《How the Cult Saves the World》 Chapter 1 Chapter 1 [Synchronization Complete] A translucent blue message box appeared in front of my eyes. It was the so-called ''System'', that kind of existence. [Wee to the hidden route of ''How to Save Our World''.] "Damn it," I cursed. [Main Quest ] Content: As the first believer and leader of the Kyros Faith, help the God Kyros to drive away the Evil God Diego. Goal: Convert more than 80% of the poption on the Celeste continent to be a believer of the God Kyros within 3 years (currently 0%). Sess: ??? Failure: Death (Soul Annihtion), World Destruction. [This quest is automatically epted as the Main Quest of the Hidden Route.] I couldn''t help but swear. It was time to admit it. That I had entered the game.
A few hours ago. I finally saw the ending of , a game I had been ying for a whole month and also known as ''HSAW''. HSAW was a game that I bought for 30,000 won, I was lured by its shy illustrations. 30,000 won might not be considered a lot of money for others. But it was the money that I gained by working hard. Smiling, chatting, and catering to the needs of annoying customers at my part-time job for hours. And I had spent that money on this... "This is a game?" A crappy game. HSAW was a choice-based RPG game with a medieval fantasy world setting, where the protagonist was literally a loser. If I made a wrong choice in the story even once, the protagonist would die or the world would end in a bad ending. And once I died, I had to start over from the prologue. Not to mention, unlike the shy illustrations, the in-game characters were 2D. "I guess they spent all the budget on the illustrations." It was obvious without saying. The game review window was full of harsh criticisms, and there were countless refund requests. Even if I ignored all the other ws, the difficulty itself was hellish. If I had given up on the game like other yers, my future wouldn''t have turned out like this. But because of my personality that had to finish what I started, I saw dozens of bad endings and finally reached the true ending. The loser protagonist finally saved the world and let peace set in. "Ha, seriously. It was fun while itsted, but let''s never see each other again." With the intention of deleting the game right away and never looking at it again, I smiled brightly and tried to press the game''s exit button. But at that moment, a message appeared on the screen. [Congrattions! You are the first to clear the true ending.] Because the game was too hard, I''ve heard that there weren''t many users who tried to reach the true ending. But I never expected to be the first one to clear it. I was happy to have the title of ''first'', and smiled when the next message followed. [Do you want to proceed with the Hidden Route?] [Yes/No] [Warning! The Hidden Route has the same story as the original game, but the difficulty is higher!] ...Hidden Route? I had never heard of a hidden route in this game. It must be something that only appears after seeing the true ending, so this must be another first for me. First clear, followed by the first Hidden Route. The warning message below the choice bothered me a bit. But I didn''t have much to think about. "I''ve done this so many times. How hard can it be?" Mypetitive spirit rose and I pressed the ''Yes'' button right away. Any Korean probably would have made the same choice as me. But I, Jeong Ji-hyun, would soon regret this choice. Because right after pressing the button, my vision turned blurry and a splitting headache hit me simultaneously. Soon after, I lost consciousness.
That was what happened a few hours ago. I woke up in a world with an unfamiliar ceiling, and in front of me was a system message. [Main Quest ] Content: As the first believer and leader of the Kyros Faith, help the God Kyros to drive away the Evil God Diego. Goal: Convert more than 80% of the poption on the Celeste continent to be a believer of the God Kyros within 3 years (currently 0%). Sess: ??? Failure: Death (Soul Annihtion), World Destruction. [This quest is automatically epted as the Main Quest of the Hidden Route.] ''Why did it have to be HSAW?'' But, that wasn''t all. "Are you kidding me right now?" The main quest that appeared at the same time was unbelievable. The main content of HSAW that I yed was simple. It was to make the male protagonist ''Terdius Austin'' save the world. The one who helped Terdius was none other than the God Kyros. The God of Kyros Faith, which most of the Celeste continent, the main setting of HSAW, believed in! But why, why are there no believers of Kairos Faith right now? And, why is my given quest conversion? First, I decided to calm down and calmly racked my brain. So, to summarize, the god that most of the continent believes in right now is probably Diego, the Evil God in the original work. In conclusion, it''s not only about pushing Diego away but also about having 0% of Kyros'' believers. This means... You want me to be a cult leader. And I didn''t even have the right to refuse. ''No, this is really too much!'' As if it wasn''t enough to be dropped into this world out of nowhere, you want me to be a cult leader? And when I thought about the ''warning message'' of the hidden route, I felt angry. ''The story is the same!'' In the original work, the ratio of Kyros Faith and Diego Faith was 5:5, half and half. But this world was not 5:5, but more like 0:10. "Damn system..!" This is a different story! I expressed my anger towards the system in my mind. After a few minutes, I finally epted reality. Maybe it was because I had read a lot of web novels and webtoons in my previous life. I was able to adapt faster than I thought. "Hoo, hoo." I took a deep breath and thought calmly. It was a crazy situation, but I had no choice. I didn''t have the right to refuse in the first ce, and it was a matter of soul annihtion. And maybe, if I finish this, I might be able to leave this world. Of course, that doesn''t mean I want to go back to where I came from. The life of ''Jeong Ji-hyun'' who had no friends, no family, and my specs wasn''t that good either. A job seeker who failed to get a job repeatedly with average education and grades. That was my life. ''Well, what''s the point of that now?'' I had toplete the main quest to survive. Fortunately, I still had 3 years. Depending on how you look at it, it might be a short or a long time. "I''ll survive somehow, I will." Even if it was by doing a cult route. But why is there ''World Destruction'' in the failure penalty? ''Doesn''t that mean I''ll die anyway if the world is destroyed?'' I closed my mouth tightly as I thought so. ''This is too much,'' I sighed heavily and slumped on the bed. There was a stumbling block to survival. My eyes went to the mirror near the bed and my changed appearance came into view. First of all, my race was different from my previous life. Pale skin with clear veins, golden hair, blue eyes, slightly upturned eyes, and a thin body. ''A sickly pretty boy... no, a sickly pretty young man.'' The only part that was simr to me was the tear mole under my left eye. ''No, wait. The age is the same too. Twenty-five.'' The original name of this body was Revelof Holden. He suffered from a terminal illness. It was known as ''Malone''s disease'', a disease that only existed in this world. Well, that''s not important right now. ''If you''re going to possess someone, why not possess the male lead or someone close to him?'' Anyway, I knew well about Revelof Holden. He briefly appeared as an extra at the beginning of the game and was someone the yers passed through at least once in any ending. ''There''s also the fact that Revelof Holden''s memories somehow flowed into me.'' Anyway, the original work started with the male protagonist Terdius visiting the territory of Revelof''s family, the Holden earldom. There was a brief appearance of the Holden earldom''s situation in the original work. When Terdius Austin entered the Holden earldom as the start of his mission to convert the Herpheon Empire, where the majority of the people worshiped the Evil god Diego. The Holden earldom was facing its second disaster. The first disaster was two weeks ago when the second son of the Holden familymitted suicide. And the second disaster was... That''s right. I was that second son whomitted suicide here. But the flow was different from the original work. In the original work, this body should have died a few hours ago, but it changed when I came in. ''But, the story should be the same.'' Then the start of the original work would be in two weeks. Actually, I didn''t need to know the flow of the original work right now. ''Don''t I just have to convert people?'' That was all that the main quest wanted. It was then. [Tutorial Quest urred!] [Tutorial Quest ] Content: Create a religion for the God Kyros. Goal: Consult with Kyros and name your religion. Sess: ??? Failure: - [This quest is automatically epted as a tutorial quest of the hidden route.] I snapped out of my thoughts after the appearance of a new quest. It was fortunate that this quest had no failure penalty. It must be because it was a tutorial quest. But there was something that bothered me in the quest content. ''Consult with Kyros?'' No matter how I thought about it, this was impossible. It didn''t make sense. Even if this world was inside a game, Kyros was a god. How can a mere human like me consult with a god? ''Maybe I have to consult with him through prayer or something.'' Ugh, I don''t want to do that. Squeak Suddenly, a creepy ringing sound came to my ears. -Greetings, my child. As soon as the ringing stopped, a low male voice followed. But unlike normal voices, it didn''t sound through my ears, but through my head. ''Could it be, Kyros?'' -Hehe, yes. I am your god, Kyros. No, is this real? Is this possible? I was so surprised that I just blinked. In all the web novels, webtoons, games, etc. that I had encountered, directmunication with a god was impossible. There was a significant gap between gods and humans. And yet, I heard Kyros'' voice directly. Not only that, it was a two-waymunication! ''How is this possible?'' -I am weak right now. Suddenly, Kyros'' voice became smaller. And then I understood. ''Oh, I see.'' Just as I knew, ''gods'' were beings that became stronger as their myths were spread and their believers increased. But right now, Kyros has only one believer. -My child, you are my only believer and the envoy who will work for me. ''Yes, I know that. But can you stop calling me child?'' -Why? Aren''t you a child? Compared to me, you are like a newborn baby. ''If we go by age, maybe. But if we go by power, aren''t you also a baby among gods?'' I said calmly, and then I heard Kyros sobbing. What? Why is he crying? Chapter 2 Chapter 2 I was dumbfounded. -But, but... Although he was a ''god'', he was crying. I felt sorry for him somehow. ''...Kyros, I''m sorry. Don''t cry.'' -Sniff. ''I made a mistake.'' -Hmm. I know. Thankfully, Kyros'' crying gradually stopped. By the way, Kyros was so timid. There was no direct appearance ormunication of Kyros with the male protagonist in HSAW, so I had no idea that his personality was like this. Anyway, what I had to do now was decided. ''Kyros, do you have a name for your religion that you want?'' I asked Kyros after he hadpletely stopped crying. -Yes! Of course! Kyros answered in a bright voice. -How about the Beautiful and Glorious Golden Beauty of God Kyros Faith? ''What...?'' -Mymb, I am the God of Beauty. You don''t know that, do you? It''s true, I didn''t know. Kyros was only described as a good god in the original work, so I didn''t know his title at all. ''Oh, yes. I knew that.'' But from now on, Kyros would be like my direct boss, so I had to please him a bit. Although it seemed like I already messed up by making him cry. ''But don''t you think that''s too long? How about just naming it after Kyros'' name and calling it Kyros Faith?'' There were many religions in the world. But unlike the world I lived in before, most of the religions in this world were named after their god''s name. So, Kyros Faith seemed like a reasonable name. -Aren''t you too simple? ''No. This is a good length. It''s easier for the believers to call it.'' -Hmm. Now that you say that, I see. Okay, you are my first believer so let''s do as you say. A weak god like me has to listen to his believer... No, this guy... ''I''m sorry! I''m sorry, okay?'' -Hehehe. I was joking. What? [Tutorial Quest Cleared!] [You will receive the tutorial quest reward.] As soon as the agreement on the religion name was over, a message appeared. I looked at the translucent window and lit up my eyes. Quest reward! I was very curious about what it would give me since the quest content only showed a question mark for the reward. And I was also excited. Thump thump. My heart was beating happily when Kyros'' voice continued. -I will reward you with a holy relic for working hard for me. As soon as he said that, my vision turned white. I couldn''t close my mouth. It felt like I had gone blind for a moment. The handsome man surrounded by light had a familiar yet unfamiliar appearance. Long red hair that reached his waist, sparkling golden eyes, a high nose, and a sharp face. He was a perfect piece of art. He simultaneously looked majestic and beautiful because his bare upper body was delicately muscled. "Wow." Even though he was a man, I couldn''t help but admire his appearance. But that moment didn''tst long. He disappeared in an instant, and all that was left was a white sphere of light. "Huh...?" -Ahem, ahem. I tried to manifest myself to deliver my first holy relic, but I guess I''m stillcking in power. I heard Kyros'' awkward voice and I was worried that he might dig a hole again. Fortunately, he didn''t do that. By the way, Kyros, you were hundreds of times more handsome than the illustration I saw before. Are you really the God of Beauty? I have to make a statue of that face someday. For now, I reached out my hands towards the sphere that appeared after Kyros disappeared. Then it gradually came closer to me. Soon, the sphere of light came on top of my hands and started to transform into something long and thin. And finally, it revealed its shape. "....?" This is a holy relic? No matter how I looked at it, this was just a wooden stick. It was about 1m long, with a thickness of about 20cm at the head, and it got thinner as it went down. It was just the right size to hold with one hand and swing around. But why is the holy relic a stick...? I couldn''t believe it. There were many other holy relics that Kyros used in the original work. There were swords, shields, and various other types. ''But why do I get a stick?'' [You have acquired the holy relic ''Kyros'' Stick''.] Along with the item acquisition message, information appeared. [Kairos''s Stick (Holy Relic) Grade: Mythical Item. Description: A stick with the power of the God of Beauty, Kyros. As this is the first item given by Kyros, who is weak in power, the power of the stick will exponentially increase ording to your faith in Kyros.] The appearance was just an ordinary wooden stick, but the content was different. But why does the power depend on my faith? The holy relic must be stronger than ordinary items regardless. The good thing was that this item was an offensive-type weapon and also a ''holy relic''. In any case, I needed a weapon soon and this was just my luck. ''Thank you. Kyros.'' -Hehe, don''t mention it. It''s nothing for my first believer. Although I did squeeze out all my strength... I ignored Kyros who seemed to be fishing forpliments and examined the stick. ''Hmm... does it have that function too?'' If this world was the hidden route of HSAW and there was a system, it would probably be simr to the original work. ''Inventory.'' Swoosh As expected, I was right. Arge translucent window appeared just by thinking of inventory in my head. It looked almost identical to the inventory I saw in HSAW. I looked at the countless empty slots in the inventory and put the stick inside. Then, the stick was sucked in and took the top spot. "Phew." That was a relief. I almost had to carry that monstrous thing around. I sighed in relief and sat down on the bed. By the way, if there was an inventory, there would also be a status window or a skill window. ''Should I check?'' Knock knock. At that moment, someone knocked. "Sir, it''s time to wake up." I realized it toote at the voice from outside the room. I quickly turned my head and looked out the window. It was already morning. I woke up in the middle of the night, but I had a lot of things to do, so I didn''t realize how fast time had passed. I decided to look at the status or skillter andy down on the bed right away. And I covered myself with a nket as naturally as possible. I had no choice. Revelof Holden was weak in the morning. "Sir." Maybe because there was no answer, the door opened. And the one who came in was Paul Crown, the butler of Choro. The old man with a kind impression was a butler who had served the Holden family for a long time. He knew the real Revelof well, and he could easily notice if I showed a different attitude. So I had to do my best. _Cough, cough. _"Good morning, Paul." I pretended to wake up and greeted him with a cough. Thanks to Revelof''s memories that were engraved in me, I could act smoothly. And Revelof''s personality was simr to mine, so I didn''t have to act much. Paul didn''t seem to feel anything strange either, and he came closer to me. "You look happy today, sir." "I feel a bit lighter today." "Oh, that''s good. Really." Paul''s eyes moistened in an instant. He looked at me with pity. He couldn''t help it. Revelof Holden was a terminally ill person who had an incurable disease that no doctor could cure. ''He said he had about a year left to live, right?'' So, Revelof lived on painkillers every day. Revelof Holden''s disease was ''Malone''s disease'', which only existed in this world. It was a disease caused by being bitten by a Malone bug. Most people just felt itchy when they were bitten by a Malone bug, but some unlucky ones got a serious disease. The Malone bug infiltrated the blood vessels and parasitized the host, absorbing blood and nutrients until the host died. It dried up the host and turned them into stone statues. At this point, there was no cure for Malone''s disease in this world. The Malone bug had antibodies to most treatments. But, I knew how to cure it. The male protagonist got Malone''s disease in thetter part of the original work. I knew what the cure was and how to get it, so I would get better soon. The timing might be a bit vague, though. Anyway, I wouldn''t die while spacing out. I didn''t want to die so meaninglessly. "Do you want me to call Dr. Frang?" Paul, who looked at me pitifully, asked. I shook my head. "No, I''m fine." Dr. Frang was the Holden family''s physician, but I refused right away. Actually, I felt heavy since I woke up in this body. But I was okay for now. There was no bleeding, which was one of the main symptoms of Malone''s disease. But Paul seemed to understand differently. His eyes reddened and then moistened. "Sir..." Soon, Paul grabbed my hand with his wrinkled hand. Then he turned his head and wiped his tears. "Please don''t lose your will. I beg you." "Uh, uh? Yeah." Paul took out a handkerchief and blew his nose, then smiled faintly. "You must be hungry, I''ll bring your meal to your room soon." "Wait, Paul." I stopped Paul who was about to leave the room. "I''ll eat in the dining room today." "Excuse me?" Paul was surprised again. Revelof always ate alone in his room. I thought about doing that too, but I changed my mind. ''I need freedom.'' I didn''t want to stay in this room like Revelof did. I had to get the cure as soon as possible to save my life. I had to get better before I could do anything else. Of course, I could send a servant, but that might raise suspicion if I suddenly changed my appearance. ''So I have to make a n first.''
The morning of the Holden family was always busy like any other noble family. The servants paid attention to everything, but there was one part that they put the most effort into. It was cleanliness. They especially cared about it for the sake of the second son of Holden who had an incurable disease. Of course, the second son, Revelof Holden, didn''t wander around the mansion much, but you never know. "I hope our sir will get better soon." "Yeah, me too." The servants sighed softly and continued to clean. And then, they were surprised. "Sir Revelof!" It had been almost a few years since the second son of Holden came out for breakfast. Chapter 3 Chapter 3 The servants were startled and bowed their heads toward Revelof. "Hello." Revelof greeted them awkwardly. At that sight, some of them had tears in their eyes. ''My goodness, our young master came out for breakfast!'' ''Is this a dream or reality?'' ''By the way, our young Master... he became even more beautiful.'' The servants felt excited as they watched Revelof walk past them with the butler. ''How could such a beautiful person suffer from such a terrible disease...'' ''May God protect Revelof.'' At the same time, their expressions were filled with pity. But, the one who attracted their attention only felt awkward. "Well, keep up the good work." As Revelof disappeared into the dining room with an awkward smile, the servants who were left behind froze. ''Young Master''s smile, the best..!'' ''Please recover your health!''
''I thought I was going to die of awkwardness.'' On the way to the dining room, I passed through an elegantly neat corridor and met quite a lot of servants. They looked very surprised when they saw me. Some of them even had tears in their eyes. It seemed that Revelof was loved by many. I felt a bitter taste in my mouth. "Please go in." When we arrived at the front of the dining room, Paul opened the door for me. I briefly checked my appearance and entered. "Revelof..?" "..." Step by step, I moved towards the two people who were having their breakfast. I smiled and greeted them. "Good morning, Mother. Brother." Both of them looked at me with surprised expressions. I calmly sat down in my seat. "Revelof... are you feeling better?" Leira Holden, the person who spoke to me with difficulty while holding back her tears. She was the head of the Holden family and a war hero who was in charge of the bordends of the Herpheon Empire. "Yes, mother. I feel lighter today." Unlike me, she had silver hair and purple eyes, and so did my brother Sevenus Holden, who was sitting across from me. Themon point between them was that they were both knights with strong bodies. "You were irritable for thest few days." Sevenus Holden said without looking at me. His voice was quite cold. ''Come to think of it, he was like that in the original work too.'' The blunt heir of the family. ''He was eighteen years old, I think.'' I nodded at him as I looked at him. "Yes. I wasn''t feeling well. But, I''m fine now." As I answered, our eyes met. His purple eyes stared at me as if piercing through me. What''s with that look? The one who was irritable for thest few days was not me, but the real Revelof. He was so tormented by the severe pain that he acted sharply, and then... Sevenus, who looked at me for a moment, turned his gaze away as he brushed his long hair back over his shoulder. ''...His eyes are fierce.'' I also turned my eyes away from Sevenus. Then, I met Leira Holden''s eyes. "I''m d you''re feeling better. I''m sorry I couldn''t check on you often because I was busy with work. If only Cain was here... you wouldn''t have been lonely." Her eyes moistened. Cain Holden, a blond-haired and blue-eyed beauty who was Revelof''s and Sevenus'' father. He had left this world 10 years ago due to his weak body. So it was natural that Leira Holden became tearful now that I came to have breakfast with them. ''She must be seeing her deceased husband in me.'' But seeing her so happy, I felt sorry. The real Revelof had already left this world, and I was a fake. -My child. As if he had read my mind, I heard the voice of Kyros, who had been silent until now. -You don''t have to feel sorry. He chose to leave his life on his own. ''Yes. I know.'' The real Revelof had given up on his situation as a terminally ill patient and left this world. As he had contracted Malone''s disease at a young age, his world was only his room. Then, he left. But one thing was certain, he truly loved his family. ''So I will, for your sake, cherish your family.'' Knowing that it was the only wish that Revelof had in the end. I took a sip of water and looked at Leira and Sevenus. The two people were now my mother and brother. I felt a strange feeling, but not unpleasant, to have a family that I didn''t have before. "I''m such a fool." My mother, who quickly stopped her tears, looked at me with a bright face. "Now, let''s pray to Lord Diego before we eat." "Yes, yes?" I asked back in surprise. "Huh? Why are you so surprised? Isn''t it natural to give thanks to Lord Diego before a meal?" "Oh, right, it was. Haha." There was no such scene in Revelof''s memory. No,e to think of it, there was. It was just that I had forgotten because I was too young. I didn''t need to pray to Diego for my meals since I started eating alone. But of all things, I had to pray to Diego. Of course, the Holden family and the empire... no, most of the continent believed in Diego Faith, so it was inevitable. I put my hands together as I followed my mother''s and Sevenus'' postures. The posture of prayer wasn''t so different from the one in my previous life. ''Lord Kyros, I''m sorry.'' -It''s okay. It can''t be helped. Just like he said, I couldn''t ask my mother and Sevenus to convert right away. If I suddenly said that I believed in Kairos, they would think I was a cultist. They would be right to think so, though. ''Hmm, or maybe I should lure them by saying that I got healthy thanks to Kyros.'' It might be a better n than I thought. I smiled faintly. By the way, how much longer do I have to pray? I don''t have anything to say to Kairos, so maybe I should pray to Diego like my mother and Sevenus. ''Lord Diego, if you are listening to my prayer, please go to hell.'' After finishing the prayer, the meal began. I started with soup to protect my stomach and then ate sd and meat in order. It was a relief that it suited my taste. As I was eating and finishing up. I dered to the two of them. "Mother, brother." "Yes, Revelof?" "..." "I want to go outside the mansion and look around." My words made their eyes widen. Revelof Holden had never said such a thing before. "Revelof, no, Revy. Are you sure you''re okay?" "Yes. I''m fine." Actually, there was a way to sneak out of this mansion. But if I got caught, it would be troublesome for me. Furthermore, no matter how well I knew the original work, the world I saw in graphics and the world I saw, in reality, would be different. So I brought up the topic to get used to it in advance and get what I wanted. "Hmm. Well, if that''s what you want, it''s fine, but..." "I''m against it." There was one unexpected obstacle. Sevenus wiped his mouth and red at me. "What if you copse while wandering around outside?" "Sevi, we can just assign a knight to escort him." "That''s not all. It could make Revelof''s condition worse. He has weak physical strength and immunity." My mother closed her mouth tightly at Sevenus'' words. I was a little surprised too. I didn''t expect him to oppose so much. "But... brother." I called Sevenus. I had to persuade him somehow. The moment he opened his mouth again. Something hot rose in my throat, and then I coughed. "Cough!" I quickly covered my mouth, but the hot liquid gushed out and stained the surroundings red in an instant. "Ah..." It was blood. "Re, Revy!!" "..." My clothes and the table were dyed red. I saw the two people who were looking at me with surprised eyes. I smiled at them. "I''m fine, I''m fine." I felt a bit dizzy, but I was really fine. And yet, for some reason, my vision spun. "Revy!!" I heard my mother scream and saw Sevenuse closer to me with a shocked face. Soon, everything turned dark.
When I opened my eyes again, I saw the familiar ceiling. It was my room. I must have vomited blood and copsed at the dining table. ''...I need to find a cure as soon as possible.'' I tried to get up as I thought about it but, a thick arm appeared and stopped me. "Stay in bed a little longer." The owner of the cold voice was Sevenus. Behind him, I could see the sky where the sun was setting through the window. A whole day had passed! As I couldn''t take my eyes off the window although I felt Sevenus'' gaze. He looked at me as if he didn''t like something. ''What, what.'' Soon, Sevenus opened his mouth. "...Revelof." "Yes, brother?" My voice was hoarse, maybe because I wasn''t feeling well. "Do you want to leave the mansion that much?" "Ah..? Well, Yes." I have to find a cure. "I see. Fine." "Huh?" "Do as you wish." "Th, thank you." Why is he acting like that? He was strongly opposed to the dining room. Sevenus looked at me sharply as he got up and didn''t say anything more. "I''ll tell Paul, so if you want to go out, let me know." Sevenus left the room after leaving those words. Only then, did I sigh in relief. "Phew." -My child, are you okay? I was shocked when you copsed. How can you be so sick? ''I was shocked too!'' I heard the rumble of Kyros'' voice. -You poor thing, my first believer is so weak. If only I had a little more power... Sobs. For some reason, Kyros started to cry. ''Lord Kyros, don''t cry.'' It''s already hard enough. My condition was better than in the dining room, but still not good. -Sob, sob. I can''t help but cry. If I had a little more power, I could have easily cured you of that disease. Sobs. ''Don''t cry. I''ll get better soon.'' -Really? Is that true? ''Yes. So stop crying. It hurts my head!'' -Sob, o-okay. He stopped crying and started to tell me how he felt after I copsed. He said he was very sorry that he couldn''t give me his divine power if he had a little more strength. -So, my child, get well soon and recruit more believers. If my power grows stronger, your body will be healthier too. ''Yes. I understand.'' As I was talking to Kairos, a question came to my mind. ''Lord Kyros, then if your believers increase and your power grows stronger, will we not be able tomunicate like this?'' -Why do you think that? ''Well, because there will be a difference in status.'' -That might be true, but it will take a long time to reach that level. And besides, you, my child, are my first believer. So even if you grow your strength, it won''t be a problem. He even added a slyugh, and I didn''t want to grow my strength anymore. I didn''t have any intention of growing my own power anyway. Was it a good thing? Kyros said something more, but I ignored him casually. I had something to do now that I was alone. Chapter 4 Chapter 4 I recalled the functions of the HSAW in my head one by one. ''Inventory, skill, status window. Is this all there is?'' There were more functions in the HSAW, but for some reason, I could only use these three. First, the inventory was the same as I had seen before. A space where I could put in items infinitely, nothing more. The skill window was surprising to see just by being opened. This world was a hidden route in the game, so it made sense that there was such a window. I shouldn''t have any skills... ''But, why do I have one?'' [Beauty of God (Passive) Grade: Mythical Description: A mythical-grade skill for the first believer of Kyros, the God of Beauty. This skill increases your beauty in proportion to your faith in Kyros.] As I read the skill description, I wondered. Would this be helpful to me? Well, Revelof''s face was already handsome, to begin with. Of course, not as much as Kyros. He was from a godly realm after all. ''...No.'' When I saw Kyros, I almost felt a thrill. Then maybe, ''Maybe I can increase my fans, no, my believers with my face like celebrities do?'' For a moment, I imagined myself doing fan service like celebrities. ...I can''t do that. No matter how I think about it, I can''t do that. ''...No, but still, people can''t spit on a smiling face. So let''s try to smile more.'' Yeah, that''s right. I decided to do that and moved on to the next one. Status window. This was a bit unexpected. [User: Revelof Holden (Jeong Ji-hyun) Age: 25 Birthday: December 25th Religion: Kyros Faith Job: Leader of Kyros Faith] This was more like a profile than a status window. I thought there would be levels or stats since this was a game world. It was kind of disappointing. ''...No. Maybe it''s better that there are no levels or stats.'' Levels and stats have limits. If I recognize those limits and fail to ovee them, then what? ''Wouldn''t that be more unfortunate?'' -That''s a good attitude to have. "Ugh!" I was startled and got goosebumps when I suddenly heard Kyros'' voice. Even though we were mentally connected, it was embarrassing to be caught in such a situation. ''Don''t read my mind whenever you want!'' -What''s so shameful about it? We are mentally connected to each other anyway. ''Stop saying such embarrassing things!'' -Hehe. Okay, okay. I got it. ''Stop teasing me with that tone!'' -Aww, don''t be so uptight. You can close your mind if you don''t want me to hear it. ''Really? How do I do that?'' -Just imagine a lock in your mind and close it. You can also lock away any memories that you don''t want me to see. I tried to do as Kyros said. I imagined locking away my memories before the possession in a huge space and also putting a lock on my mind. And then, I cursed at Kyros in my mind. ''Oh, it really works?'' -Hmm. But, I think I can guess what you were thinking anyway. ''Yeah, sure you can.'' I didn''t know how much Kyros had read my mind before, but there was one thing for sure. He didn''t know that this world was a game world. If he knew everything I thought, he would have realized that this was a game world and felt very confused. But, he didn''t show any of those signs. Maybe there was some kind of filtering system or, maybe our mental connection wasn''t that strong enough to make it possible. Both were usible exnations. Anyway, now I could rx. If I had topare, Kyros and I were like talking on the phone with each other. "Phew." I let out a sigh of relief and finished what I was doing. I looked carefully at the status window to see if there was anything else. But there was nothing special. ''By the way, now being the leader of Kyros Faith is my job.'' It felt like I had officially be a cult leader when I saw the word ''leader'' on my job title. It felt like my nose was pierced. ''I''m a cult leader.'' I unconsciously slumped my shoulders when Kyros shouted indignantly. -Cult? How can it be a cult when I exist? ''Yes. You''re right. That''s true. But from Diego Faith''s perspective, we are a cult.'' -Well, that''s true but... Even though I couldn''t see Kyros'' face, I felt like he was more dejected than me. Should Ifort him? I wondered when suddenly a message appeared. [A new function ''Religion Status'' has been added.] [You have acquired the title ''Leader of Kyros Faith''.] [''Leader of Kyros Faith'': You are the leader of Kyros Faith, the religion of the God of Beauty, Kyros! Your beauty increases slightly in proportion to your faith in Kyros!] The title system existed in the original work, so I didn''t mind it much, but I had never seen the title ''Leader of Kyros Faith'' before. The effect was the same as the Beauty of God''s skill, so I skipped it. But what about the religious status? I had a rough idea of what it was just by looking at the name. But did the function open because I recognized myself as a ''leader''? Hmm... As I opened the religion status, a window simr to the system window I had seen before, appeared. But there was a difference. [Religion Status (Kyros Faith) Leader: 1 (Revelof Holden) High Priest: 0 Pdin: 0 . . . Total number of believers: 1] This is just like statistics. But the function itself didn''t seem bad. It looked like I could check people''s names and positions in the religion. Then, I noticed something that caught my eye. "...Oh, no." That''s when I fully realized the reality I was in. The total number of people in the religious status was only me. ''Wait a minute... Only one person?'' I was shocked beyond words by one realization that crossed my mind. I didn''t realize it even after creating a religion myself. Yes, that''s right. That one number referred to me. That meant, the real protagonist of this world, Terdius Austin, was... My enemy. The owner of HSAW, Terdius, had been a believer of Kyros Faith since about a year before the original work started. And, more than half of the continent believed in Kyros Faith. But now it was different. Kyros Faith had just been established, and I was the only believer. That meant Terdius was at least not on my side, and at worst, he could be a Diego Faith. ''I should say it''s almost certain.'' I pondered for a moment. Then I concluded. ''...There''s no choice.'' Even though I became enemies with the original protagonist, it didn''t matter. My main goal was to convert people to Kyros Faith, regardless of the original work or anything else. Of course, there was a stumbling block. ''Diego Faith...'' Maybe the world would end before I finished my main quest. Diego was a vicious, evil god. ''But in three years, anything can change.'' At least I had an advantage in terms of information. ''Well, if I really need him, I can try to woo him to my sideter.'' By the way, the difficulty had increased dramatically as the system said. I didn''t know if anything else had changed, but if it followed the original flow somewhat, ''There are many things I can use.'' There was no need to think tooplicatedly. If I thoughtfully used the information I had, I would somehow manage.
"Phew." I breathed deeply. I felt like I could live now. Maybe it was because I had a nosebleed and fainted during a meal 2 days ago. My physical condition deteriorated rapidly after checking the system. I endured the pain that felt like stabbing my whole body and took some painkillers that were in my room. After that, I fell asleep as if I fainted and repeatedly woke up from my sleep. From time to time, my mother and Sevenus came to see me worriedly, but now I was fine. ''Although, I don''t know when I''ll faint again.'' -Mymb, do you know how worried I was? Come to think of it, I think I heard Kyros'' worried voice every time I was conscious. ''I''m sorry for making you worry.'' -No, no, what do you have to be sorry for? Kyros burst into tears again. I ignored him and looked at Paul. "Paul, I want to go out today." "Sir? But your condition is..." "I''m much better now." "But if you go out and faint again..." "It''s okay, Paul. I don''t faint for a few days after fainting once. And, I''m not going far. I''m going to Elyn, the closest town to the mansion." Paul''s resistance was broken by my words. It was true, after all. "...Okay, I understand. Then I''ll get ready." In the end, Paul left the room with his hands and feet up. I ate the food that he had prepared for me in the room and thought. ''Well, I can go out now.'' But, I had to be alone to buy the cure for Malone''s disease. ''I have to hide my identity while getting rid of the escort knights...'' There was no way. I had nothing right now. Of course, there were items for disguise in the game. ''In my current state, I can''t possibly get them. That''s the problem.'' They only existed in other cities, so I couldn''t go that far with this body. -Do you need help? As I was eating and thinking, Kyros'' voice came to me. He seemed to have stopped crying. ''Yes. I have to avoid being recognized by anyone.'' -Mymb, let me help you. ''What?'' As I asked Kyros back, a white sphere of light appeared in front of me. This was the same light as when I got hit by a stick...! Maybe he was trying to manifest himself again? But no. The light of the sphere faded and formed a shape. Unfortunately, Kyros didn''t have enough power to manifest himself. And what appeared was... "...sses?" They were sses withrge round lenses. [You have acquired the holy item ''Cognitive Dissonance sses''.] They looked like ordinary sses, but they were holy items. I checked the item information right away. [Cognitive Dissonance sses (Holy Item) Grade: Mythical Item Description: sses imbued with the power of Kyros, the God of Beauty. They distort the cognitive ability of others who look at the wearer.] It seemed that if I wore these sses, other people wouldn''t recognize my face. This is not bad at all? When I do my cult--- No, leader work, I can wear these sses and take them off normally. ''Thank you, Kyros!'' -Hm, yes. It''s nothing. I would have liked to manifest myself and give it to you personally, but... Anyway, even if you wear those sses, your appearance will remain the same, but others won''t realize that you are the second son of the Holden family. Ah, I understand. It''s like a hypnotic effect that makes me look like an ordinary person while keeping my dazzling appearance. ''Thank you so much, Kyros. You gave me another holy item!'' -For my beloved believer, it''s only natural. Ahem, but there''s something. ''Yes, Kyros?'' Kyros, who had been very enthusiastic, coughed timidly and added. -I might not be able to make any more holy items for a while. ''What?'' -Making a holy item consumes a lot of power each time. In the future, when my power bes stronger, I''ll be able to make them more often, but... Kyros trailed off in a gloomy tone. It wasn''t unexpected. But, I had hoped to get more holy items since he gave me one from the start. It was a pity, but I had already obtained a weapon and a disguised item, so I had what I needed. ''It''s okay, Kyros.'' Iforted Kyros, who was still gloomy, and put the sses in my inventory.
I got on the carriage with the Holden family crest and finally breathed a sigh of relief. It was hard to go out. The knights assigned to escort me were originally four. But, I adamantly refused. I couldn''t move freely with too many people. I had to act with all my might in front of Paul, who saw me off. "It''s okay. Don''t worry too much, Paul. Besides, it''s more ufortable for me if they swarm around me like this..." I was going to the most bustling ce in the territory anyway, so I asked him to reduce the escort by half. I said I was too burdened by it. Thanks to that, I was able to go out with only two of the most skilled knights from the Holden family. I wanted to walk there since it was close to the destination, but I had to get on the carriage because of Paul''s fierce opposition. And, it took less than 10 minutes for the carriage to arrive at the destination. The carriage stopped in a quiet alley and the door opened and the knights reached out their hands to me. "Please get off, sir." It was a well-known fact that the second son of the Holden family was frail, so it was natural. But it was embarrassing to be supported by sturdy knights as I got off. "Thank you." I got off the carriage and put on a robe and came out of the alley with the knights. It was my first outing since I woke up in this world and without realizing it, I was excited. ''This is the most bustling town in Holden territory.'' Elyn. The streets of Elyn were simr to what I had seen in the game. There were shops from the medieval era and lively citizens everywhere. ''It''s amazing to see it like this.'' I stopped for a moment and looked around. It felt real that I hade here. The voices of merchants from all over, theughter of children running around, the sounds of lovers'' affection. They were all nice to hear. Well, except for thest one. And even though there were so many people, no one recognized me. ''I haven''t gone out since I was very young.'' It''sfortable and nice. "Sir, do you have a specific destination?" I shook my head at the knight''s question. "No. I just came to look around..." That''s when it happened. There was someone who stood out among the crowd. A man with a head taller than most people and a beast-like huge body caught my eye. Dark ck hair and jewel-like red eyes, a beautiful appearance that no one could deny. And yet, no one approached him because of his overwhelming aura that made him hard to approach. Like me, they all just looked at him. ''...Why is he here?'' He was none other than the protagonist of HSAW. Terdius Austin. Chapter 5 Chapter 5 ''He''s much more handsome than the illustration.'' -My first believer, who is that boy? He''s quite beautiful, though not as much as you. ''What? Oh... I wonder. Who could he be?'' Sure enough, as Kyros said, Terdius was not a Good of Beauty, but he was also among the beautiful ones. Terdius looked around carefully as if he was looking for something. I quickly turned my head away as I felt like our eyes would meet. ''But why is he here?'' There was still time before the original story began... Oh, no. I realized I hadn''t counted the time I spentining. It was time for him to enter Holdenring. That means... ''Soon, that incident will happen.'' I would eventually run into him while moving for the main quest, but not yet. And at this point, I couldn''t exactly tell where Terdius belonged. Let alone his clothes. I couldn''t guess his affiliation because he was wearing a robe like me. Also, if I assumed he was from Diego Faith, ''I would be doomed if I got involved with him.'' So, I moved in the opposite direction of Terdian. Fortunately, the knights who escorted me wore in clothes, so they didn''t attract attention. I wondered and looked around the street for a few minutes. ''Why does it seem like everyone is staring at me?'' -Of course, they are. ''Why?'' -You are my first believer, and I am the God of Beauty! How can people not be intoxicated by your beauty? Kyros'' cheerfulughter followed. ''Ah, yes. Well... that''s true.'' I felt it every time I looked in the mirror. It was all thanks to the beauty enhancement skill, my appearance was improving day by day. Was my faith in Kyros that strong? Or was it because I knew of Kyros'' existence, and that also counted as faith? Anyway, although I thought I was quite beautiful, I didn''t expect it to affect a street full of strangers. ''Maybe things will be easier than I thought.''
It was about time. It had been an hour since I arrived in Elyn. I had to shake off the knights. I couldn''t go shopping for the medicine with them. They would report it. Furthermore, if my family found out what the medicine was, they would oppose it with all their might. I had the holy relic stick anyway, so it wasn''t that dangerous without a knight escort. Of course, my body was weaker than a leaf on the street right now. ''But, I have a lucky item.'' My current state was no different from a beginner at level 1 who holds a max-level weapon. It would be fine. ''I just have to wait for the right moment.'' We entered a quiet street and saw a bench where we could rest. Along with the knights, I headed straight to the bench. I sat on the bench and leaned back to show them how tired I was. "Are you exhausted? Do you want to go back?" I breathed heavily and the knight asked me with a worried look. I shooked my head. "I''m fine. I just need a break." "Okay, I understand." At my words, the two knights guarded the bench. Didn''t they know that this would attract attention..? Apparently not. "Um. I have a favor to ask." I smiled and spoke to them. There seemed to be no one among the servants in the mansion who could resist my smile. "Can you buy me some water and some simple snacks?" "Yes. Okay. Jack, go get them." "Wouldn''t it be faster if you both went?" "What? But... then you would be alone, sir. What if you faint while we''re gone?" "Hey, it won''t take more than five minutes. I need some freedom too." The knights looked troubled. Oh, just a little more and they''ll agree, right? "I''ve lived in the mansion all my life. Even if it''s just for a moment, I want to be alone for a while. I won''t budge from here. Okay? Please." I gathered my acting skills from when I used to work as a service worker and tried to look as pitiful as possible. I hoped my beauty would do its job too..! "...Okay. If it''s just for a moment, then it''s fine." "But you have to stay here. We''ll be back soon!" It worked! "Okay! Don''t worry." Sorry. I lied. In an instant, the knights disappeared into the crowd. I took this opportunity to take out my sses from the inventory and put them on. And then, I started running at full speed. "Huff, huff!" But, why was I out of breath after running just for a few seconds? This damn body. -My child, are you sure you''re okay doing this alone? ''Of course. I have the stick you gave me.'' -But... I was sorry for the knights, but I had no choice. I have to heal my body first. So I ran at the fastest speed I could. Even though I was much slower than a running child... I finally arrived at my destination. The back alley behind Elyn''s downtown. Even in broad daylight, the dark alley was deserted. But, it was fine. ''Left here, and then right.'' The map I saw in the game was already in my head. I walked quickly to where I was headed, a small pub with no name and an empty sign. There was no customer in the old and worn-out pub. Instead, an old man who was wiping a ss at the bar greeted me. "Wee. What can I get you?" I felt a slight chill. ''The dialogue is exactly the same as in the game.'' I brushed my left arm and calmly answered. "I came to get a Levial flower." The old man''s eyes sank deeply. He looked at me as if scanning me, then opened his mouth after a while. "Follow me." The cold air hit me as I followed him down to the basement. After walking down the dark corridor, I soon arrived at a door at the end. Knock, knock-knock, knock. The old man knocked on the door in a certain rhythm and the door opened. "Go ahead. You''ll find what you want here." The old man turned around and disappeared the way he came. I went straight into the room. The basement was filled with musty air. There was a table covered with a red cloth and a man sitting in front of it. Behind him was a sturdy iron door. "Hmm, this is not a ce for a fine young lord toe." As I looked around, the merchant smirked and looked me over. He was a handsome young man with green hair and brown eyes. ''He''s better than the illustration, too.'' By the way, was he trying to flirt with me? I smiled back at him and threw him a pouch from my chest. Clink. As the heavy weight fell on the table, the merchant quickly opened the pouch. "Gasp!" His eyes widened as he saw the gold coins filling the pouch. It was part of the money I had received from Paul before I left. Sevenus said it was my first outing and asked him to take good care of me. "What can I do for you, sir?" The merchant smiled widely and politely asked me after checking the amount. He had been fidgeting before, but now he was sitting upright. ''Who would say he''s not a money lover?'' The most important thing for a secret shop to survive was trust. And he was a guy who would do anything for money, so there was no risk. He came back with a blue bottle in his hand after a while. "Here you go! The finest Pasrel poison." I took the bottle and checked the item. It was Pasrel poison, as described in the original. It had a sweet smell, a buttery smell, and a beer smell mixed together. I put the item in my chest and turned around. "Pleasee again, sir! And don''t forget to look for me, ''Zain''!" Huh? Look at this guy. The merchant, Zain, didn''t reveal his name easily. There was only one situation where he would reveal his name. It was when he smelled money. ''Maybe things will be easier than I thought.'' I put the Pasrel poison in my inventory as soon as I left the pub. -Mymb, why did you buy poison? ''I have a use for it.'' -Really? But this way... isn''t this the wrong way back? ''Ah, yes. I have something to check.'' As Kyros said, I wasn''t heading to Elyn. I was heading deeper into the back alley. The alley was just a passage connecting Elyn and this ce. When I reached the end of the alley, another vige appeared. ''It''s worse than I thought.'' This was ''Rovel.'' A slum with an opposite atmosphere to Elyn. The vige was full of old buildings that looked like they would copse at any moment, and some people were lying on the street. There were also some people that walked like zombies with their shoulders drooping. ''Rovel was always a slum, but they said it wasn''t this bad.'' I scanned the view of Rovel as if to imprint it on my eyes. Especially, I focused on people''s appearance. They had blue spots on their exposed bodies. ''As expected...'' There wasn''t much time left until the ''second disaster'' urred in Holdenring. ''But I don''t have much time either, so I should go back for now.'' I nned toe back soon. Before the real ''disaster'' appeared.
"Ah, I''m tired." As soon as I finished my meal, I threw myself on the bed. I felt like I could fall asleep at any moment as I entrusted my body to the soft sensation. But I got up right away. I still had something to do. -Mymb, how about refraining from personal actions next time? ''Right, I''ll try to do that as much as possible.'' When I went to Rovel alone and came back to Elyn. The faces of the knights who found me were grim. They said they would have gone back to the mansion and brought the knight squad if I had been a littleter... ''I have to sort this out now, or it might get more annoyingter.'' I apologized earnestly to the two knights, saying that I was excited because it was my first outing. I begged them to keep it a secret since it wouldn''t happen again. Fortunately, the knights who felt sorry for me agreed to my words. ''I can''t lose the freedom I''ve barely gained.'' I loosened my stiff body with some light stretching and headed to the bathroom attached to the room. I took out the Pasrel poison that I bought today from the inventory. The reaction began as soon as I swallowed a sip. "Cough!" -Ah, my child! Why did you drink that? A surge of pain wrapped around my whole body. It felt like I had been electrocuted, and my heart rate sped up. -Wah, no! My precious first child! You can''t die like this! "Keuk!" rgh--- I vomited blood after the pain. Thankfully, the pain subsided gradually. My head still hurts, though. ''I''m fine, Kyros.'' -How can you be fine? You''re bleeding a lot! ''This is a medicine. The medicine for the disease I have.'' -Hmph, no. How can a poison be medicine? Sob, if only I was a little stronger, I would have healed you with my divine power. Sob, it''s all because I''m useless. Iforted Kyros and started sprinkling hot water on the bathroom floor. -Hmph, okay, if you say so as my believer... but what are you doing now? ''Cleaning. Luckily, I vomited blood here. It''s easy to clean up.'' He screamed when I answered while cleaning diligently. -How can you say that so easily?! And Kyros'' nagging didn''t stop until I finished cleaning the bathroom. ...Save me. Chapter 6 Chapter 6 In the original novel, when Terdius contracted Malone''s disease, he had five choices to make. The correct one was to ingest Pasrel Poison. ''I remember that he had to drink a sip every day until the Malone worms came out of his body.'' Pasrel poison was made from magical herbs and it damaged the most vital part of the organ when consumed. But for someone with Malone''s disease, the Pasrel poison recognized the ''Malone worms'' as the most vital part of the body. It cured the disease with poison. It was really a case of fighting poison with poison. Furthermore, Pasrel poison only attacked what it had targeted once and left everything else untouched. ''But, it''s too expensive and hardly anyone thinks of using poison as a cure.'' That was why Malone''s disease was considered incurable. Besides, there weren''t many people who suffered from Malone''s disease in the world. Because of that, it was a field with little development and research. ''I should let them know about the cureter.'' It would be nice to subtly inform the medicalmunity or develop it independently within the family. Since I don''t have the conditions right now, I''ll have to think about itter. ''...Well, it''s not urgent.'' Anyway, if I keep ingesting Pasrel poison, the corpses of Malone worms wille out of my body. I don''t know how long it will take. Speak of it, In the original novel, Terdius ingested Pasrel''s poison only a few days after he got Malone''s disease. He was cured in less than a day. ''But my body is...'' I had been suffering from Malone''s disease for over 10 years, so there was no guarantee of how long it would take me to recover. Maybe it was a lifelong disease. ''Still, I''ll be grateful if my condition improves.'' I already felt better. I had cleaned the bathroom and returned to my room not long ago, so it was less than 30 minutes after I ingested the poison. ''My body feels light.'' I had no headache or dizziness. I smiled and took out a robe from my inventory and put it on with a hood. -Youngmb, where are you going at this hour? Kyros, who had been whining until a moment ago, asked in surprise. Indeed, it was a bitte to go out. ''Uhm, I''m going to save the world?'' I answered lightly with a smile. Carefully, I opened the door and stepped into the hallway. The Holden family''s schedule started early in the morning and ended early as well. So even though it wasn''t long after dinner, the hallway was quiet. I could hear some servants walking around asionally, but it was fine. Everyone who stayed in this mansion knew that Revelof Holden always went to bed early. ''So even if I sneak out, no one will look for me.'' In other words, all I had to do was escape carefully. I walked down the empty hallway as quietly as possible. Fortunately, I didn''t run into anyone until I reached my destination. ''This is it.'' The ce where I stopped was Holden''s library. The entrance to the library was arge arched wooden door. Instead of a handle, it was a disk. Holden''s symbol was engraved on the disk, a sword wrapped with rose vines. If a member of Holden touched this disk, it would glow blue and open the door, just like now. Creak--- I looked at the door that opened automatically. The library was only essible to members of Holden for generations. Externally, it was because of the countless books collected by Holden''s first lord. ''They say there are more books here than in the royal pce.'' I went straight into the library. The library was magnificent in size. It was around two floors tall and as wide as arge hall. On the high shelves were books packed tightly, some of which were rolling on the floor. "Cough!" Well, there was a lot of dust. I covered my mouth with my hand and closed the door of the library. -My littlemb, didn''t you say you were going out? As I walked in, Kyros inquired me in a puzzled voice. ''You''ll see.'' I smiled and headed further in. As I walked past the tall shelves, it started to get dark. There weremps maintained by magic in various ces in the library so I could see better. But the light was hidden by the shelves and disappeared as I went deeper. Fortunately, I found what I wanted before it waspletely dark. The smallest and oldest shelf among the countless shelves. "This is it." Unlike other shelves that were packed with books, this shelf only had ten books and was as tall as me. Immediately, I moved my foot. Thud! When I kicked the right leg of the shelf lightly with my foot, the shelf started to shake. Squeak--- A small wooden door appeared behind the shelf that slid to the right. -Wow! A secret passage! Kyros eximed and I felt inexplicably happy. I immediately pulled open the wooden door. Behind the wooden door was nothing but darkness that couldn''t be seen an inch ahead. But, I felt a faint breeze blowing. ''It must be connected to the outside.'' But it was too dark, so I opened my inventory. I took out antern that I had prepared in advance. ''Oh, right. I should wear sses too.'' No matter how few people knew my face, I couldn''t risk revealing that I was the son of Holden. Besides, what I was going to do was something that I couldn''t let anyone see my face. ''Well, let''s go.'' After I finished preparing, I slowly headed inside. The interior was like a cave that only one person could move through. In fact, this ce was a secret passage that connected to the outside and had existed since the first lord of Holden. It was a ce that the first lord of Holden made to escape from his work. I learned about this space thanks to Revelof''s memory. When he was very young, Revelof heard a story about the first lord from his mother. ''It''s probably the only ce in the mansion that connects to the outside, so only members of Holden can use it.'' This passage led to an alley near Elyn. -Mymb, how are you going to save the world? ''It''s simple.'' -Hmm? ''I''m going to spread your doctrine.'' That way, the world wouldn''t end. -Oh, yes. That''s right. That''s right. But, mymb, do you know about my will? I already know it from reading the original novel, but I can''t pretend to know it directly. ''...I don''t know.'' -Hmm. That''s right. Naturally, you don''t know since my power is still weak. There was a sigh in Kyros'' voice. He seemed a bit gloomy. I asked him kindly. ''What is your will, Kyros?'' -Actually, the doctrine is something that humans decide, not gods. But if I can convey my will... Kyros hesitated for a moment. -There is nothing more precious than life in this world. As expected. Kyros'' will was the same as in the original novel. But... ''Kyros, you are the God of Beauty. Actually, I thought you would say that there is nothing more precious than beauty. It''s surprising.'' It was a question that I had every time I yed the original novel. And the question was resolved with Kyros'' faintughter. -Mymb, the title of God of Beauty is not something that I gave myself. It''s because I''m so beautiful that people naturally gave me that title. ''Ah, yes. Yes. Of course.'' I answered vaguely and moved on. There was silence for a while and Kyros suddenly said, -My littlemb. ''Yes?'''' -...Actually, I am... Kyros stopped and hesitated. Why is he like this? -I can''t forget those people I saw earlier. ''What?'' -You know, the people we saw in the back alley. Can''t we help them? That''s when the system window popped up. [Subquest triggered!] [Subquest Description: ept the will of Kyros, the God of Beauty, who feels sorry for the people of Rovel, and save them. Objective: Cure the people of Rovel (0/10) Sess: ??? Failure: -] [Do you ept?] [Yes/No] I scanned the quest and unknowingly lifted the corners of my mouth. Really... He''s too lovable. I immediately pressed [Yes] and answered. ''I was on my way to Rovel anyway. Just like you, I can''t forget their faces either, Kyros.'' -As expected, I knew it! You are truly my believer! Kyros praised me enthusiastically. -You are my first believer! ...He seemed too excited. Well, actually, going to Rovel was a side mission. The main mission was to prevent the second disaster that would happen in ''Holden Territory'' in the original novel. ''If I prevent the disaster, I can save the people of Rovel.'' Besides, Rovel was... As I was lost in thought, I realized toote that I had reached a dead end. -Oh, this way is already blocked. Kyros sighed, more excited than me. Instead of answering, I just lifted thentern up. -That is...! The light of thentern illuminated the ceiling of the cave. But there was a material that was clearly different from the inside of the cave that I had seen so far. It was arge disk with Holden''s emblem engraved on it. I immediately put thentern in my inventory and stretched out both hands toward the disk. ''I found it.'' The height wasn''t too high, so my hand touched the emblem right away. The disk recognized me and glowed blue like the library door and moved smoothly. As soon as that happened, I saw the night sky with the cold night air. I stretched out my arms and pushed against the ceiling and jumped lightly. Fortunately, I was able to climb up easily. Even though I am recovering from Malone''s disease, my body was so weak that I ran out of energy quickly. "Haa, haa." I caught my breath and looked at where I hade out. The floor returned to normal as if nothing had happened. To others, it looked like an ordinary stone floor. ''I should memorize the location, just in case.'' I looked around to prepare for when I came back. The ce where I came out was a narrow alley. I remembered the geography as I left the alley. It wasn''t hard to remember since I had been here once before. I walked quickly through Elyn''s night streets and headed to the back alley. Before going to Rovel, there was a ce I had to stop by first. The people of Rovel were currently addicted to a drug-like substance called ''Happy''. To be precise, it was more like a poison that was simr to a drug. So, fortunately, it could be cured. Then, the ce I headed to was... "You''re back again, customer." The secret shop where I bought Pasrel poison. Unlike when I came during the day, Jain greeted me this time. He smiled brightly as soon as he saw me and weed me with open arms. "I didn''t expect you toe back so soon!" This guy, he didn''t think I would look for him at all? Still, time is time. "Well then, shall we go inside?" I followed Jain to the basement. Chapter 7 Chapter 7 "What do you need this time?" Jain''s mouth was hanging on his ears, maybe because he liked my wealth from our previous meeting. I took out a money pouch from my pocket and threw it at him and said briefly, "Mandrake root. As much as you can." I didn''t need to be nice to this guy. As soon as he checked the money pouch, the smile on his face disappeared. "Please wait a moment." Jain put the money pouch in his pocket and went straight into the iron door. He came back soon with a pouch and handed it to me. I immediately checked the contents. The shape that looked like aloe was the same as what I saw in the original novel. "Customer." As I finished checking the contents, Jain called me. There was still no smile on his face. "Are you... going to Rovel? To help them?" I didn''t answer. I didn''t even know what to say. Then Jain took my silence as a yes and sighed softly. "Be careful if that''s the case. I''m telling you this because you''re my customer. I don''t want to lose a customer like you." I''m sure you don''t. There wouldn''t be a loyal customer who gave him a lot of gold coins every time he came. I nodded slightly instead of answering and left the shop. The night was gettingte, so I thought about moving slowly. But I knew I would suffer tomorrow if I didn''t get enough sleep today. ''This weak body of mine.'' -Mymb. As I walked quickly towards Rovel, Kyros called me. ''Yes?'' -Do you know what that man meant by being careful? ''Well...'' I knew, but I couldn''t tell Kyros. As I walked briskly, I arrived at Rovel in no time. There were fewer people on the streets than during the day, but there were still some of them. First, I approached the closest one. I crouched down and took out the mandrake root. I took out one leaf and broke it into small pieces using my hand then shoved it into his mouth. I did the same thing to the others around me. Some of them tried to resist the herb, but it was toote as the herb was already in their mouths. After a while, theirplexions improved rapidly. Their cloudy eyes gradually regained their focus and some of them fell asleep. "Huh?" They would probably wake up with a clear head. The main symptoms of ''Happy'' were blue spots on the body, lethargy, and impaired rational thinking ability. In other words, they were in a perfect state to fall for cults or multi-level marketing schemes. There were people who used this in Rovel. And, I was going to drive them out of Holden Territory. "Excuse me..." As I was looking at them, A white-haired, skinny old man reached out to me. He was the one I had just put mandrake root in his mouth. He seemed to have something to say to me, so I approached him and crouched down. "Who are you? Who are you to help us..." He seemed to realize that I was helping them because of the quick detoxification. That''s good. "I''m... just someone who wanted to help you." I almost said that I came from Kyros'' religion. The ones who made Rovel like this were also cultists. In this situation, telling them about another religion might create a negative opinion about Kyros'' religion. For example, they might think that another cultist is pretending to help them and trying to control them or something like that. "Your condition is notpletely better yet. I''ll leave this here, so please share it with the people in the vige. There should be enough." I put down the pouch with mandrake root in front of the old man. "This is mandrake root. If you take it regrly, the drug willpletely leave your body." "Thank you..." The old man hugged the pouch I gave him and fell asleep quickly. Around me, there were sounds of breathing and snoring from sleeping people. I was still crouching and looked around at them for once and then turned my eyes away. To the system window that appeared in front of me. [Subquest cleared!] [Subquest reward will be given.] [You have acquired the skill ''Heal''.] I had been aware of it for a while, but this was the first time I checked it properly. I didn''t expect to get a skill as a subquest reward. I smiled and opened the skill window. [Heal (Active) LV.1 Grade: Legendary Description: You can heal LV.1 life forms. LV.2 ??? (Locked) LV.3 ??? (Locked) LV.4 ??? (Locked) LV.5 ??? (Locked) Experience: 0/10] This is... -Mymb, you did a great job. You are truly my first believer. It would have been better if you had told them about my existence, but it''s not toote to do that after they recover their health, hehe. Kyros was talking excitedly, but I didn''t have the time to pay attention to him. I was surprised to get the skill in the first ce, but what surprised me more was that I had never seen this skill in the original novel. ''Well, it''s toote to react to this now.'' After all, the club and the sses weren''t in the original either. But still, the skill itself was a kind that didn''t exist in HSAW, so it was amazing. You can level up your skills. That''s crazy. ''Kyros, thank you---'' Shriek--- I was about to thank Kyros, but I couldn''t finish my sentence. A cold sensation touched my neck and goosebumps ran through my whole body. ''What? When did...'' Was he behind me this whole time? A huge shadow that appeared without my knowledge felt like it was going to devour me. "Who are you?" The voice from behind me was low and heavy. At the same time, I felt killing intent for the first time in my life. Cold sweat ran down from both of my hands and my instinct warned me. You''ll die if you move recklessly. ''Be calm. Calm down.'' -What is this? How dare you touch my believer! ''Kyros, calm down. I can''t think rationally if you act like this. We need to be calm at times like this.'' -Okay. I got it. At this time, in this ce, with this kind of presence. I didn''t need to check who it was. I knew. Terdius Austin. Then, the de that was close to my neck moved slightly away. I didn''t miss the chance and turned my head and saw him as expected. His red eyes which shone faintly in the moonlight stared at me piercingly. Fortunately, his presence had subsided a bit. Maybe because he looked around. I tried to hide my nervousness and opened my mouth with difficulty. "I''m... a religious person." I had no reason to reveal that I was a descendant of Holden, and I didn''t want to lie either. Except for lying, not answering was the worst option. "Which affiliation?" Terdius nced at me and asked. "I believe in Kyros." "...Never heard of him." As expected. I forced a smile on my lips that wouldn''t go up. "It''s a new religion that was established recently." I remembered the smile I used while working a part-time job in service and gave him a harmless smile. He said that while saving Terdius. Terdius was wearing a robe like me, but his cor was slightly exposed. On the ck cor, there was a silver snake emblem. ''Damn, I wish it wasn''t him.'' It was confirmed. The protagonist of the original work, Terdius, belonged to the evil god, Diego Faith. ''...I had a rough guess, but now I''m sure.'' That''s why he didn''t harm me. The god of Diego Faith, Diego, was a dictator in one word. He oppressed other religions that had some influence, and even condemned and executed them as heretics. But, he left small religions alone. There was no benefit in touching them, and small religions would disappear on their own anyway. ''Well, it''s nothing but the whim of an evil god anyway.'' Anyway, thanks to that, I was sure that my life was saved. If he wanted to hurt me, he would have done it long ago. Swish--- My thoughts were exactly right. Terdius finally put away the sword he had pointed at me. Then he looked at me like a bug and said coldly, "If you don''t want to die, get lost." Look at his attitude. I was angry, but I could go to hell with one kick from him... "Yes." I still kept a smile and got up from my seat. Life is precious. Well then. It''s not because I''m scared. -My poor child, you were scared. It''s because I couldn''t help you. I''m sorry... Sob. ''It''s not like that.'' I passed by Terdius and went in the direction to go back. I was just going to check the situation today anyway. ''By the way...'' It finally hit me. The difficulty level has doubledpared to the original work. If I had to define Terdius Austin of HSAW in one sentence, he was a righteous hero. But now it was different. Terdius, who belonged to Diego Faith, had changed a lot. ''He''s rude, cold-hearted, and most importantly...'' His eyes seem dead. In HSAW, he was always smiling, giving hope to everyone, and was a bright individual. What on earth happened to Terdius? Even though I was an expert in HSAW, I didn''t know this part either. It was frustrating. ''Well, I''ll find out sooner orter.'' When I got out of Rovelpletely, I finally rxed a bit. "Phew." That was close. My legs almost gave out, but I managed to walk with some strength. Then, I heard Kyros'' voice, who had stopped crying. -Are you okay? ''Yes. I''m fine.'' -How can there be such an impolite guy? Just because his face is half-half. Tsk! ''What can we do? He belongs to Diego Faith.'' -That exins it. I felt the filthy snake''s aura from him! ''Ha ha.'' -By the way, mymb also realizes what kind of guy the filthy snake is. Although, it seems that the humans of this world doesn''t know much about him. That''s how the world is set up. But I made a remark for Kyros'' sake. ''Yes. I realized it after meeting you, Kyros.'' -Oh really? That''s really lucky! ''Yes. The believers who will believe in Kyros Faith from now on will also do that.'' I said that and entered the alley of Elyn. It wasn''t hard to find the way I had memorized beforehand. As soon as I touched the ground, the passage opened. I lightly jumped down to the cave and took out antern from my inventory. ''I should go to sleep as soon as I get in.'' I didn''t have much to do, but I was quite exhausted mentally and physically. It must have been because of the aftermath of meeting Terdius. -Hmm, my child. ''Yes?'' -I think I''m too anxious. ''Yes? What is it?'' -When I saw the guy you met today, I didn''t know when mymb woulde to my side. Does that mean he doesn''t know when I''ll die...? -So squeeze out yourst strength and help me! ''Yes, yes?'' -Hng! Along with a sound that seemed like Kyros was exerting his power, which was very unpleasant, a system window appeared in front of me. [You have acquired 2 tickets for a one-time gacha.] ...Huh? Chapter 8 Chapter 8 What is this? A gacha ticket? I couldn''t help but be surprised. Of course, it was natural. There was no gacha system in HSAW! -Ah, my child. I will send you the angels blessed with my power. ''Oh, thank you.'' I was grateful, but... a gacha system in a trash game like HSAW...? First, I opened my inventory and checked the item description. [Agent 1-time Gacha Ticket (2 pieces) Grade: ??? Description: A gift from the God of Beauty, Kyros. You can draw an agent from C to S grade.] After reading the content, I frowned. No, how weak is Kyros that he gave me a random gacha ticket instead of a guaranteed one? Well, that aside. How do I use this ticket? Do I tear it out? As I wondered how to use it, I reached out to the inventory and took out the ticket. sh. My eyes were blinded by white light. It was as if I hade to another dimension in an instant. The world waspletely white and I felt a floating sensation all over my body. ''Ugh, I hate this kind of thing.'' But since Kyros gave it to me as a gift, nothing bad would happen, right? I tried to struggle, but nothing changed. So I stayed still for now. Judging by the silence of Kyros'' voice, did I reallye to another dimension? Pop! An out-of-ce sound effect rang in my ears. Something appeared in front of me with smoke. ''This is...'' A slot machine? No, why...? [Agent Gacha will begin.] I smiled faintly at the message that appeared next. There was no gacha system in HSAW. But I had cleared HSAW, a trash game, after ying many games. It was unexpected, but not unfamiliar. Besides, these gambling games were basically fun, so I liked them a bit. It''s just that I didn''t expect to do gacha here. ''Maybe the system adjusted to what I''m familiar with.'' This slot machine was a bit different from what I had seen before as well. Usually, you need three matching pictures to get a reward, but this one had only one slot. And there were no pictures on it. [Agent grade: S, A, B, C] Instead, what upied the slot was only the information about the agent grades. I had already confirmed this through the ticket information, but I was disappointed again. ''It depends on luck. I''ve never gotten the best thing from these things.'' Sadly, I wasn''t very lucky. "Sigh." [Pull the lever.] As I sighed, a text appeared as if urging me. Well, whatever. It''s all up to luck anyway. There''s no point in worrying. I pulled the lever of the slot machine with all my strength. [Two agent gacha tickets will be consumed.] As I moved the lever, a message appeared and I widened my eyes slightly. Wait a minute. What? It consumed two tickets instead of one? ''Does it mean that two people wille out of this grade? Or is it originally two tickets for one person?'' I didn''t know what it meant, but I focused on the screen that changed every moment. The alphabets spun quickly and the slot machine made a loud sound effect as if to induce tension. Ding-dong! Ding-ding! Pop! Pop! ''Please, please, S grade! Or at least an A grade!'' The slot machine started to slow down. It gradually slowed down and then, Ding-dong--- The grade was finally decided.
At the same time, Terdius Austin was still standing alone in Rovel. His red eyes shining faintly in the moonlight scanned over the residents of Rovel who were lying on the floor asleep. They were addicted to ''Happy'' until just before and had drifted away from ordinary human life. Their paleplexion, their limp bodies. Children, old people, middle-aged men, young women. They were all like that regardless of age. But there was one person who caught Terdius'' eye more than anyone else. The target of his gaze was a young boy who was sound asleep. Terdius couldn''t take his eyes off him. ''Brother, I''m fine.'' He looked up and saw himself with a paleplexion. ''I always wished you were happy, brother. More than me.'' He had a smaller stature than his peers, a bloodless pale face, and thin arms and legs. But, his eyes always sparkled when he looked at him. The child of Rovel, his face ovepped with that boy. "...." Terdius couldn''t take his eyes off him for a moment, then brushed his hair back. Just before, he had met a man who belonged to the ''Kyros Church'', something he had never heard of. Terdius tried to kill him. He was an obstacle to his mission. And yet, he couldn''t do it. He, who was merciless to anyone, couldn''t do it. ''Why?'' Just because he helped the people of Rovel? Because he saved a boy who resembled Ivan? No. It wasn''t that. There was another reason. But Terdius couldn''t figure out why. The only certain thing was; He felt a familiarity with him. That was the moment, Keeing--- A sharp sound and a pain that made his head feel like it was breaking. The pain was brief and familiar. When the pain ended, there was no emotion left in his eyes that had been full of questions. Now it was time to do his job. The reason Terdius came to Rovel was simple. ''Lizes Church.'' It was because of a pseudo-religious group that was known to be rted to the Devil King. His elite subordinates had already gone out for investigation, but they lost contact. His direct subordinate ''Ron'' asked him to dispatch himself, but Terdius refused. If the elites who were the vanguard lost contact, it was certain that Lizes Church was close to the Devil King. So, He went out on his own for a quick job. The third apostle of Diego Church, Terdius Austin himself. "...." Terdius, who had sorted out all his thoughts, soon disappeared into the darkness.
I clenched my fists tightly. I wanted to scream and jump around, but I gave up because I had no strength. But, I was very happy. The grade written on the screen was S. And it was a dazzling golden S!! They say if you wish hard enough, ites true! ''I can''t believe I got an S grade!'' But the probability itself didn''t seem to be that low. [Congrattions!] [You have drawn S-grade executives!] As soon as the congrattory message appeared, a bright light burst out of the slot machine. I closed my eyes because of the intense light. And when it quieted down, I opened my eyes and found myself back in the corridor where I had been before. This time, I was not alone but with the executives. "Hello, leader!" "Ni-nice to meet you." As I heard unfamiliar voices, Kyros''s voice came back. -Oh, they are the angels! Kyros was very happy. And so was I. There were two S-grade executives who appeared in front of me. And they were twins with the same appearance. They looked like they were just over ten years old, but they were still an S-grade, so it didn''t matter. Anyway, these kids were cute children with brown hair and green eyes. They had the same appearance, but their clothes were different and easy to distinguish. One wore armor like a knight, and the other wore a pure white robe that wrapped around his body. The one in the robe even wore sses without lenses, so there was no way to confuse them. By the way, they looked like ordinary kids in cosy. "Hi. I''m Revelof Holden. I''m the leader of Kyros Faith." The kids looked up at me with sparkling eyes, so I introduced myself in my own way. I had recognized myself as the leader of Kyros Faith for quite a while, but it was embarrassing to say it out loud. "I''m Alphius. I''m the high priest of Kyros Faith who will help you, leader!" Alphius ran up to me quickly as his brown hair fluttered, and then greeted me politely. A child this young was a high priest. Was it because he was S-grade? And if he was an NPC, he would know quite a bit about Kyros. "I-I''m Chester. I''m a pdin." Unlike the lively Alphius, Chester looked timid. He came up to me hesitantly but with a smile on his face. They were both cute. -My littlemb, these two angels were born from my power. So I can send them my voice whenever I want. Ah. That''s how it was. "Alphius, Chester." I called the two kids who were smiling innocently. "What kind of power do you have?" I bent down to meet their eyes and asked. The high priest and pdin, I could guess by their jobs. But I still wanted to hear it myself. "I can help you and look after Kyros Faith in general! For example, managing believers and temples, and sometimes doing your work instead of you!" Alphius answered with his eyes shining brightly. But, he could also be the acting leader? Wow, I like that. "That''s amazing." I stroked Alphius'' hair and the kid giggled. Then, something pulled my clothes. When I turned my head, I saw Chester with his head down. "Le, leader. I can also... I can also do many things. I''m strong and good at swordsmanship, so I can protect you. And, and also... I can chop wood, and also..." Oh. I guess I paid too much attention to one person. "Really? Chester is amazing too." I pretended to be surprised and stroked Chester''s head too. Then, his expression brightened up. "Thank you foring to my side, both of you." I hugged the cute kids who would be my strength at once. "I look forward to working with you!" "I, I look forward to working with you too...." After a hug, I fell into a moment of thought. What should I do with these kids now? I drew them, but... How should I arrange their amodation? I wanted them to stay at the Holden mansion if possible, but I couldn''t do that. ''I don''t have any excuse.'' It wouldn''t make sense to say that they were my guests who had been staying at home every day. They had never officially gone out, but they weren''t familiar with anyone in the mansion either. "Leader!" When I was lost in thought, Alphius called me. And he said as if he had read my mind, "You don''t have to worry about our amodation. We can stay in the subspace." "Yes, yes." -Yes, that''s right. These kids are angels after all. Kyros chimed in too. So, they were both NPCs who could live in the subspace. "Really? That''s a relief." I was relieved. Their amodation was settled, so I opened the religious status. Alphius and Chester. The two kids were officially members of Kairos Church. [Religious Status (Kairos Church) Leader: 1 (Levelof Holden) High Priest: 1 (Alphius) Pdin: 1 (Chester) ... ... Total number of believers: 3] The number of believers increased thanks to the kids. This is amazing. By the way, what are their real abilities? They must be great since they have high stats. Chester''s ability especially intrigued me. ''Is he simr to Terdius if he''s an S-grade?'' It would be nice if he was more than that, but it would be good enough if he was equal. Even if Terdius belonged to Diego Faith, he was the protagonist of this world after all. If he was equal to Terdius... ''He would be more reliable than I thought.'' I wouldn''t need to take out my weapon. And, he would be a great help in the third and final disaster that would hit Holden Territory. Alphius'' power would also be very helpful if Kyros Church gained more believers in the future. I smiled contentedly and looked at the kids. "Leader! Please call us whenever you need us!" "Yes, yes!" -How is it, my littlemb? My power. ''Yes. It''s amazing. Kyros is the best. Wow. You turned this world upside down.'' -Huhu, right? I''m the best, right? Even though I don''t have much power left... If I could help my first believer! Hahaha! So I kept ttering Kyros until I got back home. Sob. ** E/N: Kyros is really adorable. Chapter 9 Chapter 9 I safely returned to my room and went straight to bed after a quick wash. ''I''m exhausted...'' I had a lot of things happen today. The most exhausting one was the encounter with Terdius. ''That guy.'' I couldn''t believe he belonged to Diego Faith. And judging by the fact that Terdius himself came to Rovel, there wasn''t much time left. Based on the original work, I had about two days left. If I didn''t do something within that time, all the people of Rovel would die. ''As it happened in the original work.'' There was not only the evil god Diego in the demon world, but also another being with a different nature. The Demon King, who was simr but different. The only good thing was that the Demon King''s influence was not that great. He had less than 10% of the weight in the original work. So most of the original plot was dominated by Kyros Faith and Diego Plot. The problem was, it was a world where the Demon King existed. ''The demon world.'' The Demon King focused on connecting the human world and the demon world. Where the human world and the demon world were connected, there were ''cracks'', and monsters poured out. The Demon King was someone who messed up the world like that. His ultimate goal was to make the human world like the demon world. So, he sometimes infused his power into humans through the cracks. The second cmity of Holden''s territory began there. It was called ''The Massacre of Rovel''. The story was simple. A few years ago, someone who inherited the power of the Demon King in a human body founded a religion called ''Rizes Church''. And it secretly spread to a corner of Holden''s territory, Rovel. To deal with Rizes Church, which had gained followers, Diego Faith began to send their subordinates to Rovel. The Demon King and the Evil God might seem simr at a nce, but their ideologies werepletely different. The Evil God wanted to subjugate all humans under his will, while the Demon King wanted to turn humans into monsters. Therefore, in the original work, the three religions, including Kyros Church, often shed with each other. Anyway, the Evil God, Diego, hated the Demon King. Because of that, he ordered his followers to exterminate the power of the Demon King wherever they found it. The followers of Diego Faith finally discovered the tail of the Demon King after an investigation, but it turned out to be... ''Rizes Church branch in Rovel.'' I sighed softly. In HSAW, Diego Faith sent elite subordinates of the Inquisition to Rovel. But, Rizes Church didn''t just sit back and fought back against them. When the Third Apostle, a high-ranking official of Diego Faith and the leader of the Inquisition learned of this, he personally stepped in. As Diego Faith and Rizes Church confronted each other for a long time, innocent citizens of Rovel died in the process. In that situation, Terdius confronted the Third Apostle in the original work. Of course, he didn''t win because of the difference in power, but he prevented more innocent citizens from dying. But now... "Damn." Terdius, who would have stopped the situation in Rovel, was a member of Diego Faith. ''And judging by the current flow, he must have be Diego Faith''s Third Apostle.'' I didn''t expect Terdius to be in that position... But, let''s put that aside for now. Actually, I wasn''t interested in the fight between the Demon King and Diego. As long as I increased Kyros Faith''s influence while they fought bloody battles, it was enough for me. The problem was that shrimps died in whale fights. [E/N: He means that the weak might die amidst the fight of powerful people.] Diego Faith also regarded Rovel''s citizens who were addicted to ''Happy'' - a drug that Rizes Church deliberately distributed to coerce them - as Rizes Church''s followers and executed them on the spot. ''The only good thing is that there is still time.'' Terdius wouldn''t move right away. If he had intended to move right away, he would have killed Rovel''s citizens who were addicted to ''Happy'' before he met me. If the flow was the same as in the original work, it would happen two dayster. ''He seemed to be looking for something in Elyn.'' Just like the Third Apostle in the original work, he was surely looking for his elite subordinates. So I had about two days left. In the original work, too, things didn''t happen as soon as the Third Apostle entered Rovel. ''Anyway, I have to go to Rovel tomorrow.'' The good thing was that I now had a reliable ally. Hopefully, Chester''s ability would be quite strong... My thoughts ended there. Because I fell asleep as if I fainted.
''I really slept well today.'' I woke up lightly when the sun was high in the sky. ''I thought I was tired yesterday, but I guess I was really exhausted.'' Izily got up and decided to have a meal in my room. I pushed some soup and sd into my mouth and sank into my thoughts. There was actually another way to save Robel''s people. Before Rizes Church and Diego Faith collided, I could make Rovel''s citizens leave the town. However, if that happened, even if Rovel''s citizens were safe, Rovel wouldn''t be safe. ''Their home would be ruins and they would lose their ce to return.'' Of course, it was possible to support them with Holden''s power. But even with Holden''s power, that wouldn''t heal the wounds in their hearts. ''So, I have to settle things before they get bigger within my line.'' Besides, I had something to gain from Rovel. "Sir, is it not to your liking?" When I stopped eating because I was thinking, Paul, who was waiting next to me, asked cautiously. I immediately shook my head at Paul. "No, Paul. It''s delicious." "Then I''m d... But, do you have any worries?" "Yeah, a little." "I''d like to listen if I can help you, sir." "No. It''s okay." I could trust Paul, who had served our family for generations, but it wasn''t something I could tell him. Or anyone else. And if I carelessly talked about Rovel, it would get into his ears and annoy me. The reason why Rovel, which was close to the center of Holden''s territory, became like this. ''The bugs will disappear when I get rid of the trash.'' The lord who was entrusted with Rovel''s affairs by my mother was busy going back and forth to the pcetely. Everything happened because of that bastard. So I had to solve that problem as well. Of course, if I solved the problem that would happen in Rovel first, it would naturally be resolved. "Thank you for always taking care of me, Paul." I finished my meal roughly and sent Paul out of the room. And then I sat down on the bed. ''I wanted to try it right away yesterday.'' I didn''t feel like doing it yesterday because I was tired. But today, I had to try it; Using skills. The only skill I had right now was healing. And it was a kind that I had never seen in HSAW. So I didn''t know how to use it either. ''But usually these kinds of skills...'' I put my right hand on my chest. ''Heal.'' And as soon as I thought about it, a bright light bloomed from my hand. It wasn''t an enormous light, but it felt holy, just like when Kyros appeared. "Oh..." -Of course, you''re my first child! My baby, your holy power is the same as mine. The light soon faded away, but I felt a strange feeling. ''This is holy power.'' Maybe it was because I became connected with Kyros and became the leader of Kyros Faith. Having a skill that could heal using holy power. ''But why... nothing seems to happen.'' I used the healing skill, but nothing changed in my body condition. Especially the disease. The Malone worm hadn''te out yet. Did the skill not work? Just in case, I opened the skill window again. Then the bottom part of the healing skill caught my eye. [Experience: 1/10] It was definitely 0 before, but it became 1 after using the skill just now. It seemed that the skill itself was activated properly since I used it for the first time. Was there no effect? Or was the effect too weak? The skill description itself was vague and I couldn''t tell. [It can heal living beings.] That was all there was to the description. Was it because the level was low or because my disease itself was deep? ''I don''t like this.'' What''s the point of having a skill? I can''t even tell its exact range. It was then. [Healing (Active) LV.1 Grade: Legendary Description: The effect increases proportionally to the skill level. LV.1 Heals wounds and restores fatigue of living beings. LV.2 ??? (Locked) LV.3 ??? (Locked) LV.4 ??? (Locked) LV.5 ??? (Locked) Experience: 1/10] I doubted my eyes. The description of the skill window changed in real time as I red at it. ''What the hell......?'' Did it understand my annoyance? I narrowed my eyes at the skill window. Come to think of it, when I recognized myself as a leader before, a title and a religion status menu appeared. Could it be that this system...... is friendly to me? Or is it monitoring me in real-time? "Hey, answer me." I spoke to the skill window with faint hope. -Hey, baby? Are you seeing things? Huh? But nothing happened. The only thing I heard was Kyros'' fuss. -Are you feeling weak? Hm? Do I need to give you more strength? Hmm. This is embarrassing. ''No, no, don''t worry about it.'' I covered my flushed cheeks with both hands.
