Chapter 995: You Reap What You Sow (2)

‘Look at this guy giving up so fast.’

It was such a magnificent scene.

‘Look at this idiot. Do you see this? This is the result.’

“Father… Draktaris…” I mumbled.

There wasn’t a sight that made me happier than this.

Describing it as righteous and holy wasn’t enough to describe the sight.

For some, it was heart-wrenching; for others, it was a tear-jerker; for others, it was awe-inspiring enough to clench their fist. It seemed like everyone was reacting to this in their own ways, but their eyes were on me—the saint of the continent who made this miracle happen.

I saw traces of the bloody battle, and it told me that the battle had never stopped. The

party members were fighting Father Draktaris for a long time, and the members who were in the same party as Cha Hee-Ra and Park Deok-Gu were covered in wounds.

They looked exhausted as if they had been fighting for several days.

The only ones who were fine were the vanguards with high Stamina.

The young blood Rafael seemed to have lasted this long due to the fact that he was young.

Meanwhile, Sun Hee-Young and Elena, who were the core of the rearguards, looked like they were going to lose consciousness at any moment.

Alps, who had joined the party to counter mental-type skills, seemed like she was at her limit by just standing there while Shiro was sprawled out on the ground and breathing heavily.

I couldn't care less about Jin Cheong’s underlings, but they looked at me with their disheveled faces. At first, they were in disbelief, and then, they smiled brightly. They had to be happy to see me as well.

“Hyung-nim? Are you back? Hyung-nim! I knew you were going to come back! I just knew!” Park Deok-Gu shouted.

‘Yeah, I’m back.’

“Darling? Where have you been?” Cha Hee-Ra asked.

‘It’s been a while, Hee-Ra noona.’

“

Ahh…

thank you, Elune. Thank you very much,” Elena said.

‘It’s been a while since I saw you as well, Miss Elena.’

“Mr. Lee Ki-Young…”

‘Hey, Hee-Young.’

“

Woof!

”

‘Shiro is suddenly full of energy.’

Obviously, there were endless requests for a handshake, but I was sad because I couldn’t shake the hand of each and every person. At a glance, I could tell what had been happening to the expedition group, even though I had been stuck in the past.

‘They must’ve continued the raid separately from the main force…’

I was sure they were aware of the demon summoner's evil plan. I walked past the people sprawled out on the ground while greeting them.

I checked the faces of each and every person.

Park Deok-Gu was already crying, and Hee-Ra noona sighed as if she expected it.

‘They followed my instructions and dispatched the people I recommended.’

The members in the prayer room were people whom I recommended when it came to tackling the Epic-rank quest, Archbishop of the Prayer Room. I couldn’t tell whether he was getting pushed back or they were getting pushed back, but a fierce battle had lasted here for a long time.

Honestly, I was kind of surprised by Father Draktaris’ true power.

I didn’t expect much from the others, but I couldn’t understand how he managed to stand against Cha Hee-Ra and Rafael. If I hadn't recommended talented priests, the expedition group would have gotten taken down long ago.

It was a thought that kept popping into my head, which made this scene even more meaningful.

The priest who saved the party from danger, the saint who made the boss kneel with one word, and the holy crystal that purified the impure with light. The same priest spoke again.

“

Heuk… heuuuk…

Father Draktaris…”

— I've been waiting… for you… For the day of your arrival. I've been living and enduring… hardships again and again…

“Father Draktaris…” I said.

— …

“

Ahh…

Father Draktaris,” I repeated.

— …

𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

“Why… why… did you become this way?” I questioned.

Even the tall and handsome Draktaris couldn’t avoid the ruthless passage of time.

“Why… have you become like this?” I asked.

Even when Bahamut and the Templars were seeking eternal life, he decided to accept the passage of time. He already had white hair, and I saw wrinkles all over his face. His white mustache was messy, and his back was bent, even though he always stood ramrod straight.

I could still see faint signs of his younger version. However, if I wasn't taking a closer look at him, I would think I was looking at someone else.

— A lot of time… A lot of time passed… Priest of Prophecy.

He had accepted death and had stayed, even though his fleshly body could move no more.

“Why… why have you…

Heuk

… changed so much?” I asked.

— It wasn’t a short time, Priest of Prophecy. However, I never… never lost faith that you’ll return someday. I knew you'd save the Underground Temple, this continent, and Lucifer. No, I knew you'd illuminate the continent.

“But…”

‘I’m sorry. I was late, wasn’t I?’

That was what I wanted to ask, but I was ashamed, so I couldn’t ask him that.

“Buuut…

Heuk…

” I sobbed.

