LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 2
Chapter 2: Transference (2)
Hidden traits are the cornerstone of character development.
Generally, they are randomly assigned at character creation—one per character.
The traits one is born with determine not only the class but also the subsequent development
paths, which branch out in multiple directions.
Because character slots are limited, and deleting a character comes with the unprecedented penalty of a one-year lockout on recreation, infinite rerolling is impossible.
For example, no matter how much someone wants to be a mage, if they receive a trait that cannot utilize "mana," progressing into a magic-related class is out of the question.
Just like in reality, not everyone can become an S-tier celebrity or a top-tier athlete through effort alone.
...Just like talent in the real world.
That said, take the extreme example of Leonardo da Vinci, who possessed natural talent not only in art but also in science, literature, and even medicine.
Such irregularities were also implemented in the surreal fantasy world of .
These were the so-called jackpot rolls, occasionally producing characters with multiple hidden traits.
In my nine years of raising countless characters, my personal best was three traits.
But I abandoned that character early on because the combination wasn’t optimal.
And yet...
“W-wait! I did it! Name! Try recalling your name!”
Ding!
Name: Seong Jinyu
Race: Human
Hidden Traits (Active): [Master of Languages!], [Master of Black Flames], [Descent of the Shadow]
Hidden Traits (Passive): [Survival Instinct], [Eyes of the Dark Priest], [Unyielding Will], [Calm Mind]
Unique Skill: [Trollish Language]
Possessed Aspect: None
Essences Collected: None
The British woman across from me finally succeeded in discovering the status command after an hour of creative attempts.
When I mentally repeated my name, letters appeared in front of me just as they had with the traits earlier.
I slowly read through the floating text.
Seven hidden traits?
If I posted this on the forums, it would hit the top instantly.
Four traits would already be considered a massive jackpot, and five would invite accusations of hacking.
After all, in the history of , no character had ever been created with more than five traits.
Of course, sheer numbers don’t guarantee power.
Plenty of top-tier players started with only a single trait.
What truly mattered was the potential and synergy between traits.
I’d abandoned my three-trait character for this very reason.
But this time, things were different.
Each of these traits could individually be considered overpowered, and they had all landed together.
‘...’
For nine years, had been my escape—a world where I had poured my youth.
Now, the traits I had painstakingly cultivated in-game had gathered here.
If this were still a game, I’d confidently create an unbeatable character.
Thump!
Now that the game had become reality, I was certain I could survive better than anyone.
***
The initial sense of relief from having survived, the camaraderie with others sharing the same predicament, and the faint hope that we might have been "chosen" began to lighten the heavy atmosphere in the carriage.
“You lived in Vancouver? Sadly, I’ve never been outside of Toronto, but it’s nice to meet someone from back home.”
Despite his hefty frame, the dentist, Stinson, turned out to be quite chatty.
“Evelyn, was it? What exactly did you major in at school?”
“Fusion Energy Engineering… Does that sound familiar?”
“Whoa! I have no idea what that is, but it sounds impressive. If I have any questions about it, I’ll ask you later.”
“Well… the version of I know doesn’t even have electricity…”
“Haha! Who knows? Maybe you’ll become this world’s Edison!”
Of course, not everyone was so relaxed.
“...”
Take Pedro, the soldier from South America, for instance.
He maintained a stern expression the entire time.
I couldn’t blame him.
After all, we had all been teetering on the brink of life and death just moments ago.
“Why don’t you tell us about your time in the military? Ha, I’m the only man here who hasn’t served.”
“I’d rather not talk about trivial things.”
“...Excuse me?”
“I said I won’t discuss irrelevant matters.”
A stoic type, huh?
Poor Stinson must’ve felt awkward.
By the way, since our transference, the human languages had undergone a fascinating change.
Even when everyone spoke in their native tongue, the words seemed to automatically translate for the listener.
“Still shaken, I see. Well, a man needs time for reflection and solitude now and then.”
Having been brushed off, Stinson turned his attention to me.
“Seong Jinyu, was it? Could you really understand those creatures’ words as they were?”
As I had suspected, the troll sitting beside the adjudicator had been an interpreter.
One would speak in an incomprehensible language, and the other would translate it into human speech.
“Master of Languages, huh? What an unusual ability.”
Yeah, I didn’t know either.
If I had rolled this as a starting trait, I’d have abandoned the character immediately.
In , the emphasis on "realism" made cross-species communication impossible.
There were interpreter NPCs, but they were almost useless since most interspecies interactions happened through weapons and magic.
“By the way, where do you think they’re taking us? What are the trolls’ intentions…?”
Evelyn spoke up as I remained silent.
“They selected only those of us with abilities. Those without were immediately killed.”
“...Could there really have been people without any abilities? If this is truly the game world…”
They probably had at least one ability.
But maybe they didn’t know the command to check, like I almost didn’t.
“No, there were some. As soon as I figured out how to see abilities, I told the others around me. None of them had anything.”
Wait, so actual "ability-less" people existed?
Did they just die the moment they were transferred here?