  • What do you mean no? You were just talking to thin air. Are you really okay?
''Yes. I''m really fine.'' Kyros kept grumbling, but I tried to ignore him. Anyway, it seems that Kyros can''t see the system window. That''s good. No, should I say that''s good? If Kyros could see it too, he would have asked me about the changing text. ''...Forget it.'' That''s not important right now. Anyway, ording to the description, the effect increases depending on the skill level, and with my current healing skill level, I can only heal wounds. ''That''s why the disease wasn''t cured.'' Then raising the level is the priority. It seems that it won''t be hard to level up since I get 1 experience point per skill used. I can level up quickly just by healing Rovel''s patients. The problem is, Revelof Holden, can''t let anyone know that he has healing power. The only ones who have healing power in this continent are the priests of Diego Faith. If I show this power carelessly--- ''Anyway, I can''t get involved with them right now.'' So I''ll only use this power when I wear sses. Well, this is not a skill that I need right away. For now, I put aside my thoughts and headed to the bathroom. And I prepared to drink Pasrel poison. -My baby angel, it''s hard for me to watch you drink poison. As soon as I took out Pasrel poison from my inventory, Kyros started sobbing. ''Hmm. Just think of it as antidote poison, okay? It cures poison with poison. Well, that''s true anyway.''
  • But still... Sniff. It''s my fault. I''m too weak.
''It''s okay. Stop digging your own grave, okay?'' I consoled Kyros briefly and opened the lid. And as I was about to put it in my mouth. Bang, the bathroom door opened. ...Huh? "Revelof, you were here... What are you doing...?" The one who opened the door and came in was a handsome man with silver hair that reached his waist. It was Sevenus Holden. Damn. Chapter 10 Chapter 10 Let''s think calmly. The situation that Sevenus saw was just that his younger brother was trying to drink something in the bathroom. He wouldn''t know that what I was drinking was Pasrel poison. It''s not like the bottle had Pasrel poison written on it. So, showing a flustered look here would be the worst. The best thing to do is to act calm. "Ah, brother. You''re here?" For a noble family, don''t you have too little privacy? I wanted to say ''Why are you barging into someone else''s bathroom''. But if he said he was worried about me, a patient, I would have nothing to say. So I spoke calmly. I should lock the door better next time. "Yeah. But what are you doing?" Sevenus narrowed his eyes and looked at me with a face that said he didn''t understand at all. This is a perfect situation for him to think something weird if I don''t make an excuse quickly. I could tell by his expression. "Oh. I just brought something cool to drink before washing up." As I smiled calmly, Sevenus'' expression softened a bit. His eyes were still full of doubt, but he seemed to let it go for now. Phew. I sighed inwardly with relief and carefully approached Sevenus. "By the way, what brings you here, brother?" Sevenus looked busy these days, as much as Mother. If he came to find me at this time, did he have some free time? "Oh, um. Err, well..." For some reason, Sevenus'' cheeks turned slightly red. What''s wrong? Why is he acting like this? -Hehe. His embarrassed look is so cute. Kyros was very pleased with himself. He was an adult, no, a head taller than me, and he found Sevenus'' embarrassed face look cute. Kyros had a strange taste. "Come with me." Huh? "What?" "Come with me." What? At least tell me why. But Sevenus didn''t say anything to me, turned around, and left the bathroom. I had no choice but to put the Pasrel poison in my inventory and follow Sevenus. He didn''t say anything as we left the room, walked down the hallway, and greeted the servants as we left the mansion. ''What is it, really?'' As we left the mansion, a cool breeze blew and filled the air with the scent of flowers from the garden. It wasn''t too bad to see the beautifully bloomed flowers and trees. But Sevenus, where are you taking me? It''s not like he called me to take a walk in the garden or something. Fortunately not. He didn''t say anything as we passed through the garden and the stable. We arrived at the training ground for the knights. The knights were training even now... Why did he bring me here? "Oh, it''s the princes." "Hello!" The knights who were training greeted me and Sevenus. Some of them were the ones who apanied me when I went out. I waved my hand lightly from beside Sevenus who just nodded his head vaguely. Looking at Sevenus entering the training ground, it seemed like this was our destination. ''...Why me?'' -My child, have you ever offended your brother? ''What?'' -It seems like he wants to bully you... ''No way.'' I said that but I felt like it might be true. When I recalled Revelof''s memories, this brother was distant. But not long ago, I insisted on going out strongly. Of course, it was settled by vomiting blood... I felt goosebumps all over. Someone approached us then. "Hello, Second Prince." He was one of the knights who stood out among those who were training. A handsome man with golden hair cut short to his neck and green eyes. Who is he? I''ve never seen him before. He had enough beauty to be a supporting character in HSAW, but he was aplete stranger to me. "I am the most handsome knight in the Holden Knight Order, Fanatic." He said that and smiled with a smug look. Did he just say he was handsome with his own mouth? Ugh, I hate it. -Oh, he is quite handsome. Of course, not as much as mymb. Kyros agreed and I hated it more. He didn''t notice that my expression was freezing cold and Fanatic kept babbling. "By the way, I ranked third in the poprity poll of Holden, right after the princes." Too much information that I don''t need to know. I don''t like that there is such a poprity poll. And I don''t like that I and Sevenus are the first and second in that poll. ''Ugh.'' I felt like my magic resistance was dropping because I had never seen such a character in the original. By the way, why did he suddenly pop up and act like this? When I had that question, Sevenus who had been silently watching the situation spoke with a face no different from usual. "From today on, Fanatic will help you with your physical enhancement." "Huh, what?" This narcissistic guy? "He''s one of the best knights in the order, so you can trust him. He''s a bit peculiar, though." That peculiarity is the biggest problem. "He''s also your age, so try to get along with him." What about my opinion...? Before I could say anything, Sevenus tapped my shoulder lightly. "Now that you''re free to go out, I think it''s right to increase your physical strength. Some exercise will help." He was right. I also nned to exercise and increase my strength. But only by myself. Of course, if I did it alone, I would need some excuse to cover it up. Because what I knew was to exercise knowledge from modern times. So the current situation wasn''t bad... "I understand." I nodded reluctantly. "Good. Then, Fanatic, take good care of Revelof. His physical strength is almost nonexistent, so be careful." "Yes, Prince. Don''t worry. I know as much about the Second Prince as the doctor." Why. "Okay. Then, work hard." Sevenus left the training ground with a satisfied look on his face for some reason. Leaving only me and Fanatic behind. "Wow, by the way, you''re really beautiful, Second Prince." Fanatic smiled brightly at me. "Oh, thanks." "Well then. Shall we sweat and run beautifully together?" Oh, please. -It seems my guess was right. Save me, really.
I returned to my room when it was almost evening. "Ouch, my body... You''re a knight, I don''t know about your mental state, but your physical strength is too good." I had to exercise with Fanatic all afternoon. Fanatic was as skilled as Sevenus said. He made me exercise within a reasonable range, considering my physical strength, and took breaks in between. Yeah, his exercise method was perfect. The problem was... my body was like a paper doll. "How can you be so weak, even though the training seems weaker than the home training I used to do? What kind of body do you have?" So even though I didn''t do high-intensity exercise, I was exhausted physically and mentally. I had muscle pain, of course, and my body ached. If I hadn''t used healing skills to relieve fatigue, I wouldn''t have been able to lift a spoon by now. Ah. And a while ago, I experimented while using healing skills on my body. The current experience of healing skills is [2/10]. The skill''s experience increased depending on the number of uses, but it didn''t increase unless I saw the ''effect''. When I used the healing skill right after using it on myself, the skill worked but the experience didn''t increase. ''It''s a bit disappointing, but it''s not a big deal.'' Of course, I wasn''t disappointed because I expected it. Anyway, after exercising, eating, taking Pasrel poison in the bathroom, and washing up, it was alreadyte at night. ''I want to sleep a little.'' I was mentally tired even though I relieved my body''s fatigue with healing skills. I asked Kyros to wake me up and tried to sleep a little. There was no rm in this world, so it would be perfect to use him as an rm. But if I fell asleep now, it would be morning when I opened my eyes, so I gave up. In the end, I got up again 30 minutes after lying down in bed. ''I can''t afford to rx like this...'' In case of any unforeseen situation, I set up the room to make it look like I was still sleeping under the nket and headed to the library. Fortunately, most of the servants were asleep at this time, so I was able to safely reach the library. I chatted with Kyros about some nonsense while passing through the secret passage, then put on sses and a robe. As soon as I arrived at the back alley, I headed to Jain''s shop. -You''reing here again today. ''Yes. There''s something I really need.'' To achieve today''s goal. I was almost a regr now, so I just nodded to the old man at the counter and went downstairs. Jain greeted me with a bright face even at this time. "Wee, customer!" I felt bad when I saw his face that was bright with money. Why is that? I narrowed my eyes and Jain noticed my mood and spoke with a sad business smile. "What do you need today?" "Five moonflowers and three white lizard tails." "Hmm. I have moonflowers, but I''ll have to check if I have white lizard tails." Thud. I threw him the money pouch in my arms and Jain hummed a tune as he took the money and went into the iron door. He said he might not have the ingredients, but it took quite some time this time. There were several loud noises from inside the iron door and then he came out. "Phew! Luckily there were exactly three left!" He ran over to me shaking three white lizard tails with excitement. No, do you have to shake them? "Here you go. Do you want me to pack them for you?" "No." I''m going to use them right away anyway. I took the moonflowers and white lizard tails from Jain and stuffed them into my robe pocket. "But what are you going to do this time?" I was about to leave when Jain suddenly asked. His mouth was smiling but his eyes were more serious than before. Did he already get the signal? "Why are you curious?" "Well... You don''t seem to be afraid of ''them'' in Rovel." It''s probably because of yesterday''s incident. "You made a cure for ''Happy'' and helped the people of Rovel. But you came back here again... Well, it seems like ''they'' haven''t noticed yet. But they''ll probably find out soon, right?" Jain was talking about the Rizes Church, of course. Jain was a merchant who traded many things. He had many hard-to-get items, but the most precious thing Jain had was ''information''. So he was well-informed. I smiled faintly and answered. "I don''t care." "Why? You know what kind of bastards they are, don''t you?" "Yeah. I know it very well. And..." And their weakness. But I didn''t need to tell him that, so I turned around. He must have bitten the bait by now. Soon Jain woulde to me on his own. -My child, what are you going to use those for? As I left the shop, Kyros asked me with a curious voice. ''You''ll see soon.'' I headed to a deserted alley. My n for today was to infiltrate the Rizes Church branch in Rovel and take care of it before Terdius did. Then I would be able to get ''that''. ''Good. Perfect.'' At that time, I thought my n was quite usible. "You want to die, don''t you? Didn''t I tell you to get lost?" Until I ran into Terdius on the wall of the Rizes Church branch in Rovel. Chapter 11 Chapter 11 -My child, are you really going to do this? ''Of course.'' -But isn''t this a crime? Kyros asked me with a voice full of worry. ''Yes, it is a crime. But, the ones inside are more evil.'' -Hmm. Is there no other way than this? ''Yes. I don''t like it either, but I have no choice.'' Of course, it was a lie. It was just a way to appease Kyros. -I see. If my littlemb says so... I heard a faint sigh from him. It seemed that Kyros had given up with both hands and feet. Anyway, I arrived at the Rizes Church branch in Rovel. I lifted my head and looked at the chapel inside the high wall. ''It''s pretty even in the dark.'' It was clean and well-maintained for a building in Rovel, and it didn''t look very old. All the lights were off because it waste at night. And the weather was also calm, without a single breeze. "It''s a perfect night for infiltration." I checked that the bright moon was hidden by the clouds, and then moved towards the wall. The wall was high, but not impossible to climb over. "Hup." I jumped as high as I could and grabbed the edge of the wall. Then, I squeezed out all my strength and pushed myself up with both arms. "Ugh." This was killing me. Was this body for real? I barely managed to get on top of the wall. ''...Can I get down?'' I was worried. I had done too much exercise during the day. I was rested, but I still had muscle pain. Damn it. I bit my lip and closed my eyes tightly as I jumped down. Tud. I fell down because I didn''tnd properly, but I wasn''t hurt too badly. -My child! Are you okay? ''Yes. Maybe.'' It was lucky that it was night. No one saw me like this. I was about to sigh in relief when I saw a shadow above me. ''Oh, crap. Someone saw me.'' If it was a Rizes Church guy, he would have hit me with a weapon right away. So, I quickly looked up. But the one looking down at me was Terdius. ''...Oh. Bad timing.'' Of course, in the original story, the heretic inquisitor of Diego Faith also visited the Rizes Church branch in Rovel at midnight. But, Diego Faith couldn''t infiltrate the Rizes Church''s branch. The Rizes Church''s branch was protected by the power of Maseen wherever they went. And, Maseen''s protection couldn''t be broken by the power of evil gods. They were both evil and evil, but they were too simr to each other to destroy one another. At least for ''protection''. Anyway, Terdius couldn''t break through Maseen''s protection either. That''s why he was here too. ''I''m unlucky.'' It was my fault for thinking that Terdius would act like the heretic inquisitor in the original story. The heretic inquisitor knew that it was hard to break into the Rizes Church, so he waited for a chance when their believers came out during the day. So I thought Terdius wouldn''t show up at night after yesterday. But he was still here. ''What should I do?'' I was just hesitating when a system message appeared. [Unexpected Quest urred!] [Unexpected Quest Content: Two heads are better than one! Move with Terdius. Goal: Punish the Rizes Church branch in Rovel with Terdian. Sess: Slight increase in Terdius'' favorability. Failure: -] [Do you ept?] [Yes/No] I skimmed through the content and felt incredulous. ''Are you kidding me?'' I didn''t like the sess reward. Favorability is just favorability, what''s the meaning of a slight increase? I didn''t need to go with Terdian either. I hesitated for a moment and then pressed ''Yes''. Then Terdius'' lips opened. "You want to die, don''t you? Didn''t I tell you to get lost?" Yeah. I remember clearly. I tried to smile and answered. "Ha, haha. You did..." It was embarrassing and awkward, but I couldn''t stay like this forever. So I brushed off the dirt on my robe and got up. "Then why are you still here?" "Um. Well..." I didn''t know how to exin. But Terdius cut me off. "From yesterday and today, I can see that you are... trying to save the people of Rovel, aren''t you?" Oh, he''s still sharp. I nodded my head with the most innocent smile I could muster. "Yes. That''s right." I''m just a religious person who wants to do good. But Terdius'' eyebrows narrowed. "You?" Hey, that''s too harsh. "What can you do? You can barely climb over a wall." Ouch. Watch your mouth. -That guy, he must have been brainwashed by that snake bastard! How can he talk so rudely? ''Calm down, Kyros.'' I was boiling too, but I was holding back. But, he was picking a fight with me openly. He was different from the original story, so I was surprised. "Get out of my way. This is myst mercy." You? I decided not to get angry. I epted the quest anyway. "Why are you smiling?" "You can''t even enter, can you?" "What do you know?" Terdius'' murderous aura burst out. But I didn''t back down. "At least I can get inside." I smiled as if to show off. Then Terdius'' eyes wavered for a moment. It was like he was saying ''How can you?'' but still. "How do I believe that?" Who asked you to believe? "I don''t care if you believe me or not. I just have something to do inside." I spat out coldly and walked past Terdius. "Then I''ll go." And when I took one step, two steps, and finally three steps. "Stop." Terdius grabbed my wrist. He fell for it. But I didn''t care and looked at him with a nk face. "What is it?" "How are you going to get in?" "Why do I have to answer?" You don''t. Terdius clenched his mouth. His fierce aura also softened a bit. This was the time to show him my hand. "You want to get in too, right?" "Yes." "I can get in, so you need my help, right?" "...Yes." "Then let''s make a deal." "What?" Terdius'' eyes widened slightly. "If you don''t like it, I''ll just go." I didn''t need to make a deal with Terdius anyway. There was no penalty for failing the unexpected quest anyway. It was just a little favor for the protagonist of the original story that I liked. "Fine." Terdius answered in a voice as small as an ant. "But if you lie, you will die by my hand." "Sure. Go ahead." Only then did he let go of the strong grip on my wrist. ''Phew. He''s so strong.'' But it was lucky that Terdius had a simr trait to the original story. If Terdius had endured a little longer here, he would have met the Rizes Church''s executive who came out of the chapel. But he was impatient, so he was swayed by my words. ''Well, it was a life-or-death gamble for me too.'' I thought it was a tempting offer for him, so I could be bold. "So what do you want?" He asked me while rubbing his wrist. "Simple. First, guarantee my life. No matter what happens, don''t kill me." He could kill me as soon as I helped him get inside. "And after today, leave Rovel alone. No, leave Holden territory alone." I finished my words and saw his eyes twitch slightly. It was a top secret that Diego Faith was in Rovel. "Well, I can tell by the snake mark on your neck that you''re a high-ranking person in Diego Faith." In Diego Faith, you could tell the rank by the position of the snake mark on the clothes. The closer the mark was to the head, the higher the rank. Terdian''s eyes narrowed. "You have good information." The position of the snake mark wasn''t top secret, but it wasn''t easy to find out either. "You need to have that much information to work in this field." I shrugged casually. "Anyway, that''s all I want." Terdian was silent for a moment. He seemed to think for a few seconds and then nodded his head. "...That''s possible." He probably epted because he could finish off Rizes Church tonight with his power. But should I use something like ''Oath of Truth''? I didn''t trust Terdius very much because he had changed so much from the original story. Of course, he spared my life yesterday, so I had some trust in him. -My child, can you really trust that guy? ''That''s what I''m worried about.'' As I was thinking, Terdius opened his mouth suddenly. "Swear by your name." "If you want me to." I guess I have to trust him. In HSAW, swearing by ''name'' was the same as risking your life. If I had yed HSAW only once, I wouldn''t have believed it, but I yed it until I mastered it, so I had no choice but to believe it. In this world, there were countless cases of people killing themselves after breaking an oath by their ''name''. "Okay." Terdius'' trustworthiness increased rapidly in me. Then it was time to do my job. I took off the robe I was wearing and met Terdian''s eyes. "What are you doing?" "It''s my turn now." Terdius looked at me with a puzzled face. "Here, put this on." "This?" "Yes." He looked displeased, but he took the robe I gave him and put it on his shoulder. ''It''s definitely big.'' When I wore it, it barely touched the floor, but when Terdius wore it, it stopped at his ankles. ''That''s unfair.'' My hands trembled slightly, but I calmed myself down and put my hand in my pocket. I took out a small ss bottle that I had prepared beforehand. It was juice made from crushing moonflowers and white lizard tails. ''I''m d I made enough.'' "What is that?" "You''ll see." I answered Terdius briefly and poured magic into the ss bottle. A small and faint light shone from my hand. Using magic wasn''t hard. After using the healing skill, I realized how to use it naturally. It was like the instructions were automatically drawn in my head. "It''s done." The red juice in the ss bottle turned white as it received magic. "That power..." "It''s Kyros''s power, the God that I serve." Terdius looked confused as he looked at the ss bottle. It couldn''t be helped. It was supposed to be your ce. Anyway, I drank the white juice in one gulp. "Ugh. It tastes awful." Why are all the items in this world tasteless? Even Pasrel poison was poisonous. "While you drink that, why do I only have this?" He looked unhappy as he spoke, but I ignored him. "I have to go in now. If we waste more time here, the sun will rise before we finish the job." I tried to pass by Terdius. But he grabbed my shoulder. ''What''s the problem now?'' He stared at me with a piercing gaze. It wasn''t murderous but full of suspicion. He made me sweat even though I knew he couldn''t kill me. Then Terdius'' mouth slowly opened. "Who are you?" INoveltranslation, the novel translating group bringing you translations for your favorite series. INoveltrantion, the novel tranting group bringing you trantions for your favorite series. I should answer him if he asks me like that, but... "How do you know that I can''t get in, and that I can''t drink what you made?" The juice I made used magic, so it would harm Terdius who had a conflicting power. I couldn''t tell him that. I didn''t want to tell him either. But he was still quick-witted. Well, I would have felt the same if I were him. Honestly, he must have found me strange. A stranger who knew secret information. I thought for a moment and opened my mouth. "I can''t tell you. You wouldn''t believe me anyway." "...What?" "That''s all I can say." I could have made up an excuse like ''I''m actually a prophet'' as I had seen in many contents from my previous life. But for some reason, I didn''t want to lie to Terdius. I didn''t feel like it. Maybe it was because he was still the protagonist that I cared about. So I answered him as honestly as possible, and Terdius didn''t ask any more. And without anyone taking the lead, we headed towards the chapel. We were close enough to the chapel that our conversation wouldn''t be heard. And there was no security outside because this ce was protected by Maseen''s power. I tiptoed towards the chapel, and Terdius followed me without making a sound. "But how are you going to save Rovel?" He asked me suddenly. I was startled. "Lower your voice!" I spoke firmly in a low voice. We had to be careful now that we were near the chapel. Then, Terdius tilted his head at me. "Answer me." Fortunately, his voice was low too. Phew. I would die of a heart attack if I stayed with him for too long. I answered him in a barely audible voice. "First, we have to drive them out of here." "And then?" "Then you''ll take care of it, won''t you?" I didn''t care about Rizes Church after punishing them. It would be easier to leave them to Diego Faith. There was only one thing I had to get here anyway. ''Well, it would be nice to get something else too.'' As we exchanged a few words, we reached the back of the chapel. As we got closer to the chapel, we saw a huge curtain reflecting the moonlight. A transparent and dark red curtain that covered the entire chapel. Only those who were close to gods could see this, which was ''Maseen''s protection''. "Now you see." I didn''t want his trust in the first ce. But it still felt bad that he still didn''t believe me. "Yes. I see." I answered casually and stepped into the curtain first. My body passed through the curtain without any problem. "See?" And as if to show off, I gestured at Terdius, who also followed me in. You''re wee. I smiled proudly and looked at Terdius, whose lips rose slightly for a few seconds. It was barely noticeable unless you looked closely. ''He''s so cold.'' I missed the old Terdius who was warm and gentle. Terdius headed straight for the back door of the chapel. And his hand reached for the door without fear. ''You bastard!'' I quickly grabbed his hand and twisted his face with my finger on my lips. Hey, you''re telling them we''re here! I gestured to him toe out and moved away from the back door. "Do you want to announce that we''re breaking in?" He looked annoyed by my scolding, but his eyebrows furrowed. Hey, it''s your fault. I passed by Terdius and headed for the wall connected to the back door. And I turned themp on the wall to the right. Then with a nk, a wooden door appeared on the floor. A trick that I found out while looking for cheats on my 12th ythrough of HSAW. "What is this..." You bastard! I quickly covered his mouth with my hand. Even though I warned him! "Please be quiet." Terdius nodded his head and I let him go. He almost caused trouble again, so I grabbed the handle of the wooden door first. Carefully, I open it without making much noise. -My child, how do you know these things? ''Well, I''m Kyros'' littlemb.'' -Oh! That''s right. You are my smartest littlemb. I said something that Kyros would like and skipped the logical exnation. Creak--- The door finally openedpletely. Then stairs leading down appeared. It wasn''t too dark thanks to themps on the wall. I stretched out my foot to go down first, but then pulled it back. "You go first." I suggested that he take the lead, and he looked at me once and started going down the stairs. I didn''t care if I looked like a coward. ''My body is precious.'' He disappeared and then I followed him down the stairs. I closed the door carefully behind me and followed Terdian. How long did we walk? The narrow stairs finally ended and a huge space appeared. A hollow that felt like a cave. There was a fork in the road there. "Where do we go now?" "The left is Rizes Church''s headquarters, and the right is the underground prison." I exined briefly and Terdius headed to the right without hesitation. I followed him too, since that was my destination. "Why are you going this way?" "Well..." As I was about to answer, Terdius stopped and blocked the way with his arm. ''What is it?'' "I sense something." He whispered in a lower voice than before. I clenched my fist and replied softly. I don''t know why, but I''m nervous. Terdius was here, but I kept the inventory open so I could take out the holy weapon at any time. ''I was nning to break in with Chester, but...'' What can I do about this situation? As I walked behind Terdius who was moving slowly, a slightly brighter space appeared. "Who''s there!" In the spacious underground prison, armed soldiers appeared in front of us. They all had blue faces and looked lifeless like corpses. They looked like zombies, but they were human. They were heavily addicted to ''Happy''. I was trembling when I faced them in reality. I was about to take out the holy weapon when... Swish--- Blood sttered on the floor. Terdius had drawn his sword so fast that I couldn''t even tell when he did it, and he was cutting down the soldiers. ''...He''s brutal.'' Seeing him, I suddenly felt lucky that Terdius had spared my life. Terdius easily killed the soldiers who attacked him. He looked like an emotionless killing machine. ''I wouldn''t be much help in this fight anyway.'' I left the fight to him and looked around the prison. There were about ten huge iron bars in the prison, and people were locked inside them. Most of them were powerless people from Rovel. More than half of their bodies had turned blue from Happy. Rizes Church was experimenting on them using Happy. -How could they do such a thing... I bit my lip as I heard Kyros'' sigh. Then, Terdius finished off dozens of soldiers in an instant and shook off the blood on his sword. He headed for the iron bars. "Thank you." I was wondering how to open the prison doors, so I was grateful to Terdius. Although, he ignored my gratitude and walked past the prison cells. Then he stopped in front of one iron bar. He turned his head and I saw Terdius'' elite subordinates. They were wearing robes like Terdian, but I could tell by his eyes that they were his subordinates. ''So he came to find his subordinates.'' I approached Terdius who was standing still. His subordinates were all unconscious. And they had blue spots on them from Happy. "Feed these to them." I thought for a moment and took out some mandrake roots from my inventory and handed them to him. "This should be enough. They''re not too addicted, so they''ll wake up soon if they eat this." "...Thank you." You bastard, you can say thank you? I was a bit surprised, but it felt good anyway. I turned away from Terdius and went deeper into the prison. I felt it as soon as I entered the prison. A warm presence that seemed to call me in this dark and gloomy space. Kyros must have felt it too. -My child, there is... I knew it by his excited voice. I smiled faintly and headed for the iron bar that was isted from the others. Unlike the others, there was only a ck box here. Fortunately, this iron bar was also opened when Terdius swung his sword. So I could go near the box right away. There was a golden lock on the ck box. -My littlemb, I feel a familiar aura from that box! ''Yes. I know.'' I reached out carefully to the box. This lock couldn''t be opened by anyone from Rizes Church or Diego Faith. That''s why they left it here in this underground prison. Only I could open it. My hand finally touched the lock. Then with a nk, the box opened by itself. Chapter 13 Chapter 13 When the box opened, what I saw was a single white flower that glowed by itself. It looked like a mix of lily and rose, with a vitality that seemed alive even without roots, and a faint fragrance that filled my nose. This was an item that only the one who served the God of Beauty, Kyros, and closest to him could obtain. Kyros'' holy relic. [You have obtained Kyros'' holy relic, ''Kyros'' Flower''!] -Oh, yes! It was my flower! It''s been so long! My child, do you know what this flower is? ''What is it?'' I pretended not to know, like talking to an excited child, Kyrosughed and answered. -Haha! Yes, you wouldn''t know. This flower is very old, one that I cherished dearly. I grew it myself, and wore it everywhere. Yes. This was the difference between holy weapons and holy relics. Both were made by gods, but holy relics were used by gods themselves. That''s why they were more precious. -So hurry up and put it on your ear! ''...Okay.'' So this is how it goes. Yes. I knew this would happen when I found the flower. I had to do this for Kyros to regain his power. I closed my eyes tightly and put the flower on my ear. As soon as I did, the flower shone and began to disappear. Through me, it returned to where it belonged. -Thank you, my child. Thanks to you, some of my power has returned. ''I''m d.'' This was why I had infiltrated Rizes Church. There were holy relics that Kyros had used, buried all over the world. In the original work, Kyros'' power grew stronger every time he found them, and Terdius used that power to defeat Diego Faith. I also came here to use that power. At that moment, a system message appeared in front of me. [You have obtained the title ''Kyros Faith''s Idol''.] [''Kyros Faith''s Idol'': You have worn Kyros'' Flower! You are as charming as the God of Beauty, Kyros! -Title option ''Fan Service'': You can make someone a follower of Kyros Faith with a 10% chance by winking at them. If you fail, there is a 1% chance of being despised by them. (Only usable three times per person)] What? What is this...? There was no such title in the original work... ''First of all, what is that option?'' I was speechless and stared at the system message. Then, Terdius came over after healing his subordinates. Kyros also shouted at me excitedly. -My child! I''ll share some of my power with you! ''Ah, not now!'' I didn''t know how he would share his power, but Terdius wasing so I couldn''t do it now. -Huh? Oh, okay. He sounded a bit sulky, but I couldn''tfort him now. I quickly hid the box with my body and greeted Terdius. "I''m going up now." Fortunately, he didn''t notice anything strange and said calmly. But, is he asking me to go with him? "Ah, I still... have to take care of more people." I made an excuse hastily and he turned his body away from me. "I see." Oh. Wait. "Wait a minute." I quickly stopped Terdius. Then he looked at me with his head turned. "What?" Is this an opportunity? An opportunity to make Terdius a follower of Kyros Faith. It would make things easierter on. It was a bit awkward that the method was winking... ''Oh well, let''s try it.'' I had three chances anyway. So I thought ''Let''s just do it'' and winked at him with my right eye. Then at that moment, another system message appeared. [Title option ''Fan Service'' has failed!] [The target ''Terdius'' despises you!] At the same time, Terdius'' gaze turned cold as he looked at me. ...Damn. "What are you doing?" His voice was as cold as the air around us. He was merciful not to kill me right away. I tried to make an excuse desperately. "Something got in my eye." He didn''t buy my excuse and his eyes were still cold. "Well, see youter." "Did you stop me just to say that?" "...Yes." Then Terdius turned away from me and left the prison quickly. ''Ah. I''m depressed.''
After Terdius left the prison, I sat there nkly for a while. And after some time, I came to my senses. ''It''s okay. I wasn''t on good terms with Terdius anyway.'' Even though he despised me now, he wouldn''t kill me. And if I cleared the sudden quest, Terdius'' favorability would increase slightly, so it would be fine. Iforted myself and my shattered mental state recovered a little. ''...But I never expected to be so devastated.'' I winked at someone for the first time and received contempt in return. I felt incredulous at myself. Well, I still had two more chances to make Terdius a Kyros'' believer, so I decided to hope for the future. For now, I got up from my seat and took out the mandrake root that was left in my inventory. ''I hope there''s enough.'' I crushed the mandrake root with my hand and approached the iron bars. Then, I fed the vigers a little bit at a time. It took some time to feed them all since there were many of them. When I was finished with my task, I felt exhausted. ''When will this body get stronger?'' I stretched my limbs in frustration when I suddenly heard a voice. -Mymb. It was Kyros'' cheerful voice calling me. ''Yes, Kyros?'' -My littlemb, I will share some of my power with you now. There was no Terdius around, so it should be fine. -Just breathe calmly. It will be over soon. I felt a sudden wave of nervousness. My whole body started to glow white. From head to toe, a warm and gentle power seeped into me. I felt vitality coursing through my body, even though I was just breathing. It seemed like my weary body regained its vigor. This is amazing. -Although my power is still insufficient to heal all your wounds, you should feel much better now. Kyros sounded a bit sad, but he was fine. ''I feel much better, thank you. And I''m still healing, so I''ll be fully recovered soon.'' I wasn''t a doctor, so I couldn''t diagnose myself urately. But, I was sure that this was the best condition I had been in since I woke up in Revelof''s body. Before, I felt like I had weights on my shoulders and head, but now they were gone. I wanted to find Kyros'' relics as soon as possible. Then, I started to walk faster. I had nothing else to do in the dungeon, so I nned to follow Terdius. I climbed the stairs in one corner of the dungeon and opened the door. A gloomy corridor appeared before me. "Ugh." I smelled the foul odor of blood and saw the dim light of themps. I could see the scene clearly. The bloody corridor was littered with corpses. I didn''t need to look closely to know that they were priests and soldiers of the Rizes Church. ''This is insane.'' It felt like this was not the Terdius I knew. -How horrible. Kyros sighed. Still, It couldn''t be helped. Terdius was the third apostle of Diego Faith and a heretic inquisitor after all. I frowned and walked past the corridor. Terdius had cleared out most of the Rizes Church branch in Rovel by himself. I followed the trail of blood that Terdius had left behind. I climbed more stairs, and neither I nor Kyros spoke a word. Then, I reached a splendid door. The blood trail ended here, so Terdius must be inside. Carefully, I grabbed the bloodstained handle and opened it. A room with crimsonmps flickering inside appeared before me. I saw Terdius'' back standing there. "Krrk--- kck!" Terdius was staring coldly at a man who was choking in his grip. The man had a greedy face and wore many ornaments along with a priest''s robe. He was Pero, the deputy chief of the Rizes Church branch in Rovel. It felt like time had stopped for a moment. It took only a few seconds for Terdius to strike Pero''s vital point and knock him out, but for some reason, I couldn''t blink or breathe. Was it because the robe I had given him was soaked with blood, or was it because Terdius'' hand was stained red? I just stared nkly at him, even when Terdius threw Pero over his shoulder. And when he turned around, his eyes met mine directly. What broke me from my frozen state was a system window that appeared before me. [Unexpected Quest Cleared!] [You will receive an unexpected quest reward.] [Terdius'' favorability has increased slightly.] Only then I could exhale a breath. I had seen Terdius fight in the dungeon, but for some reason, this was the most terrifying. Maybe it was because I had seen so many corpses on my way here. "Haa..." But, I couldn''t be afraid anymore. This world was like that from the beginning. And this world was now my home. Maybe someday, I would also stain my hands with blood. I clenched my trembling hands. And then, I got up. Terdius had left, so it was time for me to do my own thing. Chapter 14 Chapter 14 [E/N: Relic Stick will be changed to Relic Mace. I apologize for the sudden name change.]
I looked around the room first. The room was decorated with antique ornaments, and it was as luxurious as befitting the room of the High Priest of the Rizes Church. ''Thanks to Terdius, I got a sweet deal.'' The work was very easy, so I might have gotten everything I wanted. ''There must be a secret space somewhere.'' I searched the desk and the bookshelf of the High Priest, but there was nothing special. So it was obvious that there was a secret space. ''There is only one thing that shady people usually do.'' Suddenly, the ornaments on the wall caught my eye. As I looked at them one by one, I saw an ornament that was unusually dust-free. A small statue of a puppy. As if bewitched, I touched it, and the statue slid back without much force. Trrk--- Creak--- A loud noise at the same time. I stepped back without knowing, and part of the wall slid back. -Wow, amazing. I smiled faintly. I didn''t expect to find it so easily. I moved my feet lightly to the space that appeared when the wall slid back. And then I eximed in delight. In a space of about five pyeong (16.5 square meters), gold coins were piled up, and there were expensive items everywhere. ''I''ll use these well.'' The High Priest had such a fortune. I was smiling contentedly when a ck bead in the middle caught my eye. -My child, I can feel the snake''s power from that bead. You have to destroy it. I knew it even without Kyros telling me. That bead was where the blessing of the Maseen flowed from. So it was impossible to break it with ordinary power. But, I grinned and opened my inventory. It was time to use this. ''The Relic Mace!'' -Yes! Good idea! It was the first time I held a weapon in my hand, but I just had to swing it roughly, right? Kyros'' power was pure and holy, opposite to the power of Maseen and Aksin. So with a mace that contained Kyros'' power, it should be easy to handle. I swung the mace with a grin. ng! With a clear sound, the bead with the blessing of Maseen, shattered. Squeak! I didn''t know why a strange scream came from the bead, but the ck bead disappeared without a trace. ''Good.'' I put the mace back in my inventory and looked around. What I wanted was not the High Priest''s wealth. ''It should be here since it wasn''t on the desk or bookshelf.'' As I looked around, there was something that stood out among the valuable items. An old box that didn''t match the shy space. I opened the box right away. At the same time, a system message appeared. [You have achieved the achievement ''Destroyer of Maseen''s Blessing''.] [As a reward, you get thend and building of ''Rizes Church branch in Rovel''.] [You have acquired thend and building of ''Rizes Church branch in Rovel''.] [You can establish ''Kyros Church Temple''!] [When you establish ''Kyros Church Temple'' for the first time, you will receive ''Temple Master''s Robe'' and ''One-time Purification Right for Rovel Region'' as rewards.] [Do you want to establish a temple?] [Yes/No] I was a little surprised by several notifications that appeared in an instant. It seemed that I acquired thend and building documents at once and got the message right away. Interestingly enough, thend and building documents in the box automatically went into my inventory. And what was left in the box was what I wanted. The traces left by the rat who brought Rizes Church to Rovel. I put that in my inventory too and scanned the notifications again. By the way, the ''Destroyer of Maseen''s Blessing'' achievement. It was an achievement that I had never seen in HSAW. The achievement was one thing, but... ''I didn''t expect it to be this serious.'' Even if there was no rm about the temple, I nned to build Kyros Faith Temple here as soon as I got the documents. But, they even give rewards for establishing a temple? ''This is a must.'' I immediately pressed ''Yes''. [''Rizes Church branch in Rovel'' has been converted to ''Kyros Faith Temple''!] As soon as the notification appeared, Kyros'' excited voice followed. -My child, thank you. Finally, I have a temple! I will give you a relic. Of course, the reward was a relic! Then, a sphere of light appeared. Just like the first time I received a relic from Kyros, it was a brilliant light. And as if Kyros was about to manifest, the shape of the light gradually became clear. I looked at him without blinking. Kyros'' appearance was slowly revealed. He was floating in the air, looking down at me, and he was still beautiful. His red hair fluttered in the space where there was no wind, and his golden eyes looking at me were full of mercy. Although it was awkward to look at him every time he appeared because he was in human form, I couldn''t help but admire his smile. I unknowingly opened my mouth slightly. Kyros handed me the sphere of light. As if enchanted, I reached out and took it, and a notification appeared. [You have acquired the relic ''Kyros Faith Temple Master''s Robe''.] [You have acquired the relic ''One-time Purification Right for Rovel Region''.] At the same time, Kyros opened his mouth. "Thank you, my child." With a warm smile, Kyros turned into dust and disappeared. Kyros'' voice sounded the same as when he spoke in my head, but it was much sweeter when I heard it in reality. Maybe it was because Kyros manifested and spoke to me directly. He felt like a real ''God'' to me. I smiled and muttered. "You''re wee." I looked at the sphere of light that he gave me on both hands. The light automatically changed into the shape of a robe. And I couldn''t see the other item that Kyros gave me. I opened my inventory just in case, and there I saw the ''One-time Purification Right for Rovel Region''. ''I''ll check this outter.'' For now, I didn''t intend to wear the Temple Master''s Robe right away, so I put it in my inventory. And then I checked the item information. [Kyros Faith Temple Master''s Robe (Relic) Grade: Mythical Item Description: A robe given by Kyros. When wearing the robe and preaching, the probability of the other person bing a believer increases by 30%.] Wow. Is this option real? If I wear the robe and wink, will the probability of making someone a believer be 40 percent? The probability-type items in Usebeop were mostly applied by addition, so it was reasonable to think so. ''This is cheating.'' I wanted to try it on right away, but it was too bothersome to change clothes. ''Hmm.'' But when I yed HSAW, set items could be changed automatically by clicking on them in the inventory. So maybe... I tried putting my hand over the robe in the inventory, and a faint light came out of the clothes I was wearing. And soon, the outfit changed to the Temple Master''s Robe automatically. "Wow." I eximed softly and looked at my inventory. The clothes I was wearing were neatly stored in my inventory. However, unlike the robe that took up only one slot in my inventory, the clothes I was wearing before each took up a slot. It seemed that the robe was a set item. ''It''s a bit annoying to change back to normal.'' It was the same in HSAW. I turned around and looked for a mirror. There was a full-length mirror in the High Priest''s room. "The clothes have wings." The Kyros Faith Temple Master''s Robe was mostly white, and it had a uniform-like shape. The top and bottom, as well as the gloves and shoes, were all white. On top of that, there were fine ornaments made of gold. -You look very good, my child! You are as beautiful as me, mymb. ''Really?'' I shrugged my shoulders and looked at another relic in my inventory. [One-time Purification Right for Rovel Region (Relic) Grade: Mythical Item Description: An item containing the power of the god of beauty, Kyros. When used, it purifies the evil aura in the Rovel region once.] This is... -My child. There are still people here who are oppressed by the snake. I want to save them. That''s what he meant. Maybe if I use this purification right, the people who were addicted to ''Happy'' will get better. That''s so like Kyros. ''I understand, Kyros.'' There was nothing left for me to do here. I wondered if I should take the High Priest''s wealth, but I decided to leave it for now. I needed money for the temple anyway. -My littlemb. Now that this ce is my temple, I have to nt my power here. ''Like Maseen''s blessing?'' -Yes. As soon as Kyros answered, a white light flowed from my body. And then a bright light beam burst out, and I felt the power that wrapped around me escape. I tightly closed my eyes because of the strong light that made it hard to open them. A few secondster, when I opened my eyes, I saw that the bodies of the people who were addicted to ''Happy'' were clean. "...Huh? My head doesn''t hurt." "My thirst is gone too." "Th-the blue spots are gone too!" The people who were surprised by the change made a noise in my ears. But, what surprised me was something else. The blood and corpses that filled the underground prison were all gone. -I took the souls who obeyed the evil snake. Their souls should have returned to the snake, but then they would not have been saved. So, I purified their corrupted souls and took them in. Kyros really... "Excuse me, what happened?" One of the people who looked older than the others asked me. "Did you save us? From the endless pain?" I couldn''t answer right away. There was another new notification in front of me. [The citizens of Rovel witnessed an amazing sight!] [Now they will focus on your words! (For 10 minutes, the probability of everyone here bing a believer of Kyros Faith increases by 50%!)] This is... crazy! Chapter 15 Chapter 15 There was a simr system in HSAW. It was the ''time-limited buff'' that activated when a certain event was achieved. What appeared to me right now was no different from a time-limited buff. But, the given time was only 10 minutes. ''That should be enough!'' I lightly cleared my throat and opened my mouth with a business smile. "That''s right. The Rizes Church that had been oppressing you has disappeared from thend of Rovel today." With the most benevolent smile, I spoke in a soft but powerful tone. Then I felt all eyes focused on me. "It was all thanks to Lord Kyros." Their eyes widened slightly at my words. "The merciful Lord Kyros witnessed your pain and sent me here. He gave me strength along with a mission, thus, I epted his will and punished the Rizes Church." In fact, Terdius did everything, but the people here didn''t know that. Thank you, Terdius. "From now on, this ce is no longer the territory of the Rizes Church, but the temple of Kyros." The emergence of a new cult where there once was a cult. This could have scared them more. So I had to quickly draw their trust. While presenting usible evidence. "A little while ago, we witnessed the power of Lord Kyros. He relieved you through me for your sake." And, Herees the important punchline--- "But everyone, Lord Kyros does not force you. There is no oppression or control in Kyros Church." ---Along with showmanship. I stretched out both hands to the sky and looked at the ceiling of the underground prison. "All Lord Kyros wants is your faith!" Please, please work! I wished earnestly and closed my eyes tightly. And, finally. "Woah!" "Lord Kyros!" [78 citizens of Rovel were moved by your words!] [78 citizens of Rovel became believers of Kyros Faith!] It worked!! "Thank you, Lord Kyros!" "You have saved us...!" When I opened my eyes, I saw people praying in their own ways. Some shed tears, some rejoiced, and some smiled very happily. Oh, this is more satisfying than I thought. -It was a very touching speech! Thanks to you, I feel energized! Kyros was also moved by the power that came rushing in. Apparently, the purification power was quite strong. Once they witnessed the power of God and realized that God existed, faith naturally came. Especially, the ''salvation'' that appeared in a difficult time when they were exhausted and copsed was hard to refuse. I smiled lightly and reached out to the faithful who were filled with emotion. "You have been freed from the evil Rizes Church that oppressed you. Now this ce is the temple of Lord Kyros. So don''t worry. The same thing will not happen again." "Oh, Lord Kyros..." "You have saved us!" A strange pleasure made my heart beat faster. Even though I didn''t save them myself, my chest was full. "Everyone. The temple of Lord Kyros will open after a little maintenance." And, I didn''t forget to promote at the end.
Until a few hours ago, the chapel had been the Rizes Church branch in Rovel. The citizens of Rovel who had been trapped in the underground prison were leaving gradually in order. "Have a good night, believers." "Thank you, Leader!" Revelof waved his hand and greeted each believer who was going home. Those who had been locked up in the underground prison and were about to be sacrifices of the Rizes Church were very cheerful. "Thank you, Leviathan." Revelof had to choose Leviathan as his alias because he identally introduced himself as ''Leviathan'' to Terdius. However, he felt okay seeing their happy faces. "I''ll see you again soon. Kyros Faith is always open to you." Revelof didn''t forget his business smile either. As a result, some believers'' cheeks turned red as they went home. "How can he be so beautiful?" "Right!" Revelof''s smile set fire to the hearts of many believers regardless of gender. "I was addicted to ''Happy'' and had a bleak future, but I got salvation like this." "Yeah. I don''t even think about ''Happy'' anymore!" "The warm light that wrapped me up, it was my first time feeling such power." "Lord Kyros... Oh, Lord Kyros!" It was a historic starting point for Kyros Faith to save the world.
Somewhere near Rovel on a hill. Terdius was standing there. Next to him was the unconscious high priest of the Rizes Church branch in Rovel and his subordinates who were barely conscious. Terdius'' subordinates were the elites of Diego Faith, but they were not as high as Terdius. So they didn''t know. The holy energy that spread from the Rizes Church chapel. Terdian frowned and stared at the chapel. ''The oath of the name...'' In fact, he didn''t care about the oath of the name. He was more concerned about his mission as an apostle of Diego Faith. He could have killed the man named Leviathan after getting his help. And yet, he did not. No, to be precise, he couldn''t. He didn''t know why either. He felt a simr emotion asst time. Especially when he wore the robe that Leviathan gave him and moved with Leviathan, that emotion became stronger. Familiarity. ''Why is that?'' He wondered endlessly. ''Why do I feel familiar with him and can''t kill him?'''' Terdius could have cut him down in an instant if he wanted to. But his instinct refused. And the warm wave that came from the Rizes Church chapel. Normally, he couldn''t ignore that either. Even if Kyros Faith was a small religion, having that much power meant it was a clear target for confrontation. But, Terdius decided to keep it a secret. He felt like he had to. Terdius sighed softly and ordered his subordinates. "Let''s return." Soon, the group on the hill disappeared in an instant.
Today, my body was unusually light. Last night, I received more power from Kyros as the number of believers in Kyros Faith increased. ''If I keep going like this, I''ll not only get healthy, but also stronger.'' I smiled contentedly and opened the religious status. [Religious Status (Kyros Faith) Leader: 1 (Revelof Holden) High Priest: 1 (Alphius) Pdin: 1 (Chester) . . . Believers: 80 (La, Rose, ... ) Total number of believers: 83] ''Wow. Amazing.'' The number of followers increased overnight. It seemed that the believers who heard my speech also preached to others. Although it was only two people, it was something. And as the rumors spread through their mouths, more believers would join. -My child, meeting you was truly a fortune. The number of believers has increased so much! ''It''s all thanks to me.'' -Yes, yes. Of course! Well done, my child! I couldn''t stop smiling. Of course, I wasn''tpletely cured of my speech disorder yet. But I felt like I was almost normal. So I went out of my room to have breakfast and check on the seeds I ntedst night. As expected. As soon as I reached the first floor, I saw Holden''s knights moving busily outside the mansion. "Oh, Young Master! You''re up early!" A servant who was busy working came up to me. "Yeah. I guess so. Everyone seems busy since morning." "Yes! The master ordered us to get ready early!" I knew it. "What are you going to do, mother? About ''Kyros Faith''." I listened to Sevenus'' question. Then, mother sighed softly. "I''m thinking about it. I was already investigating them, and it turned out that they were the ones who punished Rizes Church." That''s right, mom! I did it all! "Yes. That''s what I heard. But I didn''t even know there was such a ce. I''m worried they might be another Rizes Church." You bastard, how dare youpare them! "I was worried about that too, but it seems that they also helped the citizens who were addicted to ''Happy''. Most of the citizens of Rovel testified to that." "...Hmm. Is that so?" "Yes. So for now, let''s ept them but keep an eye on them for a while. The citizens of Rovel want that." Way to go, mom! There was no way to stop the establishment of a religion under the imperialw anyway. The only thing needed was one thing: the lord''s permission. And even that couldn''t be refused without a special reason. So this was the natural course of action. But I did all this work because I wanted to convert Holden''s territory into Kyros Faith. I wanted to wink at my mother while using my Leader''s robe, but I had no intention of revealing that I was the leader of Kyros Faith and even less of winking at my family. So for now, I was satisfied with this much. ''Then there''s only one thing left.'' To stop thest disaster of Holden''s territory. And today was the day when thest disaster came. Chapter 16 Chapter 16 Deep in the night. The time when the mansion was asleep. I sneaked out of the mansion as usual. I passed through the back alleys of Elyn and headed to Rovel, where I saw some changes. The people who used to litter the streets were gone. Thanks to the purification of Rovel, those who were addicted to ''Happy'' had returned to their homes. It was a pleasant sight. -You must be proud. ''Yes. Me too.'' I looked around the peaceful night streets of Rovel and headed to the temple of Kyros. Although it was still slow to transform into a temple, there was some progress. Where there once was the blessing of Maseen, there was now the blessing of Kyros, and the interior of the temple was brightened. Before, the Rizes Church seemed to like the darkness, it was gloomy. But now, it was so bright that it was hard to find its previous form. I entered the worship hall with a smile. The grotesque ornaments that decorated the worship hall were all gone. And the way to the high priest''s room was clean, and the floor was covered with soft woolen carpets. And in the high priest''s room, there was a handsome man with brown hair and green eyes, who was about the same height as me, waiting for me. "Master!" He came to me like a cheerful puppy. I smiled back at him. "Good job, Alphy." That''s right. This guy was Alphius. During the day, he acted as my deputy for me, who was stuck in the mansion. Amazingly, Alphius and Chester could adjust their appearance. It made things easier. Alphius especially handled the wealth of the Rizes Church high priest and exchanged it for gold coins, which were themon currency of the continent. He also took care of many aspects rted to the temple, and Alphius proved to be verypetent in managing the temple as he had said before. "Oh! Today, your mother, Countess Holden, granted permission to establish Kyros Faith! Here are the documents!" I skimmed through the documents that Alphius handed me. It was about my mother praising Kyros Church for saving Rovel''s citizens and giving permission to establish it. "Okay. Keep this well." "Yes!" Alphius ran to his secret space. "Master!" Then, Chester kicked open the high priest''s room and came in. "Chesi,e on." If Alphius took care of the internal affairs of the temple, Chester took care of the external affairs. He cleaned up the temple, threw away the trash, etc. He contributed a lot to making the temple clean and bright overall. "I-I finished cleaning up for now. Hehe." I stroked Chester''s head, who smiled shyly. "Good job." They were still young children, but they did much better than adults with their S-rank abilities. Now all that was left was to decorate the temple. "Alphy, Chesi." I called them together. "It''s time to decorate the temple." "Yes! That''s right!" "I agree too." The two nodded and agreed with me. "Then we need a statue and a painting of Kyros first. You both know what Kyros looks like, right?" "Of course! He''s very very beautiful." "That''s right!" "Right. So we need a statue and a painting first. They are the core of the temple." We needed things that showed off the beauty of Kyros, the god of beauty. We''re recruiting believers with beauty! "It''ste today, so let''s look for sculptors and painters from tomorrow. Don''t worry about the cost." "Yes. Master! Leave it to me!" "I''ll do my best." -Thank you, my children. I had decided what to do for now. There was only one thing left. "Alphy, can you fight a little too?" "Hmm. Yes! Not as much as Chesi, but I can do it." "Really? That''s good." I wondered if he could do it, but he seemed to be different from other S-ranks. Then things would be easier. "Then let''s go out." I left the high priest''s room with them. "Should we go into our space?" As we left the temple, Alphius asked me. "Why? Are you tired?" "No. Not that but..." He seemed to be looking at my face. They were both dependent on me anyway. "I want to give you two as much freedom as possible. Until now, I told you to stay in your space because you had nowhere else to stay in the mansion, but now you don''t have to. You can stayfortably in the temple." "Thank you, Master!" "T-thank you!" "Don''t mind me. Okay?" "Yes!" "Yes!" They answered in unison and looked cute, so I stroked their heads. Then Alphius eximed with shining eyes. "Master, please call us anytime you need us! We can hear your voice anytime!" "Y-yes! Wherever you are, Master, if you call us, we can quickly find you through our space!" Their space was like a passage. I thought it was just their lodging, but it seemed not. "Okay. I got it." "By the way, Master. Where are you going?" "Oh. Um. A walk?" The name was a walk, but what I was aiming for was something else. At that moment. Boom--- With a huge vibration, the ground shook. ''Here it is.'' It was a very short earthquake thatsted only a few seconds, but I knew what was going to happen now. I looked up right away. Crack--- The sky above Rovel began to crack about 5 meters in size. The sky was literally torn apart. "Alphy, Chesi!" "Yes, Master!" "Yes!" They didn''t need to say anything, they knew what was happening. -My child, it''s a rift! "Evacuate everyone to the temple! Hurry!" "Yes!" The two answered quickly and moved. The people of Rovel had woken up from the shaking of the ground, so they would be able to evacuate soon. The temple had Kyros''s blessing, so it would be enough to protect the residents. I took out the relic mace from my inventory. At the same time, a strange sound came from the sky. Kieeek~! A creepy scream that made my hair stand on end. From the gap of the cracked rift, they began to pop out. "Everyone get away! The rift is open!" "Get out of Rovel!" Alphius and Chester swiftly evacuated the people. To be honest, I wanted to run away too. But, I couldn''t. If I ran away from here, not only Rovel, but the whole territory would be in danger. The rift that opened in Rovel. This was thest cmity that would swallow up Holden Territory. I gripped the mace tightly and looked at the monsters that came out of the gap in the rift. These were ''mammon.'' They were supposed to exist in the demon world, but they often popped out to the human world and harmed humans because of the rifts that Maseen opened. ''...Damn you, Maseen.'' The reason why I sent Rovel''s citizens to the temple was because of this. Kyros would block Maseen''s power. -My little bird, are you okay? Kyros asked me worriedly. I couldn''t honestly guarantee it. But maybe it was possible. No matter how much stronger mammons were than humans, I was the leader of a religion. And I had a relic. ''Yes. I''m fine.'' Ever since I received the mace from Kyros. From then on, I had already made up my mind. I was scared to see mammon in reality, but. The mammons that flowed out of the rift were diverse. They were all ck as if they had fallen into ink, but their appearance was different. From winged goblins to ferocious turtle-like creatures. ''I can''t believe I''m seeing these things for real.'' I had seen them a lot in graphics when I yed HSAW, but it was disgusting to face them in reality. Kieeek---! But still, I could do it. Fortunately, thanks to the quick response, most of the citizens were evacuated before the mammonnded on the ground. I shouted at the two children who came running towards me. "Alphy, Chesi! There might be some people left, so check Rovel again!" "Yes, Master! If you''re in a dangerous situation, please call us right away!" "B-be careful!" After the two left, I saw a goblin flying straight at me. I took a short breath and swung my arm. Puck! The relic with divine power was perfect for mammon, which had the opposite attribute. Even though I swung it lightly, it disappeared right away. -Good job, my child! Kairos cheered me on with excitement, but I didn''t have time to answer him. Mammon rushed at me after the goblin. They were low-level mammons without intelligence. Fortunately, they targeted me who exposed myself openly in Rovel where there were almost no people. I didn''t know how long my body wouldst. But I had a lucky item. Puck! Kwooo~! It felt like I became a munchkin character when I destroyed a human-sized mammon with one swing of the mace. ''Could it be that I''m a munchkin...?'' My heart raced at those three letters. I swung my mace and killed the mammon that came at me. Then at some point, I saw a horde of mammon rushing at me. There were more than thirty of them by rough estimate. Oh, crap. What is this? There are way more than I expected! Could it be that the increased difficulty due to the ''hidden route'' was also activated here? "Alphius! Chester!" I immediately called them. The moment I did that, winged goblins flying across the sky reacted to my voice and rushed at me faster than before. ''Damn this hidden route!'' I grabbed the club tightly and swung it hard. No, as soon as I tried to swing it. I felt a strong wind blowing from beside me. You''re here, kids! Chwaaak! At the same time, dozens, no, nearly a hundred mammons that were about to cover me disappeared in an instant. "You have courage." A low and heavy voice. Not Alphius and Chester''s. They had just appeared next to me. "How dare you face the rift with such a weak body." A stiff posture, cold eyes staring at the mammon. It was Terdius. Chapter 18 Chapter 18 I am the ideal person that Zain was looking for. ''Someone who has the power to change the world.'' That was the person Zain had been searching for while gathering information. -My child, are you sure you want to ept that dangerous friend''s request? ''Yes. That friend will be very helpful to us in the future.'' -If mymb says so... Zain''s eyes widened. "But you can''t tell me what your request is right now, which means you don''t fully trust me. You need me, but you can''t trust me. Isn''t that right? Don''t you think so?" I said calmly. Zain clenched his lips. I approached him a little more. "Then, let''s make a contract." "...What?" "I will grant your request, and you will be my subordinate. How about it?" It was a contract that no ordinary person would ever agree to. It was, in other words, a ve contract. But Zain was different. This was what Zain had been dreaming of his whole life. "I agree. As long as you can grant my request." Good. That''s how it should be. I smiled and opened my inventory. Then I picked and took out an item. "What is this...!" Zain''s mouth opened wide. Between me and Zain, a piece of paper floated in the air. This was something I had made a while ago bybining some items. To prepare for today. It was a kind of contract called [Sacred Scroll]. -My child! You shouldn''t use that recklessly! Kyros, who noticed the Sacred Scroll, was shocked. -You might be in danger! It was natural for Kyros to be surprised. This paper, despite its benevolent name, was a cruel contract that would kill the one who broke it. ''Yes. I know. But don''t worry. I''m your first apostle.'' -It''s not that I don''t trust you... but the effect of the ''Sacred Scroll'' cannot be removed by my current power. It wasn''t called ''Sacred Scroll'' for nothing. It was because the power of God was imbued in this paper. So someday, when Kyros became stronger, he could remove the effect of the contract with his power. ''Well, there''s no need for that anyway.'' I reached out to the paper floating in the air. And as I wrote with my finger, it was engraved on the paper. I wrote down the terms I wanted and signed at the bottom. Then the ''Sacred Scroll'' moved by itself towards Zain. Zain checked the contents of the paper and his eyes bulged. "You are...!" I took off my sses with a faint smile. "Why? Are you surprised?" Zain gasped silently and opened his mouth wide. Only one''s real name could be written on the ''Sacred Scroll''. So I wrote not Leviathan, but Revelof Holden. No wonder Zain was surprised. He was stunned for a moment and then took a deep breath and calmed down. Then he spoke calmly. "Most of the customers in our shop hide their identities, but we know who they are. No matter how much they disguise their appearance, they give themselves away in small details." "And?" "But... there was nothing like that about you. Even if we tried to dig up your background, you appeared out of nowhere and disappeared without a trace. So you were always shrouded in mystery. Did you use some kind of magic?" "Maybe." Appearing and disappearing without a trace was thanks to the secret passage of my family. "But our shop has magic nullification, so that should have been impossible..." Well, it wasn''t magic anyway. "By the way, you seem quite surprised." "Of course I am. You''re not really Hol---!" I quickly covered Zain''s mouth with my hand. "You''re supposed to be an information broker, but you''re talking too openly, aren''t you?" When I warned Zain, he nodded and signaled that he understood. When I let go of his hand, Zain said softly, "I''m sorry. I was too shocked." "It''s okay." I gestured casually to Zain and put on my sses again. Then Zain''s brow furrowed slightly. "I know who you are, but it feels like my mind is rejecting it. Is it because of those sses?" I didn''t bother to exin. It didn''t matter whether Zain doubted me or not. "Anyway, when are you going to sign? Have you changed your mind about making a contract?" "No, that''s not it." Zain answered and hastily signed the ''Sacred Scroll''. Then the contract came back to me. I scanned the contract again. The terms I wrote were simple. I will grant Zain''s request and Zain will be my subordinate and follow my orders. However, he must not reveal my secrets to anyone. The contract period is three years, and if he vites any of the above, he will die. It was a very simple contract. When I finished checking, the paper spun around and headed towards Zain. After the confirmation between the contractors was over. A blue me sprouted on the ''Sacred Scroll'' by itself. The Sacred Scroll burned in the blue me became a small ball of light and soon disappeared. At the same time. "Ugh!" I felt a sharp pain in my heart as if it was being squeezed. This pain was proof that the contract was properly made. "So, what is your request?" Now that the contract was over, it was time to listen to his request. "My request is..." Zain swallowed his saliva and answered with determined eyes. "To erase Diego Faith from thisnd." As expected. Diego Faith, which upied almost the entire world. In order to get rid of the oppressive religion, Zain had been looking for someone who could change the world. And then, I appeared. I appeared out of nowhere and saved the people of Rovel, drove out the Rizes Church, and finally made all the citizens of Rovel into Kyros Faith''s believers. It took me less than a few weeks. -Perhaps, we''ll get along well. ''Yes. We will.'' Knowing what his goal was, I set the contract period to three years. My main quest deadline was also three years, so if I couldn''t seed by then, I would die anyway. "Contract established." I reached out my hand to Zain. Then Zain smiled faintly and shook my hand. "I look forward to working with you."
On a sunny afternoon with a cool breeze... I was having tea time in the garden. With my family. -You look ufortable. ''Well, it''s a bit awkward.'' I hadn''t spent much time with them since I came to this world. I knew in my head that they were my family, but my heart couldn''t ept it. Not yet. "I feel like it''s been a long time since I spent time with you guys. I''ve been too busy and neglected you guys. I''m sorry." "No, Mother." I quietly sipped my tea as I listened to the conversation between Mother and Sevenus. The cool fruit tea was more to my liking than I expected. "Do you like it, Revy?" "Huh? Yes." She asked me out of the blue. I forced a smile and looked at Mother. "By the way, how are you feeling these days? Are you okay?" "Ah, yes. I''ve gotten much better." "I heard you''re training with Fanatic. Is it not too hard?" "Of course it is." Fanatic did push me hard, but it wasn''t as difficult as before, thanks to the increase in the number of believers of Kyros Faith. Kyros gave me divine power every time he gained strength. Thanks to that, not only did my body be stronger, but also the number of times I could use ''Divine Power Release'' increased from five to seven. ''I''ll have to try it out in a real battle to know for sure.'' I was able to kill about ten low-level monsters with one ''Divine Power Release'' during thest rift, so now I should be able to kill more than that. ording to the experiment I did at the temple, the number of times increased, and the thickness also increased by a few centimeterspared to when I first got the skill. "Mother doesn''t have to worry. He''s been going out a lottely, so he''s faring much better." As Sevenus said, I went out a lot recently. For a few days after stopping the rift in Rovel. I had a purpose of avoiding Fanatic''s training for a few hours, but I also hated being trapped in the mansion. Of course, I went out at night, but that was no different from escaping. So I often went to y in Elyn, and I also toured Rovel with knights. The citizens of Rovel, who had regained their vitality, resumed their economic activities. They all praised Kyros with bright faces and lived their lives. And mother supported them aspensation for the pain they suffered from the Rizes Church. ''She''s a good lord.'' She provided not only living expenses but also repaired the buildings that were copsing. The followers of Rovel worked hard to spread the word as their quality of life improved. Thanks to that, the Kyros Faith increased its number of followers day by day. "Still, Revy, you should get a checkup soon. You understand?" "Yes, Mother. I will." Not right now, but a littleter. I still needed more time. "By the way, I heard that the citizens of Elyn are also favorable to Kyros Faith these days." The topic of Kyros Faith came out of Sevenus'' mouth. I pretended to drink tea and listened carefully. "That''s right. It must be because of the rift that opened up recently." "Yes. Thanks to the Kyros Temple, all the citizens of Rovel were safe." -Ahem! Kyros seemed happy with Sevenus''pliment. Well, I was happy too. ''Kyros is the best! He turned Rovel upside down!'' I praised Kyros and focused on the conversation. "That''s right. The monsters couldn''t enter the Kyros Temple." No matter how weak Kyros'' power was right now, he was still a god who had a power opposite to that of monsters. So low-level monsters couldn''t break through Kyros'' protection. It was because of the ''Power Compatibility'' that existed in HSAW. Maybe dozens of mid-level monsters would have to attack to break through it. "The pope and the young high priest of Kyros Faith, as well as the pdin, were also outstanding. If they hadn''t stood in front and dealt with the monsters, Rovel would have suffered a lot more damage." That''s right, Mother! "Of course, we have to keep an eye on them, but this time it was thanks to Kyros Faith. So, we owe them appropriate rewards." Oh, rewards! My heart started beating faster. I didn''t do it for anything, but I was looking forward to getting rewarded. And it seemed that Mother and Sevenus fully recognized Kyros Faith, which made me happy. I listened to them talk about rewards and imagined my future with excitement. ''Now that I''ve prevented all the disasters that were about to happen in Holden, I''ll have to focus on opening the temple for a while.'' I talked well with Alphius and Chester, but Kyros'' statue and painting were the most important. I had already shown enough ability to captivate people, so now it was time to show off his beauty. ''Kyros is not called the God of Beauty for nothing.'' But to properly show off Kyros'' beauty, an ordinary person wouldn''t do. It would be best if someone who knew Kyros'' appearance made it. But currently, there were only me, Alphius, and Chester. Even if I hired someone with great skills, seeing is believing. ''I wonder how I can exin Kyros'' beauty to the sculptor and painter...'' It wouldn''tpare to the real Kyros. I asked Alphius and Chester before, but they both said they had no artistic talent. ''Hmm... What should I do?'' As I was worrying, I heard an unexpected remark from my mother. "Maybe I should go and see the Kyros Temple myself." "Cough!!" Chapter 19 Chapter 19 "Cough, cough!" I was startled by my mother''s sudden words. Oh no, I''m going to die. "Revy! Are you okay?!" -My child, are you okay? I heard the voices of my mother and Kyros, who were as surprised as me. No, give me some water instead of talking! "Drink this, Revy." Fortunately, Sevenus, who was the only one who didn''t panic in this chaos, handed me some water. "Cough!" I drank the water as soon as I received it. Thankfully, I calmed down slowly. Why did the conversation change from thepensation of Kyros Faith to visiting the temple in person? Was I too lost in other thoughts? Now that it''se to this, let''s think about decorating the templeter. "I''m fine, Mother. But, you''re going to visit the temple of Kyros Faith in person?" I only answered questions during the tea time, but now it was time to join the conversation. "Yes." My mother smiled gently and answered. Hmm. Of course, I nned to make my family members Kyros Faith believers someday. If that happened, I would meet them as the leader of the church, so I thought I would meet them then. Was I too careless? I didn''t expect to meet my mother so soon. ''Of course, I could ask Alphius to act as the leader instead of me.'' But that was not possible. My mother was not an ordinary noble, but the lord of Holden Territory, where the main temple of Kyros Faith was located. It was right for the leader to show up in person. Moreover, my mother was not calling for the leader of Kyros Faith, but visiting in person. Kyros Faith had to show proper courtesy ordingly. ''I guess there''s no choice.'' It was right for me to meet my mother as the leader. "Wouldn''t it be better for me to go? You''re busy, aren''t you?" While I was thinking about it, Sevenus asked my mother. "That''s true. The affairs of the territory are not settled yet." After the incident with Rizes Church, my mother was overhauling Holden Territory. She investigated the taxes of the nobles, as well as their embezzled funds and tax evasion records. The ball that Viscount Louis Kennel threw up was shaking out the nobles of the Holden Family. ''Some of them are about to be kicked out.'' She also visited every corner of the territory to check on the lives of the people and confirmed everything by herself. Moreover, she still had not finished her original ''royal'' rted work, so she needed ten bodies. Even so, she cared about her children and barely made time for tea time. "Of course, I''m not going to visit right away. I''ll have to meet this leader after I sort out the management of the territory." Soon, my mother''s eyes turned sharp like a well-honed sword. "I have to see for myself if he is trustworthy or not. To prevent what happened in Rovel from happening again." I swallowed my saliva unknowingly. It was a woman who was once called a Sword of the Battlefield. But fortunately, there was still time left. My mother and Sevenus did not trust the leader of Kyros Faith yet, but they had at least some goodwill towards him. "By the way, what about Rizes Church?" "Fortunately, Diego Faith has started investigating them." "Hmm. I see. Then I can trust and leave it to them." Rizes Church was so mysterious that it was hard to find them in Holden by themselves. ''It''s easier to leave this kind of thing to Diego Faith.'' Of course, I knew where Rizes Church bastards were, but I wouldn''t tell my family their whereabouts. It would be dangerous if they touched them wrong. So now is the time to focus on opening the temple.
At sunset, somewhere in the forest. "Huff, huff!" The middle-aged man ran and ran. He had to get into the vige before the sunlight disappearedpletely behind the fog. But now that he had been running for a long time, he was out of breath and could not run anymore. But he thought of his children who were waiting for him at home. ''I can''t die, I can''t die! If I die, my children will!'' To feed his children, and for the people of the vige who were like his family, he searched for food in the forest. He couldn''t get out of the forest because of the magic that hung over it. That meant he had to go back to the vige to survive. He gasped for air, and the fog gradually thickened. ''Please, please. Diego, God!'' The distance to the vige was only a few tens of meters. There wasn''t much left. The man squeezed out hisst strength, then ran, and ran. Finally, he saw the vige in his sight. He clenched his teeth. At that moment, the fogpletely thickened and the sunlight disappeared. ''God! Please, help me!'' The man prayed to God. Awoo! Behind him, he heard a terrible beast''s roar. Grrr--- The sound of the beasts increased in an instant. "Hurry, hurry up!" The entrance of the vige came into view. The gatekeeper called him urgently. Grrr! The man ran faster and faster. ''Not much left!'' God didn''t abandon me! He thought so. At that moment, Thud! The man''s foot tripped over a stone. "Krrk!" His body rolled on the ground. The gatekeeper who was looking at him turned pale. Behind the man, a pack of beasts appeared in an instant. "Kraaak!" Blood sshed and the man''s scream filled the forest. The gatekeeper closed his eyes and turned his body. "I''m sorry." And next to him, a young man who was watching the situation also closed his eyes. The young man sped his hands and prayed earnestly. ''Please, Kyros. Please help us!''