‘Even if that were the case, you changed so much…’

— You still… have a warm… heart…

“...”

— You don’t have to cry. Priest of Prophecy… I-I want to thank Lucifer… for allowing me to meet you like this.

I tried stopping myself from crying, but I couldn’t stop.

— What I was really afraid of wasn't this body growing old or losing power. I was afraid that I… would never see you again.

Heuk…

“Father Draktaris…” I mumbled.

—

Geurgh…

I thought I'd never see you again. I regretted that day… so much… I hid in that small room and waited. I waited and waited for that incident to end… I was so ashamed of myself. Can you imagine it—

Geurgh…

“...”

— After sending you away like that… I lived my whole life… my whole life… regretting it… so much.

“...”

— I questioned why I didn’t stop you… and how I hid when you told me I was going to do something great in the future… I wanted to tear myself apart and throw myself to the demons… for locking myself up in a room like a coward. Despite that… despite that, I had to live.

‘That’s right. You had to live.’

— My only hope… were your words… about your return, Priest of Prophecy.

“...”

— It was my trust in you.

“Please… don’t say anything else,” I said.

After kissing my shoe, he remained on his knees, and there was regret in his voice as he spoke to me. Even in the past, Draktaris respected me a lot, but…

‘He must’ve been deifying me.’

I thought it had reached absurd levels, but of course, this wasn’t an ordinary situation.

‘It’s expected.’

One day, a man proclaiming to be the Priest of Prophecy suddenly appeared, and he became the light by sacrificing himself to save the Underground Temple and the continent.

I had no idea what the temple thought about me at that time, but Draktaris had been waiting for me to keep my promise since then. He trusted me; he engraved my words into his heart, and he waited for that day to come.

Naturally, my existence grew in his heart.

The longer he waited, the more exhausted he became, so he had no choice but to rely on me. When he was at his limit mentally and physically… he probably recalled my last words. The guilt I felt toward him enveloped me.

‘Damn, this makes me happy. You reap what you sow.’

I hadn't made a mistake choosing him.

‘I knew this was going to succeed. I just knew it.’

However, there was nothing I could do. After making him stand up, all I did was hug him with my wings. Father Draktaris cried like a child.

“It’s… it’s okay now, Father Draktaris,” I told him.

I wonder what he was thinking right now.

—

Geurgh…

I trusted you.

“I… came back, didn’t I?” I asked.

— I’m sorry, Priest of Prophecy. I’m really… really sorry.

“It’s not your fault, Father Draktaris,” I said.

— …

“All of this is my fault because I’m lacking. I’m really… really sorry… for making you wait too long,” I said.

Draktaris mumbled, and the wounds on my body instantly healed.

‘Damn, his holy power is nice.’

His holy power was extraordinary.

“They’re my priests,” I said.

I quickly said something in case I forgot about the expedition members, and they started receiving the holy power as well.

— I was rude.

Draktaris no longer cried. The priest, who had been carrying the burdens in his heart, walked with heavy steps and continued the conversation.

— It’s… it’s time.

“...”

— The day we have been waiting for is here.

“...”

— The promised day. The judgement day is here. In order to punish those wicked people who had sold their souls to the demon, the prophesied is here to paint this continent with the light again. The day has come to prove that the holy light containing our faith still exists on this continent. The day that the Priest of Prophecy has mentioned is finally here.

The ground quivered violently.

Rumble!

— Wake up.

The ground shook again.

Rumble!

— Wake up, sons of light. Wake up and fulfill your final mission.

Rumble!

— Use the Goddess’ hammer on those who had sold their souls to the demon!

—

Ahhhhhhhhhh!

Rumble!

— The day when the promise of light is to be fulfilled has come! The time has come… to fulfill our long-cherished wish! An answer to the sacrifice that the Priest of Prophecy had made! The time has come to give our souls and prove ourselves!

Rumble!

— Wake up, sons of light! The promised time is here!

— The promised time is here!

— The promised time is here!

— We’ll prove that light exists on this land!

— We’ll repay his sacrifice!

Their voices filled the prayer room—no, spirits started gathering outside the prayer room as well. I saw both familiar and unfamiliar faces. The priests raised their voices while the knights moved around.

‘This is huge.’

— For the Priest of Prophecy!

‘What the hell have you been doing, Draktaris?’

— For the Priest of Prophecy!

‘How much respect did you have for me?’

It had been ten thousand years, so it was clear that many things had changed.

I was trembling.

I, the Son of Light, who was also once known as the Priest of Prophecy, quietly wiped away my tears while smiling sadly at the miracle happening before my eyes.