Chapter 115

Chapter 115
## Chapter 115: Proof of Legitimacy

I had assumed the pair of golden masks were the sole possessors of it, but if every person here existed in that same state, it wasn’t merely a hidden trait.

It was fundamentally impossible for all eleven individuals to share an identical hidden trait. To reach that point, they would have needed to advance through the exact same talent tech tree with perfect synchronization.

…A feat achievable only by a dedicated gamer or a player.

Even among that group, most remained ignorant of “hidden traits.” And for them to have leveled up in such perfect, friendly harmony?

‘An intriguing crowd.’

They were genuinely erratic. That unpredictability was exactly why they were entertaining.

I believed I had already subjugated every corner of Pangeniar. Although the Great Expedition ended in failure due to an unforeseen variable, I had successfully triumphed over the Demon King itself. Yet, here I was, facing anonymous entities in a secluded location I had never previously reached.

‘Just as I am a mystery to you, I suspect you are equally blind to my identity.’

The fact that total anonymity reigned among us made the situation remarkably compelling. I had donned many disguises and assumed various personas in the past, but this was a different beast entirely. It was a psychological standoff to see who would unmask the others first.

A high-stakes game of chicken, played at a level I had never before encountered.

“…Since the Three Swords gave their word, it must be the truth.”

Finally, the golden fox mask broke the silence with an air of indifference. Her voice was husky, her posture defined by a profound lethargy.

‘A golden fox mask, is it?’

Every transcendent I had crossed paths with in the Empire thus far had been adorned with a “fox mask.” I wondered if this woman was the source of that tradition. Even “Thunder God Descent,” a figure I suspected was a former alt character of mine, wore a silver version.

That wasn’t the only anomaly. Ten of them wore masks depicting various beasts, while only the “golden mask” wore a featureless, plain design. It was highly suspicious.

I was burning with questions, yet I kept my expression unreadable. To display curiosity in this environment was to concede the upper hand.

“In that case, we simply need to demonstrate our ‘legitimacy.'”

“Indeed. A final check. Regardless of the Three Swords’ conviction, it is quite different from witnessing it firsthand.”

“Show us.”

They were already restless with anticipation. They wanted me to prove I was a fellow guardian of the same lineage.

The Imperial Three Swords had put their entire reputation behind their oath, yet the group still hesitated to trust even the golden mask’s assessment. Despite the two primary golden masks having conducted a personal verification, the doubt remained.

In other words: ‘They share no mutual trust.’

There was no foundation of faith between them. That realization made one thing certain: they were competitors. Every person in this room was in a position where a sudden betrayal would be the norm rather than the exception. Adding a twelfth rival to an established circle of eleven was bound to cause friction.

Regardless. I offered a nonchalant shrug.

“What a pathetic group you are.”

I let a smirk play on my lips, speaking as if the situation were beneath me. My voice lacked even a hint of interest. I behaved as though their caution was a source of genuine amusement. After all, the person who blinks first and shows interest is the one forced to reveal their hand.

‘I have to confirm what they mean by legitimacy first.’

I couldn’t simply summon “Hell” without caution. I didn’t yet understand their definition of “legitimacy.” The Three Swords had validated me, but I didn’t know if that validation rested on Hell’s physical form or some other factor.

“…Pathetic? You direct that at me, of all people?”

“Hah.”

My amusement had clearly evaporated, replaced by an attitude that suggested they were overstepping. I was essentially signaling that they had crossed a boundary. One by one, their gazes sharpened with a palpable intent to kill.

It didn’t move me. That bloodlust couldn’t penetrate this “wall of light.”

‘Invincible. It negates all damage and status effects.’

As long as I remained within the borders of the radiant throne of light, I was untouchable. It was the only reason I had survived against the supreme dragon Riley for so long. This most radiant throne of light functioned on the same principle.

It wasn’t just their glares—even if they focused their killing intent into tangible strikes, I was safe as long as I remained seated. Acting as though they didn’t merit a verbal response, I simply crossed my arms and legs. My posture alone radiated a level of confidence that required no explanation.

“……”

The air grew heavy with a suffocating silence. Then, a shift occurred.

“…Regardless, to move forward with the ‘banquet,’ every participant must display their ‘legitimacy.’ I shall lead the way.”

The golden mask took the initiative. He lifted his hand and began tracing a circular pattern in the air.

*Zzzzt!*

A streak of blue light followed his movement, crackling with the energy of static electricity. As soon as the circle was closed, the golden mask’s “legitimacy” made its entrance.

