I Start with 13 Hidden Traits Chapter-30

 

Ch-30 **Phantom**

 

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The list that appeared in the Golden Rule Shop was astounding. Each item was jaw-dropping, enough to make one’s eyes widen. Even after achieving first place in the Main Quest rankings four times in a row, some items were still out of reach. Naturally, they were treasures of immeasurable worth—items anyone would covet.

From the very first entry, the list was overwhelming.

**A Mythic Species’ Egg.**

Even *Dramut*, the Guardian of the Stars, was classified as a Mythic Species. These creatures were so absurd in their very nature that they were considered on par with elite raid boss monsters, at minimum. However, my shock wasn’t solely due to this revelation.

**“The Fang of the White King, Eldritch’s Cursed Black Grimoire, the Heart of a Dragon.”**

The names were startlingly familiar.

**“…They’re all primary materials I used to craft unique-grade items.”**

I grabbed the back of my neck as a stiff, uneasy sensation crept up. If not for the Iron-Blood Monarch’s heart sustaining me, I might have let out a string of expletives.

*Unique-grade items.* Divine-tier artifacts, unparalleled in existence. The core materials used to craft such items are now on display in the Golden Rule Shop’s inventory.

While it’s possible for identical materials to exist by coincidence, this felt incomprehensible.

**“The White King wouldn’t pull out two of his own fangs.”**

The White King, also known as *Baekje*, ruled the North. This enormous white tiger was a demigod-tier Mythic Species—an absolute monster. Back when I played as Wilhelm, I spent an entire month just trying to acquire one of its fangs. It was lightning-quick and adept at ambushes; I nearly died multiple times while attempting to hunt it.

**“Even Wilhelm eventually gave up on killing it.”**

In the end, we reached an agreement: I would leave the North forever, and in return, the White King gave me one of its fangs.

Unless someone else managed to kill the White King—a feat I doubted—the idea of its fang appearing in the shop was preposterous.

The only plausible explanation?

**“…After Wilhelm’s death.”**

The fate of Wilhelm’s possessions and the connection to the Golden Rule Shop became clear after his demise.

Wilhelm had owned eight unique-grade items. Of the fifteen unique-grade artifacts known to exist in *Pangea*, Wilhelm held more than half. But in this game, when a character dies, everything they own disintegrates—including their items.

When Wilhelm died, the eight unique-grade artifacts vanished—or so I thought.

**“This is nothing short of item flipping…”**

It was absurd. The Goddess herself scavenging corpses, dismantling artifacts, and reselling them? While repurposing was better than outright destruction, it still felt like a betrayal.

Granted, the shop’s owner might not be the Goddess. I had no idea what criteria determined the items’ inclusion in the Golden Rule Shop. Still, I couldn’t shake the feeling of being robbed while someone danced on my grave.

**“The Goddess blessed me during the Prayer of Veneration, which was odd in hindsight.”**

Perhaps guilt prompted her to assist me. After all, it was the Goddess who orchestrated Wilhelm’s demise. Although Wilhelm was destined to be overtaken by the Demon King’s influence, the idea of the Goddess as purely benevolent seemed dubious now.

**“It’s not just Wilhelm. This applies to every character’s death.”**

For instance, the *Holy Grail of the Earth God* was something I had never seen before. Yet, I knew its previous owner.

**“The Earth God’s Holy Grail… It belonged to Albheith, the Saint of the Earth.”**

There had been rumors of his death after the Earth God’s Church suddenly began seeking the grail. Seeing it here confirmed that Albheith had indeed perished.

From this, I deduced a new use for the Golden Rule Shop: **determining who had died based on the listed items.**

Many had likely confirmed Wilhelm’s death this way. They probably spread rumors about the so-called *Eight Heroes* after verifying it through the shop.

**“If the items haven’t sold yet, it means very few people have accumulated the required time.”**

Key materials for unique-grade items. If I could purchase them, I would—without hesitation. If only I had enough hours to spare.

**“…Unless everything worthwhile has already been sold.”**

My brow furrowed. If that were the case, who could have bought them?

It would have to be one of the top players dominating the Hall of Fame: Gracia, MintChocolateLover, Obsidian, Master, Haksal, DarkStar, or Barmusch.

**“I can’t underestimate the top-tier players.”**

The release of Wilhelm’s unique-grade items into the world would drastically elevate the combat power of those who obtained them. While possessing materials alone didn’t guarantee success, it was clear the top players were far stronger than I had anticipated.

