Chapter 327 :

I told you that you must never be hostile.

The final name no one had expected.

The Elf Queen, who had naturally assumed she would be called, fell into panic.

The five named so far.

She must have been certain that other than herself, there was no one who could stand beside them.

And it was not only the Elf Queen who was shocked out of her wits.

Auril herself, and all the other elves as well.

Every one of them wore blank expressions.

‘They must find this absurd.’

I smiled inwardly.

The reason I chose Auril, going beyond everyone’s expectations.

It was not simply because I knew Auril.

Of course that had some influence, but there was a more important reason.

‘Because the gathered strength of the elves is the most troublesome.’

Among the “groups” that had come to this World Tree, the elves were the only one.

If this turned into a group competition, then the race I would be most wary of without question was the elves.

If they moved as one body under the Queen’s lead, they would be extremely troublesome.

Moreover, they were the race that had received every benefit imaginable from the World Tree.

Perhaps because of that, the average military strength of the elves was high.

The high elves gathered here possessed an average power level around 14 Lv.

I had never seen such a powerful military force before.

And that despite the fact that they must have suffered considerable losses in the war against the dark elves.

But having gone through war meant, in other words, that “hierarchy” had become all the more important.

And among the elves gathered here, the one with the lowest standing was Auril.

“You mean we have to follow a mere elf......?”

A reaction exactly as expected.

As expected, complaints began to pour out.

The elves, tightly united around their Queen.

There could be nothing more insulting to their pride than following an ordinary elf.

A male high elf had asked the question, but that question was effectively no different from the Queen asking it herself.

So I answered indifferently.

“If you dislike that, then follow one of the ones I named earlier. Of course, that is only if they are willing to accept you.”

Could they really follow another race, another being, instead of an elf?

Absolutely not.

The elves, who had no exchange whatsoever with other lands or other races.

They had only two choices: either follow Auril, or give up entering the dungeon.

Even more flustered, one of the high elves objected.

“O Druid of the Golden Rule. Auril’s qualifications do not surpass Her Majesty the Queen’s.”

He was speaking as politely as possible, but there was a barb in it.

It meant that Auril’s honor could not compare to the Elf Queen’s.

Since the World Tree had verified it, that was not wrong.

However.

“This is not a place to weigh the World Tree’s verification. It is a place to determine whether I ‘acknowledge’ someone or not.”

“B-but you clearly said one must be ‘honorable’......”

“My acknowledgment is honor itself.”

“......”

The high elf who had been objecting shut his mouth tight.

It meant there was nothing more honorable than my acknowledgment.

That my acknowledgment was more important than the World Tree’s verification.

And that the Elf Queen had failed to receive my “acknowledgment.”

“Just what... by what standard......”

As the high elves who still could not accept it muttered, Great Chieftain Albino stepped in, unable to watch any longer.

“Are you now doubting the Druid of the Golden Rule?”

“N-no, that is not what we mean. It is only that......”

“Do the elves intend to stand hostile toward the druids?”

“......!!”

All the listening elves were horrified.

Druids and elves were in a symbiotic relationship.

Those who create the forest, and those who manage that forest.

However, the role of “management” could be entrusted to another race.

For example, the dryads.

The dryads who lived together with the forest also knew how to manage the forest.

Therefore, elves could never be hostile toward druids.

With an angry face, Albino spoke toward the Elf Queen.

“Since before the appearance of ruin, the druids have respected the elves. Because the elves have carried out the enormous duty of caring for forests throughout the world and protecting verdure and the World Tree. But the elves of the present have become corrupted. They gather in the Primordial Forest and pay no attention to the other forests.”

“... As you say, there is no task more important than protecting the World Tree.”

“Tsk.”

“......?”

Albino clicked his tongue and shook his head.

A clearly dismissive attitude.

But Albino’s reaction was only natural.

“The previous Elf Queen had spirit, but the current Queen is pathetic. I understand now why the Druid of the Golden Rule did not call your name.”

“Albino... no matter if you are a legendary druid, I cannot let such words pass lightly.”

“And if you cannot?”

Step.

Albino took one step forward.

Then,

Craaack!

Albino’s body swelled, and his horns began growing even longer.

At the same time, flames blazed across his entire body.

Wings of fire spread out behind him, each over ten meters long, and in one hand he now held a long spear of fire demon flame.

An overwhelming presence.

If there were such a thing as the incarnation of fire, perhaps it would look like this.

Then, the number that appeared above his head.

18 Lv

...... It was not just his appearance that was overwhelming.

A legendary druid who had existed since before ruin.

This clearly showed why he was called a “legend.”

