I Start with 13 Hidden Traits Chapter-4

Ch-4. **Logout**

—

*‘The Soul of the Hydragon?!’*

The names burned vividly into my eyes.

I couldn’t tear my gaze away from the rewards floating in the air.

**『Soul of the Hydragon (Raid)**
*Allows you to summon and command Hydragon (Lv5).*
*Can be enhanced by the Hidden Trait – “Beast Lord.”*
**』**

A raid boss monster’s soul.

I’d only known it *existed*—this was the first time I’d ever seen one with my own eyes.

Even after hunting over a thousand times, it had never dropped a single one.

A top-tier artifact: a stone containing the soul, allowing me to summon Hydragon!

The “souls” of raid boss monsters were treasures with the worst possible drop rates. You could ride them or summon them to assist in battle… but due to their rarity, there weren’t even any on the market.

*‘In five years since release, only one has ever dropped.’*

And among them, the Soul of the Hydragon was the rarest of all. Only one had appeared three years ago—and even that was only indirectly confirmed through a photo posted on the community. No one knew who the player was, and I’d never seen the character before.

*‘Rumors said he was a GM or something.’*

In some ways, this soul was harder to obtain than a unique-grade item.

Overwhelming awe. Normally I’d immediately take screenshots and plaster them on the community boards.

And the fact that it could be enhanced through my hidden trait? Perfect. A tingling electric thrill ran through my whole body.

*‘And on top of that, Michela’s Sword.’*

Not just that.

A massive two-handed greatsword, seemingly weighing well over 10 kg, shimmered with a magnificent glow.

**『Michela’s Sword (Raid)(Set)**
*A sword once wielded by the giant knight Michela, who slew the first Hydragon.
Infused with the Hydragon’s curse and Michela’s soul.*
*Required stats – Strength 20+*
*When wielded by one who knows Honor, “Michela’s Strength (STR +3)” activates.*
*Collect three pieces of Michela’s gear to use the technique “Celestial Dragonborn.”*
**』**

There was no better sword for getting through the early game.

Especially for sword-using classes, this boasted the best cost-performance ratio. Equipment that boosted stats usually didn’t show up until mid-game.

And it came with set options.

Collecting the sword, armor, and helmet activated “Celestial Dragonborn,” a transformation skill that made dragon wings sprout from your back, allowing long-term flight.

*‘To bypass all those trash early-game choke points, the Michela set is essential. It’s just nearly impossible to get early…’*

It let you access certain insane grind-heavy quests, hidden dungeons, and hidden missions.

But obtaining the set itself was hell. Without all three pieces—sword, armor, helmet—the ability wouldn’t even activate. And the drop rates were disgustingly low.

Especially Michela’s Sword—the rarest part of them all.

I’d gotten absurdly lucky.

*‘But what’s this… Fragment of the Broken Golden Scale?’*

The previous two items I knew well.

But this—this golden coin—I’d never seen before.

**『Fragment of the Broken Golden Scale (???)**
*A fragment of the Broken Golden Scale.*
*Allows “Synchronization” between reality and Pangaenia. On/Off available (remaining time 24 hours).*
*Usable at the “Golden Scale Shop.”*
**』**

Every line of the description was new. What the Golden Scale was, the fact a Golden Scale Shop even existed—none of this I’d ever heard before.

And above all—synchronization with reality?

“…What the hell…?”

The Snake Princess frowned at my dying-breath mutter.

“…It is not madness, I mean. Snake Princess Isabella.”

I quickly patched it up.

**Isabella von Dersian, the Snake Princess.**

She shot me a brief suspicious look, then addressed the centurion.

“Escort him.”

“Eh? B-but Her Majesty ordered us to kill—”

“He is a *VIP*. He must be treated with utmost reverence.”

—

—

 

The great desert metropolis of Faisalmer.

A world ruled by an absolute monarchy under the Queen!

And just like that, I had become a *VIP*, granted an entire luxurious palace to myself.

*‘To think the character I raised would end up as the second-in-command of Faisalmer…’*

I gazed outside the palace, deep in thought.

On the way here, I learned Isabella was one of the true powers of Faisalmer. Even the Great Warriors treated her with strict respect.

And the desert’s Great Warriors followed only the Queen—and those recognized by the Queen.

“Shall we wash you?”

When I turned at the voice behind me, five beautiful women stood in a neat line.

The palace given to me to “use as I pleased.” Though I had no say in it, women—many women—filled it. Young, gorgeous women everywhere.

…This was a harem.

The realism was impossible to dismiss as a game. Every vein looked real. Every small breath was natural.

They wore only thin silk veils, their voluptuous figures laid bare.

Even a man with a steel-bound heart couldn’t avoid the instinctive thrill.

“Just wash my feet.”

“Yes.”

I spoke as emotionlessly as possible.

The women brought a clay basin filled with water and knelt before me.

Washing one’s feet—
The ritual of welcoming an outsider in Faisalmer.

If they didn’t wash an outsider’s feet, that person was a slave. If they did, they were a guest.

I was a guest—and an extremely important one to the Snake Princess.

*‘A test of Faisalmer.’*

All of this was Isabella’s test.

A Star Bearer would never succumb to lust. She would report my reaction.

But refusing the foot-washing entirely would be considered ignorance of desert etiquette.

Thus the correct answer:
Accept the washing, but remain calm.

Splash.

Soft skin brushed my feet as gentle hands massaged them.

Ten hands slowly melted away tension in my feet.

It felt almost like being stroked by fine down feathers.

I forced my thoughts elsewhere.

*‘Is there no way back to reality?’*

I’d been sucked in while creating my character.

