I Start with 13 Hidden Traits Chapter-34

Ch-34. **Fortress City Cramdel**

—

Cramdel was called a fortress city because the entire city itself had been turned into a fortress.

A colossal castle so enormous that it was hard to find anything comparable in the human world. That massive structure—so huge it could only ever be depicted in comics or films—was Cramdel.

At its center stood the stone statue of the White Tiger.

*‘The White King.’*

The White King, the guardian deity of the North.

Likewise, Cramdel was also under the White King’s protection.

As long as the White King guarded this place, neither the Demon Realm, the rulers of the Abyss, nor humans could ever lay covetous eyes on it.

*‘I made a promise, but it shouldn’t matter.’*

I had promised that I would never set foot in the North again with *that guy*—but right now my body wasn’t Wilhelm’s. It was Randolph’s.

Besides, what I wanted was the *Strongest Mystery*.

All I needed to do was take Andasar, the daughter of the priest Andrew, in the process.

There would absolutely be no chance of running into the White King.

“Woah, this is incredible.”

“Indeed, no castle of this scale exists except Cramdel, caw.”

“That’s not what I meant… I was talking about the monsters trying to get inside.”

Isabella whispered.

The castle’s entrance was flooded with crowds.

It was teeming with monsters trying to enter.

Yet the types of monsters were truly diverse.

But ordinarily, it was difficult to imagine monsters *lining up* to enter a castle.

*‘Monsters with intelligence.’*

Monsters vastly different from those on ordinary fields.

They were evolved monsters.

Just as the corpse crow had devoured a player and evolved, they too had evolved through various means and gained the ability to see ‘hidden paths.’

From regular monsters to boss monsters.

Even mythic species were occasionally mixed in.

*‘Why are monsters of this level gathering in Cramdel?’*

Even for me, someone well versed in Pangaenia, the exact reason they gathered here was unknown.

I think I’d heard that this place was considered a paradise on earth for monsters.

Grrrrrrowl…

*‘… Judging from the Gourmet’s reaction, it must be true.’*

Even while disguised as the King of Corpse Crows, the Gourmet reacted.

Apparently, the cores of evolved monsters were the Gourmet’s staple food.

But I couldn’t let myself be swayed by one trait.

If I caused trouble here, I truly might not be able to escape.

<You are in an area where teleportation is impossible due to the White King’s blessing.>

Even the teleportation compass didn’t work here.

Naturally, there were no warp points inside the castle either.

Meaning I had to quietly do what I came for and leave without incident.

*‘There are three lines.’*

The problem was that there were three lines.

One for ordinary monsters, one for higher-grade monsters, and finally a free-pass route for ancient species such as mythic and phantasmal species.

Indeed, monsters were even more hierarchical than humans.

After a brief thought, I stood in the ordinary line.

An endless queue—as slow as it was, it seemed I’d need to wait the entire day.

“There. Half-dragonians and ‘kings’ must stand in the second line.”

A cactus-like creature in front of me spoke.

The Flower Cactus—normally a level-3 monster appearing in desert zones.

【Lv. 5】

But the one before me exceeded all normal standards.

Originally, Flower Cacti had barely any intelligence.

This one too was an evolved species.

“Thanks for the info, caw.”

I gave a short response and moved.

The second line was far shorter.

It seemed possible to enter within half a day.

“A corpse crow dares stand before me? Move.”

When I turned my back, something cloaked in a black, pointed hatlike mantle stood there.

A being of the Abyss, known as a *Chaos Cap*.

【Lv. 8】

So the rumors that Abyssal monsters existed in Cramdel were true.

Of course, no one knew what dwelled inside the Abyss, so it’s not impossible that such peculiar entities existed.

*‘Ignoring is best.’*

Why do so many monsters stand in line in such orderly fashion?

“Are you ignoring me?”

Its voice sharpened when I blatantly ignored it.

“Fighting. Forbidden. Fight, become, like that.”