What kind of crap is this?
“What’s clear is that these creatures need us for something.”
“...!”
“Otherwise, why would they let us live? As unsettling as it feels to be in the maw of monsters, we should be safe for now.”
He had a point.
We must have some use for them, which is why we were being transported instead of killed.
Though I couldn’t predict what lay ahead.
I had raised countless characters, but I had never seen an introduction like this.
The conversation shifted to speculating about our destination.
Names of places like the troll sanctuary Zul Dron and key cities near conflict zones were mentioned.
There was even a grim suggestion that we might be sold at a slave market.
Even Pedro began to participate as the discussion became more grounded.
As we were deep in conversation about future plans—
Grrk! Grrrrk!
The raptors pulling the carriage came to a halt.
“...Looks like we’ve arrived.”
The tension inside the carriage began to rise once again.
Thud, thud—
Swish!
“Get out, human,” a troll commanded, roughly pulling back the cover of the carriage.
It was a troll I hadn’t seen before.
He carried a brutish sword and a shield strapped to his back.
Considering this was the world of Arcane Chronicle, he looked like a warrior class.
Evelyn’s confused eyes sought answers.
Ah, right. They couldn’t understand a word the troll said.
Fulfilling my role, I translated.
“...He’s telling us to get out.”
“Goodness, what a fascinating ability.”
Unlike Stinson, who seemed impressed, Pedro’s expression turned noticeably tense.
“You first,” he said.
Stinson, seated closer to the exit, stepped off the carriage and stood before the troll.
Evelyn followed next, leaving Pedro as the last to disembark.
Whoosh—
A chilling sound drew my attention.
From Stinson’s cuffed hands, a transparent energy began to gather, solidifying into crystalline form.
I recognized it immediately.
...How the hell?
[Ice Spikes]
It was a unique skill derived from the hidden trait [Innate Chill].
Was this insane old man seriously about to pull something here?
Even if it was an offensive skill, attempting a direct confrontation in this situation was sheer madness.
“...”
But strangely, the troll warrior didn’t react at all to the spell.
And then, Stinson suddenly spun around and stabbed Pedro in the side with the ice spike as he was stepping off the carriage.
“Arghhh!”
The unexpected violence left both Evelyn and me speechless.
“This one’s hiding something. Take him for a thorough investigation.”
“Grrk! There’s always a rat in the group.”
“...Take him away.”
What the hell is wrong with this psycho?
Pedro collapsed, clutching his side and groaning in pain.
Ding!
[The hidden trait Calm Mind is now active.]
If not for this passive skill, I would’ve been utterly panicked.
One of the traits modified by the "reality patch," Calm Mind originally boosted hit and dodge rates in the game.
Let’s go over the situation.
Stinson is a spy.
He infiltrated our group with a specific purpose.
The fact that he could cast a skill despite being cuffed confirms this.
I had tried to use a skill after gaining my traits but couldn’t because of these damn restraints.
If my theory about real-life professions influencing traits is correct, Stinson’s "dentist" backstory was likely fabricated.
Humans and trolls.
In Arcane Chronicle, humans and trolls were sworn enemies.
Yet Stinson and the trolls appeared to be working together.
What kind of collaboration is going on here?
Pedro was hiding something.
He probably wasn’t a soldier.
[Dexterous Hands] doesn’t align with military work.
...Or maybe he was hiding another trait entirely.
What’s the connection between abilities and real-life professions? It doesn’t seem random. Evelyn and I are proof of that.
Coincidence? Yeah, right.
“Arghhhh!”
Pedro’s pained screams echoed as he writhed on the ground.
...For now, survival comes first.
“Startling, isn’t it?”
Stinson shook off his restraints and looked between Evelyn and me.
“A-Ahjusshi?”
“This woman is a [Magical Engineer].”
“...Then she should be sent to the magical research lab. Grrk!”
“W-what are you saying?”
Evelyn looked at me with terrified eyes, unable to understand the troll’s words.
Hold on, that wasn’t the biggest issue right now.
“And this man…”
Stinson’s gaze turned icy as he looked at me.
The kind-hearted Canadian uncle was no longer there.
“...He’s useless.”
Hey, you bastard.
“I brought him along just in case, but he’s no different from being useless.”
“Grrk. What a curious little trick.”
“The quality of abilities these days seems to have dropped.”
“Still, better than letting these filthy humans take control.”
“...”
“Oh, right. You’re human too, aren’t you? Grrrk.”
The troll warrior smirked mockingly, drawing a line between himself and the rest of us.
Even so, Stinson didn’t bat an eye.
Despite being ridiculed, his gaze held no anger or frustration.
...It was the look of a loser.
“Take him to the arbiter’s cabin. Let them decide. I’ll take the woman with me.”
“...Very well.”
“A-Ahjusshi?”
The troll warrior dragged Evelyn away, leaving Stinson standing there, watching them go.
It wasn’t the worst-case scenario of being taken to a slave market, but one thing became painfully clear.
In this world...
Trolls were above.
Humans were below.