Trait Hoarder

Baekma Hill — Part 1

After getting sufficient rest, I headed toward the Cheorwon region.

In the original world, Baekma Hill was turned into a memorial site.

But in this world, it’s different.

It has been left almost completely abandoned.

There are no roads leading to it, and the area is tightly surrounded by barbed wire.

If you force your way closer, you’ll encounter a large hologram display:

[Restricted Area]

[Danger]

This was due to the monsters that were summoned every night under the full moon.

During the day, most of them would disappear, but occasionally, a few would linger.

Most were Level 3. Sometimes, there were Level 4 monsters.

Even a regular person would be easily killed by them, and low-level superhumans could fall victim as well.

[Master, be careful.]

“Got it.”

The sun was about to set.

I parked the Red Cougar at an appropriate spot and approached Baekma Hill.

I leapt over the barbed wire with ease and entered.

Eerie magical energy already floated through the air like vapor.

I sat in the center of Baekma Hill and waited for time to pass.

Late at night.

As the world sank into silence and darkness fell completely, it finally began.

The ground shook as magical energy stirred up a gale.

[Divine Power] [Holy Radiance] [Divine Relic]

[Mana Soul] [Sigurd Cultivation Technique] [Empathic Vision]

It was time to choose traits for the day.

The monsters emerging from Baekma Hill were all undead or ghost types, so this was the best option.

I also intended to create higher-level Paladin traits now that Divine Power had been unlocked.

[Krrrghhhh!]

[Arghhh!]

[Click, clack!]

[Screeeech!]

Eerie wails echoed across the night.

Ghosts descended from the sky, dancing as if they were celebrating.

The ground cracked open, and skeletons and corpses crawled out.

It was a scene straight out of a horror movie.

Grotesque and chilling, but I felt no emotion.

I had seen far too many things in this world for that.

Swooosh!

I casually threw Mjolnir.

Thunder roared as the weapon tore through the monsters.

After the lightning, a Holy Radiance spread across the area.

This was different from simply amplifying my powers through Empathic Vision.

Even Level 5 undead wouldn’t survive a single strike.

And Level 3 undead or ghosts?

Not even close.

“This is easy. Way too easy.”

The scene looked like I was erasing smudges with an eraser.

There wasn’t an ounce of tension.

There was no need to activate my Bright Eyes or even use my Sixth Sense.

The Prophet’s Ring on my left index finger showed only green lights, a constant reassurance of no danger.

‘This is boring.’

At this point, I was far too strong to waste time grappling with weaklings.

Even standing felt like a chore.

I sat down lazily.

With just a flick of my right hand, I threw and retrieved Mjolnir repeatedly.

There was no problem.

If there was any danger, the Prophet’s Ring would alert me.

“Screeeeeech!”

Finally, a Level 4 monster appeared.

Officially, the Chinese Communist Army had no ranks.

But the monster that appeared now was unmistakable.

It wore not just a standard uniform but also a breastplate, with an impressive unit insignia engraved on it.

In its right hand, it held a massive longsword.

It was a General Zombie.

Not a Death Knight, but something close—a Corpse Knight, perhaps.

Thud!

But still, it only took me one hit.

I stood up and looted the General Zombie’s remains.

“For a General, shouldn’t you be able to take at least one hit?”

What can you even expect from a Level 4?

This place is, after all, a mid-to-low-level hunting ground.

It’s not like the Grand Labyrinth or the Great Rift, which are high-level zones.

If I wanted to find monsters that could fight me on equal footing, I’d have to go to those places.

Looting the General’s Sword, I observed its form.

It was slightly shorter but quite thick.

If I had to classify it, it would be something like a broadsword.

I infused a bit of mana to inspect it and clicked my tongue.

‘Just like in the game.’

How nice would it be if materials could be acquired this easily?

Unfortunately, this wouldn’t do.

The General’s Sword I just obtained was merely a replica—a temporary illusion created by the magical energy of Baekma Hill.

Once the full moon set and the sun rose, it would vanish along with the monsters.