A burning skull—‘Fire Skull’—ahead of me spoke while looking at the center of the castle wall.

Displayed there were countless statues of monsters.

“The door’s owner, Medusa, makes them stone.”

They were all monsters turned to stone by Medusa.

The way they were displayed like decorations reeked of bad taste.

*‘Medusa is a Super Elite Raid Boss.’*

Medusa was an 11-level Super Elite Raid Boss monster.

A monster that required at least twelve 1-star Transcendents—or at least three 2-star Transcendents—to defeat.

Level 11 in name, but practically above that—an absolute being.

Monsters’ levels were determined by their classification, unlike players.

*‘The longer the modifier before a monster’s name, the stronger it is.’*

For example, if a regular monster was level 11, a single level-11 player could hunt it.

If it had the ‘Boss’ modifier, at least two level-11 players were needed; ‘Raid Boss’ required four.

‘Elite Raid Boss’ needed eight characters of equal level.

‘Super Elite Raid Boss’ needed twelve.

Above that? Only beings like the White King or Demon King.

*‘She was one of the White King’s four lieutenants.’*

Medusa was one of the White King’s Four Heavenly Kings.

A being feared by all.

Fire Skull turned toward Chaos Cap and said:

“Cap. On, cheek, mark. Appeared.”

“What?”

Above Chaos Cap’s head, Medusa’s mark had appeared.

A warning—and a curse—from Medusa.

“Eeek!”

Chaos Cap flailed wildly.

As expected.

Ignoring was the answer.

Now I understood why even the most dangerous monsters quietly stood in line.

When someone like Medusa—who never let prey escape—guarded the gate, obedience was inevitable.

Had I reacted to Chaos Cap, the curse mark would’ve been carved into my cheek as well.

… What an amusing place.

“‘Star Guardians’!”

“And two of them!”

At that moment—

A sudden commotion rippled through the surroundings.

*‘Star Guardians?’*

Familiar words.

When I turned toward the source of noise, I saw a phantasmal species and a mythic species approaching the gate.

One: a phantasmal phoenix, its entire body blazing with blue flame.

The other: a mythic serpent so long its end could not be seen.

“That snake is…?”

Even Isabella widened her eyes, staring at it.

And I too was shocked.

… Why was Dramut here?

If they were called Star Guardians, that meant they had entered under the same qualification.

But weren’t Star Guardians unable to leave the vicinity of their stars?

The doubt lasted only a moment.

Phoenix and Dramut entered the castle at once.

Fire Skull spoke.

“New. Star. Appeared. They, say.”

“What new star, caw?”

“The thirty, third, star. Appeared. In Cramdel. So, rumors, say.”

What was that supposed to mean?

There were thirty-two stars in the continent.

That number hadn’t changed in five years.

Throughout all of Pangaenian history.

But a thirty-third star?

*‘The stars were fragments of the goddess, split into thirty-two pieces.’*

Was there a hidden fragment somewhere?

I rubbed my chin.

Dramut—who *never* left the sacred ground—appeared in Cramdel.

Monsters whispered about the “thirty-third star.”

It made no sense.

Yet my curiosity surged wildly.

*‘If it’s real, I absolutely cannot miss it.’*

I needed to investigate.

If I could even secretly meet Dramut, that would be ideal.

*

*

Inside Cramdel.

Surprisingly, the interior was not much different from a human city.

But if there was one striking feature—

“For the purification of body and mind, come to our ‘Benevolent Hot Springs’! Half-price today only!”

“You must purify your unstable body! Come to ‘Kindness Hot Springs’—we offer excellent service!”

Steam rose everywhere.

All of it seemed to be from hot spring water.

Yet this was the North. Outside was buried in snow—hot springs?

Judging from how every monster came here and immediately headed to the hot springs, it seemed they were the main attraction.

*‘It’s very different from when I came as Wilhelm.’*

I had infiltrated Cramdel a year ago as Wilhelm to hunt the White King.