**“What should I do?”**

The choice was clear: should I hoard resources or utilize them? The answer came quickly.

**“The more I progress through the Main Quests, the more Broken Shards of the Golden Rule I’ll earn.”**

There was no need to worry about rankings; no one understood this game better than I did.

**“With 140 hours, I can purchase five items.”**

1. *Blessed Supreme Elixir* (30h)

2. *Universal Core* (50h)

3. *Talisman of Cataclysm* (60h)

4. *Moonlight Butterfly Talisman* (40h)

5. *Golden Bough* (100h)

The *Blessed Supreme Elixir* could regenerate a lost body part.

The *Universal Core* enabled enhancement without requiring specific materials or soul types.

The *Talisman of Cataclysm* reset all special options on equipment, while the *Moonlight Butterfly Talisman* added a powerful *Moonlight Butterfly* effect.

Lastly, the *Golden Bough* was a key material for crafting the legendary sword *Durandal*.

They were impossibly rare items.

—
—

**《You have purchased “Blessed Supreme Elixir.”》**

**《You have purchased “Talisman of Cataclysm.”》**

**《You have purchased “Moonlight Butterfly Talisman.”》**

After purchasing three of them, a satisfied smile spread across my lips.

Among them, the Cataclysm Talisman and the Moonlight Butterfly Talisman were ultra-rare talismans, comparable in rank to the Fairy Queen’s Tear.

“Excellent.”

I nodded lightly.

My level had increased, and I had acquired two extraordinary talismans and an elixir.

Now that I knew how to use the Golden Rule Shop, the only thing left was to charge ahead without hesitation.

The next main quest? I was destined to win first place, no matter what.

The only question was…

‘…Just how overwhelmingly can I crush them?’

That was the only variable.

—
—
—

Hudson’s eyes started trembling violently.

The lower half of Serengeti’s body was gradually regenerating.

“A-a supreme elixir imbued with blessings…!”

Even a single drop was enough to make flesh regrow, reconnect ligaments, and form bones anew.

The supreme elixir imbued with blessings was a treasure so rare that the Church of the Goddess produced fewer than ten a year, and it was inaccessible to anyone without the highest qualifications.

‘Players can get it from the Golden Rule Shop, though.’

But even that required 30 hours’ worth of Broken Golden Rule Fragments.

Thirty hours.

It sounded simple, but for anyone who wasn’t a top-tier ranker, accumulating that amount was nearly impossible.

Naturally, questions arose.

‘Is the Saint an actual player…?’

Hudson didn’t know the Saint’s name.

He had never heard it, nor had he seen the Saint introduce himself.

But he never felt the need to pry.

The title “Saint” alone was name and status enough.

However, here in this place, the Saint had become the heir to the King of Knights.

He had met Serengeti and was handing over an elixir that even high-ranking players couldn’t easily obtain, without a second thought.

If so, was he a player?

‘…What does it matter now?’

Whether he was or wasn’t, it didn’t change the fact that he was someone Hudson had to follow.

The sole savior who could rescue Serengeti.

Without him, Hudson would have never met Serengeti—not now, not ever.

So, it didn’t matter.

In fact, if he *was* a player, it meant Hudson could repay his grace from Pangea in the real world as well.

It was impossible here, but it might be doable in reality.

“Drop one more every two hours. Do that for a full month, and she’ll fully regenerate.”

“Then I’ll need to stay close by for the next month.”

“I’ll let Marquis Weiser know. Just tell him that the elixir works best when administered by someone who doesn’t provoke any rejection.”

“…Thank you, Saint!”

It was an offer Marquis Weiser couldn’t refuse.

Even if Serengeti’s curse was lifted, she would be helpless without her lower half. This ensured Hudson couldn’t be forcibly separated from her.

Indeed, he was a savior.

Even in death, Hudson would never forget this grace.

“Randolph.”

“Wha-?!?”

Hudson choked, coughing violently as though he had been struck by lightning.

“Cough! Cough!”

He couldn’t calm down easily.

He couldn’t believe the name he had just heard.

Randolph!

Wasn’t that the name that had recently become the hottest topic among players?

Randolph, who was currently suspected of being the legendary *Phantom*.

And *Phantom’s* top character? Naturally, it was the Knight King Wilhelm…

‘Ah!’

As the realization struck him like a bolt of lightning, Hudson trembled uncontrollably.

‘This is insane!’

