Chapter 47
18. The Fifth Floor Trial (2)
“I thought I could gain more from this place than anywhere else.”
“…”
“It’s purely for personal reasons.”
“Just because it’s personal doesn’t mean it’s selfish,”
Haywid smiled and replied to Jin-hyuk.
“Most players who come here have their own personal reasons.”
“It’s only natural,”
Dukon added with a smile between them.
“So that means you want to gain knowledge about divinity, rather than swordsmanship or magic?”
“Yes.”
[Skill <Sacred Flame Dragon> has been activated.]
With the activation of the skill, white flames flared from Jin-hyuk’s fingertips.
“I believe the source of my power is divine in nature.”
“Mr. Jin-hyuk…”
Haywid looked at Jin-hyuk in surprise, as if he hadn’t expected that answer.
“You mean… you don’t actually know what kind of power you possess?”
“Correct. I just know it’s a stronger type of flame. It’s especially effective against the undead and has healing properties, so I’ve been assuming it’s related to divinity.”
Haywid and Dukon exchanged glances.
Even though Jin-hyuk couldn’t hear them, he knew they were silently communicating.
[Constellation <Eternal Flame> advises you to be suspicious of those two.]
[Constellation <King of Muspel> insists on smashing the heads of those scheming bastards!]
[Constellation <Duke of Gluttony> clicks his tongue, saying this is the level of the Divine Empire.]
The constellations didn’t seem to think too highly of the two either.
Still, Jin-hyuk said nothing and just waited silently, stroking the egg nestled in his arms.
“Actually, our Empire’s position is this,”
Haywid finally spoke to Jin-hyuk.
“Eliminating the Five Necromancers on the second floor and the other undead leaders was more than enough to prove your qualifications. So…”
He handed over a decoration from his robe.
It was a circular badge, decorated with mistletoe along the edge.
Axes and swords crossed to form a cross-like symbol in the center.
[You have obtained the item <Emblem of the Divine Empire>.]
{Item}
<Emblem of the Divine Empire>
Grade: ??
Type: Miscellaneous
▶ An emblem that carries divine power and recognition.
This emblem meant one thing:
Recognition by the ruler of the Divine Empire—the Pope himself.
“You may not have known, but thanks to you, we were able to stop the evil witch of ruin, Marujon. For that, our Empire has formally acknowledged your contribution. And…”
Gulp.
“His Holiness the Pope did so personally.”
The acknowledgment of the fifth floor trial could be received at any time.
In other words, presenting this emblem would immediately allow him to clear the fifth floor trial.
“Unexpected,”
Even Jin-hyuk hadn’t seen this coming.
He had taken out the four undead bosses simply because he wanted to become a “Dragon Serpent,” not out of any sense of justice.
‘If the Divine Empire is recognizing me for that, there’s only one reason.’
Swish.
‘They want to pull me to their side.’
The Divine Empire must have assumed that Jin-hyuk wouldn’t choose them, so they formally acknowledged him to win his favor.
But surprisingly?
Jin-hyuk had chosen them.
And since the Pope had already acknowledged him publicly, they couldn’t take it back.
Thus, Jin-hyuk had technically cleared the quest.
“In other words…”
Jin-hyuk picked up the <Emblem of Divinity>.
“This alone lets me take the sixth floor trial?”
“Indeed. But I wouldn’t recommend it.”
Haywid smiled.
“The more emblems you gather, the greater the rewards you’ll receive during the trial. And you still have three years left, don’t you?”
Right.
There were still three years remaining before the trials ended.
With that time, Jin-hyuk could easily gain recognition from the Magic Empire and the Knight Empire as well.
Especially as an “unranked anomaly” like him.
“Sounds good.”
Jin-hyuk pocketed the emblem.
“Are you planning to leave right away?”
“No. There are still things I want to learn here.”
“Ah…!”
Haywid’s face lit up at his words.
“If it’s divine-related skills you want, I can personally teach you.”
“If a bishop would teach me, it’d be an honor.”
“No, no. The honor is mine.”
Even on the first floor, in <El Land>, novices could learn various skills and receive support items.
‘Not that any of it was useful to me.’
But the fifth floor was different.
It was far more expansive and specialized.
Many high-rankers and elites hailed from this place.
If someone like a bishop from the Divine Empire personally taught him, he could learn plenty of divine-related skills.
‘Especially since my <Sacred Flame Dragon> boosts divine skills by 300%.’
It was something he’d have to tackle sooner or later.
‘Well, there’s bound to be a price.’
As a bishop, Haywid naturally held both power and responsibility.
If someone like that personally mentored him, he might eventually demand “swear loyalty to the Divine Empire.”
‘Not that I’d actually do it.’
Still, learning those skills would be valuable.
‘<Pure Radiance>. Just wait. I’ll learn from your so-called pure blades and then…’
Swish.
‘I’ll pierce you with them.’
“Well then, for today, why don’t you get some rest?”
Haywid smiled, unaware of Jin-hyuk’s inner thoughts.
“I’ll have a place prepared for you.”
“Understood.”
* * *
“How was he?”
“Surprising. I didn’t expect him to choose the Divine Empire.”
After escorting Jin-hyuk to his room, Haywid closed his eyes and said,
“He’s not your average novice. Actually, he’s not even a novice anymore, having cleared the fifth-floor quest.”
“True. I could tell from the moment he took down the Five Necromancers. Anyway,”
Dukon grinned.
