Ch-322. **I’ll make you pay back the interest in full.**
—
Trembling cheeks, eyebrows twitching violently.
Breathing that grew endlessly shallow.
Dilated pupils that showed they still couldn’t believe the situation.
In unison, the High Elder and the elders stood before the World Tree.
*Why am I…*
*We were never meant to be the ones verified…!*
It was a silent scream.
They were the ones who had guarded the World Tree of Honor for countless years.
They had tested others’ qualifications many times—but never once had they themselves been subjected to verification.
And now, in front of everyone, for the first time, they would be “confirmed.”
Of course they were nervous and shaken.
If they couldn’t even enter Stage Two, there could be no greater humiliation.
“Hm.”
High Elder Albino swallowed his breath.
He had dragged everyone in with him, unwilling to die alone—but now there was no turning back.
Everyone in Fang, himself included, had to receive the certification of honor.
Not a single exception.
*I’ve been avoiding this for a long time.*
…Of course, it was something they would have had to pass through someday.
They had simply postponed it again and again until now.
He told himself it was for the best—but when it became reality, his legs refused to move.
What if his qualification was abysmal?
What if his honor as a druid, his soul, had been tainted and sullied?
That was entirely possible.
And that was why he hesitated.
More than the shame, he feared being rejected by the World Tree itself.
…He was afraid.
What druid could accept being cast aside by the very World Tree they had protected their entire life?
*So this is how it felt.*
Only now did he understand Raiga’s feelings.
The former heads of Fang who had once stood here must have felt the same.
And Raiga—he had been rejected once, yet dared to challenge it again.
To rise after failure and try again.
It was far harder than one might think.
Especially when everyone was pointing fingers at you.
High Elder Albino turned his gaze toward Raiga.
*…That brat. He seems to be enjoying this.*
Raiga’s lips were curled upward.
This moment—when the High Elder and the elders were being verified by the World Tree—seemed to delight him to no end.
After all, it was something no head of Fang in history had ever accomplished.
On the other hand, what about Hyun?
*It seems even the High Druid is enjoying this.*
After consuming the seed of the World Tree, he had become the master of the Golden Scale.
He had recreated the very image described in druidic scriptures—the Primordial High Druid, the Druid of the Golden Scale.
The one who inherited the Sacred Lineage.
To think that such a great being—the apex of druids, the lord of nature itself—was Raiga’s disciple.
*Things really have gotten twisted beyond belief.*
Albino let out a sigh inwardly.
To untangle the knotted threads, everyone would undergo the World Tree’s verification.
Now that Hyun had awakened as the Druid of the Golden Scale, the High Elder and elders had no choice but to follow him.
Perhaps…
…He was the final hope of the druids, a race thought to be extinct.
“From this moment on, everyone belonging to Fang shall undergo qualification verification by the World Tree. First… the elders.”
But he couldn’t bring himself to go first.
If the High Elder himself were rejected right away, there could be no greater disaster.
“H-High Elder?”
“…You mean us first?”
“Cough…!”
The elders panicked.
One even grabbed the back of his neck.
They had never imagined they’d be placed at the very front.
If they were shamefully cast out, the embarrassment would be unbearable.
“Shouldn’t the High Elder set an example?”
“Exactly.”
“I think so too.”
The elders’ protest was only natural.
But Albino’s resolve was firm.
“As High Chieftain of the Azure Druids, I command you. From the First Elder to the Tenth Elder, undergo the World Tree’s verification in order.”
“……”
“……”
The elders fell silent.
To wield his authority as High Chieftain only at times like this—it was shameless, downright brazen.
But what could they do?
Their position meant obeying when commanded.
Left with no choice, the elders lined up before the World Tree.
And thus began the time of verification.
“No—no…!”
“O World Tree…!”
One by one, the elders were flung out of the World Tree’s domain.
Some couldn’t even enter Stage Two.
Naturally so.
A druid’s honor lies in sowing seeds, expanding forests and nature.
But having remained in the sanctuary for so long, failing to uphold their true duty, their honor had naturally withered.
The problem was—it was far worse than they had expected.
“…To live long enough to see a day like this.”
High Elder Albino squeezed his eyes shut.
He couldn’t bear to watch.
His cheeks burned with shame.
So this was all they amounted to?
They had believed they guarded the World Tree honorably—but reality was merciless.
After all ten elders finished their verification—
“…It’s my turn.”
Albino took a deep breath and stepped toward the World Tree.
—
—
The High Elder and elders.
The Sixteen Pavilion Lords and all other members of Fang underwent verification in turn.
Watching it all, Raiga never once lost his smile.
*Master should have seen this.*
Dantalion, the former head of Fang.
Had he witnessed it, he would have burst into laughter.
He might have clutched his stomach and rolled on the ground.
That was the kind of irreverent man his master was.
“…Thank you.”
Raiga turned toward Hyun and spoke.
From the heart.
He truly was grateful.
Raiga decided he would no longer hide his emotions.
A disciple with the aptitude of a Martial God—and even the qualification of a High Druid.
To have such a disciple was a blessing beyond measure.
It felt like a bond passed down by his master, Dantalion.
And so he would not hide it—he would strive to become a better teacher.
After all, a master cannot allow himself to be surpassed by his disciple.
“Please don’t mention it. These were things that naturally had to be done.”
And on top of that—humble.
Raiga’s smile deepened.
