Trait Hoarder

Baekma Hill — Part 4

“This might hurt a little.”

I activated Bright Eyes and Sixth Sense, carefully massaging the old man’s shattered arm.

“Gaaaah!”

The old man let out a strangled groan.

“What are you doing!”

“Let go of the Division Commander!”

“He already surrendered! What is the meaning of this?”

The clueless officers clamored noisily.

I had reset the dozens of fractured bones in his arm.

It would still hurt and be painful, but it was a far better state than it had been moments ago.

I walked over and picked up the golf bag that had been lying nearby.

Taking out two elixirs, I offered him one.

I had other high-grade healing potions, but I intended to drink the elixir myself, so I wasn’t about to share those.

The old man stared at the elixir for a moment before accepting it politely.

“Thank you, Black Tiger Swordmaster.”

Oh, now he’s calling me that?

I ignored him and stepped back two paces.

With both hands, I grabbed the sword still lodged in my chest.

“Huuu…”

Taking a deep breath—

I yanked it out in one motion.

The White Tiger Sword.

Squelch!

Blood gushed like a fountain.

The flesh that had been regenerating and the clots that had been forming were all torn apart as the blade was removed.

A wave of searing pain slammed into me like a hammer to the skull.

My vision blurred, and I teetered on the edge of losing consciousness.

Had I not clenched my teeth and activated the Vajra Body trait in advance, I would have surely passed out.

“Huff, huff…”

I gasped for air, each breath harsh and ragged.

With trembling hands, I poured the elixir down my throat.

I also activated every regeneration-related trait I had: [Undying], [Regeneration], [Wound Recovery], [Healing], and [Vitality Surge].

Thanks to that, the gaping wound in my chest began to heal rapidly.

The ribs that had been obliterated reformed, and flesh began knitting itself together.

Blood still spurted like a geyser, but even that ceased as the wound closed at a miraculous rate.

I felt a chilling sensation deep within my chest, a sign that my very existence was stabilizing.

This wasn’t just a quick recovery.

It wasn’t even typical regeneration.

This was complete restoration, instantaneous and perfect.

It wasn’t a regeneration trait at all.

It was the newly awakened trait:

Acquired the trait: [Nine Lives].

I had acquired it after narrowly surviving countless death-defying situations.

The old man stared at me, his face pale.

“What are you? A demon from the depths of hell? A dragon’s descendant? Or are you a god’s herald? How could something like this be possible?”

“Who knows.”

I rotated my shoulders once, stretching my arms.

My whole body felt sore, as if I’d been beaten to a pulp.

Even after using all my regeneration traits, drinking an elixir, and activating [Nine Lives], the ache remained.

It was a testament to how severe my injuries had been and how brutal the duel was.

“Hah… hahahaha…”

The old man let out a hollow laugh, shaking his head.

“I thought the Legion Commander had gone senile. But I see now… that wasn’t the case.”

He seemed deeply shaken.

I understood why.

A 2-level difference.

This wasn’t a fight between a Level 1 and a Level 3.@@novelbin@@

At higher levels, especially above Level 5, it was considered impossible for dozens of people to overcome even a single level gap.

Even if he had let his guard down for a moment, losing to someone two levels below him was enough to leave him reeling.

I brushed myself off and took a step forward.

“Please keep your promise.”

“This is troublesome. I don’t have the cash on hand… Ah, are you interested in real estate, by chance?”

“Real estate? That works.”

“Then I’ll transfer a building under my name to you. It’s in Gangnam and should be worth at least 100 billion won.”

A building in Gangnam?

That was even better than cash.

In my original world, South Korea was already a “real estate republic,” but here in Arcane Seoul, it was even more extreme.

With twice the population, land value was at least double, if not more.

Especially in Gangnam, one of the most sought-after areas.

“Thank you. I’ll gladly accept.”

“I’ll send my personal attorney to handle the paperwork soon. Let’s leave the details to our representatives.”

“That sounds fine.”

“You should be on your way, then. I’ve learned much today. It feels like I’ve finally let go of a lifelong obsession.”

The old man looked at me calmly.

The murky haze that had clouded his gaze earlier was gone.

His eyes were now clear, serene, like those of an enlightened monk who had found peace in an instant.

However, the officers had no intention of letting me leave quietly.

Clang! Clang!