‘...... 18 levels?’

But no matter what, it was incomprehensible.

Even considering that the world’s power level had risen overall since the great expedition, that level was excessive.

It was not entirely impossible to understand.

An eternity of ages.

He must have endlessly driven himself onward for the sole purpose of killing ruin.

He must have crossed countless lines between life and death so that he would never flee from ruin again.

A top predator with almost no equal in either the abyss or the continent.

That was none other than Albino, the great elder of the Eight Knight Order and the great chieftain of the druids.

The true form that the World Tree of Honor had restored to him was truly astonishing.

“......!!”

“Mm......”

It was not only the Elf Queen who was dominated and suppressed by Albino’s rank.

Most of those who saw him were groaning under their breath and drawing up their energy to protect themselves.

There were also many who had already taken a step back, their lips trembling.

‘Interesting.’

But unlike the others, he had almost no effect on me.

That was because Albino had blocked all the force directed toward me.

Of course, that was not the reason I found it interesting.

Innate Authority: World Tree Domain Reinforcement (32 Lv)

Innate Authority: Sacred Inviolability (32 Lv)

Innate Authority: Non-Hostility (32 Lv)

Innate Authority: No Approach (32 Lv)

“Albino” is strengthened within the “World Tree Domain.”

You can sever the innate authorities using God of War’s Mind Sword (Disarm, 35 Lv).

The innate authorities Albino possessed.

They were absolute powers bearing the nature of “indestructibility.”

The authority of an absolute being that made approach itself impossible and even erased the will to be hostile.

And I could sever those authorities.

Just as I had severed the barrier protecting the holy land.

But what was even more interesting than that was the “level” displayed behind it.

‘Even things that bear the nature of impossibility have levels.’

And those levels were distributed at an incredibly high range.

Which meant that the God of War’s Mind Sword, depending on swordsmanship proficiency and level, could sever and destroy things bearing a lower nature of “impossibility.”

‘... But why can I see Albino’s levels?’

However, it was puzzling why I could see all of Albino’s “levels.”

Normally, supreme beings like Albino always hid their levels.

In fact, here, only about half had “levels” that could be identified with the naked eye.

That was because they were blocking others from observing them through equipment, tools, skills, or traits that even hidden traits could not easily discern.

The problem was that Albino’s levels, which had not been visible even yesterday, were now visible.

‘It is not the effect of trait evolution. If it were, I would have seen them much earlier.’

If this were a phenomenon caused by the hidden trait of High Druid evolving into Druid of the Golden Rule, then I should have seen it long ago.

If it was appearing only now, then there had to be an entirely different reason.

Most likely, it had something to do with the attitude he was showing toward me now.

Something like this had happened before.

Hudson.

When that guy had laid everything bare to me at the casino,

I had been able to view Hudson’s “full information.”

‘... Albino trusts me completely?’

In other words, Albino had begun to trust me.

That I was the god of druids.

That I was the master who would lead him; he had finally acknowledged it with certainty.

‘It is probably the influence of this place.’

If one treated something as fake, it was bound to show.

Everyone gathered here could tell at least that much.

If he did not brainwash himself into believing that I was a supreme being to be desperately protected and worshipped, it would only be a matter of time before all the sovereigns gathered here saw through it.

Whatever the reason, it was a good sign.

Proof that the Eight Knight Order and the druids truly followed me from the heart.

Soon after, Albino, exuding an aura like an evil god, spoke.

“Have you never heard from the previous queens that druids must never be opposed?”

“T-that appearance is...”

“Especially druids who are close to the World Tree must never be opposed, surely you were told that?”

“......”

The Elf Queen shut her eyes tightly.

Because it was true.

To be more precise, she had heard traditions concerning “Albino.”

-‘Albino’ is the one closest to becoming the High Druid.

-When all seven World Trees shine brilliantly, ‘Albino’ will become legend.

-The elves must never oppose ‘Albino.’

Records left behind by the previous queens.

She had definitely seen Albino’s name there.

That all druids were powerful, but among them Albino was a legend.

No one knew why he had suddenly disappeared.

Who could have imagined that he had been guarding the World Tree of Honor here?

“... I apologize, O Druid of the Golden Rule.”

“Y-Your Majesty...!”

The Elf Queen lowered her head.

The high elves who saw it were horrified.

In that instant, Albino’s anger softened.

Because she had correctly recognized the one to whom she ought to bow her head.

If she had apologized to Albino himself, he would instead have been disappointed.

Then the Elf Queen continued speaking.

“We have not the slightest intention of opposing or doubting the druids. Elves and druids have been companions since the beginning. Likewise, we have no intention of doubting the choice of the Druid of the Golden Rule. So please.”

