Trait Hoarder-Chapter 256

Teaching – Part 4

Next up—Organize and Discard.

It sounded simple, but it wasn’t easy to pull off.

Now that I was Level 8, there was no way I’d be able to complete the task just by casually cleaning or tossing out garbage like I did when I first arrived in this world. That would take months, if not years.

I needed something drastic.

Wooooong.

I closed the door and stepped outside.

From my private room to the bridge was just a few steps away.

As I entered the bridge, the seated officers scrambled to their feet.

“Sword Star, sir! Salute!”

The massive bear creature, first to salute, despite his hulking frame.

“You’re here?”

Skeleton Snake gave a slightly crooked but still present salute.

“Salute!”

“Salute!”

In contrast, the fishmen struck their salute with razor-sharp precision.

I offered a simple bow and sat in the commander’s seat.

The bear captain’s seat had sunk low into the floor, so it didn’t block my view.

Skeleton Snake sidled up to me and asked,

“Captain Sword Star. The people you summoned—?”

“They’re leveling up.”

“Leveling up! Really? Wait, hold on. Seven people went in, right?”

“All seven are being promoted.”

“Whoa!”

The bear’s eyes widened.

“Shouldn’t we celebrate? Let’s drink! Come on, drinks!”

“You really want a drink that badly?”

“Of course! Gulp!”

The bear stared hungrily at my golf bag.

What he really wanted, of course, was what was inside.

More precisely, World Tree Sap.

I let out a dry chuckle and rummaged through the bag, pulling out a few bottles of the sap and tossing them his way.

“If you want to drink, brew it yourself.”

“Thank you, sir!”

The bear happily scurried off with the bottles.

Back at Monster Village, he used to be all serious—but now, he was just a big goof.

The fishmen stared at him with visibly cold eyes.

Skeleton Snake rubbed its forehead like it had a headache.

Beeeeep.

I pressed a button on one side of the command chair.

In front of me, the ship’s control console split open to the sides.

From within rose a set of flight controls.

Normally, the helmsman would handle this—but it had been installed specifically with the [Dragon Knight] trait in mind.

I placed my right hand on the controls.

A 3D projection of the Celestial River appeared to my left.

All green for now.

If we took damage or a system failed during combat, it would flash yellow or red.

“Captain Sword Star? Are you taking off? I thought you were going to wait for an adjustment period?”

“Not yet. There’s something I need to do first.”

Still holding the controls, I closed my eyes.

I projected my consciousness—

Into the Celestial River.

I detached my mind from my body and transferred it into this massive myth-grade battleship.

[Dragon Knight] [Integration] [Resonance]

[Magic Brain] [Insight] [Meditation]

The Celestial River felt like my own body.

Not figuratively—literally.

It was as if the ship’s main computer had become my brain.

Even the River Goddess, who had been dormant in the ship’s circuits, opened her eyes and looked at me.

[Now that’s interesting.]

[Please don’t help. I need to do this myself.]

[Heh heh. As you wish.]

The goddess quietly stepped aside.

My consciousness fully integrated into the main computer, and endless mathematical calculations shot between circuits.

I could feel it.

The entire Celestial River. Every inch of it.

Through all the sensors—every little ant crawling in the corners, every sailor’s idle chatter.

“So boring…”

“Yeah. I liked it better when we were off on expeditions.”

“When are we going back to Earth?”

“No idea.”

“I wanna go home…”

I briefly observed them, then turned my focus to the Celestial River itself.

Originally, it was a massive golden sailing ship.

But after the River Goddess made her nest and the World Tree took root, a lot had changed.

And that came with an unavoidable issue.

‘It’s inefficient.’

When Seo Woojin upgraded it, everything was fine.

He’d brought in famous ship specialists to redesign it, and built it according to those blueprints.

The problem was the World Tree.

Its branches had replaced much of the original wood—which was great—but some parts had overgrown.

Put simply, it needed pruning.

Snap. Crack.

“Huh?!”

“W-What’s going on?!”

“W-What the heck is happening!?”

I began tidying the Celestial River.

Pruning the overgrown hallways and ceilings.

Trimming down excessively thick bulkheads.

Snapping and cutting away branch clusters that had spread over the outer hull.

All of it was pushed to the deck by manipulating the ship itself.

This was a remodeling of the Celestial River.

‘This is exhausting.’

It felt like my brain was getting crushed.

Both the supercomputer and my mind were running at full tilt.

If I hadn’t had [Magic Brain], [Insight], and [Meditation], it would’ve been impossible.

Likewise, without [Dragon Knight], [Integration], and [Resonance], I couldn’t have smoothly carried out such an intricate self-modification.

[You really are an omnipotent one.]

The goddess sounded impressed.

[Even I couldn’t have done it this precisely.]

[Thank you. I have to give it my all.]

I refined the Celestial River’s systems as smoothly as possible.

At the same time, I began compressing.

World Tree wood was incredibly dense and durable—perfect for hull material—but I could still see where it had just bulked up carelessly.