They all drew their swords, surrounding me.

I frowned, but before I could speak, the old man’s voice cut through the air, low and cold.

“What do you fools think you’re doing?”

“Father, we can’t let him leave like this!”

“He has the Black Tiger Sword!”

“Are you seriously going to hand over the family’s treasure to an outsider?”

“Even if we let him go, we must take back the Black Tiger Sword!”

“Hah.”

The old man let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head in disbelief.

“Ah, so this is what the Legion Commander must have felt.”

For a moment, he seemed to see himself in his descendants.

Then, his expression hardened, and he shouted with fury, his eyes blazing.

“You fools! How much disgrace do you intend to bring to my name?!”

“Grandfather!”

“Father!”

“As warriors, we fought honorably, and I lost. Do you intend to make me a liar? Stand down immediately!”

Even without holding a sword, the aura of the Swordmaster was palpable, as if an invisible blade hung in the air.

The officers faltered, their confidence shaken, and hesitantly stepped back.

But the venom in their eyes only deepened.

The old man sighed heavily, a deep weariness in his voice.

“This is my fault. All of it is my fault.”

He turned to me and bowed his head slightly.

“I deeply apologize, Black Tiger Swordmaster. This is all because I failed to raise them properly.”

“It’s fine.”

“Take this as a token of my apology. Please, let us put this matter behind us.”

The old man reached into his military uniform and pulled out his dog tags.

Snapping one of the tags in half, he handed it to me.

What’s this?

The moment I touched it, a powerful sensation coursed through me.

My vision darkened, and an illusion unfolded before me—a man appeared, his voice ringing clearly in my ears.

[The Black Tiger Sword Technique is the ultimate path of supremacy.]

[Do not stoop to cowardice.]

[Stand tall with pride.]

[Only by looking up at the heavens can you truly look down upon the earth.]

[Only those who stand tall with confidence in themselves can achieve the ultimate supremacy and grasp its hidden mysteries.]

The voice was followed by instructions on mana control.

Details of mana circuits.

The flow of mana synchronized with movements.

Sword Qi blossoming into Sword Force!

It was none other than the Black Tiger Invincible Sword Art.

My jaw dropped as I realized what I was holding.

Why is he giving me this?

The officers were yelling furiously in protest.

“Father! What are you doing?”

“First, you give away the Black Tiger Sword, and now you hand over the family’s secret techniques to an outsider?!”

“We must kill him! He’s already come into contact with the Black Tiger Invincible Sword Art!”

“Stop this madness! If the Legion Commander finds out, we’re all finished!”

The officers screeched like a murder of crows.

But the old man’s expression remained serene, as if he were a monk at peace with the world.

His clear, untroubled gaze met mine and then swept over the officers.

“Black Tiger Swordmaster, do you know what my father’s greatest wish was?”

“I do not.”

“To surpass the Heavenly Demon.”

“The Heavenly Demon…”

“My father cut down sword masters, earning titles like Sword King, Sword Saint, and Sword Sovereign. Some even called him the Joseon Heavenly Demon, the Haedong Heavenly Demon, or the Far East Heavenly Demon. But despite all his accomplishments, he could never surpass the Heavenly Demon.”

The old man’s voice was calm, like a grandfather telling a story to his grandchildren.

It was impossible not to listen.

Not just for me, but for the officers, too. Everyone present fell silent, ears perked.

“The Heavenly Demon… truly a being beyond compare. He’s the only Warrior in the world to have reached the 9th Level, the rank of Celestial Star. Among Reinforced, there’s Leviathan. Among Mages, there’s Merlin. Among Priests, there’s Gabriel. But the Heavenly Demon—he’s the undisputed best. The strongest under the heavens and on Earth. A true anomaly among anomalies.

“Even though my father was hailed as a genius among geniuses, he realized before he turned thirty that he would never surpass the Heavenly Demon.”

“Don’t you think he gave up too soon?”

“Do you?”

The old man’s sharp gaze locked onto me.

The serene clarity in his eyes suddenly sparked with light.

“Those destined for greatness stand out from the beginning. Just like you. You’re twenty-two this year, aren’t you?”

“Yes, I’m twenty-two.”

“You’ve reached Level 5 in less than a year since becoming a superhuman. And even though I’ve fallen behind my siblings, I’m still a Swordmaster. Yet, you defeated me. Someone like you might just have what it takes to challenge the Heavenly Demon. Am I wrong?”