To feel this proud over every single action—
When had he last been so moved by someone?
Birth, background—he would no longer care about such things.
Even if this disciple had fallen straight from the sky, it didn’t matter.
He was the one who consumed the seed left by his master, Dantalion—the one who inherited his will.
To Raiga, Hyun was no longer an outsider.
Their bond was forged from a will thicker than blood.
“I could never have accomplished this alone.”
He shook his head slightly as he spoke.
Had he been alone, he wouldn’t have become head of Fang—he would already be dead.
“You would have done it even on your own.”
“Excessive humility becomes poison. If there’s anything I can do for you, say the word. Whatever it is, I’ll make it happen.”
Whatever it is.
Even if it surpassed Raiga’s own authority.
If his disciple wished it, he would do it.
But what would the disciple ask of him?
After watching for a while, Hyun spoke.
“Please enter the World Tree’s dungeon with me.”
“…I cannot enter.”
Why ask what was already known?
Raiga was not honorable.
The World Tree had not acknowledged him.
Thus, he could not enter the World Tree’s dungeon.
“You can have your qualification verified again.”
“…Are you telling me to suffer humiliation three times?”
Raiga’s expression stiffened slightly.
There was nothing he wouldn’t do—but three times was too much.
He had already swallowed bitter defeat twice.
“To try again?”
“But—”
Raiga started to speak, then shut his mouth.
He had, indeed, just said he would grant anything.
But how?
Honor couldn’t be forcibly increased.
And he couldn’t go back on his word either.
A deep crease formed between Raiga’s brows.
That was when—
“Please accept this.”
Hyun produced something from his robes.
At first glance, it was just a bundle of papers.
“This is…?”
“Indulgences.”
“…?”
Raiga blinked.
Indulgences?
Weren’t indulgences something only a high priest of the Goddess Church could use—three times in a lifetime?
But in its current state, there was no priest in the Goddess Church who could use them.
The Goddess Church was in decline.
Raiga and the Empire had realized long ago that the authority to use indulgences had been revoked.
And yet—
*All of these are indulgences?*
At a glance, there were at least fifty.
All of them indulgences?
That was absurd.
Even if it were true, it was still impossible.
Who could possess such a quantity?
Even a Pope couldn’t.
Could it be Saint Seia?
No—impossible.
No matter how great a saint she was, fifty indulgences were unthinkable.
And yet, the disciple wouldn’t lie.
“I… can’t accept this.”
“Are you afraid?”
“…Afraid of what?”
“Afraid that there might be no honor left to recover.”
“….”
“If you won’t accept them, I’ll burn them all.”
“Why… go this far for me?”
Confronted with the fierce resolve in Hyun’s eyes, Raiga clenched his fist.
And yet—Raiga had done little for him.
He had received far more.
So much that he could never repay it all.
“Pay me back later. With interest.”
“…That’s not something you say to your master.”
“I’ll collect everything, so don’t worry.”
“You’re a ruthless loan shark.”
“Do you think you won’t be able to repay it?”
Raiga let out a dry laugh.
What an audacious brat.
Where had such a person been hiding, only to suddenly appear?
He truly had a strange, compelling presence.
Well—no matter.
Raiga accepted the indulgences and said,
“Fine. I’ll pay you back—with interest.”
He rose to the provocation.
Of course, he didn’t truly believe his honor would be fully restored.
He was simply trying to fulfill his disciple’s wish.
Rip—!
Raiga slowly tore an indulgence.
At the same time—
“……”
He quietly lifted his gaze.
And looked at Hyun.
With trembling eyes.
Unable to believe it.
…Because, just now, he had seen them—
the sight of **two goddesses**, smiling benevolently behind **Hyun**.
Two goddesses so sacred that they could not even be compared to the so-called Lineage faith worshipped by the Reaper Cult, nor to the gods they followed.
“Ah……”
Gazing at the two goddesses, Raiga found tears streaming down his face without even realizing it.
—
—
**Priest Andrew.**
He had become an avenger, yet—fortunately—he was still within the Goddess’s embrace.
That fact itself was hard for him to believe.
“……So it truly is Him……”
Hyun.
The moment Andrew faced him, divine power surged forth once more.
More precisely, it was the moment Hyun revealed his **true identity**.
Still, Andrew felt confused.
He couldn’t understand it.
Yet it had to be the truth.
If it weren’t, there would be no way to explain the phenomenon of indulgences being issued once again.
“Why did he tell us to gather?”
“Is Lord Randolph here?”
A spacious room.
Inside it, people had gathered—Serengeti, Priest Andrew, and many others.
Saint Seia, Isabella, Hudson, Balte, Isaac.
Even the Blade Dragon God, Hana.
Everyone connected to Randolph was present.
Yet most of them had no clear idea why they had been summoned.
Balte and Isaac, who had arrived late, were especially bewildered.
They simply assumed Randolph must be here.
Creeeak.
The door opened, and a man appeared.
He closed the door behind him and stood before them.
But—it was not Randolph.
“……”
“……!!!”
Isabella seemed to sense something instantly.
Hudson widened his eyes, unable to believe what he was seeing.
Their reactions varied, but—
At the center of it all, the man spoke.
“I am Randolph.”
Then, as if that explanation alone were insufficient, he added,
“My name is **Park Hyun-myung**. And I am also **Wilhelm**.”
—
—
confrontation with issac, i hope it goes good