Back then, there weren’t this many monsters.

Nor were there hot springs.

In just one year, this place had undergone a near cataclysmic transformation.

“Are you a half-dragonian by any chance? We currently have a half-dragonian at our hot spring—how about a mixed bath together?”

A goblin wearing a white helmet approached Isabella.

Those promoting shops all wore white helmets.

The guide-rat earlier had worn a black helmet. The color must represent some distinction.

“A half-dragonian, caw?”

“Yes. The very species believed to be extinct. Isn’t this a perfect opportunity for kin to share warmth?”

The option ‘Heavenly Dragonkin’ activated by the Michela Set granted the wings of a heavenly dragon.

But that only gave the wings—it didn’t make one a true heavenly dragon.

Hence the term *half-dragonian*.

Half of a heavenly dragon, so to speak. But true half-dragonians had gone extinct ages ago.

*‘… A human.’*

In other words, a human.

Someone disguised with the Michela Set, just like Isabella, had infiltrated Cramdel.

Possibly a player.

*‘I need to check.’*

Right now, I was the King of Corpse Crows.

If I just made Isabella appear to be a genuine half-dragonian, there’d be no issue.

“What’s the price, caw?”

“Oh, it must be your first time in Cramdel? Ten minutes’ worth of ‘Evolution Shards.’”

“Evolution Shards, caw?”

“These.”

A faint golden glow gathered over the goblin’s body.

When he drew it out, tiny specks of golden dust floated above his hand.

*‘… A fragment of the Broken Golden Scale?’*

Even here, fragments of the Golden Scale were used as currency.

Strange. Weren’t they items only players could possess?

And here, they were called Evolution Shards.

*‘So Golden Scale fragments are the source of evolution.’*

Evolved monsters.

Their intelligence. Their strength.

To think the cause was the Broken Golden Scale Fragment.

Meaning every monster here possessed one—just like the corpse crow.

*‘And they can even trade them…’*

Golden Scale fragments could be traded.

I recalled the Golden Scale Shop.

Perhaps this was similar.

I experimented with the same sensation as when using a fragment in the real world—and golden light rose around me.

“Oh?”

“Quite a lot for a mere corpse crow.”

Monsters turned their attention toward me.

I had about nineteen hours’ worth of Golden Scale time left—apparently a considerable amount here.

I reached into the golden light and pulled out a shard, just like the goblin.

“Will this do, caw?”

“Welcome, both of you!”

*

*

 

**Devoted Hot Springs.**

A decent-sized hot spring located a little away from Cramdel’s center.

I didn’t know why all the names were like this, but its size was perfect for uncovering the secret of the spring water.

After paying in the lobby and following the guide deeper inside, the springs finally appeared.

Countless monsters were enjoying the water.

“… Hm? A half-dragonian?”

A man with heavenly dragon wings was relaxing in the center with Snow Maidens.

When he noticed Isabella entering, he frowned.

And of course, I too couldn’t help but grimace when I saw him.

*‘A human.’*

As expected, he was human.

【Lv. 10】

A level-10 powerhouse!

A lightning-shaped scar carved on his forehead.

Golden hair styled as if struck by lightning.

Even a top-grade mystery manifesting as crackling static electricity.

No matter how you looked at him—he stood out unmistakably.

Because I knew him.

And the shock of seeing him was no less—perhaps even greater—than the shock of seeing Dramut.

*‘… Why is *he* here?’*

There was no mistake.

No way I’d misremember that appearance.

Just like Isabella…

He was a character *I had raised.*

*‘The Brain-Dead Hunter.’*

Isaac of the Thunder’s End—*Isaac the Lightning Disaster!*

Max-level, equipped with several treasure-tier items—but because he had committed so many ridiculous deeds, logging into him had become impossible.

The moment he logged in, he risked immediate execution by named NPCs.

That pitiful character was now soaking in a hot spring, staring right at me.

 

 

 

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