipment of **Unique Grade** were being awarded.

And strangely, both equipment bore familiar names.

*‘…They were all Wilhelm’s equipment.’*

I still remembered the shock I felt when I first heard it.

Of the eight Unique Grade items dismantled after Wilhelm’s death,
never in my dreams did I expect two of them to suddenly resurface here.

*Did the Empire purchase all the dismantled materials from the “Golden Scale Shop”?*

Considering they monitored every movement of the Players,
it wouldn’t be surprising for them to make use of the Golden Scale Shop.

“Golden Goat-nim. Please stay here tonight.”

“I understand.”

Guided by the maid wearing a rabbit mask, I entered the guest quarters prepared inside the palace.

If it were up to me, I’d escape this damned palace even a second sooner—
but I couldn’t.

*—Today is the day the ‘Great Will of the Moon’ resides in this palace. All who enter the palace shall stay for a day and savor the ‘Great Night.’*

That was what the Golden Mask declared after the meeting.

Even Knight Captain Raiga accepted it without protest, so it must have been some kind of annual ceremony.

*Did they gather the soldiers outside in case the worst should happen?*

Inside the resplendent room, I sat on the bed and gazed out the window.

Even in stillness, overwhelming presences could be felt.

Now I understood why soldiers had been assembled beyond the palace walls—
**to ensure survival through tonight.**
Whatever happened here would not be strange.

Those forces weren’t stationed there for mere intimidation.

“Interesting.”

After gathering all the pieces of the situation, I muttered only that much.

Because things had become very intriguing.

What I sensed wasn’t only the magic pouring in from the soldiers outside.

There were also **secret gazes directed toward me**—
each pair of eyes carrying a different agenda.

Yet there was something even more fascinating.

*‘There’s a hidden path inside the palace.’*

On my way here, the Hidden Trait **“Mutant”** had suddenly activated.

A path unseen by ordinary eyes—
a path invisible and inaccessible to those without this trait.

To think something like that existed within the palace…

*‘Don’t tell me this leads to where the Emperor sleeps?’*

Not impossible.
Which meant it had to be confirmed.

> 《You equip “Shadow Footprint.”》

> 《Based on Agility (145), you maintain a “Special Stealth” state.》

**Shadow Footprint.**
A cloak that camouflaged the wearer so perfectly that almost no eye could detect them.

I had reforged my old “Shadow Cloak” together with various materials purchased from the Golden Scale Shop in the “First Flame” to create “Shadow Footprint.”

*Good thing I made it beforehand.*

Before coming to the Empire—
just in case something like this happened.

Wearing the darkened cloak, I quietly exited my room.

—

> 《Hidden Trait “Mutant” activates.》

> 《You have discovered a hidden path!》

Rows of paintings hung along the palace wall.
Behind the painting depicting the *Four Calamities* lay a hidden passage.

> 《Entered ‘Secret Passage (???)’.》

> 《Amazing discovery! You have achieved the achievement: “The Hidden Path of the Imperial Palace.”》

> 《Due to the “Great Aspect,” honor is doubled (+800).》

Without a moment’s hesitation, I stepped through the wall—
and the invisible paths began to take form before my eyes.

A narrow corridor.
Given the question marks, this probably wasn’t the only one.

*What is this secret passage for?*

Secret paths existed for many reasons—
escape, surveillance, hiding something…

Yet this one could only be seen and entered through the Hidden Trait “Mutant.”

I couldn’t guess its purpose.

And that painting of the *Four Calamities* marking the entrance… that bothered me as well.

*Fwoooosh—*

Was it connected to the outside?

A cold wind brushed past my skin.

After walking for some time, the scenery suddenly changed, revealing a vast space—

*‘A hill?’*

The passage had vanished, replaced by a green hill.

At its center stood a massive **tree of verdure**.

And beside it—

“Of course you turned out to be a special one.”

—stood **him.**

My thoughts stalled instantly.

Why was *he* here?
How could that make any sense?

But it wasn’t an illusion. It wasn’t a mistake.

The man I had faced just earlier—

He was unmistakably—

“…Knight Captain Raiga.”

Why was *he* in a place like this?

Even though I was hidden under Shadow Footprint, he identified me immediately.

Was he also a “Mutant Trait” holder?

As if to answer my question, Raiga spoke:

“No one has ever entered here but me. I never imagined another living human possessing the trait ‘Mutant.’”

“What is this place?”

“My training ground. No—*our* training ground.”

“‘Our’?”

“Look.”

Raiga raised a finger.

