Trait Hoarder – Chapter 135

Blue House — Part 2

A dull gray protective suit.

Its design was simple and unadorned, with no visible magic circles or jewels on the surface.

The only decoration was a swirling pattern of pale gray-white tendrils.

[Star Spawn]

It was a one-piece suit, top and bottom fused together.

Though it was a mass-produced item, it was made from the blood, leather, flesh, and bones of a divine descendant, rivaling the likes of Mjolnir or Aegis in quality.

The traits embedded in it were as extraordinary as its name: [Star Spawn].

As expected, it had stacked attributes.

[Evolution] – Passively gains experience over time.
[Array] – Redistributes stats based on the wearer’s traits.
[Adaptation] – Shifts physical defense and magical resistance depending on the type of incoming attacks.
[Supremacy] – Grants the wearer the evaluation values of a superior race during various checks.
[Divine Blood] – Greatly enhances all stats using divine blood.

It was an overpowered set of traits.

This protective suit was practically made for me.

The [Array] trait, in particular, was a perfect fit.

If I switched to a Warrior-type trait, my attack power and agility would increase.

If I switched to a Soldier-type trait, my strength and durability would be boosted.

If I became a Gunner, my attack speed and movement speed would be amplified.

But it wasn’t without its downsides.

Unlike Mjolnir or Aegis, this protective suit came with penalties.

[Whispers] – The voices of otherworldly gods seduce and enthrall the mind.

[Mutation] – Prolonged use results in physical transformation.

These two penalties were no joke.

In the game, if you left your character unattended, they’d periodically suffer mental confusion.

Self-harm was minor compared to what could happen.

In severe cases, characters would commit suicide or become incapacitated in combat.

Some even mutated into grotesque monsters or turned into blobs of flesh.

The Tower Master scowled at the sight of the Star Spawn protective suit.

“Why would you give him something like this? Have you lost your mind? If our future Sun Security President gets hurt wearing that accursed thing, will you take responsibility?”

“Hah, you’d think you already forced him to hand over his seal just from hearing you talk.”

“Legion Commander, who uses seals anymore? What is this, the independence movement era from eighty years ago? These days, people sign their names. Signatures are the norm!” (TL Note: Funny enough, in Japan people still use a Stamp with their family’s name)

That wasn’t entirely accurate.

These days, digital documents were the real standard.

Silently, I picked up the protective suit.

At first glance, it looked like an ordinary enhanced protective suit.

But as soon as I touched it, and as it absorbed my mana wave, its true nature revealed itself.

It rippled and writhed, moving like a living creature.

Though it soon settled back into its original form, the impression it left was anything but ordinary.

“You’ll be fine.”

The Legion Commander spoke gravely.

“Even though it’s made from the offspring of otherworldly gods, it’s just an object. As long as you keep your mind and body steady, it won’t be able to erode your spirit. After all, it’s not the god itself or a direct descendant—just remnants, scraps from the lowest of their servitors.”

“And what if something does go wrong…?”

“Hmph! Do you think I’d have given the Black Tiger Sword to someone who couldn’t handle this? Everything has a purpose, you see!”

The Legion Commander had a point.

If Arcane Seoul were a pure cosmic horror game, the [Whispers] and [Mutation] penalties would be unmanageable.

But Arcane Seoul was a mobile game, meaning that with proper preparation, you could ignore these penalties and still make full use of the Star Spawn protective suit.

There were various ways to mitigate the risks, but two traits were commonly used for this purpose:

[Vajra Body].

And [Indomitable].

With either of these traits equipped, your character could freely wear the Star Spawn protective suit.

Luckily for me, I always kept [Vajra Body] equipped in my daily life.

Even in combat, equipping [Indomitable] occasionally and casting [Purification] once in a while would suffice.

Essentially, I could enjoy all the benefits of the suit without suffering any of the drawbacks.

I bowed deeply to the President.

“Thank you. I will make good use of it.”