The real General’s Sword was elsewhere.

It was hidden in the Secret Forbidden Zone of Baekma Hill.

To open this Secret Forbidden Zone, you must find the Four Great Armaments and perform a specific ritual within a single night.

The ritual, of course, was simply infusing mana. In the game, it was as easy as just touching them.

Swoosh! Boom! Flash!

Yawning, I threw Mjolnir again.

It was pure, repetitive labor.

In the game, defeating all the monsters would instantly trigger the next wave. But here, I had to wait a long time for them to appear, making it even more tedious.

After a while.

Slightly past midnight.

At last, I had gathered the Four Great Armaments.

The General’s Sword, Satellite Gun, Gravity Staff, and Seven-Star Bead.

Was there any point in wasting time?

I infused mana into them immediately.

Normally, one person would hold each of the four items and infuse mana, but I skipped that step.

By covering my trait slots with mana-related traits and using the Geumo Set’s assistance, I could handle it alone.

Fwoooosh!

Mana surged.

Magical circuits emerged from the Four Great Armaments, floating into the air as if being copied into the void.

The circuits intertwined and rotated, eventually tearing through space to create a dimensional portal.

The dimensional portal leading to the Secret Forbidden Zone of Baekma Hill.

This first time required a complex process, but once inside, I could obtain a portal key, allowing me to access the zone anytime.

Day or night.

Although the entrance remained fixed, meaning I’d still have to come here.

‘I’d better stay on guard.’

The Secret Forbidden Zone was high-level.

The regular monsters were Level 4, and the boss was Level 5.

Not that those levels posed any real threat to me, but still.

You know the rule.

Never let your guard down.

Adjusting the Prophet’s Ring on my finger, I stepped through the dimensional portal.

Flash!

Light and darkness enveloped me.

“Waaaaah!”

“Are they seriously coming in hordes like this?!”

“中华人民共和国万岁!” (Long live the People’s Republic of China!)

“人民志愿军万岁!” (Long live the People’s Volunteer Army!)

I was thrown into a battlefield.

Roughly 70 years ago.

To the time when one of the fiercest battles of the Korean War, the Battle of Baekma Hill, was taking place.

“Hm? A new recruit?”

A ghostly officer turned to look at me.

A face devoid of emotion.

It was just a spectral form constructed by the magical energy of the Secret Forbidden Zone.

The real bodies had long been recovered.

Well, most of them. The corpses of the Chinese forces were still causing trouble, as China had refused to repatriate them.

“What are you standing around for? Get to the front line already! We’re short on hands, and we’re dying over here!”

“Yes, yes.”

I listened with one ear and let it go out the other.

Instead, I activated the Prophet’s Ring.

It likely triggered the precognition ability imbued in the ring.

I wanted to see the current state of the Secret Forbidden Zone at this point in time…

‘Huh?’

An unusual scene appeared before me.

A battlefield where bullets flew and artillery shells rained down.

Just ahead of the Republic of Korea Army’s defensive position, where I currently stood, I saw a group of superhumans brawling with zombie soldiers of the Chinese Communist Army.

Not ghosts or undead, but living, breathing superhumans.

‘Eastern Army.’

They wore unified uniforms and rank insignias.

On their chests was the bamboo flower insignia—a mark of an officer.

All four of them were clearly commissioned officers.

They looked to be around my age or slightly older.

Their faces resembled each other.

Looking at their name tags, I could see names like Gu OOO and Gu XX. It was easy to guess their identity.

‘So, they’re the Gu family.’

Grandchildren—or rather, great-grandchildren—of the Legion Commander.

Judging by their lack of accompanying soldiers, it didn’t seem like the Eastern Army had claimed the Secret Forbidden Zone.

They were likely here to gain real combat experience.

After all, this was the perfect place for endless fighting, with monsters pouring in nonstop.

Boom! Boom!

“Yikes!”

But it was far too dangerous.

Even I flinched instinctively as a mortar shell landed nearby.

The ghostly officer shouted at me.

