Chapter 176

Chapter 176
## Chapter 176

### Title: The Legacy of the Dread King

—

An unending stream of notification alerts filled my vision.

I scanned every character meticulously, reading the text multiple times to ensure nothing was overlooked.

Yet, despite my focus, a deep sense of bewilderment caused me to tilt my head in thought.

The information manifesting before me flatly contradicted every known law of the world.

‘Stars are supposed to dissipate once their master perishes. However, he reclaimed the Sun’s Star instantly… is it due to its status as a named star? Or is it because it belonged to Wilhelm?’

The confusion began with the very first notification.

The system indicated that the Sun’s Star had been “reclaimed.”

The phrasing implied a recovery of something previously owned.

If that were the case, the second theory seemed more plausible.

It suggested that by ending the life of the current holder of Wilhelm’s star, an immediate “reclamation” was triggered.

…Wait, perhaps this wasn’t limited to Wilhelm alone.

‘The various personas I pushed to transcendence during my playthroughs. Could I potentially reclaim the stars of every single one?’

I rubbed my jaw, mentally listing the high-level characters I had personally developed.

‘MinglanjeotKonan, Human-FishingFisherman, ThunderGodDescent…’

Currently, ‘MinglanjeotKonan’ was confirmed deceased, ‘Human-FishingFisherman’ was missing in action, and ‘ThunderGodDescent’ was under the custody of the Reaper Church.

The prospect of gathering the stars of all those former avatars was a tantalizing possibility.

‘The recollections of Wilhelm. The technique known as Swordsmanship of Heaven and Earth Overturned has reached a new level of power.’

Furthermore, the integration of Wilhelm’s memories was actively refining my martial prowess.

The ability to perceive an opponent’s intent felt significantly more fluid.

Even with my blade sheathed, I could feel the ripples of Auril and Karas’s thoughts beside me with startling clarity.

This was particularly impressive regarding Karas; as a demigod, his mental state had previously been an enigma to me, but now it was an open book.

Most importantly, I felt as though I was finally touching the boundary of the ultimate ‘wall.’

‘…The resonances of the past.’

This was an auxiliary trait granted by the named ‘Sun’s Star.’

Through it, I gained access to two specific secret techniques: the Heavenly Dragon Claw from the Heavenly Dragon Legend and the Divine Sword Unity belonging to MinglanjeotKonan.

By extension, this meant that locating the remains of characters I had once built—or creating those remains myself—would allow me to seize their signature abilities.

‘What a truly macabre power.’

I had developed hundreds of different characters.

Was the world essentially inviting me to hunt down my own legacy?

Looking at it from another perspective, however, this was a devastatingly effective tool against enemies.

People like Isabella or Isaac, who had transcended and recovered their past lives’ memories, were perfect examples.

Eventually, others might realize my true nature and attempt to eliminate me.

Furthermore, if “resonances of the past” could be triggered simply by locating a corpse…

‘This warrants serious investigation.’

Several locations immediately sprang to mind.

I knew of characters with powerful unique skills who had met untimely ends.

If I were to scavenge their bodies and synthesize their unique abilities, the resulting power would be monumental.

‘…But why has it become Greed rather than Gluttony?’

This was the final point of contention.

The most vital and baffling development was the evolution of my hidden trait.

Glutton had transformed into Greed.

Logic dictated that a trait defined by consuming everything would naturally evolve into Gluttony.

The shift wasn’t merely a change in terminology, either.

《‘The One Who Blooms Darkness’ has acquired the trait: Greed.》

The notification was explicit about the acquisition of Greed.

There was no further guidance provided.

I would have to understand its nature through trial and error in actual combat.

In the world of Pangeniar, expecting a comprehensive manual for one’s powers was a hopeless dream anyway.

“…A scion of the Fearsome Clan, the identity of Wilhelm, and the Greed demon that consumed Jealousy. Is there anything else you’re hiding?”

Karas’s voice cut through my thoughts.

Having recovered his celestial plumage, Karas had returned to his full status as a demigod.

Even with his divine power restored, he looked upon me with deep suspicion.

It was true, though—Glutton had indeed consumed the demon of Jealousy.

“The Greed demon?” I repeated.