“I was just lucky earlier.”

“Luck is also a form of skill. Without ability, luck is useless.”

The old man turned his head.

In the distance, the faint echo of gunfire reverberated through the air.

“My father must have seen your potential long ago. That’s why he went to such lengths to hand over the Black Tiger Sword to you. And now, it seems it’s my turn to go out on a limb. I saw earlier that you use a very impressive combat sword technique.”

He was referring to the Mars Swordsmanship, and I nodded silently.

The old man smiled faintly.

“That sword art is excellent. In terms of practical combat, it even surpasses the Black Tiger Invincible Sword Art. But the Black Tiger Invincible Sword Art has its strengths, too.”

“This is too much.”

“Nonsense. Think of it as an apology. Besides, I have no intention of making an enemy of a future Heavenly Demon. Still, I’d prefer if you used a different title instead of ‘Heavenly Demon.’”

The old man paused to think, then smiled brightly.

“How about ‘Sword God’ or ‘Heavenly Sword’?”

“Don’t you think you’re getting ahead of yourself?”

“Not at all. I believe you’re more than capable of reaching such heights. Don’t you agree?”

I couldn’t deny it.

With my Blank Slate and Trait Swap, even I had to admit I was practically cheating.

“The Black Tiger Invincible Sword Art will be a guidepost for you. It’s a comprehensive martial arts manual for handling Sword Qi, an orthodox swordsmanship that has been refined to perfection. It contains everything you need to progress from Sword Qi to Sword Force, and from Sword Force to the Sword Heart.”

I had thought about this before—how useful it would be to have a top-tier swordsmanship guide.

But I never imagined I would receive the Black Tiger Invincible Sword Art like this.

After a moment of hesitation, I made my decision.

I didn’t refuse. I carefully stored the dog tag in my pocket.

“Thank you for this gift. I’ll repay this debt once I reach Level 9.”

“Haha! That won’t be necessary, but if you insist, I won’t stop you.”

The officers still looked sour, their faces full of discontent.

But their spirits were clearly broken.

Though their eyes brimmed with mistrust and suspicion, none of them dared step forward. They merely exchanged uneasy glances.

The old man looked at them with a scowl.

“What now? Do you still wish to stop him? Think about it. What could be more glorious than having the future Sword Heaven as a direct inheritor of our family’s teachings? Or do any of you think you can become Sword Heaven yourselves? If so, I’ll teach you the complete Black Tiger Invincible Sword Art right here and now.

“Speak up. Is there anyone among you who can confidently claim they’ll reach Level 7, the Realm of Perfection? Or Level 8, the Realm of Transcendence?”

Silence.

No one said a word.

The old man sighed, looking up at the overcast sky.

“Who else can I blame but myself for birthing jackals? It’s my fault. I realized it far too late.”

His eyes, full of lingering regret, turned to me.

“I heard rumors that the old woman from the Western Army has taken an interest in you. It must be true. That woman has an even better eye for people than my father did.”

Then, suddenly, his gaze brightened.

“Black Tiger Swordmaster, have you ever thought about getting married? I have a few granddaughters who are quite lovely.”

“I’m sorry, but I have no plans to marry until I achieve my goals.”

“Why not just meet them, at least? This isn’t the Joseon era anymore. It’s perfectly normal to casually meet and part ways these days. Besides, being a single father or mother isn’t a big deal anymore.”

What kind of horrifying nonsense is this?!

Is he seriously telling me to become a father?

The old man was looking at me like I was some prized breeding stallion.

Whatever enlightenment he’d gained from losing to me had apparently evaporated.

The transcendent gaze he had earlier was gone, replaced by his true nature.

Before he could make any more outrageous demands, I quickly bowed my head.

“I’m sorry, but I’m not interested in pursuing relationships with women right now. I’ll be taking my leave.”

“What’s the rush? At least have a drink before you go. I have some premium brandy blended with nectar. It’s said to have been enjoyed by the gods of Europe, a liquor with a history as rich as its taste. You’ll love it.”

“I’m truly sorry, but I have urgent matters to attend to. I promise to make time another day.”

“Tsk… Fine. If even a provincial governor can’t convince someone unwilling, who am I to force them? Let’s meet again later.”