*-Kekeke!*

—

The eyes behind the golden mask flickered with sharp interest.

‘Now, let us see your response.’

This man had first appeared merely as a protector for Hudson. I was aware he was masking his true self behind that role, but the idea of him being a guardian of “legitimacy” had never crossed my mind.

There were supposed to be only eleven legitimacies within the Reaper Church. For a long time, “11” was considered the ultimate, perfect number. This newcomer shattered that long-standing belief to complete a set of 12.

Was he a fraud? If the Three Swords had sworn their lives on it, it had to be authentic. Those who held the rank of Three Swords were both “executors” and “faithful servants.” A servant is naturally attuned to the presence of their master. If a twelfth legitimacy truly existed, the only task left was to measure the strength of the guardian’s spirit.

‘A commoner would be crushed just by being in this domain.’

This was a psychological war zone. When the “auras” of those present clashed, the resulting pressure was devastating. Even a powerful being would be forced to react. Even those with the hidden trait “Iron-Blooded Lord’s Heart,” or beings on the level of the White King or Black King, would feel the strain.

And yet, he simply summoned a throne of light, sat down, and remained entirely unfazed. He went so far as to mock them.

‘…What a fascinating individual.’

Where had he come from? Was it his personal strength or the power of that throne? Either way, he was exceeding every metric. I wondered if his “legitimacy” would be equally impressive.

“You’ve acquired an additional wing since we last met.”

“It’s hardly shocking, considering the volume of ‘sinner souls’ it has consumed.”

“Six wings. Three full pairs.”

The legitimacy of the golden mask emerged through the warp. The gathered crowd observed closely. Some showed open admiration, while others masked their annoyance with silence.

*-Kekeke!*

The golden mask’s legitimacy manifested as a small, scythe-bearing reaper with six black wings. It perched upon the golden mask’s hand, letting out a jarring, high-pitched laugh as it looked toward the other golden mask wearers.

“I won’t let the golden mask claim all the glory today. I should demonstrate how much my own legitimacy has matured.”

Prompted by this, the wearer of the golden lion mask mirrored the action, drawing a small circle in the air. Sparks danced along his fingertips as the warp dilated.

*-Kuhuhu!*

This time, a much larger reaper came forth. It was compact but heavily built, possessing five wings and prominent horns on its brow.

“…A new growth on the horn.”

“It appears to have increased in size as well.”

“What has it been feeding on to grow so consistently?”

The guardians whispered among themselves, surprised by the bulk of the summoned entity. It didn’t quite reach the level of the golden mask’s reaper, but its development was undeniable. Not wanting to be outshone, the others began to reveal their own legitimacies in sequence.

*-Kekekeke!*

*-Kikikiki!*

A gaunt, laughing reaper appeared for the golden wolf mask. A stout, mischievous-looking reaper was summoned by the golden sheep mask. Small reapers of various shapes filled the space. These “legitimacies” all shared the fundamental form of a reaper; though they differed in wing count, horns, or the cosmic voids within their eyes, they were all winged “reapers.”

Finally, all eleven legitimacies stood revealed.

“Now. It is your turn.”

The golden mask fixed his gaze directly on me. In that moment, the distinction became clear. I saw the divide between “Hell” and these other creatures. I saw the line between them and me.

“Why the delay?”

“Are you unable to trace the ‘line’?”

“Impossible. Constructing the ‘line’ is a basic requirement for any guardian.”

“Then he is indeed an impostor.”

The line. When they traced their circles, a warp was formed to let their “legitimacies” out. But I had no need for such a procedure.

*Riiip!*

The fabric of space itself was violently shredded. The tear took the jagged shape of a scythe.

*Zzt! Zzzzt!*

Violent sparks erupted from the rift, far overshadowing the tiny flickers produced by their finger-drawn circles.

“What?”

“That is…!”

“The legitimacy is forcing the warp open from the other side?”

They saw the truth immediately. Their creatures could only manifest when the “guardian” opened a path for them. However, Hell was capable of “directly” tearing through the veil to emerge.

Guardian. Leader. True to those titles, I didn’t just summon them; I led them. This was our primary distinction. I didn’t need to learn their methods of drawing lines. It was entirely unnecessary.

But that first realization was minor compared to the second. The true, defining difference between us.

*-Kyahahahaha!*

With a thunderous, mocking laugh that eclipsed all others, Hell ripped through the void and showed its face.