After finishing training with Fanatic, I returned to my room and immediately took Pasrel poison, washed up, andy down on the bed. ''It''s nice that these days are monotonous.'' It would be nice if my life was always like this, but unfortunately, I didn''t have much time left. ''I have to make an excuse for bing a Kyros Faith believer soon.'' Being the second child of the Holden Family was a pretty good position. However, it was like a mountain to climb for me to clear my main quest. The deadline for the quest was only three years. Almost a month has passed already. ''I have to finish building the temple first.'' Afterpleting the temple, I nned to visit there often when I went out during the day. Not as the leader of Kyros Faith, but as Revelof Holden. I would naturally appeal to the fact that I became healthier thanks to Kyros Faith, and say that I would listen to the religion as a way of repaying their grace. That''s why I was postponing the doctor''s examination. ''It''s a perfect scenario.'' But first, I need to hire an artist as soon as possible. Alphius and Chester said they were looking hard, but there was no progress. Actually, it was possible to open the temple without Kyros'' statues and portraits. But there was a reason why they said ''opening effect''. It''s thew that people flock the most at the beginning of anything. ''I can''t miss the timing.'' And that was the best time to attract a lot of believers. When there is a lot of influx of people, if Kyros'' statues and portraits y the role of beauty, the believers will increase in no time. ''Hmm, what should I do?'' -My child. As I was rolling around in bed, lost in thought, Kyros called me with a serious voice. ''Yes?'' -I hear a desperate voice calling me from somewhere. At the same time, a system window appeared. [Sub Quest urred!] [Sub Quest ''Salvation'' 1. Content: In a deep vige somewhere in Cartel Forest, a fervent prayer for Kyros, the God of Beauty, is taking ce. Head to Cartel Forest for Kyros, the God of Beauty. Goal: Find the believer who is praying fervently for Kyros, the God of Beauty, somewhere in Cartel Forest within 24 hours. (This quest is a linked quest) Sess: Found the clue for the next quest Failure: - Final Sess Reward: Agent Draw Ticket (5 pieces)] [Do you ept?] [Yes/No] After reading through the quest window that suddenly appeared, I hesitated for a moment. I had seen the ''Cartel Forest'' quest many times in HSAW. The problem was, that I only cleared this quest once. The reason was simple. The reward was not worth the time spent on the quest. But this was a condition that I couldn''t refuse. The final reward is five agents draw tickets? ''How can I refuse this...'' I pressed the ''Yes'' button as if I was possessed. -My child, thank you! As soon as I pressed the ept button, Kyros said with a touched voice. ''No problem. It''s for our few believers.'' Of course, I was going for the reward. In fact, now that Kyros'' power had recovered to some extent, wouldn''t I be able to get some draw tickets if I pushed him? But I didn''t want to ruin our rtionship with a needless gamble. ''It''s better to be sure.'' By the way, it was strange that a quest appeared at this time. It was different from the original story. In HSAW, the Cartel Forest quest appeared when Terdius finished his business in Holden Territory and headed to the next city, near Cartel Forest. When I first received the ''Cartel Forest'' quest, I cleared it, but after finding out that the reward was not satisfying, I just ignored it and passed by. It was just a sub-quest in the original story anyway. ''If you refuse the quest, you get an annoying debuff called ''Curse of the Dead'', but...'' It didn''t matter much because the buff duration was only about three hours. But now, because of a believer''s prayer for Kyros, the quest appeared even though I wasn''t near Cartel Forest. ''Did I change the plot by interfering?'' Or maybe, the prerequisite for this sub-quest was ''after finishing things in Holden Territory and waiting for a few days''. Whatever it was, it didn''t matter much. ''By the way, if there is a believer who reached Cartel Forest at this point...'' -It must be either Rovel''s believer or one of Elyn''s few believers. ''That makes sense.'' Right now, Kyros Faith''s believers were only that much. Thanks to Rovel''s believers who were actively preaching, there were more believers in Elyn too. Anyway, since I don''t have much time, I need to contact Zain first. "Zain." [Yes, customer.] When I called out with my voice training system, Zain''s voice came to my ear. This was possible because Zain became dependent on me through the contract of ''Sacred Book''. Simply put, it was like a ''whisper'' system in games. But what? "Customer?" This kid. He''s getting out of hand. [Oh, no. I mean, Master.] "That''s right. Get two horses ready right now." It took quite a distance from Holden Territory to Cartel Forest, so I needed a means of transportation. [Understood. But if you need two horses, do you have apanion?] "Yep. Of course." [If you don''t mind, can I ask who it is?] Do I have to tell him? "Of course, mypanion is you, kid." [...What?] Chapter 20 Chapter 20 After finishing my conversation with Zain, I headed straight to the secret passage. As soon as I put on the robe and sses in the secret passage, Kyros spoke in a serious tone. -My child, you always try to fulfill my requests. ''Of course, because it''s you, Kyros.'' -But even if it''s something that could endanger you? ''Yes.'' Of course, it was partly because of the reward, but as long as I served Kyros, I intended to follow his willpletely. I didn''t consider myself to be so virtuous, but I didn''t have the heart to be evil either. I came out of the secret passage and headed to the back alley. Then I saw Zain standing with two horses in front of the secret shop. There was no one around, probably because it waste. I approached Zain right away. "You''ve prepared everything even at thiste hour. Good job." Zain smiled brightly. "I''m Zain. This is easy for me." The horses looked good too. Zain was really useful. "By the way, you''re wearing those sses again today?" "Yeah. This way no one can recognize me." "It''s amazing. They look like magic items." "They''re not." Anyway, Zain couldn''t reveal my secret, so it was easy to talk to him. Of course, that didn''t mean I was going to tell him where these sses came from. "By the way, master, do you know how to ride a horse?" "What?" "You''ve been weak since you were young." "...Well, yeah." I smiled faintly and approached the horse. Then I quickly adjusted my posture and got on. I grabbed the reins and looked down. Zain''s surprised face was visible. "Don''t worry. I still remember." When I was young, before I got sick from Malone''s disease, I learned how to ride a horse directly from my mother. It wasn''t exactly my memory though. -Wow, you look like a general! ''Really?'' -Yes! You look very good! I felt a little better after hearing Kyros''pliment. By the way, this kid, Zain, why isn''t he getting on? He looked like he was thinking ''Do I really have to do this?'' Ugh. I took out a money pouch from my pocket and threw it to him. Thud! Zain grabbed the money pouch and quickly followed me on the horse. You greedy bastard. "Haha, I didn''t even ask for this! Thank you, master!" "Be quiet. We''re leaving now." I drove the horse without difficulty. I was just relying on the memory in my head, but it was surprisingly easy. Maybe I had some talent for it. -You have better athletic skills than I thought, child. ''It''s all thanks to you, Kyros.'' -Well, well! I ttered Kyros a bit and reached the wall of the territory in no time. Then I remembered something I had overlooked. ''Damn.'' I forgot about the existence of the gatekeepers who guarded the wall. These days, my mother has been investigating the nobles like crazy and preventing them from escaping by strengthening the security of the territory. So I couldn''t just go out as before. I needed a pass to get out. And to get a pass, identity verification was mandatory. ''I had to...'' Damn it. I couldn''t reveal my identity. As I was worrying, "Wait a minute, master." Zain got off his horse. He smiled brightly and approached the gatekeepers. The gatekeepers also greeted him warmly. Zain exchanged a few words with them and evenughed heartily. Then he came back soon. "Let''s go. You can just go out." He got on his horse and smiled smugly. "How did you do that?" "Hey, I''m Zain. How long have I been doing business here? This is easy for me." He drove his horse and crossed the wall. I followed him on my horse too. There was no interference from the gatekeeper. As soon as we left the territory, a wide in appeared. I felt a strange thrill as I looked at the in with a cool night breeze blowing over it. ''I didn''t expect to leave the territory so suddenly.'' I looked around and said to Zain. "I''ll let this one slide, but don''t make any trouble." "Don''t worry. I won''t do anything bad for you or Holden. It''s like we''re on one boat now, right?" "And you''re ripping me off?" "Hey, we still have to be fair!" Damn it. "By the way, where are we going?" "Oh. Didn''t I tell you?" "No. You just told me to get the horses and then cut off themunication." Now that I think about it, I did. "We''re going to Cartel Forest." "...What?" Zain''s eyes widened as I told him the destination. "Cartel Forest? Why there?" "You know something, don''t you?" "Of course! Haven''t you heard that monsters have been appearing in Cartel Foresttely?" Monsters. As befitting a game world, there were monsters everywhere in this world. Although I met the demons before the monsters. "And the monsters that appear in Cartel Forest now are ''Darkwolves'' that are known to eat people at night! You want to go to Cartel Forest, where those things are, on this dark night?! Anyone can see that it''s like going to die?!" "Good information. You know it well." Darkwolves. They were not easy creatures. They appeared in the early stages of the game, but they were so ferocious that they could barely be handled by a well-trained knight brigade. The ''leader'' of the darkwolves was a monster that could use magic and was especially dangerous at night. "Master!" "Lower your voice. Who said I''m going to die? Don''t be so scared." Only then did Zain stop shouting. "You know I can''t move freely except at this time, right?" "I know, but... It''s dangerous!" "I know." Zain sighed softly. Sigh, "Really. You have a n, right?" "Of course. Don''t you trust me?" "I do. That''s why I made a contract with you. Sigh." The conversation ended there. Instead of answering, I drove the horse. Zain followed me while grumbling. I knew where Cartel Forest was, so I arrived there in about 10 minutes. I got off the horse and Zain followed me. He quickly drove a stake into the ground and tied the horse to it. I looked at the view of the Cartel Forest. "Wow." It was impressive even from a distance, but it was quiterge up close. It was not as big as the Holden territory, but maybe half of it. The forest was dark and dense with huge trees. It was almost pitch ck inside. Awoooo--- The howl of a darkwolf came from afar, adding to the gloominess. "Ugh, it''s creepy." Zain, who had finished his task, came to my side. "Are we going in right away?" "No. Wait a bit." I moved away from Jain and called Alphius and Chester. Then, a small arm appeared in the air, and soon the two kids jumped out of the gap. "Who are these...?" Jain looked at them with surprised eyes. Well, even if he had seen them in the information, this scene was hard to see. "They are the high priest and the pdin of the Kyros Faith." "Master! Where are we?" "I don''t know, but it''s scary." I smiled at Alphius and Chester, who were confused and frightened. "Alphy, Chesi. This is Zain. He''s my confidant." "Oh, hello. I''m Alphius." "I-I''m Chester." The kids greeted him and Zain approached them nervously. "Nice to meet you. But master, can you use summoning magic too?" "Something like that. Anyway, let me tell you our goal." At the same time, three pairs of eyes focused on me. "This is the Cartel Forest. It''s a ce where darkwolves appear, and we have to find a believer of Kyros here." "What? There''s a believer in this ce?" "Gasp...!" The kids gasped in shock. "Yes. He prayed fervently to Kyros, so he must be in danger." "Yes, I understand!" "Then I''ll do my best too!" The kids'' eyes became determined when they heard about the believer''s crisis. As expected, they were my children. "Master, do youmunicate with Kyros?" I was looking at the kids with pride when Zain asked me with a startled face. "No, before that... Is Kyros really a real god?" What are you talking about? "What do you mean? Of course, he is." But I saw it. Zain''s pupils were shaking. "Hey, don''t tell me... What did you think of us until now?" "...A cult?" "You bastard!" Thwack! I hit Zain''s head without thinking. "Didn''t you approach me because you saw my power?" "Yes, yes I did." "Then what? A cult? What did you think of me then?" "Well, I thought you were a powerful mage. But now I think you''re a powerful mage with a cult... Ow!" Thwack! "Ugh, really!" I hit him one more time in anger. I thought he was a serious guy when I saw him in the game, but he was more of an idiot than I thought. A cult? He thought I was a cult? I sighed at his unexpected answer. ''Is this guy worth taking with me...'' But I couldn''t leave him behind now. The reason I took Zain in was not only because he was an ''information broker'', but also something else. -He deserves it! "Yes!" "Hit him more, master!" Kyros and the kids cheered me on, but I barely restrained myself. Then Zain wrapped his head and said with a wronged face. "I didn''t know much about it. There are so many religions in the world, and some of them are cults. That''s why I thought that way." "I understand that... But anyway, we''re not a cult. Well, I guess you might feel that way in this world." Yeah, Zain didn''t witness what I did with his own eyes. He must have judged what he heard subjectively. But still? A powerful mage with a cult? How dare he? I was tempted to hit him one more time, but I decided to speak kindly instead. "Kyros is real, Zain." "Yes, I''ll remember that. I promise." I sighed lightly and opened my inventory to take out the holy mace. "Alphy, Chesi. Get ready. It''s time to go in." "Yes, master!" "Yes, yes! O, okay!" Alphius and Chester quickly nked me on both sides. Thanks to that, Zain was pushed back. Still, Zain followed us stubbornly and didn''t ask any questions. The kids didn''t look very fond of him though. -He may be your confidant, but I don''t like him! ''Please bear with it. He''ll be a believer of Kyros someday.'' -Humph! Suddenly Kyros'' sulky face shed through my mind. I couldn''t help butugh. "Master, what should I do?" Zain asked from behind. I just turned my head and answered. "What do you mean? Of course, you have to fight too." "You''re not going to run away from the battle, are you?" "No, no! Of course not." The kids joined in and taunted Zain. By the way, were Alphius and Chester always like this? "I''ll join in!" "Good. Then support us from the back. You can shoot a bow, right? Right?" "How did you...!" I saw it in the original story. Anyway, "Let''s go." I stepped into the Cartel Forest with the kids and Zain. Chapter 21 Chapter 21 I stepped into the Cartel Forest. Chester, the pdin, was at the front, followed by Alphius, then me, and Zain at the back. We didn''t arrange the formation beforehand, but it turned out to be the most efficient one. We all walked through the forest as if we had made a promise, keeping our presence as low as possible. "It feels like we''re doing some kind of courage test..." The Cartel Forest at night was like something out of a horror novel. It was so quiet that not even a sound of insects could be heard, and there was a damp smell of grass. The only sounds were our breathing and the footsteps on the branches and leaves. The tall trees and the unknown nts added to the atmosphere. Everything made me tense. But I was able to stay calm to some extent because our current strength was considerable. Zain was one thing, but both Alphius and Chester were strong enough to match their S-rank status. Darkwolves were powerful, but they were no match for the two kids. ''Especially Chester, he easily ughtered low-level monsters.'' I didn''t notice it at the time, but I realized itter. Chester was as strong as Terdius, if not stronger. Of course, unless the two fought each other, I couldn''t rank them precisely. -Be careful. If it gets dangerous, run away immediately. The angels will protect you. ''Let''s see how it goes first.'' As I casually replied to Kyros'' words, it happened. Chester, who was walking ahead, stopped and raised one hand. As soon as we saw the signal, we all stopped without hesitation. I tightened my grip on the mace, and Alphius, who was in front of me, cast a barrier. Alphius'' barrier was big enough to cover all of us. And then, Roar!! Bang! Bang! The attack began with the sound of beasts howling. Crash! Darkwolves appeared out of nowhere and rushed towards us. Fortunately, they bounced off the barrier and rolled on the ground. But they got up quickly as if nothing had happened. "Damn it." Zain cursed behind me and did something that made a noise. "Master, what should we do?" Alphius asked me. We were surrounded by darkwolves in an instant. Six darkwolves were staring at us from around the barrier. I scanned them. They looked like nothing more than ferocious dogs when I saw them in graphics, but they were actually very intimidating in reality. ''To see wolves here.'' The darkwolves were hard to see in the darkness, but their yellow eyes were clear. And the size of the darkwolves seemed to be twice that of a human. This was a different kind of fear from facing monsters. And it was midnight. The darkwolves got a buff at night. ording to HSAW, the buff for darkwolves was that their attack power and movement speed increased when there was no sun. ''Well, at least there aren''t many of them...'' After a brief thought, I came up with a n and opened my mouth. "Let''s take care of them." As soon as I said that, Chester and Alphius nodded their heads. The barrier was lifted in an instant. At the same time, Chester flew forward. Swoosh--- He cut through the wind with his sword and shed two darkwolves in a blink of an eye. The two darkwolves fell without even screaming. After that, Alphius used his holy power to kill another darkwolf, and I also moved my body. Grrr! I swung my mace at the darkwolf that ran towards me. Thud! -Good job! The darkwolf hit by the holy mace copsed with its head caved in. Thanks to the item''s advantage of being holy, I could easily kill one of them. And then, the remaining two charged at me again. I swung my mace without a break. Whizz~ Thwack! The two darkwolves dropped dead without a sound. "Phew.." When all the darkwolves around us were taken care of, I unconsciously rxed as if I had been tense. "Is everyone okay? No injuries?" "Yes! We''re fine!" "Me too!" Alphius and Chester smiled and nodded their heads. -You''re doing great, kid. Maybe it was because I had some experience fighting low-level monsters before, but it was a bit easier this time. "Wow, that was close." Zain came up to me, breathing heavily, unlike the two kids. He had a bow in his hand. "What a fuss." "''What a fuss''? That was really dangerous! If it wasn''t for the Master''s barrier... Ugh, horrible." I chuckled as I saw Zain shivering. "Let''s move on." We still had a long way to go. Then, Zain raised his hand. "Wait a minute, Master. Just wait a little bit." "Why?" When I asked him, Zain ran to the corpses of the darkwolves. He took out a knife from his pocket and started to rip off their fangs. ''Oh, that.'' It was a junk item that you could get from killing darkwolves in HSAW. "These are quite valuable, you know." It wasn''t a big amount, though. "Hehe, it''s the basic of a merchant to not neglect even the small things that make money." He seemed to have read my expression. While Zain was collecting the fangs, I looked around. The main purpose of this quest was to meet the believers of Kyros Faith. The believer was in a vige somewhere deep in the forest. It must have meant the ''Cartel Vige'' in the forest. And the location of the vige was... ''I can''t forget it.'' I couldn''t forget it or fail to remember it. I cleared it once, but my character died here several times. If you enter the Cartel Forest and walk straight, you will face a moss-covered tombstone. The tombstone says ''Cartel Forest''. If you face the tombstone, you have to move to the right. The Cartel Vige is near the end of the right side of the tombstone. "Ha ha, what a jackpot." Zain finished collecting the fangs andughed wickedly. After he returned to the formation, I spoke. "Let''s go to the right." "Yeah, it''s faster to go to the vige if we want to find someone." Zain also seemed to know the location of the Cartel Vige. "There''s a vige in this forest?" "Yeah, yeah. There are people who live in such scary ces." After one battle, everyone seemed to rx a bit and started to chat as we moved. But we still maintained our formation. As we wandered through the forest, we encountered two more packs of darkwolves. ''They''re quite numerous.'' The battles were as easy as the first one. But one problem was... The darkwolf leader still didn''t show up. ''Is it because the quest progress is not enough?'' In HSAW, too, I met the darkwolf leader at the end of the quest. As we continued our steps toward the vige. At some point, I saw a light in front of me. It was hidden by the darkness of the forest, but there was definitely a light. "What is that light...?" "I think that''s the vige over there." Alphius and Chester widened their eyes as they spotted the light. I quickened my pace instead of answering. We walked briskly towards the light. And finally, we found Cartel Vige. "Is this the ce?" "A, a vige?" The two kids tilted their heads as I smiled faintly. Then, Zain answered. "Yes, this is Cartel Vige." It was no wonder that Alphius and Chester were doubtful. What appeared before our eyes was a small and shabby ce that could hardly be called a vige. Around the vige, there was a wooden fence that surrounded it. Moreover, the fence had wooden nks haphazardly patched up, as if it had been repaired many times. And in one corner of the fence, there was a sign that said ''Cartel Vige'' that was leaning to one side. "It''s a bit small." Inside the fence, there were only about ten wooden houses that were too modest to be called a vige. And in the middle of them, there was something that illuminated the dark forest. It looked like a streetmp, but it was actually a wooden pole with a crimson stone embedded in it. "What is that?" "A, a stone?" The two kids also wondered the same thing as me. "That''s a sunstone. As the name implies, it''s a stone that contains the power of the sun. Amazingly, such a precious thing is in this vige..." Zain muttered in awe. By the way, this guy seemed to covet the sunstone. Anyway, Cartel Vige was able to protect itself from the darkwolves thanks to the sunstone. The sunstone not only contained the power of the sun but also blocked the magic of the darkwolves. Besides, the darkwolves couldn''t survive under sunlight. I approached the vige. At that moment, someone appeared from behind the fence. "Is this a dream or reality?" He must have been sleeping near the fence, judging by his sudden appearance. I put on a business smile and greeted the middle-aged man. "Hello." Then I felt a gaze from beside me. Zain was looking at me with a slightly annoyed eye. Huh, what? You also smile like this when you work. I wrote ''I''m a harmless human'' on my face and walked towards the middle-aged man who looked like a gatekeeper. Then his eyes widened. "No, no... How can there be people at this hour? Am I seeing things?" "No, you''re not." As I got closer and stuck to the fence, his eyes grew even bigger. "Did you enter Cartel Forest at this hour?" "Yes, we did!" Alphius came up to me with a bright smile and answered instead of me. "No way... How did you...? There are darkwolves in the forest!" "Yes, we know." I nodded and smiled, and then Chester ran up to my side. He raised his hand and shouted. "We, we killed them on our way here!" "Wha, what?!!" The man''s eyes were about to pop out now. That''s when people came out of the vige. "What''s all this noise?" Among the people who came out one by one from their houses, an old man who looked like the oldest came over and asked the middle-aged man. "El, elder!" The gatekeeper quickly exined everything to the elder. How we suddenly appeared and how we killed the darkwolves on our way here. Then, everyone in the Cartel Vige started to murmur in surprise. "Quiet!" The people calmed down at the elder''s words. The elder then looked at me and asked. "Is it true what Kess said?" So the gatekeeper''s name is Kess. "Yes, it is." At my answer, everyone in Cartel Vige lit up their eyes. Well, I can understand why. Then, the elder opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something. What is this? I feel like I''m about to get a sub-quest here. I don''t want to add more quests at this point. I took the initiative and asked first. "By any chance, did someone from the Holden Territorye here recently?" "Huh? Well, yes... But, why do you ask?" "We came here to look for him. He''s the one who called us here." Everyone in the vige opened their mouths wide. The elder was no exception. "Kess, hurry up and bring that young man here!" "Yes, yes! Elder!" Kess ran into the vige hastily. Do I just have to wait now? As I thought that, Zain, who had been watching the situation, spoke to the elder. "Excuse me... but..." Chapter 22 Chapter 22 "Can''t we go into the vige?" This kid, I thought he had something important to say. Zain asked the elder with a business-like smile. The elder was startled and gestured with his hand. "Oh, right. I''m sorry. Pleasee in quickly." The vigers who were gathered around the elder opened the gate for us. Only then could we enter the vige, and just in time, Kess came back. Next to Kess was a young man of about my age, running out of breath. The young man, who looked exhausted, brightened up when he saw me. "Leader!" He ran towards me with a bright smile. As the young man approached, I recognized who he was. This brown-haired young man was a citizen of Rovel. He was one of the people I had rescued from the underground prison of the Rizes Church. The young man who came up to me was so happy that he shed tears. He sped his hands and looked up at the sky. "Oh, Kyros! You really heard my prayers!" -Yes, yes! This is the child. This is the child who prayed fervently to me! He has a very pure soul! Kyros also seemed very pleased. And finally, a system window appeared. [Sub Quest ''Salvation'' 1. Clear!] [Sub Quest Reward will be given.] [Sub Quest Update!] [Sub Quest ''Salvation'' 2. Content: You have encountered the people of Cartel Vige. Investigate what happened to them. Goal: Listen to the story of Cartel Vige (This quest is a linked quest) Sess: Found the clue for the next quest Failure: - Final Sess Reward: Agent Draw Ticket (5 pieces)] [Do you ept?] [Yes/No] I had a rough idea of what happened in Cartel Vige, but I had to ept the quest to proceed. After epting the quest, I saw the young man sitting on the floor. I approached the young man who was still shedding tears of gratitude and reached out my hand. "Get up, brother." The young man sniffed, grabbed my hand with both hands, and got up. "I didn''t expect you toe here in person. Thank you so much." "No, it''s not me. Kyros heard your prayers and sent me here. It''s all his will." -That''s right, that''s right! I smiled happily and Zain whispered in my ear. [Master, you''re good at acting.] I red at Zain and he flinched slightly. What? "Are you the leader of Kyros Faith?" The elder took a step closer to me. But, his eyes were different from before. I was surprised by his cold gaze, but I didn''t show it. "Yes, I am." Also, the vigers'' eyes had changed. ...What? In HSAW, when Terdius visited the vige in the Cartel Forest, the vigers asked him for help to kill the darkwolf. But, now it was different. ''Maybe this is also a hidden route.'' The children and Zain also felt the change in the vigers and their faces hardened. The one who changed the atmosphere was the believer young man. "Let''s go to my ce first. Elder, is that okay?" When the young man asked, the elder reluctantly agreed. "Please do." "Come on." We followed the young man into the vige.
The young man''s ce was the smallest house in the vige, a space that was no different from a hut. It was big enough for three or four people to sleep in. We sat there huddled together. "I''m sorry for bringing you to such a humble ce." The young man scratched his head and looked guilty. "No, this is fine." Zain gave him a thumbs up and answered. The young man thanked him sincerely even though it sounded sarcastic. "Sorry for beingte. My name is Cyril." "Oh, I''m---" "I know, you''re the leader." When I tried to introduce myself naturally, Cyril smiled and said, "And these two are the priest and the pdin, right?" "Yes, that''s right!" "Yes, yes." Alphius answered confidently and Chester blushed as if he was embarrassed. "But who is this person...?" Then, Cyril asked about Zain. He looked guilty. Zain opened his mouth to introduce himself, but I was faster. "This is my servant, Zain." When I took the initiative, Zain red at me. What are you going to do? "Oh, I see." "By the way, Cyril, brother, how did you end up here?" Now that the introduction was over, I asked him what I was most curious about. Seril cleared his throat and began his story. "I came to the Cartel Forest a few days ago." Cyril''s story was like this; After the reconstruction of Rovel, Cyril''s parents wanted to open a fruit shop in Rovel. In the meantime, they heard a rumor that the fruits in the Cartel Forest were delicious and Cyril came here alone to investigate. Unfortunately, it happened at the same time as the darkwolf appeared. He was lucky enough to get help from a viger and stayed here. "I couldn''t get out of the Cartel Forest for some reason. And as the days went by, the food in the vige ran out and it was a big problem. There was nothing to eat right away, so the people who went out to get food during the day didn''te back either." Cyril exined with a grim face. "For some reason, even during the day, there was fog in the forest. It was really... like hell." The reason why people couldn''t get out of the Cartel Forest and the fog covered the sun during the day was all because of the magic of the darkwolf leader. "If I had known this, I would have used the fruits from other shops like they did. I came to the Cartel Forest thinking I could do something, but the fruits were tasteless. I realized it was a false rumor, and because of that, I was trapped here..." Of course, the rumor that the fruits in this ce were especially delicious was false. If the fruits in the Cartel Forest were really delicious, they would have been distributed in Elyn long ago. "I felt so stupid that I had a hard time because of this." I silently patted Cyril''s shoulder. He smiled faintly. "But I didn''t want to give up on life, so I prayed earnestly to Kyros. He heard my plea and sent you and everyone else to me." Hope filled Cyril''s face. I nodded and smiled back. -Yes! I heard that child''s earnest prayer! Kyros also seemed very proud. "But, Cyril." Zain, who had been listening quietly, suddenly called Cyril. "The vigers don''t seem to wee us very much." At that, Cyril''s shoulders sagged. "That''s because... they are all faithful followers of Diego Faith. So when I first came here and said I was a Kyros Faith, they didn''t like it very much. But I was grateful that they epted me anyway..." So that was why. It was really like a ''hidden route''. In HSAW, the vige in the Cartel Forest had no religion. But now, they were all followers of Diego Faith. To them, Cyril was just a ''believer'' of another religion, so they let it go, but we were different. "Hmm. I guess it''s different to ept one believer and to have the ''leader'' visit. They seem to be on guard." Zain''s words made me and the children nod. "Le, leader. Still, the vigers are all good people. They gave me food fairly and took care of me." Cyril added hastily. "Yes, I know." I gave him a reassuring smile. The vigers were good people, as I had seen in HSAW, and as they had given Cyril a ce to stay. The only thing that bothered me was that they were all followers of Diego Faith. "Um, leader." Cyril looked at me anxiously. "I know it''s a rude request, but... can you help not only me but also the vigers?" With his question, the system window appeared again. [Sub Quest ''Salvation'' 2. Clear!] [Sub Quest Reward will be given.] [Sub Quest Update!] [Sub Quest ''Salvation'' 3. Content: You have heard the story of Cartel Vige from a faithful believer and received a request. Please, don''t turn down the faithful believer''s request. Goal: Save Cartel Vige Sess: Agent Draw Ticket (5 pieces) Failure: All vigers die] [Do you ept?] [Yes/No] This was thest quest. Well, the Cartel Forest quest wasn''t very long in the original either. But, the failure penalty was ''all vigers die''? Isn''t that too much? If there was such a penalty, they should have told me from the beginning! It wasn''t even in the original. ''Damn it.'' Anyway, I had no choice but to ept it since I hade this far. "Yes. Don''t worry." I held Cyril''s hand and smiled. "Thank you, leader! Thank you all!" Cyril bowed his head to us and thanked us. Then he suddenly got up from his seat. "Oh, I don''t have any food, but I''ll bring you some water!" He left the hut. As soon as Cyril was gone, Zain whispered to me. "Master, this is... not a good feeling. Are you okay?" He also felt something bad and asked me cautiously. "Let''s just give it a try. The vigers didn''t do anything bad to us." The job was simple anyway. All I had to do was kill the darkwolf leader in the forest and the rest would be easy. Besides, there was no monster regeneration in HSAW. So, it was over once I killed them all. "Let''s get up. We don''t have time." I had to finish everything before morning. I got up from my seat and left the hut. The children and Zain followed me. Then, I ran into Cyril who was carrying a bucket of water from somewhere. "Leader? Where are you going?" "Ah, well." As I was about to exin to Cyril, the vigers came rushing to the hut. The elder and Kess were at the front. "Elder?" Cyril turned his head in surprise and the elder said with a stiff face, "You''re all here." "What''s going on?" Cyril hurried over and asked. The elder looked at me and said. "I''m sorry, but everyone except Cyril has to leave the vige." "What?! Elder! It''s nighttime!" Cyril eximed in shock. "I know. But you came here through the forest at night." "That''s..." Before Cyril could say anything, I walked up to the elder and faced him. And I nodded with a smile. "I understand." I walked past the vigers. Yeah, I was going to leave anyway. Chapter 23 Chapter 23 The gatekeeper of the Cartel vige, Kess, stared nkly at the back of the leader of Kyros Faith who was leaving the vige. As he watched them, he felt doubt and anxiety rising from somewhere in his heart. Kess looked at the elder with a questioning gaze. The elder was smiling as if he was relieved that the believer of Kyros Faith had disappeared. Kess whispered carefully to him. "Elder, they said they dealt with the darkwolves and came to our vige. Shouldn''t we ept their help?" The elder''s eyes became fierce. "That''s doubtful. They might have had some luck. But if we don''t expel them, we will betray Lord Diego. And then, we will receive the ''divine punishment''." The word divine punishment caused a stir among the vigers. "W-what if we be like Herwa?" As the people trembled in fear, the elder lifted his lips. "Lord Diego will save us. We have done as he wished." As Cyril listened to the elder''s words, he bit his lips. He silently stood in his ce and moved past the people. As Cyril seemed to be leaving the vige, Kess grabbed his shoulder. "Cyril! Where are you going?" Cyril looked at him with a serious eye. "I''m going to follow the leader." His eyes were determined. "What?! That''s dangerous!" Kess shouted and Cyril''s clenched fist trembled. "Then why did you send the leader away?! To that dangerous ce!" "Th, that''s..." Kess couldn''t say anything. Then the elder came to them. He spoke with a kind face. "Go ahead, Cyril. If you are not afraid of the ''divine punishment'' that wille to you someday." At that word, Cyril just red at the elder. Then the elder raised his lips and added. "You are afraid too, aren''t you? Then it''s not toote now. Repent and be a faithful servant of Lord Diego." As if he was receiving a sublime god, the elder stretched out his hands to the sky. Cyril stared at him with a cold eye and opened his mouth with a chilly voice. "Elder. Have you prayed to Lord Diego every day since the darkwolves appeared?" "Of course. Not only me, but all the vigers prayed to Lord Diego. We believe that he will save us soon." "Then why did most of the vigers die?" "...!" The air around them became cold as Cyril uttered what everyone had been trying to ignore. "When I first arrived here, there were more than twice as many vigers as now." Neither the vigers nor the elder could continue their words. Cyril looked at each one of them and drove a wedge. "But not now." Cyril''s eyes became fierce. "Everyone in the vige prayed every day, but who came to this vige?" Cyrill turned away from them. "I don''t care who you believe or worship. But if the situation was reversed, Lord Kyros would not have driven you away." Cyril left only those words and left the fence of the Cartel vige. No one in the vige opened their mouths until his figure disappeared from sight.
"They are funny people." He left the Cartel vige and returned to the forest. As he got a little away from the vige, Zain made a sarcastic remark. "How can they reject people with a different religion in this situation? How can they kick us out when their lives are at stake?" "Calm down, Zain." "No, are you okay, master?" Zain seemed to be emotional as he spoke, and even snorted. I patted his shoulder. "Well... I''m not feeling very good. But I can''t me them either." -Yeah, that''s right. Every religion had its own unique ''atmosphere''. For example, in Kyros Faith that I belonged to... Kyros Faith pursued faith, trust, and freedom. It was a peaceful side. But, Diego Faith was different. Oppression and control, maybe. They pretended to be free and beautiful on the surface, but Diego was an evil god in essence. In HSAW, some of Diego Faith''s believers became one because of their appearance on the surface, but most of them were close to ''brainwashing''. ''Wait a minute... Wait. Why didn''t I think of this?'' Brainwashing. Maybe this is what happened to Terdius...? It was just a guess, but this world was a ''hidden route'', so it wasn''t impossible. "I pity those who don''t know Lord Kyros'' beauty!" "Yeah, yeah!" As I was gathering my thoughts, I heard the childrenmenting. Somehow I heard this somewhere before. "Leader!" At that moment, I heard a voice from afar. Cyril was running across the night forest toward us. What? Why is he here? "Brother Cyril? Why aren''t you in the vige instead...?" "Huff, huff." Cyril couldn''t breathe properly as he ran so hard. "It could have been a big trouble." As if we were moving fast. If Cyril had been a little unlucky, he would have be food for the wolves. "Huff, but, we met like this, huff." Cyril wiped his sweat and smiled. "And, when I, huff, go back to Rovel, huff, I want to be a priest of Kyros Faith!" Cyril shouted loudly. Uh, a priest? The system window appeared at that moment. [Congrattions! The first person who wants to convert to Kyros Faith has been born!] [A new feature ''Agent Appointment'' has been added.] [Agent Appointment: You can appoint anyone you want as an agent of the Kyros Faith.] Wow, awesome. There was such a feature? And it was a new feature thanks to Cyril. -Huhu, such a wonderful child! I''m so proud! Kyros was very touched by Cyril''s words and sobbed. For now, I ignored Kyros and pondered. The Kyros Faith''s system was not yet established, but... I needed more hands when the temple opened. So, it would be perfect to use them as priests and workers. But why did he suddenly do this? "Cyril, brother. Calm down first. By any chance, did something happen while we were away?" You''re a son of a fruit shop owner, aren''t you? How did you suddenly have a change of mind and want to be a priest? "I actually had some trouble in the vige..." Then Cyril started to tell his story. There was some conflict in the vige. But, Cyril, you were so tough against the vigers. You seem to have a stronger mentality than I thought. "I see. You had a hard time." I nodded at Cyril. Then Alphius, who was quietly listening to the story, grabbed Cyril''s hand. "You did well. Cyril, brother." "No, Your Holiness. I didn''t have a hard time. I just... felt sorry for the vigers. Unlike me, who witnessed Kyros'' power with my own eyes, they didn''t." It was the mindset of a true believer. You passed. I patted Cyril''s shoulder. "Brother Cyril, let''s talk about the priest stuffter when we get back to Rovel." "Oh, yes!" We had something to do right now. "From now on, we''re going to deal with the darkwolf leader. So, follow me carefully." Our party started moving again with Cyril included. By the way, there was something that bothered me in Cyril''s story. The ''divine punishment'' that shook the vigers. Did Diego Faith send ''divine punishment'' to people? There was nothing like that in HSAW. This must be because of the hidden route. ''I''ll have to check it outter.'' The important thing right now was the Darkwolf Leader. "Let''s move quickly." I led the group to the darkwolf''s hideout that I remembered.
At the same time, in the Cartel Forest ''Darkwolf''s Hideout.'' The darkwolf leader felt the number of his dwindling kin and did not let his guard down. Only the instinct to kill humans was swirling in the darkwolf''s leader. But at that moment, a strong fear began to approach. Keeing--- The darkwolves instinctively realized. They couldn''t run away from ''it'' that wasing at a fast speed through the dark forest. It was approaching them at an absurdly fast speed. And soon enough, it revealed itself at the Darkwolf''s Hideout. "Hello, doggies." Under the moonlight, a man revealed himself. He wore leather pants and nothing on his upper body. He was a beautiful man that anyone would admire. He knew that fact well, so he showed off his body. His firm and bnced muscles shone more under the moonlight. His violet hair that reached his waist fluttered softly in the wind, and his ck eyes sparkled mischievously. The man''s sharp gaze swept over the terrified darkwolves. He approached them with light steps, humming a tune. The darkwolves ttened themselves as the man got closer. It was the overwhelming difference in power and fear that he radiated that made it possible. "Good boys." The man narrowed his eyes and walked towards the leader of the darkwolves. The Darkwolf leader, who was more than three times bigger than the man, bowed his head to him. Then the man took out a ck bead from his pocket. The ck bead, the size of a fist, touched the forehead of the Darkwolf leader. As the man muttered something softly, the ck bead embedded itself into the Darkwolf leader''s forehead. "That''s right, good boy." The man smiled brightly and stroked the Darkwolf leader. Then he gave a smallmand. "Go." At his words, the darkwolves moved at once. As they sped off to somewhere in the forest, only the man was left in the hideout. The man lifted his lips, imagining the fun situation that would soon happen.
Cartel Vige. Gatekeeper Kess couldn''t sleep even though it was close to dawn. In his head, he recalled the story he had heard from Cyril a while ago. ''I saw Kyros'' power myself in Rovel.'' ''He saved many people who were locked up in the underground prison.'' ''And, he and his high priest and pdin dealt with the rift that appeared in Rovel. Thanks to them, no one was hurt or killed.'' That wasn''t all. ording to Cyril, it was all thanks to Cyril''s prayers that the leader of Kyros Faith came to this vige. Some of the vigers, including the elder, said it was all a coincidence, but Kess thought differently. How could it be a coincidence that someone who could deal with the darkwolves came to this vige? ''And that too, the leader of a religion himself.'' He shouldn''t have thought this way, but it was too contrasting. Everyone in the vige prayed to Lord Diego, but nothing came back. But, Kyros Faith was different. No matter how omnipotent a god is, if he is not by your side when you need him... In the end, Kess decided to see for himself with his own eyes. Chapter 24 Chapter 24 Kess finished packing his belongings and left the house. The vige was quiet in the early dawn. It was like the eye of a storm, silent. Kess walked along the peaceful street. Then, he found a figure sitting under the sunstone. "Kess, where are you going at this hour?" Under the sunstone, his gray hair shone faintly. "Elder..." Kess, who did not expect to meet him, clenched his fists nervously. "Where are you going out sote?" The elder scanned Kess with a serious eye and Kess answered firmly. "I have to see it for myself. The power of the Kyros Faith." "Are you saying you will betray Lord Diego?" "Betrayal... If that''s how you feel, elder, then maybe it is. But I... I want a god who cares for us, rather than a god who ignores us in danger." The elder had no answer to Kess'' words. The elder closed his eyes deeply once and opened them again. "I see. If that''s what you want, go ahead. You will have to bear the regret as well." "Thank you, elder." Kess bowed to the elder and moved his feet. He had probably lost a lot of distance from the people of the Kyros Faith by now, but Kess was not afraid. ''Maybe it''s dangerous.'' He might lose his life. But, it was better to try something than being trapped here and waiting to die. A small spark of hope lit up inside Kess. Kess headed for the gate he always guarded. As he was about to open the door... He felt a gaze staring at him. He broke out in a cold sweat for some reason. Kess cautiously lifted his head. Then he saw yellow eyes. "...!" Kess couldn''t even breathe. The yellow eyes staring at him were not just one pair. Yellow eyes surrounded the entire vige. Kess unknowingly backed away. ''It''s okay. There''s the sunstone.'' They were beings that couldn''t even enter the vige as long as there was a sunstone. So it should be fine. But then, the darkwolves moved. Two darkwolves that had been ring at Kess split to either side, and something appeared between them. It was a giant darkwolf that he had never seen near the vige before. Darkwolf leader. The darkwolf leader slowly approached and stopped in front of the fence. Kess, who had been backing away gradually, fell over without realizing it. ''It''s okay, it''ll be okay.'' Although the darkwolf leader had a ck bead on his forehead unlike the other dark wolves, Kessforted himself that it would be okay. Grrr--- But when the darkwolf leader lowly growled, Kess felt an indescribable fear. Soon after, something began to emerge from the ck bead on the dark wolf leader''s forehead. It was ck mist. The ck mist moved like a living thing and entered the vige. "Eek...!" Kess closed his eyes in fear that it would catch him. But the ck mist was heading for the center of the vige. The ck mist didn''t attack him, Kess realized and quickly opened his eyes to check where it was heading. The ck mist touched the sunstone. ''What is that...?'' Below it was an elder who was no less surprised than Kess. Neither Kess nor the elder realized what the ck mist was doing. And then. Crack--- The sunstone began to crack.
The darkwolf''s hideout was a small clearing near the only cave in the Cartel Forest. He arrived at the hideout faster than expected. But for some reason, he saw nothing. -My child, are you sure this is the darkwolf''s hideout? ''Yes. It is.'' -Then why is there nothing? How should I know? "Master, are you sure this is it? Could they be in that cave?" Alphius asked softly. I shook my head. "No. Darkwolves don''t live in caves." "I, I''ll go look around." Chester got up from his seat. "Okay, Chesi. Be careful." I patted Chester''s shoulder. Then Chester quickly searched around. He checked inside the cave and came back shaking his head. "N, nothing." "This is definitely their hideout." Zain muttered. He added that it was their hideout after seeing the darkwolf''s fur and teeth scattered around. "Why aren''t there any darkwolves?" Cyril tilted his head and wondered. That was what I wanted to ask. I came out of the bushes to look around the hideout myself. Then mypanions followed me. As they scanned the area, I was lost in thought. ''They lost so many of their kind, and the leader didn''t show up?'' We had killed more than fifty darkwolves. It was practically wiping out most of the darkwolves. So, it was natural for the darkwolf leader to appear. We didn''t see the dark wolf leader from the vige to the hideout, so he must be here. ''...Did he move in a different direction than us?'' But, the darkwolf leader couldn''t think that much. The intelligence of beast-type monsters like darkwolves was not very high. What the hell was going on? "You guys. You killed my cute dogs." A strange voice rang out at that moment. Someone wasing toward us from the direction of the cave. It was dark and there was no moonlight, so I couldn''t tell who it was. A tall man walked slowly and gradually approached us. And finally, under the moonlight, the man''s appearance was revealed. Long purple hair that reached his waist, bare upper body that exposed his muscles, and ck eyes that flickered with madness. Why is this guy here...? "That guy is...!" I wasn''t the only one who recognized him. Zain next to me was also as surprised as I was. -My child, I feel a strong snake-like energy from that guy. He''s very dangerous, no doubt. ''I know. I know very well.'' I had no choice but to know. The guy in front of me was Diego Faith''s fifth apostle, Khalid. He didn''t appear in the original Cartel Forest quest. Khalid''s appearance was still far away. And yet, I had to meet him here of all ces. ''Is this also a hidden route and the difficulty has increased?'' But this is... ''Too high, even though it''s the difficulty level!'' As I cursed inwardly, Khalid''s lips slowly opened. "You all seem to know me, but you dare to look me in the eye..." Khalid''s lips curled up wickedly. Damn it. This guy is a psychopath! ''What should I do?'' We''ll all die at this rate. It was no different from a final boss''s minion appearing in a tutorial area. In Khalid''s hand was a blood-red whip that appeared without my knowledge. -We have to run, my child! That guy is more dangerous than the one we metst time! The one we metst time that Kyros was talking about must have been Terdius. If Khalid''s power is stronger than Terdius'' now... Running is impossible. ''Chester won''t be able to hold him either. At least, should I send the kids to the subspace?'' But Zain, Cyril, and I will lose our lives. Damn it, what should I do? I didn''t expect the difficulty to be this high! "Hmm?" It was a moment. Khalid, who had been approaching with a whip in his hand, opened his eyes wide. Then, the whip in his hand disappeared. ''...Huh?'' In the blink of an eye, Khalid was right in front of my nose. "Back off!" "W-what are you doing!" Alphius and Chester came to my side to protect me, but Khalid didn''t care. Rather, Khalid smiled sweetly and narrowed his eyes. And he looked at me and said, "You''re pretty." Oh, right. Should I be thankful or unfortunate for this? "Your eyes are nice, and so are your pupils. I like your defiant attitude too." Khalid pped his hands and seemed happy. Yeah. I forgot about this. Khalid wasn''t an ordinary psycho. He was the craziest among Diego''s apostles, a lunatic. He didn''t hesitate to stain his hands with blood, and at the same time, he loved beautiful things the most. He didn''t care if the beautiful being was an enemy or an ally, a woman or a man. He just liked anything beautiful. He was a beauty-crazy guy. "Hmm, it''s a pity that my dogs died... But killing you would be much more regrettable. I''ll let you go this time." Should I be grateful for this? "But I''m only letting you go. The others..." Khalid scanned mypanions with an evaluative eye. "Some of them seem okay... Hmm." Khalid made a dissatisfied expression. Damn it, we''re all going to die at this rate. Even in HSAW, Terdius struggled against Khalid. And that was in the midte part of the original. That means Terdius faced Khalid after he got stronger. Come to think of it, Khalid liked Terdius'' beauty in the original as well. ''No, that''s not important right now.'' I rolled my eyes and red at him. Sure enough. There was a gold bracelet on Khalid''s wrist. That meant his power was slightly reduced from the original... But if Kyros was right, he was still not someone we could beat. The moment we fight, we''ll all die here. ''Damn it... Why did I have to get involved with Khalid here?'' I opened my mouth with difficulty as I watched him grow colder. "That won''t do." Then Khalid''s gaze fixed on me. "Hooh, your voice is pretty good too. You''re to my liking in many ways. But why won''t it do?" "Yes. It won''t d--- Ack!" In an instant, Khalid grabbed my neck with his hand. It was so hard to breathe that I couldn''t even swallow saliva. "Master!!" "This bastard!!" -My child! The kids and Zain were surprised and ran toward me. But at that moment, Khalid spread a red barrier around me and him. I felt a deep dark energy from the barrier. The kids and Zain, even Cyril, tried to break through the barrier with their attacks. The barrier seemed alive and tentacles sprang out and blocked their attacks. Zain and Cyril were hit by the attacks and fell back. The kids were also fighting back, but they were busy blocking the tentacles'' attacks. And it seemed to have soundproofing as well because I couldn''t hear anything around me. "Cough, ugh!" I looked around while trying to shake off Khalid''s hand, but his hand wouldn''t budge. -You snake bastard! How dare you! Kyros shouted something, but that didn''t reach me either. It was then. sh--- A white light burst out of my body. For a moment, Khalid''s brow furrowed. "Ugh! This power...!" Khalid let go of me in pain and backed away. "Huff, cough!" I copsed on the ground and gasped for breath. I coughed and gagged, and it was hard to regain my senses. ''This, crazy bastard.'' -My child! Are you okay? I squeezed out all my strength, but pushing him away was the limit. I''m sorry. Kyros has helped me. ''Thank you. Thank you, Kyros.'' I wiped the saliva from my mouth and got up. I red at him. "You, that power... What are you doing? This is interesting." He seemed to be in pain just a moment ago... Thanks to Kyros'' power that pushed Khalid away for a moment, the barrier that was attacking mypanions stopped moving. Mypanions red at Khalid as if they wanted to kill him, and continued to attack as if they wanted to break the barrier. ''Thank you, guys.'' I feel like crying. On the other hand, Khalid looked at me with interest in his eyes. I wanted to kill this guy, but I couldn''t show any unnecessary reaction here. If I provoke this guy, he''ll be more annoyingter. "What''s your name?" "Leviathan." "...Your name is not so good." This bastard? Chapter 25 Chapter 25 "Well, anyway." Khalid lifted the corner of his mouth and reached out to me. Then he lifted my chin with his long, wed fingers. He examined me carefully. "Hmm, the more I look at you, the more I like you." He smiled wickedly and let me go. "...But why are you here in a ce like this?" I asked Khalid, looking him straight in the eye. He wouldn''t kill me anyway, so I wanted to satisfy my curiosity. He may have choked me, but I knew he wouldn''t kill someone he admitted was beautiful. "I just came for a walk." He lied. "Did you release the darkwolves?" "No? Why would I?" What does that mean? You said there were four of them. "I did give them a gift, though." "...A gift?" "Yeah." Khalid just smirked. "Then do you know that there are believers of Diego Faith living in this forest?" "Of course." Khalid grinned, showing his teeth. This bastard, he doesn''t care if the believers die or not. He had the same personality as the yer of HSAW. "By the way, I think I saw the leader of the darkwolves heading to the vige." "...!" Gift, leader, vige... Don''t tell me! Khalid released the barrier as if he read my expression. As soon as he did, the kids, Zain, and even Cyril who appeared with a thick staff ran towards Khalid. "Die, you pervert!" Zain was especially furious. I quickly raised my hand to stop them. "Wait! There''s something more urgent than him." They all stopped at mymand. But they still red at Khalid with murderous eyes. "Master!!" "Ma, master! Are you okay?" "Master, are you okay?" "Hic, master." The group that gathered around me all had worried faces. Especially Cyril, who was about to cry. "I''m fine, hurry to the vige!" As soon as I moved, they followed me. They still looked angry, but they quietly followed me. There was no point in fighting Khalid here anyway. He had suppressed us easily while wearing gold. If we were stubborn, we would lose our heads. "See youter." I saw Khalid waving his hand at me, but I quickly turned away from him. That trash bastard! "Master! Are you really okay?" "Yeah. I''m fine. Kyros helped me." I tried to smile at them, who were worried. -That son of a bitch who won''t even feel good if I chew him up. Kyros was still furious. Of course, I agreed with himpletely. "But master, why are we going back to the vige because of what that pervert said?" Zain asked as he stuck to my side. "I think he sent the leader of the darkwolves to the vige." It made sense that the leader of the darkwolves had bypassed us and headed to the vige if Khalid was involved. "Geez, that perverted bastard would do something like that." Was it lucky that he let me go? "Master, who is that strange man?" Alphius gritted his teeth and asked. Zain answered before me. "He is Diego Faith''s fifth apostle, Khalid. He is also known as the madman. He has no hesitation in killing his own followers." That''s why Khalid had bracelets on both wrists that restrained his power. They were gold from Diego. "Then will he follow us? He looks like he wants to kill us..." Cyril looked scared. I shook my head. "Don''t worry. He won''t follow us." He said see youter, so he won''t bother us for now. "Let''s speed up." I moved faster.
Cartel Vige, under the sunstone. The vigers who had been asleep were all gathered in one ce because of the dark wolves that surrounded the vige. Crack--- The sunstone that had started to crack was about to break. It still maintained its light for now, but it didn''t seem tost long. The people gathered under the sunstone shivered as they looked at it. The darkwolves surrounding the vige seemed to mock them as they waited. "Oh no, this is divine punishment." The elder who was with the vigers muttered. "Diego has punished us for epting others..." It was a small mutter, but everyone heard it clearly since they were all together. The vigers wavered. And, so did Kess. "Punishment..." Kess looked at the sky. The dark sky was like his heart. ''Is this really punishment? Is this our sin?'' And finally, the sunstone lost its light. Kess closed his eyes tightly. ''God...'' Awooo~! The howl of the darkwolves was heard. Then the sound of the beasts running followed. ''Please save us.'' At thest moment, Kess prayed to Kyros, not Diego. Did his wishe true? Squeak! The darkwolf that was running fiercely towards the vigers screamed. Kess opened his eyes without knowing. He saw the darkwolf that was running in front of him fall to the ground. An arrow had pierced through the body of the darkwolf. That was not the end. A boy with a small body flew from a distance. The boy''s sword pierced through another darkwolf in one stroke. But there were still more darkwolves left. sh! Before the darkwolves could attack the vigers, a huge barrier enveloped them. A boy with the same face as the sword-wielding boy emitted a pure white light and annihted the darkwolves. Next to the boy was the Leader of Kyros Faith who swung a mace at the darkwolves, along with the appearance of Cyril, who followed behind. The target of the darkwolves had changed from the vigers to them. Kess copsed on his knees, losing strength in his legs. ''Ah. When God abandoned us, the true God came to save us.'' A tear fell from Kess'' eye. Meanwhile, Revelof swung his mace. Hard. There were about twenty darkwolves that surrounded the vige. But thanks to everyone''s hard work, the number of darkwolves decreased quickly. Chester cut down thest remaining darkwolf, leaving only one left. "That''s the ''leader''." Only the darkwolf leader was left. Revelof, Alphius, Chester, Zain, and Cyril, all stood with their backs to the vigers. They looked like they were trying to protect them, and the vigers felt relieved. The darkwolf leader walked quietly and stood in front of Revelof. A short distance of less than a few meters. Revelof opened his mouth quietly. "Alphy, protect the vigers. Brother Cyril, check if anyone is injured." The two stepped back at Revelof''s words. "And Zain, cover us from behind." "Yes, sir." "Chester, you know what to do, right?" Chester, who was left next to Revelof, nodded. The two faced the darkwolf leader. Chester stood a few steps ahead of Revelof to protect him. Revelof observed the darkwolf leader. It was muchrger than the normal darkwolves. ''It''s a monster.'' At that moment, Revelof''s eyes widened slightly. ''That''s...!'' It was because of the ck bead embedded in the forehead of the darkwolf leader. ''ck Arc. Why is that here, now?'' Revelof swallowed a curse. ''It''s something you can''t see in this neighborhood...'' ck Arc. It was an essence that contained the power of the evil god. It increased the potential of the host by at least five times, but at the same time, it burned their life force. It was a demon''s gem. But, it wasn''t time for it to appear yet. Just like Khalid, it was something that could only be seen after at least the middle part of the novel. ''Could it be...'' Revelof recalled what Khalid had said earlier. ''Was that the gift he gave to the wolves?'' Revelof bit his lip. That was why Khalid had let him go easily. "Damn it." The difficulty that was already hard enough became unbearable. "Chester, we have to destroy the bead on his forehead. Can you do it?" "Yes, master!" "I trust you." Revelof''s words became a signal and Chester ran towards the darkwolf. Revelof''s lips curled up coldly. ''Giving time to transform is only possible inics, you bastard.'' ng--- The darkwolf leader lifted its front paw and blocked Chester''s sword using the ck Arc that contained the power of the evil god. ''Of course, it''s fake.'' Even if the ck Arc was a fake, it still had considerable power in itself. ''Fakes can only withdraw five times their original power, and they have a high risk.'' Fake ck Arc onlysted for a few hours at most from the moment they were imnted in the body. When the effect ended, the ck Arc would disappear and the user would be extremely weak from the bacsh. If the ck Arc was destroyed before the effect ended, the user would also disappear. ng~! ng---! Chester and the darkwolf leader shed repeatedly. Revelof couldn''t exactly gauge Chester''s strength right now. ''But he''s an S-ss, so he should be stronger than the darkwolf leader.'' Even if the wolf had a fake ck Arc and was able to withstand fire. Whizz--- sh-! Zain''s arrows didn''t pierce through the darkwolf leader, but they helped narrow its range of movement. Just then, the darkwolf leader dodged an arrow from Zain and staggered on one leg. Chester didn''t miss that opportunity. sh! Chester''s sword cut through one leg of the dark wolf. That was when it happened. Awooo---! The ck mist started to blow out from the darkwolf leader. The mist quickly enveloped the darkwolf leader, and Chester, who didn''t know what it was, had no choice but to take a step back. Revelof also couldn''t figure out what the ck mist was. The ck mist quickly covered the darkwolf leader, and its appearance became invisible. "What is that..." Revelof narrowed his eyes as he looked into the mist. Inside it, the shape of the darkwolf leader was changing. With a sound like bones breaking, the four legs of the darkwolf leader turned into two legs. The darkwolf leader stood up. Like a human being. "Wha, what is that...!" Chester and others were shocked by the ck mist as well. Then, Revelof shouted. "Zain, shoot!!" Zain came to his senses at the urgent voice and started shooting arrows. Revelof''s lips twisted bitterly. ''That''s one of those things you should never say in a fight.'' At the same time, Kraaaak---! With a fierce roar, the ck mist clearedpletely. And what appeared was aplete werewolf, pulling out the arrows stuck in his body and walking out. "Shit, is this the second phase?" Revelof bit his lip.
"Puhaha!" Cartel Forest, on a tall tree a little distanced from Cartel Vige. Khalid was sitting on a thick branch where he could see the whole view of Cartel Vige. "Oh, this is fun." The darkwolf leader had just transformed into a human with the power of the ck Arc. "Well, it''s still just a half-human half-beast with low intelligence." But, it was very fun. Especially the change of expression from the guy he had marked. Khalid''s eyes turned cold as he looked at Leviathan. "Come out." Then, a man appeared on the branch opposite to Khalid. "What are you doing here, fifth apostle?" Terdius spoke coldly to Khalid with his sharp eyes. Khalid chuckled. "I came for a walk and found something interesting." "You came for a walk all the way to this countryside. And, with a ck Arc." Terdius'' indifferent eyes became colder. "Rx. I was just curious about the power of the new product. I saw some wolves in this forest and came to see them, but those people were killing them. So, I gave the darkwolves a gift, poor wolves." Khalid shrugged his shoulders, but Terdius'' expression didn''t soften. "You could have done the experiment at the headquarters. Besides, these vigers are Diego''s followers." "Since when did you care about the followers?" Khalid mocked Terdius openly. Terdius closed his mouth, and Khalid added. "That''s why I hate you. You have such a pretty face, but your roots are rotten." Khalidughed and turned his eyes away from Terdius. His eyes were on Leviathan. Terdius also followed Khalid''s gaze to Leviathan. Then Khalid licked his lips with his tongue and said lewdly. "I like that guy." Chapter 26 Chapter 26 Terdius'' gaze became colder as he looked at Khalid. His lips slowly parted. "Five Apostles, weren''t you looking for me?" Khalid twisted his mouth and looked at Terdius. "Yeah. The First Apostle was nagging me because you didn''t show up. Annoying. Well, at least I found someone I like thanks to you." Khalid smiled innocently like a pure boy. But Terdius'' expression didn''t change much. "Then, let''s return." Khalid raised an eyebrow. "Already? It''s getting interesting now. I''ve tamed those dogs." Khalid pointed at the Cartel Vige with his finger. Terdius followed the hand with his eyes. He saw Leviathan''s group confronting the humanized darkwolf leader in Cartel Vige. The young pdin of Kyros Faith charged at the darkwolf leader, and Leviathan, who had a mace in his hand, also looked for an opening. They seemed to be aiming for the ck Arc. But their movements were, "Clumsy." As Khalid said, they were very clumsy. Khalidughed out loud. "Oh, really. That guy, you know. He has such poor skills, but he doesn''t fear me at all?" Khalidughed until tears came out of his eyes. He wiped his eyes and his eyes sparkled again. Khalid''s pupils reflected the moonlight and shone brightly. Terdius read madness in those eyes. "I heard that guy is the leader of a religion called Kyros Faith." Khalid looked at his own hand. He remembered the light that flowed out of Leviathan''s body a few minutes ago. He pursed his lips. It was obvious that the strange power was the power of the Kyros Faith. "How about this, Third Apostle? You take care of Kyros Faith and bring him to me?" Terdius knew better than anyone that Khalid''s suggestion was sincere. He also knew very well that Khalid was persistent. Terdius'' brows furrowed. What the hell was Leviathan doing, attracting such a weird guy? ''He should have just stayed in Rovel. Why did hee to this forest?'' Terdius swallowed a sigh and answered indifferently. "Don''t move without Diego''s order. Unless you want to increase the divine punishment." "Tsk, boring." Khalid pouted his lips, but Terdius ignored him. "Let''s go back." At that, Khalid dusted off his seat and got up. In an instant, the two shadows disappeared into the darkness.
I swallowed a dry saliva. It was not easy to catch the movements of the ck werewolf who was quite fast in the dark vige where the sunstone disappeared. ng---! The long ws of the Darkwolf leader and Chester''s sword shed again. Whenever there was a gap in the Darkwolf leader, I tried to intervene to remove the ck Arc, but it was not easy to withstand the power of the Darkwolf leader, who had changed into a human form. -I can feel the evil energy of the snake from that beast''s forehead. He must be fighting with the power of the snake. ''Yes. The guy we met earlier gave him that gift to the darkwolves. He''s an apostle of Diego Faith.'' -I see. Oh dear, are you okay? Kyros asked with a worried tone. I didn''t answer right away. I put my mace in my inventory and answered Kyros, ''I have to try.'' I was useless in closebat anyway. Even if I trained with Fanatic, it was only to increase my stamina. I didn''t have professional knowledge like Chester. Chester was not pushed back by the powerful power of the Darkwolf leader. Rather, he seemed to learn the movements of the Darkwolf leader as time passed. Whik~ Paat!! Zain also shot arrows whenever there was a chance, but it didn''t mean much to the Darkwolf leader. Alphius was also busy protecting the vigers. Then there was only one thing left. ''...I can do it.'' I clenched my fists and opened my mouth. "Chester! Can you hold down that wolf''s movements for a moment?" ng! Chester was pushed back by the ws of the wolfman again. "I''ll try!" He looked determined as he fought with the werewolf. If there was a gap just for a moment, it wouldn''t take long to defeat the Darkwolf leader. Then, Chester flew high into the air. He aimed at the head of the Darkwolf leader and swung his sword hard. The Darkwolf leader also read the attack and raised both arms, crossing his long ws to block it. ''Now!'' I immediately put my hands together and aimed at the Darkwolf leader. And then, Hwaaak--- I released my holy power. It was not like before, when I shot with one hand, but I gathered all the holy power in my body with both hands. Although I felt like all the strength in my body was sucked out, the thickness of the holy power I released was twice as thick as before. Kraaa!! My holy power hit the forehead of the Darkwolf leader. Finally, Crack--- The ck Arc cracked and began to break. -Well done, well done, my child! I smiled and wiped the sweat on my forehead. No matter if it was a fake, it was still a bead that contained the power of an evil god. The power of an evil god and the power of Kyros were opposite forces. And what I used to break the ck Arc was pure holy power in itself. He couldn''t withstand it. I had to use up most of the holy power I had, but, Kraaaa! The Darkwolf leader with a broken ck Arc, roared. He swung his arms wildly, but the Darkwolf leader was already turning into ck dust from his toes and disappearing. Feet, legs, torso, and finally face. The Darkwolf leader was gone. "We, we survived...!" Someone sighed from behind, and the vigers rejoiced. "The darkwolves are all dead!" "We survived, we survived!" I listened to their hopeful voices and wiped the sweat on my forehead. ''I''m exhausted.'' I wanted to sit down and rest right away, but I barely endured it for my dignity. Then mypanions came to me. "Leader! You were so cool!" "You were awesome!" Alphius and Cyril were very happy. "Phew. That was hard. Good job, master." Zain said he hadn''t used a bow for a long time and rubbed my shoulder. Chester was still standing in the same spot even though the battle was over. Somehow, his back looked gloomy. I went straight to Chester and patted his shoulder. "Chester, good job. You did very well." "Le, Leader..." Chester looked up at me with moist eyes. "I''m sorry for making you step in. If I had been stronger, I could have defeated him faster..." Oh no. He was even worried about that. "No, Chesi. You fought really well. I could defeat him because you were there." "Leader..." I hugged Chester who was sobbing and I stroked his round head. It wasn''t that Chester was weak. Rather, Chester fought very well. A ck Arc that should have appeared in the mid-game appeared in what was almost a tutorial. The battle had to be difficult. If Kyros Faith''s influence had been a little stronger, Chester would have won. So I had to expand Kyros Faith''s influence as soon as possible. The power of the pdins, the holy power, and the origin are all from Kyros. All of these things be stronger in proportion to their faith, the power of Kyros. ''This damn game.'' I cursed the game in my mind as I let go of Chester from my arms. Then, someone ran up to me. "Leader!" It was Kess, the gatekeeper. "Thank you so much." Kess smiled brightly and bowed his head to me and Chester. "Thank you, too, knight! No, thank you all!" I put on a business smile. "It''s nothing. I just did what I had to do." Then Kess and the vigers behind him looked moved. Good. I started to talk. "Now all the darkwolves in this forest are gone. The magic that the Darkwolf leader had cast on the forest must have disappeared too, so you can get out of this forest." Then, Kess and the others choked up. "Oh, really..." Kess even shed tears. [You have saved 16 vigers of the Cartel Vige!] I smiled happily as I saw the system window that appeared at the same time. [Sub Quest ''Salvation'' 3. cleared!] [Sub Quest reward will be sent to your inventory.] ''Good. Quest cleared.'' I opened my inventory right away, and there were five shining lottery tickets in one slot. Ah, really. I came all the way here to get this. ''I did a good job, me.'' I praised myself when another message window appeared. [15 of the vigers who were saved by you are interested in Kyros Faith!] Oh, they are interested? I can''t miss this. I put on a business smile again and approached the vigers. Zain, who met my eyes, smirked. ''This guy...'' Hmm, I cleared my throat and spoke to them. "You all have suffered a lot. It must have been hard for you in this dark forest, because of the evil monsters. But, don''t be afraid anymore." As soon as they heard that, tears started to flow from their eyes. At that moment, Cyril came up to me at the right time. He bowed his head and thanked me. "Leader, thank you." I lifted him up by his waist and spoke in a warm voice. "It''s nothing, Brother Cyril. I just came to this vige as Kyros led me." As I spoke, I nced at their reactions. They looked happier, so it was obvious that they were hooked. I didn''t give them a chance and attacked them with my words. "Kyros loves everyone. Even if you walk a different path, Kyros will be with you." -How can you express my heart so well? You are truly my first child! Yes, yes! That is me! "Oh, Kyros..." "We were saved by him." "Yeah, if Cyril hadn''t prayed to Kyros, we would have been the darkwolves'' food without a fight." The people praised our achievements in their own ways. And then. [15 vigers of the Cartel Vige became believers of Kyros Faith!] I barely held back the smile that was about to reach my ears. Although it was a very small vige with a very low poption, 15 out of 16 became followers of the Kyros Faith. The only one who couldn''t ept Kyros Faith was obviously the elder who was reddening alone. ''It''s a shame that I couldn''t persuade everyone, but what can I do?'' I did my best too. At that moment, another notification followed. [You have converted Diego Faith''s believers into Kyros Faith''s believers for the first time! [Caution! The evil god Diego may detect a slight change!] ...What? Chapter 27 Chapter 27 My expression hardened without me realizing it. This was a warning message that I had never seen in the game. I remembered when I saved the people of Rovel. They were not believers of the Rizes Church, so this message did not appear. ''This...'' I reread the message. They gave me a warning, which meant they wanted me to be careful. But, I was d that it said ''may detect'' instead of ''detected''. That meant it was still okay. It was something I had to do sooner orter anyway. To drive out Diego Faith, which upied the continent. So, for me to survive, I couldn''t be scared and back off. First, I had to finish things here. I managed my expression and showed both arms to the vigers. "Our Kyros Faith is always open. A Kyros Faith temple will open soon in Rovel of the Holden Territory, so please visit us sometimes." The elder red at me for openly recruiting believers, but he couldn''t say anything. I smiled happily as I heard the cheers of the vigers. In this small vige where most of the people were believers of Kyros Faith, what could a single follower of Diego Faith do? ''Nothing.'' Considering the distance, Kyros Faith temple was much closer than Diego Faith temple. Maybe, soon the elder would be a believer of Kyros Faith too. I bowed my head to the vigers who were hugging each other happily. It was time for us to part. "Then, we''ll go back now." "What? You''re leaving already?" "Stay and sleep here! We''ll leave in the morning!" "Yeah! We want to repay you too!" The vigers tried to stop us, but it was inevitable. "It''s okay. We didn''t do this to get repaid. So have afortable night." We had to go back home before the sky gotpletely bright. The vigers let us go as we refused every time they tried to stop us. "Thank you so much for everything." "No, Cyril. We should thank you more." Cyril also said goodbye to Kess and followed us. "Let''s go back." It was time to go home. We left Cartel Vige.
"It looks peaceful when you see it like this." Zain looked around the forest and muttered. Cartel Forest, where there were no darkwolves, felt quiet and serene. "That''s right." Cyril also smiled as if he felt nostalgic. "It''s such a beautiful forest! Right, Chesi?" "Huh? Uh, yeah." The kids also seemed excited. But I couldn''t smile easily. I had a lot on my mind. There were too many things that bothered me. I sorted out the things that had happened one by one. First, Terdius might have been brainwashed by Diego Faith too. I didn''t mind that much that he wasn''t on my side. After all, He was the protagonist of this world. But still, if he was brainwashed... ''I want to free him and bring him with me if possible.'' I couldn''t just ignore him. Even though he was my enemy now, Terdius was still the protagonist of the original story. There was nothing bad about being on his side. And another thing was the ''divine punishment'' that the vigers of Cartel Vige mentioned. I didn''t see it in the game, so it bothered me. Maybe Diego became more evil than in the original story. Let''s say that was my guess for now. And finally, there was Khalid and a ck Arc that suddenly appeared. This was... ''I don''t know what to do either...'' The difficulty of this hidden route became abnormally high. At this rate, I had to get stronger as soon as possible. I sighed softly and opened the quest window. [Main Quest Content: Help the God of Beauty Kyros eliminate the Evil God Diego. Goal: Make more than 80% of the poption on Celeste Continent a believer of the God Kyros within 3 years (currently 0%). Sess: ??? Failure: Death (soul annihtion), World Destruction.] I often checked the main quest. To see if the current number in the goal increased. But the disy was still 0%. ''...Does it not show decimal ces?'' The current number of Kyros Faith believers is about 250. But, the goal number didn''t budge at all. Maybe I had to fill at least 1 percent. How many people live on this continent? -My little bird! Kyros called me in a refreshing voice when I was swallowing curses in my mind. -You did a great job. A really great job! You saved our believer and made the vigers a believer of Kyros Faith, too! I''m so happy! ''Yes. Me too.'' I answered dryly. I still had a long way to go, and it was daunting... But, the feeling of helping people was not bad.
My prediction was exactly right. I felt like I was on the brink of death. Of course, I could rest all day if I wanted to. But then, they might suspect me now. Suspicion starts from a small spark, so I decided to endure one more day for caution. That Fanatic bastard increased the intensity of the exercise, and my body was miserably crushed... ''Damn kid. Can''t you take it easy for a day?'' I cursed Fanatic in my mind as I dragged my legs that hardly moved to my room. I tried using healing skills on myself, but they didn''t get rid of all the fatigue. -It seems that kid hates you. Kyros felt sorry for me who had been exercising all day. ''Right? It doesn''t make sense at this intensity, right?'' -Yeah, yeah. How dare he make my child suffer so much. Tsk tsk. I swallowed my irritation and dragged myself to the bathroom, where I took the poison and sshed some water on my body. Then Iy down on the bed. I should avoid going out at night for a while. I need to recover from the fatigue and stick to the n. I closed my eyes. I was exhausted, so I thought I would fall asleep soon. "Ah, right!" Then I suddenly remembered something. I quickly opened my inventory. [1-time Agent Draw Ticket (5 pieces) Grade: ??? Description: You can draw an agent from C-grade to S-grade.] Draw tickets! I should use them before sleeping! I smiled as I looked at the tickets. I reached out to use them. As soon as my hand touched the tickets, I felt the same sensation of floating, and then everything turned white. When I opened my eyes again, I was in another dimension. A world where only a slot machine was waiting for me. ''I can''t get used to this no matter how many times I see it.'' By the way, the slot machine had changed from before. There used to be only grades written on the screen, but now there was an exnation. [You can set the desired branch by consuming 5 Agent Draw Tickets.] [However, the grade is random, and you can only draw one agent.] So this is a guaranteed draw, right? There was no such messagest time, so maybe it only activates when you have more than 5 tickets. Anyway, even though it consumes 5 tickets and the grade is random, ''If I can choose the branch, it''s a different story.'' First of all, I checked the list of branches that I could draw. Cooking, it would be nice to have a chef who can take care of the cooking at the temple. Singing, a singer that praises Kyros would not be bad either. Healing, healers are always wee. Politics, might be useful when there is a conflict between religions. Cuteness. ...Huh? Cuteness? Why is this here? It''s kind of tempting. But. Maybe, I''ll try itter when I have more tickets. As I was looking through the list, "This is..." There was one branch that caught my eye. "It''s exactly what I needed. What a lucky break." The branch was ''Art''. The most needed thing for the opening of the temple was a picture and a statue of Kyros, so I needed an art branch. "But it''s 5 tickets, maybe there will be no art branch? No, wait, but honestly, I''m not very lucky..." Let''s just go for the guaranteed draw. If I drew 5 people without confirmation and there was no art branch among them, it would be a total waste. After thinking for a long time, I finally chose the ''Art'' branch and pulled the lever. [5 Agent Draw Tickets will be consumed.] Ding---ding---ding--- The slot machine started spinning with a shy sound effect. As soon as that happened, I sped my hands together and prayed. ''Please, please an S-grade! God, Buddha, no, Kyros! Please!'' Bling---bling---bling! With all kinds of sound effects and shes, the slot machine started to slow down. Thump, thump, thump. My heart was beating fast. C, B, A, S, the alphabets were spinning rapidly and finally stopped. On an ''S''. "Woohoo!!" I roared with joy. I drew another S! I beat the 25 percent chance! [Congrattions! You have drawn an S-grade agent!] Confetti exploded and a congrattory message appeared. The slot machine emitted light and in an instant, I was back on my bed. And in the same lying position as before. Wow, I really drew another S-grade! I kicked the nket with joy. Then, I felt someone moving next to me. When I turned my head, I saw my S-grade artist. The new arrival was Sasha, a cute girl with brown hair tied down on both sides who looked about the same age as Alphius and Chester. She looked a bit tired but she nodded her head when our eyes met. "Hello, Leader. My name is Sasha." "Hi, Sasha. Nice to meet you." This girl is an S-grade in the art branch! Yay! -Oh my goodness, what a cute angel! Kyros was as happy as me. This was not the time for this. I got up from the bed and grabbed a paper and a pencil from the desk. I handed them to Sasha and she took them with her small hands. Then, Sasha sat down on the carpet and started drawing. She immersed herself in drawing in an instant. She looked cool. Thump, thump, thump. I was excited and sat quietly on the bed, waiting for Sasha''s artistic spirit to burn. After about a minute. Sasha handed me the paper. "I''m done." And when I took the paper from Sasha, I couldn''t help but widen my eyes and open my mouth. -Gasp...! Even Kyros was so surprised that he swallowed his breath. It was inevitable. Sasha''s drawing was not just a drawing. It was amazing. Even I, who knew nothing about art, could tell. It was like she took a photo of Kyros. I smiled so wide that my mouth reached my ears. This is it. This is it. This is it...! Chapter 28 Chapter 28 Time flew by quickly as I rested for a few nights. But I didn''t just rest all the time, I also visited the temple asionally to check on the situation. I looked around the former Rizes Church chapel, which was now the Kyros Faith temple. The temple was not veryrge, but it was big enough to be a small mansion. The space that was used as an underground prison during the Rizes Church period was converted into a warehouse. Other than that, there was not much difference except that the interior design was brighter. I walked slowly around the temple garden. -The angel''s skill is amazing! Kyros eximed as he saw the statues decorating the garden. The statues all over the garden were made by Sasha''s power. Sasha went straight to the temple after she was born from the first gacha ticket, and carried out the order I gave her. She showed her remarkable talent by creating paintings and statues of Kyros, and they were a huge hit. The paintings were like photographs, and especially the statues seemed alive. The statues in various ces in the garden were shaped like animals and angels. Sasha said she made them as a warm-up before sculpting Kyros'' statue, but they gave off a holy vibe, so I decided to use them as ornaments. After looking around the garden, I headed to the prayer room. When I opened therge wooden door that was closest to the temple entrance, I saw the prayer room. It was a spacious area that was used as a worship hall by the previous Rizes Church, but it was now used as a prayer room by the Kyros Faith. ''I don''t have any ns for worship yet.'' For the time being, I let the believers pray voluntarily, and nned to do itter when more Kyros Faith believers joined. And in the prayer room, there was a statue that Sasha was working on with all her might. At the end of the spacious prayer room that could amodate about 100 believers, behind the podium. Sasha was making a full-body statue of Kyros there. She said it was the same size as when Kairos manifested himself, which meant... "Wow..." I couldn''t help but open my mouth in awe. It looked like she had copied the real Kyros that I met once. -How is it? Am I better or is the statue better? Did he expect me to answer that? Damn. ''Kyros is better, of course.'' -Of course? But, our angel made a very simr statue to me. My answer seemed to please Kairos very much. Bang! Bang! Meanwhile, the statue work was not finished yet. The sound of hammer and chisel hitting each other from somewhere in the middle of the statue. Sasha climbed up adder and carved Kyros'' fingers. The child''s carving skill was really delicate. Kyros'' fingers felt like they could move at any moment. ''If she just paints some color on it, it would look like Kyros really manifested himself.'' By the way, Kyros was really handsome. I sighed softly and looked at Sasha who was absorbed in her work with a smile. "Sasha, can I help you with anything? I can move heavy things for you anytime." "...No." What I learned about Sasha so far was that she was a quiet and slow-talking child, but a kind one. I praised Sasha and went back to the garden. Now all that was left was... ''Maybe some garden interior.'' It looked okay because of Sasha''s statues, but I wanted to take care of the temple more. ''It would be nice if there was a fountain.'' I decided to do itter when more believers joined. "Master!" As I walked slowly around the garden, I heard a familiar voice. It was Cyril, who ran out of the building. "You are here?" Oh, Cyril told his parents that he wanted to be a priest of Kyros Faith a few days ago. Fortunately, his parents agreed happily. "Brother Cyril, how have you been?" "Yes! I''m going to start training with Alphius tomorrow!" "Really? Good luck." Cyril bowed his head and greeted me before leaving the temple. Actually, I wanted to give Cyril the position of priest right away. But Alphius, who was the high priest, objected. ''No way, Master! Brother Cyril needs to learn the rules of being a priest. How about you appoint him after he receives some training from me for a certain period of time?'' It sounded reasonable so I agreed. Then Alphius, who got a subordinate, was very happy. "Haaat!" A boyish shout came from the corner of the garden. It was Chester. After returning from the Cartel Forest, Chester devoted himself to training. I was d that he seemed to have recovered his energy, but... ''An S-grade is training too.'' At this rate, Chester might be an SS-gradeter. By the way, Alphius and Chester became friends quickly when Sasha, the new agent, came. Although Sasha was not talkative, Alphius talked a lot and Chester answered well, so they bnced each other well. [Master.] As I was thinking about the children with a smile, I heard a familiar voice in my head. It was amunication from Zain. [I have prepared the items you ordered at the store.] He prepared them just in time. "Okay, I''ll be right there." Finally, tomorrow, the temple will open.
The sun was above their heads. The residents of Rovel gathered in front of the yet-to-open Kyros Faith temple door with high expectations. They had been waiting for this day ever since Kyros Faith appeared in Rovel. The long-awaited day finally became a reality, and the streets of Rovel were like a festival. The merchants offered discounts on food and drinks to the Kyros Faith believers, and those who bought cheap drinks praised Kyros. "For Kyros!" Rovel was a ce that was shunned by Elyn citizens as a ''slum'', but the atmosphere brightened up after Kyros Faith came in. As Elyn citizens asionally came in, some of them naturally became Kyros Faith believers. And today, the mood in Rovel was several times more lively than usual, so more Elyn citizens flocked in. "Ah, how beautiful will the temple be!" "It will be as beautiful as the Leader!" "I want to pray to Kyros first!" "Me too!" There was no worship or anything like that in Kyros Faith. Instead, there was a prayer room that anyone who was a Kyros Faith believer could visit anytime. It was the news that the Kyros Faith''s Leader, himself, announced to the people, so most of the believers nned to go to the prayer room right away. "Hey, should we go in too?" "But we''re not believers." "So what? They said everyone is wee." Following the Rovel citizens, even the Elyn citizens who came just to see also lined up in front of the temple. As the people''s mood rose, Creak--- The wooden door of the temple entrance which was tightly closed slowly began to open. "Ooh! It''s opening!" As the wooden door opened to both sides, they saw who was opening it. Two boys with the same face and small stature. The two boys, Alphius and Chester, smiled brightly as they saw the crowd gathered in front of the temple. And then there was one being standing in the middle. "Wee, everyone." The Kyros Faith''s Leader, wearing a white uniform, greeted the believers with a kind face and open arms. "Leader...!" "Wow, it''s the leader!" The people cheered as they saw the Kyros Faith''s Leader. Then, they became silent as if the leader would say something more. The believers looked at the leader with expectant eyes, but for some reason, the leader just smiled. Then, Alphius, who had finished fixing the wooden door, quickly approached and poked the leader''s side so fast that the believers couldn''t see it. Only then did the leader open his mouth. With an awkward smile, "Ah, as I told you, our Kyros Faith temple is always open to you. Please, feel free to visit anytime." Alphius red at the leader for a very short moment, who was making an awkward greeting, and then smiled at the believers and said, "Well then,e in one by one!" "Please line up for your safety!" Alphius and Chester started to move people into the temple. The crowd, including the believers, moved in an orderly manner. There was not a single person who ignored the two boys and left the group because they were young. Most of the Kyros Faith believers had received their help when a crack urred in Rovel. Watching them, Revelof, no, Zain sighed deeply. And whispered, "I did as you said, Master." [How are the believers'' reactions?] Then, Revelof''s voice continued in his ear. Zain smiled at the believers and even waved his hand, then continued themunication using ventriloquism. "How? They all love it." [Phew, thank goodness.] "But Master, your breathing sounds rough." [Phew, damn.] That was the end of themunication. It couldn''t be helped. At the same time. "Come on, onestp!" "You said it was thest one before!" "This time, it''s really thest one!" ''Real'' Revelof was being pushed around by Fanatic.
I returned to my room at sunset and threw myself on the sofa. "Hoo, ha." I''m exhausted. Fanatic bastard. -The temple has been open for a few hours but the believers'' footsteps are not stopping! Unlike me who copsed from exhaustion, Kyros was excited like a big puppy all day long. ''Oh, really?'' Kyros was connected to the children as well, so he watched over the temple through their eyes. -Yes! Not only Rovel''s believers but also Cartel Vige''s believers came! Wow, really. It must have been hard for them toe here. I smiled slightly. I felt like dying from being pushed around by Fanatic all day long, but I was able to check on the believers'' reactions through Kyros and Zain from time to time. The temple was smallpared to other temples but the believers were very satisfied. ''Especially Sasha''s skill...'' Some of them even cried when they saw Sasha''s paintings and statues of Kyros. And those who just came to see were also mesmerized and became believers. Thanks to that, the number of believers in Religion Status jumped to almost 350. ''Well, I wanted to go see it myself.'' But what can I do? It was lucky that Zain made things easier for me. If I tell you how Zain came to imitate me, I have to recall yesterday''s event.
A day before, Revelof went straight to Zain''s store after receiving a call from him. He had already paid Zain money, so he just had to pick them up. As he entered the underground store, Zain greeted him with various bundles. "Wee, customer!" Zain smiled cheerfully and Revelof''s eyebrow twitched. "Really?" "Hey, I''m still a merchant here." Zain''s words made Revelof not answer. He just curled his lips. But his eyes were not smiling. Seeing that, Zain finally gave a proper answer. "I''m sorry, Master." "That''s okay. These are them?" Revelof asked and Zain nodded his head. Revelof immediately checked the various bundles. Then his lips rose in satisfaction. "You''re good at your job, as expected of my subordinate." But then, Zain''s lips pouted. Chapter 29 Chapter 29 Night grass, water from the crescent moon pond, fern fruits, and so on. Revelof checked the ingredients carefully and said to Zain after he gathered everything, "Wait here." "Where are you going?" Revelof left the shop without answering and entered a deserted alley. Using the tools he had brought with him in his inventory; he crushed, chopped, and mixed the ingredients ording to the ratio. In no time, he had made a potion. Revelof divided the potion into five small ss bottles. He put four of them in his inventory and returned to Zain with only one. "Where did you go?" Zain''s question was ignored again. It was because Revelof handed him a bottle containing a thick ck liquid. "What is this?" Zain asked with a slight frown. "Transformation potion." "...What?" Revelof answered casually, but Zain doubted his own ears and his eyes widened. Revelof said calmly, "Why are you so surprised?" "How can I not be surprised?" There were not many magicians and alchemists who could make mysterious potions. Therefore, magic-rted items sold on the continent were very expensive. Especially potions. "Did you make it yourself?" "Yes. But, don''t try to make it yourself just because you have those ingredients. You''ll waste your money." Actually, he could try. Revelof had only ordered four kinds of ingredients that were necessary for the transformation potion. The rest of what he bought was irrelevant, so experimenting with them would only result in wasting money, just as Revelof had said. Zain sighed deeply under Revelof''s suspicious gaze and answered, "I won''t. Don''t you trust me?" "No." "Ah, really?!" Revelofughed at Zain''s exaggerated reaction. "By the way, who are you really? You don''t seem like an ordinary nobleman." Zain asked with genuine curiosity. Revelof just smiled and said nothing. "Never mind, take this." "Huh? Is this a gift for me?" For a moment, Zain''s eyes sparkled with emotion. But Revelof''s eyes said ''Why would I give you a gift?'' Zain sighed again and took out anotherrge bag that he had prepared under his feet. "Don''t tell me, this has something to do with this?" In the bag were a white robe, neat shoes, and a wig of the same color and hairstyle as Revelof''s hair. Revelof nodded his head. "Tomorrow, you have to act as the leader of the Kyros Faith instead of me." Zain''s mouth opened wide once again. "Tomorrow is the day when Kyros Faith opens its temple." "That''s right. As you know, it''s hard for me to get out during the day. If I want to leave the mansion during the day, I have to bring the knights with me." "That''s true..." "So you have to be my stand-in for a while." "Hmm." Zain rubbed his chin and pondered. Then Revelof took out a money pouch from his pocket and put it on the table. "How about this?" Zain tried to hold back hisughter and checked the amount of money in the pouch. Then he hugged the pouch in his arms and grinned widely. "That''s too much to refuse." He finally epted and Revelof handed him something else. "This is a fingernail." "Do you know where to use it?" "Ew..." Zain bit his lip and dipped the fingernail into the transformation potion he received from Revelof. He had no choice. He needed a part of the body of the person he wanted to transform into. "That amount shouldst for about an hour, so use it when the temple opens. Show your face to as many believers as possible. And, try to imitate me a little." "Yes, yes. Of course." "Oh, and you know that it only changes your face and voice, right? You have to adjust your height yourself." Zain was about 7 centimeters taller than Revelof. As a result, Zain had to spend an hour with his knees slightly bent. Revelof said what he had to say regardless of Zain''s gloomy expression. "Then report to me from time to time tomorrow, and I''ll lend you my sses through the kids. Be careful with them. You can return them to the kids when you''re done. You know what happens if you mess around with my sses, right?" Zain stiffened under Revelof''s cold gaze. "Yes, yes! I know." After hearing his answer, Revelof waved his hand casually and left the shop. After being left alone, Zain muttered to himself. "What a wicked master."
