I Start with 13 Hidden Traits Chapter-431

**Chapter 431 – A Mistaken Encounter**

—

The Mirage Village was thrown into an uproar.

“They say the Guardian Holy Sword chose an apprentice blacksmith’s sword!”

“I seriously can’t believe it. The sword supplied to the Kingdom of Cernil has been handled by successive workshop masters for three hundred years…”

“Are you saying the master lost on skill?”

“That’s impossible!”

The forge of Mirage Village was like a sanctuary to blacksmiths.

In particular, the masters of the Mirage Workshop had always been renowned as the greatest blacksmiths of their era.

Their pride and confidence were beyond words.

In the world of blacksmithing, there was no such thing as luck.

Only skill existed.

And yet, the story that a mere apprentice—someone who had only just begun swinging a hammer—had defeated the master was a shock that struck every villager like a blow.

But that wasn’t the only shock.

“They say a young beggar was chosen as king.”

“I heard he split the rock with the Guardian Holy Sword stuck in it clean in half.”

“And the sword he used was stolen from a warehouse.”

“Then what, a thief becomes king?”

“I heard he’s actually the former king’s illegitimate son.”

“What I heard is that he called himself ‘Phantom’… said he’s the true heir to the throne and the rightful owner of the sword.”

A beggar who became king with a stolen sword.

Even the most outrageous pulp novel wouldn’t go this far.

But if he wasn’t just a beggar, and was instead the king’s bastard, that changed things.

The real problem was that the boy himself claimed to be “Phantom.”

“Phantom? If it’s Phantom… isn’t that the master of the Labyrinth City?”

“The one who won the war against the Reaper Cult?!”

Anyone in Pangaenia knew that the Empire’s Reaper Cult had attacked the Labyrinth City.

It had been an unprecedented event—a massive offensive with tens of thousands of soldiers mobilized.

Of course, everyone thought the outcome was obvious.

* How could a single city defeat the Empire?
* Even if it has the protection of the White King…
* Even if the White King brought every monster of the North with him, it’d still be impossible.
* History proves it. Nothing survives after going to war with the Empire.

In the minds of the people, the Empire and the Reaper Cult were already one and the same.

Thus, for the Reaper Cult to launch an attack meant the Empire itself had moved.

In the history of Pangaenia, no city or kingdom had ever survived a war against the Empire.

Everyone was certain this war would also end in the Reaper Cult’s victory.

And yet—

An upheaval shook the entire continent.

Contrary to all expectations, the Labyrinth City had won.

Not just a victory, but an overwhelming one.

Not a single soldier who had attacked under the banner of the Reaper Cult returned alive.

Rumors spread that even the cult’s executives had been completely wiped out, and what had once been dismissed as absurd nonsense was soon confirmed as fact.

* The Labyrinth City won the war against the Reaper Cult!
* The Reaper Cult has been annihilated!
* What kind of place is the Labyrinth City?
* Who is the city’s master?
* Phantom? What is Phantom?

The Labyrinth City became the focus of the entire world’s attention, and naturally, interest converged on its master.

In that process, the name “Phantom” surfaced again, causing yet another stir.

Until now, people had believed the master of the Labyrinth City was the “Fifth Main Pillar,” but it turned out the true master was Phantom.

Now, there was no one in Pangaenia who didn’t know the name Phantom.

Though his true identity remained unclear.

Many tried to uncover Phantom’s true nature, but it was still shrouded in mystery.

And now, the boy chosen as king of Cernil claimed to be Phantom.

“It’s impersonation.”

“Either way, that kid really became the king of the Kingdom of Cernil, didn’t he?”

“Seems so.”

“…Still, I can’t believe it. The master actually lost.”

“The workshop’s been quiet too. Everyone must be in shock.”

“Well, I would be too.”

“At this rate, the next master is already decided…”

*

The moment word spread that the sword chosen by the Guardian Holy Sword was a “Companion Sword.”

“……”

The blacksmiths who had been looking down on me all fell silent.

Their eyes still held disbelief, but with the results laid bare, they had nothing to say.

However, those results didn’t matter much to me.

‘The Kingdom of Cernil. The starting point of the hidden quest isn’t far from there.’

My mind was filled entirely with thoughts of the Seven Great Mysteries and the hidden quest.

Once I built up a bit more skill, I planned to leave immediately.

After all, I had only just begun handling ultra-metals.

Still, while making the Companion Sword, there were parts that didn’t go exactly as I wished.

So I sought out the master.

“Master. Can you handle ultra-metals?”

“…I know how to handle them, but I don’t have any to work with.”

Despite losing the official duel, the master seemed calmer than expected.

It was the villagers and the other blacksmiths who were making a fuss.

“Then would you help me learn to handle them properly?”

“I heard you already used ultra-metal when you made the Companion Sword. Don’t tell me… you have more?”

“I do.”

“Hah…!”

When I nodded, the master’s eyes lit up.

Almost to a burdensome degree.

Seeing him like this, he was unmistakably a blacksmith.

“How much? Enough to make another sword?”