There, in the distance, were **five gravestones.**

“Those five were all Masters of the *Eight Houses*. More precisely, the successors before me. I inherited their power, refined it, and completed who I am now.”

That was how he’d grown strong enough to hunt Fragments of Ruin—
he inherited power through multiple generations of succession.

“But the name of the Eight Houses may end with me. I have yet to find a single person worthy of inheriting my power.”

Inheritance of power.
He meant a successor.

But the Fang Knights were all prodigies—
the greatest talents in the Empire.

So I had to ask:

“Is that related to the tournament?”

“Of course. I’m searching for someone worthy of becoming my successor. I did find one in the Dersian household, but one is far from enough.”

…He meant Isabella.

So *that* was why Isabella became an apprentice knight of the Fang Knights.

*She must have caught Raiga’s attention during her visit to the Dersian household.*

Indeed, Isabella’s talent was overwhelming.
Having transcended through the Named title “Star of Jörmungandr,” further growth was guaranteed.

Raiga was hosting this massive tournament solely to find a successor.

“But doesn’t it seem odd? Dersian von Isabella—she is known to have never left the Empire. And yet… how does she know *you*?”

“…”

…So he noticed.

Even though I acted as composed as possible, I couldn’t fool Raiga’s eyes.

Isabella wouldn’t have spoken.
He must have sensed the subtle atmosphere in that brief moment when their eyes met.

I quietly tensed as I watched his movements.

Raiga shrugged.

“Those afflicted with the ‘Divine Sickness’ tend to see and hear strange things—like the executives of the Reaper Cult.”

His gaze pierced into mine.

He was certain that *I too* had once been afflicted by the “Divine Sickness.”

Then, slowly, he extended his hand toward me.

“But unlike the existing executives, you are fundamentally different.
So I believe you and I could become rather excellent partners.”

“You’re asking me to be a spy.”

“You’ve already fallen out of favor with the Golden Mask. If you want to restore the ‘Rahon Family,’ choosing my side is the more reasonable option.”

He still firmly believed I was the heir of the Rahon family.

But… he wasn’t entirely wrong.

During the meeting, I openly stood against the Golden Mask.
In response, he treated me as though I didn’t exist.

That attitude would continue—
or perhaps he really would erase me.

If Raiga supported me, my safety within the Empire would be assured—

“ I refuse.”

“I thought you would.”

Raiga smirked.

As if he would have been disappointed had I agreed too readily.

To join hands now would be the worst choice.

I needed a clearer grasp of his motives.
He didn’t know me—and I didn’t know him.

And then—

*Shrring.*

Raiga slowly drew his sword and aimed the blade at me.

“Did you know? Mutant trait holders can steal each other’s abilities.”

*So that was the real purpose.*

His eyes were filled with exhilaration—
the same burning competitiveness I had sensed the very first time he pointed his sword aura at me when Baal was summoned.

Back then circumstances prevented a battle—
but here, only the two of us existed.

Only we could reach this place.

No need to hide. No need to restrain ourselves.

*‘He’s serious.’*

…It seemed I couldn’t avoid this.

—

*Shraaaah!!*

Blazing sword aura erupted like flames.

*CRAAASH!!*

Whenever sword aura clashed against sword aura, the world itself trembled.

We exchanged **aura for aura**, unleashing our full skill.

*He’s strong.*

With every clash, Raiga’s strength astonished me even more.

And I soon realized—
he wasn’t even using his full power.

*He wants a battle of aura—nothing else.*

Raiga sought not a contest of physical ability—
but of **sword aura versus sword aura.**

Who possessed the stronger “Energy”—the stronger Absolute Aura.

Because of that, our movements were extremely simple.

We swung, clashed, and clashed again.
Nothing more, nothing less.

Raiga believed that my sword aura came from **Baal’s authority.**
He was convinced that his own sword aura was the purest and most supreme in existence.

The “ability stealing” logic was just an excuse.
From the beginning, Raiga simply wanted to prove that his sword aura was superior to mine.

*CLANG! CLAAAANG!*

*Interesting.*

A simple confrontation—yet somehow exhilarating.

A battle where all distractions vanished and focus narrowed into a single point.

A completely different structure from usual battles—
before long, I found myself immersed.

I didn’t know how long it lasted.

Then—

> 《Sword Mastery level has increased.》

> 《Sword Mastery has reached Level 31.》

> 《Sword Mastery has surpassed Level 30 and transcended to the next stage.》

> 《You have completed the Hidden Quest: “Mastery Level Transcendence (7)” derived from “Master of the Trainee’s Mountain.”》