“Get moving! If you stay here, we’re all going to die!”

“Yes, yes, I heard you!”

What’s with this guy? He’s not even a real soul, just an illusion, yet he’s shouting like a drill sergeant.

Still, I couldn’t afford to be careless.

I replaced my Empathic Vision trait with Mana Armor.

Even with the Prophet’s Ring to warn me, it was easier to deal with potential threats proactively.

Small-caliber mortar shells and regular bullets wouldn’t penetrate Mana Armor, after all.

“Hmm?”

“Huh?”

As I approached, the superhumans turned to look at me.

Their faces were quite startled.

It was clear they hadn’t expected to see a living person here.

“Hello.”

“Ah… Yes, hello.”

“Hello.”

They greeted me in a military tone and began to scrutinize me.

One young woman widened her eyes as she noticed the Black Tiger Sword strapped to my waist.

She also took note of the golf bag I always carried, which had inadvertently become famous along with me.

Even though the original had been destroyed by the Massacre Empress, I had bought the exact same model to replace it.

And, of course, there was my tracksuit, another signature look that had become my trademark.

“By any chance, are you Warrior Kim?”

“Yes, that’s me. You must be descendants of the Black Tiger family. I didn’t expect to see anyone here, so I’m quite surprised.”

“The same goes for us. How did you find your way here?”

“I heard about it in the backstreets. It’s a well-known location, isn’t it? The only issue is that there’s not much to gain here.”

That’s because the real Four Great Armaments are sealed deep within the zone.

To get there, one would have to fight through hordes of undead Chinese soldiers.

And that’s no easy task.

Even though these soldiers were equipped with weapons from the Korean War—guns, bombs, and cannons—it was still a daunting challenge.

Rat-tat-tat-tat!

Even now, zombies were swarming toward us, firing their decayed bolt-action rifles.

Boom! Boom!

Occasionally, they even threw grenades.

A grenade flew toward us mid-conversation, prompting the woman who had recognized me to quickly swat it away.

“Shouldn’t we move forward a bit? If we push ahead just a little, there’s a Republic of Korea Army position. We can talk more there.”

“Let’s do that.”

The officers charged forward in unison.

They were certainly impressive.

Their movements, the way they thrust and slashed with their swords—all of it radiated the dignity of a prestigious family.

They were all Level 5.

Their traits weren’t bad either.

If I were to grade them, they’d easily qualify as R-rank.

But…

‘They’re young.’

It was obvious at a glance. They were expending far too much mana.

Almost as if they were competing with or showing off to each other.

It didn’t help that they kept glancing at the Black Tiger Sword on my waist.

Occasionally, they even shot jealous looks my way.

And why wouldn’t they?

Their great-grandfather had entrusted his treasured sword to some random guy who wasn’t even a direct relative.

If I had quietly faded into obscurity, it might have been fine. But my exploits during the Seoul Terror Incident had made me famous.

It wasn’t hard to imagine what the descendants of the Black Tiger Sword family thought of me.

‘Should I give them a little demonstration?’

There was already a massive gap between me and them.

To beat me, they’d need at least a Division Commander—Level 7.

I drew the Black Tiger Sword.

I put Mjolnir aside.

I wanted to show them the gap in power using the very weapon they cherished most.

Swoosh!

I leapt into the air.

I vaulted over their heads.

“Huh?”

“W-what?!”

Before they could even process what was happening, I overtook them.

I descended directly into the heart of the approaching zombie horde.

[Giant’s Strength] [Mana Soul] [One-Man Army]

[Tiger King Sword Technique] [Swordsmanship Expert] [Sword Qi]

I channeled all my power into the Black Tiger Sword.

My superhuman strength.

My mana, which had surpassed the limits of a warrior.

Sword Qi flared from the blade.

Accompanied by the fierce roar of a tiger, a storm of Sword Qi erupted.

Boom!

A deafening explosion tore through the air.

I hadn’t even used any special area-of-effect skills.