Anyway, thanks to Zain, the first day of the temple opening went smoothly. Zain returned the sses obediently, and Alphius handed them to me through spatial movement. I checked them carefully in case there was any problem, but fortunately, there was no scratch on them. I headed to the temple at a time when the residents of Holden mansion were asleep. I felt a new emotion when I saw the brightly opened door of the temple. The door of the temple would be open not only during the day but also at night and dawn. There was no problem with security since I had Kyros'' protection and the kids were staying there. -I''m so happy that so many believers came today, even though it was the first day. Kyros'' voice rings in my ear with a cheerful tone. It was understandable. The number of people who visited the temple today was really huge. It was safe to say that most of the Kyros Faith believers had stopped by the temple. Many of them who were not believers also became believers. ''That''s good.'' I replied briefly to Kyros'' admiration and looked around the space where people had stayed. I took a quick look at the garden and headed to the prayer room. Instead of going straight into the prayer room, I looked inside through a small window. Some believers were praying inside, even at this hour. -They are really faithful children. There were some old people among the praying believers, but they all seemed like children to Kyros. Then, I entered inside through another entrance. "Leader, you''re here?" "Lea, Leader. Wee." "...Hello." Alphius, Chester, and Sasha greeted me as they cleaned up inside. "You guys worked hard." Zain, who had finished his work, had returned to the shop. And Cyril, who had received today''s lesson, seemed to have already gone home. "I''ll help you a little." I felt sorry for seeing them cleaning by themselves and reached for a broom. But Alphius snatched it away quickly. "No! Please rest, leader!" "Ye, yes! We''ll finish it soon anyway." "...Okay." The kids pushed me away and even kicked me out. Why were these little ones so strong? In the end, I was pushed by the kids and headed to the top of the temple. -The kids also know that you work hard all day long. ''Do they?'' -Yes. I told them. That you are being pushed around by that fanatic kid. Kyros said it without malice, but my pride flew away. Damn it. I grumbled while climbing up the stairs and arrived at what used to be the high priest''s room of the Rizes Church. And now, it was the leader''s office for me alone. As soon as I opened the door, the first thing that caught my eye was therge window that let in the bright moonlight. "This is a sight to behold every time I see it." In front of the window was a spacious new desk for work. Actually, I was fine with using the desk that the high priest of the Rizes Church had used, but Alphius insisted that it was uneptable and pushed me away. So the interior waspletely changed. This room used to have a lot of fancy decorations of the high priest of Rizes Church, but I sold them all. Except for the one that opened the secret space with Maseen''s blessing. ''I guess I can''t sell that one. I won''t be able to open the door.'' I filled the empty spaces, where the decorations had been, with books. In the center of the room were a soft sofa and a table, and there was a door on the right. That was my bedroom. It only had a bed and a closet of a decent size, but that was enough for living. -Aren''t you ufortable? ''No, I''m not.'' Before I came to this world, I lived in a studio apartment. The Holden Mansion was very spacious, but there were too many eyes to watch me. So this cozy room was like heaven to me. [Leader!] When I was satisfied with the leader''s room, I heard Alphius'' call. The kids saw Zain talking to me through whispers and followed suit and soon established amunication. "What is it, Alphy?" [Your mother, I mean... Countess Holden has visited!] She''s here. I was about to invite her to the leader''s room right away, but then again... she''s my mother. "I''ll be right there." I left the room right away. Actually, I knew that my mother would visit the Kyros Faith''s temple at night. I heard it a few days ago, at a family dinner. My mother, who was very busy these days, said that she only had timete at night. Thanks to that, I was able to put Zain as my substitute during the day. Just in case, I checked my sses again and headed to the entrance of the temple. Then I saw a group of people on white horses. My mother was at the front of the group. -Wow, she''s really beautiful. I also admired her in my mind as Kyros did. My mother, standing with her back basking in the moonlight, looked really cool. She truly deserved the title ''Sword of the Battlefield''. Behind my mother were familiar knights of the Holden family. Including the fanatic who had been pushing me around until a few hours ago. My blood boiled, but I had to hide it. I was a religious leader. I put on a business smile and approached my mother. -My child, don''t be nervous. ''Don''t worry.'' I reached Alphius and Chester who had greeted my mother first. As soon as I got there, my mother got off her horse. I bowed to her immediately. But, I spoke in a very low voice. Just in case she recognized me by my voice. "Wee, Countess Holden. I am Leviathan, the leader of the Kyros Faith." I hated my naming sense, but it was toote to change it now. Then, my mother asked me for a handshake. "Nice to meet you." As soon as I grabbed her hand, I felt her squeeze it hard. Ow, ow. Mother. Fortunately, it was only for a moment. Still, my hand felt numb. "I''m sorry foring so suddenly at ate time." "No, it''s okay. Our temple is always open." I smiled and said, but my mother''s face was still cold. "Then let me take you to the leader''s office." Let''s move to another ce first. Instead of answering me, my mother gestured behind her. "Before that, let me give you something as a lord. It''s a reward for helping Rovel." Oh, oh, a reward! That means money ising in. My heart raced. At my mother''s gesture, the captain of the Holden family knights brought a dignified-looking box. And when he opened it, I couldn''t help but open my mouth wide. ''That is...!'' The orange glow of light, the well-crafted surface, the size of a fist. That orange diamond itself was none other than ''Tear of the Sun''. A super expensive gem! -My goodness! It''s very precious and beautiful! Wow, how many mansions can I buy with this...? But I couldn''t show this inted feeling. I was a religious leader. I tried to hide my surprised face and said, "It''s okay. I didn''t do it for a reward." No, no. I really want to take it. But, the answer to my words came from my head rather than my mother. -My child, why don''t you take it anyway? It would be perfect for my statue''s ne. ...This guy? Chapter 30 Chapter 30 I ignored Kyros'' words. Only then did my mother open her mouth. "As a lord, I have to reward the one who protected my territory. That is the duty of a lord." Yes! Just give it to me! As a religious leader, I couldn''t show my greed openly. "But, this is too much of a reward." -Hmm... If you feel that way, I can''t help it... It seemed that my act worked on Kyros as well. But why did he seem more greedy than me? Ahem. "Then, consider it as a donation to the temple." Good! "Yes, I understand." Hooray! Wealth is umting! I cheered inwardly and gestured to Alphius. He understood my intention and approached the knightmander to receive the ''Tear of the Sun''. Mother, thank you! I''ll try to be filial, even though it might not work out! "Now. Shall we go to your office?" My mother nodded her head as she asked.
I didn''t expect that my mother would be the first guest in my office. I could have received her in the reception room, but I wanted to show her my workce. Of course, she wouldn''t know... I smiled at my mother and sipped the tea. The tea that Alphius brewed was more bitter than I expected. I should stop drinking it. Fortunately, it seemed to suit my mother''s taste. She sat across from me and drank the tea with a straight posture. She looked very different from when I saw her at the mansion. The person I was facing now was not the mother who looked at Revelof, but the Holden Countess who faced Leviathan, the leader of a new religion. -She looks fierce. Kyros was scared by my mother''s gaze. It was understandable, since my mother''s eyes looked like spears trying to pierce me. If the person in front of me was not my mother, I would have felt goosebumps too. A suffocating silence filled the office. And the one who broke the silence first was my mother. "I don''t have much time, so let me get straight to the point." Thump. I knew what she was going to say, but I felt nervous. "I still don''t trust you, apart from the case with Kyros Faith." It was a fact that I already knew, so the impact was close to zero. Phew. "But the reason why I came here is because Kyros Faith saved Rovel. I want to know your true intentions." "My true intentions..." My mother handed me something. It was a transparent sphere with a red ruby floating inside. I knew what that sphere was. It was one of the expensive items made by alchemists, called the ''Sphere of Truth''. In other words, a lie detector. "Do you know what this is?" "Yes, of course." "Is it okay to use it?" "Sure." I dly epted and ced my palm on the sphere. The usage was simr to the lie detector that I saw in my previous life. When you answer the other person''s question, there is no change in the sphere if it is true; and if it is false, the ruby inside rotates rapidly. The magic in the ruby reacts to the body and causes a change in the ruby, but I don''t know the exact principle. -Wow, that''s amazing. Kyros eximed as he watched. As I listened to Kyros'' admiration, my mother began to ask questions. "Did you save Rovel to harm its residence?" "No." There was no change in the sphere. "Is your purpose just ''conversion''?" "Yes." That''s how I can survive. There was no change in the sphere again. The questions continued after that. All of my mother''s questions were about the safety of Rovel and Holden territory. She interrogated me thoroughly to protect her territory and people. I answered honestly every time and proved that I wouldn''t cause any harm. "I understand your intentions." I smiled and took my hand off the sphere. "Did you gain some trust in me now?" "...Yes." My mother''s expression softened slightly. "And, I apologize. For testing you. I was afraid that something like a nightmare would happen again in Holden." "It''s okay. I would have done the same if I were you." "Thank you for understanding." My mother smiled. By the way, my mother had such good manners. Even if I was the leader of a religion, Kyros Faith had no status at all. It was only valid in Rovel at best. If it wasn''t my mother but another noble, they would have already spoken rudely to me. As I looked at my mother for a moment, she tried to get up from her seat. I hurriedly opened my mouth. "Countess." Then, my mother sat down on the sofa again. "I have something to say." My serious expression made my mother''s face serious as well. "It seems like an important matter." "Yes. A very important matter." "What is it?" I took a deep breath and added. "The matter--- It''s about your second son, Revelof Holden." As the matter came up, my mother''s face turned cold in an instant. Her eyes became icy. You''re scary, mother... "Don''t you dare say anything rash." One of my mother''s hands moved toward the sword hilt that she had ced on the sofa. I don''t know whether to be happy or sad about this. "What I want to talk about is Young Master Revelof''s illness. The Malone''s disease." "...Are you saying you can cure it?" My mother''s eyebrows narrowed. Anyone could see that she doubted me. "Yes. I can." It was a moment. Swoosh--- The sword was drawn from the scabbard. I instantly closed my mouth. I felt a chill near my neck. -Oh no! Kyros sighed at my mother''s action. "Many doctors gave up on that disease. So did magicians and alchemists. Even the royal doctor, who had the best skills in the empire, gave up. And you say you can cure it?" My mother spat out the words as if she was throwing them away. I could clearly see her pupils shaking. I knew how my mother felt, so I was fine even though there was a sword on my throat. "Yes. I can cure it." I looked into my mother''s eyes with a firm gaze. I didn''t bend or waver. "...How?" Then my mother lowered her sword. "How do you know the cure?" I couldn''t reveal the details of the cure right away. I would tell herter. If she doubted my words, I was fine with using this. "I can''t tell you the exact method right now. I''ll let you knowter. If you''re suspicious of me, you can use this." I put my palm on the lie detector again. Then my mother nodded and asked me. My answer to her question was proven to be true. "But, how do you know the cure?" My mother wavered. This was when I needed solid proof. I smiled and said. "I''m the one who has it." My mother''s eyes widened. "Don''t tell me... You have Malone''s disease too?" "Yes." The detector showed that I was telling the truth, and my mother''s mouth opened slightly. Then, I was able to take my hand off the detector. "Within a few days, when Revelof visits the temple, I''ll start the treatment." At my suggestion, my mother thought for a moment and then opened her mouth. "I''ll trust you once. But if there''s no progress... You''ll have to face the consequences." "Don''t worry." I answered confidently. The Sphere of Truth didn''t budge at my words.
After my mother left the temple, I went straight home. Fortunately, I didn''t run into her on the way back and arrived at my room smoothly. I didn''t forget to take the pasrel poison, washed up, and theny down on the bed. I was d that I avoided the regr check-ups from the doctor. I did get some examinations, but I avoided blood tests at all costs. From this day onwards. ''I have to pretend that I got cured by going to Kyros Faith.'' The reason why I brought up Malone''s disease treatment to my mother. It was to use the disease treatment as an excuse to visit Kyros'' temple during the day. That way, when I say that I''m devoted to Kyros Faithter, everyone would understand. I had to get out of the count''s mansion as soon as possible, so it was inevitable. By the way, I was tired today, but I couldn''t sleep. I wondered if I should go for a night walk and got out of bed. -My child, where are you going at this hour? ''I can''t sleep.'' I left the room and walked down the hallway, then left the mansion. And then I looked up at the sky filled with moonlight and stars, followed by heading for the garden. The Holden mansion''s garden was beautiful whenever I saw it. I walked around the garden for a while, feeling the night breeze, and arrived near the tea table. There was a guest there. "Mother." At my call, my mother turned her head. "Revy, aren''t you asleep?" As soon as she said that, her face softened. It waspletely different from what I saw at the temple. "I couldn''t sleep, so I went for a walk." "I see. Then,e here." I went over and sat next to her. Something touched my shoulder. It was the shawl that she had been wearing. -It makes me feel warm. Sniffle. Kyros cried out. He''s so sensitive. "Mother, aren''t you cold?" It wasn''t that cold at night, since it waste spring. My mother shrugged her shoulders. "I''m fine. I''ve survived harsh environments on the battlefield. Even in ces colder than the empire''s winter." My mother''s eyes sparkled as she recalled the past. She became a war hero in such environments. Wow, that''s awesome. "By the way, Revy. How is your training with Fanatic these days?" My mother asked with a bright smile. "Ah... It''s bearable." "Really? Is it not too hard?" It''s so hard that I want to die. Fanatic pushed me harder as time went by. But, his training was very helpful. Thanks to him, Isted for a long time in Cartel Forest too. "I''m d that you''re getting healthier, but... This mother is worried." My mother''s face hardened slightly. She tried to smile, but her eyes were anxious. "Your disease is not cured yet." "Ah... Yes." "So..." My mother couldn''t continue easily. The reason was in my childhood memories. Since I contracted Malone''s disease as a child, ''Revelof'' was surrounded by all kinds of people and underwent countless treatments. None of them worked, and eventually, he gave up on treatment and lived on. He ended up focusing only on life support now. My mother couldn''t easily say anything to me. She hesitated for a moment and then spoke in a heavy voice. "The Kyros Faith''s leader in Rovel said he knows how to cure Malone''s disease." "What?" I pretended to be surprised as much as possible. "And, he said he had the same disease as you." "That... Is that true?" My acting skills were superb. "Yes. This mother confirmed it." "Then..." My mother nodded her head. "Do you want to visit Kyros'' Temple and get treated? At least try it." "...Yes. Of course. If I can get rid of this disease." My heartfelt acting worked on my mother. She held my hand and looked at me with the warmest and kindest eyes. I felt guilty somehow... I had no choice but to act hopeful. "Okay. Let''s try it then." The next morning, I prepared to go to Kyros'' temple. But... Why is he here? "Revy, are you ready?" For some reason, Sevenus joined me. Chapter 31 Chapter 31 After finishing my conversation with my mother, I contacted Zain right away. I was going to the Kyros Faith''s Temple to receive treatment starting tomorrow, so I wanted to be prepared for any unforeseen situation. I asked Zain to act as the church leader, just like he did when the temple opened. I delivered the transformation potion and sses to him through the children, and also told him what to say depending on the situation. When I was almost done with the preparations, Zain asked me a question before I started the n. [By the way, Master, did you have Malone''s disease?] "Yes. So don''t even dream of spreading the fact that the cure for Malone''s disease is Pasrel poison." [Of course! I''m doing everything that the Master tells me to do. Everything that I learned from the Master is nothing but the Master''s secret.] My ''secret'' that was written in the contract. Zain seemed to think broadly about the scope of ''secret'' like me. It was more like a trick than anything else. Even if I told Zain something, if it was still in the category of ''secret'' for me, Zain would lose his life if he leaked it. That''s a relief. [But, I didn''t know that Master had Malone''s disease. You didn''t show any signs of it.] "That''s because I tried my best to hide it." [But how did you know the cure, Master? I''ve never heard of a cure for Malone''s disease.] "You wouldn''t understand even if I told you. Anyway, do well tomorrow." [Yes? Oh... That''s your secret. I understand.] I heard Zain grumbling, but themunication ended there. I was going to the Kyros Faith''s Temple tomorrow morning. It waste at night, so I went to bed quickly.
The next morning. I forced myself to open my sleepy eyes and moved hastily. -My child, don''t you have enough time to get ready? "Ah..." Kyros asked me with a worried voice because I looked quite busy. I didn''t have anything to prepare. Maybe just mental preparation. But for some reason, I was nervous and wandered around the room. ''I''m actually ready. I just feel nervous and don''t know what to do...'' -Haha, yes. That can happen. While chatting with Kyros, Paul called me and said he was ready. On the way to the first-floor hall of the mansion, I greeted the busy servants as I went down the stairs. My mother was busy, but she said she couldn''t let me go to the Kyros Faith''s Temple alone and assigned some knights to apany me. I thought there would be only a few knights waiting, but there was only one person in the hall. It was Sevenus, who wore a neat gray coat and loosely tied his long silver hair to one side. "Revy, are you ready?" Why is he here? "Brother?" I approached Sevenus and called him. He stood upright and turned his gaze to me. -It''s pleasing to see brothers standing side by side. Kyros seemed quite satisfied. Well, it made sense, since Sevenus was a handsome man, even in my eyes. No, that''s not important right now. "Why are you here, brother?" As if I was just curious, I asked politely. Then, Sevenus turned his head to me. "I heard from Mother. You''re going to the Kyros Faith''s Temple today." "Yes. That''s true..." I didn''t want to go with you though? "For your safety, I made some time even though I''m busy." "I''m fine, brother." Why are you here when you''re busy? Go do your work. "No. Mother said she understood the intention of the Kyros Faith''s leader, but you never know. He might make some demands using you as an excuse." Well, that''s possible... I didn''t expect that Sevenus would follow me. The standard I had in mind was either Paul or my doctor. ''I''m d I asked Zain to y a role in advance.'' I looked at Sevenus with displeasure, but he didn''t care and left the mansion. I had no choice but to follow him. As we passed by the servants who opened the mansion''s door and left the building, we saw the carriage of Holden. Twelve knights were standing in front of the splendid carriage. ''Anyone would think we''re going to some faraway city.'' We were only going to Rovel, which is within our territory, but why was the preparation so fancy? The embarrassment was all mine. As I thought so, I saw a familiar face among the knights. When our eyes met, Fanatic smiled and bowed his head to me once, then waved his hand. He looked like a dog greeting his master. When I ignored his greeting, he drooped his shoulders. What? Is he really a dog? -He looks pitiful with his shoulders drooped. My child, why don''t you greet him? No, I''m not even a real idol. ''No, thank you. Why should I greet someone who always bullies me?'' -Hmm, well, that''s true. As I spoke curtly to Kyros, Sevenus, who was walking ahead, stopped in front of the carriage and looked at me. "Revy, get in." "Yes, brother." I got into the carriage. I wanted to ride a horse and go quickly, but I was still the ''second Young Master who was slightly better in condition, but still frail,'' in the mansion. Shortly after, Sevenus also got into the carriage and sat in front of me, and the carriage door closed. ''Oh. We''re riding together.'' It was awkward to sit in one carriage and face my brother. The good thing was that Rovel, our destination, was not far from the mansion. It would only take about thirty minutes, so I just had to endure it for a while. As soon as the carriage started moving, it was hard to bear even for a minute, let alone thirty minutes. ''I''m dying of awkwardness.'' Sevenus was reading a book he had brought with him as if nothing was wrong, but I felt suffocated. So I unlocked and opened the window. The cool breeze came in and relieved me a little. ''I feel alive now.'' But, that thought was short-lived. The window mmed shut with a thud. It was Sevenus. What? Are you picking a fight with me? But Sevenus didn''t even look at me and said, "I felt cold." Hey, jerk. It''ste spring now... No--- the daytime temperature was no different from early summer. And you felt cold? This bastard, he followed me to torment me. -My boy, your brother loves you so much. What a lovely brotherhood! Kyros chuckled as if he was enjoying something. ''Don''tugh!'' Can''t you see that I''m trembling right now? ''Brotherhood'' my ass, it''s suffocating enough that he won''t let me open the window. Isn''t that torture? I red at Sevenus, who was only looking at the book with a stiff posture, and shook my clenched hand into a fist. Sevenus didn''t even nce at me until the carriage stopped. Damn.
Fortunately, the carriage arrived at Rovel quickly. The carriage stopped in front of the Kyros Faith''s Temple and the door opened. Sevenus got off first as if he was waiting, and I followed suit. Under the warm sunlight, I saw many believers flocking around the temple. ''I''m proud of myself.'' But that was only for a moment. Most of the believers'' eyes were on me. Oops. Holden''s carriage. "Oh my, isn''t that Young Master Sevenus and Young Master Revelof?" "Oh dear! I never thought I would see them in my lifetime!" "But, what are they doing at the temple?" "Right? Could it be that they became Kyros Faith believers?" "Nah, I don''t think so. Maybe it''s because of the crackst time?" "But even if Young Master Sevenus doesn''t know, Young Master Revelof came too. He''s a sickly person..." "Right. What''s going on?" The murmurs of the believers reached my ears. The knights were controlling them, but the noise only subsided a little and there was not much difference. ''How embarrassing.'' It was awkward to face the believers without sses, whom I had met with sses before. Of course, they didn''t recognize me. "Wee, brothers!" As I followed Sevenus into the temple a little bit, I heard a bright and cheerful voice that I was familiar with. It was Alphius who greeted us. Alphius winked at me when our eyes met. What a cute guy. "I''ve been waiting for you. I''m Alphius, the high priest of Kyros Faith." Alphius greeted me and Sevenus politely. But, Sevenus'' gaze at Alphius was cold as ice. "Where is the leader?" This rude bastard. Can''t you at least return his greeting? However, Alphius didn''t mind and answered. "The leader is waiting for you in the reception room. I''ll show you the way." Sevenus didn''t even reply, but fortunately, Alphius didn''t seem to care much. Good boy, my son. "Let''s go, Revy." Somehow Sevenus looked at the temple as if it was a battlefield, but he didn''t forget to take care of me. As we followed Alphius into the temple, the knights followed us too. We headed to the reception room on the first floor of the temple with Alphius'' guidance. It was on the opposite side of the prayer room where most of the believers gathered, so it was quiet and not crowded. When we arrived at the reception room, Sevenus ordered the knights to wait nearby. "The leader is waiting for you inside." Alphius finished his guidance and stepped back. Sevenus opened the door to the reception room and entered. I followed him in and was a bit surprised. Inside the spacious reception room, "Pleasee in, brothers. I''m Leviathan, the leader of Kyros Faith." The one who weed us. I felt strange when I saw myself in him. I quickly hid my surprised expression, but somehow, I couldn''t erase my awkward feeling. Is it because it''s my first time meeting him in person? ''Not bad. It shows if you look closely.'' But that was only for a moment. As I looked at him more closely, I noticed some differences. First of all, his hairstyle. His hair was stiffer than my real hair. He was taller than me and his voice was lower too. Because of the effect of the transformation potion, my original voice woulde out, but I told him to tone down his voice because Sevenus could recognize my voice. ''By the way, the effect of the relic sses is really good.'' Even though I knew that his face was ''my face'', I felt like denying it in my head. Even if I knew what my real face looked like, I still felt like the sses'' effect, so it was natural for people who didn''t know to be fooled. I''m d the effect is good. "I''m Sevenus Holden." Thankfully, Sevenus didn''t notice anything either. This time, unlike what he did to Alphius, he greeted him. He even shook hands. Then, he reached out his hand to me too. I couldn''t ignore it, so I introduced myself too. "I''m Revelof Holden." As we shook hands, I saw his mouth curl up slightly. Hey, are you mocking me? "Please, have a seat." I couldn''t scold him in front of Sevenus, so I sat down quietly. Sevenus and I sat across from him, but somehow, I felt like the distance between me and Sevenus was closer than usual. I turned my head slightly and saw that Sevenus was looking at him with obvious wariness. "I don''t have much time, so please treat him right away." He''s in a hurry. "First of all, there is something I need to tell you." He said what I had told him in advance yesterday. Then, Sevenus'' eyes became even colder. Chapter 32 Chapter 32 Zain was unfazed by Sevenus'' re. He looked like "Zain the Merchant". "The treatment is not over in one session. You may not know this, but the only way to cure Malone''s disease is to expel the corpses of Malone worms from the patient''s bodypletely." "So you mean..." "As you expected, you have to visit our temple until the Malone worms are expelled. As often as possible." Sebenus'' brows furrowed. He clenched his lips and teeth. Seeing his reaction, I asked, "How often do you mean?" "Hmm, it would be best if youe every day." At that, Sevenus clenched his fist tightly. "Every day?" "Yes. That''s right." Zain still had a smile on his lips. Sevenus red at him and reluctantly loosened his fist. He seemed to want to observe him more. Then, Zain rummaged through his clothes and said, "Let''s start the treatment." What Zain took out of his pocket was a ss bottle containing Pasrel poison. Fortunately, Sevenus didn''t seem to know what it was. That''s good. "What is that?" "It''s a medicine. Young Master Revelof, please drink it." Zain handed me a ss bottle with one dose of Pasrel poison prepared in advance. As I took it, my wrist was grabbed. "Brother?" Sevenus'' gaze was not on me but on Zain. "What do you think this is and tell him to drink it?" His words were short and clear. "I told you. It''s a medicine." Zain seemed a bit annoyed by Sevenus'' sensitive attitude. But he still added with a smile, "I have already proven everything to the Countess. But if you don''t want it, Young Master Revelof doesn''t have to get treated." [E/N: Zain is referring to chapter 30 - when the Countess used the ''Sphere of Truth'' (a lie detector) to interrogate Revelof.] Zain''s attitude was like ''I don''t care what you do, I have nothing to lose''. Seeing this, Sevenus let go of me. He knew there was nothing he could do. Sevenus'' eyes turned to me. He looked indifferent, but he cared about me. He''s still my family, right? "Don''t worry, brother." I tried to smile at him and drank the Pasrel poison. As the poison went down my throat, something hot came back up. "Cough!" Blood flowed with a cough. It was much less than the first time I took Pasrel poison. There was only a little bit of blood on my lips. The effort to take the poison on time was paid off. Unlike me who was happy, "Revy!" Sevenus was startled to see the blood. Zain also looked a little surprised, but he wasn''t too flustered because I had warned him beforehand. Sevenus hastily handed me his handkerchief with trembling hands. Then, he got up from his seat and rushed to Zain. "What did you do?!" Sevenus, who didn''t know what was going on, grabbed Zain by the cor. Oh no, my ve will be in trouble! I quickly wiped off the blood and ran to Sevenus. I grabbed his arm and shouted, "Brother, I''m fine!" Sevenus, who was about to hit Zain with his fist, looked at me. His eyes widened a bit. "Revy? Are you really okay?" "Yes. I really am. Look. I''m fine. I feel less tired than before." I acted as if I was perfectly healthy. Then, Sevenus let go of Zain''s cor. "Haah, you scared me." He sighed deeply and brushed his messy hair roughly. -I would have been scared too if I were him. Didn''t I, too, freak out the first time you drank the poison? ''Haha... Sorry.'' There was a brief silence in the reception room. Zain, who had been grabbed by the cor by Sevenus, fixed his clothes and cleared his throat. "Ahem, if you don''t trust me, you can check with your doctor. Young Master Revelof''s condition should be healthier than before." Zain had regained hisposure by now, but Sevenus was still ring at him. "What did you feed Revy? Poison?" Then Zain smiled faintly. "I can''t tell you that." "What?" "Hmm. A trade secret, shall we say?" "Ha... You call yourself a religious leader, but you are blinded by greed?" Sevenus'' eyes seemed to glow. I sighed inwardly. Zain, do you have to provoke him so much? Well, he must be annoyed because he was grabbed by the cor. "No. That''s not it. We n to announce the cure for Malone''s disease to the world when Young Master Revelof''s treatment is sessfullypleted. So that no one in the world suffers from this disease." Yes, yes. That''s what I want. But, Sevenus'' eyes were still irritated. "That sounds like you''re experimenting on Revy." Oh. That could be true. This is my mistake. I hurriedly called Sevenus. "Brother. I''m fine. Whether I''m used or experimented on. I just want to be free from pain as soon as possible." Although Sevenus seems to hate the Kyros Faith right now... I had no choice. I didn''t expect him to care for me so much. I haven''t had any good memories with Sevenus. Since he, and the original Revelof, were very young in Revelof''s memory. We weren''t on good terms, were we? "If that''s what you want... I understand." Fortunately, Sevenus'' expression softened a bit at my words. Phew. I breathed a sigh of relief and Sevenus asked Zain. "Is the treatment over for today?" He was back to being polite. He''s really something. "Yes, that''s right." Zain answered with a business smile. "Okay. We''ll decide on the next treatment after we check your condition, Revy. Let''s go, Revy." Sevenus pushed me out of the reception room by force. Thanks to him, I left the reception room without even greeting Zain. Sevenus didn''t say a word until he got on the carriage. His mouth opened only after the carriage started moving. "Revy, are you really okay?" Sevenus asked in a sigh-like tone. "Yes, I am. It''s easier to breathe than before." Of course, my condition wasn''t improved solely by the ''Pasrel Poison''. It was mostly thanks to Kyros'' divine power bing stronger, and also the physical training with Fanatic. Anyway, when I got to the mansion and got a blood test from the doctor, I would be able to know the progress of Malone''s Disease urately. That''s when I would make a precise judgment. "Alright, I see." Sevenus closed his mouth tightly afterward.
As soon as the carriage arrived at the mansion, Sevenus went to find the doctor. I returned to my room after receiving Paul''s greeting. Iy down on the bed right away. It would take some time for Dr. Frank, the Holden family''s doctor, to arrive. I nned to roll around in my room until then. [Master.] As soon as Iy downfortably, Zain contacted me. "What is it?" [It''s about your brother, sir. I thought I was going to die from suffocation because of my cor that he grabbed earlier. No matter how angry he is, is this how a knight should behave?] Zain grumbled. It sounded like he wanted me topensate him for his injury. "Ugh. Fine. I''ll give you more allowance." [You''re truly a master!] The guy who was acting all hurt until a moment ago became cheerful as soon as money was mentioned. I cut off themunication with him and sighed. "Ugh." This money-grubber. He always talks about money, money, money, whenever something happens. The good thing was that I had a lot of wealth. Revelof''s personal assets were considerable. As I was weak since childhood, I saved up all my pocket money and had a lot of assets. If I had topare, it would be more than what Kyros Faith owned. Well, I was still the second son of a noble family, so I had to have this much. Knock, knock. With a knocking sound, the door opened. Sevenus and Dr. Frank came in. Dr. Frank had a warm impression and he was sweating as if he had just run. He must''ve heard the story from Sevenus on his way here. As soon as he entered and greeted me, he came to my side and made me sit down while starting his job. "Then, I''ll draw your blood, Young Master." A blood drawing tool with a sharp needle appeared from Dr. Frank''s bag. -Ouch, that must hurt. Kyros groaned as if he was more hurt than me. -I can''t stand to watch this! Why is he overreacting more than the person involved? ''I''m fine.'' Meanwhile, the blood drawing process was over. "The result wille out in about an hour." Dr. Frank wiped the sweat on his forehead and hurried out of the room with my blood. Sevenus watched the process and looked at me for a while before leaving the room.
Knock, knock. The knocking sound woke me up. When did I fall asleep? "Yes?" I cleared my throat and answered. Sevenus came in. "Revy, were you sleeping?" "Yes? Yes." Unlike me who was calm, Sevenus looked very tense. At that moment, another knock sound was heard and Dr. Frank came in. He ran hastily like before and shouted. "Young, Young Master!" Dr. Frank opened his eyes wide and shouted. "It worked!" Dr. Frank''s eyes were filled with emotion as he said that in one breath, Sevenus staggered. His legs seemed to have lost strength. I already knew this fact, but I pretended to be happy and acted. "Really?" "Yes! It is! The Malone worms have moved much less than before, and your body''s nutrients have increased noticeably!" Then, Dr. Frank continued his exnation. It was hard to understand because it was mixed with the empire''s medical knowledge, but anyway, it meant that my condition got better. "Just in case, I tested each drawn blood with magic tool, but they all showed the same reaction!" The diagnosis in this world was done using magic items, so there was almost no misdiagnosis. "This is nothing less than a discovery of the century!" Dr. Frank shed tears and rejoiced and Sevenus looked relieved next to him. "Phew. I''m really d." He said that and put his hand on my shoulder. But somehow, Sevenus'' eyes seemed moist. Could it be, he''s crying...?
After Dr. Frank left, there was a lively atmosphere in the mansion. It was because there was finally a breakthrough in my disease. Dr. Frank asked me and Sevenus what had happened, but we didn''t open our mouths. It would be announced to the world in the name of Kyros Faithter. Dr. Frank was very curious but he had to leave. ''Besides, Pasrel poison is a substance that can''t be detected by blood anyway.'' There was no risk of the treatment being leaked. Anyway, when there was hope that I could get better, the servants of the mansion were very happy. Especially Paul, who cried like a waterfall. The servants were happy as if it was their own business. That''s how it waste at night. When I was restingfortably in my room, someone burst into the room with the door wide open. Chapter 33 Chapter 33 The ones who came to see me were my mother and Sevenus. As soon as she opened the door, my mother ran towards me. Surprised, I sat up from the bed. Then, my mother hugged me tightly. "Revy, Revy." I was having a rxing day thanks to Fanatic, who gave me a break from training because it was a joyful day. "Revy, my son, my baby." I was startled by my mother, who suddenly came in and embraced me. But I returned the hug, feeling the warmth of her arms. Then, I felt one of my shoulders getting wet. At the same time, I saw my mother''s body trembling slightly in her uniform. My mother looked at me with tears in her eyes. "I''m so d, I''m so d. My baby." "Mother..." My mother raised her shaking hand and caressed my cheek. Seeing her like that, I suddenly thought. ''This is what it feels like to have a mother.'' In my previous life, I was an orphan. So this was the first time I felt this emotion. -Sniffle, waaah... However, the moment was ruined by Kyros, who cried like an idiot. My mother caressed my face and hugged me again. "Mother, thank you." I didn''t know why, but I wanted to say that. "No, thank you. For enduring all this time, for holding on..." Suddenly, I couldn''t answer my mother''s words. It felt like there was a thorn in my throat. It was because I wasn''t the real Revelof. ''...I''m sorry.'' I internally swallowed my apology and looked away. Then, I met Sevenus'' eyes, who was standing by the door. Sevenus had reddened eyes, both when he heard the results from Dr. Frank and right now. He looked cold on the outside, but he didn''t seem to be a bad person. I had to watch the tears of my mother and Sevenus for a while.
In the darkness where I couldn''t see even an inch ahead. I was there. In a space with no end. Then, at some point, I saw a faint light. I ran towards it. It felt like I had to do that. I ran along the path of light and kept running until everything became bright. ''Revy! Come here.'' Two people appeared. ''My'' mother and father. I ran towards them, who reached out their hands to me. I tripped over my feet and fell, but they waited for me with smiles. I stretched out my short legs and ran hard. And finally, when I was in their arms, ''It''s warm... Warm?'' Everything went dark. Once again, nothing was visible. What followed after was a sharp pain. It was hard to breathe and I felt like my whole body was being crushed. ''Revy, my baby...'' ''I''m sorry, Revy.'' My mother and father, who were smiling brightly before, were now shedding tears. I reached out my tiny hand and wiped their tears away. Then, their tears became thicker. And again, pain followed. At the same time, "Hurk!" I woke up from sleep. "Haa, haa..." I gasped for air. My forehead and back were damp as if I had sweated a lot. I didn''t even think of wiping the sweat off. I just sat there nkly. ''What was that dream?'' The vivid pain that I felt until just now had disappeared. ''I''m sure it hurts...'' But, it didn''t hurt anymore. ''Did I have a nightmare?'' I took a deep breath and exhaled. ''The dream... was too realistic.'' The scene that I just saw before was the real Revelof''s childhood. But, the dream felt too real. I felt an indescribable emotion. Slowly, I wiped the sweat on my forehead with my hand. It must have been caused by the tears of my mother and Sevenus from a few hours ago, that I had this strange dream. ''For a moment then, I unknowingly felt like I was the real Revelof.'' I empathized with Mother''s feelings for a fleeting moment, and without realizing it, I thanked her in that fleeting moment. Afterward, the fact that I wasn''t the real Revelof hit me harder. ''Was it because I felt like I was the real Revelof for a fleeting moment that it resonated with the memory in my head?'' As I thought that, I felt more bitter. I decided to stop thinking about it. To go back to sleep andy down on the bed again. But that day, in the end, I couldn''t fall asleep anymore.
It had been a month since I started receiving treatment at the Kyros Faith''s Temple. During that time, I went to the temple every day for treatment. Sevenus apanied me for the first three days, but he didn''te after that. Maybe he trusted me more. Thanks to that, I was able to visit the temple morefortably. Of course, the knights still followed me around, so my range of movement was no different from that of ordinary believers, but that was enough for me. By the way, it''s already summer. ''Hot, so hot.'' The season had changed to full summer in a month. The scorching heat made my body tired easily. If my condition was the same as before, I would have copsed from this heat. But now, my condition is much better than before. I could feel it. Maybe Malone''s disease will be cured soon. My immunity improved as my body got healthier. I had been taking Pasrel poison since I came to this world, so it should be cured soon. I thought about that as I strode to the prayer room. Then, I saw a familiar face. "Wee, everyone." The one who greeted the believers was Cyril. Oh,e to think of it, tomorrow is the day Cyril bes an official priest. During this time, he had been through a lot while being under Alphius'' test. He seemed to have worked hard to learn about Kyros and adapt to the temple life. Anyway, for this month, time passed peacefully. Although it wasn''t really true. ''If the flow follows the original work, a big event that will shake the continent will happen soon.'' I had to increase my strength to prepare for that time. I had to leave the Holden mansion as soon as Malone''s disease was cured. To gain more power, I had to travel a long way. So hurry up and get better, you useless body.
The next day, in the deep night when there were no believers. I headed to the prayer room with Alphius, Chester, and Sasha. It was to ept Cyril as an official priest. I saw Cyril kneeling in front of the altar. It was a new feeling to wee a human priest for the first time, not the children who were chosen by the gacha system. I opened my mouth with a pleased look at Cyril. "Brother Cyril, I was deeply moved by the sincere attitude that you showed us all this time." "Oh, no, Leader." Cyril lowered his head with his round eyes looking at me. -I saw it. That child is very faithful. "Kyros also likes your faithful attitude very much." Then, Cyril''s eyes sparkled. They seemed to moisten somehow. "We will ept Brother Cyril as an official priest." I said that and activated [Agent Appointment], which I couldn''t use until now. A system message appeared, [Do you want to ept Cyril Oste as an agent (official priest) of Kyros Faith?] [Yes/No] As soon as I thought ''Yes'', a pure and holy light appeared in my hands. I pointed my hands towards Cyril. Surprised by the beautiful light, Cyril bowed his head. When I reached out my hands over his head, the light seeped into him. -It''s weak, but it is still my power. That child is now one of us, so he can use some of the holy power. Ah, so that''s where the light came from. There was such a function in the agent appointment. I spoke solemnly to Cyril, who shed a tear. "Now, Brother Cyril is an official priest of Kyros Faith. Please continue to work hard for Lord Kyros." "Yes, yes! Leader, thank you! Lord Kyros, thank you!"
After the priest appointment, we had a small party in the reception room to officially wee Cyril. The children ate and chatted with the food and drinks they bought from Rovel in the evening. I left the reception room first. The children tried to see me off, but I refused. Somehow, it felt like I was holding a high position in apany. I felt a strange feeling and headed to the office. Then Zain, who was initially sitting on the sofa, got up quickly when he saw me. "Master, you are here?" "Yeah." "Why do you look happy today?" "It''s because of the servant... no, brother, who joined us." "Ah. Priest Cyril? Come to think of it, he became an official priest today. He''s pitiful but he was nice." "Pitiful? More than you?" My direct ve. I smiled and countered him. Zain pouted his lips. Why are you picking a fight when you can''t even get your money back? "So what about the thing I asked you to find out?" "Of course I found it." I sat down opposite Zain and asked him. Then Zain straightened his chest and spoke confidently, "As you said, there is a sh between orcs and goblins on Beon Mountain." "Really?" "Yes. ording to rumors, there is a treasure on Beon Mountain, and they are fighting to im it." My lips curled up involuntarily. The ''treasure'' was what I was aiming for. "But, there is one thing that bothers me." Zain''s eyes, which were yful until now, became cold. Sensing something bad, I also asked him quietly, "What is it?" "I''m not sure, but it seems that an agent of Diego Faith often visits that area." I bit my lip. "An agent of Diego Faith... Don''t tell me---" "I don''t have the exact information, but my guess is that he is one of the ''Apostles''." Damn it. I brushed back my messy hair. "Do you know who he is?" Zain shook his head with a bitter face. "I can''t search that far. It''s not even certain that he is a real ''Apostle''." Even if an ''Apostle'' appeared, I couldn''t give up on the treasure. "Well done." I praised Zain with a smile on my lips. It was amazing that he collected this much information in the first ce. The distance between Beon Mountain and Holden territory was quite far. "So, when are you going to leave?" Look at this guy. "You asked me to get the information on Beon Mountain because you want to get the treasure, right?" He''s quick-witted. "I''ll go as soon as I get better." "Ah. Can I prepare too?" I grinned. "Of course."
"Revy, how''s your body these days?" Since I started receiving treatment at Kyros Faith, the family meal time has increased. My mother and Sevenus often ate with me even though they were busy. "It''s better." "Good, you look healthier as well." As my condition improved, my mother''s smile never stopped and Sevenus'' expression became brighter than before. That''s what I thought. "Buttely, you''re not just getting treatment at the temple, are you?" Sevenus asked sharply.
[E/N: The part about our MC experiencing a nightmare (and how his feelings were written throughout the start-mid chapter) is an interesting portrayal of himself. He seemed to feel guilty as he started to familiarize himself with being Revelof Holden. That aside, I hope you enjoy this chapter.] Chapter 34 Chapter 34 I almost choked on my soup. Did Sevenus don''t like me spending so much time at the temple? Well, our whole family used to believe in Diego Faith. I cleared my throat and forced a smile. "Yes. I feel like it''s fate that I visit the temple often. It somehow makes me feel at ease." As soon as I said that, Sevenus mmed his spoon down. What''s his problem? Sevenus'' eyes darkened. "Revy. You only go to that temple for treatment." Was he telling me not to get involved in anything else? I had no intention of doing that, kid. "Sevi, don''t be like that." Thankfully, Mother intervened before Sevenus got more angry. "I just want Revy to be healthy. Whatever he does, whatever he wants, it''s all up to Revy." "But, Mother---" Sevenus tried to say more, but Mother cut him off. "We have no right to force anything on Revy." His lips shut tight at her reasonable words. As expected of my mother! As if I had a thousand troops behind me, I felt reassured. -Your brother is good at saying mean things. ''I sometimes want to punch his mouth.'' -Haha, you shouldn''t do that. I was about to say more to Kyros when it suddenly happened. "Ugh!" I suddenly felt nauseous. It felt like something was trying to burst out of my stomach. I covered my mouth with my hand. "Revy?!" I saw the surprised faces of Mother and Sevenus. I quickly got up from my seat, knocking over the chair. I was torn between leaving the room or taking out a handkerchief. "Blegh!" I couldn''t hold back the vomit and spat it out on my hand. Then, the sickening feeling subsided. -Oh, child! Your hand! Kyros eximed in shock as I looked at my hand. There was a blue worm the size of my finger joint. ''Did I just throw this up?'' I almost gagged again, but then I realized what this worm was. It was a Malone worm. -Wow, child! Is this the cause of your illness? ''Yes. It is.'' I wiped the saliva from my mouth and smiled faintly. Finally, I was cured.
"Young Master... You are... Cured. Your condition is much better than before! I don''t know how it happened, but you are healthier than an average person!" Dr. Frank, who was examining me, said with tears in his eyes to my family. Mother, who had been anxiously watching over me, hugged me as soon as Dr. Frank finished speaking. "Revy, my baby. You''ve suffered so much." It wasn''t just Mother. Sevenus also looked at me with reddened eyes. "I''m so d." I hugged Mother back and cheered inwardly. ''I''m finally cured!'' I didn''t have to take Pasrel poison anymore. ''Yay!'' I wanted to run around as much as I could, but I restrained myself and just smiled. Come to think of it, I noticed that the amount of blood loss had decreased significantly a while ago, but I didn''t expect to be cured. I was very happy. "My baby, you''ll only have happy things from now on." Mother stroked my cheek and shed a tear. I looked at her for a moment and then put on a serious face. "Mother. There''s something I want to tell you." It was time. Mother looked into my eyes and dismissed Dr. Frank and Paul the butler. Now only Mother and Sevenus were left in my bedroom. Mother dabbed her tears with a handkerchief and faced me squarely. "Yes, Revy. My baby, what is it?" I couldn''t open my mouth easily. With Mother and Sevenus'' eyes on me, I spoke with difficulty. "I... I''m sorry to say this to you, Mother, but there''s something I want to do." Mother''s hand warmly wrapped around mine. "Yes? This mother will support you no matter what you do, Revy." I ovepped my hand on hers and held both hands. "I want to convert to Kyros Faith." It was almost like an announcement. But Mother didn''t waver as if she had expected it. Rather, it was Sevenus who was surprised. "Revy! Do you know what you''re saying?" Sevenus stomped over to us with a loud noise. I looked at him with an unchanged expression. "I know what I''m saying, brother." It meant that I would give up all my rights as the son of a count and devote myself to a religion. I didn''t need any status or position as a nobleman. I looked at Mother and Sevenus while speaking earnestly, "I''ve always been trapped in this room. I had nothing to do, nothing I wanted to do. I was just waiting for death." Mother and Sevenus closed their mouths. "But hope came to me, and I finally regained my life. I want to dedicate myself to Kyros Faith, the one who gave my life back." Was it because of my improved acting skills, or because of the memories of the real ''Revelof'' in my head? As I spoke, I became sincere. "Revy..." Sevenus called me with a pitiful look. Mother had a calm look. She nodded her head after looking at me for a while. "I understand, Revy. If that''s what you want... Let''s do that." As Mother gave her permission, Sevenus couldn''t say anything more and bit his lips. He had a lot to say, but he swallowed it. "Thank you, Mother." "Please... give me a little more time with you, my son. I want to spend the time I missed with you, even if it''s only now." Mother said that without shedding tears, but somehow she sounded like she was crying. I had no choice but to nod. "Of course."
Mother asked me for a week. But I didn''t spend all that time with her. She only had two days to spare. For the rest of the five days, she had to deal with her work in advance to make time for me. During those two days, I hung out with Mother and Sevenus. We reminisced about our childhood and went on a pic at ake near the city. We also went boating. We walked along the streets of Elyn while holding Mother''s hand and hired a famous painter to draw a new family portrait. And finally, the two days passed and tomorrow was the day I would leave Holden. After spending time with my family in thete evening, I packed my things to take to the temple. I could have asked the servants to do it, but I wanted to do it myself. I packed some expensive jewels that I could take right away from my personal property and put some clothes in a bag. -I''m so sad. Kyros had been crying and sniffling all the time while I was with my family. ''Don''t be sad, Kyros. This is all for Kyros Faith.'' I was tired of listening to Kyros'' whining for the past few days, but I tried to be kind to him. -Hmm... It feels like I''m the one who broke up a happy family. ''No, you''re not.'' If we don''t spread Kyros Faith widely, the world will end. Then everyone will die whether they are a happy family or not. ''Is this enough clothes?'' Knock, knock. As I was wondering if I should pack another bag, the door opened with a click. "Revy." It was Sevenus. What was he doing here? He had been sulking ever since I dered that I would convert to Kyros Faith. He didn''t initiate a conversation with me or anything while we were spending time with Mother. He was acting like a spoiled child. "Yes, brother?" I stopped packing and tried to get up from the chair, but Sevenus came over to me and stopped me. "You don''t have to get up. Keep doing what you were doing." Well then, I don''t care. I opened another bag and stuffed some clothes in it. I felt Sevenus stare from my side. "Brother?" Why are you staring at me? Just say what you want to say. You brat. "You could have asked the servants to do this." "...No. It''s not like I''m taking much, anyway." "Why don''t you pack more?" Actually, the jewels I packed were enough. They were worth several years of the temple budget. I needed some clothes to wear, so I packed a few sets. But, once I entered the temple, I would wear the leader''s uniform almost every day, so I didn''t need that many clothes either. Two bags of luggage were just right. "This is enough." When I finished packing roughly, Sevenus handed me something. "Take this." What he gave me was a silver pocket watch with Holden''s seal engraved on it. Why...? As I looked at Sevenus with a puzzled look, he stared at me fiercely and opened his mouth. "Even if you''re leaving, it doesn''t change the fact you''re still a Holden. You will always be Revelof Holden, my brother." "Brother..." It was cheesy but quite touching. I smiled. -What a tearful brotherly love! Sob. Then, Sevenus'' lips curved slightly. "You cane back anytime. Mother and I will always be here." I put the pocket watch in my chest and nodded. "Yes, brother."
Holden''s mansion was busy since early in the morning. Today was the day Revelof Holden, the second son of the Holden family, would depart. There were two carriages in front of the mansion. One was for Revelof while the other carriage was for his luggage. The servants were busy lodging the luggage onto the carriage. Revelof sighed inwardly as he watched them. ''...Did I pack that much luggage?'' He only packed three bags for himself. Two of them were clothes and one was jewels that weren''t very big. But now, the servants were struggling to fit in several heavy chests. "Mother, there seems to be more luggage than what I packed." Finally, Revelof asked his mother, Leira, who was watching the situation. She smiled brightly. "Of course, Revy." Revelof was surprised by Leira''s exnation. She had prepared not only his personal property but also a generous amount of money for him. That wasn''t all. There was also a huge donation for Kyros Faith. The amount wasparable to ''Tear of the Sun'' that they had given to Kyros Faith as a reward before. This was the decision of Leira and Sevenus. They wanted to express their gratitude for curing Revelof''s illness and ask for his convenience with such a donation. ''That greedy leader should value the rewards properly.'' Sevenus thought so; without realizing that Revelof was the leader of the Kyros Faith. Chapter 35 Chapter 35 After packing all my belongings, the knights of the Holden lined up in front of the carriage. I stood before my mother and Sevenus and bowed my head. "Mother, brother. Thank you." It was a short farewell, but it contained countless emotions. Leira, who was looking at me, approached me and hugged me lovingly. "You must always be healthy, my son. Mother is always on your side. You cane back anytime. Do you understand?" "Yes, Mother." Even though I would never return, I still answered that way. After my mother''s embrace ended, this time, Sevenus came up to me. He grabbed my shoulder firmly. "Don''t forget, Revy. You are always a Holden." "Yes, brother." After the brief goodbye, I waved my hand to the servants, including Paul. Paul bowed to me with tears in his eyes. I looked around the Holden mansion onest time before getting on the carriage. ''So, you''re really leaving, little brother.'' ck, ck. The carriage started moving. The people stayed there until the carriage I was on was far enough away from the mansion. Neither Leira nor Sevenus could leave their ces. Even though Revelof Holden had left, his room would always remain. Awaiting for its owner to return.
''Finally, I''m free!'' As soon as the carriage left the mansion, I tapped my feet lightly with joy. I wanted to shout with delight, but I held back because the soundproofing wasn''t that good. -Are you that happy? ''Of course I am. Now I can do anything I want.'' -Your family looked sad, though. ''Can''t help it. That''s fate.'' I answered Kyros casually but I couldn''t control my rising smile. It had been about three months since I came to this world, and I finally foundplete freedom. Ah, how exciting. I constantly smiled as I looked out the window. ''First of all, I''ll announce the name of Kyros Faith.'' As soon as I got to the temple, I nned to disclose the cure for Malone''s disease. That way, the status of Kyros Faith would rise. However, as the name of Kyros Faith became known, the possibility of Diego Faith interfering also increased. This part was inevitable. So, let''s put that aside for now. ''It doesn''t matter if you have the power to stop them even if you''re famous. To do that..." All I had to do wase up with a n to be stronger. Soon, that ''incident'' would happen on the continent. If I could stop that incident, Kyros Faith''s status would rise several times more than when I spread the cure for Malone''s Disease. ''It will take some time to get to the temple...'' First, I opened the religious status. [Religious Status (Kyros Faith) Leader: 1 (Revelof Holden) High Priest: 1 (Alphius) Pdin: 1 (Chester) Official Priest: 1 (Cyril Oste) . . Believers: 448 (Ail, Ellis,...) Total number of believers: 452] The number of believers had increased in the past month, but it had started to stagnate. It was probably because there was nothing as impactful as what happened in Rovel. ''Well... It''s a problem that will be solved gradually.'' While I was making various ns, the carriage stopped before I knew it. When I looked out the window, I had already arrived at the temple. "We have arrived, Young Master." The one who opened the door of the carriage was Fanatic. I nodded at him and got out of the carriage. Then, the children who felt like family, greeted me. Alphius, Chester, Sasha, and even Zain who pretended to be Kyros Faith''s leader. "Wee back, brother Revelof." I was quite surprised when I first saw him, but now, I was used to Zain pretending to be me and answering with a smile. "Thank you for weing me, Leader." The children also greeted me. They looked cute with their cheerful and yful expressions. Meanwhile, the knights started to unload my luggage. "Where will you stay, Young Master?" Fanatic asked me while holding my luggage. Zain answered, "I will take care of Brother Revelof''s luggage. A sacred ritual must be performed before he converts to Kyros Faith." Of course, I had already told Zain about this. There was no such thing as a sacred ritual. "Oh, I see." I had already decided where I would stay, so I didn''t want to bring the knights there. Fortunately, the knights, including Fanatic, looked displeased but obediently left. Then Alphius, Chester, and Sasha started to carry my luggage. -As expected of my children, they are very reliable. I smiled warmly at them as I saw the knights'' eyes widen. "Then I''ll be going back, Fanatic." "Yes, Young Master..." Fanatic looked somewhat regretful. I smiled at him. "Thank you for everything." He made me act like a dog, but thanks to Fanatic''s training, my physical abilities had improved, so that was true. Then, Fanatic and the knights bowed to me. Fanatic sobbed and said, "We are grateful to you, Young Master."
My children moved all my luggage to the office. I tried to help them, but Alphius firmly pushed me away. "Leader, where should I put this?" Alpheus asked me while holding a luggage of my clothes. "Oh, that goes in the bedroom." "Le, Leader... what about these?" Chester asked with his eyes wide open. It was a chest full of money. I tapped the chest. "This is all funds for the temple." Sasha silently moved my luggage to the office. After they finished organizing the luggage, I thanked the children. "Alphy, Chesi, Sasha. Thank you all." The three of them were all S-ss in different fields, but their strength was no joke. They always took care of the hard work, and whenever I tried to help them a little bit, they became serious and pushed me away. -As expected of my children. They are very admirable. ''That''s right.'' I smiled happily as I shared the desserts I brought from the mansion with them. On the other hand, Zain was... busyzing around on the sofa in the office. The children left the office after receiving the desserts and I sat down in front of Zain. Zain gave back my sses, took off his wig, unbuttoned a few buttons on his shirt, and sighed. "Haa, it''s getting easier to imitate you day by day... But it gets tiring quickly." "You don''t have to act for a while anyway, so stop sighing." Zain looked up at me while lying on the sofa. This kid is spoiled. "So, when are we leaving for Mount Beon?" "In two days." "There''s not much time left, is there?" "Not much but enough. In the meantime, announce the cure for Malone''s disease in the name of Kyros Faith." "Me?" "Who else? Me?" Zain''s face became round. -His lips are pouting. How about soothing him gently? ''He''ll just get more clingy.'' "Just doing it that way... But, are you sure? You''re just simply giving away the cure." "There''s nothing wrong with that." "But..." Zain seemed more reluctant than me. "I know it''s precious, but this is for Kyros Faith." He still showed how reluctant he was. I understand him. However, religion is something that needs to build a good external image. Especially a small religion that started in a small vige. Kyros Faith will expand its influence based on faith and trust. I was worried about Diego Faith''s interference... But I decided to trust Terdius for now. ''He swore on my name, after all.'' He promised to keep Diego Faith out of the event in Holden territory. Besides, Terdius was an ''apostle''. He should be able to handle most things with that rank. I trust you, protagonist.
The next day. Thanks to Zain, it was announced that Kyros Faith had found a cure for Malone''s Disease. Of course, it hasn''t spread widely yet. But soon, the whole continent would know. ''There won''t be much impact right away.'' The proof and experiment of the cure woulde first anyway. Right, I also didn''t reveal that Kyros Faith''s method had cured Revelof Holden. It would eventually spread among the people but I didn''t want to bother myself by announcing it right away. While Zain was working, I also took care of the temple''s affairs as the leader. Not that there was too much work to do. Thanks to Alphius, who had taken good care of the temple, all I did was assess the tendencies of the believers. ''I should make some kind of worship or prayer event soon.'' The number of believers was increasing day by day, so I felt like I had to do something. I should tell Alphius about this and he could work on it with Cyril. After finishing the work, I felt sluggish and went out to the temple garden. It waste at night, or rather, early in the morning, so there were no believers in the temple. I looked around Sasha''s lively statues and sat on a bench in the corner of the garden. I leaned back on the bench and looked up at the night sky. Countless stars were shining brightly. ''Tomorrow...'' I''m leaving for Mount Beon. So, I had to leave the temple for a while. ''It makes me miss it already.'' I had never left Holden territory for more than a day. -My child, what are you thinking so hard about? ''Oh... Nothing.'' -Are you afraid of going to Mount Beon? ''No. That''s not it. I''m not afraid. It''s just... I''ve never left Holden territory for more than a day. It feels weird.'' -You look excited. Oh, is that so? My chest felt ticklish. This strange feeling is excitement. I didn''t know. I''ve been living a busy life that I forget how it felt for a while -My child, you seem to know a lot, but sometimes, you seem to know nothing at all. ''Is that so?'' "Yes." At that moment, I felt like I heard a voice not in my head, but in my ears. What? Did I hear it wrong? That thoughtsted only for a moment as soon as a white light began to bloom in front of my sight. ''...Huh?'' The holy and beautiful white light mass began to take shape like a human. I knew what this meant. Because I had seen it before. ''Manifestation...? All of a sudden?'' I opened my eyes wide. Even though I knew what it was, it was too sudden. "It''s been a while since I breathed the night air." Soon the light disappeared. Kyros'' voice clearly reached my ears. And what finally appeared was... ''This is... A puppy? A baby wolf?'' I didn''t know exactly how to describe it, but it was a small and fluffy gray creature. It had four short legs and a chubby body, a fluffy tail, droopy eyes, and a slightly protruding pink tongue. ''So cute!'' I was drawn to the creature and reached out my hand. And when I touched its soft head, "Nice to meet you, my child!" I heard Kyros'' voice full of excitement from the cute puppy. Chapter 36 Chapter 36 "Ky, Kyros?" I was startled by Kyros'' voice as I stepped forward. The puppy raised his head sternly. "Ahem. Yes, it''s me, Kyros." "Pfft." I couldn''t help butugh. His attempt to look serious was both cute and funny. I wasughing out loud but Kyros continued to speak. "I''ve gained a lot of powertely, so I was able to manifest myself. Of course, it takes a lot of energy to appear in my true form, so I had to borrow a more friendly appearance for humans. How do you like it? Can you feel my dignity?" The puppy Kyros puffed out his fluffy chest as he said that. He looked nothing but adorable. He seemed very proud of himself for umting enough power to manifest himself. I could feel his excitement. I stroked his chest fur and tried to suppress myughter. "Yes. You are very dignified." "Right?" "Of course." It was very hard to hold back myughter, but I did my best. "But, how long can you maintain this appearance?" "Hmm. It''s just a superficial disguise, so it doesn''t consume much energy. I can keep it for a few hours." "Then please manifest yourself more often in this form." Because you''re cute. I swallowed thest part and rubbed Kyros'' head. The soft fur felt good on my fingers. ''Ah, this is healing.'' As I rubbed his head and moved down to his back, Kyros showed me his belly. Then, I saw his pink belly and pink paws. Thump! This is totally... Cute. Cute things are the best. Puppies are saving the world. "Yes, yes. Scratch me more there." I did as Kyros asked and scratched his belly. He looked satisfied with his eyes closed. That''s when I felt someone''s presence. "Master? What are you doing here?" Zain came over, scratching the back of his head. I nced at him and then looked back at Kyros. "Taking a walk." "Is that a dog? Or is it a wolf cub? What is that thing?" As Zain approached, Kyros got up quickly. He shook his body and red at Zain with displeasure. "Wow. It''s really cute up close." Zain crouched down like me and reached out to touch Kyros, but I grabbed his wrist. "No. Don''t touch him carelessly." "Huh? Why? You touched him too." This guy. "This dog, no, this person is Kyros." Zain''s face turned pale. "What...?" I repeated myself. "He''s Kyros'' manifestation." At that, Zain''s eyebrows furrowed. He looked at me with concern. "Master, are you very tired?" I could feel his sincerity in his eyes. This kid? That''s when Kyros stood up on his two legs with a solemn face. "That''s right. I am Kyros, kid." Zain and I opened our mouths at the same time. "Is, is that true?" Zain asked that, and, "That''s bad for your kneecaps!" I quickly reached out and made Kyros stand on four legs. He grumbled. "I''m fine, kid. This body is just a borrowed appearance. It doesn''t affect my real self at all." "I''m d to hear that, but..." Having watched a lot of puppy videos on YouTube in my previous life, I was worried without thinking. "Yes, yes. You''re a good child. You were worried about me, right?" Kyros put his small front paw on my knee. He looked like a lively creature. The difference between Kyros'' real form and his puppy form was so big that I found puppy Kyros very cute. Even though his voice was the same in either form. "Hu, huh... Master. Is this real?" I nodded seriously at Zain, who still couldn''t believe it. "Hu, huh..." Zain copsed on the floor with a strange groan.
"Lord Kyros! You''ve manifested yourself!" "Lo, Lord Kyros...!" As I entered the temple building with Kyros in my arms, the kids ran out as if they sensed Kyros'' presence. All three kids greeted Kyros with sparkling eyes. Even Sasha, who was usually indifferent to anything, looked excited. They were so cute. "Yes, my children!" Kyros jumped out of my arms and ran around among the kids. "Woah, Lord Kyros!" "I missed you!" "You''re so cute..." Thebination of kids and puppies was really the best. I smiled warmly when Zain whispered to me quietly. "So that puppy is really Kyros'' manifestation." "How many times do I have to tell you?" "Wow... It was true." Zain repeated himself and wiped his face. This kid, he couldn''t believe it even after seeing it with his own eyes. He blinked his eyes and muttered something more, "I''m d I joined this side. This side has a real ''god''." He added, "It''ll be different if it''s a real god." He seemed to be calcting something in his head in a short time. That''s when a translucent system window popped up. [Your loyal servant ''Zain'' has be a follower of Kyros.] ...What? Wow. What''s going on? He became a believer by himself. I thought it would take more time. He must have tried everything to find someone who shared his intentions before he came to me. Of course, he''s tied to me now, but he must have been convinced by seeing Kyros'' real manifestation and calcted the oue. ''But the message also says loyal servant.'' Maybe it''s because of the contract. What was different from the original disy was that Zain was my close aide. That''s interesting. I closed the system window and looked back at Kyros and the kids. I saw a strange sight. "Hello, Lord Kyros." Zain knelt in front of Kyros and introduced himself politely. Then, Kyros, who had been running around among the kids, approached Zain with a solemn face. "Yes. I know, kid. I also know that you helped my child with various things." "Wow..." Zain was amazed by Kyros'' words. Zain''s cheeks reddened a bit at Kyros'' praise. Was he always like this? Come to think of it, he was like this in the original too... It was then that Kyros, the puppy, floated in the air. He stopped at Zain''s face level. Zain''s mouth opened wide at the sight of the levitating puppy. "I''ll give you a gift for always helping my children." As Kyros said that, his pink paw touched Zain''s forehead. Then, a pure white light flowed from Kyros to Zain. Could it be...! "Th, thank you, Lord Kyros!" Zain was very happy. Kyros smiled smugly and said, "Ehem." I also smiled along with the children. I didn''t expect it to happen so soon. What a windfall. In the original, Zain was one of thepanions who apanied Terdius, a so-called growth character. At first, he was just an information broker, a very cunning and money-crazed archer who wasn''t that strong. Butter, as he came to trust Kyros, he received power from Kyros and became one of the forces that strongly supported Terdius. Although Kyros'' power was weaker than in the original, Zain must have be stronger than before. ''Ah. This is an unexpected achievement, isn''t it?'' I didn''t expect Zain to trust Kyros so soon. I was very pleased with the faster pace than the original. I can set him in motion more in the future. I grinned as I watched Zain nodding his head to Kyros.
It was dawn, before the sun rose. The clear air of dawn filled my lungs and made me feel refreshed. Today was the day we left for Veon Mountain, but I was warming up behind the temple. Doing morning exercises in a spacious area where few believers showed up had be a routine ever since I came to the temple. Even if I left the mansion, I couldn''t ck off on physical training. ''Sure enough, my body feels lighter after curing Malone''s Disease.'' I increased my exercise amountpared to before when Fanatic had shown me what to do. Of course, there was a limit to doing it alone, so sometimes Chester helped me with my posture. Today is ''lower body day,'' so I did some warm-up. "Oh? Brother Revelof!" Just before I started my lower body exercise, I saw Cyril running towards me. Cyril had beenmuting to the temple even after bing an official priest. Of course, there was a dormitory in the temple for Cyril''s convenience. Cyril was helping his parents'' shop while working as a priest. "Hello, Priest Cyril." I wasn''t wearing sses right now, so I wasn''t the leader, but Revelof. "You''re up early. Are you feeling okay?" Cyril asked me with a bright face. "Yes. I''m fine." "By the way, I heard you''re leaving today." "Ah, yes." I had agreed with the leader that we were leaving for ''evangelism'' while I was away at Veon Mountain. Just in case, be careful on your way!" "Thank you." Cyril smiled brightly and moved away from me. He''s so nice. He didn''t even envy or resent ''Revelof'', who was leaving with the leader. He had a true priest-like attitude. Rustle~ Thud! As I watched Cyril''s back getting further, something jumped down from the tree next to me. It was Kyros, the puppy. "He''s trustworthy. He''s a kind and pure child by nature." Kyros had been in puppy form since yesterday. He looked cute and it wasfortable not hearing his voice in my head. "That''s good." "Shouldn''t we get ready soon?" "Yeah. We should." I can''t skip ''lower body day,'' so I did as much exercise as possible and then got up.
"Hooam... Good morning, Master." Before the sun fully rose, I met Zain in a back alley. Believers were visiting the temple early in the morning, so we changed our meeting ce secretly. We had already said goodbye to the children separately anyway, so we escaped over the wall of the temple. I also wore a hood over my robe to hide my appearance. "Did you sleep wellst night?" Zain looked half-asleep, unlike me who slept well. Come to think of it, his shop was open at night. "Go to sleep while we''re on the way." "Yes, yes. I should do that." With yawns, Zain walked toward the carriage he had prepared in advance. He talked to the coachman for a while and then gestured to me. We nned to leave the territory by riding on a carriage that Zain had secretly prepared. No one in the temple knew that we were leaving except for those involved. The children stayed behind to manage the temple. Anyway, we could still keep in touch and if I was in danger, the children woulde over through the dimensional space, so it was fine. "Get on. Hoaaam..." I got on the carriage with Zain. It wasn''t a very good carriagepared to Holden''s, but it wasn''t too bad either. "Haaa... hmm." Jain, who sat across from me, kept yawning. I took off the hood I was wearing and looked at him. "It will take about three days to get to Veon, where Veon Mountain is located." Zain stretched and reported, "However, there is a limit to going by this carriage. Halfway through, we will take a break in Veares and then we will move by horse from then on." It was roughly the route I expected. "Okay. I got it. Get some sleep." As soon as I nodded my head, Zain''s eyes drooped. "Okay, Master. You should rest too." He closed his eyes and soon started snoring. ''...Veares.'' I wanted to skip it if I could, but I had no choice. I closed my eyes like Zain. Chapter 37 Chapter 37 The carriage moved without stopping. We only paused briefly for some rest along the way, but otherwise, we traveled for a whole day. And then, deep in the night, the carriage stopped in the forest. "It looks like we''ll have to camp here tonight," Zain said after talking to the coachman. I readily nodded. It was time for both the horses and the people to get exhausted. I stretched my weary body and did some light exercises. Zain also followed me and rxed his muscles. Meanwhile, as we were rxing, the coachman started to prepare for camping. He skillfullyid out a cloth and set up a support. It seemed that Zain had already arranged this part in advance. We lit a fire and had a simple meal with some dried meat that we brought with us. "I''m going for a walk," I told Zain. He looked like he wanted to follow me, but I gestured to him to stay. As I entered the forest, I felt the clear air of the woods. It didn''t have as many trees as Cartel Forest, but it felt like being in nature. I walked for a while, feeling the cool night breeze. Then, a white light appeared in front of me and Kyros manifested as a puppy. "The air is nice here." He sniffed with his small nose and wagged his tail like a real puppy. I smiled at the sight. Kyros had disappeared as soon as he found out that we would be traveling by carriage. And now, he showed up again. "But... My child." He licked his nose and constantly sniffed and then suddenly changed his tone. "What is it?" "It seems like there is a faint smell of monsters here." "Really?" "Yes. Over there." Kyros started to run with his short legs. Damn it, I''m tired. I had no choice but to chase after him. He was quite fast while being in his puppy form. Fortunately, Kyros noticed I fell behind and stopped. He checked if I was following him and moved on. How long did we run? A cliff appeared. Kyros was standing at the edge. "Over there." I carefully stood next to Kyros and saw a vige in the distance. That was ''Bayers'', the stopover we would arrive at tomorrow. "There is a smell of monsters from there." I narrowed my eyes at Kyros'' words. I wanted to ignore it if possible, but I guess I couldn''t.
I woke up early in the morning. The coachman who got up woke up Zain first, and we quickly packed up. As we got on the carriage, Zain yawned as if his mouth would tear. "Sleep some more. We still have a long way to go." "Thank you, Master." Zain smiled and closed his eyes. I turned my gaze outside the window. Because the road to Bayers was not well maintained, the carriage ufortably shook a lot. Zain woke up and eventually gave up on trying to sleep every time it happened. Thirty minutes after the carriage started moving, Bayers came into view. I looked up towards the sky, it was dark as if it would rain any moment. "It''s going to pour soon, isn''t it?" Zain muttered as he also looked towards the sky. "I guess so." I answered briefly and turned my gaze to Bayers. Bayers was a vige as big as Elyn. It was quiterge, but it was more simr to a countryside with no special features. The poption was not very high either, and the location was also in a remote ce, so unless you went to Beon, you wouldn''t stop by this vige. Moreover, Beon was also a small vige with few visitors. Anyway, there was only one thing that stood out in Bayers. A castle that towered among the small buildings. "That''s the vi of Baron Dreyer. I heard that Baron Dreyer''s grandson is staying there for recuperation." Zain exined on his own as he noticed my gaze. It was a story I already knew, but I nodded along. "I heard that he''s quite handsome. His skin is not just pale, but almost white." "Really?" "Yes. I don''t understand what''s so good about being so white." Zain grumbled as we entered Bayers. Knock. Knock. I handed the gatekeeper a forged identity card that Zain had prepared in advance. He quickly checked our faces and turned away. From now on, we were just travelers. "Thank you." I got off the carriage and gave a tip to the coachman. He smiled happily and left, leaving Zain and me alone. "Shall we look for a ce to stay first?" "Let''s do that." As we entered the inner part of Bayers, we felt people''s eyes on us. They seemed to be busy with their own affairs, but they were clearly ncing at us. "I heard that the people here don''t like outsiders very much. There aren''t many outsiders to begin with." Zain whispered to me. R: "Do you think that''s just dislike?" I whispered back. Zain frowned. "Huh? What do you mean?" "Look at their eyes." At my words, Zain quickly scanned the vigers'' gaze. "Ah..." Zain couldn''t finish his sentence. He had no choice. The people of Bayers looked at us as if we were sacrifices. I tried to ignore them as much as possible, but it was hard to do so now. -Master, I smell a monster from that castle. ''I know.'' I moved cautiously, wary of the people. Zain followed me hastily. "Master, should we just leave right away?" I shook my head. "Don''t you think we need to rest for a day? We have to rx here and then go." That way, we can move quickly when we arrive at Beon. "I know, but... I feel uneasy. Their eyes are kind of weird." "I know. But, bear with it for a while." I walked with Zain to find an inn. Luckily, there was one nearby. We opened the door and entered. Inside, there were a few people drinking alcohol and a middle-aged man with a warm expression was guarding the bar. "Oh, wee." The man, who looked like the innkeeper, greeted us with a forced smile. He looked sweaty as if he had already heard our story. "Are you two looking for an inn?" I nodded and approached him. I took out a gold coin from my pocket and handed it to him. "We''re nning to stay for one night. I''ll also ask for some food separately." "Yes, yes. I understand." The man smiled nervously and guided us. "Come this way." Zain and I followed the innkeeper up the old stairs. Along the way, we still felt the eyes of the guests on us. Zain seemed to feel them too, as he grabbed the hem of my robe. I tried to wink at him to reassure him, but unfortunately, he didn''t seem to get it. He kept sending me signals to leave. But our feet had already reached the second floor. Creak, creak. The old corridor made a strange noise every time we walked. It made it feel even more eerie. Bang! It was sudden. A loud noise came from right next to us. It was from the inside of a locked door that we were about to pass by. ''...What?'' As Zain and I stopped, the innkeeper looked at us nervously. "Ha, haha. It''s nothing." "Nothing? There was a loud noise from a locked room!" Zain questioned the innkeeper, who wiped the sweat from his forehead. "I, it''s my daughter. Don''t mind her." "Your daughter? You locked your daughter in this room?" Zain moved toward the door as if he was going to break the lock. But the man grabbed Zain''s shoulder. "Agh." "I have no choice. My daughter is crazy." Z: "No matter what..!" Zain was furious, but I shook my head at him. Then, the man let go of Zain and Zain backed off. The man''s tour continued. "Come over here." The ce where the innkeeper stopped was in front of a room at the end of the corridor. "Then have a good rest. I''ll bring you some food soon." Our room was a small one with two single beds. Zain went straight to the bed and sat down. I closed the door and drew the curtains by the window. Then, Zain looked at me with serious eyes. "Master, don''t you think that innkeeper is strange? How can he lock up his own daughter, even if she''s crazy?" "Lower your voice." I sat in front of Zain and put my finger on my lips. Zain closed his mouth and nodded. "Anyway, it''s too creepy. If I had known this, I would have just turned around and left without stopping by." "We had to stock up on energy, so it couldn''t be helped." "But..! The vigers'' eyes are weird, too." I nodded. "Yeah. I know." "Haah. How can you be so calm, Master?" Zain sighed heavily. I looked at him for a moment and opened my mouth. "Do you know why there are few outsiders in this vige?" "That''s because there''s nothing to see here, and it''s just a stopover to go to Beon. And, there''s nothing to see in Beon either." "Besides that." "What else? Ah..." It was then that Zain seemed to remember something and widened his eyes. Soon after, his eyebrows furrowed. "The missing cases." "I forgot about them. They happened ten years ago." As Zain said, there were several reasons why there were few outsiders in Bayers. But what I wanted to talk about was the missing cases that urred 13 years ago. The cases that didn''t discriminate between outsiders and vigers were so big that the empire sent an investigation team. Twenty people disappeared, one every week. However, there was no progress in the investigation. There were no witnesses or evidence. The only good thing was that there were no more victims after that. The investigation was closed. "But, there were no more missing cases after that, right?" I nodded. "Even if the cases were settled, the culprit wasn''t caught. Naturally, the traffic of outsiders decreased." "I see." Hmm, Zain nodded as if he understood. R: "And, in my opinion," "Yes?" "I don''t think the missing cases are over yet." Z: "What?" Jain''s eyes widened. I nced outside through the curtains. Some vigers were looking this way. "Ma, Master. What do you mean by that?" "Are you afraid of anything?" "What are you talking about all of a sudden..." "Nothing, though?" "No. I''m actually quite scared. I''m ashamed to say it, but I''m afraid of ghosts or things like that, things that I can''t see." "Hmm. Is that so?" "Don''t you have anything to fear, Master?" "I do, too." What I feared was different from Zain. "What is it?" "...Something." "What? You won''t even tell me. Never mind that. Why are you asking this anyway?" The eyes of the people of Bayers, the innkeeper''s daughter who was locked up, and the high castle. I smiled. "Do you know what a vampire is?" Chapter 38 Chapter 38 Vampires. The so-called bloodsuckers. The creatures of the night that feed on human blood. "What is that?" But Zain seemed to have never heard of the word before. Well, there was no such word as ''vampire'' in this world. "Simply put, they are beings that use human blood as their nourishment." "Ah, I see. Like mosquitoes. But, why are you bringing that up?" "Why?" Because there is a vampire in this city. "Master?" I swallowed the rest of my words and he called me again. "You said you were afraid of beings that you can''t see." "Yes, I did." "Then you''re lucky." Vampires have a physical form. The quest in the vige of Bayers within the game HSAW was a sub-quest, just like the one in the Cartel Forest. The main quest of HSAW was only to fight against Diego''s Faith and save the world. Sometimes, there were stories about Rizes Church, but most of them were also rted to Diego''s Faith. Anyway, everything else was ssified as a sub-quest. So I didn''t have to clear the quest in Bayers vige. The quest in Beon was more important, anyway. I didn''t n to do the Bayers quest either. Well, I did y it a few times in HSAW. But when I saw it in reality, my thoughts changed a bit. Especially the innkeeper''s daughter who was locked up in her room. That person, I had seen her in HSAW too.
Behind the small vige of Beon, there was a huge mountain called Beon Mountain. Its height was so high that humans could not easily measure it, and there were many dangers everywhere. Among them were monsters that often appeared, such as orcs and goblins. "Grrr---!" "Kikikik!" And now, the two races that had not invaded each other''s territory before, have collided. The orcs'' blunt and hard weapons, along with the goblins'' sharp spears swung at each other incessantly. Puck---! Green blood sttered as orcs and goblins fell to the ground. Two people were watching that scene from the cliff next to them. Purple long hair fluttered in the wind. The long-haired man sat on the edge of the cliff and yawned repeatedly. The other one stood behind him and scanned the situation with emotionless eyes. "This is boring. They''re so stupid that their fights are also crude and worthless." The long-haired man, Calid, muttered. It was then that he felt a new presence. "Lord Terdius." One of his subordinates approached Terdius, who had been watching the situation with a nk face. It was Ron, who had a stiff impression. "They''re not around here either." Terdius'' brows furrowed briefly and then rxed. "I see." Calid watched him tilt his head back. "What? They couldn''t find it again?" "Yes." "Seriously. Your subordinates are so useless, aren''t they?" Calid narrowed his eyes and jumped up from his seat. "A treasure is supposed to be hard to find, but this is too much. There''s no profit at all." Calid''s handsome face twisted. He soon passed by Terdius'' side. "I''m just going to go. Good luck, Third Lord." Calid disappeared like the wind at a fast speed. Terdius stood still in his ce. In fact, this was not something he had been ordered by anyone. He just came here because he felt like he had to for some reason. A hunch, if you will. "You guys retreat." Terdius ordered Ron to withdraw. "...Yes." Ron and his subordinates, who had been quietly following behind him, withdrew without a word. They had seen Terdius'' solo actions several times before. Terdius, who was left alone, nced down at the cliff and jumped down. A sword came out of his waist at a fast speed. At the sound, the orcs and goblins looked at Terdius with surprised eyes. But, it was already toote. The heads of the monsters flew into the air and hit the ground. Thud! Thump. Terdian didn''t even look at the corpses of the monsters and shook off the green blood on his sword. He moved his steps slowly. To find the treasure.
I was standing in the hallway. I didn''t know how long I had been there, but I was just there. A dark hallway. I was not alone there. There were ck shadows everywhere, like silhouettes. They opened their mouths at me. "Hey, you''re an orphan, right? Jeong Ji-hyun." "How dare you, you orphan bastard." The ck shadows sneered at me. "My dad said I shouldn''t y with kids who don''t have parents." "You have no mom or dad!" The people''s murmurs grew louder. And the louder they got, the smaller I became. Maybe it was because I was so small. I felt suffocated. What did I do wrong to deserve this? ''All I want is, I just...'' But I couldn''t say anything. I couldn''t make a sound even if I wanted to argue. It felt like someone was choking my neck, making it hard to breathe. I just wanted to live a normal life like everyone else. ''Why do they all ignore me and oppress me?'' Why... What did I do wrong to them?