So I compressed it, and compressed it again.

So it could tank a barrage of anti-ship missiles.

So it wouldn’t take a scratch unless it was a nuke or an attack from a Level 8 superhuman.

It took quite a bit of time.

When I finally pulled my thoughts out of deep focus, I saw the bear chugging liquor from the captain’s seat.

“Pwah!”

Skeleton Snake munched on a salad beside him.

The fishmen were tearing into grilled meat.

They must’ve stayed put because I was still in the command chair, unmoving like a statue.

I briefly cut the mental link and leaned my head back.

“Oh—Sword Star?”

The bear quickly hid his liquor bottle behind his belly.

“Don’t drink in here. Go to the dining hall. It’s fine as long as you don’t get drunk.”

“Yes! Sorry, sir!”

“And the rest of you—go eat in the dining hall. Don’t worry about me.”

“Yes, sir!”

“Yes, sir!”

You could say I’m human, but not quite.

Ordinary logic just doesn’t cut it anymore.

Took a short break, sipped some coffee, and logged back in.

After pruning the Celestial River, I applied the new trait I gained.

[Organize]

It made everything easier.

Even without [Resonance], the Celestial River moved with perfect fluidity.

It felt like I’d done more in a single pass than I had in the entire previous day.

I’d cleared out over half of the excess growth and piled it onto the deck.

‘Now then…’

[Dragon Knight] [Integration] [Organize]

[Supreme Flame] [Magic Brain] [Mana Soul]

I burned it.

Cleared the deck and ordered the crew to evacuate, then released [Supreme Flame].

Golden flames surged from every piece of World Tree wood I’d trimmed.

The entire pile blazed in an instant.

Wood so high-grade you could build a full aircraft carrier from it went up in ash, and in return, the trait condition was fulfilled almost immediately.

[Discard]

The moment I’d been waiting for.

After disposing of the World Tree ash, I equipped the rest of the life-based traits one by one.

[Cooking] [Laundry] [Dishwashing]

[Cleaning] [Organize] [Discard]

Then, I combined them.

The mana circuits surged, dashing toward a single point—

[My Home]

In that instant, a wave of vigor swept through my entire body.

All stats increased.

The awkwardness I’d felt from being unable to fully sync with my level-up vanished in a breath.

My mind had never been clearer.

Mana welled up like mist, perfectly uniting my body and soul.

[My Home] [My Home]

With two stacks, it became even more potent.

The level adjustment period I expected to take several days?

I didn’t need training or downtime at all.

I was already complete.

“Teacher!”

The door opened and Baek Sorin rushed in.

Calm mana lingered around her like warm steam.

Her entire aura had changed.

She used to resemble a rabid dog—or a berserk boar.

Now she looked like a composed, proper swordswoman.

“Congratulations.”

“Hehehe, thank you. All thanks to you, Teacher!”

Baek Sorin gazed at her hands with a distant smile.

“Feels like just yesterday I was getting pushed around by other superhumans at the Superhuman Tower, and now I’m a 7th-level superhuman.”

“Told you, didn’t I? You’re a genius.”

“Hehe, not a genius—a [Heavenly Killing Star], remember?”

The others arrived shortly after.

Janet, Kali, Seo Woojin, Kim Chulkwon, Kim Mabeob, and Kim Saje.

Every single one had leveled up.

So how many 7th-levels did that make?

Add the bear, Skeleton Snake, and the five fishmen…

That made eleven.

One 8th-level, eleven 7th-levels, dozens of 6th-levels, and hundreds of 5th-levels—

It made my chest swell with pride.

The memory of crawling through Landfill #1, just trying to survive after falling into this world, was still so vivid.

And now, I’d built a force rivaling—if not equal to—the tier just below the Four Major Powers.

“Ooooh, congratulations!”

“Congrats, everyone!”

“Humans sure grow fast these days.”

“That’s ‘cause they’re Sword Star’s disciples and subordinates.”

“No wonder our goddess entrusted herself to him.”

Even the fishmen celebrated, flapping their gills in joy.

Inside the Celestial River, where the River Goddess controlled everything, language was no barrier for anyone.

I smiled softly and turned to Baek Sorin.

“So, how does it feel—to return home in triumph?”

“Return in triumph?”

“Now that everyone’s awake, we’re heading to the Superhuman Tower for public certification.”

“O-oh… is that really okay?”

“Of course.”

How will the Saintess respond?

She’s been waiting for me to hit Level 8.

Waiting for the moment right after my level-up, before I had time to adjust—when I’d still be weaker than her.

Even if her combat strength was higher, my vessel would be more complete.

‘It’d be nice if she gave up…’

But she won’t.

She’s a fanatic.

A genuine one—willing to throw away her body and soul to “save the world.”

If she gave up just because things got tough, she wouldn’t be a fanatic.

While I pondered what move the Saintess would make next, I looked to my disciples and subordinates and called out:

“Let’s go home!”