But with my dual-power build, combined with advanced swordsmanship, Swordsmanship Expert, and Sword Qi, the resulting synergy unleashed an explosive area attack.

Zombies were ripped apart.

Even the ghosts among them were obliterated.

The sheer destructive force of the Sword Qi explosion was overwhelming.

“W-what the hell?!”

“Could it be… the Heaven’s Thunder Sword?”

“No! It’s a bit different!”

I spun my body, slashing repeatedly with the Black Tiger Sword, as if slicing the air itself.

Countless pure white Sword Qi bursts forth.

It was like rain.

No, like a torrential downpour.

Some of the Sword Qi flew like dots, while others streaked through the air like lines.

A continuous display of flashes and crescent arcs.

Dots connected with dots.

Three zombies had their heads pierced, blood spilling as they collapsed.

Lines split the world.

The leading skeleton’s head was severed, and the ghoul trailing behind it had its waist sliced in half.

With every single attack, I didn’t just kill one.

At least two, sometimes three or more, died at once.

And the ghosts?

I didn’t even need to use Divine Power.

I didn’t even summon the Black Flame.

The Geumo Set’s effects alone were sufficient.

Each strike carried an orange energy that dealt additional damage.

This energy, a power of the Golden Crow, was akin to a flame attribute.

And this flame-like energy was highly effective against ghosts.

“How… how is this possible?”

“Is he really Level 5?”

“I’m Level 5 too… so why is there such a difference?”

The officers stared at me with defeated expressions.

Of course, they would.

With their mere R-rank abilities, there was no way they could massacre zombies and ghosts like I just did.

The only high-level trait they possessed was the [Tiger King Sword Technique].

Aside from that, they only had basic traits like Swordsmanship and Sword Qi.

They also had traits like Leadership, Endurance, and Valor, but none of that could compare to me.

“Hurry up.”

When I reached the Republic of Korea Army’s defensive position, I urged them to follow.

They trudged toward me, clearly disheartened.

It took a while, but there were no interruptions.

That’s because I had already killed every single zombie, skeleton, ghoul, ghost, and lingering spirit in the area.

Their spirits were visibly crushed.

But it seemed they weren’t ready to fully acknowledge their defeat.

“You are truly incredible. I now understand why the Legion Commander bestowed the Black Tiger Sword upon you.”

“It was… deeply impressive.”

Their words were polite.

But their eyes betrayed them, burning with thinly veiled hostility.

Ambition.

And blatant jealousy.

Finally, the oldest among them, a lieutenant colonel, raised his sword toward me.

“Sir Warrior. If it’s not too much trouble, may I request a duel?”

“A duel? Here? Now?”

“Yes. This place is safe. There’s plenty of room. We’ve sparred among ourselves here a few times. As long as we’re careful, there won’t be any issues.”

Was this man serious?

Even if it’s relatively safe, who suggests a duel in the middle of this battlefield?

Well, there’s no reason I couldn’t.

The fire burning in his eyes made me want to put him in his place.

Why?

Because it wasn’t a healthy competitive spirit fitting of his age.

Instead, it was a damp and festering arrogance, mixed with base desires that he couldn’t even bother to hide.

It disgusted me.

I couldn’t stand it.

I had to teach him a lesson.

I took a few steps back to create distance.@@novelbin@@

“Begin!”

The lieutenant colonel lunged, thrusting sharply toward my heart.

It was a brilliant, textbook-perfect strike.

Fierce like a tiger and swift as an arrow.

However…

Clang!

With a single parry at full force, his sword flew from his hand.

The blade spun upward into the air.

Under the glittering sword light, his shocked and bewildered eyes were clearly visible.

“No way…”

He tried to react, but it was already too late.

I pressed the Black Tiger Sword to his neck.

The other officers flinched and moved to surround me, but the glinting edge of my blade held them at bay.

Blood trickled down in a thin line.

I stared directly into his trembling eyes and spoke calmly.

“Do you understand now?”

The difference in power?

The lieutenant colonel’s eyes wavered.

–TL Notes–

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