"...Master!" I opened my eyes wide. "Master, are you okay?" Then, I saw a strange ceiling and Zain''s face looking at me with concern. "Huh, haah." I finally breathed. I gasped for air and sat up. Oh, right. This is the world inside HSAW. It''s not the world I used to live in. This is a different world that doesn''t know me. "Haa, haa..." I washed my face. Then I heard Zain''s careful voice. "You seemed to have a nightmare, so I woke you up. Are you okay?" "Ah... Thank you." I tried to smile at Zain. My expression didn''te out easily. I felt like I had been dreaming a lottely. But, the dream I had today was the worst. A dream of my previous life that I hadn''t experienced since I came to this world. -Are you alright, dear child? Your face is covered in sweat. Did you have a bad dream? ''Yes. I''m fine. Don''t worry.'' Kyros, who had finished his manifestation and returned from a puppy to a spirit form, asked me with a worried voice. I told Kyros that I was fine, too. Maybe it was because of the dream that I had. Earlier today, Zain asked me what I was afraid of. My fear, and the root of that horror. "Whew. What time is it?" "It''s two in the morning. You should go back to sleep." Should I? As I thought about it, Zain put on his robe. He looked like he was going somewhere. "What are you doing?" "Ah, well..." Jaiin scratched his head and approached me timidly. "Actually... I''m worried about the innkeeper''s daughter." "So, you''re going to free her or something?" "I just want to hear her story first. Even if she''s crazy, it''s not right to lock her up in there." I didn''t care much about it either, but it wasn''t humane to ignore it either. -That''s what I wanted to talk to you about. "Okay. Let''s go together then. I can''t sleep anyway." Zain brightened up noticeably. "Really?" I nodded and he smiled with a squeak. "I was scared to go alone. This is great." What a coward. -My kids are so nice indeed. I heard Kyros'' satisfiedughter and put on the robe that I had taken off. After putting on the hood, I followed Zain to the door. Zain stood in front of the door and carefully turned the knob. He peeked his head out into the hallway and quickly looked around before looking back at me. After confirming that I nodded, he cautiously moved his feet. As we entered the hallway, we realized that the inn was as quiet as a mouse. We were the only outsiders in this vige, so we were probably the only guests too. Squeak, squeak. As Zain and I walked carefully down the hallway, there was a noise from the floor. It felt louder than when we heard it during the day. I was thinking that when Zain''s eyes widened and he looked at me. ''What, what do you want?'' Squeak. I was just walking quietly, but the corridor was old and made noise. I shrugged my shoulders to convey that it was unavoidable. Zain red at me once. This kid. Fortunately, we reached the locked room without running into anyone. "Can you open it?" I didn''t have that skill, so I asked Zain quietly. He smiled slyly and took out something from his pocket. It was a long metal rod with irregr holes. "I can open anything with this." A master key or something. Jain answered briefly and started poking the lock with the metal rod. -It''s a crime without a doubt... But there''s a child trapped in there, so we have no choice. ''Yes. Sometimes there are crimes that can be forgiven.'' The old lock made a few nking sounds and then opened with a click. Wow, awesome. This guy has good hand skills. I was about to raise my thumb to Zain who put the lock on the floor gently when it happened. -Kid! Someone ising. Thanks to Kuros'' voice, I noticed the sound of wood creaking from the stairs. Zain also heard it and looked at me with startled eyes. ''This... We have no choice.'' I gestured to Zain with my eyes and stepped back. Then, I hid my body in a small space near the stairs. When I made a gesture to cover my mouth with my index finger, he nodded his head. Soon, I heard someone climbing thest step. One person by the sound of their footsteps. We can easily subdue them. "What are you do-" Thud! Before the man who discovered Zain could scream, I swiftly hit his neck. He lost consciousness without making a sound. I barely caught him before he hit the floor andid him down. He was the innkeeper. "Wow, Master. You can do this kind of thing as well?" Zain opened his mouth slightly in surprise. -Well done, my boy! When did you get so strong? I rubbed my hand, which felt numb from the impact, and smiled faintly. "I learned." I didn''t just get pushed around by Fanatic while doing physical training close to the limit. I also learned some simple restraint and self-defense techniques. I smiled at Zain who showed me his thumb and moved the innkeeper to the corner. Zain opened the door of the locked room. ''This trash...'' The inside was so dirty and narrow that it couldn''t be called a room, but more like a storage. In a ce full of dusty things, a child curled up and slept. It was a girl who looked like she was in herte teens. Her wrists were tied tightly with ropes. -How dare they do such horrible things to this young child! "Ha... They locked up such a young child." Kyros and Zain were furious. So was I. I already knew the situation, but seeing it in front of me made my fists clench hard. At that moment, the child''s eyelids fluttered and her eyes opened. "Wh, who are you?" Chapter 39: Chapter 39: The child who saw us was startled and tried to back away. But she couldn''t go far because of her injured leg. Jain stepped forward to approach the child. But, the child flinched. I grabbed Zain''s shoulder and shook my head. Then, I crouched down a little distance away from the child and matched her eye level. I greeted her softly. "Hello. Sorry for scaring you. I''m Rev... Leviathan. This is Zain, my servant." I introduced myself like that because I had been wearing the artifact sses ever since I left the territory. Zain pouted his lips as if he was displeased, but I ignored him. "Are you... Outsiders?" The child''s expression showed a slight decrease in wariness. I smiled and answered. "We came to this vige a few hours ago. And by chance, we heard that you were trapped here." "You want to... help me?" "Yes." The child stared at me nkly for a moment, then opened her mouth slightly. "Then please help me. Me, no, our vige..." [A subquest has urred!] [Subquest Vampire Extermination Content: You have to exterminate the vampire that rules Bayers and liberate Bayers. Goal: Exterminate the vampire ??? Reward: ??? Failure: -] [Do you ept?] [Yes/No] The quest title is the same as in HSAW. By the way, what is the reward..? In HSAW, the reward was only experience points. I did the quest a few times because the reward wasn''t bad. But this time, it wasn''t about getting a reward. I pressed [Yes] right away. If I finish this well, maybe I can turn the whole vige of Bayers into believers of Kyros. Even if the poption of this vige was small, it was more than 300 people. Even if I can only make half of them as believers, it would still be a huge profit. "Don''t worry." I spoke to the child with a business-like smile. The child nodded her head. Now that the quest was epted, it was time to do what I had to do. I winked at Zain, and he understood my intention and approached the child. He untied the rope that bound the child''s wrist. As Zain tried to help the child stand up, the child staggered. "I''m s- sorry. My leg hurts..." "It''s okay. Lean on me." Zain supported the child and moved slowly. The two left the room, and I stayed there for a while. "Hmm..." I couldn''t just leave it like that. -Hey, what are you doing alone? I opened my inventory and took out a small ss bottle. Then, I activated my ''Heal'' skill on it. A small and bright light seeped into the ss bottle. I had experimented with applying my ''Heal'' skill in various ways while using it. This was the result. White-colored potion was created in the ss bottle. Yes, ''Heal'' skill could be stored in the form of a potion. Just like how mages store their magic in scrolls. [Congrattions!] [The level of your skill ''Heal'' has increased.] Oh, did I already fill up the experience points? I didn''t use the skill much, but I guess I used it up to ten times already. [Heal (Active) LV.2 Grade: Legendary Description: The effect increases proportionally to the skill level. LV.1 Heals wounds and fatigue of living beings. LV.2 Heals the minds of living beings. LV.3 ??? (Locked) LV.4 ??? (Locked) LV.5 ??? (Locked) Experience Points: 0/20] By the way, the effect of level 2 is to heal the ''minds'' of living beings. That''s not bad. No, wait, heal minds..? This... No, I should hold back my excitement for now. Just in case. By the way, previously, the experience points needed to level up were 10, but now they are 20. ''That''s too much of an increase.'' Oh, maybe it increases by 10 each time? Hopefully, it''s not doubling every time. -Wow, you''re really good at applying your divine power! I heard Kyros'' admiration as I walked out of the room. ''Heal'' was a skill, but it was based on applying my divine power, so I tried it out just in case. I didn''t expect it to work so well, though. When I returned to the room, I saw Zain and the child sitting on each bed. I went to the tired-looking child and handed her the healing potion. "What is this?" "Drink it. You''ll feel better." The child obediently took the potion and drank it. As she did, the wounds all over her body began to heal. She noticed the change and jumped up from her seat. "Huh..? My leg doesn''t hurt. Th-thank you." The child bowed her head to me. Zain poked my side. "Master, what did you give him?" "A high-grade potion." The only potion in this world that could heal wounds was the high-grade potion made by alchemists. So I casually said that, and Zain''s eyes widened. "How much is that..?!" "Quiet. You''re making her nervous." The child started to fidget because of the money-grubber. "I''m s-sorry. I didn''t know... I''ll pay you back somehow." I shook my head. "It''s okay. You don''t have to pay me back." "But..." The child''s eyes trembled. I pretended to be nice and smiled. "I have a lot of money, so it''s okay." I was staying in this cheap inn, but it was true. Z: "I''m sorry. I was surprised by him. He''s telling the truth, so you don''t have to pay him back." "What? Yes... alright..." The child finally calmed down when I added my name. "What''s your name?" "Yuri." So her name was Yuri. I didn''t know her name until now, even though I was doing the vampire extermination quest. "Then, Yuri, why did your father lock you up?" She didn''t seem to be insane. When I asked, Yuri''s eyes became moist. "I, I am... A sacrifice." "What?" When I asked again as if I misheard, the child repeated. "I am a sacrifice." -A sacrifice? Does she mean human sacrifice? Kyros was also shocked. "That son of a b!tch." I grabbed Zain''s shoulder, who cursed in front of the child, and calmed him down. "Shh, calm down." "But, she said she''s a sacrifice." "We don''t even know what kind of sacrifice she is. Maybe it''s not really a human sacrifice..." "It is... A human sacrifice." I sighed softly. I wanted to deny it, but I couldn''t. It was an infuriating story even when I saw it in the HSAW. And now that I experienced it in reality, I was also angry. But I had to restrain myself from showing rage in front of the child. Yuri was still trembling. "Yuri. I''m sorry. You were scared, right?" "I, I''m okay." As Iforted the child, Zain let out a big sigh. "Phew, Yuri. What the hell is going on here? Just what is this vige..?" Then, Yuri spoke hesitantly. "Our vige offers a sacrifice once a year. We have to." "Who do you offer the sacrifice to? And, do you really do human sacrifice?" Yuri nodded and continued. In Bayers, they offered the most beautiful man and woman from the vige as sacrifices once a year. To their master. And this year, Yuri was chosen as one of them. Yuri''s father willingly gave his daughter as a sacrifice and locked her up in the room so she wouldn''t run away. "What kind of crazy thing is that...!" Zain eximed. "Then, does this have anything to do with the missing case 13 years ago?" Zain asked me with shaky eyes. "Probably." It all started when ''it'' settled in this vige 13 years ago. On the day of the incident, ''it'' kidnapped about twenty people in a short time to feed on human blood. But when the mass disappearance caused a stir, it gradually reduced the number. "But the sacrifice is voluntary." Zain said with a puzzled face. It started with a disappearance, but now it''s a sacrifice. "How can that be?" That''s when it happened. sh, the sky lit up. Soon after, rumble--- the thunder roared. I turned my eyes to the window and whoosh, the rain started to pour down. Bang! The door opened roughly. Six guards stormed into the inn. I, Zain, and Yuri were startled and jumped up from our seats. "What do you want from us?" Zain spat out in a defiant tone, hiding behind me. This kid, he clearly didn''t sound scared, but he put me in front of him. I sighed involuntarily. Was Zain annoyed or justzy? I was about to say something when the guard spoke harshly. "Ha! Look at these brats. Max is unconscious, and the sacrifice is missing. It''s all because of them." The man who was standing in front of the others red at us fiercely. "Master, what should we do?" Jasin asked me quietly. No matter how big the guards were, they were just ordinary people. If we wanted to, we could shake them off easily. I locked eyes with the leader of the group. He was staring at me with malice, but then, his lips curled up wickedly. "Ho ho, look at that guy. He looks better than Sebastian, don''t you think?" Then the others also chimed in. "Yeah, he does. Let''s take him as this year''s sacrifice!" The men started to approach us. -Kid! Get away from them! Kyros called me urgently. I grabbed Zain, who was about to rush at them, and whispered. "Wait. I have a n." Soon after, the men roughly grabbed my body. * * * * * Zain, Yuri, and I were dragged by the men. Our wrists were tied behind our backs with ropes. It was ufortable but bearable. Whoosh--- As we were pulled out of the inn, the rain poured over us. The flesh stung and my eyes squinted involuntarily. [Master, is this okay?] Zain''s voice came to me. [Don''t worry.] [But...] Zain couldn''t continue. "Move faster!" "Why are you so slow?" The men pushed us along with insults. We arrived at a dark alley. There was a shabby carriage parked inside. The men threw us into the cargopartment. We were pushed by their force, but we didn''t fall. "Yuri, are you okay?" The carriage started to move and Zain opened his mouth. The rain was pouring down, so his voice wouldn''t leak out of thepartment. But even when Zain called her carefully, Yuri didn''t answer. Yuri''s eyes were unfocused. "Yuri..?" Zain called her again with a surprised look, but it was the same. "Zain." "Master, Yuri''s condition is strange." "Didn''t you feel a little sting when it rained?" He looked at me with a puzzled expression. But he still answered me. "Ah... yes. It didn''t hurt, but it felt prickly. Like being stabbed by a needle." "This vige rains often. It rains every few days, so people don''t mind getting wet." "... So?" Zain''s eyes became serious. I looked at him and spoke slowly. "But the rain in Bayers also started 13 years ago." Rumble! The thunder sounded in the distance." Chapter 41: Chapter 41: [Warning! You have killed the 92nd child of Mashin, ''Shalom''.] [Mashin might notice your existence.] The system warned me, but it wasn''t a big problem. ording to the narrative of HSAW, Shalom was treated no differently than a discarded child by Mashin. It would take years for Mashin to check on Shalom, who was out of his interest. After leaving the banquet hall, I entrusted Yuri to Zain. I had to check the system windows that had piled up. The next thing that followed the system''s ''warning'' was the window that appeared as soon as I killed Shalom. [Subquest Vampire Extermination cleared!] [Subquest reward will be given.] [You have acquired ''Mission Time (Bayers)''.] I received a reward for clearing the subquest. ''Mission Time?'' It was a name I had never seen in HSAW. Even though I had acquired the reward, I had nothing in my hand, so I opened the inventory and checked. There was a new item in the shape of a white feather in the inventory. [Mission Time Grade: Legendary Item Description: For 10 minutes, the residents of Bayers will pay attention to you. The probability of those who pay attention to you bing a follower of Kyros Faith increases by 50%! (One-time item)] ''This is...!'' Unconsciously, I widened my eyes. This item had the same effect as the event that urred when I saved people from the underground prison of Rizes Church. The so-called ''Follower Generator''! I didn''t expect the reward to be this! I would have regretted it if I had ignored Bayers'' quest and moved on. Although the item itself was limited to a one-time use, it was a big deal. I was about to smile with satisfaction when Kyros'' voice came to me. ---My child, you were amazing! How did you think of such a way to defeat the monster? ''Right. That was me.'' ---Yes, yes. This is why I watch over my little bird! Honestly, it wasn''t really all that cool. I just used the trick I did in HSAW. "Master." After checking the notifications, Zain, who was supporting Yuri with one arm, called me quietly. When I turned my eyes, he pointed at something with his hand. There were six figures at the end of the castle corridor. Their faces were familiar. They looked like zombies, with their joints twisted grotesquely as they red at us. Thick saliva dripped from their open mouths, and their arms and legs were twisted. That wasn''t all. Their whole bodies were dyed blue, and their eyes were bloodshot. They looked no different from the people affected by the ''Happy'' drug that Rizes Church had poisoned their followers with before. "Those are the ones who dragged us here." "I know." They were the ones who broke into the inn and made us kneel before Shalom. I stared at them and took out the holy relic mace from my inventory. Zain was surprised when I took out something from thin air, but I ignored him. I knew very well who they were who dragged us here. They were Shalom''s closest aides. Mashin''s power seeped more easily into humans whose nature was evil. Shalom''s closest aides were the most evil among Bayers'' people. They had no conscience or remorse. That''s why they submitted deeply to Shalom and served by his side while offering their own townspeople as sacrifices, unlike other residents. ''Maybe being brainwashed also contributed to some extent... But still, they can''t be forgiven.'' They were born close to ''evil''. Even if they were left alone, they would easilymit murder or crimes that matched it. Of course, some of them had already done so. Anyway, when Shalom died, the brainwashing that had been cast on the vige was all lifted. But since they had been affected by Shalom''s power for a long time, they had absorbed his power up close, so even after Shalom disappeared, the brainwashing didn''t end. And since they had received Mashin''s power directly from Shalom, they became monsters when, Shalom, who controlled them, disappeared. ''I can''t cure them at my level yet. Purifying monsters is only possible in theter part of the story.'' In other words, they were now nothing but monsters that couldn''t be helped. "Grrr!" The humans that had be monsters roared like beasts and ran towards us. "Zain, take good care of Yuri." "Don''t worry about that and be careful yourself." His tone was blunt but his words were full of concern. It made meugh. I smiled and ran down the corridor. I swung my mace at the head of the monster that ran ahead. Puck! The mace in my hand drew a fast and sharp hit. I was able to move much lighter thanks to the cure of Maloney''s Disease and the training from Fanatic. The speed was also faster than when I faced the monsters in the crack before. Crack! The monster''s head flew off as it hit the mace. The flying corpse with twisted joints was disgusting. I felt a bit of guilt because it looked like a human just a few hours ago. But, they were no longer human. They were just evil monsters. Maybe it was because the blood they shed was a different color, or maybe it was because of the divine power that Kyros gave me; I was able to wash away the guilt faster than I thought. "Krrr!" After killing two monsters, another one ran at me with its mouth wide open, as if to bite and tear my neck. Its teeth and nails, which were so sharp that they couldn''t be seen as human, were closer to a beast''s. I dodged the two arms that flew at me by turning my body and hitting the monster''s neck from behind. Puck! Crack! The monster with a broken neck turned into dust and disappeared. ---You''re doing well, my little bird! Swing harder! As I moved my body while listening to Kyros'' enthusiastic cheering, there were only three enemies left. "Haa." My body was lighter than before, but I couldn''t help but breathe roughly. However, I couldn''t stop now. At this moment, the remaining three monsters were trying to kill me. I tried to avoid their attacks by bending my waist. Whizz~! Puck! A backup shot came. A faint but white arrow stuck in the monster''s head. I nced back and saw Zain holding Yuri with one arm and pulling the bowstring with his mouth, shooting arrows. Puck! The arrow with a faint white light killed another one of the monsters. That kid, he already knows how to use divine power? In the original work, he was indeed a promising character who was considerably significant. His speed was impressive. I smiled and killed thest monster with my mace. The blue and ck liquid shed by the monsters stained my mace. I shook it off and headed for Zain and Yuri. "Good job, Zain." "Right? I think I''m pretty cool too. I feel like I''ve gotten stronger thanks to Kyros'' power." I looked at him happily and then turned my eyes to Yuri. Yuri''s expression was not good. "Yuri, I''m sorry. You must have been scared." I asked carefully and Yuri swallowed her saliva and shook her head calmly. "I was a bit scared, but I''m fine." She''s mature. "But... You two saved me, right? And our vige too, right? Thank you." I nodded and added, "Yes. As you know, there will be no more sacrifices in this vige." * * * * * "Huh? Someone''sing out!" "What? Really?" As we approached the huge entrance of the castle, we heard voices from outside. Come to think of it, it was like this in the original work too. I pushed the entrance with my hand and went outside. For a moment, I couldn''t open my eyes because of the strong sunlight. Then, when I opened my eyes, "Yu, Yuri?!" "Those people are outsiders!" "Ho, how...?!" The vigers who had been freed from Shalom''s brainwashing were standing with their weapons in their hands, looking surprised. Their weapons were not all that impressive. Some of them had spears or swords, but many of them had household items, like knives or frying pans. They had run out to save Yuri, who was trapped in the castle after the brainwashing was lifted. "Ah, Dad?!" "Yuri!" Yuri, who was supported by Zain, found her dad and ran towards him. Yuri''s injured body had healed in the morning, and she had only passed out for a while before regaining consciousness, so she could easily hug her dad. "Dad!" "Yuri, oh, my child!" The vigers'' eyes were drawn to the two of them, and then they turned to us. "What''s going on?" "There must have been a monster in the castle..." They didn''t know what was going on and murmured. When Yuri got out of his dad''s arms, she started to exin to the vigers. "These two people defeated the monster in the castle! It''s thanks to them that we don''t hear that voice anymore!" ng, ng---! The weapons fell from the vigers'' hands as they heard Yuri''s words. "Is, is that true?" "Oh my! Finally..." Tears of joy and freedom flowed from the vigers'' eyes. "We''re free, finally!" Among the happy people, Yuri''s dad hugged his daughter and apologized endlessly. "I''m sorry, my child. I, I..." "It''s okay, Dad. It couldn''t be helped. Because of that voice..." "Sob, th- thank you. Thank you so much!" Yuri''s dad looked at us with tears and thanked us. "Thank you, thank you." "You''re our benefactors." "Hick... thank you." The vigers who realized the situation also thanked us. I looked at them and counted the number of vigers with a friendly smile. About 200 people at a nce. Surely the ''Mission Time'' I got would make Bayers'' people pay attention to me. Then, would the people who weren''t here also pay attention? As I thought so, I reached to take out ''Mission Time'' from my inventory. At that moment, a feather popped out of my inventory. Whoosh~ At the same time, a bright white light spread from the feather. It was a huge light that seemed to cover the whole vige. I didn''t miss the gap and touched the priest''s robe in my inventory that was still open. Once again, the light that dyed the world faded away. The light had all flowed into my body. And after the light disappeared, I was wearing a priest''s robe on my body. A whopping 30% increase in the chance of making someone a follower by using this robe! If HSAW''s basic probability calction system was correct, then adding 50% of the feather effect and 30% of the priest''s robe effect would make the probability of these people bing my followers 80%. I sincerely hoped it was 80% when more people came out of their houses. Maybe it was because of the item effect. They gathered in a hurry. The number was about the same as Bayers'' total poption. ''This should be considered a ready-made feast, right?'' I cleared my throat softly and straightened my back. Then, Zain tilted his head at me and whispered in surprise. "Master, what on earth did you do?" Chapter 42: Chapter 42: Zain blurted out in a hurry. "What was that light just now? And your clothes... When did you change them?" "...That''s a trade secret. But right now, it''s time for a mission." "Huh?" Zain narrowed his eyes slightly as if he didn''t understand. But when I didn''t say anything, he soon looked around and spotted something. He grabbed my arm and pulled me along. He led me to a high and t rock that could fit one person. I quickly understood what he meant and climbed up on the rock. As soon as I did, the crowd became silent and their eyes were fixed on me. This is the effect of ''Mission Time''. "You must all be surprised by what happened." "Who are you...?" The father of Yuri, who was holding his daughter tightly until a moment ago, asked me in a dazed voice. He must have been more shocked by the fact that I drove away the monster of the fortress, absorbed the white light into my body, and changed my clothes in an instant. Oh, right, I also changed my clothes during the sh of white light. I felt like I had be the protagonist of a transformation story for a moment. It was bitter, but now I had the attention of many people. I used my business smile. "I''m sorry for thete introduction. I am Leviathan, the leader of the Kyros Faith." It''s a name that I never get used to no matter how many times I say it. "Kyros Faith?" "Is there such a religion?" "There are many religions in the world, so it''s possible." The people murmured. But as soon as I opened my mouth again, they quieted down. The effect of ''Mission Time'' is really good. "We are an emerging religion with our main branch in Rovel, within Holden Territory. And... I came here after hearing from Kyros that the people of Bayers were suffering from an evil being." There''s nothing better than a hero who hears the voice of God to lure people. ---Yes, yes. It''s because I sensed the aura of the monsters! Kyros seemed happy that his name was praised and giggled. Well, this time it wasn''t Kyros who directly asked me toe here, but it''s still good. Seeing the people''s slightly agape mouths, the ''a hero who heard the voice of God'' strategy was effective, as always. "With the power that Kyros bestowed upon me, I drove away the evil monster that lived in this fortress. Unfortunately, I couldn''t save some people who worshiped the evil monster and became monsters themselves because of it." I pretended to be sad and bowed my head slightly. Then Yuri, who had been watching me quietly, shouted out loud. "It''s okay, Leader! It couldn''t be helped. Those people, no, those beings were monsters themselves! And you have not only saved me but also everyone in the vige. I''m grateful to you!" Yuri''s words, the child who came out of the fortress with us, gave a solid trust to the people. Thank you, Yuri. It was worth saving you. But I continued to act. "No, I just did what I had to do. I just came here as Kyros led me." I smiled sadly and then said strongly, "Kyros is always by your side. Even if you don''t believe in him, he watches over everyone. That''s how I was able toe here." "Then, does Kyros grant salvation even to those who don''t believe in him?" A person standing in the middle of the crowd raised his hand and shouted. I nodded my head with a kind smile. "Yes. Kyros is originally the lord of this world, who loves all living beings. He doesn''t ask for much. Just faith and prayer toward him, these two things are enough." The people gasped and praised him. It was time to nail it down. "Kyros will always be by your side and take care of you. There is no coercion or pain involved. Just faith alone." I spread my arms toward the people and showed them. "There is no restriction on believing in him. You don''t have to visit the temple, just believe in him... We can all be the children of Kyros." I raised my arms towards the sky and closed my eyes. "Kyros will always embrace us. He will take care of us and stay with us whenever we believe in him." I finished my speech and opened my eyes. At that moment, thunderous apuse erupted. "Wow!! Kyros!" "Leader! Kyros! I believe you!" "Our savior!" "Our light!" [All citizens of Bayers were moved by your words!] [All citizens of Bayers became believers of Kyros Faith!] It must be working for sure! It was an 80% chance, so it''s obvious that all these people became followers. Even my own self thought that the speech I had spoken wasn''t perfect. Rather, it wascking. But, seeing all these people moved, the probability is like an additive...! Thanks to the speech alone, everyone was moved and I was lucky to avoid doing a wink. I smiled and opened the religious status. [Total number of believers: 851] It''s a number that makes my mouth curl upward. Thest time I saw the number of believers, it was less than 500, but it jumped to 800 in one breath! I was proud. There wasn''t much left to reach 1,000. Although there was no change in the percentage of the main quest, this was something. ---Oh, my littlemb. I feel my power rising! ''This is all thanks to me. You know that, right?'' So, it would be nice if you gave me a holy relic when I''m in trouble. I swallowed the rest of my words andughed like Kyros'' child. ---Of course! It''s because of you, my first child, that I''m getting stronger day by day. Thank you, my baby. Yes, yes. Praise me more. When I felt my mouth not going down easily, I felt Zain''s gaze looking at me. He whispered to me with a smug face, "No matter how I think about it, you should be a merchant." He looked annoying as he smiled, but I let it go generously because it was a happy moment. * * * * * "Leader, do you really have to go?" "Please, stay for at least one more day. We all want to treat you better." After the mission in front of the fortress, the people of Bayers were in a festive mood. Everyone came out to the street and shared food and drinks. Zain and I also joined them for a while and ate some food. But we couldn''t waste any more time and got up from our seats. However, the people held us back. Especially Yuri and Yuri''s dad. We told them that we had a busy way to go and borrowed some horses. The people of Bayers dly gave us the best horses they had. They said we didn''t need to return them and that they had received more than what they had given us. As we were about to mount the horses, "Leader!" Yuri and her dad tried to hold us back again. Behind them, I saw the earnest faces of the people. "Master." Zain also looked sorry for them. But we had no time. "I''m sorry. I''ll visit again soon." I said to the people with a troubled expression. They looked disappointed. Yuri bowed her head slightly with tears in her eyes. "Pleasee back someday, Leader." Yuri''s dad hugged her shoulder. He also looked at us with moist eyes. "You must be busy saving people like us, right?" "Yes... That, that''s right." Actually, it was a matter of saving my own life. "Yes. I understand. Then I can''t help it. But still, someday, I really want to see you again." I nodded to him and mounted the horse. Zain followed along and got on the horse. The people who filled the street moved aside. Riding a horse among the crowd of people, I felt like I had be a real hero. A strange feeling of exhration and pressure. "Always stay healthy." As I carefully drove the horse, the people started to speak after Yuri''s dad. "Don''t get hurt!" "Thank you, Leader!" "May Kyros always be with you!" "Our light!" Listening to the people''s praises, Zain and I left Bayers. * * * * * After leaving Bayers in the daytime, we rode our horses endlessly. Before we knew it, the sun had set and the deep night set in. We still had a long way to go, but we were exhausted from the day''s umtion of fatigue, so we stopped our horses in the forest. "We have to camp out again." Zain tied the horse to a stake and sighed. "We have no choice." I replied as I fed the horses some food. Then, I felt Jain''s gaze. He looked at me persistently and when I turned my head, he stared at me with a strange look. "Howe you don''t seem to mind at all?" "What do you mean?" "Usually, nobles hate camping out like this. Well, let''s say that''s not the case, but you don''t even hesitate to eat whatmoners eat. There are many nobles who can''t eat that." I shrugged my shoulders. "I''m not a normal noble, am I?" I joked and Zain chuckled without meaning. "That''s right. You''re not a normal noble. You''re a very unusual person." He looked at me intently and moved his body to start a fire. "I don''t think it''s that much." I took off my robe andid it on the ground. I had taken off my priest''s robe right after leaving Bayers, so I just sat down casually. I took out some simple food that the believers from Bayers had given us and handed it to Zain. "You don''t know how amazing you are. You''ve been like that since I first saw you. You said you would save Rovel and bought mandrake heads, then, you actually saved them. You built a temple in ce of Rizes Church, you also have amazing things with you, pulling things out of thin air, and you easily change your clothes." When I heard that, it must have looked amazing from Zain''s perspective. "That''s why I mistook you for a mage at first." "...I see." He paused for a moment and his eyes narrowed slightly. He couldn''t continue his words easily. After licking his lips a few times, he muttered softly, "Master, you must''ve use that power." * * * 1.) The ''wink'' is another skill of Revelof to gain more believers by winking towards the target. However, it wasn''t really effective, as seen in a past chapter when he used it on Terdius Austin. Hope you enjoyed the chapter~" Chapter 43 I knew what power Zain was talking about. ''The power of healing.'' He had seen me use the ''Heal'' skill on my body in Shalom''s castle, so that''s why he said that. "Isn''t that power something you shouldn''t use carelessly? Of course, I won''t tell anyone or anything like that." In the dark forest, where there was no one to hear us, Zain lowered his voice and spoke. I nodded. He was right. Currently, only the high-ranking officials of Diego Faith could directly use the power of healing in the continent. The alchemists'' healing potions had a simr effect, but they were a skill of mixing herbs, not a real healing power. The Diego Faith knew this fact well, so they used this power to do various things. Especially, since they monopolized the power of healing. ''But, the healing power of Diego Faith is iplete either.'' The healing power of Diego Faith was not a perfect healing power. On the surface, it seemed to perfectly cure anyone, but there was a wicked god''s energy in that power. Diego Faith used this wicked god''s energy to control people. Of course, the range of control varied depending on the amount of energy embedded inside the body. In any case, Diego Faith''s officials killed or dragged all those who were born with real healing power to Diego Faith''s headquarters and absorbed the power to be their own. Half of the high-ranking officials of Diego Faith were such people. Of course, there were other healing powers besides Diego Faith''s power in the original work. However, it was only the minority and not as much as Diego Faith. Diego Faith often fought to take away the healing power from Kyros Faith. Every time it happened, Terdius would stop them. ''The problem is that we are the minority right now.'' The situation was different from the original work. I was the only one who had the healing power in Kyros Faith. Fortunately, that fact was not known externally. If it became known that I had the real healing power, Diego Faith would try to restrain, eliminate, or pull me to their side. It was a great fortune to discover that I could apply my power to potions. Although it seemed to reduce the effect a little,pared to using the healing skill directly, it would still be better than any alchemist''s healing potion. ''It''s good that I have a healing skill, but I was a little surprised at first because there was no healing skill in the original work.'' I gathered my thoughts and opened my mouth, "Don''t worry about that. I''m aware of it." "Still, don''t use it in front of people." Zain looked sincerely worried. As if to reassure him, I smiled at him and then took out a small ss bottle from my inventory. As I used the healing skill on the ss bottle, a small light entered the bottle and soon changed into a potion. "Is that what you gave Yuri?" Zain''s eyes widened. "Yeah. I found out that I could use my power like this. So I''m not going to use that power directly in front of people, but make potions like this and use them." I talked as if to tell him not to worry, then threw him a potion. He caught it with both hands and his eyes sparkled. "Keep it. You never know what might happen. It might not heal a big wound, but it''ll be useful." ording to the description of the healing skill, its effect increased proportionally to the skill level, so it would be useful for any kind of injury. Zain looked moved as if his eyes turned moist. "Master...!" Why does he look so annoying? "I''m so grateful that you made such a potion for me that is no different from an alchemist''s top-grade potion...!" He looked like he was about to rush into me right away. Somehow, I didn''t like that, so Iy down on my robe. "Don''t be shy." I closed my eyes as I heard Zain''sughter ring with his voice.
The next day. Zain and I took turns keeping watch at night. I slept well whenever I fell asleep, so I didn''t feel tired. We cleaned up the bonfire and got on our horses again. The forest continued all the way to Beon. We started moving at dawn and galloped for several hours until we reached near Beon, when the sun rose above our heads. Beon was a small vige. It had fewer buildings than Rovel and fewer people. Zain and I didn''t bother to stop by and headed straight for Beon Mountain through a nearby roadside. It would have been nice to stop by the vige and do some missionary work, but we didn''t have time for that right now. It would be better to finish our business at Beon Mountain as soon as possible. The huge mountain behind Beon was so high that it couldn''t be seen at a nce. It was one of the most rugged mountains in the Empire, with its height and slope. "Wow, how are we going to climb this?" Zain asked with a nervous face as we arrived at the foot of the mountain. "We have to climb it somehow." He pouted his lips as if he didn''t like my answer and tied his horse to a stake. While he was doing that, I looked around for a long and sturdy wooden stick. Fortunately, I found two that I could carry. ''These should be useful.'' I handed one of the sticks to Zain. "It''ll be easier if you have this." He sighed deeply as he took the stick from me. I fastened my robe tightly and took off my hood. Then, I started climbing. Zain followed me up to the mountain. Beon Mountain had no trails for climbers because there were hardly any people who climbed it. The only ce where I stepped on was a path where there were some footprints. But it was only a path with some footprints, not a well-maintained one. There were rocks and trees in the way, making it ufortable. ''I miss the hiking I did in my previous life.'' I clenched the wooden stick in my hand and shut my mouth as I climbed the mountain. About an hour after we started climbing, "Huh, huff." A non-human-like breathing sound came from Zain who was walking behind me. "Haa, haah." At least my breathing was closer to a human''s breathing. ---My first child, are you okay? ''No. I feel like I''m going to die.'' I answered honestly to Kyros'' question that held worries. Kyros had been watching me ever since I came to this world. Now that he had one more believer, he also watched over the temple and Bayers vige. So sometimes, his voice didn''t reach me. It had been a few hours since Kyros spoke to me. Well, if I called him in my mind, he would answer right away, but I rarely did that. ---You seemed to have trained a lot when you were at home, but you still look tired. ''Yes. You would know why it''s hard if you tried walking yourself. Do you want to try?'' The slope of Beon Mountain became steeper as we climbed, so we had to move almost on all fours. Because of that, I felt exhausted quickly even though we didn''t walk much. ---Hmm, I don''t want to do that. Ugh, how annoying. I was about to snap at Kyros when I smelled something bad. It was simr to the smell of rotting. Zain, who was walking next to me, must have felt it too, as our eyes met. We quickly moved without saying anything. The slope ended and a sheer cliff came into view. Below it, there was a road connected to the one we had walked on. A t road without a slope. There were orc and goblin corpses on it. The corpses were infested with bugs and crows, and they were clearly decayed. "Ugh." Zain saw the scene and gagged. He had no problem collecting fangs from dark wolf corpses before, but he seemed to have no immunity to rotten monster corpses and their stench. Of course, I was in a simr situation. The smell was so bad that I had to cover my nose with my hand. Fortunately, the road was t, so walking was easier, but I couldn''t help frowning. The state of the corpses... It''s strange. The orcs and goblins had their other parts intact, but only their heads were cut off. "I knew that orcs and goblins were fighting here, but they wouldn''t fight so neatly." Zain wiped his mouth and came next to me. He was obviously feeling sick. I kept some distance from him and answered. "Yeah. Judging by the clean cuts, it''s not the crude weapons they use, but someone who sliced them with a sword in one stroke." Because I was still covering my nose, I sounded nasal. Then, Zain followed suit. "It seems like someone with considerable skill. Could it be as I suspected..." Maybe it was really the apostle of Diego Faith who was here. I furrowed my brows. I didn''t understand it when Zain first reported it to me, and I still don''t understand it now. There was no sign of Diego Faith''s apostle in Beon Mountain in the original work. ...Could this be a hidden route like in Cartel Forest? Damn. I bit my lip.
It wasn''t certain that the apostle of Diego Faith was around here. But the skill of cutting the monsters was wless. That meant that even if it wasn''t Diego Faith''s apostle, it was someone with great skill. There were also some skilled people who came here for the rumor of the treasure in Beon Mountain. But they couldn''t find the treasure. "Ugh." Zain and I passed by the monster corpses and continued walking. The monster corpses were not only on that road but everywhere, so we couldn''t take our hands off our noses. After walking for a while, a forked path appeared in front of us. Both roads were covered with dense trees, but there was a difference. The slope. The right road was t without a slope, and the left road had a steep slope. It was as steep as before we entered the t road. Zain looked at me and subtly said, "It would be better to go this way, right?" He just wanted to go to the t road. I shook my head at him. "We''re going this way." "No, why?! Why do we have to go the hard way when we have a t road?!" Zain whined loudly. I ignored him and passed by him. "Stop talking and follow me." Zain, realizing that it was useless, shut his mouth and followed me. While climbing the slope, we were lucky enough to be able to take our hands off our noses. There seemed to be no monsters around here. That was a relief. ---But, my little bird, do you know what the treasure is here? Kyros'' voice came as I walked for a long time while trying to control my rough breathing. He might have felt awkward because he was quiet or he was really curious. But, I couldn''t tell him what the treasure was. ''I don''t know.'' Actually, I do know. It''s something I really need right now. To prepare for the incident that will happen in the continent in a few months, and to survive after that. But it doesn''t make sense for Revelof, who has only lived in his territory until now, to know what the inside of a treasure that even Kyros doesn''t know. ''Usually, you have to ovee hardships to find treasures like this. So maybe... there''s something amazing here.'' When I yed HSAW, I always visited Beon Mountain. At first, I didn''t even know there was a quest in Beon Mountain, but I found out about it as I explored various routes. There was a hidden quest in Beon Mountain. Chapter 44 In the original game, the only mention of Beon Mountain was a brief conversation among the vigers, who said that goblins and orcs were fighting over a treasure there. I had seen that dialogue several times while ying the game, but I never bothered to go to Beon Mountain because it was not on the main quest route. But one time, when I was exploring a different route, I stopped by Beon Mountain and found a ''hidden quest'' there. It was difficult, but the reward was worthy of a hidden quest. So after that, I always cleared the hidden quest at Beon Mountain. ---Then, let me help you. As we were walking, Kyros seemed to have finished his thoughts and suddenly appeared. Zain''s eyes widened when he saw the small gray puppy. "Ky, Kyros?" "Ahem, yes. It''s me." Kyros looked more confident every time he appeared. He was so cute. "What are you doing here?" "I came here to help mymbs find the treasure. I can smell it." He sniffed around diligently, trying to catch the scent. "Hmm, there''s something strange about this mountain." He stood still for a while, sniffing the air. "What? What is it?" I asked innocently, pretending not to know anything. "It seems like there''s a very old and murky energy here." That''s right. He nailed it. "Really? Maybe there''s a treasure there." When I acted clueless, Kyros led us to follow him. Zain and I ran after him up the slope. "It''s this way." It was exhausting, but when I saw where Kyros stopped, I smiled faintly. He had found the destination. "This is... a waterfall." Zain muttered as he looked at where Kyros stopped. Swoosh--- A huge waterfall poured down with cool water. Jain marveled at the sight that appeared after climbing up high. "Wow, it''s beautiful." There was even a rainbow created by the giant water stream. It was truly a perfect and beautiful ce. "This is amazing. I didn''t expect such a ce in this rugged mountain." Kyros also admired it. "And I can feel a strong energy behind that waterfall." Yes. Kyros was right. I looked at the waterfall for a moment and then looked around. The waterfall was below the path we came from. We had to go down about 10 meters to get near the waterfall. The waterfall in the middle of the mountain was like a synthetic scene. It was so amazing. "But if it''s behind the waterfall... Do you know exactly where it is?" "I can only smell the energy, but not the exact location... I''m sorry, I''m useless." "That''s not what I meant." Kyros looked gloomy again. I already knew where it was behind the waterfall. I had cleared this hidden quest almost dozens of times. How could I not know? "Then let''s find out ourselves. The path..." I pretended not to know and looked around for a way down. It was more like a cliff than a path, but there was a small space where we could step on. "Master? Are you going down there?" As I carefully stepped down, Zain ran up to me with a surprised look. "We have to. Kyros has kindly found us the way. We don''t know the exact location yet, so let''s look from below." "Ah, haa... Yes, yes. Okay." He sighed as if he didn''t want to go down the rough path. I lowered my posture and grabbed the wall with my hands and stretched my feet down. Slowly, I descended on the small rock wall. "Be careful!" As soon as I started going down, Kyros jumped down to the ground and shouted with a worried voice. I almost fell several times, but thanks to my hard work, I managed to arrive safely. "Hoo." "My heart almost dropped!" "It''s okay, we made it." I smiled at Kyros and looked around. There was a rocky floor like a valley in front of the waterfall, so there was no danger after that. "Uh, agh!" As I dusted off my hands, I heard Zain scream. He was halfway down when Ist saw him, but he must have fallen to the ground. "Are you okay?" I went over to him and saw him struggling to get up from the ground. I reached out my hand and helped him up. "Geez, that scared me to death." "Are you hurt anywhere?" Zain breathed heavily and checked his body. He didn''t seem to have any serious injuries, but he frowned as he twisted his ankle. "My ankle hurts a little bit, but it''s okay." Why are your eyes moist then? I stared at him for a moment and opened my inventory. This morning, before getting on the horse, I made a few more healing potions and took one out for Zain. "Master...!" Zain''s eyes sparkled. "Drink it. Don''t save it forter, drink it right now." "Ah, but it''s too precious to drink for this minor injury." He looked at the potion with care, but when I red at him silently, he finally opened the cap and drank it. "Wow. The effect is really good." His leg movement changed as soon as he drank the potion. Just like he said, It seemed that his injury was not serious. But I couldn''t leave my ve in pain. "Thank you." He nodded his head at me, and while I was looking at him, Kyros had disappeared. ---My boy. ''Kyros? When did youe back?'' ---I thought this form would be easier to watch over mymbs. But, there''s something you need to know. ''What is it?'' ---You''re going to go behind that waterfall, right? Then, you need to prepare some antidotes. When I smelled it earlier, there were many kinds of poisons. ''Ah, yes. I got it.'' It was a tempting offer, but I wanted to save Kyros'' power forter and get a bigger favor. I already had a solution anyway. ''It''s okay. I can handle it.'' By the way, Kyros is really like a puppy. I opened my inventory right away. "Master, what are you doing? Why are youying those things out?" I settled near a t rock andid out various herbs that I took out of my inventory. Zain looked at them with curiosity. "I need to prepare something." "Prepare something?" I nodded briefly and moved my hands quickly. I crushed some herbs, including the mandrake head that I had used before, and extracted their juice. Then, I took out 5 empty ss bottles that I always carried with me and filled them with different proportions of the herb juice. Finally, I added the ''sheep''s milk'' that I had prepared beforehand and it was done. I gave one of them to Zain. "What is this...?" Instead of exining, I grabbed a bottle and drank the liquid. Wow, I feel like throwing up. It was hard to describe how bitter it was. It was hard to swallow, but I managed to do it. It wasn''t for the taste anyway. [You have consumed the Universal Antidote.] [You are immune to all poisons for one hour.] A universal antidote made with a recipe that can only be found in thetter half of the HSAW. Although it onlysts for an hour, that''s enough time for this matter. "Ugh! Why does it taste like this?" Zain, who had followed me and drank the antidote, grimaced and asked me usingly. "What do you expect? I put all kinds of herbs in it." "Ugh." Zain frowned and red at the empty ss bottle. "By the way, Master, what is this?" "It''s a universal antidote." "Huh? There''s such an antidote?" Even Zain couldn''t know about this. It was something I learned from a hidden path in thetter part of the HSAW. "I saw some herbs that you used that are not for antidotes." "Don''t worry, it''s effective. And, don''t go around bbing about the recipe. It''s a secret, you know?" "Of course, I know! Don''t worry! I value my life too!" "That''s good then." I left behind the exhrating Zain and put the remaining herbs and universal antidotes into my inventory. Then I cleaned up the ce. There were three antidotes left. I prepared them generously in case of any unexpected situations. "But, why do we need antidotes all of a sudden? Did we get poisoned without me knowing?" "Not yet. But we will soon." "Huh?" "Kyros told me. Come on, follow me." I gestured to Zain and headed towards the waterfall. We passed through a path full of rocks and stones, and arrived near the waterfall. The cool spray of water sshed on us. I stepped on a few rocks that were floating on the water and crossed over to the front of the waterfall. My robe was damp, but I didn''t care. "Master, you''re not going in there, are you?" As I stood in front of the center of the waterfall, Zain asked me in a surprised tone. "Why not? It''s the only visible way, so you better follow me well." I didn''t hesitate and jumped into the waterfall. Ssh! I safelynded in a space behind the waterfall. I was soaked, but it couldn''t be helped. Behind the giant waterfall, there was a cave that was wide enough for three people of immense height to enter. "Ah!" Zain arrived after me. He also looked like a wet rat. "Ugh, I''m soaked." I wanted to dry my clothes before going in, but I didn''t have much time. The effect of the universal antidote was still decreasing as time passed by. "By the way, how is there a cave here? It''s all thanks to Kyros that we know." "Yeah, really. Kyros led us here, so it must be certain." ---Hehe, yes. It''s all thanks to me! Actually, I was worried about what excuse to use for knowing this ce, but thanks to Kyros, I ''identally'' came in. I was relieved. I smiled slyly and looked at the message that appeared before my eyes. [You have discovered the hidden dungeon ''Zine''s Lair''!] [A hidden quest ''Zine Extermination'' has urred!] While there are not many of them, dungeons do exist in HSAW. This ce is one of those dungeons that were shrouded in mystery, a hidden dungeon. When I yed HSAW for the first time, I couldn''t find this ce easily either. I found it by chance when I was running away from orcs and goblins. [Hidden quest urred!] [Hidden quest Content: In the cave lives Zine, who has been alive for a long time. Zine has many poisons, and its power is gradually increasing. It might soon poison the entirety of Beon Mountain! Goal: Exterminate Zine Sess: ??? Failure: -] [Do you ept?] [Yes/No] I immediately pressed yes. When I first found a hidden quest in HSAW, I was so excited that I went in without any preparation and died several times. And now, I''m fully prepared. "Let''s go, Zain." I entered the cave with Zain. The inside was not very big, but it was enough to walk around. However, it was too dark. I took out antern from my inventory. Then, a hand suddenly popped out from beside me and snatched thentern away. Zain held thentern and stared ahead. A well-trained servant indeed. A satisfied smile formed on my face. "Is there really treasure in here?" "We can only hope so." We walked while chatting asionally, and at some point, purple mist covered our surroundings. This was Zine''s poison that had been spewed out for a long time. Zine''s poison was so powerful that it was no exaggeration to say that it contained all the poisons in the world. So anyone who breathed in this mist for a moment would lose their life. "Ugh!" Zain seemed surprised and quickly held his breath. This kind of poison would actually melt the skin from the outside and kill any living being. Not us, though. "It''s okay, Zain. This is why I made the antidote in advance." "Oh, right. You did." Zain finally lowered his hand that was covering his nose and mouth, and breathedfortably. "But, Master. This amount of poison... We should have been like them too. What kind of antidote did you give me?" Zain pointed to the skeletons that were rolling on the cave floor. Anyone who came in here without any preparation would melt to their bones too. Of course, it would take some time to melt the bones. Anyway, the fact that there were skeletons in this cave meant that they hadn''t been here for long. ''Maybe they heard about the treasure and came here.'' They were lucky enough to get in here, though. Even if they drank from the poisoned chalice. "Well, it''s a pretty good antidote." "But with your skills, you could be one of the best alchemists on the continent." "Wait." I gestured to Zain to be quiet. In the silence that followed, I heard someone breathing heavily. The breathing was short and rough. I followed the sound with Zain. A few meters away, there was a person sitting leaning against the wall. ''...He''s still alive?'' It was impossible for a normal person. What happened? My body moved before I could think. Zain followed along. Then, a man in a ck robe appeared. No... Why is he here? The man, whose face was ckened by Zine''s poison, was breathing hard with his eyes closed. He was Terdius. Chapter 45 Of course, there were people who found the cave behind the waterfall. It was the same in HSAW. However, the fact that this ce existed was not widely known, because everyone who entered the cave died. But, Terdius was alive. Although he was unconscious. ---This kid, he''s the snake''s child that I sawst time. ''That''s right.'' ---The deadly poison that fills this cave makes it hard to survive for humans... But he seems to have some immunity to a few poisons because he''s a snake''s child. Although, it won''t be long for him. Kyros was right. If he was an apostle of Diego Faith, he would have immunity to several poisons. That''s why he was still holding on, but his breath would soon disappear. But how did he get in here? Well, I have to ask him when he''s awake. I had no choice but to take out one of the spare antidotes from my inventory.
Beon Mountain, where Khalid and his men left. Terdius searched the mountain alone. He didn''t care about the time, and he wanted to solve the mystery of why he came here. He killed every monster that caught his eye as he moved. Then, he found some treasure hunters who came here after hearing rumors of a ''treasure'' in this ce. Most of them were from the north. Their number was less than ten, but it quickly decreased. The treasure hunters were blinded by greed and lost their lives fighting each other or fighting monsters. When themotion subsided, only three of them survived. Terdius watched them. He wondered if they would find something. Then, by chance, the treasure hunters discovered a space hidden behind the waterfall. He immediately followed them. A cave big enough for people to pass through. Inside, a poisonous mist was flowing out. And when Terdian chased after them... The treasure hunters were all dead from the poison. "Those who don''t know how precious life is because of money..." Terdius looked at their corpses with contempt for a moment and then went inside. He could feel it clearly as he entered, there was something powerful and amazing in their. Although there was enough poison to kill people easily, he thought he would be fine because he was an apostle of Diego Faith, and had immunity to some poisons. But as he went deeper inside, his body became harder to move. He didn''t realize that there was an unknown poison mixed in the air. "Cough!" When Terdius realized it, it was toote. He grabbed his throat and fell to the floor. He couldn''t even open his mouth to scream in pain. It was hard to breathe, his throat burned, and he felt his organs twisting. Terdius endured the agony with difficulty and slowly closed his eyes which were blurred by vision. ''Am I going to die like this because of these poisons? Will I never see Ivan again...?'' He lost consciousness in an instant. When he was only feeling pain in the endless darkness, some liquid flowed into his mouth. "Will it work if you give it to him when he''s half-dead?" "Maybe." He swallowed the liquid unknowingly and heard a familiar voice in his ear. Gradually, his consciousness became clearer from the darkness. "Huh? His eyes moved just now. It seems to work?" "That''s right." When he barely lifted his eyelids which felt like they weighed a ton, Terdius found Leviathan squatting in front of him.
When I gave him the antidote diligently, Terdius finally opened his eyes. I smiled as I saw his eyes focus slowly. ''The universal antidote'' is the best in this world. It could save him even in such a poisoned state. Of course, since Terdius didn''t drink the antidote before entering like me and Zain, he had to recover his damaged organs, so it would take some time for him to return to normal. The antidote only detoxifies the poison, not heals it. But I couldn''t use healing potions recklessly either. ''I only have about three healing potions left that I made. I don''t have much spare energy either, and I don''t have any obligation to take care of him... He''s strong enough to recover on his own by the time the antidote wears off.'' By the way, why is he here? It turned out that Zain was right about an apostle of Diego Faith being on Beon Mountain. But, I didn''t expect Terdius to be here, let alone in this hidden dungeon. I looked at Terdius nkly and then turned my gaze to Zain. He seemed to not know that Terdius was an apostle of Diego Faith. Zain hated Diego Faith so much that he despised it. So, there was no good reason to tell him Terdius'' identity right now. Anyway, Terdius was wearing a ck robe, and since the emblem of Diego Faith was not visible inside, he seemed to be wearing casual clothes instead of apostle clothes. That''s good. But, what if Terdius pretends to know me? "You are... Leviathan?" Terdius stared at me with his eyes open and called me. "Long time no see?" I reached out to him with a business-like smile. He grabbed my hand and got up. He seemed to be wobbly, probably because he was still not in good shape. Terdius staggered and leaned against the wall. Then, Zain came to my side and whispered, "Did you know him?" "Well, a little bit?" I knew him very well, but I didn''t bother to exin. "Thank you." Terdius, who was breathing heavily and leaning against the wall, spoke to me in a small voice that barely reached my ears. "It''s okay. I didn''t treat you to get a thank you. But, why are you here?" "..." Terdius didn''t answer even though it was a question from the one who saved his life. What a rude guy. "What about you? Why are you here?" He didn''t answer but asked me instead. What a cheeky guy. "Just because." You didn''t answer either, so why should I? Then, there was silence in the cave. I didn''t care, but Zain didn''t seem to like it. He looked between me and Terdius and cleared his throat. He reached out to Terdius. "I''m Zain." Zain also smiled like me and asked Terdius for a handshake. But Terdius turned his head away and ignored him. Zain''s eyebrows twitched. ---You, you snake bastard! How dare you ignore my child''s greeting! Kyros was also angry at Terdius'' rude attitude. "Don''t mind him. He''s always like that." I whispered softly to Zain. His expression rxed slightly. We couldn''t stay here forever, so I slowly moved my feet. Zain immediately followed me. But... ''Why is he following me?'' Before I knew it, Zain was on my right side, and Terdius was on my left. They were walking side by side with me. What did they want? "Why are you following me?" I asked Terdius, who looked at me impassively without any expression. "My destination is inside here." So he came here to look for the treasure too. Diego Faith in the original novel didn''t care about the treasure. It must be because of the damn hidden route. "Wow. You must have a very important mission. You''re going there right after you regained consciousness from almost dying. And you don''t even know what''s in there, especially when the poison mist is getting thicker." "...What about you? Aren''t you going to a ce where you don''t know what''s in there? Or... do you know what''s inside here?" "Well, isn''t that none of your business?" He had already promised not to kill me. So I answered him casually, feeling somewhat defiant. Then, I felt a sharp gaze from the side. It was Zain. "What?" "Why do you seem so friendly with him?" Zain whispered to me, sticking close to me. I shook my head. "Not at all. We''re not friends at all." "But he doesn''t talk to you politely." "He''s just a rude writer." "But hey, everyone respects you when they know you''re the leader of the Kyros Faith." "He knows that, too." "Really?" I nodded, and Zain tilted his head and muttered to himself, ''What kind of rtionship is that?'' I wondered how Zain felt that Terdius and I were close. I didn''t understand it either. "...Leviathan." As I red at Zain, I heard Terdius'' soft voice. I turned my head to him, and he raised one eyebrow. What? "Am I rude?" Oh no, did he hear everything I said? I was a bit flustered. It sounded like I insulted him openly. But he had promised not to kill me, so... "A little bit." I answered honestly. He was not in good shape anyway. Maybe I could fend him off if he attacked? "...I see." Fortunately, Terdius seemed to ept it humbly. Phew. I almost got hurt somewhere. Come to think of it, he only swore not to kill me, but not to hurt me. That means he could injure me as long as he didn''t kill me... No. I should be careful with my words. He looked calm now, but he might change his mind since he joined Diego Faith, unlike in the original novel. I should be cautious. By the way, I couldn''t believe I had such thoughts about him. In the original novel, Terdius was like a bright sunshine. As I continued walking with these thoughts in mind, "Haah." I felt Terdius'' breathing getting rougher next to me. He must be recovering from the poison slowly, but his body was not fully healed yet. And he was still inhaling the poison mist constantly. "Lean on me." I had no choice but to support Terdius, so I approached him. But, he stepped back. "I''m fine." He said that, but I could clearly see him limping on one leg. "If you don''t want to fall, lean on me." I grabbed his arm and pulled him closer. He reluctantly leaned on me with his sturdy body that was a head taller than mine. But, why was he so heavy? I offered to support him, so I couldn''t let go of him now. But my pace slowed down too. ...Damn. I couldn''t say that I couldn''t support him anymore. That''s when it happened. "Hah." Terdius let out a sigh mixed with annoyance and then his weight became lighter. He must have noticed that I was also struggling. It wasn''t because I was weak. Well, maybe a little bit. But it was mostly because his body was like an iron. Anyway, I stopped supporting him and opened my inventory to get my mace out. Ssssh--- The scorpion started crawling quickly towards us. "Eek!" Zain let out a terrified scream at the same time. Between the light of the torches, something appeared in front of us. It was a red scorpion as big as a person. "What are you so scared of?" "No, no. It''s a bug. A giant bug! I hate bugs." "Oh, okay." I wasn''t surprised because I knew this ce was a scorpion cave, but if I didn''t have any information like Zain, I might have been scared too. Anyway, I took out my mace and got ready to fight. Chapter 46 Swoosh- Thud! But before I could react, Zain shot an arrow. Fear really made people move faster. And he must have put a lot of power into the arrow, because I could clearly see the object flying through the air. ''When did he get so strong?'' I wasn''t sure if he had actually be stronger, or if he had just learned to use his power more skillfully. Either way, the arrow pierced through the head of the creature, and it melted away with a hiss, spilling green liquid. "Ugh, disgusting." Zain looked at the creature he had caught and shuddered. He was more afraid of it than I was. I stared at him for a moment, then reached out to help Terdius. But Terdius'' eyes had changed. He was staring nkly at Jain. What''s wrong with him? "That power." As I was puzzled by Terdius'' gaze, he opened his mouth. "Is that the power of Kyros?" Then his eyes shifted from Zain to me. I nodded and answered. "Yes. That''s right." Terdius'' eyebrows furrowed. Why is he acting like that? "Are you hurt?" I asked him, wondering if he was out of his mind. He didn''t answer. His eyes looked confused. Was it because of the poison? ''I don''t want to waste it on him... but I have no choice.'' I opened my inventory and took out one of the few healing potions I had left. "Drink this. It will make you feel better." My healing skill had improved as I leveled up, and I could even heal the mind, so I hoped it would help him recover. Zain looked at me enviously. "What is this?" "...Um, think of it as tea." I didn''t want to tell him the truth, so I answered vaguely. Terdius took the potion from me and stared at it for a while before gulping it down. This should be fine. That''s what I thought. "Gah!" Terdius grabbed his head and groaned in pain. "Terdius?" What the hell is going on? I was startled and approached him. He only moaned. "Ugh!" He didn''t vomit blood or anything, but he looked like he was suffering from a headache. "No, Master? Did you just try to kill him?" Zain asked me with a shocked look. "No, that''s not it." I held Terdius'' shoulder. But his huge body slumped down. He had lost consciousness. What the hell? "He''s still alive, fortunately." Zain muttered as he put his finger under Terdius''s nose. That''s a relief. A relief, but what the hell? I couldn''t understand it no matter how hard I thought. I had given him a healing potion. Even if Terdius had the power of Diego, ''healing'' wouldn''t harm him. Even if it was an opposing power. I was sure I gave him a proper healing potion. Why did I feel like I had just attempted to assassinate him, as Zain said? ---My child, it''s not your fault. Why did Kyros say that? ---The healing power you have now is not strong enough to hurt him. Oh. So if my power bes stronger, I might be able to hurt him. ...No, there was no such setting in the original work. Was this because of the hidden route? ''Kyros sir. Then you mean, it''s not my fault anyway?'' ---Yes. I don''t know why either, but it''s not your fault. Basically, ''healing'' is a power that epasses all living things. No matter if they are snakes, children, or monsters. Of course, if your power bes stronger, you can use it for attacking as well... nut not now. So it was the same as the knowledge of Woosebeop that I knew, except that the healing skill that was originally used only for ''healing'' could be used like other offensive divine skills if enhanced. "What are you going to do? Are you going to leave him here?" As I sighed in relief that it wasn''t my fault, Zain asked me. "I can''t do that. There are monsters here." Well, Terdius wouldn''t die even if I left him here. But I felt like I had tried to kill him, so I decided to take him with me. I nodded at Zain. I couldn''t carry Terdius by myself since he was unconscious. Zain sighed deeply and came over. Zain and I each hooked one of Terdius'' arms over our shoulders and dragged him along. We had to hurry since we didn''t have much time left for the antidote. ''I don''t know why Terdius copsed, but we have a long way to go.'' Zain and I silently entered the cave. We had nothing to say because of Terdius'' weight. How long did we walk? Rustle- Rustle rustle rustle- At some point, we were surrounded by creatures the size of humans that appeared from all sides. There were about ten of them. "Ugh. I hate this." Zain closed his eyes tightly, as if he couldn''t stand to look at them. I agreed with him. ---You can''t bear to look at them. Kyros seemed disgusted too. I handed Terdius over to Zain. "Close your eyes." Zain didn''t want to see them either, so I had to move. After hearing his small reply, I took out my divine weapon club. The reason why this hidden dungeon was so difficult was because of the poison. The only thing that could withstand the poison of the creatures was the ''Universal Antidote'' that I had made. This creature cave was a hidden dungeon that appeared in the early and mid-game, but the universal antidote that was needed was only avable in thete game after getting the recipe. So this hidden dungeon was a ce that only those who had yed the game several times could clear. I wondered how many people had cleared this damn game besides me. Anyway, the point was, the monsters in front of me were useless without poison... They were very easy. I started swinging my club at the creatures.
As I walked and killed the creatures every time I met them, I soon had only about ten minutes left for the antidote effect. Fortunately, we arrived at the boss room in time. The cave itself was not veryplicated, so we could reach the boss room if we followed the path. The boss room of the creature cave was a huge hollow. Inside, there was a giant creature curled up like a snake, sleeping. ---Judging by the energy I felt, that creature must have been the source of the thick and powerful aura I sensed. ''Yes. It seems so.'' We dragged Terdius into the hollow, moving as quietly as possible. Zain especially covered his mouth with his hand, as if he was afraid of screaming. His eyes were wide with fear. It was understandable. The creatures we had seen so far were nothingpared to this one. The boss monster, a giant creature, was impressive in size. Even though it was coiled up, it was still three times bigger than us. ''I didn''t realize it in the game, but in reality... it''s like a thousand-year-old creature.'' I turned my gaze away from the creature and saw Zain''s pupils shaking like an earthquake. His eyes seemed to say, ''How about we run away before it wakes up?'' I shook my head and gestured with my hand. ''We''ll get a treasure if we kill it.'' ''Ugh, I really don''t want to.'' ''Then you wait behind while I do it.'' After a brief conversation, Zain nodded. When the negotiation was over, he dragged the unconscious Terdius back. When they were far enough away, a shadow fell over my head. I quickly turned around and saw the giant creature looking down at me. ''...Wow.'' I couldn''t help but open my mouth wide. It had only lifted half of its body, but it looked more than ten meters tall. Could I handle it...? ---Hang in there, my child! I couldn''t back down now. With Kyros'' fervent encouragement, I summoned my divine weapon club. At that moment, Hweeek-! The creature''s tail moved with a sound that cut through the wind. I shivered at the sight of its many legs wriggling. And at the end of its tail, there was a sharp sting like a scorpion''s, which I had to be especially careful of. The creature''s tail tip spewed out deadly poison. The reason why I had to be careful even though I had taken the universal antidote was, Chieek- The poison flowing from its tail was acidic enough to melt the ground. No matter how much the antidote neutralized the poison, human skin would melt under such strong acidity. The acid that reminded me of hydrochloric acid had to be avoided at all costs. ---My child! I barely dodged the poison and rolled on the ground. I grabbed my club and quickly got up. "Haa." That was close. But I could handle this speed. Hweeek-! The tail flew at me again with greater speed. It seemed to have figured out my move. But... Pereok-! I was faster. I swung my divine weapon club at the creature''s head without hesitation. Kieek! The giant creature screamed and spewed out poison from its tail with a thud. That wasn''t all. The giant creature''s body shook violently. ''Damn it! I''ll get hit by the poison at this rate!'' I threw myself to the ground to avoid the poison. Unfortunately, the creature shook its body at that moment and I couldn''t control my direction. Kudangtang! I felt a strong shock throughout my body and the floor shook. I had hit the wall. ---My child! Are you okay?! Thankfully, I didn''t lose consciousness because I covered my head as I fell. My body hurt, but nothing was broken. It was lucky that I learned how to fall properly from Fanatic. I used my healing skill on myself and got up. Koong-! A loud noise came from somewhere. The creature that had been spraying poison everywhere finally fell to the ground. "Haa, haa..." I was exhausted. I got up from the rubble of the copsed wall and saw Jain running towards me with a worried look. "Master! Are you okay?" I saw Terdius lying on the ground as Zain ran towards me. Luckily, he didn''t fall on top of the poison. "Yeah. I''m fine." This was easy for a hidden dungeon, so I only got hurt when I fell. And even that was healed by my healing skill. [Hidden Quest Cleared!] [Hidden Quest Reward will be given.] The notification popped up when the creature waspletely dead. Right after that, Koogung-! The ground shook once more. A small space appeared on the wall behind the creature. That was the reward for the hidden quest. Chapter 48 I left the hidden dungeon with Zain and immediately descended the mountain. After that, we rode horses for several days. We took breaks in between and finally returned to Holden territory. It was alreadyte at night when we arrived at Lober. "You''ve worked hard, Zain." "Ha. Yes. I would appreciate it if you let me rest for a few days." I said goodbye to Zain in the back alley and returned to the temple. Since it waste, there were hardly any believers in the temple. As I headed to the leader''s office, avoiding the few believers'' eyes, the children ran up to me. "Leader! You''re back!" "Lea, Leader. You''ve worked hard." "...Wee back." As I received the children''s wee, I sat down on the sofa as if copsing. At the same time, a white light appeared and Kyros materialized as a puppy. "You''ve worked hard, my child." The puppy Kyros, floating in the air, tapped my forehead with his small paw. "What are you talking about?" I felt healed by his small gesture. "I''ve sorted out the gold coins and jewels from before in the warehouse!" "Good job, Alphi. Chester and Sasha too. Oh. Nothing happened while I was gone, right?" "Yes, yes! Don''t worry." "..." "Well, that''s good." I stroked each of the children''s heads once and then entered the bedroom. I wanted to spend more time with the children, but I was too exhausted. My body was sore from riding a horse for a long time. Even though I healed myself with divine power from time to time, I still had muscle pain. ''I might have died if I hadn''t healed.'' That was myst memory. When I opened my eyes again, warm sunlight wasing in through the window. ''Wow, I must have passed out.'' But I felt better after sleeping. I still had some mild muscle pain, but I was going to rest for a while anyway. I got upzily and went to the leader''s office. The children had already left, and there was a simple meal on the table. [Enjoy your meal! Leader! -Chester] Ever since I stayed at the temple, the children took turns preparing meals for me. Today''s duty was Chester''s. I devoured Chester''s toast and fruit juice in no time and satfortably on the sofa. Then I told the children not toe to the leader''s office for a while and opened my inventory. ''It''s time to absorb the core.'' Kyros'' voice didn''t reach me, so he must have been ying with the children since yesterday. That was better. I took out the thousand-year-old core of the giant worm. Seeing the core that filled my hand, a smile came to my face. ''But I can''t eat it right away.'' I put down the core on the table and scanned my inventory again. The thousand-year-old core of the giant worm was not something that could be absorbed right away. It was big in size and basically inside a giant worm, so eating it without any preparation could kill me. It was no different from being soaked in all kinds of poison that the giant worm spewed out. ''First of all...'' I took out one of the few Universal Antidotes left. The price of one Universal Antidote was about as much as a mansion, but it was nothingpared to the value of the core. That''s why I could swallow it without hesitation. Then I grabbed the core of the giant worm. The ck core looked simr to ck arc. It was easy to tell apart because of the poison that was swirling around it. "Hoo." I exhaled briefly and put the core to my mouth. It looked like it wouldn''t fit in one bite because it was fist-sized, but it wasn''t. The core of the giant worm shrank to bite-sized as soon as it touched my lips. I closed my eyes tightly and put it in my mouth at once. Gulp. Even though it had shrunk, it felt like swallowing a candy whole. It was hard, but I forced it down and felt it go into my body. As soon as I did, "Ugh...!" I groaned involuntarily. My esophagus burned and I felt like my intestines were melting. In the original work, consuming the core of a Zine caused a debuff called ''Eroded Poison''. This debuffsted for about fifty minutes and had a much stronger toxicity than when I entered the Zine cave. Thanks to the Universal Antidote I ate, I only felt a little pain, and my body was holding on. The problem was that I had to endure this pain for about an hour. ''It hurts more than I thought.'' The pain was stronger than I had lightly thought, and I clenched my fists and bit my lips. The pain got stronger as time passed. The core of the Zine was the crystallization of the poison that the Zine had nurtured for a thousand years. It was like eating a thousand years of umted poison at once. I clenched my teeth so hard that blood flowed from my lips. I endured the pain and tried to think of something else. ''Why can I eat the core after taking the antidote?'' I had wondered that before. Wouldn''t the effect of the core disappear if I ate it after taking the Universal Antidote, which was no different from the crystallization of poison? But it didn''t take long for that question to be resolved. The effect of the core was ''poison immunity'' and ''curse immunity''. In other words, it was an item that gave beneficial effects to the user. But for it to fully work, the poison on the surface had to be gone. That''s why I had to take the Universal Antidote and eat the core to unleash its true power. "Ugh." How much time had passed? I clenched my teeth and endured it until the pain subsided. Just a little more, a little more... Finally, when all the pain was gone from my body, I opened my eyes. As soon as I did, a message appeared in front of me. [''The Thousand-Year-Old Zine''s Core'' has been perfectly absorbed.] [You gain permanent immunity to all curses and poisons.] Only then did I rx my body and smile.
Rovel, no different from usual. A young man was looking at himself in the mirror in his room. "Max, what are you doing?" Even though his friend Tom came in, Max couldn''t take his eyes off the mirror. "Max?" Tom approached him and Max turned his gaze to him. "Tom, it might be just me, but." Max looked at Tom carefully and said. "Don''t you think my skin got better?" "What?" Tom narrowed his eyes. "No, look closely." Then Max pushed his face forward. Tom was annoyed by his friend''s behavior, but decided to listen to him. Looking closely, he saw that hisplexion was clearer than usual. "...Maybe?" "Right? I was so annoyed by the e on my face untilst night, but when I woke up, it was all gone." "You must have taken good care of it." "...Really?" Max tilted his head. Tom chuckled and turned his eyes to the mirror. Then he suddenly noticed his own face and his eyes widened slightly. "I feel like my skin got better too..." It must be a mistake. Tom thought so.
When I finished my morning training and arrived at the master''s office, a message window popped up out of nowhere. [The number of Kyros followers has exceeded 1,000!] Oh, finally? It had only been a few days since I returned from Beon Mountain, but the number of followers had increased to a thousand on its own. But that wasn''t all the message window said. [You acquire the skill ''Follower of Beauty''!] ...Huh? What kind of skill is this? Is it for me? Since it had a simr name to ''God of Beauty'', which I already had, I opened the skill window and saw the information. [Follower of Beauty (Passive) Grade: Mythical Description: A global buff for followers of Kyros, the God of Beauty. The effect increases as the number of Kyros followers increases. Current total number of followers: 1,000 Current effect: Your skin improves.] Is this for real? There''s such a buff? It was a global buff for followers that wasn''t even in Woosebeop. And the effect increased as the number of followers increased. If the number of followers increasedter, could I advertise with the phrase ''Believe in Kyros and be beautiful!''? ''...No, that would make me look like a cult.'' It would be better to let it spread quietly rather than openly advertise it. But I was happy that I got a new skill. "Master, where have you been?" I entered the master''s office with a smile and saw Zain there. He must have brought the herbs I asked him for before. "Morning exercise, huh?" I said hello to Zain as I sat down across from him. Then his skin caught my eye. Could it be because of the Follower of Beauty skill? He looked like his skin had improved since Ist saw him. My skin had always been wless thanks to my ''God of Beauty'' passive, so I didn''t notice any change. But Zain''splexion seemed slightly clearer than before. ''How fascinating.'' I found myself staring at him, and he gave me a wary look. "Master? Why are you looking at me like that?" "It''s nothing... it''s just that your skin looks better somehow." "Does it?" Zain rubbed his cheek and cocked his head. He didn''t seem to feel any difference. Well, he was used to changing his sleep cycle every day. He wasn''t the only one whose change I observed. After getting the herbs from Zain, I changed into my master''s robe and put on my sses. Then I walked around the temple grounds. I exchanged greetings with the followers and bumped into Seril. "Master, good day." Seril''s skin also looked noticeably better. The effect might vary from person to person, but Zain and Seril were obvious examples. "Master? Why are you staring at me? Do I have something on my face?" "No, no. Brother Seril." It was truly amazing. ---What is it, my child? ''I think... the followers'' skin has improved a bit.'' ---Oh, really? Well, I am the God of Beauty after all. As my power grows stronger, so does their beauty. I understood how this skill came to be when I heard Kyros''s smug voice. It was a wonderful effect indeed. Seeing it with my own eyes made me more eager. Oh, how I wish to gain more followers with this!
The main hall of the Diego Church. The First Apostle''s chamber. Terdius opened the door and stepped inside quietly. The chamber was shrouded in darkness that made it impossible to see anything. As Terdius walked a few steps forward, the door behind him closed on its own. He stopped at the center of the chamber, and a shadowy figure emerged from the dark. The one who sat on the throne alone hid his entire appearance under a ck robe, even in the darkness. "..." Terdius gazed at him silently. The First Apostle of the Diego Church. He was the one who had the most contact with Diego within the church. He had heard that he was personally chosen by Diego when he first descended to thisnd. A long silence passed between them. The one who broke it was the First Apostle. "I hear that a new religion has emerged in a ce called Rovel in the Holden territory." Chapter 49 Terdius immediately recognized what the emerging religion that the First Apostle was talking about was. It would have been strange if he didn''t. He had been to Lober recently. "Of course, it''s such a small ce that we don''t need to bother with it." The First Apostle said with a chuckle in his voice. Terdius answered in his usual tone. "Yes. That''s right." He couldn''t see the First Apostle''s face, but he felt his gaze. Terdius didn''t take his eyes off him. The First Apostle looked at him as if observing him for a moment, then opened his mouth. "Did you also encounter them, Third Apostle? Since you''ve been to Lober. I heard it was around that time." "I did. But I didn''t pay much attention to them. They''ll crumble on their own anyway." "Hmm, is that so?" The First Apostle tilted his head. From Terdius'' perspective, only his robe moved slightly. "Yes. That''s how most of the emerging religions have been so far." "Hmm..." The First Apostle didn''t answer Terdius'' words easily. For a brief moment, a heavy silence flowed between them. The First Apostle''s voice came out first. "...But you should still keep an eye on them. You never know what might happen, right?" At the gentle voice of the man, Terdius nodded slightly. "I understand." "Let me know whenever you get any information about them. Do you understand, Third Apostle?" "Yes. I understand." Terdius had no choice but to ept. There was no strict discipline among the apostles of Diego Academy. That''s why Khalid also treated Terdius, who was higher than him, without any hesitation. But it was different for the First Apostle. He was the one whomunicated with Diego the most, and the one who Diego trusted the most. Naturally, all the power was concentrated on him, and he had authority ordingly. Terdius, who usually didn''t care about his position, had to bow to him as well. Of course, Terdius didn''t intend to tell the First Apostle everything about Kyros Church. He had made a vow with Leviathan, so he nned to minimize the information he would deliver. "And." The First Apostle said with a smile. "Keep an eye on the whereabouts of Rizes Church as well." "Yes, First Apostle." After a few short conversations between them, Terdius bowed his head to the First Apostle. The First Apostle''s gaze followed him until he left the meeting room. Terdius walked out of the darkness and strolled down the hallway, breathing low. His next destination was Bahano Kingdom, where Rizes Church was expected to be. He hadn''t been back to the main branch for long, but he intended to go there right away. After escaping from the cave where he met Leviathan. His head was foggy as usual. ''Damn it, I''m so frustrated.'' But for some reason, he felt a faint light in the fog. He didn''t know what caused it. He was just left with frustration. So Terdius wanted to leave the main branch as soon as possible to relieve his frustration. "Going to Bahano?" In the hallway where silence prevailed rather than quietness, it was Khalid who called him out of nowhere. Khalid, who was sitting on the window sill as if he was going to jump out, turned his body when he saw Terdius. He immediately blocked Terdian''s way. Terdius didn''t answer and moved his body to Khalid''s side. But Khalid didn''t give up. He approached Terdius'' side and smiled friendlily. "That''s good. I''m going to Bahano too. Let''s go together." Terdius'' eyebrows twitched. He disliked Khalid more than ever today, who always went against his will. It must have been him who told the First Apostle about Kyros Church. ''...Why am I like this?'' It didn''t matter what happened to Kyros Church or Leviathan. But for some reason, he didn''t like Khalid. Maybe it was because he had never liked Khalid before. Terdialus thought so and spoke lowly to Khalid. "Why you." "Well, I''m an apostle of Diego Academy too. It''s something I have to do for Diego-nim. Right?" At Khalid''s cheeky smile, Terdius'' forehead narrowed even more. Khalid smiled more deeply at that sight and said in a yful tone. "Well, it would be better if Leviathan whom I met then came along... but I''ll settle for you." At that remark, Terdius stopped walking. He stared at Khalid with a cold gaze. The fundamental reason why Terdius hated Khalid. It was because Khalid was a madman who even the First Apostle had trouble dealing with. He had a bad hobby of not being able to resist any beautiful beings, regardless of gender. He lured them with his shy appearance and eloquence, then took them to his mansion. ording to Khalid himself, it was just ''showing them love'', but not in Terdius'' eyes. No one would do such things to people. For example, walking them with a cor, or cutting off parts that he liked without hesitation and stuffing them all over his mansion. It was a bizarre and disgusting hobby. ''That Leviathan bastard, he had to catch the eye of this pervert.'' And Leviathan had caught the eye of Khalid, who had such a cruel side. Sure. Terdius didn''t care what happened to Leviathan. But what bothered him was something else. He didn''t know if Khalid''s sadistic tendencies would ever be unleashed on Leviathan, but he had enough interest to wonder. Of course, Terdius had also faced Khalid for the first time. Khalid had approached him as well. But he was able to avoid him thanks to the rule that forbade touching the same apostle. If Khalid had crossed that line, Terdius would have torn him apart. "Don''t tell me you don''t like it?" Khalid smiled with his eyes narrowed. Terdius'' eyes grew colder at the sight. He wanted to kill him right away, but he couldn''t. Not to mention, the first apostle had also asked him not to. In the end, Terdius closed his eyes for a moment and opened them again. ''I don''t know how this pervert will react if I refuse without a good reason. I have no choice.'' It wasn''t like there was any Kyros Church or Leviathan in Bahano anyway. The only reason he had to refuse was that he hated Khalid, but Khalid was not the type to yield to that. So he had to ept hispany. "Don''t bother me. The rule won''t protect you then." "Don''t worry." And so they moved together to Bahano.
