I Start with 13 Hidden Traits Chapter-237

Ch-237. **The Phantom Cult**

—

CK Broadcasting Network.
Dimension Warrior Exclusive Reporting Office.

Seo Jeong-ah frowned as she looked at Kim Hana’s face—lined with dark circles.

“Kim-won, you haven’t been sleeping at all lately, have you? Something going on?”

Kim Hana let out a long sigh.

“You know… the flood of tips that just won’t stop…”

“Well, yeah. I guess it’s true the Eight Heroes Association has collapsed?”

“Yes. It seems to be accepted as fact now. Just look at how warriors no longer bother tiptoeing around them.”

The Eight Heroes Association.

On Earth, they were now called the **“False Eight Heroes.”**

Perhaps that’s why—

Tips from Dimension Warriors were flooding in as though a dam had burst.

And the incident that made it possible originated in another dimension—**Pangaenia**.

Serengeti, close aide to King Valan and to Wilhelm, leader of the Great Expedition, had formally branded them **traitors.**

“But their influence on Earth should still be intact, shouldn’t it? Aren’t you afraid you’ll be assassinated or something?”

Seo Jeong-ah’s doubt was reasonable.

In Pangaenia, the Eight Heroes Association had lost power overnight.

The Goddess Church and other large factions demanded astronomical reparations.
Merchants cut off all trade.

Once the people realized their glory was a lie, civilians abandoned the cities.
Everyone—young, old, noble, commoner—pointed fingers at them.

But on Earth, their influence remained.

They still had countless Dimension Warriors.
They were still the strongest organization, with overwhelming money and might.

“They seem to be split internally.”

Kim Hana shook her head as she answered.

Seo Jeong-ah’s eyes widened.

“Internal division? What do you mean?”

“Dark Star and Lucifer are in sharp conflict. They don’t have the luxury to worry about Earth right now…”

“What, seriously? That’s huge—an absolute scoop! Who do you think will win?”

“Hm, not sure. But honestly, something else is keeping me busier.”

“What? Something bigger than *this*?!”

Seo Jeong-ah stared at her in disbelief.

The downfall and internal fracture of the Eight Heroes Association!

Just writing about it would guarantee a headline exclusive.

And Kim Hana knew more confidential information about the Association than most.

She was rumored to have been the first journalist to ever interview Gracia.

Not only that—

People whispered that she had played an unknown role during the Jeju Island disappearance incident.

Because of that reputation—and her absolute assurance of anonymity—many Dimension Warriors now sent **exclusive intel** directly to her.

If she wrote a proper investigative expose on the Eight Heroes Association, she could easily win a Pulitzer this year.

*But something even bigger than that?*

Seo Jeong-ah’s eyes were sparkling with curiosity.

Her gaze landed on the notebook in Hana’s hands.

“Don’t tell me… it’s about *Randolph*?”

“…Yes.”

“Oh come on. Randolph seems amazing and all, but he hasn’t done anything on Earth. Why bother investigating him?”

The name Randolph had recently become well-known even on Earth.

Not because he did anything here, but because **Dimension Warriors kept mentioning him.**

Especially lately—his name came up constantly.

—Who is the strongest among Dimension Warriors? Gracia? Dark Star?

—Of course it’s Randolph-nim.

—Excuse me?

—When he completes all trials, he will descend and save the world. Glory to the Phantom Cult!

…This kind of thing.

In every interview, whenever related topics came up, **Randolph** was mentioned.

And that’s how journalists learned of a group within the Dimension Warriors:

A group that worshiped Randolph as a god—

**The Phantom Cult.**

—Randolph has never appeared on Earth. Will he really save it?

—Hercules also completed twelve labors before ascending. Randolph-nim simply awaits completion. Glory to the Phantom Cult!

Members of the cult pressed their fingertips together into a round circle—a ritualistic hand gesture unique to the Phantom Cult.

Naturally, reporters became more and more curious.