Earnestly.

With desperation in her voice, she lowered her head once again.

“Please permit us to enter the World Tree’s dungeon.”

The elves who dwelled in the Primordial Forest.

Had there ever been another time when the Elf Queen, who had reigned at its very summit, pleaded so desperately with someone?

Even when she learned of the appearance of Randolph, Lord of Verdure, who had cleared the Tower of the Crack, she had merely sent Elder Aruwen.

Because she was one who commanded others, not one who made requests of them.

But not here.

This was a place where the masters of the holy domain and all manner of sovereigns had gathered.

And on top of that, the druids had appeared and their god stood here.

Only now had she realized that this was not a place where she could raise her voice and insist on her claims.

She had finally come to understand that if she behaved here as she did in the Primordial Forest, she would be annihilated without even a single blade of grass remaining.

“I grant permission.”

“... Thank you, O Druid of the Golden Rule.”

Hearing my permission, the Elf Queen let out a sigh of relief.

As the Queen, whom I had expected to be the most troublesome, submitted, I felt much more at ease.

Because there would no longer be anyone who would object to my choices and opinions.

And since I had shown mercy, the Queen would fear me all the more.

“But if they are divided into groups of thirteen, will that not make seven groups? Who do you intend to have serve as the captain of the remaining group?”

The Giant of Annihilating Evil spoke once more.

He was asking whether I had Albino in mind, or whether I would appoint someone else.

I answered casually.

“Myself.”

“... Will you choose the twelve personally?”

“No.”

“Then?”

“I will be chosen.”

“......?”

“Of the seven including me, stand before the one you wish to follow. Once every group has filled its capacity, we will depart.”

“And if there are more than thirteen?”

“They will have to be cut.”

“And the one who decides who is cut is the captain?”

“Precisely.”

“I see. Understood.”

The Giant of Annihilating Evil nodded.

Then I looked around and said,

“From now on, gather around the one you wish to follow.”

“Yes. We shall do so.”

As expected, the first to answer and step forward was Albino.

“Hmm, the arrangement looks somewhat strange, but...”

Following Albino, Raiga stepped forward.

Before long, they began to divide one by one into seven groups.

The Star Guardian group following the Giant of Annihilating Evil.

The monster group following the White King.

The human group following Radiant Superhuman Kasim.

The elf group following Auril.

And most of the rest gathered around me.

‘Albino, Raiga, the First Horn Lord and Second Horn Lord, Serengeti, Saintess Seah, Hudson, Isaac, Valte, and even Priest Andrew. Those ten are fixed.’

Including myself, that already made eleven.

Only two spaces remained.

But nearly twenty had gathered in front of me.

‘Ancient Phoenix Al Laum and Guardian of Light must have no one willing to follow them because their identities are too unclear.’

Then again, even I would not want to gather around those two.

I thought for a moment.

Whom to fill those two spots with.

Though I had not called them as captains, a large number of beings comparable to them had gathered here.

The standard for dividing the captains was not simply strength and honor, but rather whether they could mix with me or not.

‘Those two will do.’

The rest would have no choice but to follow Ancient Phoenix and Guardian of Light.

I selected the best two among them,

and at last finished preparing to enter the dungeon.

*

Entering the Dungeon of Forgotten Honor.

The Golden Rule Knights (13) have all agreed to enter.

All 91 available slots have been filled.

Dungeon bonus coefficient 200%+

Warning. The Forgotten Gods will appear.

The seven knight orders will face the Forgotten Gods and must complete the miraculous achievements that exist within the dungeon.

A total of 370 miraculous achievements exist within the Dungeon of Forgotten Honor.

If you accomplish a miraculous achievement, the soul of a forgotten knight will awaken.

You may strengthen your knight order with the soul of a forgotten knight.

In addition, depending on the number of miraculous achievements reached, the scale of the reward you receive upon reaching the roots of the World Tree will increase (bonus coefficient applied).

The knight order that accomplishes the greatest number of miraculous achievements will complete the additional achievement of Most Radiant Knight Order and receive additional rewards and effects.

In the case of the knight commanders, they will obtain the title King of the Forgotten Ones (Holy).

......

Tip. The Forgotten Gods of the World Tree despise evil alignment. If you possess evil alignment, you must hide it thoroughly.

Tip. The path leading to the roots of the World Tree is more complex than you can imagine. Listen carefully to the souls of the forgotten knights and make active use of them.

Tip. Sealed zones may be entered by using a divine symbol appropriate to them.

Tip. The knight orders must compete honorably.

......

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