I nced around the master''s room. I had gathered Alphius, Chester, Sasha, and Zain, and their eyes were on me. They all looked puzzled. There was a bit of silence before I opened my mouth. "What are you trying to tell us by calling us here?" Zain couldn''t help but ask first. I smiled at Zain. Time had flown by like an arrow and summer was almost over. There was something I had to do before winter came to the continent. It had been a month since I returned from Beon. During that time, I had organized the temple. And now it was time to go outside again. ''Well, even if I say I''m strengthening my foundation, it''s just managing the believers and physical training...'' Anyway. "I''m going to go on a mission soon." At that, ain''s eyes widened likenterns. The kids just smiled as if they expected it. It was then that Kyros appeared as a puppy. "That''s right! That''s right! We have to go outside to gather believers!" I had talked with Kyros for several weeks. It wasn''t a serious conversation, just a meeting to gather believers. And we came to the obvious conclusion that mission was essential for gathering believers. Actually, that was what I had argued from the beginning, and I had persuaded Kyros who wanted to strengthen our foundation a little more. "Well, I thought you would do that someday... but where are you going?" Zain asked calmly. He must have been flustered because he would have to follow me outside. But he knew that he would do anything if I did it, so he reluctantly epted it. "The Kingdom of Bahano." At my words, Zain''s eyebrows furrowed. "Bahano? Out of nowhere?" He probably thought of somewhere in the Empire. The Kingdom of Bahano. To exin this ce, I had to start with the location of Holden territory. Holden territory was in the southeast of Herpheon Empire. Cartel Forest was below it, and Beon Mountain was at the eastern edge of the territory. Anyway, the Kingdom of Bahano was southwest of Holden territory, and I had to get there before winter came. "It''s not a choice. I have to go. It won''t be an easy road." It was quite far just by looking at the distance, but I could get there in a week or so. It would take a lot of time to move even after leaving the empire. Maybe by the time I leave, it will be autumn. It couldn''t be helped because the Kingdom of Bahano was located at the end of the continent. But why did I have to get there by winter when it would take a week? There was another ce I had to go on my way to the Kingdom of Bahano. ''Anyway, when winteres...'' A mass murder will ur in the Kingdom of Bahano. If I can''t stop the incident that will happen there, it will spread across the continent and kill countless people. That''s why I wanted to go to Bahano. "But why do you have to go to the Kingdom of Bahano? There are many other ces in the Empire. Bahano is not even imperial territory." Zain asked with his eyebrows furrowed. The answer came from Kyros, not me. "It''s because prayers came to me. There are a few believers in the Kingdom of Bahano, and they say that Bahano''s situation is chaotic. I want to help those poor people." I was lucky. I was wondering how to exin to Kyros why I had to go to Bahano, and he brought up the Kingdom of Bahano first. The Kingdom of Bahano had no state religion, but the King was being exploited by the ''Rizes Church''. ording to the Law of Dominance, the King was heavily addicted to ''Happy'', and Happy was easily distributed in the market. As a result, many of the people were also addicted to Happy. ''And Happy is...'' The reason why Rizes Church distributed Happy was to inject ''the energy of the devil'' into those who werepletely addicted to Happy and turn them into monsters through experiments. In the process, if they didn''t match thepatibility, they would die. That was why Rizes Church infiltrated Robel and distributed Happy. Of course, that was backfired by me. Anyway, the disaster that would start in Bahano was not only because of Rizes Church. There was a real reason why the disaster started. By one person. Chapter 50 He was a person who worked for the Rizes Church. He was not a true believer of the Rizes Church, but a victim of their exploitation. But after a certain incident, he sacrificed his life to use a forbidden curse. The curse grew by devouring the humans who were turned into monsters by the Rizes Church. The curse quickly spread over the entire Bahano Kingdom. Red rain began to fall from the sky, and everyone who was hit by it died as their bodies melted. It was the same for those who took shelter in buildings. The red rain melted everything, including the buildings. And it didn''t stop. The red rain that started in the Bahano Kingdom spread beyond the kingdom to the continent. Because of the rain, countless people died, and it became a disaster that was recorded in history. ''But that''s only if I didn''t arrive in the Bahano Kingdom before winter.'' I was going to stop the disaster before that. "After hearing Kyros''s story, I also decided to go to Bahano willingly." As I affirmed it, Zain''s expression twisted even more. A message popped up at the same time. [Subquest activated!] [Subquest ''Light of Hope'' 1. Content: The God of Beauty Kyros is saddened by the chaotic situation of the Bahano Kingdom. Please stop the impending disaster in the Bahano Kingdom for the sake of the God of Beauty Kyros. Goal: Reach Aldone Kingdom, near Bahano Kingdom, within a month (This quest is a linked quest) Sess: Find the next quest clue Failure: - Final Sess Reward: ??? [Do you ept?] [Yes/No] The timing of the quest activation was amazing. By the way, this quest was originally a main quest in Dominance Law. But I have a different main quest right now, so it appeared as a subquest. Anyway, all I had to do was revive Kyros Church. ''It''s a win-win situation since I was going to go anyway.'' Anyway, even without the quest, I would have gone to Bahano. There was something I had to get there. After epting the quest, I was curious about the final reward. Why is it a question mark? Was it because the reward was experience points in Dominance Law? I could get what I wanted from Bahano directly, so I didn''t really care about the quest reward. "Master." As I was thinking about that, Zain asked me with a serious face. "...I''m going too, right?" I smiled brightly. "Of course you are." "Damn..." Zain''s shoulders sagged.
After dering that I would go to Bahano, I moved busily. I took care of the temple affairs and made various potions for three days. I squeezed out my divine power and made healing potions in advance, and also made antidotes and transformation potions for any possible situations. [Master, Master.] As I finished making potions and put the remaining herbs in my inventory. Alphius''s urgent call came. "What''s up, Alphi?" [Um, your brother is here.] Did I hear wrong? "Can you say that again?" [Your brother. Sevenus Holden is visiting the temple!] What, Sevenus? Did hee to see me? [He wants to see you! Well, actually Levilof Holden!] Oh no. Damn. I quickly finished tidying up and changed into my master''s robe. As I pressed the priest''s robe that I had put in my inventory beforehand, my appearance changed. The official priest''s robe of Kyros Church that was made recently was made by Sasha herself. It was white with a simr shape to the master''s robe, but less shy. ''Why did hee?'' I checked that no one was around as I left the master''s room and took off my sses. And then I hurried to the reception room. Why did Sevenuse all of a sudden? I couldn''t understand it at all. Knock knock. As I opened the door of the reception room after knocking, Sevenus was sitting upright. Long time no see. "Levi." Sevenus jumped up from his seat as soon as he saw meing in. And he came over with his long legs and hugged me. Why is he doing this? I felt embarrassed but hugged him back slightly and stepped back. Then Sevenus looked at me intently. "Brother, you''re here?" I smiled politely, but Sevenus''s eyes seemed strange somehow. "Why did you lose so much weight?" "...What?" Did he say I lost weight? I''m still the same. ---If anything, my face seems fuller. Kyros also said he couldn''t understand it. "Is the temple food bad?" "No, no. I''m eating well." "No way. Your face is so thin. This won''t do. I have to contact mother-" "Hey, Brother! I''m really fine. Come on, sit down." I pulled Sevenus''s arm. Why is he so strong? Fortunately, he followed me and sat down on the chair voluntarily. I sat down opposite him and sighed inwardly, but didn''t lose my smile. "By the way, how have you been, Brother?" "I''m fine. But you..." He was about to say something about my weight again, so I cut him off. "More importantly, what brings you here?" Just tell me what you want and go back, you brat. "I just came to see your face. I haven''t seen you for a while..." ...Is this for real? Did he really juste? No way. I picked up the teacup in front of me and put it to my mouth. I had to drink some tea to ease the awkwardness. "Is that wicked master not making you suffer?" I almost spat out the tea I was drinking. Sevenus stared at me with a serious face. Did he really mean it? Did he call me wicked? "The master is not wicked. He''s a good person. He cured my illness, remember?" "That may be true, but... from my perspective, he''s nothing but a bastard who stole my only brother." Did you really think of me like that? I was speechless. ---What a tearful brotherly love. ''Didn''t you hear him cursing the master of Kyros Church?'' ---Technically, that''s you, my dear. ''I have nothing to say to that.'' I closed my mouth in disbelief, and Sevenus took a sip of his tea and opened his mouth. "But I''ll try to understand, since it''s what you wanted." "Ah, yes..." "And mother misses you a lot, so you should visit her sometime." "Yes. I will." I''ll go to the mansionter. "But... Brother, why did you reallye here?" Just tell me what you want and go back, you brat. "Didn''t I tell you? I just came to see you." I was stunned by his answer. Really? Seriously? He came all the way to the temple just to see me? I couldn''t believe it. "Now that I''ve seen your face, I''m satisfied." Sevenus said that and got up from his seat as if he was going to leave. I quickly followed him, and Sevenus smiled faintly. "I''m sorry, I wanted to stay with you longer." "No, it''s fine." "Always eat well, and if you ever get bored or can''t stand the temple life,e back anytime." He didn''t stop talking as we walked out of the reception room. "Your room is always ready for you." "Yes, Brother. I understand." In the end, Sevenus didn''t forget to worry about me until he reached the temple entrance where the knights were waiting. "Come again next time. And don''t forget to write letters." He asked me after he got on his horse. Letters, I haven''t written a single one yet. Do I have to? "Take care, Levi." With that, Sevenus left with the knights. I watched his back until he disappeared from sight. It was a short and brief encounter, but somehow my heart felt strange. A weird feeling of being warm and restless at the same time. Is this what family is like? I surprisinglyughed.
Two dayster. It was finally the day of departure. As before, when I went to Beon Mountain, I set the dawn as the departure time. That way, I could avoid the eyes of the believers when I left the temple. "Master, please be careful ande back safely. And call us anytime!" "Don''t worry, Alphi." "I-if it gets dangerous, please call me." "Yeah, I will. Chessy." "...Have a safe trip." "Thank you, Sasha." I left the temple with the children''s farewell. It might take a long time this time, but they would take good care of the temple. I put on the hood of my robe and headed for the back alley. asionally, I saw some Kyros Church believers. They were early morning prayers. ---How admirable they are. ''I agree.'' Until a few months ago, this ce was a temple of Rizes Church, and now it became the main branch of Kyros Church, and now the believers'' feet never stopped. I felt nostalgic for a moment. ''Is this what they call dawn sentiment?'' I didn''t have time to indulge in sentimentality. I moved quickly to the back alley. Zain was waiting for me near the secret shop. He waved his arm brightly as he saw me and I approached him with quick steps. "Why do we always go alone?" Zain grumbled. "The kids have other ways, but you don''t." "That''s because they''re special!" Zain seemed to realize it too. The kids who appeared wherever I called them using the space gap, who were stronger than adult men by several times, who had abilities specialized in each field. I didn''t bother to exin it to Zain, but he seemed to have noticed that they were born by Kyros''s power. "What I mean is why do you always take me with you?" "Do you want me to go alone?" "Wouldn''t that be morefortable for you?" "No. Not at all." "Why?" "It''s convenient to have a handyman around." Zain pouted at my words. I smiled and took out a money pouch from my pocket and handed it to him. "I always pay you generously, what are youining about?" "Oh, thank you. How can Iin! No, not at all. I was just saying!" Zain''s attitude changed as soon as he got the money. This money-grubber. We finished our short conversation and headed for the carriage that was waiting nearby. It was much more luxurious than the one Zain had preparedst time. It was a natural choice since we had to travel a long way. The ride quality of the carriage that I paid extra for was quite good. It was inferior to the Holden family''s, but it was still a high-quality product. I leaned back on the seat of the carriage, and Zain sat across from me. He looked out the window and smiled brightly. "By the way, I never thought I''d go to Bahano Kingdom with you." "Me neither." "I always wanted to go there, but I didn''t expect to go like this." He was smiling until a moment ago, but he soon became gloomy. "It won''t be that hard." I tried tofort him. Unfortunately, my words were a lie. Jain would have a hard time. And more than Zain, I... would have a harder time. "Hoo." I sighed involuntarily. As I thought about the future that would unfold, the carriage started to move. Chapter 51 It was not a difficult task to leave the Empire by carriage. The distance between the Holden territory and the border was short, and we could easily cross the border by bribing the soldiers guarding it with some conversation and money, just likest time. Thanks to the carriage running for hours, we got out of the Empire. I had left the territory before, but it was my first time leaving the empire, so I felt a mix of excitement and nervousness. ''It must be simr to Woosebeop.'' The scenery outside the window of the carriage was as I expected. It was not a ce with lush greenery, but a barrennd on the verge of desertification. The vastnd felt dry and bleak, stretching endlessly. The carriage we were riding followed the road on the ground. Some might be disappointed by this aridndscape, but not me. It was already a background I had seen in the original work. ''I never thought this would be my first desert experience.'' The Celeste continent, where the Herpheon Empire was located, had achieved rapid growth based on its beautiful nature and abundant food. However, as time passed, many countries were born and disappeared, and great wars broke out several times. The nature within the continent was destroyed by human development. The countries that wererge in scale, such as the empire and the kingdom, could survive by being self-sufficient, but not those that were not. For example, the natives who lived with thend without belonging to any country. Or small viges with few people. Those who lived in harmony with nature, not the ones who ruined the world, were suffering. ''...And he is also one of those people.'' I was staring nkly out of the window, lost in thought, when I heard a rustling sound from somewhere. I lifted my head and looked at where the sound came from. I saw Zain rummaging through my luggage bag diligently. He took something out of the bag with a nd face. "What are you doing?" I asked out of curiosity. Without looking at me, Zain started to move his hands skillfully. He held two long wooden sticks and a thick woolen yarn in his hands. "Can''t you tell? I''m knitting." He wove the yarn with very proficient movements. He didn''t stop talking while moving naturally. It seemed he was quite skilled. "Why are you doing that all of a sudden?" I couldn''t understand and asked. Zain only moved his eyes and looked at me. He looked at me with disdain. "Of course, because it makes money. We have a long way to go, so I''m doing it as a side job. And I''m bored too." He''s really amazing. Iughed hollowly at Zain''s answer. ---Do you want to do it too, Young Master? Suddenly, I heard Kyros'' question. ''What? Me?'' ---We have a long way to go, you said. Aren''t you bored too? ''...No.'' Actually, I''m very bored. ---Really? Actually, I want to do it too. It was too boring to just think nkly. Last time, when we went to Mount Beon, I was also very bored in the carriage. Ahem, I cleared my throat and spoke softly. "Zain." "Yes?" Zain answered indifferently. "Well... can I do some knitting too?" It was very embarrassing to ask this afterughing at him just before. "What? Really? You were just wondering why I was doing this." Zain seemed incredulous and grumbled at me. But he still searched his luggage bag and handed me some spare knitting tools. I happily took them and smiled brightly. "But Zain, I don''t know how to do this." "Really, Master. You don''t even know how to knit and you ask for it?" He snapped at me openly now. But he had no choice but to bend since I was temporarily his master. "Yeah. Teach me." At that answer, Zain sighed softly. "Geez, really. You''re killing me." Heined but he unraveled the part he had knitted so far. And then he told me. "Come on, follow me. This is a needle." "I know that." "Shh! This is yarn." This kid is ignoring me now. "..." But as a learner, I had no choice but to keep my mouth shut.
Late at night, somewhere in Aldone Kingdom. A middle-aged man was running through a deserted alley. "Huff, huff." Behind him, a four-legged beast was chasing him. The ck beast that blended with the darkness shone its yellow eyes and chased after the man relentlessly. The man who ran away from the beast was blocked by a dead end in an instant. He reached out his hands to climb over the wall if possible, but it was toote. "Aaargh!" His sight was reversed in a sh. The huge front paw of the beast pressed down on his stomach and ribs. "Ugh, ugh!" The man writhed and tried to remove the beast''s paw with his hands. But he couldn''t match the beast''s strength. And the man''s struggle subsided under the pressure of the giant ck panther. Someone appeared behind the ck panther. "Why are you running away, Brother?" The man who appeared with an expression that he couldn''t understand looked at the man who was under the beast and opened his mouth with difficulty. "Ugh, H, High Priest... pl, please spare me, ugh." The man pleaded with the High Priest endlessly. But the High Priest of the Rizes Church''s Aldone Branch, Hamel, approached him with a cold face. "Spare me..." Hamel''s golden hair that reached his waist sparkled in the moonlight. His beautiful appearance looked even colder today. The High Priest Hamel smiled kindly like a saint and said coldly. "Why did you dare enter the underground, Brother? Didn''t I tell you many times, Brother?" Hamel frowned and looked at him with genuine pity. But the man''s face turned pale. "Th, that''s... my wife, ugh, she''s there, I was worried about her...!" "Didn''t I tell you many times? No ordinary believer can enter the underground. You know that too, don''t you, Brother?" Hamel said that as he crouched down next to the man. The man looked up at Hamel and begged earnestly. "I, I was wrong, High Priest. Please, please..." The man''s pitiful plea did not soften Hamel''s expression. He smiled sadly and took out a small dagger from his bosom. The well-sharpened de reflected the moonlight and the man''s breath stopped. "Ugh!" The cold de aimed at the man''s neck without a hint of hesitation. "Don''t worry, Brother. Your soul will be taken care of by Hamel." "Please..." The man trembled his lips and prayed desperately. Hamel smirked and lifted the dagger from his neck and brought it to his lips. "You said you were worried about your wife, brother." The icy de parted the man''s lips. The man followed Hamel''s action obediently for fear of being cut. As his lips opened, Hamel took out a small white pouch from his bosom. "Don''t be afraid. I''ll send you to her side too." As he finished speaking, the white pouch touched the man''s mouth. A blue powder poured out of it. "Ugh, ugh!" The man tried to avoid swallowing the powder somehow, but Hamel''s hand twisted his mouth and forced him to take the Happy. Blue spots appeared on the man''s body in an instant. Normally, he would make him addicted by giving him small doses regrly, but this time was different. "You wanted to go to your wife''s side so badly." Hamelughed mockingly and got up from his seat. The man who was overdosed with Happyy limp on the ground. "Bring him. We can''t waste this precious sacrifice." Hamel turned away from the man and a young man returned to human form from behind the ck panther. The half-beast, half-man figure with dark ck hair and golden eyes followed Hamel''s order silently with unfocused eyes. He carried the lifeless man over his shoulder and followed Hamel quietly.
"Hmm." I yawned out of boredom. I stretched lightly and scanned outside the window. It had been about a week since we left the Empire. We stayed overnight on the way and passed through a few viges. During that time, Zain made about ten pieces of knitting work, and I barely made one scarf. Zain evaluated my scarf like this. ''Did you make a rag with this precious yarn?'' I was so ashamed by his cold gaze that I decided not to knit anymore. And Zain''s knitting works were really high-quality. He knitted hats and gloves unlike me, and even made bags. I was amazed to see him do that. I shoved my scarf into my inventory and didn''t even look at the knitting tools. ''Are you not doing it anymore?'' ''I''ll just watch you do it.'' ''You''re not good at everything, Master.'' ''Shut up.'' But watching Zain knit made time pass faster and I didn''t feel that bored. And when dawn broke. We finally arrived near Aldone Kingdom. Aldone Kingdom was a ce we had to pass through on our way to Bahano Kingdom. It was a small country with less poption and no big featurespared to the Bahano Kingdom. But it was a popr tourist destination for its beautiful white buildings and clear sky. We nned to rest here for a few days and then leave. "Wow, it''s really pretty." Aldone Kingdom was beautiful even from afar. The white buildings shining under the morning sun were truly unique. "I agree." I was also admiring when the carriage we were riding passed through the gate of Aldone Kingdom. Right after the system message appeared. [Subquest ''Light of Hope'' 1. Cleared!] [Subquest reward will be given.] [Subquest updated!] [Subquest ''Light of Hope'' 2. Content: You have arrived at Aldone Kingdom within the time limit. Find out the secret hidden here. Goal: Find traces of the beast in Aldone Kingdom within a week (This quest is linked to another quest) Sess: Next quest clue Failure: - Final sess reward: ??? [Do you ept?] [Yes/No] As soon as I saw that the quest was updated, I was about to press ept. But then I paused for a moment, wondering if I had seen it wrong. I scrolled down the quest content again and realized that I wasn''t mistaken. It wasn''t a mistake. ''...The quest content.'' It''s different from Woosebeop. Chapter 52 ording to my memory, the content that was updated when I arrived in the Aldone Kingdom within the Woosebeop was supposed to be ''hearing rumors'' about the Bahano Kingdom. But now it was different. It was not about hearing rumors, but about finding traces of a beast in the Aldone Kingdom. As I confirmed the content, a smile came to my lips. I felt like the system knew what I wanted. ''Come to think of it, it often happened before.'' There were times when the system window changed in real time. Just like when the description of the ''healing'' skill changed. I epted the quest with a faint smile. ''It''s good for me.'' It was rted to the beast of the Aldone Kingdom, which was what I wanted to do before I arrived in the Bahano Kingdom. Of course, it was also rted to the beast that I wanted to arrive in the Bahano Kingdom before winter. ''...Yes.'' This beast was the culprit of the disaster that would spread across the continent from the Bahano Kingdom in the future. So I nned to ''deal with'' this beast somehow before it went to the Bahano Kingdom. That would solve the disaster. Even so, I still had to go to the Bahano Kingdom. It''s simple. The only thing that could be prevented by dealing with this beast was precisely the ''disaster''. ''No, even if I stop the disaster, where is that. There is another way for ''demonization''...'' Apart from the Bahano Kingdom disaster, arge-scale ''demonization'' would ur in Bahano by the Rizes Church. In other words, these two were separate events. So my goal was divided into two. Stopping the beast as much as possible in Aldone, and then moving to Bahano to stop therge-scale demonization as well. These two were the core of this trip. ''It''s annoying. But I can''t help it.'' Strictly speaking, it was because what I wanted to get was hard to get without doing these two things. I felt a little refreshed after organizing my purpose properly. "Wow, it''s so beautiful." Only then did Zain''s voice, who had been admiring the window, reach my ears. Zain''s eyes widened as he looked around at the scenery of Aldone Kingdom. I also followed his gaze and looked around. The Aldone Kingdom, which survived on tourism, had buildings that were white and not very high, making them cute and beautiful. There was a country simr to Aldone in my previous life, but as a poor person, I couldn''t even dream of traveling. ''But it''s different now.'' I looked around with a smile. Then, before I knew it, the carriage stopped. Zain and I got off the carriage and paid the coachman. We were able to get a separate carriage to go to Bahano in Aldone, so we said goodbye to him and walked away. "Ha, I never thought I''de to this beautiful ce with you." Zain grumbled as we walked along the street. "So you''re unhappy?" "No, no, I''m just sorry." Zain smiled awkwardly. You''re lying, you bastard. I red at him once and moved on. It was time to find a ce to stay first.
Underneath a clear blue sky. A green meadow stretched out wide. Dozens of ck panthers yed on the green meadow. Theypeted with each other by running and sometimes rolling on the grass. Every moment was fun. They rolled with their family and sometimes fought, but they were all together. It was then that the clear blue sky suddenly turned dark. Then monsters appeared out of nowhere. They appeared not only on the green meadow but also from the sky and attacked the ck panthers. ''Kieeek!'' ''Krrrrr-!'' The ck panthers fought for their lives to protect their families and ns. Their sharp ws and teeth tore at the monsters'' necks. Dark fluid sshed and the green meadow began to be covered with ck liquid and blood of ck panthers. The monsters and ck panthers attacked each other back and forth. But as time passed, the ck panthers began to fall down. The monsters appeared endlessly but the ck panthers could not do that. That''s how all but one ck panther fell down. Half of them lost their lives to monsters and half of them turned into monsters themselves. ''Kruk, kruk!'' The lone ck panther couldn''t believe what was happening. But his beloved n became monsters and attacked him, and he had to kill them with his own hands while shedding tears of blood. Finally, when all monsterized ck panthers stopped breathing, The lone ck panther shed tears of sorrow. Troy opened his eyes then. "...!" A dark dungeon cell. Troy, who opened his eyes behind the iron bars of the cell, covered his damp eyes with his hand. He sobbed quietly, holding his breath. The tears did not go away easily. "Huk." Troy lowered the hand that covered his eyes and grabbed the hard object that encircled his neck. The thing that looked like a cor was a sturdy restraint that Troy could not break with his strength. Troy bit his lips. Blood flowed from his mouth. His lips, both hands, and whole body trembled. He remembered that day so vividly whenever he had a dream like today. He wanted to break the thing that was choking his neck right away, but he couldn''t. The High Priest of the Rizes Church''s Aldone Branch, Hamel, made a restraint that he couldn''t break with his strength, so Troy had no choice but to be dragged around. Sometimes he would break free from brainwashing like now. But it was only for a few minutes. ''Please.'' Troy prayed with his eyes closed. It had been months since he was captured by Hamel and brainwashed, living in a cell. He had no strength to endure anymore. ''Please, someone help me...'' Troy closed his eyes and hoped earnestly. But there was never any salvation. No one could help me, then the only thing left was... Troy shivered as he curled up. ''I don''t want to die like this...'' Creak, the door of the dungeon cell where Troy was locked up opened at that moment. Troy flinched. There was only one person who woulde to him. Hamel. He always treated Troy like his dog and made him do things he didn''t want to do. And if he wasn''t in a good mood, he would beat Troy without hesitation. ''I finished everything today. Don''t tell me...'' Troy closed his eyes tightly. He expected another whip to fly at him. Troy curled his body up and prepared for the pain. But there was no pain. Instead, "Hello." A gentle voice reached his ears. It was the first warm voice he had heard since he came here. Without knowing it, Troy opened his eyes and looked around. Then he saw a man standing in front of the iron bars by the light of antern that came through the open door. The man smiled and took his hood off. "Can''t you talk?" A beautiful man with golden hair like sunlight looked at Troy. For a moment, Troy shuddered at the sight of his golden hair. It was the same color as Hamel''s. But the man''s face waspletely different. He was a handsome man with a beautiful face and a warm smile, unlike Hamel. "I''m Leviathan." The man said softly with a charming smile. The next moment, Troy couldn''t believe his ears. "I''vee to save you." His earnest wish had finallye true.
A few hours ago. Zain and I found a ce to stay at the edge of a quiet vige in Aldone Kingdom. We were so tired from the long journey that wey down on the bed and rested. When we woke up after a few hours of sleep, it was alreadyte evening. We finished our meal at the inn''s restaurant, and when it waste at night, I, who was looking out the window, moved. "Master?" Zain got up as I put on my robe that I had taken off. He was still knitting and followed him. "Where are you going?" "I have something to check." At my words, Zain packed up his knitting supplies with a dumbfounded face. While I was putting on my robe, I felt that Kyros was quiet for some reason. ''Did he go to see the temple?'' Well, it didn''t matter much to me whether Kyros was there or not. "Let''s go." Zain finished preparing and we quietly left the inn. The beautiful sky of Aldone turned ck and the street lights dimmed. There were hardly any people at this time, so only two people were walking on the street. "But Master, what are you going to check?" "Simply put, traces." "What traces?" "...The Rizes Church." At my words, Zain''s expression hardened. He was silent for a while, then I said with a faint smile. "Kyros told me through prayer that the situation in the Bahano Kingdom is not good, right? That''s all because of... the Rizes Church." What I was talking about was the information he had heard from Kyros even while traveling. Of course, I had known it for a long time. "I see." Zain''s expression became serious. He thought about something for a moment and then asked. "But this is Aldone. The Diego Church still has a lot of influence here. Do you think there is a Rizes Church here?" "I''m not sure. But I can''t deny it either. The Rizes Church is persistent like bugs." In fact, I was sure but I didn''t say so. I was constantly thinking in my head. ''The Woosebeop and the quest content are slightly different, so it''s vague.'' In the Woosebeop, I collected information about Bahano Kingdom instead of finding traces of the beast. I was thinking about it when Zain suddenly said. "Come to think of it, there is a possibility. The distance between Bahano and Aldone is not that far." I nodded at that. "That''s right." "Oh, and I know that the Rizes Church usually thrives in marginalized areas." "That''s right. A ce like ''Rovel'' in Aldone is ''Rasilren'' around here." "So that''s why we''re going this way." I chose this ce as my amodation because it was close to Rasilren. ''Because the traces of the beast are near the Rizes Church''s Aldone Branch.'' However, what I was wondering about was what kind of traces the beast had left behind. Whether it was something I could see with my own eyes or not. I thought about it as I walked and soon we reached Rasilren. Rasilren looked fine on the outside but it was rotten on the inside. There were homeless people lying on the street and sometimes people who looked addicted to Happy. "...It''s certain." Zain whispered to me. He also recognized people who were addicted to Happy easily because he had been selling in alleys near Rovel. We adjusted our hoods again and walked quietly through Rasilren''s streets. Then something caught my eye at some point. It was a wall illuminated by moonlight. On the wall, there were marks that looked like they were made by long and sharp ws. ''Could it be...'' The system window appeared at that moment. Chapter 53 [Sub-quest ''Light of Hope'' 2. cleared!] [Sub-quest reward will be given.] [Sub-quest updated!] [Sub-quest ''Light of Hope'' 3. Content: You have found the traces of the beast within the Aldone Kingdom in the limited time. Now it''s time to find and rescue him. Objective: Find and rescue the beast of Aldone Kingdom within 24 hours (This quest is a linked quest) Sess: Next quest clue Failure: - Final reward: ??? [Do you ept?] [Yes/No] ''So that was the right trace.'' My lips curved slightly up. I liked the quest content quite a bit. ''Rescue.'' I was nning to do that anyway. I epted the quest, and Zain, who was following me along the wall, asked in a low voice. "Wow... What is that?" "It looks like the beast''s trace." "A beast in the middle of the city?" "...It''s not impossible." "Huh, those Rizes cultists, what did they do this time?" I ignored Zain''s rage and looked around. As I turned my gaze along the wall, I saw a chapel at the end of it. "I found it." Zain''s eyes naturally followed my direction. There was a chapel slightly bigger than the one we saw in Rovel there. ''In the original work, the Diego Church couldn''t find the Rizes Church''s whereabouts very well.'' I sneered. It was amazing that we couldn''t find it when it was so obvious. ''Well, even if it''s the Diego Church, Aldone and Bahano are on the edge of the continent, so it''s hard to care about them and their influence doesn''t reach all of them.'' I overlooked one fact. I knew a lot through Woosebeop, so it was easy for me to find the Rizes Church''s whereabouts. Anyway, I walked straight toward the Rizes Church''s chapel. Zain followed me with an anxious look and asked. "Master, you''re not going to barge in or something, are you?" "What?" "I mean, you did thatst time too." My eyebrows slightly narrowed at Zain''s words. It was obvious that Zain was referring to what happened in Rovel. But I felt wronged. Technically, it was Terdius who started it then. "I''m not going to do that." I said firmly. I had no intention of making a big fuss here. I nned to move only as the quest instructed. The reason was simple. ''ording to Woosebeop, the Diego Church would have sent an apostle to the Bahano Kingdom.'' I might havee to Aldone because of the hidden route variable. So if I made a big fuss here, I might get involved with the Diego Church. If I got involved with the Diego Church''s apostles other than Terdius, it would be hard to save my life. "You''re not going to do that, but what are you doing now?" Zain whispered with all his strength and turned his head to check around. Fortunately, there was no one passing by. Zain looked up anxiously. He had no choice. I was climbing over the Rizes Church''s wall. And I casually looked down at Zain and said, "Come on." "Excuse me?" Zain wanted to say something back, but before he could, I had already gone over to the chapel sidepletely. In the end, Zain had to follow me. As I crossed the wall, Zain whispered to me as I was looking at the chapel casually. "Master, what are you doing? You just crossed the wall like that." But I was stubborn. I put my finger on my lips and quieted Zain down. "Calm down. For now... I''m just going to check out the situation. I won''t cause any trouble." I said with serious eyes, but Zain somehow couldn''t trust me. But he couldn''t leave me alone either, so Zain had to nod reluctantly. We headed straight for the back of the chapel. As he followed me with his lips pursed, something came to Zain''s mind. "Wait a minute." He hastily grabbed the hem of my robe. "Master, isn''t it impossible to enter the Rizes Church or Diego Church without their God''s blessing?" I nodded lightly at his question. "That''s right. But we''re different. You and I have Kyros'' power. Kyros'' power can neutralize their power." Zain opened his mouth in surprise at the unexpected words. Seeing him, I smiled gracefully. In fact, I felt new emotions. Before, when I infiltrated the Rizes Church in Rovel, I didn''t have much divine power then, so I had to make and drink a potion. But now that the Kyros Church has acquired a holy relic, and the number of believers has increased steadily, my divine power has increased enough that I didn''t need to do that. Besides, Zain had received divine power directly from Kyros. "So just follow me quietly." Zain answered softly and followed me. We headed for the back of the chapel. As I said, Maseen''s blessing did not attack us. As Zain admired it again, I casually touched the chapel''sntern. With that movement, a wooden door leading to the underground appeared on the floor. "No way, how can you be so natural?" Zain looked at me with a faint suspicion in his eyes. Then I smiled smoothly. "I''ve done it before." I was a veteran. "Huh, really..." Zain looked at the secret space that appeared on the floor with admiration. I opened the wooden door, and below it was a staircase leading to the basement. We quietly went down the stairs with a faintntern flickering for about five minutes. The stairs ended. What appeared after that was one iron door in front and another iron door on the side. The two iron doors of the same shape and size had one difference, which was the presence or absence of a lock. The front door had no lock, and the side one had a lock. "Which way should we go?" I pointed to the side with my chin at Zain''s question. "It''s usually more curious what''s hidden." Zain silently agreed with my words and took out a universal key from his pocket. He jiggled the lock a few times and it opened with a small click. Zain immediately opened the door. The inside was so dirty that dust flew up even with a small breeze. And it was also very narrow, barely enough for two or three people. But there were iron bars inside. The space that had one wall entirely made of iron bars felt like a solitary cell in a prison. Zain unconsciously gulped. It was because someone was crouching behind the iron bars. "A person...?" The Banra man with dark ck hair had lean but firm muscles. But his body was full of wounds as if he had been abused, and he had a ck tail. Zain was startled as he scanned him. "That''s...!" My voice came from beside him. "He''s from the Mont tribe." I said briefly and started to go inside. Zain grabbed my robe''s hem in surprise. "Master, you can''t go near him. The Mont tribe is wary and fierce!" "I know. But I can''t just leave him alone." I answered softly and approached the iron bars. Then the man inside flinched. "Hello." I greeted him warmly. Then the man''s face turned to me. I slowly scanned the man''s face. The clear golden eyes of the young man who still looked young were holding me in his gaze. He was a handsome guy, just like I saw in Woosebeop. I lowered the hood I was wearing. "Can''t you talk?" That shouldn''t be the case. He was clearly on guard. ''Can''t be helped.'' I smiled with a business-like smile and introduced myself. "I''m Leviathan. I''vee to save you." My words awakened Troy''s dead hope. And I knew that very well.
Troy Mont. He was thest descendant of the Mont tribe, the natives who lived in the ins near the Bahano Kingdom. The ck panther beastmen had appeared since the continent was formed and lived only among their tribe, forming a smallmunity of about fifty people. Among them, Troy was the son of the Mont tribe chief and the person who would be the next chief. But he got tired of living in the forest all the time and went to the city one day. ''The forest is too suffocating.'' He said it was a trip, but it was actually more like running away. Although he left without saying anything to his family, the trip was fun. He traveled around the Herpheon Empire for about half a year, and he saw many people and cities. Although he couldn''t get close to them and just watched them from afar, he was happy nheless. When he returned to the forest after a long time after finishing his half-year trip, ''Mother, Father, I''m back... What is this?'' Troy witnessed the horrible scene that unfolded before his eyes. All of his tribe were stained blue all over their bodies and were not in their right minds. At that time, Troy didn''t know that it was because the Rizes Church fed them Happy and made them addicted, or that they were doing ''monsterization'' experiments. Then suddenly, a ck mist appeared and wrapped around the forest and his tribe''s bodies. Troy, who didn''t know why, could only watch the situation. But then, his tribe screamed. Along with theirst breaths, half his tribe lost their lives, and the remaining half became monsters. ''Why are you doing this?! Father! Mother! Pleasee to your senses!'' He shouted at them, but his words didn''t reach them. His tribe lost their reasoning and became aggressive. ''No, no, don''t do this. It''s me, Troy!'' He looked at his tribe but they didn''t recognize him. They turned into ck panthers and attacked Troy. At first, Troy only focused on pushing them away. He was stronger than anyone else in his tribe as the chief''s son, so it was possible. But that also became impossible as time passed. His tribe''s aggressiveness increased and his life was endangered. In the end, he had no choice but to hurt his beloved tribe with his own hands. ''It''s a dream. Yes, this is all a dream. It has to be a dream...!'' Troy shed tears as he killed his tribe with blood on his hands. The tears that flowed from his eyes mixed with the blood on his face and looked like bloody tears. ''Sob, sob, I''m sorry, I''m sorry.'' Troy apologized endlessly as he killed his monsterized tribe. And finally, he cut off his father''s breath. ''...Thank you, Troy.'' His father said that in hisst moments. Troy couldn''t say anything. He copsed among his tribe''s corpses and just shed tears. Something flew at him then. Chapter 54 ''Cough!'' The thing that wrapped around Troy''s neck in an instant was a cor of restraint, imbued with the power of Maseen. Maseen''s energy suppressed Troy''s strength and brainwashed him in an instant. The one who threw it at Troy was ''Hamel'', who was watching the monsterization experiment. Hamel, the High Priest of the Aldone Branch of the Rizes Church, was very pleased with Troy, who had single-handedly dealt with the tribesmen who had be monsters. ''You''re good enough to be... a pet for me.'' After that, Hamel dragged Troy to the Aldone Kingdom and started to treat him like his dog. He could have addicted him to Happy if he wanted to, but he didn''t bother. He didn''t want to risk losing a useful dog if he failed to turn Troy, who had superior strength among the Monts, into a monster. ''From now on, you''ll wag your tail for me.'' As a result, Troy was forced to do things he didn''t want to do and was exploited by Hamel like a ve. He harmed people against his will and suffered from it when the brainwashing wore off. He desperately hoped and hoped that someone would save him. But salvation did note easily, and he thought he would never escape from this hellish ce. Until then. Salvation finally arrived. "I''vee to save you." The words that came with a warm smile. Troy almost reached out his hand to him in an instant. But it was only for a moment. He remembered Hamel. ''Can I really trust him?'' Was this person different from Hamel? A distrust of humans rose in the wounded beast.
Troy stared at me nkly and then flinched and backed away. I looked at him for a while and thought. ''He''s more pitiful than I thought...'' Troy Mont. The sole survivor of the Mont tribe, a ck panther beastman, and the direct descendant of the chief. He was the main culprit of the disaster that would start in Bahano. He was a tragic character who was treated like a ve by Hamel, the High Priest of the Aldone Branch of the Rizes Church, and lost all his tribesmen to him. Because of that, Troy naturally harbored a deep grudge against him. And in winter, Hamel headed to Bahano with Troy. Then, unexpectedly, Troy''s restraint was released. Troy took advantage of that opportunity to perform a forbidden spell that only the chief and his sessor of the Mont tribe could perform, in order to avenge his family. When Troy performed the curse at the cost of his life, coincidentally, the Rizes Church carried out a monsterization that covered the entire Bahano Kingdom. Thanks to that, even those who became monsters became sacrifices for the curse, which grew like a snowball. ''Well, in the end he died and Terdius lifted the curse... but I didn''t have much attachment to him.'' The Troy Mont in front of me didn''t look like someone who would do such a thing. His eyes were filled with innocence and he was shivering by even looking at me. ''...He''s pitiful and sad.'' I tried to smile at Troy. The disaster would not happen now. In Woosebeop, saving Troy would prevent the disaster from happening, and he could also be used conveniently if I tamed him well. For example, I could ride on a ck panther beastman instead of a horse. He was fast, couldmunicate, and even strong. ''But if I actually ride him, I feel like I''ll look bad.'' But it was a real feature in the game. Although Troy''s personality was a bit fierce, he was fine once he got close. But in Woosebeop, getting close to Troy was quite difficult. ''Hmm...'' I looked at Troy for a while and then nced at the iron bars of the prison. Getting him out of here was my priority. However, I couldn''t just release Troy. No matter how much he had been brainwashed so far, his basic strength was considerable. If Ipare it, he would be slightly stronger than Chester right now. He was strong enough topete with Terdius in Woosebeop. So if I opened the iron bars right now, he might hurt us and run away. Besides, he had wounds all over his body so I didn''t want to let him go. ''First of all.'' I opened my inventory and took out a medicine I had made beforehand when I made various kinds of medicines before leaving for Bahano. I opened the lid and sprayed the liquid on Troy. He flinched and shuddered. Then his body fell to the floor with a thud. "Ma-Master?" As Troy lost consciousness, Zain who had been watching behind me came up with a fuss. "Did you kill him?" He came up to me with a startled look. "Do you really think I would do that? I just put him to sleep." What I sprayed on Troy was a sleeping drug I had made in advance when I made various kinds of medicines before leaving for Bahano. "Oh, I see." "I''m going to take him and treat him. So open this up." I pointed to the iron bars with my chin and he followed my order with a nervous face. "You''re going to treat him? What if you get caught by the Rizes Church?" "They''ll make a fuss if he disappears, but they won''t know we took him." Zain still frowned with worry, but he obediently opened the iron gate. "Pick him up." "...Me?" "Then should I do it?" Zain pouted. But he obediently picked Troy up and put him on his back. I took out an extra robe from my inventory and covered Troy with it. I also hid his tail perfectly and went outside. I let Zain, who was carrying Troy, go up the stairs first, and I followed behind him. Suddenly, the iron bars next to where Troy was caught my attention. ''There...'' Like Rovel, there was also an underground prison. The people in there were those who were addicted to Happy. But unlike Rovel, most of them were close to ''monsterization''. So it was hard to save them right away. So today''s goal was only to rescue Troy Mont. I looked at the underground prison where people were for a while and turned my head. ''I''ll have toe back.'' I hoped they could hold on a little longer.
When we returned to the inn, it was already dawn. Fortunately, there was no sign of anyone after we left the Rizes Church chapel. The bastards of the Diego Church or Rizes Church only trusted ''Gaho'' and their security wasx. Thanks to that, we were able to bring Troy safely to the inn. "Huff, huff." Zainid Troy on the bed and breathed heavily. "He''s so damn heavy." I ignored his annoyance and looked at the message window that appeared in front of me. [Subquest ''Light of Hope'' 3. Clear!] [You have received the subquest reward.] [The subquest has been updated!] [Subquest ''Light of Hope'' 4. Description: You have rescued the beast within the time limit in Aldone Kingdom. Now, it is time to punish the Rizes Church that is trying to disrupt the kingdom. Objective: Eliminate the Rizes Church''s Aldone Branch within a week (This quest is a linked quest) Sess: Next quest clue Failure: - Final reward: ??? [Do you ept?] [Yes/No] In the original novel, the ''Light of Hope'' quest ended when I prevented the disaster. But now, the quest continued. Maybe it was because it knew my will. ''How interesting.'' I smiled faintly and epted the quest. Even if the quest ended here, I had no intention of letting the Rizes Church bastards go. This worked out well. Then, I turned my gaze to Troy, who was lying on the bed. There was a restraining device on Troy''s neck that contained magical powers. The High Priest Hamel used that to suppress Troy''s power and brainwash him to control him. "What is this...?" Zain, who had been annoyed until now, noticed my gaze and pointed at the restraining device and asked. "A restraining device. It must have been used to suppress the power of the Mont tribe." "They treated him like a beast. Those trashy bastards." Zain cursed and reached out to Troy''s restraining device. At that moment, I grabbed Zain''s wrist and stopped him. "Don''t touch it. It contains the power of the Rizes Church." "What? You mean..." "Only a High Priest could have made something with this much magic. Probably the High Priest in charge of Aldone." "...That''s evil." I reached out to the restraining device as I heard Zain''s muttering. Zain might not have felt the magic flowing from the device, but I could. A feeling so unpleasant and disgusting that it made my skin crawl. Maybe because my divine power from Kyros had grown stronger, I could sense it more clearly. "Master, be careful." "I''m fine." As soon as my hand touched the device, Zain looked at me with worry. I infused my divine power into the device. A warm sensation left my body, and the device glowed white. Pssst- The device, shrouded in white light, made a small cracking sound and disappeared. "Wow... You really look like the leader of a religion every time you do this." Zain eximed. I retorted that he should have known that by now and opened my inventory. Then I took out a healing potion and tilted Troy''s neck towards me before pouring it into his mouth. Even in his sleep, Troy gulped down the potion well. He must have been deprived of proper food and water by Hamel. Soon, Troy''s eyelids fluttered after he finished the potion. "Ugh..." Troy moaned softly and opened his eyes. The sleeping powder I sprayed on him was not ingested orally, so he woke up quickly. Troy''s yellow eyes looked at the ceiling. As I saw his focus returning slowly, I opened my mouth. "Did you sleep well?" I tried to sound as gentle as possible, but even that seemed to scare Troy. He startled and sat up abruptly. He then crouched on the bed like a cat, ready to jump out of it at any moment. "...!" He was clearly on guard. It was understandable, considering what he had gone through with Hamel. But I felt a bit hurt. ''I was nicer to him than in the Dominance route.'' I felt a bit bitter. In the Dominance route, I only yed by choosing the given options, so I didn''t do anything to heal Troy after I rescued him. That made it very hard to get close to him. ''But now I removed the restraining device and healed him.'' I smiled bitterly, trying to hide my feelings. "Are you feeling okay? It seems like you''re fully healed, but let me know if anything bothers you." Only then did Troy look at his own body. Most of the wounds on his body had disappeared, and there were hardly any scars left. He seemed to realize that and his eyes widened. Then he reached for his neck, where there was nothing. "Oh. I removed the device. You''re free." At that, Troy''s gaze turned to me. His eyes scanned me intently. He looked like he had something to say. But soon, Thud- Troy jumped out of the open window. Chapter 55 "Wha?!" I ran to the window with a surprised Zain, but Troy''s figure was nowhere to be seen. He was indeed fast as a ck panther beastman. "No, he just left without even saying thank you after the Master treated him." Zain seemed more flustered than me. Well, it was a pity. I wanted to get closer to Troy with this opportunity. If possible, I wanted to make Troy my ally. Of course, I didn''t want to force him if he didn''t want to, but it was something I could try. But seeing him run away like that, I couldn''t help it. "It''s okay." I didn''t care much anyway, because I had another purpose for going to Bahano Kingdom besides Troy. I was a bit worried about Troy, but he had already escaped from the Rizes Church once, so he wouldn''t be caught again. I thought so and turned away from the window.
Troy Mont left for his freedom. That''s how I saw it. But strange things started happening a few days ago. It''s been four days since I arrived in Aldone. Since Troy ran away from the inn, weird things started appearing on the window sill. Sometimes there were small wooden fruits, and sometimes there were small red gems. I wondered what they were at first. I thought maybe they were left by some animals living in Aldone. Then yesterday, I met someone''s eyes on a tree outside the inn. It was Troy, who was sitting crouched and looking at me. ''This is not like a magpie repaying a favor... No, he''s a panther, so maybe he''s like a tiger brother?'' It felt like a cat was giving me gifts. That''s why Troy seemed quite cute to me. He was taller and bigger than me. ---You have puppy grass today. I smiled as I touched the fluffy part of the puppy grass. Kyros'' voice came to me. Kyros appeared after Troy ran away from the inn, and he briefly exined what had happened during that time. So Kyros also knew about Troy. ''That''s right.'' I reached out my hand to the window and shook the puppy grass gently. Then arge bush under the inn shook violently even though there was no wind. ---He said he was a ck panther beastman, right? He''s really like a cat. ''Don''t you think? He seems pretty cute.'' I smiled and moved away from the window with the puppy grass in my hand. It''s been four days since arriving in Aldone. During that time, I kept an eye on the Rizes Church''s movements. Zain and I wandered around the Rizes Church chapel every night, and there was no big movement. I thought they would make a fuss about finding Troy, but they were quiet. In the original story, I think there were priests wandering around. Or not. I didn''t rescue Troy very often while doing Woosebeop, so I was a bit confused. ''...Well, anyway, I have to leave Aldone soon.'' Before that, I wanted to clean up the Rizes Church branch in Aldone. The quest also told me to kill them. Of course, there was no immediate reward for killing them, but I couldn''t just leave them alone.
The world was nketed by darkness, and only the moon was up. I put on a robe and said to Zain. "Let''s go, Zain." We rested well at the inn for a few days. There would be many things happening in the Bahano Kingdom too, so we took a break in advance. Of course, we didn''t just y around. We also made various potions. Anyway, today we had to finish our business in Aldone. That way we could get to Bahano before winter arrived. "Are you going to the Rizes Church?" Zain also followed me and put on a robe and got up from his seat. I nodded my head and answered. "I can''t just leave them alone." "Ugh. Fine." Zain looked annoyed but still moved obediently after me. We quietly left the inn and headed for Rasilren. There was no one on the way to the Rizes Church chapel. There were some vagrants asionally, but they didn''t care about us at all. I adjusted my hood and walked on when I felt someone following us. "...Master." Zain noticed the presence and whispered close to me. But the owner of the presence didn''t show any hostility or anything. I didn''t feel any magic from the Rizes Church or energy from the Diego Church either. ...I know who it is. "Just pretend you don''t know. He won''t hurt us." Zain nodded his head as if he understood and moved away from me slightly. We arrived at the Rizes Church chapel like that. The owner of the presence still followed us, but we pretended not to notice. We easily climbed over the wall as before. Then I felt a new emotion. It was hard to climb over the wall even in Rovel. Now I didn''t sweat at all. It was a great improvement. I smiled with joy when Kyros'' voice came to me. ---I''m so nervous. His voice sounded more nervous than mine. ---Do you want me to help you, baby? By manifesting myself. He said he would help me with his cute puppy appearance. It seemed like he would cheer me up, but, ''It''s okay. We can handle it ourselves.'' I didn''t want to cause any unnecessary trouble. As I said, we could handle it ourselves. I went straight to the back of the chapel with Zain. But I didn''t open the door to the underground prison as before. Today I was going to infiltrate the upper floor. "Zain." I pointed to a small door behind the chapel building. He skillfully opened the locked door. Creak. As we opened the door and entered, antern that illuminated the dark interior was shining. Thanks to thentern, we could see clearly. Zain and I entered the chapel and walked quietly. "Follow me quietly." "You should be quiet too, Master. I can do that better than you." I red at him once and moved on. The inside of the chapel was quiet at night. I took out a mace from my inventory and held it in my hand as I headed inside. I walked quietly and hid my body at the corner. Then I peeked out and saw some priests and soldiers walking down the hallway. There were four of them in total. I held my breath and signaled Zain. He nodded as if he understood. Thud, thud. The footsteps finally got closer, and their figures appeared. Thwack! I swung my mace right away. The soldier with a blue face vanished on the spot. Zain subdued two priests who were about to scream, and I took care of the remaining soldier. Thwack, thud! The fight was over without much noise. We had one goal here. To kill the High Priest Hamel in the chapel, and destroy the ''Blessing of the God''. If we destroyed the Blessing of the God, maybe we would get an achievement or a reward like we did in Rovel. It wouldn''t be bad to take over this town with that, but I didn''t really want to do that. It would be too much trouble to manage. I thought so as I dealt with the beast soldiers and priests in the hallway with my club. Soon, the hallway quieted. ''This is easier than I thought.'' It was simr to the difficulty level I saw in Woosebeop. There were more soldiers in Rovel, but it was easy because Terdius took care of them. But Aldone had much fewer soldiers, so Zain and I could handle them easily. ''Maybe it''s because the Rizes Church is more focused on Bahano.'' As I killed the beast-like soldiers and knocked out the priests, I got closer to the High Priest''s room. It would probably be easy to deal with the High Priest too. Aldone was just a gateway to Bahano in Woosebeop, so they must have adjusted the bnce ordingly. I thought so and opened the door to the High Priest''s room. There, a man with a rather beautiful appearance was sitting at a desk. The man with golden hair that was darker than mine and reached his waist smiled and said to us. "Wee. Nice to meet you." He acted as if he had been waiting for us. It was like this in the original story too. Hamel, the High Priest, was a cunning guy. But his power was not very strong, so it was easy to deal with him. "Did you know we wereing?" Zain stepped forward and asked Hamel. "Of course. It was noisy in the hallway." I thought we came as quietly as possible, but apparently not. Well, there were some beast soldiers who shrieked along the way. "Besides, I knew someone had infiltrated when my cat disappeared. So I waited. Once again, I thought you woulde." Hamel shrugged with a smile. Then he introduced himself with a saintly face. "I am Hamel, the High Priest of the Rizes Church''s Aldone Branch." "What, do you want to introduce yourself?" Zain asked sarcastically, and Hamel''s smile deepened. But his eyes were unsmiling. "I want to let you know who is killing you before your breath stops." That was the moment. A ck energy burst out from Hamel. Whoosh- In an instant, the whole office was covered with ck substance. "Ugh!" Zain groaned and twisted his body. I bit my lip hard. ''This is... God''s energy.'' My mistake. This guy had hidden this much energy. It was twice as strong as in the original story. The hidden route variable must have applied to him. "Now, it''s time for repentance." Hamel got up from his seat. The desk that blocked his way disappeared. Hamel took a step toward us. Then ck energy sprouted from behind him. It stretched out like arms and moved like tentacles. Soon, six ck tentacles rushed at me. Squeak! They were fast, but not invisible. Thwack! I swung my mace and knocked away the tentacles. ---Good job! Baby! You can do it! A smile came to my face. This was more fun than I thought. I was a bit surprised that he was stronger than in the original story, but I could handle it. "Ho ho, you''re quite good." Hamel''s smile disappeared for a moment. One after another, his arms turned ck like tentacles. Then he reached his hand out to me. I saw ck energy condensed in his hand. I realized what he was doing. ''Spiritual Release!'' I quickly stretched out my hand and released my spirit. Whoosh-! White light and ck light collided. Then both lights disappeared. But I saw it clearly. For a moment, Hamel''s feet were pushed back. I didn''t miss that moment. And I released my spirit again. Whoosh! As my spirit flew fast, Hamel stretched out both hands and spewed magic. He barely blocked my spirit and sweated while maintaining his smile. "What is this power?" The spirit that Hamel blocked spread around and destroyed the ck energy that surrounded us. Thanks to that, the original office was revealed. Crash! Something broke at that moment. At the same time. Thud-! Hamel''s chest was pierced. Chapter 56 This chapter is missing , we are fix soon ! Chapter 57 Troy was the one who called me, but why was Zain smirking with his lips curled up? To be precise, along with his mouth, one of his eyebrows was also raised. "I don''t know what kind of ce Kyros Church is. But I still want to follow you." Troy said to me with a serious look in his eyes. "I''ll do anything." His eyes seemed to beg me to ask him anything. "Okay. If that''s what you want." I answered with a pleased smile. I was already thinking it would be nice to have him, and he came to me voluntarily. How lucky. "Thank you!" Troy smiled brightly. It was a pure smile like a child''s. "Hey, I told you to be polite." Zain spoke again, as if he was displeased with Troy. "It doesn''t matter if the Leader is okay with it." But Troy didn''t back down. Eventually, Zain stepped back and looked at me. "I''m asking you again, can I speak informally to you too?" "Are you crazy?" "Tsk! So then, are we done here?" He asked with a sharp look in his eyes. Why are you ring at me? "We still have something to do." I said that and left the High Priest''s room. Zain and Troy followed behind me. "What do we have to do?" "We''re going to the underground prison. There are still people trapped there." "Oh..." As we left the High Priest''s room and entered the corridor, we saw Rizes Church priests scattered everywhere. ''How should I deal with Hamel''s corpse and the priests?'' Before, in Rovel, Terdius had killed them all, so I could clean up using the Purification Light. But the priests here were still alive. "Leader, can I take care of them?" Troy, who was also looking at the priests, asked me. His eyes sparkled. Somehow it felt ominous. ''Um...'' I nodded after a moment of hesitation and said. "Sure. Just don''t kill them." "I''ll just erase their memories and throw them out." He said that with a bright smile. His expression felt like pure evil somehow. But the method itself wasn''t bad, so I agreed. As soon as I did, Troy started to move hastily. Zain and I passed by Troy and moved along the path. The path leading to the underground prison. Only our footsteps broke the silence. Zain broke it further. "I heard that the sessor of the Mont tribe knows many spells, but it seems that guy is the sessor." "That''s right." ---Oh, really? Spells. Kyros eximed in wonder. "So that''s why he''s so rude." Zain added another insult to Troy, which I ignored as best as I could. He continued talking. "But if this ce bes Kyros Church''s Temple from now on, how will you manage it?" "I won''t do it right away. I have to deal with Bahano first, and then think about itter." "Hmm. Alphius or Chester can go back and forth here, so why don''t you ask the kids?" Zain asked me with a curious look in his eyes. This world didn''t have child protectionws developed, so he might think that way. "That would be hard for the kids. The Aldone Branch should be dealt with after Bahano''s matter is over." "I understand." We chatted as we walked and soon arrived at the underground prison. We pushed open an iron door that was not locked and entered inside. A corridor lit by torches appeared. We couldn''t see anything yet, but we could clearly feel a stale aura from inside. "Be careful." I warned Zain and walked quietly, killing my presence. It didn''t take long for the path to end. What appeared at the end of the path was a wide space. And inside it, "Kieek!" There were dozens of soldiers who had turned into monsters. "Wow! You scared me!" Whiik! Puk! Puk! I swung my mace at three monsters that rushed at me. And at the same time, I released holy power from my other hand that wasn''t holding the mace. "Kraaak!" The monsters vanished with a strange scream. Pwing- Puk! Puk! Zain was also engrossed in battle as much as I was. The arrows he shot with holy power pierced through the monsters'' heads and they turned into dust and disappeared. ---Good job, my kids! Puk! Puk! We killed and killed the monsters that ran at us until we finished cleaning up. Seeing theirbat skills improve day by day, I wondered if they had some talent for me. ---Awesome! My kids! "Hoo." I wiped off the sweat on my forehead and put the holy mace into my inventory. Zain was behind me, collecting the arrows that had fallen to the ground. Beyond him, I saw the iron bars of the underground prison. There were quite a lot of people locked up in the iron bars, simr to Rovel. But their condition was worse than the people in Rovel. The people of Aldone had most of their bodies dyed blue, and they made weird noises at me and Zain. "Krrr." They were no different from having lost their minds. But they hadn''tpletely turned blue yet, so there was a way to save them. "Ugh. They''re scary." "Don''t be afraid. They''re still closer to humans." ---That''s right. Yes. They''re not fully monsters yet, so they can be saved. ''Of course.'' I passed by Zain, who was reluctant, and approached the iron bars. Then I opened my inventory and used the Purification Light. Paaah-! A bright white light spread out in an instant and filled the underground prison. And that wasn''t all. This bright and warm light spread throughout Aldone. Seeing that, I closed my eyes. ''Why is this always so shy.'' Damn, I didn''t want to attract attention here. I didn''t know if the priests of the Diego Church who were heading to Bahano would be in Aldone. But I couldn''t help using the Purification Light. ''I can''t just watch them die.'' When I opened my eyes again, the people in the cell had returned to their original appearance. Their blue skin had turned back to human, and their cloudy eyes had regained their focus. ''The effect is good.'' "What on earth, how did you do this?" On the other hand, Zain, who was startled by the dazzling light, came up to me and asked. "It''s the power of Kyros." "Wow..." Zain eximed again. He was not the only one who couldn''t help admiring. "This, this can''t be. Finally... finally we''re back." "My mind is clear!" "Sniff, we''re not monsters anymore." "Wah, mom." The people each eximed, shed tears, and hugged each other. I smiled weakly at the sight. ''If I had known this, I wouldn''t have suffered for the past few days.'' For the past few days, I stayed at the inn not only to rest, but also to make a potion out of mandrake root, which was the antidote for Happy. The potionbined with mandrake root and healing skill was more effective than just eating the herb. I thought it would be good to use it on those who were almost transformed into monsters. ''...Well. Good is good.'' As I thought that, the people''s eyes were already focused on me. The system appeared at the same time. [The citizens of Aldone witnessed an amazing sight!] [Now they will focus on you!] [For 10 minutes, the probability of everyone here bing a follower of Kyros Church increases by 50%.] Huh, the event buff is simr to Rovel''s. It''s a great deal. "Did you save us?" "That white light... It felt like it washed us away. You did it, right? I think I saw it." Some of them must have been sane enough when I used the Purification Light. That''s good. As I was about to answer their questions, Zain stepped forward before me. "That''s right. This is Leviathan, the Leader of the Kyros Church. It was Kyros''s power that dwelled in him that saved you." "Kyros Church? Leviathan?" "He also defeated the Rizes Church that tormented you." He''s getting better at ying along. I couldn''t help smiling and opened my inventory. And I changed into my leader''s outfit. Then not only did the people''s eyes gather on me, but Zain also looked at me in surprise. Haven''t you seen it before? Ahem, ahem. First of all, I cleared my throat. Actually, I wanted to appeal to them as hard as before, but today I didn''t feel like it. The system message said that they would focus on me, not on my ''speech''. So this time I''m going to use a different method. I smiled at them with a sales pitch. "I am Leviathan, the leader of the Kyros Church. Kyros is always with you. And he will always take care of you. All he wants is your faith." That''s it for today''s sermon. What will steal their hearts is something else. I checked that their attention was only on me and took a deep breath. I decided to be as devout as possible. Then I closed my right eye and winked. Please, please let this work this time. Please! I have the system buff and the leader''s outfit buff, so please! [You have sessfully activated the title option ''Fan Service''!] [52 citizens of Aldone have be followers of Kyros Church!] Finally, it worked. This damn Fan Service. Actually, I was hesitant to use this option, but I was tired of exining everything to people every time. Of course, I didn''t preach that many times. But for some reason, I felt pressured toe up with new repertoire every time. How easy and nice it is to charm people with just a wink. I don''t even have to think about sermon sentences! "Ah, Kyros." "So that''s it. Kyros saved us." I smiled proudly as I listened to their stories. And I turned my eyes to the side. I met Zain''s eyes, who had a face like he had eaten shit. ...Damn.
"Thank you, Leader!" "Thank you so much!" I opened the door of the underground prison, freed the people who were trapped, and bid farewell to the followers. They greeted me and Zain earnestly as they left. "Someday we will open a temple here, so please visit us." I didn''t forget to promote with a sales smile. It was still a long way to open a branch of Kyros Church in Aldone, but you never know. As I watched the people go away, I opened my inventory and changed my clothes. I put away the leader''s outfit, put on the clothes I was wearing before, and turned my robe over. Then I felt a sharp look. "What? What?" "No, no." It was Zain. He had been smiling brightly with me as we bid farewell to the followers until a moment ago, but now he was looking at me with a strange look. "If you have something to say, just say it." "Well, if you say so... Leader... What was that just now? Did you get dust in your eye or something?" He narrowed his eyes and frowned as if he didn''t like my wink. I felt a bit defiant at his expression. "What do you mean? It''s my secret weapon." "Huh?" He seemed more confused. "I''m handsome, right? Everyone falls for me with one wink." Instead of being embarrassed, I went out with confidence. Zain''s face became more sour. Why are you picking a fight? ---My son, you did well. You make me proud. ''Haha. Thank you. I''m proud of myself too.'' Actually, I didn''t intend to increase the followers in Aldone... but since it turned out this way, I had no choice. I had to leave for Bahano as soon as possible. "Leader, everything is ready." Thud. I was startled and speechless. Troy suddenly appeared from above. This guy has a knack for surprising people like a ck panther beastman. "You scared me! Why did you pop out without a sound?" Zain was as surprised as me. "Good job, Troy." "No problem. By the way, I threw Hamel''s corpse to the monsters." He spoke casually as if he was saying ''I''m back from school''. Troy made me a little scared. And I wasn''t the only one. Zain''s face twisted even more, and he looked back and forth between me and Troy. He shook his head miserably. I could see himmenting in his mind. I left Zain behind and moved on. "Let''s go to Bahano." The dawn was breaking slowly. It was time to go to Bahano for real. Chapter 58 [Subquest ''Light of Hope'' 4. cleared!] [Subquest rewards will be given.] [Subquest updated!] [Subquest ''Light of Hope'' 5. Description: You have saved the Aldone Kingdom from the Rizes Church within the time limit. Now it is time to leave for Bahano. Objective: Reach the Bahano Kingdom within a week (This quest is a linked quest) Sess: Next quest clue Failure: - Final sess reward: ??? [Do you ept?] [Yes/No] I skimmed through the quest content and pressed ept. The quest update window appeared when I invoked the Blessing of Maseen in the Rizes Church''s Aldone Branch High Priest''s room, but there were so many notifications at that time that I postponed checking it. So I checked it now at the inn. ''It doesn''t change the fact that I have to go to Bahano anyway.'' We came back to the inn before leaving for Bahano. It was to pack up the things we hadn''t taken care of. Actually, most of my belongings were in my inventory, so I didn''t have much to pack, but Zain made a fuss about the knitted goods he made and came along. "Are you done?" "Yes. I''m done now." Zain smiled contentedly, holding a thick bag of his belongings. I was about to move when I saw Troy. ''...I can''t go out like this.'' Troy, who had been with us since we escaped from prison and dealt with Hamel, was still in Banra''s state. Fortunately, there were no people wandering around on the way back to the inn, but now it was morning and there would be a lot of eyes. Of course, Troy''s body was in a clean state unlike before, but the biggest problem was his tail. ''No matter how many races live on the continent...'' It wasn''t impossible to see them, but humans'' perception of other races was not very good. No matter how Zain and I had no prejudice, it wouldn''t make other people''s prejudice disappear. I took out an extra robe from my inventory. Troy looked surprised as if he had been watching me. "Master. Who are you? You can pull things out of thin air." The answer came from Zain, not me. "Master is an amazing person. So be respectful. Don''t talk informally." But Troy didn''t answer Zain''s words. He ignored him as if he didn''t care or didn''t know. I smiled softly and handed Troy the robe. "I know it''s ufortable, but wear it. We''re fine, but other people''s perception is not so good... I''m sorry." "No. It''s okay. I needed it. I don''t want to attract attention either. Thank you, Master." Somehow Troy''s words sounded sad, but I forced a smile. As I did so, Zain''s expression was not very pleasant. "Hey, are you ignoring me? Be polite to Master." Zain narrowed his eyebrows and spoke, but Troy ignored him again. He must have heard him with his developed hearing as a Mont race. As I chuckled softly, Zain red at me. So what, what are you going to do if you re at me? ---You two are cute. ''Ah, I disagree with that opinion. Zain is not cute.'' I left the inn chatting with Kyros, and the two followed me on both sides. ''Is it left money bug, right ck panther now?'' I smiled as I felt more secure around me.
There was no big trouble in getting a carriage to head for Bahano after leaving the inn. It was a long journey, but the coachman dly epted it when I offered him twice the money. I paid half of the advance and got on the carriage. The seats were quite soft, so my butt wouldn''t hurt even if I rode for a long time. As I leaned back on the seat, Zain sat across from me and Troy sat next to me. Then the carriage started moving. ''It starts again.'' I stared nkly out the window. At times like this, I missed modern culture. Public transportation, of course, but even a bicycle would have been nice. As I thought so, a voice broke the silence in the carriage. "Master." It was Troy who called me. Zain, who had been knitting quietly, flinched at his short speech, but he just red at Troy without saying anything else. "Why are you going to Bahano?" Come to think of it, I didn''t exin it to Troy. I looked into his golden eyes shining in the sunlight and whispered softly. "Because Kyros wants their salvation." "Salvation?" I nodded my head at Troy. "Yes. The current situation in Bahano is quite chaotic. ording to the information that Kyros gives me from time to time, there is also the Rizes Church there." At the mention of the Rizes Church, Troy''s expression turned cold in an instant. His fists clenched with force, showing his veins. "Then I''ll help too." There was a determined will in Troy''s eyes. "Thank you, Troy." "You were going to help anyway, but you didn''t want to if you didn''t like it?" "Don''t catch my tail, you petty human." "You two just don''t want to get along, do you?" Iughed for a moment at the sight of them bickering, but soon I wiped the smile off my face. Actually, I said so, but I was a little worried. I was able to save Troy in time and prevent him from going berserk in Bahano, but I couldn''t be sure. So I decided to keep a close eye on Troy when we arrived in Bahano. As we had a short conversation, the carriage ran hard and soon left the Aldone Kingdom. I closed my eyes as I saw the barrennd again. The journey to Bahano would take about three days. By the time we arrived in Bahano, it would be the end of autumn.
Bahano Royal Castle, top of the West Tower. Moonlight seeped through a small window. It was a deep night with a full moon, but the one trapped in the tower couldn''t sleep. There was a woman with ck hair and blue eyes at the corner where the moonlight touched. She sat on the floor with her legs hugged. Her blue eyes sparkled brilliantly in the bright moonlight. But her gaze was unfocused. "Is Bahano going to disappear into history now?" A tear streamed down the woman''s eye. ''How did ite to this?'' The woman''s name was Arhen Bahano. She was the Second Princess of the Bahano Kingdom and the third bloodline of the Bahano Royal Family. And she was the only one in the Royal Family who was still ''sane''. Arhen turned her head to the side. She saw the bars that confined her in her sight. And in front of the bars, there was a bottle of Happy rolling around, and next to it, there was a te with rotten bread crumbs. Arhen bit her lip at the sight of Happy. That was the cause of all this. ''The Rizes Church...'' The Rizes Church had entered the Bahano Kingdom less than a year ago. In that short or long time, one religion had swallowed up the kingdom. "Sigh." Arhen let out a small sigh. Her white breath was as thick as the cold air. She slowly closed her eyes. Arhen''s father, Hebius Bahano. The king of the Bahano Kingdom and a follower of the Rizes Church. Eventually, he was addicted to Happy and his whole body was almost dyed blue. Thest time Arhen saw her father, he could barely recognize Arhen''s face. ''I don''t know what''s in Happy, but it''s clear that it makes people lose their minds.'' And the situation was serious not only for Hebius, the current king. Arhen''s older brother, Haven Bahano, who would take over the throne next, was also in a simr situation. "Melina, Sister..." Arhen muttered softly. Melina Bahano, she was the one who did not lose hope and resisted her Father and the Rizes Church until the end in this desperate situation. Arhen''s sister, the First Princess, lost her life at the hands of her Father, the King, a few weeks ago. ''Father and Brother are not in their right minds.'' The only thing left now was her, Arhen, but she was locked up in a tower. If this goes on, there will be no more hope left in the Bahano Kingdom. ''If only I could get out of here, I would do anything.'' But it was a near-impossible assumption. The one who locked Arhen in the west tower was her Father, King Hebius. Of course, Arhen knew that it was ''Celos'', the High Priest of the Rizes Church''s Bahano Branch who was manipting him behind his back. So she appealed to her Father, but she couldn''t beat Celos. And they could have killed Arhen at any time, but they deliberately didn''t. ''To see me despair and crumble.'' Celos was such a malicious person. He offered Happy to Arhen but didn''t force her to eat it. ''Because I have no power or authority.'' They knew that and kept her alive. Unlike Melina, Arhen had nothing. Arhen who couldn''t pose any threat at all. That''s why the Rizes Church, including Celos, kept her alive as a toy. "But." Arhen clenched her fist tightly. ''I won''t give up.'' Her bright eyes shone in the moonlight. ''If I ever get power, I will risk my life to,'' Save this country. Arhen vowed firmly.
A bonfire burned on the barrennd. It was a little away from the road where carriages passed by, but it was perfect for camping because it was a t ground with almost no stones. Two makeshift tents were set up around the bonfire, and they were currently in use. Each one had a coachman and Zain was sleeping in it. And I was on guard duty with Troy by the bonfire. There was nothing to do for hours, so I just stared at the bonfire nkly. ''Fire-gazing is best done outdoors.'' I felt rxed as I watched the branches burn with a crackling sound. I felt like I could stare nkly for hours like this. "Master." It was then that I heard Troy''s voice. "...Yeah?" I hadn''t spoken for a long time, so my throat was dry. As I cleared my throat, Troy said something. "I hate the Rizes Church." "I know." I knew Troy''s past very well. I had seen it several times while ying Woosebeop. "They trampled on ournd and killed all my family and tribe." "...Yeah." "So I want to get rid of them all too." Troy''s eyes sparkled with firelight. I looked at him and closed my mouth for a moment. How should I tell him? I wondered about that. At that moment, a white light bloomed over the bonfire. As I saw the light flicker and take shape, I knew what was happening. ''Kyros.'' The light gradually changed into a small and cute puppy. It was Kyros'' manifestation. Then Troy''s eyes widened at the sudden situation. He was so surprised that he couldn''t say anything. I opened my mouth to him. "This is Kyros." "Is that really him? He''s smaller than me? He''s smaller than the children of our tribe." "Shh. Don''t say anything rude." Troy couldn''t believe his eyes. But soon, Kyros straightened his chest and opened his mouth. "Yes. I am Kyros, kid." Kyros appeared in the air and slowly floated towards Troy. Then Troy realized the reality and closed his mouth and knelt on the ground. "Ky, Kyros." "...Huh?" Chapter 59 Troy did not stop there and tried to hit his head on the floor. Fortunately, Kyros''s pink jelly paw touched Troy''s head and it was aborted. "There is no need for that, child. I just came to talk to you because I have something to say to you." "Oh, I see." I was a little surprised. Troy spoke politely to Kyros. I felt strange because I heard his polite speech for the first time. ''He wasn''t bad at speaking politely after all.'' Kyros and I had an insurmountable gap between human and God, so it couldn''t be helped... But I couldn''t help feeling a bit of bitterness and betrayal. On the other hand, Kyros spoke softly to Troy. "Child, I know everything about your situation." "Yes, Kyros, Sir." Troy quickly sat up straight. He knelt down and looked at Kyros, who was floating in the air. It was a sight I had seen before, but Kyros was still cute. But his words were solemn. "But child, revenge breeds more revenge." The puppy Kyros stared at Troy. Then Troy''s eyes wavered for a moment. Troy, who had been silent for a while, opened his mouth cautiously. "Sir Kyros, they took everything from me and trampled on me." "Yes. I know. Your sorrow, your pain, all of it. But child, sometimes you need to let go of the burden in your heart." "......" "Of course, I''m not forcing you. I don''t force anyone. I just want to tell you that being obsessed with revenge is hard to bear the weight of your heart." "Then what should I do?" Tears welled up in Troy''s eyes. "Let go of some of the burden in your heart. Revenge should not be the purpose of your life." "...Then what about my people? My family who were trampled by them..." Kyros''s front paw touched Troy''s hair again. He gently stroked Troy and said calmly. "I will take care of their souls. Don''t worry." Tears flowed from Troy''s eyes at the gentle and warm voice. Troy cried like a child, endlessly. Kyros quietlyforted him as he stroked him. When Troy''s crying stopped, Kyros returned to his spiritual body. I couldn''t say anything as I watched Troy''s tears. I couldn''t understand all of his feelings. But I also felt sorry for him. "...Troy, are you okay?" I opened my mouth carefully when Troy''s tears stopped. Troy looked at the bonfire instead of me and answered. "I don''t know." "Kyros meant well for you." It felt like I was being an old man, but it was true. Kyros wanted to lighten the burden that Troy had and give him some peace. "Kyros said that revenge breeds more revenge, and it bes a heavy burden that crushes people. The weight gets bigger and heavier." "...Yeah." "But Troy. Don''t worry." Then Troy''s gaze turned to me. I smiled faintly at Troy. "...?" I dered to Troy who didn''t know why. "The Rizes Church will eventually disappear from thisnd." Troy''s eyes widened a bit. More surprised than that was Kyros. ---Child? I hurriedly said to Kyros. ''I''m not saying that I''ll take revenge for Troy or anything like that. It''s just that thisnd will eventually be purified by Kyros'' power.'' ---Ah, yes. That''s right. Troy still looked puzzled. "What does that mean...?" "Just remember one thing. In the end, the Kyros Church will save this world." That''s the only way for me to live.
At the same time, somewhere in the Bahano Kingdom. It waste at night and there was no light except for the moonlight, but there were people wandering around the dark alleys. "Huh, huh!" He ran with something precious in his arms. "Don''t stand there!" "Stop! We can just share it!" Two other men ran after the man who ran away. The men who looked like vagrants cursed at each other as they ran. Then at some point, the man reached a dead end. "You should have stopped when I told you nicely." "What would you do if you were me? Huh?!" The man who held something in his arms leaned against the wall with no way out and shouted at the men who came closer. "Don''te near me! If youe closer, I''ll break this! You know this is all I have left, right? Huh?!" The man threatened them as he shouted, but the two men didn''t stop. They came closer slowly. "Why are you doing this? Why break it? If you break it, you can''t eat it either." "Yeah, yeah." The two men got closer and closer. Then, the man who was cornered by the wall took something out of his pocket with his free hand. "I told you not toe near me!" What he took out was a sharp dagger that shone with a silver light. But even though he swung it, the two men were rxed. "Are you going to stab me? Come on, try it." And as if to show off, one of them approached him. Puck! It was an unexpected thing. Blood gushed out from the man. The man who had been chasing the man who was cornered by the wall had a stiff expression on his face. "That''s why I told you!" The one who had the potion took out the blood-stained dagger. And he ran towards the remaining man. Puck! The man who was surprised by the sudden situation and couldn''t take any action also copsed. He was finally alone, and he had secured his Happy. "Damn it." The man cursed as he looked at the two corpses that fell beside him. Then he quickly opened the cap of the potion he was holding, the Happy, and gulped it down. His face, which was stained with horror, instantly sank into a blissful ecstasy. The guilt of killing someone, that sticky and unpleasant and heavy emotion, melted away with the Happy. "Aah, yes. This is all I need..." The man left the alley with a face full of joy. He looked almost peaceful. He staggered along the street and soon disappeared into the darkness. And on top of the highest building in the alley, two figures were watching him. Whoosh- A gust of wind blew. The man with purple hair who was standing on the building brushed his fluttering hair. "He gave up on being human. How disgusting." The man, Khalid, frowned as if he had seen something he didn''t want to see. The one standing next to him, Terdius, felt the same way. Terdius'' eyes narrowed. Seeing them kill each other for Happy, he felt very sick. "What are you going to do? Are you going to deal with him?" Khalid, who had been quietly watching the situation, turned his gaze to Terdius. Terdius didn''t answer. As if he was used to it, Khalid spoke again. "From what I can tell, the High Priest of the Rizes Church who ate Happy is stuck in the Royal Pce and won''te out. And it seems like there''s Maseen''s Blessing in the pce." "...This is getting troublesome." "Yeah. Unless we can break the Blessing, we can''t catch the High Priest. Well, we could kill him like we did this guy and wipe out all his underlings. But that''s another hassle." Bahano''s size was muchrger than Aldone nearby, so it wasn''t an easy task. Terdius raised one eyebrow as he watched Khalidin bitterly. He didn''t like how he casually spat out cruel words. "Even if we do that, they won''t fall apart." Terdius said, and Khalid chuckled. "I know. But I''m just bored of being here and doing nothing. And I don''t see any pretty things either." Khalid grabbed his shoulder and spun his arm. "Then go back. I''ll take care of this." "Can you do it alone?" It was a moment. Terdius'' cold gaze turned to Khalid. For a moment, even his killing intent rose. Then Khalid pretended to be surprised and held out both palms. "No, no, Third Lord. I''m not ignoring you. It''s just that even with the two of us here, it''s hard to break Maseen''s Blessing. Well, we could bring some guys and break it with their bodies. But that''s not your preferred method, right? Right?" Khalid smiled. As he said, there was a way to break Maseen''s Blessing with their bodies. It would cost the lives of several innocent people, but they could break the Blessing for a few seconds. But Terdius didn''t like that method. ''If there was another way...'' There was one more thing. The Leviathan of the Kyros Church, he knew how to do it. But unless he showed up in Bahano, it was almost impossible. "I don''t want to make you hate me either." Khalid smiled again, but Terdius'' gaze became colder. "We''ll wait for now." As they had done so far, it would be faster to find a way to lure the High Priest out than to destroy the Blessing. Khalid nodded reluctantly as he understood his intention. "Yes, yes. As you wish." Soon the two figures disappeared into the darkness.