“Don’t worry about the quantity.”

“Then you must have enough to make several. But… where did you get it?”

“I was lucky.”

“…Very well. If you mix orichalcum with iron, you could make a hundred swords. That should be enough to get used to it.”

“I’m thinking of making swords out of pure orichalcum.”

“…Hm? Are you planning to make just one or two and be done with it?”

“Even then, shouldn’t we make around a hundred?”

“…? Wait, that many?”

The master blinked.

It was only natural he wouldn’t believe it.

Orichalcum was an ultra-metal that fetched a fortune even in amounts as small as a fingernail.

Even mixing a small amount into iron caused its value to skyrocket.

A sword made of pure orichalcum?

One alone would be worth more than ten houses in a major city.

Ten swords could buy a small city.

A hundred swords would…

But realistically, it was impossible.

Orichalcum wasn’t something you could obtain just because you wanted it.

Even great nobles of a kingdom might own at most a single sword made of pure orichalcum.

And even then, so-called “pure orichalcum” swords weren’t actually made of 100% orichalcum.

The master frowned.

“…I’m not in the mood for jokes.”

He seemed to think I was playing word games.

He tried to act calm, but the sting of his defeat in the duel was clearly still there.

It looked like he wouldn’t believe me unless I showed him.

I pulled a leather pouch from my robes.

Then I poured it out onto the floor.

Rrrrrumble!

Unrefined orichalcum poured out like rain.

“C–cough…!”

The master’s eyes went wide.

His mouth hung open in shock, as though he’d forgotten how to close it.

I’d said a hundred swords, but there was enough material to make far more than that.

‘With the amount of ultra-metal I brought from the World Tree Dungeon, I could build a fortress.’

While facing the Forgotten God, I’d obtained ultra-metals at a rate bordering on duplication.

Not just orichalcum, but even Star Ivory—the primary material for holy relics.

In other words, as long as I had the skill, I could mass-produce holy swords endlessly.

“W–what do you need me to do? No—never mind. Just say the word. I’ll do anything!”

The master’s eyes burned with desire, as if he’d never been dejected at all.

But it wasn’t greed.

The source didn’t matter to him.

His eyes and expression were filled with nothing but pure curiosity.

The desire of a blacksmith who wanted to handle ultra-metal had completely seized him.

*

From that day on,

Weapons made of orichalcum produced by the Mirage Workshop began to appear in the world.

When a single sword made of 100% pure orichalcum was unveiled, countless people flocked to the Mirage Workshop.

Among them were the lords of great cities and powerful nobles.

The heads of massive merchant guilds rushed there as well.

Yet none of them were allowed to enter the workshop.

The master had completely cut off all outside access.

Still, no matter how strong his will was, there were people he couldn’t stop.

“King Friedrich approaches!”

Bwaaang—!

A man appeared amid the blare of trumpets.

King Friedrich, ruler of the Iron Kingdom!

A conqueror king famed for subjugating countless cities and kingdoms.

He was, without question, the most dangerous individual in Pangaenia—a ruthless tyrant who would stop at nothing to obtain what he desired.

There were even rumors that King Friedrich ate human flesh.

Not someone a mere village workshop master could stand against.

To do so would mean the village itself being erased from the map.

Tremble, tremble!

All the villagers rushed out, their bodies shaking as they bowed their heads.

None dared even think of lifting their gaze.

With an arrogance-filled stare, Friedrich rode toward the workshop.

The blacksmiths, having heard the news, were all bowed at the entrance as well.

“Who made this sword?”

King Friedrich held up an orichalcum blade.

A sword that shone with an exquisite luster.

The only 100% pure orichalcum sword released on the market.

A conqueror king who waged war as easily as breathing—of course such a weapon would draw his interest.

And when he finally obtained the sword, he became certain.

‘Even in the past, there were barely any blacksmiths who could handle ultra-metal to this degree.’

A blacksmith capable of such precision had to be brought directly into his kingdom.

Though he wore a human form, he was the “Demon of Pride.”

A being who had lived for countless eons—his judgment was absolute.

There was someone extraordinary here.

“I hate repeating myself. I’ll ask one last time. Who made this sword?”

“…I–I did.”

Standing among the blacksmiths, the master hurriedly bowed and answered.

Friedrich frowned.

“Master of the Mirage Workshop. I know your skill well. There’s no way you could have made a sword of this caliber alone. I’ll ask one last time. Who made it?”

Lies didn’t work on him.

As he pronounced his final warning, the knights behind him drew their swords.

Even so, the master did not bend his will.

“I… I made—”

“He’s inside the workshop! He’s still an apprentice, so we kept him from coming out!”

One of the blacksmiths shouted, squeezing his eyes shut.

King Friedrich nodded once.

Daring to lie to him deserved death—but more than that, he was curious about the blacksmith inside.

An apprentice, no less.

A boy with such stubborn resolve that he wouldn’t even show his face amid this chaos.

‘I should see for myself just how impressive he is.’

If he turned out to be nothing special, then wasting the king’s time would be repaid with death.