“I’m glad you like it. Why don’t you try it on now?”

“Shall I?”

There was no need to step into a changing room.

Holding the protective suit close, I infused it with my mana.

It squirmed and opened up, wrapping itself snugly around me.

As it did, the protective suit I had been wearing—crafted by Jo Chul—was automatically ejected.

Rip.

The upper section of the old suit, already cracked, tore completely in half.

Still, I picked it up.

If it could be repaired, I could pass it down to Baek Sorin. If not, it could at least serve as a decoration back home.

“Teacher! Congratulations!”

“Congratulations, sir!”

Baek Sorin and Janet were genuinely delighted.

They must have realized, based on the reactions of the Legion Commander and the Tower Master, that this wasn’t an ordinary piece of equipment.

“Mr. President, it’s time for your next meeting.”

“Ah, is it that late already?”

The President rubbed his temple.

For a brief moment, a series of numbers flickered across his seemingly ordinary eyes before disappearing.

“Black Tiger Swordmaster, thank you so much for everything today. Unfortunately, I must leave for official duties now.”

“Should I head inside as well?”

“Legion Commander, that’s up to you. But it would be greatly appreciated if you attended. I have some requests to make of you and some matters to discuss with the Eastern Army.”

“Then I suppose I’ll go in too.”

“Tower Master, your attendance would be of great help as well. You’re more than welcome to join us.”

So, does that mean I can go home now?

I was about to make my polite goodbyes when the Legion Commander threw a thick arm around my neck.

“Where do you think you’re sneaking off to? You’re coming in too.”

“Huh? Me? Why?”

“Why else? If you want to be a Legion Commander someday, you’d better start paying attention to how things work now.”

“I have no intention of becoming a Legion Commander, though…”

“Hah! Sure you don’t. Do you think people will leave you alone once you hit Level 7, or even Level 8? You’re already the ruler of Gwanak District, and you’re eyeing Guro District too, aren’t you? What, do you want to be the kingpin of the underworld instead?”

“That’s not it.”

“As long as you’re in the Warrior class, the higher your level gets, the less peace you’ll have, even if you want it. Every lowlife out there will be swarming to leech off of you. You’d better establish yourself now. At the very least, they need to understand you’re not someone they can mess with casually. That’s the only way you’ll carve out the time you need to train. Otherwise, every Tom, Dick, and Harry will be poking at you, and you won’t have a moment to yourself.”

In his own way, he had a point.

I was already beginning to attract attention.

Up until now, only certain people knew who I was, but starting today, the entire nation would.

Last night’s exploits would undoubtedly make the news.

“Fine, I get it. But I’m just observing, right?”

“Of course. No one’s going to ask you to speak. Well, they might ask where your intel came from.”

“That’s… not something I can disclose.”

“Then just bluff your way through it.”

His tone was completely casual, as if it wasn’t a big deal.

He flexed his arm muscles intimidatingly, sending a clear message—if things went wrong, he’d “resolve” them physically.

The Tower Master clicked his tongue in disapproval.

“Aren’t you old enough to know better? What kind of thug behavior is this? No wonder government officials flinch whenever the Eastern Army is mentioned. Why can’t you act more dignified, like the Legion Commander of the Western Army?”

“Like that old hag? Why would I do that?”

“Sigh…”

“Alright, let’s get moving. We don’t have all day. Everyone here is busy.”

The meeting proceeded quickly.

I’d expected it to be dull and boring, given the high-ranking officials in attendance, but it moved along like a game mission briefing.

[The terrorist attack was orchestrated by an organization known as the Terror Alliance…]

[A coalition of twelve groups…]

[Including illegal assassination organizations, international mercenary groups, underground mage towers, and cults…]

[Their leader is Massacre Empress, Shin Yerin…]

[We are currently sweeping up their remnants, and their headquarters is…]

A 3D map of Seoul was displayed in the center of the conference room.