“Yaaaay!”

“Home!”

“We’re finally leaving this place!”

“Ugh, I thought I was gonna die!”

“This place is not meant for living!”

Everyone erupted in cheers.

Humans, mutants, fishmen alike.

We launched immediately.

Escaping the Rift and heading for Seoul, Republic of Korea.

Too slow, you say?

Yes.

Even with me using [Dragon Knight], and the River Goddess assisting, the Celestial River was still slow.

But it had one massive advantage.

You could fold it up.

Thanks to the World Tree, even living beings could now be stored inside the Celestial River.

I’d just stuff it into my pocket, return to my Seoul mansion via [Grand Escape], and take it out again.

Honestly, the Celestial River was completely broken.

Goooooo.

The ship soared through the skies of Seoul.

A side of the Superhuman Tower split open.

Just like back in the day.

Like the day I first visited the Tower.

Like the time they greeted the Saintess.

A retractable bridge descended like a drawbridge, opening bashfully toward us.

And the moment I completed my 8th-level certification—

The entire Superhuman Tower blossomed like a flower.

Boom! Boom-boom!

Magic patterns exploded across the sky like fireworks.

Everything was exactly as it had been.

People huddled on the first floor, screaming.

Superhumans standing atop flying cars, watching me.

Mages who’d teleported in a rush.

Even the gods watching through the shifting spatial curtains.

Every last detail matched the memory in my mind.

“Congratulations!”

“Level 8 in your early twenties?!”

“A victory for humanity!”

“Are we witnessing the birth of the fifth Constellation?!”

“Sword Star forever!”

“Even the title ‘Sword Star’ isn’t enough anymore!”

“Right! He’s the next Constellation!”

“Where’s the Heavenly Demon?!”

A few months ago, I had a feeling this would happen.

And sure enough, a new nickname was born that day.

“All hail the Sword Heaven!”

“All hail!”

Sword Heaven (劍天).

My new name.

“So noisy…”

Jongno.

The Old Father’s Grand Temple.

At the highest point of the tallest spire.

The Saintess, seated upon the throne, turned her gaze.

The world trembled with unrest.

To the Saintess’s profound eyes—those that pierced truth and fate—it was chaos. Lines of destiny, normally steady, quivered in disorder.

Even her physical eyes saw it.

The clear blue sky, which should’ve held only aircars and birds, was now streaked with repeating patterns of magic she knew all too well.

A Holy Knight in black-gold armor bowed deeply.

“A new transcendent-level superhuman has appeared.”

“That’s unexpected. Why was this not reported earlier? Isn’t every superhuman of the ultimate realm under surveillance by our Order’s Watch Division?”

“My apologies.”

He bowed even lower.

“According to the Watch Division’s emergency assessment, it appears he was promoted within the Great Rift.”

“The new transcendent is Him. The one destined to be the Savior of our Order… and this filthy, wretched world.”

“Yes, Saintess.”

“Ha… how astonishing.”

He truly was the Savior.

The one who had tempered his soul across countless reincarnations, who had attained divine status in this hellish world called Earth, and yet chose not to ascend—choosing, instead, another cycle of rebirth.

The Saintess believed.

She believed that the Savior would one day come to recognize her sincerity.

And so she had waited, willingly.

For the Savior to finally reach Level 8—the level most suitable for the descent of the Old Father.

“I’ve waited a long time. Truly, a long time.”

How many years had it been?

Since that secret message.

Since the grand ritual.

A ceremony paid for with life, future, and soul.

There’d been no sign. She had despaired.

She thought the ritual had failed.

But then, at the place she went to receive the Old Father’s prophecy and her 8th-level certification—

She saw hope.

Just in case, she had carried out a forced baptism.

From the results, and through continued observation, she found certainty.

Lately, as the Old Father’s prophecies grew stronger, they added clarity.

He was the one.

The one the Saintess had long sought.

The one the Old Father named as the most perfect vessel.

The Savior. The Light of this world.

“Are the preparations complete?”

“Yes, Saintess. Everything is ready.”

This situation—

It hadn’t been unforeseen.

If it was truly Him, as the Saintess believed, then this was the natural course.

Even if He had no memory.

Even if He had no awareness.

Still, just like in His past life, just like the time He lived in this world—He moved the same way.

The Saintess slowly rose to her feet.

Her massive warhammer and oversized-caliber shotgun clanked heavily against her armor.

“Good.”

She gripped the warhammer in her hand.

Ominous black-gold flame flickered around it like a hungry predator.

Wearing a halo-like crown of dark radiance, the Saintess spoke in a husky voice.

“We begin the Offering Plan.”

The Offering Plan.

In the game, its goal had been to sacrifice the entire 30-million population of the megacity Seoul.

But here, it had changed.

Because of the butterfly effect caused by Warrior Kim, the Offering Plan no longer targeted Seoul.

It now had a different focus—

Warrior Kim.

And that first step…

Would begin in a city somewhere in Gyeonggi-do.