“Do not toy with me. The entity slumbering within your soul is unmistakably the Greed demon.”

The hidden trait, Greed.

Karas identified it as the ‘Greed demon.’

His tone carried a distinct edge of animosity.

He had been willing to protect me as long as he believed I was merely a member of the Fearsome Clan, but being labeled the ‘Greed demon’ changed the stakes entirely.

‘Certain hidden traits function as racial characteristics.’

In some instances, they were categorized as entirely separate races.

However, this was the first time I had heard a trait described as a specific, singular entity like the ‘Greed demon.’

While ‘Eternal Randolph’ was a unique trait tied to my core existence, identifying me as one of the Seven Deadly Sins—the Greed demon—was a different matter.

‘Hidden traits manifest their true essence upon reaching evolution.’

This was seen in the Heart of the Eternal Lord, the Great Nature of the High Druid, and now, my evolved Greed.

The authority of the High Druid over Great Nature and the manifestation of the Greed demon were the foundational identities these traits represented.

This sparked a series of internal questions.

What did “Eternal Lord” actually signify?

Were these hidden traits perhaps shards of some higher ‘great rank’ divinity?

I felt a surge of curiosity regarding the true nature of my other, yet-to-evolve traits.

“What… exactly are you?”

Karas’s question was heavy with gravitas.

I knew my response had to be measured.

Making an enemy of Karas at this moment would make our departure from this tower nearly impossible.

I gave a casual shrug.

“Currently, I am Randolph. Simultaneously, I am Wilhelm, a descendant of the Fearsome Clan, and yes, the Greed demon as well.”

I told the truth.

Deception was useless against someone of Karas’s caliber.

Total transparency was the safer bet.

Naturally, I saw no reason to mention my consumption of Baal or my other hidden abilities.

Karas’s expression flickered with a complex range of emotions.

“…You admit to it without hesitation.”

“Denying the reality of my situation wouldn’t change the facts.”

“And what are your intentions?”

“To finish the work that was left incomplete.”

“You refer to the Great Expedition?”

I gave a firm nod.

It was the one objective that had eluded me.

If I held any lingering remorse regarding my time in Pangeniar, it was the failure of the Great Expedition.

“…I will take you at your word.”

Karas turned away, his voice trailing back to me.

“Come with me. There is something you must see.”

Auril remained in a state of total shock, struggling to process the rapid succession of revelations.

First, the blade that had erased a demon in a single stroke.

Then, the terrifying mention of the ‘Greed demon.’

‘Could Lord Randolph truly be the Greed demon?’

If the conversation she had overheard was accurate, the implications were world-altering.

The majority of the seven demons had either faded from history or were lurking in the shadows.

However, following the arrival of ‘Ruin,’ which saw many deities fall or lose their influence, the demonic entities had begun a reign of terror.

The situation had plummeted into chaos following the demise of the two goddesses.

From corrupting mortals with demon hearts to orchestrating plagues and global conflicts, their malice was unrestrained.

‘The Greed demon…!’

And yet, Randolph had conceded the point.

He had claimed the title for himself.

Greed—the most dreaded of the Seven Deadly Sins, an entity thought to have been lost to the ancient past!

‘Lord Randolph possesses the status of a High Druid. How can the essence of a High Druid exist alongside the Greed demon?’

The contradiction was agonizing.

Karas was unaware, but Auril knew Randolph held the rank of High Druid.

How could a guardian who fostered Great Nature also be the embodiment of Greed?

These two fundamental essences were diametrically opposed; their coexistence in a single vessel should have been a physical impossibility.

‘And… Wilhelm?’

The shocks continued to pile up.

Wilhelm!

As an elf, Auril was intimately familiar with the legend of the Knight King who led the Great Expedition.

The stories were ingrained in the culture of the Primeval Forest.

Until this moment, she had viewed Randolph as a ‘successor to Wilhelm’s legacy.’

That was how everyone in the Wyzer Marquis household spoke of him.

But the man himself was claiming to be the king?

-Did you hear? A human named Wilhelm thinks he can conquer the demonic realms?

-The man is insane. He is marching toward his own execution.

Initially, the elves had mocked the reports of Wilhelm’s ambitions.