Yet people here kept mentioning reality.

Meaning—there had to be a way back.

*‘But there’s no logout option. And I can’t force quit, so… wait.’*

A sudden thought made me open my status window.

—

### **<Stats>**

**Level: 2**
STR: 24 VIT: 24 AGI: 24
INT: 24 MAG: 24
…

**<Until Pangaenia Collapse: 7.66%>**

*<<As collapse progresses, the boundary between reality and Pangaenia weakens.>>*

*<<Once collapse exceeds 10%, the first rupture will occur.>>*

My brow furrowed.

My stat growth was noteworthy—but the real problem was beneath it.

When I first saw this, the collapse rate was 6.12%.

But after clearing the main quest, it increased by about 1.5%.

If it really reached 100%… would Earth and Pangaenia collide?

*‘There was also that mention of the Hall of Fame. What was that about?’*

But that mystery was solved almost immediately.

The moment I thought about it, a window appeared.

*<<The Hall of Fame has opened.>>*
*<<You may leave your name based on your Main Quest scores.>>*
*<<Updating rankings for “Main Quest 1 – Survival.”>>*

1st — 220 pts — **Randolph**
2nd — 195 pts — **Gracia**
3rd — 187 pts — **MintChocoIsDelicious**
4th — 170 pts — **BlackObsidian**
5th — 163 pts — **Slaughter**
…

*<<Entering the top ranks of “Survival” unlocks the “Logout” function.>>*

*<<Be warned: logging out leaves your character fully exposed.>>*

“…What?”

Familiar names.

Especially **Gracia** (2nd) and **MintChocoIsDelicious** (3rd)—my longest Pangaenia companions.

They’d suddenly vanished one day. I assumed they’d quit.

*‘They didn’t quit… they were summoned here like me?’*

A dull, ringing shock hit my skull.

It wasn’t just me.

Other players I knew were also here.

And—

*‘Logout…’*

Logout.

Meaning—I could leave.

Escape this trash game.

“Stop.”

My heavy tone made the women washing my feet freeze.

“Yes…?”

“Leave. It is time for me to commune with the stars.”

“But…”

Their faces went pale. Refusing the foot-washing ritual was never a good sign in Faisalmer.

I knew that—but I had no choice.

“If I do not commune with the stars at the appointed hour, a Star Bearer loses their power. Go ask the Snake Princess if she desires that outcome.”

“Ah…”

They nodded.

As expected, all of them were spies sent by the Snake Princess.

I already knew why she had brought me here.

“We wish you a peaceful communion.”

With solemn expressions, they bowed and left.

…Whew. Thank god that weak excuse worked.

Alone in the room, I sat properly and pressed the red button glowing in the upper-right of my vision.

*<<Logging out…>>*

*<<Place your character somewhere safe.>>*

Flash.

And then—

**<<Logout complete.>>**

The world changed.

—

—

 

“…”

I stared blankly down.

In front of my computer.
Wearing my old plain white T-shirt and cheap black sweatpants.
A PET bottle ashtray filled with cigarette butts.

The same outfit, same posture, same surroundings as before playing the game.

*‘Was it… a dream?’*

Maybe I’d lived like too much of a shut-in and hallucinated?

But it was too vivid to be a dream.

And—

“I’d never own a gold coin like this…”

Something else was on the desk.

**The Fragment of the Broken Golden Scale.**

The splendid golden coin sat right there.

Beside it, a small leather pouch.

And where the logout button had been outside my vision, now a button reading **Login** glowed crimson.

I slowly opened the pouch. Two items slid out.

“Ugh!”

Thud!

A massive sword.
The pouch stretched unnaturally and spat it out.

When it hit the floor, the whole house shook.

…No matter how I looked at it, it was Michela’s Sword.

And on top of that—a small rune-engraved stone artifact: the Soul of the Hydragon.

“The game…?”

The game window was gone. No—
The entire game had uninstalled itself.

I grabbed the mouse and opened the internet.

Typed “Pangaenia.”

The official site:

**[This website does not exist.]**

…Gone.

Completely wiped out.

But just moments ago, it had worked fine.

I searched news articles.

Nothing—no announcement, no shutdown notice. YouTube only had videos from at least two years ago.

*‘When was the service shut down?’*

The videos meant the game *had* been live.

People definitely played it.

But at some point—videos stopped. Players vanished.

Fine. All of that was fine.

The real issue:
If players were summoned into Pangaenia like me, they must have logged out too.
And if they logged out, there *should* be traces.

*‘Only ranked players can log out.’*

But if the number is small—

If only a handful made it out—

If most are still trapped inside—

Then there would be little to no information left.

*‘I should’ve exchanged socials with someone, damn it.’*

I’d been a strict solo player. Even during raids, I went alone. I’d greet others, but never truly party with them.

Naturally, I’d never exchanged emails or messengers.

Damn mystique. I cursed my past self as I typed.

*‘Vegetative patients, missing persons…’*

My fingers flew.

Vegetative cases and disappearances had surged explosively in recent years.

Debates swirled.
It might be related to Pangaenia.

Rumble!

Suddenly—

The floor shook violently, enough to lift my body slightly.

“Mo-monster!”

“Someone help!”

The outside erupted into screams.

Monster? What monster?

I yanked open the curtains and window. Smoke drifted out as I looked down—and froze.

A gigantic mantis—easily four meters tall—was rampaging through the city.

Its tentacle-like antennae snatched people up. Its blade-like forearms sliced through everything.

Its appearance was disturbingly familiar.

Instinctively, I whispered:

*‘Giant Mantis…?’*

 

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