Red markers were scattered across it.

It was a familiar sight.

It looked exactly like the map you’d see at the start of Episode 1 in the game when the Seoul Terror event began.

Each red marker represented a sudden quest, side quest, or regional quest.

In the game, you had to painstakingly clear each one…

[Capital Defense Division, 3rd Division, 2nd Regiment, 4th Battalion: Terrorists eliminated in Ichon-dong!]

[Eastern Army, 2nd Division, 4th Regiment, 1st Battalion: Civilians rescued in Banpo-dong!]

[Superhuman Association’s Blue Dragon Raid Team: Superhuman Tower successfully defended!]

[Geumo Security has reclaimed Mullae-dong! Many civilian casualties reported! Medical support requested!]

[Sun Mage Tower’s mages…]
[Thor Cult…]
[Gaia Cult…]

The red markers were disappearing rapidly.

It wasn’t the work of a single player but the combined efforts of dozens of forces.

A short while later, the Chief Secretary personally manipulated the 3D map to deliver the next briefing.

“Mr. Cheonrian has located their headquarters. It’s deep underground beneath Cheonggye Mountain. The entrance is hidden at the site of the old Seoul Grand Park!”

I checked the time.

It was exactly noon.

Less than half a day since the terror attack began, and most of Episode 1’s content was already being cleared.

I was right to save the President.

I was right to coordinate everything as I did.

“Excellent work.”

The President clapped his hands.

“This is a massive terrorist organization. Let’s make sure we wipe them out completely. Order the Capital Defense Command to deploy a Spatial Isolation Barrier and fully encircle Cheonggye Mountain. Not even a rat should be able to escape.”

“Hmph, I’ll lend a hand. I should contact that old hag from the Western Army, too. What’s she doing while things are falling apart? Still twiddling her thumbs?”

“Ha, hahaha, thank you, Legion Commander.”

“I’ll convene the Tower Masters. They’re so sluggish they won’t budge unless I personally kick them into action.”

At this rate, Episode 1 would be wrapped up in three days.

That was good news for me.

Looking at the gradually clearing map of Seoul brought a sense of relief.

“When will the operation begin?”

“As soon as the encirclement is complete and the operation plan is finalized. We need to make an example out of them.”

“Damn right. We can’t let them think they can get away with this. They need to know there are consequences for messing with us.”

The Legion Commander, who had been speaking with the President, suddenly turned to me.

“You’re joining in, right?”

“Me? You mean me?”

“Of course. You’re the MVP of this operation. You need to see it through to the end. Watch how Shin Yerin gets utterly destroyed by me.”

I wasn’t so sure about that.

The Terror Alliance’s headquarters dungeon at the end of Episode 1 was a decent dungeon.

Its layout was straightforward, with few traps but lots of monsters, making it a great place to earn experience and rewards.

But for me, it wasn’t all that appealing.

‘The Masamune Blade, the Unholy Leather Armor, and the Relic of Evil are great rewards, but…’

The problem was, I already had better gear.

Almost all of my current equipment was SSR-grade.

Even the Geumo Set, while technically not SSR, was treated as such in practice.

The only exceptions were the Iron Fist and the Danger Detection Ring.

‘And the Danger Detection Ring’s replacement doesn’t drop in the Terror Dungeon.’

While it was true that the dungeon offered some strong consumables like Loki’s Mockery or Seth’s Whispers, I wasn’t interested enough to participate just for those.

Honestly, I’d already done more than enough.

I’d warned them in advance, and I’d saved the President. That was plenty.

“I’d prefer to train alone.”

“You idiot, real combat is the best teacher.”

“That’s exactly why. When I faced Shin Yerin—her sword—I realized something.”

“Yeah, I can see that… but still…”

As the Legion Commander fell into thought, a man in a formal suit suddenly interjected.

“Does the Black Tiger Swordmaster really need to participate? The nation was attacked, and it is our duty to handle this. Please leave it to us—the National Army and the Superhuman Police.”