I slid past the officers, who still regarded me with hostile eyes.

I paused briefly as I passed the instigating major, who had caused all this trouble in the first place.

He was glaring at me, but quickly averted his gaze when our eyes met.

I smirked and reached for the metallic object hanging from his belt, ripping it off with ease.

“Wh-what?!”

The weapon pouch.

It was only R-grade, but it was better than nothing.

The major tried to snatch it back, but I dodged effortlessly.

“I’ll overlook this because of the former Division Commander. Understood?”

I said as I waved the pouch in front of his face.

The major’s expression twisted in humiliation, but what could he do?

The old man was still watching from behind, his sharp gaze keeping everyone in check.

Whistling, I strolled out of the area.

Although I acted casual, my back was drenched in cold sweat.

Was it because of the major?

No.

It was because of Gu Jungju and the overwhelming terror he embodied.

I had barely escaped being ensnared by him.

“I’m alive…”

Marriage? Single fatherhood?

I shuddered involuntarily.

Fearing they might chase after me, I quickly hopped into the Red Cougar.

Speeding like the wind, I returned to my estate.

Upon arrival, my magic spirit greeted me.

“Master, you’ve returned.”

“Yes. Is everything ready?”

“All preparations are complete. All that’s left is to extract the mana circuits from the artifacts you’ve brought.”

“Let’s get started.”

The magic spirit took care of the work while I simply waited.

I placed the four artifacts into the extraction device.

Hum. Hummm.

The mana circuits emerged, glowing faintly, before being transferred into the boiling liquid within the magical cauldron.

The liquid rippled, etched with magic circles, as nectar and mana cores were added. The solution began to evaporate, creating an eerie transformation.

What emerged was light.

Or perhaps darkness.

Something neither gaseous nor liquid, radiating with vivid mana, began to coalesce.

It compressed, crystallizing into a single jewel.

It resembled a blue planet trapped within a diamond.

A robotic arm carefully retrieved the jewel and the reconstruction elixir.

“Master, there’s something you should be aware of.”

“What is it?”

“For your next level-up, you’ll need a mana core that’s even more alien and of a higher grade than the mutant mana cores.”

“And where am I supposed to find something like that?”

“Based on my calculations, only an interdimensional species’ mana core meets the criteria.”

Interdimensional species.

Also known as I-races, beings from alternate dimensions.

I let out a low groan.

“What about demons?”

“Demons won’t suffice. Demons are entities tied to the hidden layer of this world. Their nature is actually less alien than mutant cores.”

Not even mutant mana cores are enough now? And you want interdimensional species’ mana cores?

Things were escalating out of control.

If this is what Level 7 requires, what kind of insanity will Level 8 demand?

Even to reach Level 6, I needed mutant mana cores and mana circuits from artifacts.

Screw it. I’ll deal with that when the time comes.

“I have to erase all my current abilities again before drinking this, don’t I?”

“Yes.”

“Damn it…”

I had no choice but to endure.

Glaring at the reconstruction elixir with bloodshot eyes, I brought it to my lips.

The moment it touched my tongue, it dissolved and was absorbed directly into my mana circuits, bypassing my digestive system entirely.

Like a stamp, the elixir etched a new blueprint into my body.

Then came the upheaval.

Heat and cold. Electricity and seismic energy.

All erupting at once, transforming my body at its core.

“Grrrrk!”

The pain was excruciating.

The White Tiger Sword stabbing into my chest earlier was nothing compared to this.

Without Vajra Body, Endurance, or Resolve, I was forced to endure it raw.

A fever? That would have been a blessing compared to this.

It felt like every nerve in my body was being seared by molten agony.

“Aaaaargh!”

“Gahhhh!”

“Kuhaaak!”

I died and came back to life.

Over and over.

Pseudo-death.

Pseudo-revival.

Pseudo-rebirth.

Only after enduring these cycles did my body finally reconstruct itself.

“Hah…”

I looked into the mirror.

The reflection staring back at me was soaked in blood and sweat.

The ordeal was over.

I reached for the trait elixir I had prepared in advance and downed it.

[Elixir of the Flame Demon Dragon]

A high-tier magical elixir infused with the Hellfire trait.

The moment I drank it, vivid crimson flames erupted around me.

Flames said to burn eternally.

Finally, I had reached Level 6.

–TL Notes–

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