But that mockery had died quickly once the truth was revealed.

The Elven Queen had silenced the skeptics with a single proclamation.

-Wilhelm is an individual who has captured the gaze of the World Tree.

An individual favored by the World Tree.

That meant the Queen herself was personally invested in his journey.

How could a person under such divine scrutiny be a mere mortal?

Though his mission had ended in failure, the Queen had characterized it as a ‘half success.’

‘If what I’ve witnessed is the truth…’

Randolph was Wilhelm, a High Druid, a scion of the Fearsome Clan, and the Greed demon.

The logic of the world seemed to break under the weight of his existence.

Such a combination of identities was usually reserved for those who had ascended to godhood.

‘Is it possible that Lord Randolph is a god?’

The sheer scale of the mystery made her head swim, the world tilting as vertigo threatened to overtake her.

“Are you capable of deciphering this?”

Karas had guided the pair to a towering stone monument.

However, the inscriptions etched into the surface were written in a language Auril had never encountered.

Randolph gave a slow shake of his head.

“It is illegible to me.”

“…These markings are said to be readable only by those of the Fearsome Clan.”

Karas’s features darkened with a hint of disappointment.

He had been certain of Randolph’s lineage.

Yet, a member of the Fearsome Clan should have been able to interpret the text through ancestral instinct alone.

The inability to read it suggested that Randolph might not truly belong to that bloodline.

“Is that right?”

Randolph responded with a simple shrug.

Then.

A sudden, chilling wind swept through the area.

Randolph’s physical form began a startling metamorphosis.

He dissolved into a silhouette of absolute, shifting darkness.

Both Auril and Karas froze, paralyzed by the sight.

“Ah…!”

“…”

Auril let out a gasp of pure terror, her body locking up in fear.

Karas’s face paled as if he were staring into a forbidden abyss.

The transformation resulted in a form of pure nightmare—a shape tailored to represent the deepest fears of those watching.

Unfazed by the reaction, Randolph looked at the monument once more.

“…This is one of the pillars left by the Fearsome King.”

“…!!”

Karas’s eyes nearly bulged from their sockets.

This monument was essentially the Fearsome King’s living testament.

Could that horrific shadow truly be the essence of the Fearsome Clan?

If so, it wasn’t a common member.

It represented the most terrifying lineage within the clan.

The direct heir to the Fearsome King, the sovereign of their kind.

A manifestation of death that commanded the Black Sun!

An entity so dread-inducing that even the pantheons of gods were said to turn their eyes away.

‘It can’t be… the Ominous Harbinger…?’

Karas felt a hysterical laugh bubbling up.

First the demon of Greed, and now the Ominous Harbinger?

The absurdity of it was almost too much for his mind to handle.

The experience was intriguing.

The moment I assumed the form of The One Who Blooms Darkness, the strange script on the pillar became as clear as day.

It was evidently a script locked behind a racial requirement.

‘Is this the Fearsome King’s personal journal?’

The actual text was somewhat underwhelming.

It was essentially a collection of diary entries dedicated to the Fearsome King’s self-glorification.

‘What a massive ego.’

He had managed to take the simple sentiment of “I am the greatest” and expand it into a five-hundred-character monologue.

The level of narcissism was so high it was physically draining to read.

As I finished the final character of the five-hundred-word boast.

Fwoom!

A dense, obsidian vapor began to seep out from the stone.

Then, a system alert rang out.

《You have deciphered the ‘Fearsome King’s Will’ inscribed upon the ‘Fearsome King’s Stele.’》

《‘The One Who Blooms Darkness (Greed)’ is assimilating the ‘Fearsome King’s Will.’》

With a thunderous crack, the monument crumbled into dust, and the black vapor was drawn into my body.

In that instant.

Gurgle. Gurgle. Gurgle.

The shadows beneath my feet began to churn and froth, producing dark bubbles.

The bubbles coalesced, rising from the floor to take a solid, familiar shape.

It had a dark frame, wide wings, and a sharp beak.

-Caw! Caaaaw!

《The ‘Fearsome Clan’ has been restored!》

…The crow that had vanished when I first transformed into ‘The One Who Blooms Darkness’ had finally found its way back to me.