The greatest, most secretive figure—the Phantom was a legend to anyone who had played Pangea.

The accomplishments attributed to Phantom’s presumed characters were innumerable.

Adventures, romance, and challenges against the impossible.

Just hearing about them made his heart race.

So he must have misheard.

‘This makes no sense.’

Logically speaking.

Could that *Randolph*, that *Phantom*, really be standing before him?

Could such an ethereal figure reveal their identity only to him?

It was laughable, even to a passing puppy.

“Serengeti called out your name as soon as she opened her eyes.”

“…”

“If the Pure White Knight trusts you, then so can I.”

“…”

…Apparently, he hadn’t misheard.

“A-ah…”

Tears suddenly welled up in Hudson’s eyes.

Because he had shared his name? No, that wasn’t it.

Hudson didn’t realize it, but…

‘Phantom was a beacon of light for me.’

To Hudson, Phantom was light itself.

As someone who cherished the game’s characters more than reality, the energy Phantom brought to Pangea made it more precious than the real world.

At first, everyone dismissed this place as fake.

They thought Pangea was just a game world.

That everything happening to them was a joke by the gods.

But Phantom explored this world seriously—more deeply than anyone would explore reality.

He showed everyone that this was more than just a game, that it was another form of reality.

He was the most radiant light illuminating Pangea.

To Hudson, Phantom was that kind of existence.

“Is learning my name so emotional for you?”

“Yes.”

“…”

“It’s so moving, I regret not recognizing you sooner.”

Why hadn’t he realized it earlier?

If Randolph was Phantom, everything that had happened so far made perfect sense.

“I swear, no matter what happens, I’ll take this secret to my grave, My Lord.”

“…My Lord?”

This was getting out of hand.

“Yes, My Lord.”

The seriousness in Hudson’s gaze was so intense it felt like it would pierce right through him.

*Sigh.* With a small sigh, Randolph spoke.

“Just call me what you’ve been calling me.”

“But… how could someone like me—”

“Shut it.”

“Yes, Saint.”

He barely resisted the urge to kick him.

“I’ll return in a month to lift the curse. Until then, keep her safe from Marquis Weiser and Duke Cyan.”

Serengeti was a transcendent being.

Once the curse was lifted and her body restored, she would be indispensable.

“Yes, don’t worry. Even if it costs me my life, I’ll protect her.”

Hudson nodded fervently, but then he suddenly grew curious.

“…But a month? Where are you going?”

“To the northern fortress.”

“The northern fortress… Don’t tell me you mean the Yokai City of Crandell? That’s a place humans can’t even enter!”

The Yokai City of Crandell.

A city ruled by non-humans.

A place where humans were attacked the moment they set foot inside.

Under the grace of the White King, it was an impregnable fortress filled with resources humans couldn’t touch.

And yet he intended to go there?

“Yes. To Crandell.”

His answer was simple.

Hudson’s face turned pale.

“It’s dangerous! And I’ve heard finding the warp gate is impossible…”

Even transcendent beings avoided the Yokai City of Crandell.

It was filled with intelligent monsters, mythical creatures, and entities from unknown dimensions.

And the warp gate’s location constantly changed, known only to the guiding monsters with the proper qualifications.

‘The path can be found with Mutant.’

But there was no need to worry.

One of the 13 hidden traits, Mutant, would allow him to find the hidden warp gate.

‘The next main quest will be completed in a way only I know.’

A city humans couldn’t enter.

I would go there to complete the fifth main quest, *Obtaining the Mystery*.

In a way only I could, I would claim the most powerful mystery.

—
—
—

Andrew, a priest, knelt in prayer before the statue of the goddess.

He had seen it.

‘Oh, goddess.’

Raising a prayer of veneration, the goddess’s form had appeared before him.

It was unbelievable, yet he was sure it was her.

The goddess had kissed the heir to the Knight King.

Such a phenomenon was unprecedented in all his years as a priest, and he couldn’t stop praying to cope with what he had witnessed.

The goddess, who never appeared before no matter how much they prayed…

In the history of the Church of the Goddess, only a handful of people had ever seen her, and even their testimonies were unverifiable.

But his prayer didn’t last long.

Because he appeared.

The heir to the Knight King, who had been blessed by the goddess and absolved of all sins.

But Andrew couldn’t simply welcome him with open arms.

“Are you… asking for an Immunity?”

The request he made upon appearing was utterly outrageous.

 

 

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