Trait Hoarder

Dragons and Fleece – Part 1

Olympus.

The land of the gods.

In this world, it could be seen with the naked eye.

North of Thessaly, Greece.

Right above the 2,919-meter peak of Mount Mytikas.

I pushed the control stick of the Red Cougar forward.

The Red Cougar descended.

The clouds below drew closer, and the vast world unfolded before me.

A place that could be observed from afar but never truly reached, no matter how fast one ran.

A land dotted with golden forests and pure blue lakes.

Olympus.

“It is beautiful, I’ll give it that.”

There was only one way to approach Olympus.

Passing through the Gaia Grand Temple on Mount Mytikas.

With Olympus in my sight, I descended to the ground.

Just as I had researched beforehand, the area in front of the Gaia Grand Temple was bustling like an open market.

“Don’t push!”

“Hey, let’s follow the queue!”

“The Goddess Gaia is watching!”

The Gaia Grand Temple on Mount Mytikas was as grand as a fortress.

In fact, it served as both a fortress and a gate.

A world of gods that was normally impossible to approach.

But Olympus was different.

By completing a quest and following the path to the heavens, one could enter with a physical body.

Upon entering Olympus and meeting the gods, the physical body would evaporate, transforming into a spiritual existence and attaining immortality.

Vrrrmmm. Thud.

I parked the Red Cougar in the lot.

A magic spirit fluttered over and scanned the Red Cougar.

[Free parking for one month. Afterward, a month of paid parking is required before ownership transfers to the Gaia Grand Temple. Do you agree?]

“I agree.”

[Ownership of the Red Cougar confirmed under Gaia Order Honorary Paladin, Warrior Kim. May you successfully complete the Pilgrimage of Immortality.]

I stood before the temple.

A towering wall, likely over a few hundred meters tall, came into view—capable of stopping even giants.

And it had done just that.

During the Gigantomachy, the war that marked the end of the Olympian gods, the final battle took place here.

Zeus, Heracles, and Athena all perished in that war.

The only survivors were the goddess Gaia, ancestor of both gods and giants, and a few deities who fled to Rome, including Mars.

I followed the path upward.

The pilgrimage road was wide, but strictly controlled to a single-file line.

Anyone attempting to cut in line would be zapped by a magic spirit’s electric shock.

But that didn’t apply to me.

I walked past the line without waiting, and the magic spirits didn’t react in the slightest.

Naturally, complaints erupted.

“What the hell?!”

“Why does that guy get to cut in line?!”

“Hey! Hey! Show some respect for the queue!”

Most of them were shouting in English. I understood them just fine.

But so what?

I straightened my shoulders confidently.

Pilgrims ahead turned to glare at me with hostile expressions.

But only for a moment.

Once they saw the emblem on my chest, they quickly looked away.

“He’s a paladin.”

“Damn it.”

“Why is a paladin walking up instead of flying?”

“Yeah, if he’s going to Olympus, he could just ride a Pegasus.”

Considering my contribution points, I could easily receive a Pegasus.

But I wasn’t interested.

Too slow.

A Pegasus was all about looking pretty.

A wyvern or a griffon was far more impressive and practical.

Striding forward, I soon reached the temple.

Paladins armed with shields and spears twitched their eyebrows at me.

After checking the paladin emblem on my chest, they lightly emitted divine power.

One radiated Luminous Light.

The other, Holy Radiance.

A casual greeting among Gaia Order paladins.

Much like how that Nordic warrior at the Indian embassy had once flared his mana waves as a show of strength.

[Divine Power] [Holy Radiance] [Luminous Light]

[Divine Artifact] [Mana Shield] [Domain Shield]

I smiled and released my own divine power.

The Aegis strapped to my left arm turned a milky white, and a sacred light rippled around me.

A paladin whose strength was obvious at a glance.

The lined-up pilgrims murmured in admiration, while the two paladins respectfully bowed.

“Are you the Knight Commander? Please forgive our rudeness.”

“It’s an honor to meet you. I am Glaukos, and this is Miltiades.”

“I am Warrior Kim, from Korea. I have business in Olympus—may I enter?”

“Well, the thing is…”

The paladins hesitated under their helmets.

I waved a hand casually.

“I understand the procedures. I’ll wait.”

“Will you?”

“As expected of the Stigmata’s Protector. Truly honorable.”

“You know me?”

“Of course. My brother-in-law works in the Great Labyrinth. He recently… well, not just recovered, but overcame his stigmata and returned. We owe you a great debt.”

The paladin saluted, his gratitude evident.

The pilgrims, overhearing the conversation, began murmuring.

“The Stigmata’s Protector?”

“That’s really him?”

“I thought he was in Germany.”

“He looks just like his photos! Look!”

“It’s really him!”

Apparently, the method I had shared to overcome stigmata had made a bigger impact than I expected.

The pilgrims started edging toward me.

The entire queue, en masse.

Just as I was about to feel a bit overwhelmed, a stroke of luck arrived—inside the temple, a yellowish light burst like a firework.