“I kept my promise. Now the Empire has to keep its side of the deal, right?”
“Don’t worry about that, senior.”
“I trust you.”
Haywid smiled as Dukon patted him on the shoulder and left.
“Faith really is scary. Though, I guess I’m not one to talk.”
Dukon hadn’t ended up here by chance.
His job was to lower Jin-hyuk’s guard and ensure he stayed with the Divine Empire.
In return for handing over all known information about Jin-hyuk, the Empire had promised to increase the number of troops dispatched to <White Castle>.
That was the deal.
“So ironic. Truly ironic.”
To protect and develop <White Castle>, he had to betray the very hero who gave it a chance.
A cruel contradiction.
But understandable.
Excluding human emotions, this was the surest way to safeguard <White Castle>.
“Senior made his choice. Anyway, Jin-hyuk…”
Haywid clicked his tongue, reviewing the documents in front of him.
“He’s no ordinary man.”
He had read these records many times, but they were still unbelievable.
Each floor he passed, Jin-hyuk accomplished feats even high-rankers couldn’t dare to dream of.
He set record after record from the tutorial to the fourth floor.
It was no wonder so many famous constellations were after him.
“Is this even possible? Not even Lord Melidus could achieve this…”
As Haywid pondered over the files—
[Constellation <Pure Radiance> is watching you.]
A holographic window appeared before his eyes.
“You’ve come?”
Haywid immediately fell to his knees in a prayerful stance.
Even as a bishop, he was merely a believer of <Pure Radiance>, not even an apostle.
It was only right for him to grovel this way.
[Constellation <Pure Radiance> asks how things are progressing.]
“It’s going according to plan.”
It was extremely rare for a constellation to message someone of Haywid’s level.
Even the sixth Apostle—the Pope—would only get messages sparingly.
For a mere believer to receive one? It meant one thing:
‘<Pure Radiance> has a deep interest in this case.’
[Constellation <Pure Radiance> declares he will give you a chance.]
“A chance…?”
[Constellation <Pure Radiance> reminds you he currently has nine apostles.]
[Constellation <Pure Radiance> declares a new Divine Mandate.]
<Divine Mandate>
Goal: Accomplish one of the following—
-
Make player Jin-hyuk an apostle of <Pure Radiance>.
-
Steal the full power of <Sacred Flame Dragon> from player Jin-hyuk.
Reward: You will be appointed an Apostle of <Pure Radiance>.
“……!”
Haywid’s eyes widened.
‘A… an apostle?!’
The issuance of a divine mandate was equivalent to a contract with the Tower itself.
If the goal was completed, <Pure Radiance> would have no choice but to grant the apostle title, even if he didn’t want to.
‘Why go to such lengths…?’
Haywid trembled in awe.
To become an apostle?
He could barely contain his excitement.
‘No. Don’t question it. If <Pure Radiance> is guiding me…’
Tremble tremble.
‘I just have to obey.’
[Constellation <Pure Radiance> encourages you.]
[Constellation <Pure Radiance> departs.]
Zzzzzt.
Even after <Pure Radiance> vanished, Haywid stayed bowed, staring at the mandate in front of him.
[Constellation <Eternal Flame> surveys your surroundings.]
[Constellation <Duke of Gluttony> demands you kill and eat the other players here!]
[Constellation <King of Harmonious Rebirth> scolds <Duke of Gluttony> to get lost.]
In a white room,
On a white bed under a white blanket, Jin-hyuk lay staring out the window.
Outside, people of <Valheim> were praying, arguing, or debating their missions.
Ultimately, all of them were followers of <Pure Radiance>—enemies.
‘Well, it’s not my first rodeo.’
Before regression,
Jin-hyuk had infiltrated a heavily guarded zone full of <Pure Radiance> cultists and apostles.
In fact, it was how he obtained his current body.
‘Compared to that, this is nothing. Back then, I had to sneak this body out under their noses.’
There were plenty of ways to deceive <Pure Radiance>.
Tap tap!
“What is it? Something wrong?”
Tap tap…
Jin-hyuk looked toward the bouncing <Egg of Intertwined Dreams> and spotted <Eternal Frost> near the bed.
“Hah, guess I have no choice.”
The armor, already cracked from his fight with Storm Hawk, had worsened.
If left alone, it’d completely shatter.
Tap tap!
“Yeah, yeah, I got you.”
He gently cradled the egg and stroked it affectionately as he lay back down.
‘I’ll have to get new armor or clothes soon.’
Jin-hyuk closed his eyes.
‘<Pure Radiance>. That guy’s pretending otherwise, but he’s definitely targeting me the most.’
The power Jin-hyuk possessed—<Sacred Flame Dragon>—was the one <Pure Radiance> feared and dreaded most.
What it wanted above all was to steal that power for itself.
‘That’s probably why it created this body in the first place.’
The second-best option for <Pure Radiance> would be to destroy that power entirely, eliminating any future threat.
[Constellation <Fire that Killed the Mother Goddess> wonders what your next plan is.]
[Constellation <Fire that Killed the Mother Goddess> sponsors you with 500 points.]
“My plan? For now…”
Jin-hyuk had one goal.
To remain in the Divine Empire and extract as much information as possible about <Pure Radiance> and <Asgard>.
‘Especially the stuff I didn’t know even before regression.’
He hid these thoughts behind a calm expression and quietly closed his eyes.
“I’ll think about it after a nap.”