As soon as day broke, we started moving again on our carriage. I looked closely at Troy''s face. He seemed to have relieved some of his burden fromst night''s conversation, and his expression was much more rxed. ---How do you like my skills, my boy? ''What can I say? You''re perfect.'' I praised Kyros dryly and turned my gaze away. I was terribly bored. Before I knew it, my eyes were drawn to Zain''s knitting. I had decided not to do it again, but I was tempted by having nothing else to do. "Zain." "Yes?" "I want to do it too." "...Again?" He didn''t say what he wanted to do, but Zain caught on right away. I nodded my head. But Zain looked displeased. "Do you want to make another weird rag?" "...I''m not trying to. I''m just bored." "Sigh." Zain sighed openly but handed me the knitting supplies anyway. Good. I tried to recall what Zain had taught mest time and moved my hands diligently. "Zain." It was then that Troy, who had been watching us silently, opened his mouth. It was almost the first time Troy had called Zain. I immediately looked at Zain. "...What." Zain answered coldly. "I want to try it too." "What? What do you want to try? Don''t tell me, knitting?" Troy nodded. I was surprised by his answer, and so was Zain. My goodness, Troy wanted to knit? A ck panther knitting? I was very surprised, but Zain''s face crumpled. He showed his dislike for Troy but handed him the extra knitting supplies anyway. "How do you do it?" "Ugh, really! How can you take it without knowing how to do it?" "Well... I saw you two doing it." Zain snapped at Troy, who shrugged his shoulders. He looked quite sullen. Zain flinched at that. "Sigh, fine. Just follow me." In the end, Zain gave in first and made a gesture of reconciliation. He unraveled the thread I had been doing and started to teach Troy from the beginning. "Master, please watch again too." "What? Why?" I had already learned it, why should I watch it again. As I looked at him with that expression, Zain''s eyebrows narrowed. "You''re doing it wrong right now too. If you keep doing that, it''s bound to be another rag." "...Really?" No wonder the thread kepting loose. In the end, I had to learn knitting from Zain again. Along with Troy. Chapter 60 [Subquest ''Light of Hope'' 5. Cleared!] [You will receive the subquest reward.] [Subquest updated!] [Subquest ''Light of Hope'' 6. Description: You have arrived at the Kingdom of Bahano within the time limit. Now it''s time to check out the situation in the capital of Bahano. Objective: Investigate what is happening in Bahano, the capital of the Kingdom of Bahano (This quest is a linked quest) Sess: Next quest clue Failure: - Final reward: ??? [Do you ept?] [Yes/No] Thanks to the carriage that ran hard for three days, we were able to reach the outskirts of Bahano quickly. I pressed the ''ept'' button for the quest and looked out the window. ''How beautiful.'' The trees in Bahano were colorful. As I admired the pretty autumn leaves, the carriage sped towards the capital of the Kingdom of Bahano. Meanwhile, I had been knitting diligently with the knitting supplies I received from Zain. But the result was as expected... "You see, I told you not to do it so sloppily like you, Master.: "I did just as you told me, why is it like this?" I didn''t know what the difference was between Zain and me, but I got scolded by Zain again. "Oh dear, what a waste of yarn. How do you keep making rags? That''s a skill too." Zain kept nagging at me as he looked at my finished product. As if he was venting all the stress he had received from me so far. And Troy, surprisingly, was much better at knitting than me. "How''s mine, Zain?" "Oh, not bad for a beginner." He was good enough to impress Zain. Unlike me, who had no learning skills, Troy copied the skills that Zain taught him very well. So Zain taught him more diligently. Thanks to that, Troy quickly made a decent scarf, and my existence soon faded away. Even though we were in the same space. ''But still...'' I was d that we arrived at Bahano without any major problems. I took in the sight of Bahano Castle in the distance. The castle, which looked like a white pce, was quite huge. The carriage stopped at Bahano, where the castle was visible. "Thank you very much." I paid the coachman generously and got off. The two who had been knitting until just before seemed reluctant to leave, but it was time to move. I went into a nearby inn with them. It was a bit pricey, but it was close to Bahano Castle. "This is your room." As soon as I entered the room that the innkeeper guided me to, I unpacked my luggage briefly and headed to the window. "It doesn''t feel like a capital." Zain came next to me and looked out the window with me. He was right. The atmosphere of Bahano was not very good. Even though it was a capital. ''It looks like corpses walking around.'' Just looking at the people passing by outside, they all had no energy and drooped shoulders. Some had blue spots all over their bodies, making them look like they were in Rovel for the first time. "That''s right. The capital is already addicted too." We already knew it since we had been looking out the window since we arrived at Bahano. Most of the cities in Bahano Kingdom were in this state. There were an absurd number of people addicted to Happy. ording to Usser''s Law, the current King of Bahano would also be seriously addicted to Happy, so how much more would his people be? ''But it''s lucky that we arrived earlier than expected.'' There was still time left before arge-scale monsterization urred. About ten days. My goal was to finish everything within that time.
Today, the first day we arrived at Bahano, I nned to rest. There was still plenty of time left, and the quest content was nothing but information gathering. "Come on out! It''s not good when it gets cold!" "I know, stop nagging." So we decided to eat at the restaurant on the first floor of the inn. Eating soup, sd, sausage, and beer felt like heaven. ''If only every day was like this.'' Unfortunately, time was not on my side. ---It looks delicious! I want to go out and eat too. Kyros whined as he bit into a sausage. Even though he didn''t need any food intake as a new God. ''I''ll be in trouble if you pop out now.'' ---Well, I''m just saying. At least that beer! ''You don''t need anything anyway, Kyros.'' ---Don''t you feel any taste? ''Next time, okay?'' As I was coaxing and soothing Kyros. Troy, who was sitting across from me, came into my sight. Troy devoured the food as if he had been starving for days. Oh, that guy. He must have been hungry for a long time. He didn''t get proper treatment in Aldone. I should have taken better care of him before we came to Bahano. Of course, we ate some jerky and simple bread on the way, but that must not have been enough. I ordered a few more dishes for Troy. I had more than enough money anyway. "It''s better than I expected." Zain seemed satisfied too, which made me happy. ng. The sound of the inn door opening was heard. Normally, I wouldn''t care about that side, but by chance, I was sitting in the direction where I could see the entrance. That is, the person who came in could see me too. "...Uh." And I almost dropped the sausage I was eating. The person who entered the inn was a very tall figure wearing a robe. Even though he was wearing a hood, I recognized who he was. His stature was very familiar to my eyes. He was much taller than ordinary people, with broad shoulders and muscr thighs. ''Why is he here?'' I quickly turned my eyes away. But he seemed to have noticed me too, as I felt his gaze. Thud, thud. His footsteps sounded louder than usual in the noisy restaurant. Please, I hope he doesn''t recognize me. Or at least pretend he didn''t. I wished for that, but the world was not on my side. "I didn''t expect to see you here." His low and heavy voice pierced my ears clearly, despite the noise around us. Damn. I swallowed a curse and lifted my head. There he was, standing next to me and looking down at me. Why do I have to meet him here again? Howe there are so many coincidences? Of course, I knew that there was a Diego Church apostle in Bahano Kingdom, as it was in the original work. But of all ces in this vast capital, I had to run into him at the inn where I was staying. ''Damn.'' I forced a smile. But still... maybe it''s not so bad. If it was another apostle, I don''t know, but since it''s Terdius. I tried to think positively and took a sip of beer. "That''s right." But why is he standing still? Terdius looked around and then turned his eyes to me. "It seems like there''s no seat left. Do you mind if I join you?" Oh,e on. There must be one somewhere. I looked around with that hope, but it was really crowded with customers. There weren''t that many tables in the first ce. ...Damn it. I wanted to kick him out, but my conscience pricked me a little. It was because I had left Terdius unconscious in his cave and left. And just then, Zain, who recognized him, greeted him without any tact. "Oh, nice to see you again. I''m d you look fine. If you can''t find a seat, you can sit here." He said that with a business-like smile, and I felt a surge of anger. But I couldn''t vent it because Terdius sat next to me. "Yeah. Thanks to whom." Terdius said that and nced at me. There was no malice in his eyes, but somehow his words had thorns. It stung. "Master. Do you know him?" Then, Troy, who had buried his face in the te and was engrossed in eating, asked me. There was sd sauce on his mouth. I handed him a napkin and answered. "Uh, just a little." It was very awkward to say how I knew him. I didn''t reveal who he was in his cave either, so how could I say that he was a Diego Church priest here? Fortunately, Terdius didn''t bother to exin his identity either. ''My throat is dry.'' I gulped down the beer. Actually, I had been drinking ever since Terdius appeared, but I didn''t feel any buzz. Meanwhile, the food and beer that Terdius ordered came out soon. He ate without saying much. What is it? Did he note looking for me? Did he just stop by for a meal and ran into me? ''...That would be a relief.'' ---My child, he seems quite friendly to you. That''s fortunate. ''Is that so?'' ---Yes. He''s behaving well now. If he wanted to harm you, he would have done it already. Hmm, I groaned and got up from my seat. It was hard to sit at the same table with Terdius. "Excuse me." I told Zain and Troy that I would go to the bathroom and got up. The dining table that had beenfortable until then became bleak as soon as Terdius appeared. So I pretended to go to the bathroom and headed to my room. ''I''ll just stay here until he leaves.'' I thought as I entered my room. "Leviathan." He followed me without me noticing and entered the room naturally. "No, why did you follow me here? And when did you follow me?" "Since you got up from your seat. Didn''t you notice?" ...I didn''t notice. Was I that dull? No, it was all because the inn wasplicated inside. "Anyway. Do you have something to say to me?" I tried to change the subject and saw his lips curl slightly. Did hee here to tease me? No way. That''s not it. Terdius had one reason to look for me. "I came here to deal with the Rizes Church in Bahano. And I want some help from you in the process." That meant he wanted my help in breaking through Maseen''s Blessing. I had done it before in Robel. "...Sorry, but I can''t do that. We''re here only for missionary work." Now that I knew that the Diego Church apostle in Bahano was Terdius, he wouldn''t harm me, so it wouldn''t be too dangerous. So I used missionary work as an excuse. "...Is that so." Oh, maybe he''ll back off easily. He epted it calmly, which was unexpected. "Then leave Bahano as soon as possible." ...Huh? "What? Why?" "Because you might get involved." What is he trying to do? At that moment, one setting shed through my mind. ''Could it be... no way?'' Chapter 61 What shed through my mind was a memory of thebat technique that the Diego Church often used against the major religions. The Diego Church had a unique way of breaking through the Protection of the gods. ''Sacrifice.'' It sounded like a noble word at first nce... but it required the ''sacrifice'' of people, literally using them as shields. If they pushed several people into the Protection, a gap would open for a moment. And they would enter through that gap. ''That''s not faith, that''s just meat shields!'' It was a cruel and brutal act, but they used it without any hesitation. Diego was originally an Evil God, and the Diego Church that served him sometimes used it too. The ultimate goal of the Evil God was to dominate humanity, so he didn''t easily kill them. But he didn''t hesitate to use them for his needs, which made him feel even more vicious. ''But...'' Terdius wouldn''t do such a thing voluntarily, given his personality. Of course, it was possible that his settings had changed since this world was a hidden route. "Well, then." While I was lost in thought, Terdius left without a word and disappeared. The open window rattled in the wind. ''...Ah, no way. It can''t be.''
After Terdius left, I resumed my meal. I told Zain and Troy that Terdius had some urgent business and left, and we finished our mealfortably. After that, we returned to our lodging and took a rest. Before long, Zain and Troy fell asleep. There were three single beds in the room we were staying in, so we could sleepfortably. But I couldn''t sleep at all. It was partly because of the snoring of the two, but mostly because of Terdius. ---Where are you going, my child? ''I''m going for a walk for a bit.'' ---Really? Okay. I''ll look around the temple. ''Yes. You do that.'' I answered Kyros briefly and put on a robe. I pulled the hood over my head and carefully left the lodging and went outside. I walked slowly and looked around. It was time to think about the quest. ''Investigate what''s happening in Bahano...'' What exactly did that mean? It was a quest that wasn''t in the original work, so it felt difficult. But my intuition, honed by many experiences of the Woosebeop, told me. If I wanted to get a hint, I had to listen to ''rumors'' or recognize the ''situation'' that was happening somewhere. ''Hmm.'' I looked around first. There were people lying around everywhere, addicted to Happy. There were also people who walked like zombies. ''It''s brutal.'' I saw the same scene as I did in Rovel for the first time in a long time. ''It''s also unpleasant.'' I felt like I was the only survivor of a zombie apocalypse. At least the zombies didn''t attack me, which was a relief. As I scanned their faces and walked, I soon entered a dark ce. It wasn''t as narrow as an alley, but it was dark because the moonlight didn''t shine well. Thud! Someone suddenly appeared. It was as if he fell from the sky, literally appearing in front of me in an instant. Could it be Troy? I thought and looked up. And I opened my eyes wide. The purple hair fluttering in the night wind, the beautiful appearance that stood out even in the darkness, and the body of a Banra. Damn. It was Khalid. ''Is this why Terdius told me to leave Bahano?'' Damn. While I was cursing in my mind, Khalid took a step toward me. "Where did that nice smelle from? It''s you, Leviathan." Khalid smiled and approached me. His appearance made me shiver for a moment, and my body stiffened. It was true that people couldn''t scream or move when they were too scared. But I had to calm down. I stared at Khalid and quickly racked my brain. There were two apostles of the Diego Church looking for Bahano in the original work. Of course, there could be more since this was a hidden route. But for now, the apostles of the Diego Church in Bahano were Terdius and Khalid. The good thing was, if Khalid was here, it meant that Terdius was nearby too. ''...Or not? He should be.'' Judging by the fact that I ran into him at the inn during the day, Terdius must be around. So I just had to hold on until he found me. Khalid probably wouldn''t kill me easily. "Hello, Leviathan." Khalid smiled with a clear eye that showed no sign of what he was thinking. And he raised his hand to greet me. I reluctantly lifted the corners of my mouth and greeted him back. "Yes, hello." Khalid quickly came closer. He took off the hood I was wearing and reached out his hand. His hand grabbed my chin and lifted it. I looked straight into Khalid''s eyes. "You''re still pretty." It was apliment that others would be happy to hear, but my feelings were just one. Scary, damn. I couldn''t show any signs of wavering. I pretended to be calm and said. "Thank you for thepliment." I hated this guy. I hated him so much, but I didn''t show it on the outside. Especially when I thought of what happened in the Cartel Forestst time, I wanted to swing a mace at Khalid, but my life was precious. I had to endure. Yes. "But what are you doing here? I never thought I''d see you in Bahano." Khalid smiled sweetly and let go of my face. The ce where he had held me briefly felt numb. As I rubbed my chin, he spoke again. "Did youe here for the Kyros Church''s business?" I hated Khalid. "I just came to visit as a missionary." I answered tly, but Khalid pped his hands and was delighted. Where did the apusee from? "Really, is that so? I''m quite lucky. To see you here." He smiled prettily, as if he could charm anyone, male or female. But I was immune. Kyros was much more beautiful. That''s when it happened. A whip appeared in his hand. ''Oh no, don''t tell me.'' I quickly backed away. But Khalid was faster. Whip- Snap! The whip danced in Khalid''s hand and in a blink of an eye, he grabbed my right wrist. "Argh!" A sharp pain shot through my wrist. "Where do you think you''re going?" "W-what are you doing?" I bit my lip. "I''m taking you to my mansion, of course." Suddenly, the moonlight illuminated Khalid''s face. His eyes glowed with madness. ''This pervert!'' I tried to call the kids right away. But. ng-! A sword energy flew from somewhere and cut off the whip that bound my hand. At the same time, a strong wind brushed past my ear. "Argh!" Khalid let out a pained groan. Terdius, who had appeared out of nowhere, was holding Khalid''s whip-wielding hand tightly. ''If you''re going toe,e faster.'' But thanks to Terdius, I preserved my life. I nced at the two of them and then looked at my wrist. I wondered if it was bleeding from the pain, but fortunately, it was only bruised. "What are you doing, Fifth Apostle." Even as I thought that, Terdius didn''t let go of Khalid''s wrist. "Huh, what about you? What are you doing?" Khalid''s brow furrowed. But Terdius'' eyes were also fierce. "Don''t touch him." "What?" "The moment you touch him, it won''t end with this." Terdius'' sword was pointed at Khalid''s throat since who knows when. ''He''s stronger than I thought.'' Khalid was not weak either, but Terdius from the hidden route was no less than him. I hadn''t noticed it much until then. "Ha, fine." Khalid looked at me with a dumbfounded expression. Then his lips twisted into a smirk. "Well, there will be another chance." ck! Khalid quickly shook off Terdius'' hand. And he disappeared into the darkness in an instant. As I was looking at the spot where Khalid had vanished. Terdius came to my side. "Leviathan, are you okay?" "Ah, yes. Well..." He saved me. Terdius, he must have remembered the oath he made with me. I almost got into big trouble. "Thank you." "No." Terdius stared at my wrist and took something out of his pocket. And he handed it to me. It was a flute smaller than his palm. Why was he giving me this? "If you need me in this city, blow this. I''ll help you once." "No, why..." But Terdius didn''t answer me and disappeared. In my hand, only the flute that Terdius gave me remained. ''Thanks for saving me, but.'' Why did he help me? I didn''t understand. But I kept the flute anyway.
On top of a tall building. Terdius was standing there. He was watching Leviathan''s back as he walked back to his lodging after standing on the street for a while. ''Why did I...'' He wondered in his head. A while ago, giving the flute to Leviathan was something that even Terdius himself didn''t understand. In fact, even going into the inn during the day was like someone was telling him to go in and he moved his feet as if he was bewitched. ''Did he... Did he somehow pull me in?'' He met Leviathan there and then he felt like the fog that filled his head clear up a bit. And it was the same now. Even though he only stayed by Leviathan''s side for a moment, his head felt clearer. It was obvious that it was because of that. He didn''t save him because of the oath he made with Leviathan, but because he felt a strange urge to save him. ''It''s weird. But...'' He couldn''t resist that urge. That mysterious feeling was like a sense that was inherent in his instinct.
The next day, I woke up from my sleep in thete afternoon. I had spent a lot of energy on the walk I tookst night because I couldn''t sleep. But I didn''t bother to exin what happenedst night to Zain and Troy. I just told Zain to be careful because I thought I saw the guy I met in the Cartel Forestst time. I also told Troy to watch out for some crazy guy. And so, when the night was deep. I left the lodging with Troy and Zain. ''I''ll never wander around alone at night again.'' I learned that for sure fromst night. "We''re heading to the Rizes Church, right?" "Yeah. Kyros told us where the capital branch of the Rizes Church is." It was information that I already knew, but it was also information that Kyros imparted to me through prayer. We headed straight there. Chapter 62 The original infiltration route of the Rizes Church was from the countryside, where the influence of the government and the Diego Church was the weakest. They always prioritized infiltrating the viges that were the hardest for the state or the Diego Church to notice when they expanded their power. But Bahano was different. The Rizes Church had already upied the Kingdom, so their branch was in the capital. ''I wonder if the Diego Church knows that.'' It doesn''t matter if they didn''t catch on. I don''t need to worry about that. Anyway, we headed to a ce a few blocks away from our lodging. There was a passage in the basement of a building that was a fruit shop during the day, which led to the Rizes Church''s chapel. "From now on, keep your mind sharp." As we were walking, I heard Zain talking to Troy. "Don''t let your eyes wander to useless ces. It could endanger us all." "I know. Don''t worry. Just do your job, Zain." "Geez, look at this guy." Somehow, the two of them seemed to get along, but then they went back to their usual selves. I ignored their conversation and looked around. Without stopping, we soon arrived near the building where the Rizes Church''s branch was. But at that moment, I felt a strange sensation. ''...It''s gone.'' And that sensation told me a very simple but important fact. There was no ''Divine Protection'' here. I could feel the sinister energy of the Divine, but not the energy of the Divine Protection. ''There''s no possibility that they hid it well... There''s no way they could hide such a strong energy.'' It was a disaster. The plot had changed again from the original. The hidden route had changed here. [Sub Quest ''Light of Hope'' 6. Clear!] [Sub Quest Reward will be given.] [Sub Quest Update!] [Sub Quest ''Light of Hope'' 7. Content: You have learned the situation of the capital Bahano. Now it''s time to check the secret of Bahano Castle. Objective: Find out the hidden secret of Bahano Castle (This quest is a linked quest) Sess: Next quest clue Failure: - Final Sess Reward: ??? [Do you ept?] [Yes/No] As soon as I realized the situation, a system window appeared. As I read it through, I could understand what the system wanted to tell me. It was like a navigation that reset the information that had changed from what I knew in real time. ''As expected, this system...'' It seems to be tailored to me. But the important thing was not the system. It was the objective of the quest, ''the hidden secret of Bahano Castle.'' As I saw it, one hypothesis came to mind. ''Yeah, this is the most likely.'' The High Priest of the Rizes Church''s Bahano Branch had the King of Bahano in his hand. So the most likely ce where the High Priest, who was not in the chapel, had gone to was Bahano Castle. And the reason why there was no Divine Protection in the chapel... Oh, damn. I forgot about that. The High Priest of Bahano was different from the High Priests other branches. He also carried the Divine Protection with him. He was a man who valued his life terribly. Then the Divine Protection would be in the castle with the High Priest. ''Damn hidden route.'' In the end, I had to change my destination. If they were going to adjust it anyway, they should have told me sooner. "...We''re going to the castle." "Huh? The castle, all of a sudden?" Zain asked me with a surprised look at my somewhat abrupt words. "What are you going to do there?" "This is the ce where Lord Kyros told us the Rizes Church''s branch is, but I can''t feel the Divine Protection." ---I see. The whole Bahano was covered with the Divine''s energy, so I waste to notice. You''re right, my child. Kyros was in a spiritual state, so he couldn''t help but bete to notice. "Really...?" "This is my guess, but there might be something going on in the castle. On the way here, I saw the state of the Bahano people, and there were many people who were seriously addicted to Happy even in the capital where the castle is." As I continued, Zain and Troy''s expressions became serious. I took a breath and added. "That means, there''s a high possibility that the royal family is not functioning properly. In other words, the royal family might have been eaten up by the Rizes Church already." As soon as I finished, a light appeared in the air and Kyros materialized. The little puppy looked straight at the castle. "That''s right, that''s right." Sniff sniff, Kyros sniffed the smell from the castle and Zain and Troy were surprised. Troy was about to kneel, but Zain stopped him. "There''s a very malicious smelling from there. But, my children. You have to be careful. It''s much more poisonous than any smell I''ve smelled before." Kyros looked at me with worried eyes. I stroked his soft fur and answered. "Yes. Don''t worry, Lord Kyros. We''re not going to do anything to the Rizes Church right now, we''re just going to investigate." Zain looked at me with a suspicious eye, but my words were sincere. This matter could cost us our lives if we moved rashly.
We headed straight to the castle. The way to Bahano Castle was not very difficult. It waste, so there were few people, and we were able to reach the vicinity of the castle without being noticed by anyone. The problem was... "The security is quite tight." The entrance of the castle was guarded by several heavily armed guards. Zain, Troy, and I hid in the bushes near the castle and watched the situation. Kyros had returned to his spiritual state, saying he didn''t want to be a bother. ---The security is strict, it looks hard to break through. ''Yes. That''s why I''m worried.'' ---And I can feel the Divine Protection here. ''So it was.'' My guess was exactly right. The objective of the quest pointed to the castle for this reason. "What do we do?" "Let''s watch a little more. Today we''re just here to look around, so we have to avoid leaving any traces as much as possible." I examined the situation. There were twenty guards in total. More than five of them were wandering around the entrance. We would definitely get caught if we went in from the front. I had some drugs that I could use, but that would make the security strongerter. As I was pondering for a new solution, I saw an old spire in the distance that looked like it could copse at any moment. ''Wait, that is... That tower must be...'' I remembered a method I used when I yed Woosebeop, a game. It was a secret path I identally discovered after ying the game several times, a way to sneak into Bahano''s royal castle. It was heading towards the ''West Tower'' that was separated from the castle. ''This is where being a veteran pays off.'' The quest''s objective also pointed to this direction, so the task became easier. Fortunately, the West Tower area was also the weakest in terms of Maseen''s Protection. So even if we infiltrated, Maseen''s ''children'' inside would not notice us. "Let''s go to that tower over there." "That old tower?" When I pointed to the tower with my hand, Zain asked me. I nodded and said softly. "Yes. The n is to cross over the wall of that ce. The West Tower area has the weakest Maseen''s Protection." The Protection''s range was quite wide, but it was still limited. If we could solve the problem by breaking through Maseen''s Protection as before, we could enter from the front, but today''s goal was not that. "So we won''t leave much trace even if we infiltrate. After that, we''ll check the patrol routes of the castle guards from the spire, and decide whether to go further or not." ---Yes, my child. Be careful as much as possible. I don''t know who they are, but they are very powerful beings. ''Yes, Kyros.'' I ryed Kyros''s words to Zain and Troy. "I understand." "I will follow the Leader''s words." Thankfully, they answered sensibly, and we started to move cautiously. We avoided the guards'' eyes and used the bushes behind us to move carefully. After a few minutes, we stood in front of the wall closest to the West Tower. This ce was quite far from the main gate, and it was dark, so the guards would not spot us easily. I first took out a potion from my inventory and handed it to Troy. "Drink, Troy. You still need to drink this to break through Maseen''s Protection." Unlike me and Zain, Troy still had no divine power, so this was a necessary step. "I got it." Troy drank the potion without a word. After confirming that he emptied it, I thought for a moment. The remaining problem was, how to climb this wall. ''It''s much higher than I thought from the game.'' The wall of Rizes Bridge that I had crossed so far was much lower than the castle''s. But the castle''s wall was at least twice as high as Rizes Bridge''s. That meant, no ordinary person could cross it with their strength. ''Is there no good way...'' As I thought, I caught Troy''s eye. Oh, right. "Leader, do we have to cross over here? If so, I''ll help." There was a ck panther beastman! I had forgotten about that for a moment. Meanwhile, Troy, who had a clear pride in his eyes, said to me. "I''ll take the Leader inside. I''m enough." "Thanks, Troy. I''m d you''re here." "No. But Zain, are youing with us?" At Troy''s question, Zain was a bit surprised. "Huh, huh?" "I''ll take that as a yes." Zain didn''t give a clear answer, but Troy didn''t bother to add more. And then I witnessed an amazing sight. Troy''s body grew longer and soon ck fur sprouted. "Wow..." As Zain let out an exmation unknowingly, Troy transformed into a ck panther in an instant. I couldn''t close my mouth at the sight of the ck panther with a yellow glow in his eyes, whose size was twice as big as a human. "Wow..." I was d there was no one around. Troy, you''re so big. I didn''t know you were this big from Woosebeop, since there was no cutscene or anything. "Leader, get on." At Troy''s words, I came to my senses. Then I saw Zain''s face in my sight. He looked as surprised as I was. "Leader." "Huh, yeah." Troy gestured to his back with his head. I immediately approached Troy and grabbed his fur. It was soft. No, this is not the time. "Wait, Troy. Do you feel any presence inside?" Troy sniffed, moving his nose hard. "There''s no guard around here, or beyond the wall." As expected. There was hardly any guard around the West Tower in Woosebeop. ''That''s a relief.'' "Get on, Leader." I couldn''t resist Troy''s urging and moved quickly. As I grabbed Troy''s back and climbed up, a back wider than a horse greeted me. It was a bit ufortable, but it was okay without a saddle because the fur was fluffy. ''But this is the first time I''ve ridden a ck panther, where should I hold?'' For now, I grabbed a bit of Troy''s back fur. In the meantime, I saw Zain''s cringing figure. "Zain, you get on too. Hurry." At Troy''s urging, Zain came to his senses and approached. Zain climbed up behind me with a little admiration. "Hold on tight." "Where exactly?" "Anywhere." As Troy said, I held the fur I was holding tighter. The view changed at the same time. Whoosh- A strong wind blew as Troy flew into the sky. Is this flying...? As I was admiring, we crossed the wall in an instant. For a moment, I felt like I was in an amusement park. I almost screamed, but barely held it back. Thump, thump. My heart pounded with a pleasant tension. This is pretty fun. "You can get off now." As soon as Troy gave me permission, I got off. This was really fun. I should ask him to do this again next time. "Huh." As I was excited, I heard Zain''s sigh next to me. He looked dazed. He must have enjoyed it too. ---My child, you look happy. ''It was more fun than I thought.'' ---Really? Next time, I''ll do it for you. Kyros''s words made me imagine myself riding on a small puppy. ''That''s a bit...'' ---I, I can do it too! Kyros tried hard to appeal, but I didn''t ept it. Chapter 63 After Zain came down with a stunned look on his face, Troy resumed his human form. Zain stared nkly at him for a while before closing his mouth. He must have realized that he shouldn''t mess with Troy. Anyway, now that we had crossed the wall and infiltrated the Pce, all that was left was to head to the west tower. "Let''s take a look at the Pce from there first." "It''s quite high, so it should be fine." I nodded at Zain''s words, who had regained his senses. The distance between the wall and the west tower was not very far. We moved along the nearby roads, keeping our presence low. As Troy said, there was no guard at all. "But where is the entrance...?" "It seems to be here." I left Zain and Troy, who were looking around, and headed to the back. The entrance to the west tower was hidden behind. Thanks to that, the guards wouldn''t be able to spot us easily. "Oh, it''s locked." Zain smiled as he saw the lock on the entrance. Then Troy pondered for a moment and said. "Should I break it?" "No, it''s okay." We couldn''t make a loud noise here. I stopped Troy and nodded at Zain. Zain understood my intention and took out a master key from his pocket. ''This guy, he''s really useful.'' "Wow, amazing. Zain. You have a great ability." Zain licked his lips as he heard Troy''s words and worked hard on the lock. And finally, the lock opened, and Zain opened the door. "I''ll go first." Troy stepped forward and entered. The kid, he''s so nice. There was nothing inside the tower. The only thing there was was a spiral staircase that seemed to go on forever. We didn''t bother to talk andmunicated with each other with eye signals. Troy led the way up the stone stairs, followed by me, and Zain was at the end. The top of the tower was very dark. Only the flickering of themps on the walls made it possible to see in front. The only sound that could be heard in the silence was the footsteps of climbing the stairs. And as we climbed and climbed, we finally reached the top. "What is this..." There was an iron cage at the top of the west tower. And inside it... a woman was lying on the floor. At the same time, a quest window appeared. [Sub Quest ''Light of Hope'' 7. Clear!] [Sub Quest Reward will be given.] [Sub Quest Update!] [Sub Quest ''Light of Hope'' 8. Content: You have learned the secret of Bahano Pce. Rescue the princess who is trapped there. Goal: Save the Princess Arhen Bahano of Bahano Kingdom (This quest is a linked quest) Sess: Next quest clue Failure: - Final Sess Reward: ??? [Do you ept?] [Yes/No] I pressed the quest''s ''ept'' button right away. I knew I would meet this person since the secret of Bahano Pce came out. ''Anyway... I finally met her.'' Arhen Bahano.
Arhen Bahano. She appears as a capable ruler in the Usser Law. Of course, that''s only possible in the scenario where I prevented the disaster. "What? There''s a person in here...?" Zain muttered with a surprised look. "I know, right. I was just thinking of looking at the Pce from this tower." I pretended to be surprised too. "I knew it. But I was too weak to say anything. I went ahead in case this person would attack us..." Troy seemed to have noticed it too. ---Unexpected, isn''t it? There''s a person in here. ''Yeah, it is. I was very surprised.'' At that moment, the eyelids of Arhen, who was asleep, fluttered and revealed her blue eyes. Arhen quickly looked at us and got up. "Who, who are you!" Arhen backed away. She had nowhere else to go, so she leaned against the wall. The woman with dark hair and blue eyes was wary of us. I quickly took off the hood I was wearing. And I spoke with the most harmless face I could muster. "I''m sorry if I scared you. We''re just visitors." "Did Celos send you? To make me take that medicine? You should know what my answer is!" Arhen shouted. "Who is Celos? We''re not the ones he sent." I pretended not to know, but Arhen''s guard didn''t lower. She red at me and raised her voice. "Who else, the wicked High Priest of the Rizes Church who deceived my father! How dare you try to mock me? Even if I''m exiled in this ce, I''m the Princess of this country. I''m not someone you can treat as you please!" Arhen''s hand was trembling with fear. But her eyes were firm. ---My child, she''s not addicted to that medicine. And she''s a very brave girl with a clear mind. ''Is that so?'' ---Yes. Can''t you get her out of here? It''s very pitiful. ''Well, I was thinking of doing that anyway.'' As I was talking to Kyros for a while, Zain, who was quietly watching the situation, whispered to me. "Master, I know who the exiled princess of Bahano is." He seemed to have heard of Arhen before. "From what I know, she matches the appearance of Princess Arhen Bahano." "Really?" Zain nodded confidently. I looked at him and approached the iron cage. Arhen seemed to have calmed down a bit. "Princess, I''m sorry if I startled you. We''re from the Herpheon Empire. And I''m Leviathan, the leader of the Kyros Church." "What? You came from Herpheon...?" "Yes." "...Now that I think about it, that ent, it''s the Imperialnguage." She was still on guard, but she listened to my words calmly. It seemed like we could have a conversation. "Yes. And this is my servant Zain, and this is Troy, who is from the Mont tribe." Mont tribe. Arhen''s eyes widened a little at that word. "Mont tribe... Aren''t they the ones who were massacred by the oppression of the Rizes Church? There were survivors?" Arhen was in a situation where she was exiled in the tower, but she had a lot of information because she was quick to notice and assess the situation before. She was exiled to the west tower about two months ago, so she must have heard about the Mont tribe before that. As Arhen''s expression softened a bit at the mention of the Mont tribe, Troy took off his hood tactfully. He also lifted the robe he had worn when he entered the tower and showed his tail. Arhen''s guardpletely disappeared then. "So you are... not sent by Celos." "That''s right. We came here by chance. To put it simply..." I told Arhen a brief summary of the story. The Kyros Church was opposing the Rizes Church, and we had dealt with the Rizes Church in Aldone. And we came to Bahano to follow the will of the God of Beauty, Kyros, and help this ce. "Is that true?" "Yes." I even gave her a friendly smile. But Arhen''s expression was not very bright. She had lowered her guard a lot, but her face was full of worries. "I understand your intentions and your hearts. But... there are only three of you. You can''t save Bahano by yourselves. Aldone might have been possible because the Rizes Church''s influence was not that strong there, but this is not. Bahano is... even my father, the King, is being yed by Celos." "I see. But we won''t back down. We won''t give up either." Arhen Bahano. She was a persistent and strong-minded person, more than anyone else. So if we showed her our will, she might join us. More than anything, we needed Arhen''s help to seed in ''Bahano''s salvation''. "Princess, won''t you join us?" It was a silent moment. Troy, who had been quiet until then, opened his mouth. But this guy, he was respectful to Kyros, but he was rude to the Princess. Maybe he doesn''t think humans are worthy of respect. "I lost everything to the Rizes Church. My tribe, the vastnd, my family. And when I was in an endless swamp. The Leader saved me." Troy appealed to Arhen with his eyes that were crude but sincere. "The Leader fought against the High Priest of Aldone alone, and he broke the Protection of the Demon God there. There are still followers of the Kyros Church in Aldone." Troy looked at me once and continued. "I won''t ask you to believe me easily. Just don''t miss the opportunity. I will help the Leader to save thisnd. So that there won''t be any more people like me." Troy''s words had no embellishment to deceive the other. But rather, his honest crudeness gave me reassurance. I had thought of Troy as a great means of transportation until now. I''m touched. ---It seems that the darkness of his heart has lifted. ''Yeah, it does.'' As I was proudly looking at Troy, I heard Arhen''s voice. "...You''re right. I was arrogant. I''m not in a position to choose anything right now. Even if you are a trap sent by Celos, even if you fail to save Bahano. Nothing will change if I just stay here. So." She smiled self-deprecatingly, and then looked determined. "Even if it''s a thorny path, I have to walk it."
[Sub Quest ''Light of Hope'' 8. Clear!] [Sub Quest Reward will be given.] [Sub Quest Update!] [Sub Quest ''Light of Hope'' 9. Content: You have rescued the Princess who was trapped in Bahano Pce. Now it''s time to save Bahano Kingdom with her. Goal: Save Bahano Kingdom (This quest is a linked quest) Final Sess Reward: ??? Failure: The destruction of Bahano Kingdom [Do you ept?] [Yes/No] I sighed softly. There was no penalty for failing the quest until now, but maybe it was because it was the final quest now. ''Failure means the destruction of the Bahano Kingdom.'' And the final sess reward was still not shown. It was a bit uneasy, but I couldn''t refuse aftering this far. I pressed the quest eptance. "I''m sorry for doubting you." Arhen said bitterly. We were now back at the inn after rescuing Arhen from the tower. It wasn''t too hard to get back to the inn since we gave her a robe. She seemed to have rxed a bit after arriving at the inn, but she was still a little suspicious of us. "No, it''s okay. I would have doubted you endlessly too." "...I''m sorry. I should have treated you, but instead I only received your help." "It''s okay. Just eat this first." I handed Arhen some bread. She looked quite thin under the brightmp. It was toote for a decent meal, so I gave her some bread, and she ate it right away. "Thank you." She ate the bread quickly. She also gulped down the water that Zain gave her. When she had filled her stomach a bit, I opened my mouth. "I want to hear what happened in Bahano during this time." Chapter 64 When was silent for a moment. She closed her eyes and then opened them again. She parted her lips and spoke. "About ten months ago, the Rizes Church entered Bahano." When the Rizes Church first infiltrated Bahano, they started from the small viges, just like they did with other branches. The only difference was that they soon requested an audience with the King. It was not umon for religious groups to visit the King as a courtesy, so the King of Bahano epted their request. The Rizes Church offered the King arge amount of jewels and gold coins, and secretly gave him Happy. The King of Bahano was a hedonist by nature, so he took it without hesitation. ''He was always like that. Simple, stupid, and ipetent.'' I was not surprised. He was not a very important character, but anyone who yed the game would know what kind of King he was. Meanwhile, Arhen seemed to understand my nod and continued her story. "They must have known that my father enjoyed pleasures and approached him ordingly." Arhen bit her lip slightly and resumed her speech. After the King of Bahano received Happy from the Rizes Church, it didn''t take long for him to bepletely addicted to it. That''s when it started. The King began to get close to the High Priest of the Rizes Church, Celos. Celos, who received the King''s favor, naturally gained power, and the Rizes Church, backed by his power, started to distribute Happy to the public. "From then on, Bahano began to shake. No, to be honest, it must have been shaking even before that." Arhen added with a sunken eye. After that, Haven Bahano, who was designated as the next king, also became addicted to Happy. Arhen''s sister, Melina Bahano, raised a rebellion against the King and Celos, but she was killed by the mad King, and Arhen was locked up in the tower and tormented by the Rizes Church. The High Priest Celos toued with the king in front of Arhen, and he deliberately did not feed Happy to Arhen. He told her to watch Bahano crumble. "After that..." Arhen trailed off. Bahano, walking the path of destruction by the King who fell into pleasure. ''It''s the same as the original story.'' There was only one difference. The Divine Protection had moved to the Pce. The problem was that this one thing made the situation veryplicated. "I see. You must have had a hard time." I looked at Arhen and spoke with a sympathetic face. Of course, I felt genuinely sorry for her, since I was seeing what I used to see as a game story in reality. "Rizes Church..." On the other hand, Troy, who heard Arhen''s story, clenched his fist so hard that it turned white and muttered. The hatred in his eyes was clearly visible. "They shook a whole country. The Rizes Church bastards... They crossed the line when they had the Way of the Sage." Zain also seemed to be quite angry, as he brushed his hair back with a sigh. ''But Kyros is quiet.'' The one who would have been the most sorry for this story did not say anything. ''Kyros?'' I tried to call him, but there was no answer. ''Did he go to see the kids?'' He must have gone to the temple by himself. Well, it''s not a big deal, since he does that often. "That''s all I have to say. Now I want to hear your story. Do you have a n?" Arhen looked at me with eyes that were brighter than before. I put on a business smile and answered. "I don''t have a grand n yet." As soon as I said that, Arhen''s eyebrows furrowed. At the same time, the expressions of Zain and Troy, who were sitting around her, hardened a bit. "Then what are you going to do?" "I have some rough ideas, though." Zain came closer to me at that moment. He poked my side and whispered. "Master, do you really have no n at all?" "I don''t have a detailed n, but I do have some ideas." I was not the type to n and act for everything. But that doesn''t mean I have no thoughts at all. I had been thinking about the methods I used in the Way of the Sage and sorted them out roughly. "I have faced the Rizes Church several times and survived. So I know how to fight them to some extent. Don''t worry." I said with a smile, but Arhen looked skeptical. She tilted her head and pondered for a while, then opened her mouth. "So, what are you going to do?" "First of all, I have set a few goals." "Goals?" "First, the Divine Protection. The Rizes Church and the Diego Church have the Protection of each God. Oh, of course, we have it in the Kyros Church too." "Protection?" "It''s something that contains the power of the Gods, and it''s used to protect the temple. Simply put, it''s a shield that protects a certain area." Arhen nodded as if she understood. I continued. "If we destroy the Divine Protection, the power that protects the Rizes Church will disappear. And right now, the Divine Protection is in the Pce, as far as I know. Have you ever seen it?" "The Divine Protection... Well, what does it look like?" "It''s a ck sphere the size of a human head." "A sphere, a sphere." Arhen thought hard. Then, her lips curled up. "Yeah. I''ve seen it. I''m sure I saw it in the High Priest''s ''s room in the Pce." I had a rough guess, but it was exactly right. "I see. And the second goal is the High Priest. If we capture the High Priest''s body, the Rizes Church will be tied up for a while." "...Yeah. I know that too. But it won''t be easy." "Yes. It won''t be. There will be guards and priests around the High Priest, or the forces under the Rizes Church. But you don''t have to worry too much about that." I shrugged my shoulders. And I pointed to Troy and Zain with my hand. "These guys are pretty strong." "I know that the Monts are strong, but..." Arhen looked at Zain with a suspicious eye. Then Zain jumped up from his seat. "Princess! I''m pretty strong! And Master, why did you leave yourself out of the story?" "I''m nothing but a force, you know." "Ha, really. I''ve seen you beat up monsters with that weird stick so many times!" I gestured to Zain to calm down. Then I met Arhen''s eyes, and she seemed to be interested in me. "I heard you''re the leader, but you''re also on the front line." "...Well, yeah." "Anyone who leads a group should set an example." Arhen''s lips rose slightly. She didn''t seem to be negative, which was a relief. "Besides, there are other forces that are not here right now. They can help us anytime." "How many are they?" "...Two, but they are stronger than me, so you don''t have to worry." "So, there are five of us in total?" "Yes." Arhen nodded after hearing my answer. "I see. What''s next?" She seemed to ept it. "The third goal is to secure all the mandrake heads that are circting in the kingdom. They are the cure for Happy." I said that, but I knew it was not easy to secure the supply. And Arhen seemed to know that too. "That''s impossible." Arhen said tly. "All the mandrake heads in the kingdom are now... with the High Priest, Celos." "Celos?" Zain asked, and Arhen added an exnation. "When Celos started to visit the Pce frequently, he bought them all. I wondered why he did that, but it turned out to be the cure for Happy..." Arhen touched her temples. She was very sorry, but there was nothing she could do. Not many people knew that mandrake heads were the cure for Happy. Besides, Celos acted as he pleased. "Actually, I said it as the third, but securing enough mandrake heads is the most important." "Even though it''s hard to get any, you want enough?" "When I entered Bahano, I saw that more people than I thought were addicted to Happy. And you said that even His Majesty was addicted." "But-" "We have to stop the atrocities of the Rizes Church as soon as possible. You don''t think that you only have to save His Majesty and not the people, do you?" Arhen shook her head violently and shouted at my words. "Of course, saving the people is a natural thing to do!" "Then let me ask you this. Do you know where the High Priest keeps the mandrake heads?" Arhen nodded. "There is a separate pce where the High Priest lives in the Pce. Before I was locked up in the tower, I saw Celos moving the mandrake heads to the separate pce." "I see. I understand. And there is one more thing I want to ask you." "What is it?" "Do you know how to get to the separate pce where the High Priest stays without being noticed by the guards?" That was what I was most curious about. No matter how many times I yed the game, the routes of the guards were not detailed. I just had to choose from a few options and I could move automatically. "...First, tell me how and when the guards in the Pce move." At Arhen''s words, I was finally able to smile sincerely.
Bahano Pce, Celos''s separate pce. It waste at night, but the High Priest Celos was awake. He left his bedroom and hurried to the High Priest''s room, where the Blessing of Masein was. He had received ''his'' call while he was asleep. nk. Celos, who opened the door of the High Priest''s room and rushed in, approached the Blessing behind the curtain. And hey t on the floor. His white hair touched the cold marble, but he didn''t care. [Human.] A low and gloomy voice came from the Blessing. "Yes, yes!" At the holy voice, Celos couldn''t even lift his head. [Something intruded near the west tower a while ago.] "Yes, yes? What is that... How can there be an intrusion when there is a Blessing?" [I don''t know what trick they used, but they escaped the Pce with the human who was trapped in the west tower.] "Wh, what? They escaped with the Princess?" [Yes.] Celos''s eyes widened as much as possible. He had unconsciously lifted his head, which was clenched. But he soon realized his mistake and was startled andy down again. "But that''s almost impossible..." [Yes. But they must have found a weak spot in the Blessing.] Celos broke out in a cold sweat. Did the Diego Church notice something here? As he thought that, he heard his voice again. [So we move the n forward.] The n. They only had one n. "Ah, I understand. I will execute it as soon as the sun rises." Celos swallowed his saliva. Then, the voice continued. [No. The n starts now.] The voice ended there, but Celos felt like he heard thisughter. Chapter 65 After an hour-long meeting, we had a rough n in ce. Thanks to Arhen, who knew the routes of the guards, infiltrating the Bahano Royal Pce seemed not too difficult. I ran a simtion in my head. ''First, I secure all the mandrake roots, capture the High Priest''s new recruits, and destroy the barrier. Then, I throw the mandrake roots into therge-scale monsterization device that Celos must have hidden somewhere...'' That way, I could save Bahano. But there was one problem. I didn''t know the exact location of the monsterization device. It would be much easier if I did. I was sure it was inside the Pce, but it never appeared in the main story. ''Therge-scale monsterization always happened before the yer arrived.'' It was always toote to stop it. As if, it had to be that way. But what I was doing now was a hidden route. The arrival time and the story progression had changed long ago. ''This event is already tricky enough, and the hidden route makes it even harder... That''s why I want to stop it this time.'' "Master." That''s when I heard Zain''s voice. Zain, Troy, and I were walking on the street. We had given the lodging to Arhen, who looked very tired. It wouldn''t be easy for her to rest with the three of us around. "What is it?" "I don''t know if it''s just my feeling, but..." Zain looked at the sky and pointed somewhere with his hand. "Doesn''t that look simr to what we saw in the Cartel Forest?" Zain pointed at the sky right above the Pce. It was the time of sunrise, but the sky over the Pce was unusually dark. ''No way...'' I opened my eyes wide. There was a ck mist over the Pce, like a cloud. "That''s... the mist that led to the death of our tribe." I heard Troy''s trembling voice from the side. "Damn it, this is crazy...!" I cursed out loud. Therge-scale monsterization had already begun.
The ominous ck mist that covered the sky. I knew what it was that triggered Troy''s trauma. ''Large-scale monsterization''. ''No, why. Howe therge-scale monsterization has already started?'' I couldn''t understand it. I thought there was still time left before the monsterization happened. But I couldn''t deny the reality in front of me. Something had gone wrong. ''Did it happen because we rescued Arhen from the western tower? Then they were just waiting for the right time, and they had everything ready, damn it.'' I was careless. The monsterization always happened before the yer arrived, regardless of the arrival time. It was up to them when to pick up the spoon from the prepared table. ''I was short-sighted.'' I bit my lip. I felt my mental state crumbling. What should I do? How should I move? "When the mist touches those who are addicted to Happy, they either die or be monsters. That''s what happened to my tribe, and I saw the High Priest of Aldone experimenting with it." As I watched the mist anxiously, Troy muttered quietly. "What, that''s ridiculous...!" Zain also looked shocked. I looked at their faces and closed my eyes. ''Calm down.'' I had to calm down to ovee this situation. I had to steel my mind. There were many lives at stake in the uing ordeal. ''First of all, it''s impossible to stop the monsterization that has already started.'' The mist was spreading faster than I could go and fix the monsterization device. I couldn''t catch up with it at human speed. In other words, all the ns I had made were shattered. "Master, what should we do?" "Leader, we have to stop it. The people might all die." Zain and Troy urged me. I clenched my trembling hand. Yes. The situation was hopeless. But, it was worth a try. "First, we have to go and wake the Princess up." I turned my body toward the lodging.
"What?! What the hell is that...!" Arhen was shocked to hear the situation. It was only natural, since the words she heard after waking up were no different from the kingdom''s destruction. "Those who are addicted to Happy will die or be monsters when the mist touches them. Sometimes, there are survivors, but... I don''t know the exact probability." Troy added an exnation before I opened my mouth. He was right. The ''monsterization'' experiment by the Rizes Church had advanced a lot after many trials. So, those who had their skin discolored by Happy, even a little bit, would change as soon as the mist touched them. The only ones who could survive this disaster were those who had never taken Happy or whose skin had not yet changed. "You said, when the mist touches them, right? Then we have to evacuate the people right away!" She mmed the table and voiced her opinion. I spoke calmly to Arhen. "It''s toote to evacuate. The mist is spreading very fast. It''s still spreading now." Someone who heard me might think I was cold-hearted. But it was the truth. The mist was faster than humans, and it was devouring the capital bit by bit. And even if they hid in the buildings, the fine particles could enter through the small gaps. "Even so, we have to save at least one person!" Arhen jumped up from her seat. Her blue eyes were filled with determination. "...I understand." I sighed and said. "But, you can''t move alone." I wasn''t ignoring Arhen. I knew her abilities to some extent, but it would be dangerous if the monsters came. "Master, I will go with the Princess and evacuate the people." Zain said with a resolute look. He knew I needed Troy, so he volunteered. "Okay. But don''t take too long. If the people turn into monsters,e back to the Pce right away. I''ll go to the Pce with Troy." "I understand." Zain got up from his seat and I too got up. "Princess, I''ll go to the Pce with Troy and try to stop or slow down the mist." "Got it." As soon as the meeting was over, I hurried out of the lodging. Troy followed me quickly. "Troy. I''m counting on you." "Don''t worry." Troy transformed into a ck panther. It was dawn, and some people were walking on the street, but we didn''t have time to care about their stares. "Hold on tight, Leader." "Don''t worry." As soon as I got on his back, Troy started to run fast. ''At this speed...'' As Troy''s speed increased, the buildings around us became almost invisible. Only one thing was clear: the flow of the mist that started to spread from the pce. The ck mist that had been floating in the sky over the Pce had reached the town by now. The flow of the mist that had already started to spread would not stop until it covered Bahano. ''And...'' The Bahano Pce had be a dark mass of ck mist, as if it was the source of the mist. ''The Pce is already done for.'' At the same time, the ck mist in front of us approached. Troy and I entered the mist in an instant. The visibility was very poor. I could only see a few meters around. "Leader. We''re at the Pce." Thanks to Troy''s fast movement, we reached the Pce entrance in no time. "How horrible." I nodded at Troy''s murmur. Most of the guards who guarded the Pce entrance were dead, spitting blood. Some of them looked like they had just fainted, but their condition was not good either. "Leader, the gate is closed." "We have no choice but to break it." "Got it. Hold on tight." As Troy warned me, his upper body rose. I thought I was going to fall off, when. Crash! Troy''s sharp ws smashed the gate to pieces. It was made of wood, but it was still thick. I was d I had him by my side. "Are you hurt?" "Don''t worry about me." Troy stepped on the debris and entered the Pce. I tightly gripped his fur again and said. "Do you know where the annex is?" "I do. Don''t worry." Troy''s speed increased again. I knew where Celos was staying, thanks to Arhen. But it was not easy to find the location, since the whole Pce was engulfed by the ck mist. Of course, I had the memory of the original work in my head, so I had a map of the Pce. I was going to tell Troy if he went the wrong way, but he surprisingly went straight to the annex. "Krrr!" "Kiek!" When we had crossed half of the vast garden, we heard the sound of monsters. I narrowed my eyes. They had human shapes, but their whole bodies were ckened. They were monsters, no doubt. And they were wearing armor, which meant they were the soldiers who guarded the Pce. "Leader, be careful!" "I''m fine, just keep moving." I took the Holy mace out from my inventory. And I swung it at the monsters that ran towards us. Thud! Thwack! The monsters that were hit by my mace flew away. "Don''t stop, Troy." "Got it!" Thwack! Thud! I swung the mace and dealt with the monsters. After killing about twenty of them... We finally arrived at the annex. The soldiers who guarded the entrance of the annex were also dead, like the others. I looked at them with pity, and got off Troy. The annex was as white as the main Pce, and it was beautiful. The flower beds that filled the surroundings would have made me feel good if I had seen them at another time. But now, there were monsterized servants and blood stains. Thud! Smash! I killed the monsters with Troy, and got close to the building. "...How tragic." Troy, who had returned to his human form, muttered bitterly. I patted his shoulder once and opened the door of the annex. "Krrr!" "Kiek!" As if they were waiting for us, the monsters rushed at us. The Holy mace was stained ck with the blood of the monsters. The short battle ended, and a gruesome scene captured me. Bodies that were not intact, as if they had been attacked by monsters. Red puddles. Monster corpses. I closed my eyes tightly and opened them again, and moved on. My n was not ruined. Even though the monsterization had started, I could still reduce the damage if I moved as nned. So, what I needed right now was the ''mandrake roots''. But where were they? I knew they were in the annex where Celos was staying, but I didn''t know the exact location. Then... I took out a pouch from my inventory that contained the mandrake roots. There was not much of it, so it was not enough. But. "Troy. Can you track the smell of this nt?" Maybe I could use it like this. Chapter 66 I felt a bit sorry for treating Troy like a beast, but I had no choice. "I''ll try." Fortunately, Troy took the mandrake root from me without any sign of displeasure. Sniff, sniff. He sniffed the herb a few times and then lifted his head. His face turned to the right. "I found it." I put the mandrake root he handed me back into my inventory and followed Troy. As we moved, we dealt with the monsters that came our way. Soon, we found a staircase that led down. "It''s down there." Was there a warehouse underground? We went down the stairs and saw a wooden door in a dark ce. nk. I grabbed the handle and turned it, but the door didn''t open. It was locked. If I had a lockpick, I would have opened it. ''No choice.'' Bang! I smashed the door knob with my mace. The door knob broke and the door opened. We entered and saw a spacious warehouse. There were many misceneous things inside, but five sacks caught my eye. The sacks were about half the size of an adult and as fat as a human body. I opened them and checked what was inside. "I found it." All five sacks contained mandrake roots. I lifted my lips and opened my inventory. "Should I move them?" Troy stepped forward to grab the sacks, but I snatched them back. And I stuffed all five sacks into my inventory. "...Wow." Troy eximed in a low voice. "How can you put them in thin air?" "It''s a power given by Kyros." I exined briefly and passed by Troy, who was still amazed. Now, I had to find the ''Large-scale Monsterization Device''. It was a product of research that the Rizes Church had seduced the magicians and alchemists into creating. ''I''m sure Celos is controlling it.'' Where could it be? I thought as I climbed the stairs. The Large-scale Monsterization Device was a device that emitted ck mist and turned people into monsters. ''And it all started when... the sky of the Royal Capital turned ck.'' Then, there was only one ce where the device could be. "Troy. Let''s go to the highest point of this Pce." "Why?" "There might be something that emits this ck mist there." I exined briefly and climbed the stairs. We encountered some Pce servants who had turned into monsters, but we easily disposed of them with Troy. As we climbed the stairs, the stairs finally ended. And we saw a small corridor and a translucent ss door. As soon as we opened the door, a wide-open rooftop appeared. There was an old man who looked like he was in his seventies and a huge sk. The old man with white hair was smiling happily as he looked at the huge sk. "That robe, he''s definitely the High Priest of the Rizes Church." Troy growled and raised his ws as he spoke to me. "Yeah. I know." That old man was Celos. And the huge sk next to him, which was boiling with ck liquid, was the ''Large-scale Monsterization Device''. The liquid in the sk vaporized and produced ck mist endlessly. The mist was spreading throughout Bahano. "Ho ho, what a surprise. Guests whoe without notice..." Celos turned his gaze to us as he looked at the sk. The old man''s dull ck eyes gave me the creeps. "You are rude people." Celos turned his body toward us. Then Troy shouted. "How dare you! You try to turn people into monsters!" "Ha ha! That is our mission and our great work." "Mission? Great work? What''s so important about that?" "It''s important. It''s themand of ''Him''. This world will soon belong to ''Him'', and when that timees, we will return to ''His'' side." Celos stroked his beard and smiled. The old man was referring to the Demon Lord. The Demon Lord Shamir was nning to turn humans into monsters and make them his army, and to oppose the Evil God. "Now, why don''t you join us? A bright future awaits us." At once, Celos reached out his hand to us. At the same time, ck liquid spewed out of his hand. "Dodge, Troy!" I pushed Troy''s body away. Squeak-! The floor where we had been standing was melted by the liquid that Celos spewed. "This time, you won''t be able to avoid it." Ssh-! ck liquid flew out of Celos''s hand like a whip. I quickly got up and blocked Troy''s front. "Master!!" Squeak-! My robe was melted by Celos''s poison. [The effect of the hidden item ''Thousand-year-old Genie''s Underwear'' nullifies the Pavis poison.] I saw a system window that appeared at the same time and couldn''t help but smile with relief. Ah, really. "It was worth the trouble." I muttered and shook off the blood-stained Holy mace. The monster''s blood sttered on the floor. "What, what...!" Celos looked at me in shock. Yeah, he had no choice but to be surprised. The only weapon that the damned old man had was poison. "Ma, master? Are you okay?" "Ah, yes. It''s just a little poison. It''s not like I rolled around for nothing." I smiled at Troy and slowly approached Celos. "How can you survive after being hit by my poison?!" Ssh! Celos spewed more poison with his eyes wide open. Thanks to that, my robe was in tatters. And so was the shirt I was wearing underneath. "...I''m going to be naked at this rate." I bit my tongue. Before I knew it, Celos was right in front of me. He copsed on the floor as if he was about to pee. "Wh, what are you! How can my poison not work on you!" "Grandpa, have you ever heard of the term ''immune to all poisons''?" "What? What is that..." "...Never mind." Crash! I swung my mace and hit Celos''s head. He groaned and lost consciousness. I didn''t hit him too hard, just enough to make him faint. His punishment was not up to me, but someone else. I opened my inventory and took out the sacks of mandrake roots and a rope. "Troy, tie this bastard up with this." "...Okay." Troy looked like he had something to say, but he obediently took the rope. I checked that he tied Celos up thoroughly and then approached the huge sk. I opened the sack of herbs and poured them into the sk. Squeak, squeak- The countless mandrake roots melted as they entered the sk. But their ingredients didn''t melt, so the dark potion gradually turned white. The ck mist that was spewing out of the sk also turned white. Now, white mist would spread over Bahano. ''It''s not a perfect solution, but.'' As long as I took this measure, at least people wouldn''t be more contaminated than they already are now. Of course, many people had already be monsters or died. It was something I did to reduce the damage. "Master, Master... what kind of person are you?" Before I knew it, Troy came to my side with Celos''s wrists, ankles, and body tied up. He looked like he wanted to kill Celos right away, but he marveled at the white mist. "You can take out or put things in thin air, you''re not affected by poison..." "Well, let''s just say I''m a chosen one by God. I''m the master of the Kyros Church." "...Ah. I see. I see." Troy nodded as if he understood. I smiled at him and went to Celos, who had fainted. Celos, who was lying on the floor with his whole body tied up, was definitely unconscious. So I put my hand on the rope that tied him up. And I infused holy power into the rope. Pah- A small light spread over the rope, changing its color to white. Then the rope changed its shape to look like the restraint that Troy wore. Only its color was white. "Master, what is this...?" "Ah. A restraint. This guy won''t be able to use poison anymore." It was an idea I got from seeing Hamel''s restraint, and it actually worked. "Troy, take this guy." "Okay." Troy carried Celos on his shoulder. I came down from the rooftop with him. There were no more monsters in the pce. It seemed that there weren''t many servants and soldiers. As we walked down the stairs, a particrly fancy door came into view. "Master?" "Follow me, Troy." I opened the door right away. There were many ornaments inside. From paintings with colorful backgrounds to pottery made by craftsmen. ''Decorating the roomvishly must be a characteristic of the High Priests of the Rizes Church.'' I walked with a grim face. Gradually, I felt a sinister aura. Ssh! I pulled away the curtain that covered one wall of the High Priest''s room. Then I saw the Demon Lord''s Blessing inside. "This is...!" "I can feel the blessing''s power." I smiled slyly and lifted my mace high. And I swung it hard to break the Blessing. Crash! [You have destroyed the ''Demon Lord''s Blessing''.] [You have acquired thend and buildings of the ''Rizes Church Bahano Branch'' with the effect of the achievement ''Demon Lord''s Blessing Destroyer''.] [You have acquired thend and buildings of the ''Rizes Church Bahano Branch''.] [You can establish the ''Kyros Church Temple''!] [When you establish the ''Kyros Church Temple'', you will receive ''10 Officer Draw Tickets'' as a reward.] [Do you want to establish the temple?] [Yes/No] As I looked at the system window that appeared again, I frowned without realizing it. ''What the hell...'' Until now, every time I destroyed a Blessing and established a temple, I got a ''Regional Purification Light''. But the reward given to me now was ''Officer Draw Tickets''. No, of course, officer draw tickets are nice. Nice. But what I needed now was a purification light. ''...Damn it.'' I swallowed a curse and epted the temple establishment. [The ''Rizes Church Bahano Branch'' has been converted into the ''Kyros Church Temple''!] Since Kyros wasn''t looking at me right now, I didn''t hear his voice. And the draw tickets also went into my inventory by themselves. ''Well. That''s that.'' Let''s just keep doing what I have to do. It would have been easier if I had a purification light, but I can''t help it. "Troy, let''s go." I left the High Priest''s room with Troy. ''Now, it''s the King''s turn.'' I organized the order and left the Pce. When I did. Whiz! Thud! I heard the sound of an arrow cutting through the wind. "Master, there''s Zain over there." Troy pointed and I saw Zain and Arhen surrounded by monster soldiers. "Zain, Princess." I ran to them and beat the monsters with my mace. "Master! You should havee sooner!" Zain, who was breathing hard with a bow in his hand, med me. "Is this my fault?" I pushed Zain aside and looked at Arhen. She asked me anxiously. Chapter 67 "Leviathan, what is going on here? And what is that white mist?" Arhen looked at me with fearful eyes, worried that the white mist might harm the people again. "Calm down, Princess." I exined to her calmly. "I found some mandrake roots in the Pce, and I put them in the device that was creating the ck mist. That should stop the monsterization from happening anymore. Unfortunately, there is nothing we can do for those who have already turned into monsters." "Really? Then... I can rx a bit." "Yes. And I also captured Celos." I nodded at Troy, who threw Celos on the ground. "How is this possible? You two really took care of Celos?" Arhen looked at me and Troy with disbelief, as if she couldn''t trust her eyes. "To be precise, the Master did it by himself." Troy added the exnation. "My goodness! Celos is a master of poison. How did you manage to defeat him so easily...?" "I''m a bit resistant to poison." I shrugged my shoulders, and Zain, who was watching me from the side, chuckled. Ugh. "Master, you seem to be resistant to poison, but your clothes are not?" Oh, right. I quickly lowered my head. My robe and shirt were melted and torn by the poison, exposing my stomach. "Well, it''s not too bad, right?" Zain said as if tofort me. That made me feel worse. I opened my inventory and took out a spare robe to change into. "Ahem, anyway." I cleared my throat and spoke to Arhen again. "By mixing the mandrake roots, I prevented any further monsterization, but it was toote for the royal castle, the center of the ck mist." At that, Arhen''s eyes widened. "Don''t tell me... my Father too...?" I nodded my head instead of answering. "No, it can''t be. I have to see it for myself." She turned her body hastily. Arhen must have wanted to cling to any hope, but sadly, King Hebius was already a monster. But I followed Arhen. I had no choice. I had to deal with the monster King. "Where is His Majesty the King?" "He should be in the main pce." Then the main Pce must be in a terrible state. I hurried along with Arhen, Zain, and Troy. Some soldiers who had turned into monsters popped out along the way, but it was easy to handle them with more people. Before long, we reached the main Pce, thergest and most beautiful building in the royal castle. "Aaah!" "Sa, save me!" Screams erupted from inside the main pce. Arhen started to run. I ran after her. The door of the main pce was wide open. Between the door, I could see the corpses of those who couldn''t escape and died. We passed the red puddles and entered inside. Arge hall appeared. And from the spacious staircase in the center of the hall, something surrounded by a ck shape wasing down. "Kruk." It had a huge w that gripped a soldier''s waist. With a squishy sound, the soldier''s body stretched out. Thud- It threw the corpse away. It was King Bahano, surrounded by ck energy, Hebius Bahano. "Ah, Father...?" Arhen called him with a terrified voice. Then the King''s gaze turned to us. King Hebius, who had a greedy face in his mid-forties. His body, except for his face, looked like it was all lumped together by ck energy. Even his face was ckened, so that it looked like a ck sphere from a distance. "Wh, why... Father..." Tears flowed from Arhen''s eyes. Soon, her legs gave way and she copsed on the floor. I stared at her quietly, then took a step forward. "Kruk." The monster King came down the stairs one by one. Every time, ck fluid dripped down. At the same time, a terrible stench filled my nose, and I frowned. ''How much Happy did he consume to smell so bad? I don''t think it was that bad before.'' Those who consumed Happy and turned into monsters had a stronger smell depending on how much they were eroded by magic. But the stench from King Hebius was like a mixture of sewer and rotten corpse. "Master, that''s... already a monster, right?" "Yeah. And a pretty strong one." I turned my gaze from King Hebius and looked around. There were corpses of servants, maids, and soldiers everywhere on the stairs where he came down. I narrowed my eyes and whispered to Zain and Troy behind me. "...Back off. I''ll handle it myself." King Hebius also used poison like Celos. So it was easier for me to fight alone than with Zain and Troy. Besides, I got the immunity to poison effect for this. But I couldn''t move my feet rashly. I knew in my head that I had to kill King Hebius, but I was mindful of Arhen. No matter how bad the rtionship between Arhen and the King was, it would be a sight of killing her father in front of his daughter. So I just clenched my holy relic mace and waited. "Leviathan." Arhen''s voice reached me. Unlike before, it was a clear voice without tears. I turned my head and looked at Arhen. She had already gotten up from her seat. And then she said to me with determined eyes. "Even if he is my Father, I can''t let him live. He has lost his mind and killed his own people with his hands." The trembling in her hand stopped. "So don''t hesitate. While you hesitate, my people are dying somewhere." I nodded slowly. Arhen Bahano, the capable ruler I only saw in text and graphics, was a really strong person. "I understand." Now that she had made up her mind, I had nothing more to worry about. I turned my gaze back to King Hebius. He was staring nkly at me, then he stretched his body. Then he grew two arms and two legs. At the same time, the ck energy that surrounded him scattered on the floor and turned into small monsters. They looked like goblins. "Kire!" As the King reached out his hand to me, the five goblins rushed at me. "Kyak!" St-! I chopped off one of their heads. But I couldn''t stop the other four from charging at me. Squeak-! A goblin clung to my leg. Soon, it melted into poison and flowed down. Oh, my pants. [The effect of the hidden item ''Thousand-Year-Old Genie''s Lining'' nullifies the Pavis poison.] I sighed at the lost hem and walked forward. I killed three goblins with my mace. "Kire!" Thest remaining goblin also stuck to my left arm. I moved my body, afraid that the poison might ssh on myrades behind me. Squeak-! My robe and shirt melted away, revealing my left arm. Ugh, how annoying. But this was not the time to be annoyed. I quickly moved my feet. I dodged nimbly and ran straight toward the King. Swish-! Six tentacles whipped at me at the same time. I dodged three and cut two. One of the tentacles hit my right shoulder. It didn''t hurt much, but my robe and shirt melted away again, exposing my body. ''I hate this...'' It was a good thing that I always carried spare clothes and robes. Otherwise, I would have almost saved the Kingdom naked. Thud! I fended off the tentacles that came at me and faced the King. "Kruk!" The King, who finally realized that his poison didn''t work on me, lunged at me directly. Thud, thwack! I swung my mace at the King''s elongated arms. Zap-! At the same time, I released holy power from my other hand. Theser-like holy power sliced through the King''s waist. ''Now''s the time.'' I leaped into the air. When the King''s body tilted as his waist was cut off. Thud! I smashed his head hard. Ssh-! A burst of ck liquid sshed and melted everything around. My robe was also torn again. But, finally, the King''s body turned into ash and disappeared. "Haa." I calmed down my rough breath and stepped back from the King. "Father..." I heard Arhen''s sobbing voice from behind, but I didn''t have time to look back. Now that I killed the King, it was time for ''that thing'' to appear. Where the King had disappeared. Crackle- The air started to crack. As if a ''rift'' was opening. But the size was different from what I had seen before. Only big enough for one person toe out. "Ma-Master! What is that... Is that a rift?!" "No, no way!" Zain and Troy shouted in surprise. I couldn''t exin to them. What was about to appear was one of the ''children'' of the Demon God. "Ooh,e!" When did he regain his senses? I heard Celos''s shrill voice from behind. I ignored his voice and stared at the rift. The gap widened, and a foot came out first. A foot with blue skin, unlike humans. Above it, I could see the muscr thigh. Gulp, I swallowed nervously and gripped my holy relic mace with both hands. ''Wait.'' Suddenly, confusion filled my head. The ''child'' of the Demon God that the High Priest of Bahano served was supposed to have no feet, or legs... ''What''s going on?'' But in the midst of the confusion, the thing wasing out of the rift. "Come quickly! Save us!" Celos screamed in frenzy. Then a man appeared from the torn rift. I stepped back without realizing it. I couldn''t believe my eyes. The ''child'' of the Demon God that came out of the rift. He had a blue lower body full of muscles and a ck upper body that was solid. A gray face and ck hair that reached his waist. And his eyes were the opposite of humans, with ck whites and white pupils. The only emotion in his white eyes was mockery toward humans. ''This can''t be...'' Why, why. "Ooh! The great Zarkel!" Zarkel. I heard his name clearly from Celos''s voice. And even if I hadn''t heard his name, I knew his face. I had no choice. The ''children'' of the Demon God had their strength determined by the order they were born. The first one born was not as powerful as the Demon God, but he was not far behind. In other words, the lower the number, the stronger they were. But the ''child'' of the Demon God thatmunicated with Celos, the High Priest of Bahano, was the 66th. But Zarkel was not the 66th. Zarkel, he was the ''second'' child of the Demon God, who only appeared in thetter part of the Superior Law. My hands holding the holy relic mace trembled involuntarily. I couldn''t win. Never. I knew it in my head from the beginning, but my instinct warned me more strongly. Run, escape. I couldn''t match the power of the Demon God that I felt from him. Should I call the kids? No, that would be impossible. What if I called Terdius? Maybe he could do it? Troy? No, impossible. Not yet. But my thoughts ended there. "...Ugh!" When did it happen? Before I knew it, Zarkel''s hand pierced through my chest. Chapter 68 I couldn''t breathe properly because of the intense pain. Something welled up inside me and spilled out. Hot blood flowed down from my mouth. "Master!" "Lord!" "Leviathan!" I heard the voices of myrades. But my vision was getting blurry. Damn it. Is this how it all ends? Thud- "...!" Zarkel pulled his hand that pierced my chest out, but I couldn''t even scream. I felt my strength leaving my body and my sight turning upside down. I copsed to the ground, but I didn''t feel the pain. The agony was spreading from my heart. ''Is this how I die.'' There was so much I hadn''t done yet. I had to save this world. I had so much to do. ''I don''t want to die yet.'' But contrary to my will, my consciousness was fading away. And I closed my eyes.
"I want some sausage." Kyros, who appeared as a puppy, was rolling around in his temple in Rovel. Sasha, who was quietly reading a book next to him, got up from her seat. She headed to the kitchen for Kyros. Kyros, who was left alone, sat on the sofa and scratched his itchy body with his hind legs. Grrr-! He felt a bad premonition at that moment. "My child...?" At the same time, he felt the breath of his first child and apostle, Revelof, who was connected to him, weaken. He gathered his strength in an instant. A pure white light enveloped Kyros''s body. Then, he disappeared from the temple. Soon, he appeared in a very far and deep dimension. In a space where the blue sky and green grasnd spread out, Kyros'' divine spirit appeared. He looked nothing like the puppy he was just before. His beautiful crimson hair fluttered in the wind. Kyros quickly checked the situation of his first apostle. Then, arge screen appeared in the air. [Cough!] On the screen, Revelof, who was stabbed in the chest by one of the children of Maseen, was shown. Kyros'' eyes widened at the sight. He shouted desperately at the sky. "----!!" How could this happen? This was an impossible thing. "----!!" When Kyros shouted at the sky again, a golden light poured down from the clouds. The light wrapped around Kyros. Kyros spoke urgently to the light. "What is going on here! This is absurd, ----!" Kyros felt his heart being torn apart, and appealed to the sky. "Why does my child have to die like this! You said he could do it, with this soul!" Kyros protested angrily to the void. Then, a majestic voice came from the quiet sky. [Oh, this is something I didn''t expect either.] Kyros frowned at the gentle voice. "You have to save my child. If this goes on, both my child and this world will copse!" [Sigh, fine. I understand. Don''t worry. I''ll help you.] "Why did my child get hurt in Bahano of all ces!" [...Didn''t I tell you? That world is unstable right now. That''s why I sent him to you.] "But you didn''t say that he would be in danger!" [Yes, I did. But, there is always a variable.] "So do I have to do this every time something happens?" Kyros'' eyes moistened. [It shouldn''t happen often.] "Are you sure?" [...Let''s save him first.] The voice sounded tired. Kyros knew it well, so he couldn''t say anything more. He clenched his fist tightly, and turned his eyes to the screen anxiously.
Ding! A familiar alert sound rang. That''s when my hazy consciousness woke up. ''What is this...?'' Myst memory was being stabbed in the chest by Zarkel. And I died. But why did I wake up? ''Is it because this world is a game?'' I lifted my heavy eyelids. Then, I saw a system message in front of me. [System error urred!] [Bnce adjustment started to control the abnormally increased difficulty!] [Your soul has been forcibly moved for your protection.] I read the message carefully, and I got a slight idea. ''Yeah, this is too much... Even if it''s a hidden route, it was too hard.'' Originally, the 66th child of Maseen should have appeared, but the second child showed up. This was like the difficulty suddenly jumped to hell mode. In fact, my level was barely above beginner, but it felt like I met the final boss. ''But the system protected me?'' This system, it must be friendly to me. ''Then, will it protect me if I''m in dangerter?'' As I thought that, I saw my surroundings. I was in a dark space where no light came in. Like space. But I saw a small light in the distance. That''s when I heard a voice. [That''s not it.] This was a voice I had never heard before. It sounded like a mix of male and female voices, and it was delivered to my head like Kyros did. But not it? Does it mean it read my thoughts and answered? This was all due to an ''unexpected variable''. Something that even I couldn''t foresee, an event that you couldn''t ovee at this point. As I heard his voice, I was certain. The one who was talking to me was the ''administrator'' of the system that brought me to this world. Or something simr to that. ''Who are you?'' [Ha ha! You are curious about my existence even in this situation.] ''Of course I am. You are the one who sent me here and gave me impossible quests, aren''t you?'' [You are smarter than I expected. Listen, kid, this is not the time.] ''What do you mean...'' [Someday, the time wille. Until then, save this world for me.] His voice gradually faded away. ''Hey! Wait a minute! I still have more questions!'' [Don''t worry. This world is -- -- -- after all.] With that voice, I heard nothing more. The light that cut through the darkness also disappeared. The only thing I could see was the system window. [The system is rebooting.] [The memories of the characters are erased and altered.] [The bnce is adjusted.] As I read the system messages, my consciousness blurred. Oh, not again?
When I opened my eyes again. The surroundings had changed. I was no longer in the pitch-ck darkness, but in the Bahano Kingdom. Zarkel, who was in front of me, was nowhere to be seen. At that moment. Crack- The air cracked and a rift opened. What? No way... "Ma-Master! What is that... Is that a rift?!" "Th, this is absurd!" I heard the voices of Zain and Troy. They were saying the same things as before. What''s going on? I frowned unconsciously. "Oh. Come forth!" Celos shouted in a hoarse voice, also repeating his words. Could it be, did time go back? I quickly bowed my head and checked my body. It was the same as right after I killed the king of Hebius. The chest that was not pierced, the clothes that were torn here and there. Then, my head spun. To sum it up, the system ''administrator'' saved me from dying to the exponentially increased difficulty, erased and altered the memories of the characters, and even turned back time. Then, as if to confirm my guess, a message appeared again. [You have received a special reward from the administrator.] [Administrator''s apology (buff): All your stats are increased by 10 times for 30 minutes.] ...Crazy. What is this? My stats are increased by 10 times? Wait a minute. But I can''t see my stats in the status window, can I? How can I tell how strong I am if you just say it''s 10 times higher? "Oh! The glorious Helis!" As I checked the buff, I heard Celos''s voice. Helis was the 66th child of the Demon King, just like in the original story. I took my eyes off the system window and looked up. Then, I saw a womaning out of the rift. Blue hair and ck body, and a ck tail with scales. This woman, who had the appearance of a mermaid, was Helis. ''Yeah. It should have been like this from the start.'' How does it make sense for Zarkel to pop out of Bahano! I red at the system and smiled faintly. Well, at least it saved me. "You are the brat who interfered with me." Helis floated in the air and looked down at me. Her voice was very sweet. "Hmm, your appearance is to my liking." She reached out her hand to me, as if to seduce me. "Come,e here. I will make you my special concubine." A seductive voice and a captivating gaze. I slowly approached Helis. "Yeah, right." She smiled beautifully. When I was only a few steps away from Helis. Boom-!! I released my holy power from my hand. [The hidden item ''The Secret of the Thousand-Year-Old Zine'' nullifies ''The Mermaid''s Temptation''.] Helis'' temptation, which was nothing but a ''curse'', didn''t work on me. That''s what I thought as I released my holy power. ''What the hell. Is this size for real?'' The holy power I had released before was only twice the size of my palm at best. But now, my holy power ''erased'' Helis'' upper body. In other words, I. [Warning! You have killed Helis, the 66th child of the Demon King.] [The Demon King may notice your existence.] I killed Helis in one shot. ''...I''m insane.'' This is the administrator''s buff. But this buff, it said it increased my power by 10 times. That means if I increase my power by 10 times, I can send the Demon King''s children to hell in one shot. The problem is... ''When will I ever get that strong.'' I sighed with disappointment and turned around. Then, I saw Celos'' despairing face. "Ah, no, He-Helis...!" Seeing him, I realized that the people''s memories really changed. Then, Zarkel''s memory must have changed too. His face came to my mind again, and I shivered. He would still be hard to deal with even with the administrator''s buff. Is there anyone who can beat Zarkel right now? I thought hard and came to a conclusion. Terdius, Troy, and Chester are still too weak. ''I need to get stronger as soon as possible.'' I clenched and unclenched my fist lightly, and went back to mypanions. Chapter 69 As I approached Zain, Troy, and Arhen, their eyes were fixed on me. They looked at me nkly, and then Zain slowly opened his mouth. "Master, what was that power just now...?" "Leader, how did you defeat a high-level monster in one blow?" "Amazing, Leviathan." Zain started the conversation, and Troy and Arhen joined in. I felt embarrassed by their words and scratched my neck. "It was just luck." I had no way to exin it, and it was partly true anyway. They seemed to ept my answer without much fuss. Maybe they didn''t want to question it too much since we had already taken care of the enemy. "But I''m sure that mermaid was trying to seduce you, Master." Zain touched his chin and looked at me. "I was shocked to see you fall for that monster." "Do you think I would fall for that?" "Well... you have a more beautiful face than anyone else, even in the mirror." I was speechless at Zain''s words, but I couldn''t deny them either. Then Troy, who had been listening quietly, reached out his hand to me. "I was worried that you might get caught by the mermaid, Leader." I noticed that his hand had long and sharp ws. "Hey, me too." Zain also showed off his bow to me. "Thanks, guys." They were good guys. They bickered sometimes, but they were reliable. ---You did well, kid. Suddenly, I heard Kyros'' voice. But his voice sounded weaker than usual. What was wrong with him? Or rather, when did this start? ''Kyros, when did youe?'' ---...A little while ago. Kyros usually sounded cheerful, but he was strangely different now. ''Is something wrong? Did something happen at the temple of Rovel?'' I asked with concern, and I heard him sigh faintly. ---No. I was just a little surprised, that''s all. Kyros didn''t say anything more. I didn''t press him further, either. By the way, did Kyros know about the ''Administrator''? Hmm. But the Administrator was the one who controlled the system itself, so even Kyros, who was set as a God, wouldn''t know, right? "How dare you, how dare you!" At that moment, Celos, who was struggling in the binding circle I made, shouted. "How dare you kill Helis...!" Celos red at me and yelled. I could see the anger and confusion in his trembling eyes. "She was a child of Maseen. How could a mere human like you!" Haha. This guy was really bad at reading the situation. If I killed the child of Maseen, whom he valued so much, shouldn''t he be afraid of me? Before I could say a word. Thwack! "Shut up." Troy pped Celos''s neck. ''...That must have hurt.'' Celos''s body went limp. I was d he wasn''t dead. I patted Troy''s shoulder as a sign of praise and walked over to Arhen. She looked at me with a serious face and said. "Thank you, Leviathan." "Don''t mention it." "You have such a great power, you must be confident. I feel embarrassed that I didn''t trust you." "What are you talking about? It''s all thanks to Kyros." I shrugged and exaggeratedly praised him. I wanted Kyros, who seemed to be in a bad mood, to hear it. But there was no answer from Kyros. What was wrong with him? I was a little worried about his unusual attitude. ''...Or maybe he went back to the Temple.'' If something had happened at the temple, Kyros or the kids would have told me. So it should be fine. "Anyway. We''ve dealt with the child of Maseen and Celos, but the job''s not done yet." There was more to do. "Right. We have to save the people. There are still monsters left." Arhen said with a determined look. I nodded at her and changed into a new robe. ''How many robes have I ruined today?'' I sighed softly as I put on the new robe, and Troy spoke up. "Leader, what about this?" Troy pointed at Celos, who was unconscious. "That''s up to the Princess." I looked at Arhen and added. "I''ll leave the disposal of this guy to you, Princess. Is that okay?" "Fine. I''ll take care of him properly. For now, let''s leave him here and move on." Celos was in aa, and he was bound by the circle I made, so he couldn''t move even if he woke up. So we left him in a corner of the hall and left the Pce.