“Ahhh! Augeias got chosen!”

A cheer that was half joy, half distress.

The pilgrims clicked their tongues.

“Tsk, tsk.”

“Well, at least Augeias isn’t the worst one to get.”

“Yeah, you just have to work your ass off for a few months and it’s done. If you’re lucky, you’ll gather a big following.”

“And there’s no risk of dying, at least.”

“Though you’ll be rolling around in filth. Pfft!”

Inside the temple.

A side door at the end of the queue creaked open.

A bald man, clutching a parchment scroll as if it were his lifeline, stepped out.

His face was full of despair.

The pilgrims cheered in encouragement.

“Hang in there!”

“Just think of yourself as dead and clean with all you’ve got!”

“Well, at least you’re guaranteed a way into Olympus!”

“The Goddess Gaia must be looking out for you.”

“Hey, you willing to sell that?”

“Hmph. You want to get struck down by the goddess?”

To ascend to Olympus, one had to complete a trial.

The bald man had drawn the Augeias Stables Cleaning.

After the Gigantomachy, the Augeias Stables had become a mythical structure in itself.

Without any need for management, it continuously bred livestock and supplied meat to Olympus.

But someone had to clean it.

Periodically.

The filth piled up in just a single day.

‘I better not get something like that.’

For ordinary people, it might be a lucky draw, but for me, it’d be a nightmare.

Even with a cleaning-related trait, I’d be stuck for months.

I’d rather risk divine punishment than keep that task—I’d have to trade it no matter what.

Mulling over my options, I approached the side door.

The priest guarding it smiled and swung it wide open.

“Please, Stigmata’s Protector, you may enter first.”

“Thank you.”

“Ugh…”

“Damn it…”

The pilgrims groaned like puppies desperate to relieve themselves, but what could they do?

Rules were rules.

I passed through the side door and entered.

The interior was a simple stone chamber.

At its center, where sunlight poured in from an open ceiling, stood a waist-high well filled with shimmering blue water.

“Please place your hand into the well. Retrieve the parchment that your fingertips touch. That will be your trial.”

A blindfolded priestess instructed.

She and her kind had once served the Temple of Apollo at Delphi.

After Apollo perished in the Gigantomachy, they had relocated here.

They wore blindfolds to mourn their fallen god, but their prophetic powers remained intact.

Following her instructions, I plunged my hand into the well.

A dense mass of mana tingled against my fingertips.

Then, something soft—parchment.

I seized it instantly.

The entire well shimmered, spitting golden fireworks.

Boom! Pop! Pop-pop!

A dazzling display of color.

But the blindfolded priestess gently winced.

“Of all things…”

I already knew.

Instead of speaking, I unrolled the parchment.

The embossed divine script surged into my mind.

[Trial: Dragons and Fleece]

O traveler who ascends the sky,

Go to the Georgia Valley of the Kingdom of Georgia.

Above the golden mines, a Golden Dragon slumbers.

Retrieve the Golden Fleece guarded by the Golden Dragon.

The Fleece of Immortality and Resurrection,

Shall guide you to the land of the gods.

One of the hardest trials in the game.

The priestess whispered, almost conspiratorially.

“You don’t need to retrieve the entire fleece. A few strands will suffice. The Golden Dragon does not remain awake at all times, so if you use Pan’s fl—”

“Ahem! Ahem!”

The observing priest loudly cleared his throat.

The priestess, who had been whispering, quickly adopted a formal tone.

“Good luck. If you truly wish to reach Olympus, you may exchange parchments with other pilgrims. Given your contributions as the Stigmata’s Protector, the goddess will not impose severe punishment.”

“Thank you for the advice.”

“No, I should be thanking you. Had it not been for you, my nephew would still be suffering from his stigmata.”

So that’s why she gave me the hint.

Pan’s Flute.

In Greek mythology, it was the treasure used to lull Argos, the giant with a hundred eyes, to sleep.

If I used it, the Golden Dragon would surely fall into slumber as well.

It wasn’t a true “sleepless dragon” like in legend.

The classic strategy was to steal the Golden Fleece while the dragon slept.

That would grant access to Olympus.

But I had no intention of using that method.

Why?

If success was categorized into three levels—great success, success, and barely passing—then stealing the fleece was just barely passing.

Which meant zero rewards.

All I’d get was entry to Olympus.

After coming all this way, I needed to gain something worthwhile.

The Dragons and Fleece trial was one of the hardest among the twelve trials, but it was also rumored to hold incredible hidden rewards.

I clenched my fist.

The rough texture of my Iron Fist gauntlet scraped against my skin.

‘It’s about time for an upgrade.’

Among all my equipment, this was the only SR-rank item I had.

The Geumo Set or the Dasan Arsenal Set would be SSR-ranked if fully assembled, but Iron Fist? No matter how I looked at it, it was stuck at SR-rank.

Drawing the Dragons and Fleece trial was nothing short of divine providence.