Then one interview went *global*.

—Where exactly is Randolph, and what trial is he undergoing?

—He is currently completing the **11th Trial**.

—Is that the same as the trials Dimension Warriors undertake?

—Similar, yet fundamentally different. If we see a tree, he sees an entire mountain. The name is the same, but the scale is heaven and earth—no, the entire universe apart.

—Where is the 11th Trial taking place?

—The Abyss.

—The A-Abyss? I recall seeing that word during the Jeju Island disappearance…

—Yes. The Master previously declared Jeju had sunk into the Abyss. That there was no hope.

—Then… you’re saying Randolph is *currently* in that place full of monsters strong enough to erase Jeju Island?

—Correct.

—What is he doing there?

—Hunting Abyssal monsters.

—Surely not monsters on the level of Baal, the one who tried to erase Jeju Island?

—Who knows? Until results emerge, no one can predict anything. But one thing is certain—Randolph-nim always exceeds the predictions of all warriors.

—Unpredictable… yet surpassing all predictions…?

—Yes. All warriors are watching closely. What kind of monster he will slay in the Abyss. And also—
—…?

—Randolph-nim is not uninterested in Earth. He is preventing interdimensional invaders from ever reaching Earth. In fact, the *only* reason the first invasion never occurred is because of him.

—…?! Wait, hold on. No one has ever explained what happened during the “first invasion attempt.”

—That’s because Randolph-nim killed the **King of the Dead, Ahhram,** alone. At the time, even we couldn’t believe it. We thought it was some kind of system error. It just didn’t seem possible. That’s why no one ever talked about it.

The interview went viral—**over 100 million views in just three days.**

It completely transformed the global perception of Randolph.

It was one of the many truths hidden by false heroes.

But was that the only truth hidden?

*There are too many.*

Kim Hana shook her head internally.

Too many lies—especially regarding the Great Expedition and Randolph.

*Every single thing is a lie.*

They deliberately demeaned the Expedition.
They buried Randolph’s achievements.
They behaved as if the truth must never be revealed.

But why? What were they trying so desperately to hide?

*It’s not just because they lied about joining the Expedition.*

That was a major lie, but clearly not the core issue.

Something far worse was concealed.

A truth that, if exposed, would destroy them beyond recovery.

*Maybe… it has something to do with the Demon King.*

If—just *if*—they were involved with the Demon King?

If they not only sabotaged the Expedition but sold out the entire army?

The opening of interdimensional gates, the invasion of Earth—
Everything began with the Great Expedition.

If the Eight Heroes Association was responsible for its failure—

It meant the villains were pretending to be saviors.

*Unforgivable.*

Kim Hana wasn’t just investigating Randolph.

She was probing the Eight Heroes Association and the Expedition.

And the deeper she dug, the uglier their truth became.

Their lies were sickening.

Seo Jeong-ah spoke gently to Hana’s grim expression.

“Why not just focus on the Eight Heroes Association?”

“…Maybe I should.”

“Huh?”

Seo blinked.

Then Kim Hana clenched her fist.

“I’m going to request an interview with them.”

“What? Now? They’ve refused every major news outlet. Will they even accept?”

“They will. At least one of them will.”

“…Why?”

“Because I know where the person they’re desperately searching for is.”

“…Huh??”

—

—

 

A dark secret chamber.
A clandestine meeting.

Dark Star glared at Kim Hana sitting across from him.

“…You’re saying you know where Gracia is?”

Dark Star and Lucifer were both searching for Gracia.

The organization was split cleanly in two.

Whoever brought Gracia back would control the Association.

To rebuild their power, one had to defeat the opposing faction first.

Kim Hana nodded calmly.

“I do. But first, I have something to ask.”

“What is it?”

“Is Randolph actually Wilhelm?”

“…There *are* such rumors.”

“I want a definite answer.”

Dark Star frowned.

The rumor that Randolph = Wilhelm was almost accepted as fact by players.