Judging by his demeanor, the man seemed to be the Director of the National Intelligence Service.

His eyes burned with determination.

It appeared he found it humiliating that they hadn’t been able to act before the attack.

The Legion Commander’s expression turned sour.

“Can I trust you with this?”

“Please trust us. We will restore the honor of the National Intelligence Service.”

“We’ll give it everything we’ve got. I swear we’ll tear Shin Yerin—that damn woman’s—heart out.”

“The police are fully prepared as well.”

The NIS Director, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Police Commissioner all spoke in unison.

The Legion Commander waved them off as if he’d lost interest.

“Tsk. I thought this might be a good chance to take on a disciple. Fine, do as you like. I’ll head to Cheorwon and take a nap.”

“Please do. Honestly, neither you nor I are the type to move for something as trivial as catching Shin Yerin, are we? Why not send one of your bright grandsons? As for me, I think I’ll dispatch one of my disciples.”

“That sounds good. Hmm, Hyungwon… he’s the brightest among my grandsons, after all…”

Before the meeting was even over, the Legion Commander and the Tower Master left.

I waited for the right moment and quietly slipped out as well.

“See you around, kid.”

“Yes, take care.”

“You haven’t forgotten our bet, have you? My progress on developing extreme polarization is coming along nicely.”

“So is mine.”

After all, I’d secured three of the six materials needed.

The Legion Commander gave me a hearty slap on the back, while the Tower Master chuckled leisurely before they exited the Blue House.

I did the same.

Once I got into the SUV and picked up Baek Sorin and Janet, I finally felt like I could breathe.

“Hah!”

“Teacher, were you nervous too?”

“Of course. It’s the Legion Commander and the Tower Master we’re talking about.”

“They’re stronger than the President, right?”

“Exactly.”

Their overwhelming power wasn’t what made me nervous, though.

It was something else entirely—trait switching.

By now, it seemed that those at around Level 8 or so could detect it.

The Legion Commander seemed to have some inkling already, and judging by his reactions, the Tower Master was suspicious as well.

“Wow, Teacher!”

Baek Sorin exclaimed, her eyes glued to her smartphone.

“You’re all over the internet!”

“Me? What about me?”

“Look at this! Someone recorded your fight at the Indian Embassy!”

She showed me her smartphone.

It was footage of me fighting, captured clearly.

It seemed to have been taken with a smartphone camera, but the quality was surprisingly good.

The camerawork was excellent, too, following my every move.

“They filmed it well.”

“Right? Right? Wow, watching this, you really are amazing, Teacher. You weren’t this good before, were you?”

“There’s no rule saying I have to stay the same as before.”

“You’re incredible!”

Somehow, even the fact that I’d issued a prior warning was starting to spread.

People were also catching on to how I had mobilized the Eastern Army, the Sun Mage Tower, and the Geumo Group.

It was all so obvious.

Even if the damage was relatively minimal, thousands of deaths had already been reported from last night’s events.

This was clearly an attempt to divert attention by crafting a hero narrative.

It irked me slightly, but I decided to let it slide.

They were desperate enough to resort to this, after all.

Besides, fame was a double-edged sword—it could be poison, but it could also be medicine.

And now was the right time for me to scale up.

Even in a world like this, which was practically a feudal aristocracy, public recognition could be a significant advantage.

When I arrived home, an unexpected guest was waiting for me.

As I opened the garage door to park the car, a young girl suddenly jumped out of a vehicle parked on the road.

“Uh, hello?”

It was Kali.

Following her out of the car were the Indian Ambassador and his wife.

“Good evening. We’ve come to thank you.”

But something felt off.

For people who’d come to express gratitude, their expressions were strangely stiff.

After inviting them in and serving them coffee, I finally understood the reason.

Kali suddenly knelt before me and bowed deeply.

“Teacher, I want to become your disciple.”

–TL Notes–
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