The Golden Fleece.

An SSR-ranked gauntlet imbued with the traits of Immortality and Resurrection.

Obtaining that magical artifact upon a great success completion was my primary objective.

“Lucky me. Man, if it weren’t for that paladin, I would’ve…”

As I stepped out of the side door, the pilgrim at the front of the line quickly shut his mouth.

From their perspective, it made sense.

If not for me, they would have drawn the Dragons and Fleece trial instead.

But truthfully, I was the one who was grateful.

If I had rushed even a little, if someone had gone in before me, I would’ve ended up with a different trial.

Whoosh!

I soared into the sky aboard the Red Cougar.

Destination: Georgia Valley.

In ancient times, the journey would have required traversing the Aegean Sea, the Sea of Marmara, the Bosporus Strait, the Black Sea, coastal lowlands, and mountain ranges.

For me, it took less than an hour.

Between towering mountains, a vast valley spread out before me.

A picturesque village stood nestled within.

Brick houses with blue, yellow, and red roofs.

Tall chimneys poking up from each home.

Thin wisps of smoke curling lazily from them.

At the village’s center, a temple radiated a soft glow of divine power in all directions.

ROOOOAAARRR!

If not for the occasional dragon’s roar echoing through the valley, it would have been perfect.

But the villagers didn’t seem to mind.

“Sounds strong today!”

“Good morning!”

“Eat well, everyone!”

A village once renowned for its gold mines and panning sites.

After the Golden Dragon settled in, mining completely declined.

But in its place, tourism flourished.

Pilgrims undertaking their trials.

Tourists coming from afar just to catch a glimpse of the dragon.

Thanks to them, the villagers never went hungry.

Shhhhhh.

I parked the Red Cougar in the public lot.

After registering the vehicle, I headed straight for the gold mine.

Not that it was much of a mine anymore.

It was just the mountain right behind the village.

At the mouth of a massive cave, the Golden Dragon lay asleep atop a nest of gold ore.

“Krrr… Krrrng…”

Despite the village being right at its doorstep, the Golden Dragon never attacked.

The first reason was the protection of the Gaia Temple.

But the more important reason? The Golden Dragon was always full.

It never went hungry.

Its nest was always warm.

And the Golden Fleece, the treasure of all treasures, provided a comfort akin to being cradled within an egg.

Why would it bother hunting?

Better to get a little more sleep.

“Should I try Invisibility?”

“Are you crazy? That won’t work at all.”

“I heard Etherealization lets you phase through walls and floors…”

“You think you can phase through an entire kilometer? The dragon senses anything within that range. That won’t work either.”

“What about Pan’s Flute?”

“You got a way to get one? Pan’s Flute was buried with Hermes when he died.”

“Damn it. If we can’t do this or that, then what the hell can we do?”

“That’s why it’s called a golden-tier trial.”

Near the Golden Dragon’s nest, a forward base had been set up.

Precisely 1,500 meters away.

Any closer than 1 kilometer, and the Golden Dragon would react.

So this was where pilgrims gathered.

I entered the base.

No—I walked past it.

I didn’t say a word to the other pilgrims.

I didn’t stop to prepare.

As if I didn’t need to.

“W-wait, what?”

“Hey, is that guy insane?”

“You can’t go there!”

“If you wanna die, do it alone!”

“At least warn us before you get yourself killed!”

The pilgrims immediately scattered.

The moment the Golden Dragon woke up, its flames would reach all the way to the forward base.

Nowhere near the dragon was safe—except inside the village.

“Krrrng?”

I reached 1,200 meters.

The Golden Dragon stirred.

Its body tensed, tail twitching.

Anyone could see it was about to wake up.

Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding!

An emergency bell rang from the Gaia Temple.

A holy barrier expanded rapidly.

People screamed as they fled back into the village.

I ignored them.

I quickened my pace.

Passing another 200 meters, I crossed the 1-kilometer boundary.

The Golden Dragon opened its eyes.

It shot upright, locking its gaze onto me.

Blazing golden pupils.

Narrowed, vertical slits flickering with fury.

“KRAAAAAAH!”

Its roar erupted.

A physical soundwave.

A dragon’s roar, unleashed upon me.

A deafening, ear-splitting noise.

But I simply smiled.

Because to me, a dragon’s roar was no longer an incomprehensible, terrifying force.

It was just speech.

[Begone, insect!]

A truly draconic warning.

But the important part?

I understood it.

Which meant I could respond.

Instead of running or dodging, I chose a third option.

“[Hello. Nice to meet you.]”

I didn’t even need to roar back.

I simply activated my Dragon Tongue trait and spoke.

The Golden Dragon’s eyes widened.

As if it couldn’t believe what it had just heard.

Its massive, golden irises locked onto me in shock.

A long silence passed before it finally responded, its voice slipping out in disbelief.

“[…You spoke?]”

A conversation in Dragon Tongue.

The first condition for a great success in this trial.

–TL Notes–

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