But there was no direct evidence.

Tap. Tap.

Dark Star drummed his finger on the table before finally speaking.

“…Yes. We only confirmed it recently.”

“I see.”

Kim Hana’s expression eased.

Everything finally aligned.

“Where is Gracia?”

“Do you think you can beat Lucifer?”

“With Gracia… Damn it, even with Gracia it’s fifty–fifty. Now tell me—where is he?”

Dark Star’s façade cracked—revealing weakness never shown to the public.

He was under immense pressure.

“Is Lucifer that strong? I thought he was the current leader?”

“Master and I were just figureheads. He controlled everything behind the scenes. We only moved according to his will.”

So that was why he showed weakness.

He was trying to wash himself clean—pretend he was just a puppet.

Dark Star clenched his teeth.

“If Lucifer takes full control, Earth is doomed. He’s made a pact with the Demon of Pride. He sold out the Great Expedition—what makes you think he won’t sell out Earth?”

“…You’re saying the Expedition and Lucifer are connected?”

He spilled everything without hesitation.

Desperation.

And obviously—
He intended to dump all responsibility onto Lucifer to save himself.

Disgust churned inside Kim Hana.

*How can a human be this vile?*

“That’s all I can say.”

But he had already said enough.

Lucifer had made a contract with a demon.
Lucifer was responsible for the Expedition’s failure.

“How strong is Lucifer, if even he and Gracia together are only fifty–fifty?”

“…How many questions will you ask? Fine. Nobody knows his exact strength. Because of the ‘Angel Idol.’ No one can fight him as long as he has it.”

“Angel… Idol?”

“Yes. As long as he has that, he can’t be defeated. But losing isn’t allowed either. That’s why we need Gracia. Or—Randolph must surpass Lucifer in the trials.”

“You mean the 11th Trial?”

“Right. Lucifer obtained the Angel Idol by hunting ‘the Prince of Vanity,’ one of the Abyssal Sovereigns, during the 11th Trial. It’s a famous story among warriors.”

“I see… And what if Randolph hunts something *stronger* than the Prince of Vanity?”

“Impossible.”

Dark Star was certain.

Seeing Hana’s doubt, he added—

“I would love that too, but it cannot happen. The Abyss is not a place for one person. You need massive resources and manpower. Hunting an Abyssal Sovereign is a national-level enterprise.”

Only the Empire had the power to challenge the Abyss.

And the Empire would never aid Randolph.

A small team could never manage it.

*Unless the Eight Families’ Knights intervened…*

Dark Star clicked his tongue.

Without the Emperor’s Sword—
Without the Eight Families’ Knight Order—
It was impossible.

“Besides, monsters greater than the Prince of Vanity hardly exist even in the Abyss.”

“And if he still manages it?”

Dark Star burst into loud laughter.

“Ahahaha! You really believe in Randolph, don’t you? If he manages *that*… Fine. I’ll join the Phantom Cult myself!”

—

—

 

 

**Thump! Thump!**

A heavy rumble.

Raiga opened his eyes.

“Urgh…”

But he could barely move.

His body was ruined beyond repair.

He managed only a sideways glance.

*The Goat?*

Someone familiar was nearby.

…It was the Goat.

But more shocking was what Raiga was lying upon.

*Baal…?*

He knew the Goat could summon Baal—the True Grim Reaper.

But riding it like a mount…?

Even the ancient Empire had no record of anyone riding a Four Calamity.

The Goat was the only one capable of such a thing.

But the surprises didn’t stop there.

“Goooooh…”

A strange sound came from beside him.

A golem.

*The Master of the Tomb…?!*

Why was that ancient golem with the Goat?

More importantly—

Had the Goat saved him?

How?

Heavenly Demon.
The Sunken Emperor.
Countless Abyssal rulers—

They had all been present.

*Is this a dream?*

Raiga couldn’t believe what he was seeing.

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