"How many vis are there in the Pce?" I asked when we had left the Pce, Arhen. She thought for a moment and answered. "...Three." "Then we should look around before we leave the Pce. There might be some survivors left." "Right. That would be a good idea." Arhen agreed and scanned the area. Then she saw a sword that the soldiers had dropped. She quickly grabbed it. "Princess, do you know how to use a sword?" Troy asked her casually as he watched her action. She nodded. "Yes. I learned swordsmanship when I was young." Kieek! Before she finished her answer, a monster jumped out from somewhere and came at her. She moved her body lightly and shed the monster''s neck. She said she learned it when she was young, but she still drew a clean and neat line of metal. "I was too out of it to think of using a sword until now. It''s been a long time, too." Arhen shook off the monster''s blood from the sword. "I have to move now, and I want to save the people." Arhen''s words made my lips curl slightly. ''That''s right. Arhen was always like that.'' Arhen Bahano''sbat skills were not bad. She had the ability to handle low-level monsters, so her wielding a sword in this situation meant a power boost. ''I expected that from Arhen. She was locked in the tower by Celos because she couldn''t disobey her father''s orders.'' I thought as I swung my mace. Following Arhen''s directions, we headed to another vi. Our group killed the soldiers and servants who had turned into monsters. "Princess?" "Sera!" A maid who was running away from the vi called out to Arhen. Arhen turned her head at the unexpected voice and saw the maid. Her eyes widened in disbelief. "Sera! Are you okay?" "Princess, are you alright? People suddenly turned into monsters... Sob." "It''s okay, I''m fine." Arhen hugged the startled Sera andforted her. She briefly exined to me, Zain, and Troy who were with her. "This girl was my maid until I was locked in the West Tower. I can''t believe she''s alive. I''m so d." Arhen gently stroked Sera''s back. "Sera, don''t worry. Come with us." "Sob, yes. Thank you. Princess." Arhen sent Sera behind her. As if she would endure any threat first. ''Is this also part of her royal sense?'' I was impressed by her detailed character without realizing it. Then Arhen''s eyes turned to him. "Thank you, Leviathan. I wouldn''t have thought of looking around the vi if it weren''t for you." "Don''t mention it." I smiled a business-like smile and swung my mace. Monsters vanished from my fingertips. ''I only said that because I already knew there were survivors in the vi.'' Our group found about fifty survivors as we searched the vi, and killed the monsters that threatened them. After we finished cleaning up the Pce, our group and the survivors gathered at the castle. "For now, these people should stay in the Pce. It''s the safest ce in Bahano right now." "Right. And we should also bring in the survivors from the vige." "Is that okay?" "Of course. The survival of the people is the priority." Arhen dly epted my suggestion. In any country, the people were the foundation. The Royal Family was the one who supported and protected them. She could easily give up the Pce that was nothing but a shell. "Then, let''s go." As soon as I finished my words, we left the Pce. Some of the survivors wanted to follow us, but most of them were wounded soldiers. So Arhen refused their request. "Master, don''t get hurt." "Worry about yourself." Zain smirked at me as we left the Pce. Troy came up next to me. "Leader, call me if you need me." "Okay." Arhen also clenched her sword. "Thank you for being with me." With her words, the four of us left the Pce. The scene that unfolded before us was horrific. People running away from low-level monsters, corpses, blood puddles, and monster fluids scattered all over the streets. Whieek- Thwack! The first one to start was Zain. His arrow, filled with holy power, pierced through a monster''s head. Troy and Arhen also ran towards the monsters. Paat-! I too increased my speed and released holy power at every monster I saw. Kugukung! My holy power copsed a wall. My eyes widened slightly. ''I need to control my firepower better.'' I was barely able to control his power because the Administrator''s buff was still active. So I only released holy power at the monsters that were far away, and swung my mace at the ones that were close. Thwack! Thud! Kieek! There seemed to be more monsters than I expected. ''The estimated number in the game was close to five thousand.'' The five thousand he saw in letters and the five thousand he felt with his eyes were different. I bit my lips and moved my body. There were quite a few survivors in Bahano who couldn''t escape the city. No matter how much Arhen and Zain had evacuated them, the time was short and it was impossible to evacuate many people at once. Thwack! I killed a monster and took a breath. "Haa, haa." I had killed about thirty monsters that I could see, yet there were still monsters roaming around the streets. ''That means there were a lot of people who were addicted to Happy.'' The only good thing was that there were fewer corpses on the street than I expected. ''And most of the monsters are low-level, too.'' I snapped my neck and moved on. I looked around and saw Zain shooting arrows from the roof of a building. Near him, Troy was killing monsters with his ws. Arhen was also saving survivors and cutting down monsters. They all looked fine for now. ''But it will be tough if those thingse over.'' I turned my head and looked at the center of Bahano''s square. At the end of my sight, three mid-level monsters appeared. Chapter 70 ''I have to kill as many intermediate monsters as possible while the buffsts.'' I moved quickly towards the center of the square. There, I saw three intermediate monsters cornering about ten people. Boom-! I adjusted my direction and released my holy power. Then, the heads of two monsters vanished at the same time. Swoosh- As the two intermediate monsters turned into ashes, the survivors'' pupils widened. Then, I flew and smashed the remaining monster with my mace. I killed three intermediate monsters in one breath and moved on without a pause. There were more intermediate monsters on the main street of the square. The survivors stared nkly at my back. "How is this possible..." "Who is that guy?" Their eyes on me were like looking at a hero. Meanwhile, Arhen entered an alley where five low-level monsters were swarming, under Zain''s cover. Swoosh, thud! Zain''s arrow pierced through the head of one monster. And Arhen flew and shed the four low-level monsters with her sword. Her movements were wless. Even though she had not held a sword for years, her talent was still shining brightly. "Why are you here! Are you hurt anywhere?" Arhen approached the survivors who were trembling at the end of the alley. They looked like a family and they shed tears when they saw Arhen. "Yo-your Highness. Thank you." "Waaah, daddy!" Arhen felt a sting in her nose as she saw the couple hug their two children. But now was not the time to be sentimental. "As long as you''re not injured, it''s fine. Hurry and evacuate to the Royal Pce. There are no monsters there, so you can go safely." "Ah, okay. Thank you. Your Highness." As the survivors headed to the Royal Pce, Arhen ran towards her next target. "Aaah!" Another scream rang out. When Arhen turned her gaze, the monster that was attacking the survivor was already taken care of by Zain. And on the other side, Troy, who had transformed into a ck panther, was tearing apart the monsters. ''If it weren''t for them...'' Bahano might have been doomed. Arhen thanked them in her mind and held her sword more firmly. While I was fighting another intermediate monster. "Grrr!" Troy bit the monster that was charging at him. As he cleared the way, he saw a huge intermediate monster waiting for them at the end of the road. It was twice the size of a low-level monster. "Sa, save us!" "Aaah! Mommy!" The intermediate monster had a middle-aged woman and a child in each of its hands. Crack-! The giant ck panther shed the air at a fast speed. As a strong wind blew, the panther''srge paw hit the head of the intermediate monster. Ssh! Troy''s attack made the intermediate monster disappear. Then, the bodies of the people who were held by the monster fell to the ground. "Aaah!" The scream continued. But their bodiesnded safely on the ck fur. "Huh...?" "Uh, mommy!" The woman hugged her son and looked around. The ck panther that saved them also caught them. "Th-thank you." She didn''t know if he could understand her, but she thanked him anyway. "I don''t know who your owner is, but..." She thought that such a smart beast must have been raised by someone very well. A low voice came to her ears. "I am a follower of the Kyros Church." The woman was startled. "I''m sorry. You''re a beastman. Thank you for saving us." "There''s no need to thank me or be afraid of me. I''m just following the will of Lord Kyros." The ck panther, Troy, spoke casually, but the woman and her son felt differently. The prejudice against beastmen that was ingrained in their heads disappeared, and the name ''Kyros'' was engraved in their minds.
A vige adjacent to the capital Bahano. The ck mist could not cross the capital, but the monsters were transforming at the border of the capital. "Haha! What''s this?" They were mercilessly ughtering the monsters. The crimson whip cut off the monsters'' throats without mercy. A man from Bana had a smile that reached his ears as he ran around and dealt with the monsters. His purple hair fluttered behind him as he sped up. "Die, you ugly things!" Khalid swung his whip wildly and made the monsters vanish. His body and face were sttered with the monsters'' fluids, but Khalid was smiling brightly. Terdius turned his head quietly as he watched Khalid, who was engulfed in madness. He saw the Royal Pce of Bahano in his sight. Even though it was a vige adjacent to the capital, the huge Pce that stood out in the middle was visible at a nce. ''I definitely felt a strong magic from the Pce.'' Terdius felt that filthy energy. It must have been one of the children of Maseen. But that energy disappeared in an instant. And it was by a warm power. ''That power was definitely Leviathan''s.'' That meant Leviathan had done something. ''...He said he would do missionary work.'' Terdius'' lips curled up slightly. ''He didn''t need the flute in the first ce.''
The sun''s rays pierced my head. It waste autumn, when winter was approaching, but sweat poured down like rain. Ssh! I wiped the sweat on my forehead and smashed thest intermediate monster with my mace. It seems like this is the end of the magic I felt from the capital. As soon as I thought that, a message appeared. [Subquest ''Light of Hope'' 9. cleared!] [Subquest rewards will be delivered to your inventory.] The quest did not continue any further. That meant that I had finallypleted the ''Light of Hope'' quest. "Haah." I read and reread the message as I breathed heavily. I had finally saved Bahano. ''Ah, damn. That was so hard.'' It took a long time to get from Rovel to Aldone. And from Aldone to Bahano, I had to fight nonstop. I felt relieved as I thought that the month-long battle with the monsters was finally over. ''It''s a good thing that the ck mist didn''t spread any further from the capital.'' Thanks to the measure of putting mandrake roots in the monsterization device, the situation didn''t get worse. I leaned against the wall and closed my eyes for a moment. It was really damn hard. Honestly, it was more mentally exhausting than physically. I had barely slept since I rescued Arhen, so that might have been the reason. ''My mind broke when I met Zarkel.'' But somehow I managed to finish the quest. "Hoo." I exhaled and moved my body. My destination was the Royal Pce where everyone was waiting for me. ''Now let''s see the rewards.'' I opened my inventory to check the rewards for my hard work. Then I saw two items that looked golden. "Huh...?" And one of them had a familiar shape. It was just a bit more luxurious in color than the one I knew. I checked the information right away. [Large-scale Purification Zone of the Kingdom of Bahano Grade: Mythical Item Description: It can purify the entire kingdom of Bahano when used.] "Ah, really." So they didn''t give me this when I broke Maseen''s blessing, but they gave it to me here? I felt a bit angry as if I was yed by the system... But I was d that I had the Purification Zone now. Even if I had finished dealing with the monsters of Bahano, there must have been some survivors who were addicted to Happy. And the next one was... ''What is this?'' The shape that I saw through the inventory slot was an arch-shaped door. And inside it, there was something that looked like a blue-ck hole. Based on my countless game experiences, that is, this looked like some kind of ''portal''. ''No way.'' They would give me a portal as a quest reward. As I thought that and checked the item information, my mouth opened wide without me knowing. [Movement Portal Grade: Mythical Item Description: It can be installed in a desired ce and move between the installed ces. However, only the owner of the portal and the people designated by the owner can use it.] That''s crazy. Wait a minute. Is there something wrong with my eyes? I rubbed my eyes just in case. But the letters still said that it was really a portal. ''That''s impossible. A real portal?'' Then, if I install this portal in Bahano, and also in Rovel... I can go back and forth between those ridiculous distances? This is really amazing. And the number of portals was not one. "Five of them...!" I felt my heart beating fast with joy. I can move easily now, like the kids? I can reduce the time it takes to travel between kingdoms! And if I can make only the people I want to move, Zain and Troy can also use the portal. Wow, this is really awesome. ''Mr. Administrator, I don''t know if you''re listening, but thank you. Really!'' I thanked him sincerely, even though the chances of him hearing me were low. ''A portal! A portal has appeared!'' I couldn''t contain my joy and smiled brightly. As I was doing that, I arrived near the Royal Pce. But the front of the Pce was very crowded. ''Huh, why are they all gathered here?'' There were survivors in front of the Pce. I saw some of the people I had saved, so it seemed right. I didn''t see any of the people who were injured by the monsters, so there must have been a separate ce for the wounded. But still, there were a lot of people for a capital of a kingdom. And thanks to the quick response, they all seemed to have only minor injuries. ''I don''t know how many wounded there are... But this is better than the original situation.'' By the way, the poption density in front of the Pce was high. I couldn''t see them all at a nce, and the survivors were packed around the Pce. ''How many people are there...?'' More than ten thousand? I gave up counting with my eyes and walked towards the crowd. As I stood at the back, I saw the person at the front. It was Arhen who was standing on the podium. She was talking to the people from a higher position than them. ''But why are they so quiet?'' The people were silent, so it seemed that Arhen had been talking before I arrived. She must have exined what happened today. Arhen looked at the survivors once and spoke calmly. "The Rizes Church, which has been tormenting us, has disappeared from Bahano as of today." Arhen''s voice was filled with power. It was loud enough for me to hear from the back. "We, the descendants of the great Bahano, have finally ovee the darkness." Even though she was wearing a tattered robe stained with blood and monster fluids, Arhen was more dignified than anyone. "We must not forget the sacrifices of many people until this moment. But we must not stop either. We must move forward towards the light. We are Bahano." I pped without realizing it. Then the apuse spread among the people, and soon everyone cheered for her. No matter how dirty and worn her clothes were, Arhen was the ''King'' herself. Chapter 71 I felt a gaze on me and looked up. It was Arhen, the Princess. She smiled and waved at me. ''...Is she calling me?'' I was doubtful because there were so many people around. Then she opened her mouth. "Leviathan. Come here." She was calling me indeed. But how could I get through this crowd? As I thought that, the people''s eyes turned to me and they slowly made way. They realized that Arhen was calling me and they moved aside one after another. "He''s the one who saved us." "Yeah. He defeated the monster in the square." As I walked along the path that opened up among the crowd, I heard them murmuring. I felt a mix of embarrassment and pleasure. After a short walk, I arrived in front of Arhen. But when did they get here? On both sides of Arhen, Zain and Troy were standing. Zain saw me and waved his hand with a bright smile. Troy also winked at me. "Leviathan, and Zain, Troy." Arhen called out our names from the makeshift wooden stage. Then Zain and Troy rushed to my side. "Thank you. We could move forward because of you." Arhen said sincerely and seriously. I met her eyes and nodded. "No, it''s nothing." Actually, it''s true. It''s all thanks to me. "All the people here owe their lives to you." That''s right. It''s because I ran around like crazy. But I swallowed the words that were about to burst out. "Yes! You saved us!" "You saved my daughter too!" "Thank you! And thank you, Princess!" The people kept thanking us. Their greetings continued until Arhen raised her hand. When she gestured, the surroundings became quiet. Then she thanked us again. "I thank you once more. As a representative of these people, and as a daughter of a shameful father." I looked at her and gave a business-like smile. And I shamelessly said. "Then, can I do something?" "Yes." Arhen agreed without a hint of doubt in my action. I coughed lightly and turned to the people. It was time to use the item. "Some of you might still be addicted to Happy." I said and looked around. I saw some people with blue spots here and there. I confirmed them and opened my inventory. Then I used the ''Large-scale Purification Zone''. It was time to finish this long and tedious schedule. Whooosh-! A white light burst out from me. It soon enveloped everyone and spread out. Beyond the capital, to the whole Bahano kingdom. I changed my outfit to a priest''s robe at that moment. But... ''...Why am I floating?'' For some reason, my body started to rise slowly to the sky. I closed my eyes for a moment in the endless white light and opened them. I was already as high as the top of the Pce. And the white light was softly shining on my whole body. ''It looks like I''m ascending...'' I forced a smile and sighed inwardly. I looked down and saw that all the people''s eyes were on me. Zain, Troy, and Arhen also looked at me with wide eyes. "Oh my." "What is this..." [Master, are you really not a mage?] Between the people''s admiration and astonishment, Zain''smunication came. "No. This is just the power of Kyros." I tried to make an excuse. [The people of Bahano kingdom witnessed an amazing sight!] [Now they will focus on your actions!] [For 10 minutes, the probability of all the people here bing Kyros''s followers increases by 50%!] Iughed bitterly at the system message that appeared. "Ha, haha." Yeah. I wondered why it didn''t show up. But did I have to be exploited like this? I closed my eyes tightly and opened them. And when I slowly opened my mouth, the admiration and astonishment in my ears subsided. "This is all the will of Kyros, whom I serve." I stretched out my arms to the sky. "He guided us to this ce." This much showmanship should be enough. I don''t need to say more. I lowered my arms and looked at the people with one eye closed and opened. [Title option ''Fan Service'' activated sessfully!] [12,382 people of Bahano kingdom became Kyros''s followers!] ...What? What? 10,000 people? Wait. Is there something wrong with my eyes? Does this make sense? Really more than 10,000 people? These people? I was so surprised that I opened my eyes wide. My body was already on the ground. "Kyros!" "Our savior!" The people''s thunderous cheers continued, but I couldn''t hear them properly. [The effect of the skill ''Follower of Beauty'' has improved!] [Follower of Beauty (Passive) Grade: Mythical Description: A total buff for the followers of Kyros, the god of beauty. The effect increases as the number of Kyros''s followers increases. Current total number of followers: 13,982 Current acquired effect: The skin bes noticeably better.] I was stunned by the system windows that popped up one after another. My skin became noticeably better? Before, it was just improving, but now the effect was really enhanced. No, that''s not important right now. The number of followers is close to 14,000? I had barely gathered over 1,000 followers with great difficulty until now. ''Wow, this is unbelievable...'' I felt like crying from the mix of disappointment and joy.
  • My child! You are amazing!
''Ka, Kyros.'' Kyros praised me with a bright and cheerful voice, as if he had just returned. He finally looked like his usual self.
  • The number of followers increased so much in an instant!
''That''s right. I didn''t expect this either. It''s really amazing.'' I was sincere, not just saying it. But wasn''t that purification done by Kyros''s power anyway? Well, it''s not important to question that.
  • You worked hard, my child. You really did a lot.
Kyros''s voice touched me sincerely. ''Thank you, Kyros.'' My heart was pounding hard, but I pretended to be calm and smiled at the people.
"Master! You are awesome!" "Kyros!" The countless people gathered in front of the Bahano Pce cheered for Leviathan and Kyros. Two figures were watching them from afar. "Wow, he captured so many people in one go. He''s amazing, isn''t he?" Khalid muttered with a smirk. Next to him, Terdius was standing nkly. A scene simr to what he was seeing now shed through his foggy mind. The crowd that weed him, and Terdius smiling among them. It was something that wasn''t in Terdius''s memory, but somehow it felt like it had happened. No, to be exact, it felt like it should have happened. "Third Apostle, what are you going to do?" It was Khalid''s voice that brought Terdius''s mind back to reality. "What do you mean?" Terdius red at Khalid with a cold look, as if he hadn''t been spacing out. Then Khalid pointed at Leviathan surrounded by the crowd. "Leviathan. He''s gained so much power, it seems like we''ll have to deal with him soon, don''t you think?" Khalid smiled with his eyes narrowed. "It''s fine to do it now." Terdius'' brow furrowed at his words. "...Well. I don''t think it''s that serious yet." Khalid''s eyebrow twitched slightly at his answer. "Oh, really? But look. See that woman over there. She''s the only surviving royal of Bahano, and she''s likely to take the throne." Khalid pointed at Arhen Bahano, who was wearing a tattered robe. "But this is just my guess, but I have a feeling that if she bes the queen, she''ll dere Kyros'' religion as the state religion." Then, one of Terdius'' eyebrows twitched slightly. "Then, the First Apostle will naturally hear about it, even if we don''t report it to him." Khalid didn''t add anything more. He didn''t need to, because Terdius knew. "I don''t care." "Hmm, if you say so." Khalid didn''t show it, but Terdius'' mind was dizzy. If the First Apostle orders him to eliminate Kyros'' religion, would he be able to carry out that order? He began to doubt himself. "Anyway, if you''re going to clean up Kyros'' religion, I''d like you to leave Leviathan to me." Khalid licked his lips with his tongue and said greedily. Terdius turned to him. "That won''t happen." Terdius had a cold look in his eyes and brushed his hair that was blowing in the wind. He was determined to keep Kyros''s religion from reaching the First Apostle''s ears. Soon, the two men''s figures disappeared.
"Wow, it''s the Master!" "Really? Where?" "There! Isn''t that the Master?" "Yes! Zain and Troy are with him too!" "Wow, he''s a hero!" I pulled down the hood I was wearing lower at the voices of the citizens. And I clenched my teeth and said softly. "You guys, don''t you want to wear hats?" And when I looked at Zain, he was waving his hand at the people who were flocking to him. He tapped my shoulder and smiled. "Ha, Master, you''re too much. You should enjoy this time. You feel like a hero for once. No, are you a real hero?" I bit my tongue at his answer. His face was full of sincere smiles, unlike his usual business-like ones. This kid, he''s having fun. "Troy, how about you wear a hat too." I casually asked Troy, who was standing on my left. He wasn''t smiling, so I thought he might cover his face. But my hope was mercilessly crushed. "I don''t mind the humans'' hospitality, Master." Heh, Troy too... I felt weird being the only one wearing a hat. I was embarrassed to take it off, but I had no choice but to lower the hood. "Woah!" The people''s cheers grew louder and I hurried my steps. It had been about three days since the battle in Bahano. The heat in the capital Bahano was quite hot. Most of the people recognized us, and we were weed wherever we went. ''I should have stayed in a decent pce like Arhen said.'' It was my mistake to return to the inn where I had stayed before. The people''s hospitality was nice, but only at first. As the days went by, it became harder to endure the heat. Damn. ---My child, how about enjoying it together. Kyros was also very excited. He had no choice. The number of followers was increasing day by day. After I saved Bahano and floated in the air, the number of followers increased steadily as the story spread through the people''s mouths. Thanks to that, I received a lot of power from Kyros and my physical condition improved greatly. But this hospitality was new to me and I felt awkward. "We''re almost there." Thankfully, we reached our destination soon. Chapter 72 We arrived at the Royal Pce, greeted by the hospitality of the people. "Master! Wee!" The guards, who were fewer than before, weed us. I nodded briefly to them and hurried into the Pce. The number of people wandering around the Pce was noticeably low, so there was no cheering like before. But every now and then, some people who recognized us came over and asked for a handshake, and I had to deal with them one by one. Our group was able to reach our destination, the main Pce, after a little time had passed. "Every day is fun." Zain was still in a cheerful mood. Troy also seemed to be in a good mood, with a smile on his lips. "...I''m the only one who''s having a hard time." I sighed deeply and entered the main Pce. And then I naturally moved my feet toward the reception hall. The current reception hall of the main Pce was where the patients who were injured in the massive monsterization incident were gathered. Arhen had generously given up the ce for the patients, saying, ''There''s no king anyway, why do we need a reception hall?'' As I opened the door and entered the reception hall, I saw the patients, who had decreased significantly from the first day. ''There are only six left now.'' I smiled faintly. As soon as the incident was over, I gave all the healing potions I had to the injured. I distributed the potions I made with healing skills and the ones I made with normal ingredients ording to the severity of the injuries. Of course, the ones I made with normal ingredients also had simr effects to the high-quality potions made by alchemists. I still had the recipe from the original work in my head. Anyway, thanks to using healing skills asionally, the skill level had also increased. [Healing (Active) LV.3 Grade: Legendary Description: The effect increases proportionally to the skill level. LV.1 Heals the wounds and restores the fatigue of living beings. LV.2 Heals the mind of living beings. LV.3 Removes the poison and curse of living beings. LV.4 ??? (Locked) LV.5 ??? (Locked) Experience: 31/40] A skill that can remove the poison and curse of others. I didn''t expect to get something like this. It had a simr effect to the ''Thousand-Year-Old Ginseng'' elixir, but the elixir''s effect was still better. The elixir''s effect was always maintained. But there was a huge advantage, so I had no reason to be particrly disappointed. The elixir only applied to me, but the skill could be used on anyone. In that sense, the only thing that was a bit regrettable was that the experience required for skill level up increased by twice. ''It was 20 before, but now it''s 40.'' A whopping two times, if this trend continues, the experience required will surely be 80 after it reaches level 4. ''But I''ll be level 4 soon because of this incident...'' As I thought that and entered the reception hall, the doctor who was taking care of the patients came up to us. "Master! You''re here!" He was originally the Royal Physician of the Bahano Royal Family. He was taking care of the patients under Arhen''s order. "Master, your healing potions are very effective! Do you also practice alchemy? They seem to be more effective than the ones sold in the market!" "That''s not the case." I handed the healing potion to the doctor, who was shining his eyes at me. With this, the remaining patients would all recover, so my job was done here. "Master. The princess asked me to tell you toe see her when you visit." As we left the reception hall, greeted by the royal physician, the servant who was waiting with a dignified posture came up to us. He was the person we rescued from the detached Pce before, so his expression was very bright when he saw us. "I see. I understand. Zain, Troy." I took Zain, who was having a friendly conversation with the patients, and Troy, who was surrounded by children, and moved again. "By the way, it''s been a while since we saw the princess." Zain said with a smiling face as usual. He was right, we hadn''t seen Arhen for the past few days. "The coronation is in two weeks, so she must be very busy." Arhen was currently preparing to ascend to the throne. Although it had only been a few days since King Hebius died, the work was progressing quickly. ''When you think about it, it''s only been a few days, but there''s been a lot of work.'' Three days ago, Celos was executed. He was crucified on the city gate for the crime of disrupting the kingdom. ''That''s why I flinched every time I went in and out of the Pce.'' And two days ago, the funeral of King Hebius and Prince Haven was held. Originally, the royal funeral in Bahano was held for a week, but since King Hebius and Prince Haven were no different from criminals, Arhen expressed her opinion and the funeral ended in a few hours. After hearing the news of the Pce, the nobles who came up to the capital held a meeting to discuss the next king. Arhen, who was the only direct descendant of the royal family, said she wanted to discuss the next regime after stabilizing the kingdom, but the nobles opposed. After the monsterization incident, the surviving nobles were all on Arhen''s side. ''If I had to give a reason.'' The surviving nobles were the ones who opposed King Hebius when he favored Celos. Strictly speaking, they were the faction of Arhen''s sister Melina, but they supported her because they knew the rtionship between Arhen and Melina well. The second reason was obvious. Arhen was currently receiving full support from the people. A hero who wielded a sword and ran around the country to save the people in crisis. That was Arhen''s position now. So Arhen had no choice but to ept. ''Well, it''s inevitable since there''s nopetitor anyway.'' As I thought about this and that, the servant''s footsteps stopped. As the door opened, a decent-sized reception room appeared. Arhen was drinking tea inside. "You''re here." Arhen smiled as she saw us. Her outfit, which was neatpared to when I saw her a few days ago, caught my eye first. She was wearing a white uniform, and she looked far away from the time she spent in the western tower. "Please sit down." We sat down across from her, following Arhen''s words. But Arhen''s eyes were sunken. "You look tired." As I said that, Arhen smiled faintly. "I wish I could sleep well. I have a mountain of work to do, day and night." Arhenined. ''I can''t help it.'' I didn''t need to exin the situation to understand the situation. King Hebius had been obsessed with Happy and had not paid attention to the state affairs. So all the work was Arhen''s share, and at the same time, she had to rebuild the capital Bahano, which would not be enough even if she had ten bodies. "You''ll be in trouble before you ascend to the throne." Zain joked with a business-like smile. He finally returned to his usual self. "Don''t worry. I won''t close my eyes before the coronation." Arhenughed heartily. Then she quickly turned serious. "The reason I called you today is, nothing else but..." I easily guessed what she was going to say next. She must have wanted us to attend the coronation. But we had already stayed in Bahano for several days. We were taking a break while taking care of the patients. But it was time to leave now. ''Sorry, but I''ll have to say no to the coronation.'' But what she said next overturned my expectation. "On the day I ascend to the throne, I''m going to dere Kyros Church as the state religion of Bahano." "...What?" I unconsciously asked back, losing my color. Then Arhen repeated herself. "Kyros Church will be the state religion of Bahano." My ears weren''t wrong. My goodness. Is this for real?
  • Oh my, my child! Your good deeds have be our revival!
Kyros also eximed with excitement. ''Ha, haha. I guess so.'' I couldn''t easily continue the conversation after hearing the unexpected words. Then Arhen put down her teacup and smiled. "You look very surprised. Do you dislike it?" "...No, no, no. I don''t dislike it. I''m just shocked, that''s all." I picked up the teacup in front of me and gulped it down. Ouch, hot. "I see. You must be shocked. But I... when I was fighting against the monsters with you, I decided then." "What did you decide..." "If you really want to save Bahano, I''ll dly stand by your side. This is the least I can do for you." "No, it''s a great honor." I tried to speak calmly, but my heart was pounding like crazy. State religion, state religion! "Ma-master. This is not a dream, right?" Zain asked me with a surprised look. Then Troy pped Zain''s back. "Ow! What are you doing, all of a sudden!" "To show you it''s not a dream." "You brat!" I ignored the two who were bickering. "Anyway, there''s not much time left until the coronation, so how about setting up a temple in the capital?" "Yes, of course. That''s what we''re nning to do." I had already converted thend and building of the Rizes Church''s Bahano branch into Kyros Church''s temple. That was all, though. "If you have a preferred location, let me know. I can give you anywhere you want." Arhen was generous. This was the dignity of a King. ---This child has also be my believer, so she''s willing to give anything. I realized then that Arhen had be a believer. I see. I was toote to notice because too many people became believers at once. ''That''s good.'' I smiled at the corner of my mouth and thought. The temple of Bahano had to use the underground passage of the fruit shop building to get to the temple. ''So I''d like to improve this.'' Since the fruit shop building copsed during the monsterization incident, I thought it would be better to open up the passage. That way, the essibility of the believers would be better. Anyway, the fruit shop building was also bought by the Rizes Church for deception, so it was mine now. "Then..." I slowly opened my mouth. "I want to use the temple that the Rizes Church used in Bahano as the Kyros Church''s Temple. It''s going to be abandoned anyway, so I think it would be better for us to use it." "Really? Then... how about changing the exterior? The location of that ce is not that good either. It would be fine to open up the road." Fortunately, Arhen seemed to know the location of the temple in the capital. That was good. I couldmunicate better. I immediately exined my n to Arhen. First, I started with the fact that I identally found the passage and went there and saw the Rizes Church''s temple. Then I said I wanted to open up the passage and change the exterior of the temple building to look like a real temple. The current exterior of the Bahano temple was no different from a normal building, so I wanted to change it. That way, people woulde out of curiosity. I exined earnestly. How could I resist free remodeling. "I see. Do as you wish." I heard Arhen''s confirmation at the end of the long exnation. I tried to pull down my smirking lips. "The construction should start as soon as possible, right?" "Of course." I had already taken everything that could make money from the temple in the past few days, so there was no problem to start remodeling right away. "Is there anything else you want? Something you need. I want to show my gratitude to the savior of the kingdom as much as possible." I had been waiting for those words. "There is." I smiled. This was the moment I achieved my purpose ofing to Bahano. Chapter 73 There was a road deep inside the Bahano Pce that only the Royal Family could ess with permission. It was a ce where even the servants who cleaned it could not wander freely, and it was poorly maintained, with no human footsteps. Dust flew everywhere as I walked. "Cough!" Zain, who was walking on my right, coughed. Arhen, who was leading the way, looked back at him with a worried eye. "Are you okay?" "Cough! Yes, I''m fine." "I''m sorry. It hasn''t been taken care of for a long time." "It''s okay. It can''t be helped." Zain looked like he was struggling to suppress his cough. He should have covered his nose and mouth with the hem of his robe like me. Zain, Troy, and I were following Arhen''s guidance. Our destination was the Royal Vault at the end of the dusty road. I smiled faintly. A little while ago, I asked Arhen, who wanted to show his gratitude, for one treasure from the Royal Vault. ''I agree. How can I not give anything to the benefactor of Bahano?'' Arhen readily epted my request. Zain and Troy looked a bit surprised when I brazenly asked for a treasure from the Royal Vault. But what I wanted was not a treasure that was so great and precious that it could determine the fate of the kingdom. "We''re almost there." As Arhen announced our arrival, a huge iron gate appeared at the end of the road. There were two lions engraved on the gate, the seal of the Royal Family, and a round space in the middle. Arhen ced his palm on it. Then the gate opened with a thud. It was a simr method to when I used the secret passage in Holden''s mansion. The Royal secret Vault could only be opened by the bloodline of the Royal Family, so it was the same method. "Leviathan,e here." Arhen opened the door of the vault wide and gestured to me. "Yes, Princess." I approached the vault with a smile. Then Zain and Troy followed me. "Wow, what is this..." Zain''s eyes widened and sparkled. I could see greed in his eyes in an instant. It was understandable. The vault was filled with all kinds of treasures, jewels, and various artworks, neatly disyed. "Do you see anything you like?" Arhen asked me. Instead of answering her question, I entered the vault. It was said that it had not been maintained for a long time, but it was clean inside except for a little dust. The air was a bit cold, but it was fine. A familiar and warm energy came from the depths of the vault. ---My child, did you feel it too? ''Of course. I felt it as soon as I entered the Pce.'' ---I see. You are indeed mymb. I heard Kyros'' voice of joy clearly. His voice made me feel good too. I walked slowly towards the inside. At the bottom of the cab where various treasures were disyed, there was a ck box covered with dust as if it had been neglected for a long time. There was a golden lock on the ck box. I reached for the box. "Leviathan, do you want that?" But Arhen called me in a surprised voice. I carefully lifted the box and looked at her. "Yes. I want this." "That is stored in the vault, but it is not a treasure. It is a box that no one, no matter what method they use, can open. It has been in the Royal Vault for a very long time, so it is stored, but it is not a treasure." Arhen tried to dissuade me as if my choice was wrong. It was not that she was sorry for the treasure. She just looked like she was genuinely disappointed in my choice. Zain came up to me as well. "Princess, if you''re trying to stop him, wouldn''t it be better to choose something else? There was a pretty good treasure over there..." Zain winked at me without Arhen seeing. He must have found a treasure of considerable value. "Master, I think that''s... not a good choice." Troy also tried to dissuade me. Well, I can''t help it. I put the box down in the empty space of the cab. And I touched the golden lock. Pop- The box opened with a small light. "How can this be. How did you...!" "Huh?" "...!" Arhen, Zain, and Troy''s eyes widened. At the same time, a message appeared in front of me. [You have acquired Kyros'' Holy Relic, ''Kyros'' Crown''!] Inside the box, there was a crown made of flowers of various colors, such as pink and white. The crown smelled fresh as if it had just been made with freshly picked flowers. ---Once, I wore this on my head. ''Wow. You must have looked very beautiful.'' ---Yes. I did. I imagined his appearance in my head and a picture was created in an instant. "What is this..." Arhen looked at the crown and me with a surprised eye. I spoke to her slowly. "This is Kyros'' Holy Relic. It''s something that Kyros used a long time ago." "What? There was such a thing in the vault...!" Arhen''s mouth opened wide. And so did Zain and Troy''s. "No, Master. Is that really true?" "Master, is that real?" "Yes. I heard it from Kyros." I nodded and held the crown in my hand. I had to equip the Holy Relic to return it to Kyros. I didn''t want to show this to everyone, but... I had no choice. I made a short decision and put the crown on my head. Then Zain''s brow furrowed first. "Ugh. Why are you wearing that, Master?" "Zain, don''t be rude. It suits the Master well." "Yes. It looks good on him." Troy and Arhen took my side, but I wasn''t very happy with the situation either. But the crown soon turned into a white light and disappeared. ---Thank you, my child. The crown must have returned to Kyros safely. "Huh? It''s gone, Master?" "I gave it back to Kyros." I answered Zain briefly and moved my feet to get out of the vault. "If that''s the case, take one more treasure." "No, princess. This is enough for me." "But..." "I''m really fine." Arhen seemed to want to give me something more, but I had already received a lot from her. She had dered Kyrosism as the state religion, and even promised to remodel the temple. "Master, don''t be like that and take one more. There''s a pretty good one over there." Zain seemed more regretful than me and whispered to me, but I turned away from him. Ignoring Zain''s grumbling voice, I looked at the message that appeared before my eyes. [You have acquired the title ''Star of Kyrosism''.] [''Star of Kyrosism'': You who have worn Kyros'' crown! You are as beautiful as Kyros, the God of Beauty! -Title option ''Fan service 2'': When you wave your hand at someone, you have a 10% chance of making them a follower of Kyrosism. If you fail, they will ignore you. (Only usable 3 times per person)] I also acquired a title option along with the title. But this, again fan service? At least it wasn''t a wink, so I was relieved. ''A wave is fine.'' But what if I wave and wink at the same time, would the probability be 20%? ''That''s a great deal.'' I had walked a hard road for this, so it was worth it. "Leviathan." On the way back from the vault. Arhen called me. "Yes, Princess." "By the way, you''re still staying at the inn, right? How about staying at the Pce instead?" I would have refused again a few days ago, but I didn''t want to do that now. Rather, I was grateful that she asked me. "...I''ll do that." "Wasn''t the inn okay, Master? The people were hospitable and always weed you." "I find that burdensome." It would be less burdensome to stay at the Pce. "I see. It will be ready soon." "Thank you, Princess." I''ll be morefortable now.
Thanks to Arhen''s consideration, we stayed at the Pce. The Pce we stayed at was the closest to the royal Pce. She said we coulde to her anytime we needed something, and kindly did that for us. And thanks to the servants who brought our luggage from the inn, we didn''t have to leave the Pce. After that, I entered the most splendid bedroom in the Pce. ---Wow, the colors are very nice. ''...You have a peculiar taste.'' Zain and Troy insisted that ''the Master should use the best room'', so this was the ce chosen for me, but the design was not very good. It was nice that it wasrge and had a separate space for the bed and sofa, but... There were expensive-looking ornaments everywhere, the furniture was too red, and there were gold ents. ''I prefer simple things.'' I wanted to change the room, but I gave up. This bedroom was isted from the rest of the Pce. That is, no one would hear what I did. ''I''ll have to be careful when the servantse and go.'' Arhen had assigned us servants as well. Anyway, it was time to check that out. A corner of the bedroom. I went to a space where the bed was not visible and opened the inventory. Then I immediately took out the ''portal''. I chose this ce because it seemed to protect my privacy. Pop- A huge portal appeared in the air with a light. It looked like it couldn''t be lifted by human strength. ''...Yeah. I can''t move it.'' The portal was a little taller than an adult male. So, it was enough for Terdius to pass through, but there wasn''t much room? I wondered if I could and grabbed the portal. And I applied some force. For a brief moment, I felt the portal move slightly. But that was less than a second. ''I can''t move this. Never.'' But maybe I could put it back in the inventory? But how do I do that? I opened the inventory and approached the portal. As the inventory window ovepped with the portal, the portal quickly went back into the inventory window. "Phew." That''s a relief. It goes in. I took out the portal again from the inventory. I looked at the portal well installed in the corner and called the kids. ''Alphi, Chessy, Sasha. Can youe over here?'' [Yes, Master!] [Yes, yes!] [...Yes.] As soon as I heard the kids'' answers, the air split and three kids appeared. I was d to see them after a long time. "It''s been a while." I hugged each of the kids once. Of course, I hadmunicated with them asionally, so I didn''t feel any distance. "How have you been, Master? Where is this ce?" "Oh, this is the Pce of Bahano. I have something to ask you." I told them roughly. I nned to install the portal in each temple and go back and forthfortably. "So this is a device that lets you go to the temples like we do in the space?" "Yes." ---What an amazing thing. Kyros also seemed interested. This quest reward was no different from what I got from the ''system''. "So can you move this to the temple of Rovel?" The simplest way to install the portal in each temple was to visit the temples myself and take out the portal. ''But there''s no need to waste precious time.'' Unlike me, the kids were in Rovel, and they coulde to me through the space. And they were also quite strong, unlike their appearance, so maybe they could move it together. "We''ll try!" "Leave, leave it to us!" "...Yes." The kids answered and each grabbed the portal. And the next moment. "...!" The portal shed in the kids'' hands. Chapter 74 "Should I move it to your room, Master?" The children''s expressions didn''t change at all. These guys, how strong are they? I couldn''t even feel jealous because they were in a different dimension. "Sure. I appreciate it." I smiled bitterly and watched the children disappear into the space. The children who vanished with the portal came back soon. "We moved it to your room, Master!" "Good job. Alphi, Chessy, Sasha. Thank you." I stroked the children''s hair and took out another portal from my inventory. "Oh, there was one more? Where should I move this one?" "No, you don''t have to move this one. By the way, wasn''t the portal heavy?" "Oh, no! We''re fine. But it would be hard for humans to move it." I see. It was possible because the children were strong. I was d and touched the portal. Only those who were allowed by the owner could use it, so I thought I would designate the authorized ones first. There was no way to specify it in the portal information, so I touched the portal. Then a system window popped up. [Please specify who can use the moving portal.] Is this it? There was no other message, so maybe it read my ''thoughts''. I wondered and thought of the names. ''Alphius, Chester, Sasha, Zain, Troy.'' I excluded myself because I could use it anyway. Then another message appeared. [Moving portal user settings areplete.] Oh, it seems to have worked. Shall I try it out? I walked straight to the portal. As I entered the ce where the blue-ck hole was swaying, a familiar space appeared. It was the master''s room in the temple of Rovel. "Wow, how long has it been?" I looked around the master''s room that I hadn''t seen in a long time, and turned around to look out the window. The scenery of the temple outside came into view. The believers walking in the garden and the children running around with smiles. "Wow! This is amazing!" "Oh, it''s like a space!" The children who followed me were amazed and passed through the portal several times. Cute things. I looked at the children with a smile and went back to Bahano. Then I remembered something I had forgotten. "Kids. Do you want to follow me?" "Yes!" I left the bedroom with the children. "Huh? Master. You were with the kids." "Mas, Master? Who are these kids?" Then I ran into Zain and Troy in the hallway, who seemed to be looking for me. "Perfect timing, Troy." I was going to introduce Troy to the children anyway. "This is Troy, who recently became our believer. He''s helping me by my side." "Oh, I see! Nice to meet you." "Ni, nice to meet you." Alpius and Chester greeted Troy. Sasha just nodded her head. "And Troy, these are Alphius, Chester, and Sasha in order. Alpius is the high priest of Kyros, Chester is a knight, and Sasha is a priestess and an artist." "Oh, I see. Nice to meet you. I''m Troy Mont." Troy greeted the children politely. He didn''t seem to have any prejudice against the children who were in high positions, judging by his eyes. "Zain, Troy. Both of you follow me." I took the two men into the room. And when I pointed to the portal and exined, they were shocked. "My goodness... Really. How do you always surprise people, Master?" "Master, Master is like a magician." The two men were also amazed and went back and forth between Rovel and Bahano through the portal. The children followed them, and Iughed for a while.
The morning dawned in Rovel. Max thought that day would be no different than usual. Until he looked in the mirror. "Huh?" His face was the same as usual, but his skin felt unusually smooth. The blemishes were gone, of course, and the pores were not visible. "...It''s true." His skin had improved a lot. Even though he didn''t make any effort. He had been stressedtely and didn''t sleep well. Max left the bedroom just in case. And he ran to his mother, Laura. "Mom!" He met Laura, who wasing to wake him up, and Max rushed to her. And Max was surprised. Laura''s skin had also improved noticeablypared to before. She looked much younger than her age, with no freckles or blemishes. "Oh my!" "What''s wrong, Max?" When Max was surprised. His father, Bill, came up with a face that had just woken up from sleep. Max was surprised again. His father''s gray hair was gone. "How can this be..." Max opened his mouth wide and looked at his parents who looked younger. It was the moment when the believers of Kyros realized the massive buff that they didn''t know, ''The Follower of Beauty''.
The day after I installed the portal in the bedroom. We received a breakfast invitation from Arhen. The restaurant in the pce was beautifully set with simple foods that were good to eat in the morning. ''I guess we need a cook in the temple too.'' Most of the time, we cooked ourselves or sometimes the children did. But now that the number of temples increased, everyone would be busy. ''So it would be better to have a cook who cooks for us.'' I had to use the lottery ticket before the Bahano temple waspleted. ''And I have to go to Aldone to install the portal and take care of the temple.'' It was hard to muster up the courage to go to Aldone, as I had to ride a carriage for a few days. The children could onlye to where I was, so I couldn''t send them to Aldone. So I had to visit Aldone myself soon. "Today, the construction of the temple will begin." Arhen said as she spread apple jam on her bread. "Already? That''s fast." "The people and I want the temple to bepleted as soon as possible. Besides, the reconstruction of the capital is almost done." We had acted quickly during the monsterization crisis, so the damage to the capital was not that severe. Not only the lives, but also the buildings. The most damaged one was the fruit shop building in the chapel, but still. "Also, when the news of the Kyros temple spread, the workers volunteered to help. They said the construction would be over soon." "I see. I''m sorry and grateful." "You don''t need to feel that way. I and the people will do anything for Kyros." I felt a warmth in my heart. As I smiled happily, I saw Troy eating with food all over his mouth. I handed him a handkerchief and looked at Arhen. She added with a smile. "And I have something prepared for you." "Yes?" "How about taking a vacation for two days?" I widened my eyes at Arhen''s sudden suggestion. "A vacation? Out of the blue?" "You seem to have not rested well since you came to Bahano." I thought about it and realized she was right. The journey had been so tight. Even after the monsterization crisis ended, I had been healing people. I did rest a bit in my spare time, though. "Princess, if it''s a vacation, are you paying for it?" Zain''s eyes sparkled. He looked like he couldn''t resist a free vacation. "Zain, if you reveal your greed like that... you''ll be in trouble." Troy said seriously to Zain. "Trouble?" "All the hair on your body will fall off." "...Are you cursing me right now?" "No. This is the truth." I ignored the two bickering and listened to Arhen. "Of course, I will pay for all the expenses." Vacation, vacation. "I want to show you the beautiful scenery of Bahano. Haven''t you stayed in the capital every day since you met me?" "Well, yes, but..." "If you don''t have time, I can''t help it." I had never taken a vacation since I came to this world. So I was looking forward to it. ''Next schedule is not decided yet, so two days should be fine...'' ---Yes, my first child. This might be a good opportunity to go on a vacation. ''...Hmm. Let''s do it.'' It had been quite a while since I came to the world of Woosebeop. It has already been several months now. Maybe I should take a proper break for once. "I agree." My eptance brightened the faces of Arhen, Zain, and Troy. Kids, are you that happy?
The vacation preparation was done quickly. Actually, we didn''t do much. Arhen must have prepared everything in advance, because as soon as we finished our meal, the servants were waiting for us. So Zain packed his personal belongings and we were ready to go. We got on the carriage with the Royal Seal. I leaned back on the soft seat and felt drowsy. The Royal Carriage was as good as Holden''s. "Money is good indeed." "I''ve never seen such a nice carriage." Zain and Troy seemed to like it, as their faces were more rxed than usual. "By the way, where are we going?" I had heard the servants telling us, but I didn''t listen carefully because Kyros was excited about the vacation. "We''re going to a vige called ''White'', which is two hours away from the capital by carriage. As far as I know, White is a ce where winteres earlier than other ces. There must be a lot of snow already." Zain''s information made me excited. Snow. I didn''t expect to see snow in this world. I smiled happily and turned my gaze to the window. As I did, I saw Zain sitting across from me. He was rummaging through my luggage and took something out. I frowned when I saw what it was. "Zain, do you have to work even on the carriage to the vacation?" "Of course. I can''t waste the travel time." Zain started knitting. This guy. "Zain, there are things more precious than money in the world." Troy couldn''t help but say. Zain shrugged it off. "Yeah. I guess so. But to me, money is the most precious." He had the same expression as usual, but I knew very well that he meant it. He had no choice but to be like that. ---He must have some reason. ''Yes. Everyone has their own circumstances. Me, Zain, Troy.'' The carriage kept running while we were talking. As we passed the capital that was more lively than a few days ago, a small forest road appeared. I leaned on the window and closed my eyes. Maybe it was because I felt rxed for the first time in a long time, I felt sleepy. Chapter 75 "We''ve arrived." I woke up from my sleep as the carriage came to a halt and the attendant opened the door for me. "Wow..." I couldn''t help but gasp as I stepped out of the carriage. "This is where you''ll be staying for two days." The white mansion looked like something out of a fairy tale. It was not only beautiful on the outside, but also the garden and the mountain behind it were all covered in snow. A mansion standing gracefully on the snow-covered slope. ---What a splendid ce. "It''s so beautiful." "I''ve never seen anything like this." Even though the ce was full of snow, the roads were neatly cleared. ''That''s right, this world has snow removal potions.'' It was a strange world that was both inconvenient and convenient. "If you want to visit the vige, please call us anytime." The vige. I should go thereter. "The house has everything you need, and we''ve brought winter clothes for you. And there''s a hot spring behind the house, so feel free to use it." The attendant bowed politely and opened the door of the mansion. As soon as I entered, I felt a warm heat wrap around my body. I must have forgotten the cold for a while as I admired the mansion and the scenery. "Wow, as expected. The royal vi is different." I agreed with Zain''s words. The vi was as big as the pce''s annex, and it was decorated just as beautifully. I looked around the various ornaments and headed to the bedroom on the first floor. I liked the simple design of the beige room and chose it as my ce. The bedroom had a bell cord to call the attendant easily, and a spacious bed and a small bathroom attached. After checking out the room, I ran into the guys who came out of the nearby bedrooms. "Master, shall we go to the vige right away?" "I want to go to the vige too." Since they wanted to, I had to take them. "Let''s go."
"Wow, it''s beautiful." The road to the vige by carriage. Except for the road and the sidewalk that the carriage passed by, everything was covered in snow. The royal vi was on a hill, and the vige was spread out below the hill. It wasn''t very big, but it wasn''t small either. It had the feel of a medium-sized tourist town. ''It''s worth visiting.'' White smoke rose from the chimneys all over the vige. It felt like I had found a vige in a fairy tale. Not long after, the carriage stopped near the entrance of the vige. I didn''t want to be seen by the people getting off the carriage with the royal seal on it, so I made a decision. Fortunately, there weren''t many people on the streets of the vige, so there wouldn''t be many people who saw us. So I didn''t bother to put on the hood of my thick winter coat. ---You look warm, kid. ''Yes? It''s warmer than I thought. This coat.'' The coat I wore was made of thick fur. It was a bit unpleasant that the fur came from a monster. But it was better than an animal being sacrificed. "I''ve heard that Bahano''s White is beautiful, but it''s even more beautiful when I see it with my own eyes." "I think so too." Zain and Troy eximed in admiration. I too felt like I had entered a fairy tale every time I looked around. "Master, let''s go over there. Let''s fill our stomachs first." "Okay, let''s go." It was a rare vacation, so I decided to listen to their requests as much as possible. The ce that Zain led us to was a restaurant. "Wee~" We were greeted by a cozy owner as we entered and a delicious smell hit us. Sniff. This is meat. The restaurant was full of customers, which meant that it was a popr ce in the vige. We sat down at the only empty seat and a waiter brought us a menu. I handed the menu to Zain. Then Zain and Troy picked their menu diligently. "Please give us w rabbit stir-fry and de bear roast!" I was shocked when I heard Zain''s order. Wait a minute, is this a ce that sells monster meat? ''...Ugh.'' I rubbed my forehead. Of course, I often saw dishes made with monster ingredients when I yed Woosebeop. ''But that doesn''t mean I wanted to eat them.'' I couldn''t cancel the order when I saw the two guys drooling over the food on the other table. Besides, what they ordered seemed to be the main menu of this ce. I looked closely and saw that everyone else was eating the same menu. ---Huh, they even eat monsters. ''There are monsters that can be eaten.'' It was a very natural thing for the people of this world. But I had never eaten them before. I didn''t even want to. "Enjoy your meal." The ordered dishes came out soon. It was a stir-fry with a brownish color and a roast with a golden crust. "It looks delicious!" Zain and Troy immediately grabbed the food and ate it. I was hungry too, so I picked up a piece of meat. It was hard to put it in my mouth. "Oh, it''s so good!" "It''s really good." I could only push the food into my mouth when I heard the sincerepliments of the two guys. So this was w rabbit stir-fry. "...!" This taste! It was moderately salty and sweet. It was delicious. I swallowed the meat and picked up a de bear roast. This was also good. It was tender, lean, and chewy. It suited my taste very well. ''So that''s why they eat them.'' I started to eat the food quickly,peting with the two guys who didn''t stop moving their chopsticks.
After eating the monster meat. We wandered around the White Vige diligently. There were many souvenir shops that tourists often visited, so we bought souvenirs and ate special desserts made of snow. Then we bought a few bottles of liquor that the people of White Vige usually drank and returned to the vi. It was almost evening when we arrived at the mansion. "Master, are you going to have a drink tonight?" "Since we bought it, we should drink it." "Then I''ll make the snacks." Zain lifted his chin and showed confidence. Could this guy cook well? I was doubtful. "Then I''ll help too." Troy volunteered as well. Zain didn''t seem to like it, but he epted Troy in the end. "But, you have to do as I say." "Got it. Don''t worry." "Then, Master, please restfortably." I felt uneasy somehow, but I left them alone. ---My little bird, what are you going to do now? ''Um. I don''t know. I don''t have anything to do, so I''m going to the hot spring.'' I was going to call the attendant and ask him to prepare, but I got ready in the bedroom and headed to the back of the house. There was a hot spring behind the house, with smoke rising from it. ''Oh, it''s an open-air bath.'' ---I want to do it too! Kyros appeared in an instant. A puppy popped up and walked to the hot spring with small steps. The footprints on the white snow were quite cute. Ssh! The puppy jumped into the hot spring and shook his body. "It''s warm! And the cold wind blows at the same time, making it refreshing!" Kyros looked very satisfied. I smiled and put on a robe and entered the hot spring. "Uh, it''s cold." As soon as I dipped my feet in the hot spring, a warm sensation spread throughout my body. I walked inside and found a suitable spot, and Kyros swam over to me. "Puff!" The puppy''s appearance, cutting through the water anding closer, was so adorable. "How is it, my swimming skills?" "You''re very good." Iughed, and Kyrosughed too. Ah, it''s peaceful. And fun. "Kid." Kyros had been staring at me for a while. Did Iugh too loud? "You always work hard." "Why are you saying that all of a sudden?" I felt awkward by the sudden seriousness of Kyros. I stroked the wet fur of the puppy, and his eyes looked sad somehow. "Thank you for always moving for me." "...It''s also for me." I have to move hard to survive. But Kyros didn''t answer and just stared at me quietly. "Kyros? What are you thinking about?" "No. It''s just, not long ago, I couldn''t even have a form... I feel peaceful." "Right? I love it here. It''s quiet, peaceful, and cozy." As I sat still and looked at the snow-covered mountain, my worries melted away like snow. When will this peacee again? "Yeah. That''s right." Kyros also looked at the mountain with me. We enjoyed a moment of peace without any conversation for a while.
After leaving the hot spring, I changed my clothes and headed to the dining room where Zain and Troy were. "Ugh..." But, what''s wrong with them? "Zain, Troy." I called the two people who were lying on the table. But they didn''t get up. My brow furrowed in an instant. The guys who said they would prepare dinner finished cooking and drank some alcohol. In the middle of therge table, there were gratin, bread, pasta, various cheeses and fruits, and a bottle of liquor rolling around. ---Don''t get angry. They just tasted it and got drunk. Kyros, who returned to his spiritual form, made an excuse for them. ''That''s why I''m more annoyed.'' The liquor of White Vige was very strong to withstand the cold. So, you get drunk quickly even if you don''t drink much. ''They couldn''t resist.'' I sighed and sat down at the empty seat. I had to eat by myself. I poured some liquor into a clean ss. A refreshing and strong alcohol smell came out at the same time. I took a sip of the liquor and felt a sour sensation in my mouth. ''...Not bad.'' It went well with the still warm gratin. I drank the liquor and checked the state of the two guys. They werepletely asleep. "Ugh... Huh?" Then, Zain''s eyelids opened and his eyes were very loose. He looked at me with a sheepish smile. Ugh. "Master!" The drunk guy raised his voice. "Quiet down and sleep." I drank the liquor and nced at him. But Zain ignored my words and lifted his head. Then, he leaned his face on my arm as if he was dizzy. ''He looks like a troublemaker with his half-open eyes.'' I clicked my tongue as I looked at him, and Zain muttered. "Master... Please give me more money." "I''m giving you enough already." "...But please give me more." Zain smiled faintly and demanded brazenly. He was greedy. On the other hand, Troy was still asleep like a dead man. "I''ll take care of you better from now on, so just sleep." I said to Zain as if I was scolding him. But he didn''t budge. "Master, do you think I''m a money-crazed guy?" You''re asking the obvious. "Yeah." "Right..." The smile disappeared from Zain''s face. Soon, his eyes moistened. "But. Master, if I don''t have money." A tear fell from Zain''s eyes. "...No one -- no one can protect me." Chapter 76 I took a sip of the liquor quietly. It had a bitter aftertaste. Maybe it was because I saw Zain''s tears. ''...This guy.'' I sighed inwardly as Zain spoke. "Master, you know, our house was..." Zain''s pronunciation was so muffled that I could barely understand him unless I paid close attention. "We were very, very poor. So poor that we were torn apart." I drank the liquor continuously as I listened to his words. Zain sniffled and continued his confession. "Our parents left us with a huge debt and passed away, and I was the youngest, you know? I had a sister and a brother..." The drunkard''s words were interrupted here and there, but I could understand his situation since I knew it. "Anyway, the debt was so big that no matter how much we worked, we couldn''t pay it off. And then... Sob." Zain suddenly burst into tears as his emotions surged. He looked pitiful as he cried like a child. I handed him a handkerchief, and he wiped his tears and blew his nose with it. "You can have it." I didn''t intend to take it back. "Thank you. You gave me this expensive handkerchief." Zainughed out loud as he received the handkerchief, but then he became gloomy again and shed tears. "By the way, Master, do you know what happened to my sister and brother?" "...I don''t." "The debt collectors came every day because the debt was so big. Those bastards beat my brother up every day, you know. They tried to beat my sister and me too, but my brother stepped in and took all the hits. Poor brother." Tears streamed down Zain''s eyes. ---What a sad story. Kyros also empathized and sniffled. "Then one night, my brother suddenly woke me up. He told me to hide and pushed me into the closet, so I stayed there..." Zain couldn''t finish his sentence. He stared nkly for a while, then opened his mouth with difficulty. "The debt collectors came with knives. They stabbed my brother and sister and told them toe along quietly. My brother and sister couldn''t refuse and were dragged away by them." "What about you?" "I hid in the closet and couldn''t do anything. Because..." "......" "My brother and sister kept signaling me not toe out. They smiled until the end as they were taken away. I was scared, so I stayed there. And then I found outter." I clenched my mouth. The story was more emotional when I heard it from the actual person than when I read it in the original work. "...My sister and brother were sold to pay off the debt." Zain covered his face with both hands. Transparent tears flowed down his wrists. "But I was only twelve years old then. So I couldn''t find out where my brother and sister went. Since then, I''ve been saving money like crazy. I realized that I needed money to keep anything from being taken away from me." Zain removed his hands from his face. His face was dirty with tears and snot. "The debt collectors didn''te anymore after they sold my brother and sister and cleared the debt. But it felt like they sacrificed themselves for me, and I couldn''t bear it." "......" I wanted tofort him, but I couldn''t open my mouth. A clumsy constion would only be a mockery. Instead of opening my mouth, I looked at Zain''s eyes quietly, and he took a breath and continued his exnation. "So I saved and saved, and used all that money to find my brother and sister''s whereabouts." He grabbed the liquor bottle that I had followed, but I took his hand off. And I gave him water instead. "Thank you, Master." Zain smiled faintly, but then he became sad again. "So what happened then?" I brushed my hair back and asked him. "I found my brother''s clue quickly. He was sold as a ve to a faraway country... He died in an ident while working hard. If I had been a little faster, that wouldn''t have happened." Sniff, Zain wiped his nose. Then he shook his head vigorously and spoke again. "But luckily, my sister is alive." He smiled. The smile he made while shedding tears only hurt my heart. "But our sister... She''s also very pitiful. She worked as a maid in a noble family and came to believe in Diego Church. But then." Zain''s eyes turned cold. "She changed when I met her after a few years. She became a fanatic of the Diego Church." Zain''s lips curled up. "She didn''t care about me when we met again, and she only praised the Diego God. She gave all the money she earned and the money I gave her to Diego Church." Zainughed sarcastically. "She told me to believe in Diego Church when I told her not to. But how can I believe? Diego Church is dragging my sister, who is in hell, to a deeper hell. And then..." Zain''s sarcasticughter turned into a madman''s. "My sister became a saint of Diego Church." "...I see." "Do you know? The saint of Diego Church can''t leave Diego Church until she dies." Of course, I know. I drank the liquor instead of answering. "So what can I do? If I want to get my sister out of there, I have no choice but to destroy the Diego Church." Zain''s lips rose slightly. "Now my family is only my sister. To protect my sister, I don''t know any other way than to destroy the Diego Church." Zain leaned on my arm and lowered his head. His voice got smaller. "So I''m saving money hard. When I get my sister out of Diego Church, I don''t want to lose her again. I''m saving like crazy... Because now I want to protect my sister." Zain''s voice didn''t continue. He was either asleep or breathing evenly. ---I didn''t know he had such a situation. Kyros sniffled. I drank the liquor quietly. The saint of Diego Church was the representative of Diego Church, and she lived in the main branch of Diego Church. And the security of the main branch of Diego Church was considerable. In the original work, Zain had already tried to get his sister out several times. He fought with the priests of Diego Church when he tried to take his sister out after she finished her activities as a saint and returned to the main branch. Zain didn''t hesitate to stain his hands with their blood. But the number of people who wanted to protect the saint was sorge that his attempt failed every time. ''Then he finally came to a conclusion.'' To get his sister back, he had to destroy Diego Church itself. "...Poor guy." I fixed Zain''s disheveled hair with my hand. And I whispered. "Don''t worry." I''ll destroy Diego Church. "I''m sorry, Master." "I apologize, Leader." I looked at the two guys who bowed their heads in shame. We were in a carriage heading back to the capital Bahano. Zain and Troy, who sat across from me, looked at me with apologetic eyes. Last night, I carried these two guys to their bedroom myself. I could have left them in the dining room and let the servants take care of them, but it was toote to call them. And when noon came, I shoved them into the carriage. Thanks to the servants who packed our luggage, we were able to leave quickly. Zain and Troy only remembered what happenedst night after the carriage started moving, and they apologized to me. "Couldn''t you wait for a moment and had to drink and get drunk by yourselves?" It was ridiculous to think about it. "I''m sorry, Master. We really meant to drink just a little, but somehow..." "We''re truly sorry, Leader." "Forget it." What can I do about what''s already happened? "By the way, Zain, do you remember what you did yesterday?" I asked him just in case, and his eyes widened as he was startled. "What? Why? Did I make a mistake yesterday?" "Uh, well... Not really." "It sounds like I did. I must have made a mistake. I''m sorry." His shoulders sagged. "No, it wasn''t that bad. I just thought you had some secrets." I didn''t feel the need to tell him that he talked about his past, so I kept my mouth shut. But Zain seemed anxious and kept looking at me. "Don''t worry about it. It was just you being drunk and silly." "Oh, I see." Fortunately, he seemed to have no memory ofst night and returned to his usual self. He even knitted diligently on the way back to the capital. I took a nap and woke up to find that the carriage had arrived at the Pce. I thanked Arhen, who came to greet us, and said that we had a good vacation, then headed to the vi. I thought I would rest for today, but then I took a portal to Rovel. ''Well, I have some work to do anyway.'' As soon as I arrived at the leader''s office, I skimmed through the documents that were piled up. The kids had done a lot of work while I was gone, so there wasn''t much to do. ---You should rest for today. ''It''s okay. I had enough fun.'' I was signing the documents when I heard amunication from Alphius. [Leader!] "Alpheus, what''s up?" [The Holden family has visited the temple.] "Who?" [The knights, sir. They came to escort you, leader. I mean, Revelof.] "...What?" What was this all about? I put down the documents and got up. "I''ll be right there." I quickly left the leader''s office. I changed into a priest''s robe and took off my sses, and when I came out of the building, I saw the knights of the Holden family, including Phanatic. "Sir!" Phanatic ran up to me with a bright smile as soon as he saw me. "Phanatic? What are you doing here? Did my mother send you?" "What? Sir, didn''t you receive the letter?" What was he talking about? I got a letter? "I''m sure the butler sent you a letter a few days ago." "I don''t remember receiving it." "It must have been lost then." I turned my head to look at the kids. They followed me as soon as I came out of the building, and they looked clueless. "We didn''t receive any letter." Alphius spoke for us. "Then it must have been our mistake. I''m sorry, Sir." "Ah, well. It can happen. It''s okay." It was only natural that people made mistakes. "But what''s going on?" "Tomorrow is Lady Gaju''s birthday party. We came to escort you, sir." Phanatic smiled and said, and I was surprised. "Wha, my mother''s?" "Yes!" I had no idea since I hadn''t celebrated a birthday since I came to this world. I searched my old memories and remembered my mother''s birthday. The days when I was too sick to attend the party. "Come to think of it, your birthday is next month, Sir!" "Oh, right." I had forgotten about that too. Well, it wasn''t that important. "Then there will be a party for your birthday too, Sir." "...I guess." I didn''t care about that either. "So my mother and brother told you to take me?" "Yes, sir! Everything is already prepared, so you just need toe." Why were there so many unexpected things happeningtely? But I couldn''t ignore my mother''s birthday as a Confucian, so I had to ept. "Okay." Happy Reading! Please give the novel a rating and a Review on [NovelBin]. It will help the website and also help people find this novel! Chapter 77 Phanatic led me to the carriage that was prepared for me to ride. I felt a strange feeling as I got on the carriage with Holden''s seal on it. ''Is it because I left the mansion for a few months?'' I didn''t stay there for long, but I felt attached to it. I felt a sense of stability even though I came back after only a few months. The carriage started to move, and the scenery of Rovel came into view. I felt nostalgic as I had been away from Rovel for a while. As I watched the changing surroundings, I soon saw Holden''s mansion. As I entered the garden after passing the gate, I suddenly remembered when I first came to this world. ''I didn''t expect to adapt so well back then.'' I smiled faintly and looked at the still beautiful garden. It was the beginning of winter, so the vitality of the garden had noticeably decreased, but it was well maintained. Soon the carriage stopped, and Phanatic opened the door for me. "Wee, young master." As I got off the carriage, Paul and the servants greeted me in a line. "Did you have a good time, Paul?" "Of course. How about you, Young Master?" "I did too." I was d to see them after a long time. "Where are mother and brother?" "They are both busy with work right now. They will probablye to see you soon." "I see." I smiled and followed Paul into the mansion. The inside of the mansion was the same as before. The servants also weed me as they used to, and nothing seemed to have changed much. And when I entered my room, I realized that Sevenus'' words were true. ''He said he would keep it ready for me toe back anytime...'' The room was as neat as the day I left. There was no dust at all, as if it was cleaned every day. ---I haven''t seen this room in a long time. ''That''s right.'' I felt nostalgic. I remembered how proud I was of having a few dozen believers until then. I sat down on the bed and looked around. By the way, Mother''s birthday party is tomorrow. ''It''s my first time at a party.'' I was so busy moving around since I came to this world, and I never got invited to a party. ''...Well, I''ll manage somehow.'' Knock knock. The door opened with a knock, and that was when it happened. "Levi, you''re here." It was Sevenus. "Brother. Long time no see." "Yeah. How have you been? You look paler thanst time." "Paler? No. I''ve been eating well and taking care of myself." What does Sevenus think of me that he still says I''m pale? After the number of believers increased dramatically, I got more power from Kyros, so I was in a very healthy state. "If you say so..." Sevenus scratched his neck awkwardly. "Brother, where''s Mother?" "She''ll be here soon. Just follow me for now." I followed Sevenus out of the room. "By the way, I haven''t seen the leader of the Leviathan Churchtely." "Yes, yes?" He must have nted someone near the temple. I expected that, but it felt strange to hear it directly. "I''m just a priest, I can''t know everything about the leader''s whereabouts. He''s a very busy person. He''s also mysterious." "Really? He''s not neglecting you because he''s busy?" "No, he always cares for me, and he also bestows grace on the few believers. And he always prays for the revival of the Kyros Church and the believers." I desperately shielded myself from him. I talked a lot, but it wouldn''t make sense for a priest like Revelof to know everything about the leader Leviathan. It should be enough to say that he cares for me well. "I see. Oh, and if you ever meet the leader of the Leviathan Church, tell him I''m sorry." Thankfully, Sevenus nodded and moved on. And then he added one more thing. "I couldn''t invite the believers of Diego Church to this party because it might be ufortable for you. Let''s have a meal togetherter." "Oh... yes." ''Did he consider me?'' I chewed on Sevenus'' words as I walked, and before I knew it, he stopped walking. His destination was the reception room. As soon as I entered, I saw a rack full of clothes and a man in a shy purple suit. "Hello, Revelof." The man, who looked like he was in his thirties, greeted me politely. "Ah, yes. Hello." Who is he? "Levi, this is Pedro, the most popr designer in the empire. He''s going to make your suit." What? "Brother. Mother''s birthday party is tomorrow, right?" It usually takes a lot of time to get a suit made in a noble family. It''s impossible to do it in a day. "I know. But it''ll be fine." "Of course. Don''t worry, Revelof. I can finish it by tomorrow morning." I felt sorry for Pedro somehow. He must be staying up all night for my suit. "Well, would youe this way?" Pedro smiled a business smile and I walked up to him. He reminded me of Zain somehow. "Revelof, you have a very good figure. Just like the Count and Sevenus." "Of course." Sevenus seemed more excited by Pedro''spliment. Is this why he called him? "Shall we start then?" Pedro''s eyes changed. He measured me first, and he was very fast. It was over in an instant. ''He''s not a pro for nothing.'' Then Pedro checked the clothes on disy andpared them with my face. He pondered over the colors and then sketched on a nk paper. "How about this?" On the paper he handed me, there was a suit drawn with so many ornaments that it was hard to describe in words. "...It''s too shy. I prefer something simple." "Oh, I see." Pedro quickly drew another picture and handed it to me. But the color was purple. "I don''t really like this color." It reminded me of Khalid, and I hated it. Pedro kept handing me pictures, and I kept rejecting them. In the end, we decided on a simple ck suit. "I think I can finish this by tonight." Pedro wiped the sweat from his forehead and smiled with effort. I''m sorry, Pedro. Your taste doesn''t match mine at all. After choosing the outfit, I had nothing to do. So I walked around the garden, ate, and rolled around in my room. Before I knew it, it was evening, and Pedro came back to the mansion. "Oh..." "Are you satisfied?" "It''s nice." The suit was of high quality, considering it was made in a few hours. "Thank you." Pedro boasted that he used the finest fabric and made it himself for several hours. The suit was veryfortable when I tried it on. The touch was good too. Sevenus checked my clothes carefully, and when he gave his approval, Pedro was very happy. After choosing the suit, my Mother''s work was done. "Levi, it''s nice to have dinner together after a long time." The dinner time with the family. My mother and Sevenus'' eyes were on me all the time. Every time I picked up something to eat, the food was ced in front of me, and it was so burdensome. "I like it too." I smiled and ate diligently for my Mother''s sake. ---It looks delicious. This guy doesn''t need to eat, but he always does this. "By the way, Levi, it''s been a long time since you attended a birthday party." It was actually the first time. "That''s right." "Mother, how are we going to celebrate Levi''s birthday?" Sevenus, who had been listening quietly, suddenly brought up the topic. "Oh, that''s right. Levi''s birthday is next month, right? Let''s have a grand party then. Everything that we couldn''t do because of the Malone''s disease." My Mother looked happier than me, but... unfortunately, that was impossible. "Mother, I''m fine. I''m also a devout follower of the religion." Strictly speaking, I was now no different from a monk. So there was no reason for the Holden family to throw me a birthday party. "But Levi, it''s a rare asion." "I appreciate your and Brother''s feelings. But I don''t want to have a party. I''m going to spend it quietly at the Temple." I had no intention of deciding my birthday schedule a month in advance. I didn''t know how this damned hidden route world would change. My mother and Sevenus didn''t try to persuade me any further with my firm answer. "Alright, Levi. But don''t refuse the gift." "Yes, Mother." I''m always sorry and grateful. I swallowed the rest of my words. When the day of the birthday party came, the mansion was busy from early morning. I finished a simple meal in my room and nned to take a walk in the garden. But I was caught by the servants. The main character of the birthday party was my mother, so why did I have to dress up? "Because you are attending the party for the first time in a long time, Sir." Paul smiled and answered my question. Yeah, that''s right. ording to Revelof''s memory, it was the first time in about 12 years. I had no choice but to nod my head. Then the real dressing up began. I took a bath and got a massage from the servants. It was veryfortable to get served after a long time. ''That''s why money is the best.'' After that, the servants took care of my hair and put on some simple makeup. "Sir, your skin is amazing." Others would think thispliment was empty, but not me. "Is it?" This was thanks to the ''Beauty Follower'' effect. When I first came to this world, my skin condition was rough and dry. It was natural for a patient who had Malone''s disease. But when the disease was cured and the Beauty Follower effect urred, my skin improved noticeably. ''At this rate, the believers might notice the change.'' Someday, there might be a rumor that you be beautiful if you believe in Kyros. After finishing the makeup and hair, I looked pretty decent. ---You''re beautiful! You''re worthy of being my first apostle. ''Of course. Am I the leader of Kyros for nothing?'' I also had the ''God of Beauty passive besides the beauty follower effect. ---You''re the most beautiful in the Empire, my dear. ''...I don''t think that''s the case.'' ---No. Mymb, you''re the most beautiful in the Continent! ''Yes, thank you.'' As I was having a ridiculous conversation with Kyros, the servants changed my clothes to a suit. The suit was mostly ck with silver ornaments here and there. This was simple enough that it wouldn''t stand out too much in the party hall. ---You''re even prettier with the clothes on. ''Are you? I don''t really know.'' ---No. You have a different beauty than the leader''s clothes. I see. It doesn''t look much different to me. Anyway, after finishing the dressing up, it was almost afternoon. Soon, the party began. Leira Holden''s birthday party was held at the Holden estate, which was far from the capital of the empire, but every year many nobles attended. They came from far away because of their respect for her, a war hero, and the support of the royal family. And this year''s party had the most nobles ever. There was one reason. It was because the second prince of the Holden family, who had not been seen for a long time, Revelof Holden, was attending. "Is he really a handsome man as rumored?" "They say he looks just like his father-inw, Lord Cain." "I''m looking forward to it." The nobles were all looking forward to Revelof Holden''s beauty, regardless of gender. Inside the party hall, a sweet music yed by the orchestra flowed. The nobles waited for the main family to appear with anticipation. "Today''s party''s main characters, Leira Holden, Countess, Sevenus Holden, and Revelof Holden are entering!" Finally, the door of the party hall opened and the main characters appeared. Leira Holden, who wore a dark red dress, was elegant and beautiful as usual. nking her on both sides were her two sons. Sevenus Holden, who had frequent contact with the nobles, tied his long silver hair into a single strand and let it hang on the side, and he didn''t wear his usual sses today. Thanks to that, he didn''t look as cold as usual. The nobles admired his beauty. They then turned their eyes to the other side. Everyone''s eyes widened. Happy Reading! Please give the novel a rating and a Review on [NovelBin]. It will help the website and also help people find this novel! Chapter 78 The nobles gathered in the banquet hall were speechless. Their eyes were all drawn to one person, Revelof Holden. His golden hair shone brilliantly, and his blue eyes were dazzling. His slightly raised eyes and the tear mole under them made him more attractive. His skin was also clear and wless, and his face gave a delicate impression, but his body was well-built and his clothes fit him perfectly. The ck suit he wore had no fancy decorations, but had silver ents that matched his splendid face. "My goodness, is that..." "Wow. That''s unbelievable." The nobles couldn''t help but admire him. They had heard that Revelof Holden had been suffering from an incurable disease, but his appearance now showed no trace of his past illness. "He''s so beautiful." As the nobles'' admiration continued, the Holden family, who were the center of attention, slowly entered the banquet hall. Leira, who greeted the people leisurely, and Sevenus, who nodded to the nobles he knew. Unlike the two, Revelof only looked straight ahead. ''...I''m so embarrassed.'' This was the first time he had done something noble-like since he came to this world, and Revelof didn''t know where to look. He just hoped that this time would pass quickly and forced a smile. ''I want to go home.'' Technically, this banquet hall was also inside the Holden mansion, so it was no different from being at home, but he wanted to go back to the temple of Rovel. He nced around and took a deep breath. The nobles'' eyes had not stopped since he entered the banquet hall. ''...I miss my sses.'' He hadn''t taken his sses off much since he left home, so it felt more unnatural to be without them now. ''Is it because I''m showing my real face?'' ---My child, have confidence. Kyros tried to cheer him up, but his strength kept draining. He was d that no one came to talk to him directly. ''What am I doing here?'' The banquet hall was filled with calm ssical music, and the servants were walking around with food and drinks. All he did was pick up some food from the corner and look around. The hostess of today''s banquet, his Mother, was busy talking to everyone, and the nobles kept approaching Sevenus and talking to him. ''Sevenus is definitely popr.'' ---Are you jealous, my child? ''No. I''m more sorry than jealous. That must be very annoying.'' He had announced his departure to the outside world, so the nobles wouldn''te near him. He was the second son of the Holden family, but his status was still a novice priest of the Kyros Church. "You''re so beautiful." "Right? How can he be so noble?" "But I heard he joined a small religion called the Kyros Church." "Kyros Church? What''s that?" As he was sipping his drink, he heard the nobles'' murmurs and their hot eyes on him. The nobles were not from this area, so they didn''t know about the Kyros Church. That''s when it happened. An unexpected situation urred. "The Third Prince of the Herpheon Empire, Gawayn Herpheon, has arrived!" ...Huh? He was startled by the sudden announcement. There was ate guest, but he was a surprising person. His Mother often did royal work, so he thought there might be some royalty involved. ''Why did he have toe?'' His brows furrowed. A young man with short brown hair and a fancy suit entered the banquet hall. That guy was the Third Prince of the empire, Gawayn Herpheon. He was a fanatic of the Diego Church to the bone, and he was stupid. He didn''t y a big role or stand out much in the original work, but he didn''t like him every time he said something. ---Hmm, I felt the snake''s energy all over the banquet hall... But that guy is especially strong. ''I heard he''s no different from a fanatic of the Diego Church among the royal bloodline of the Herpheon Empire.'' ---Now that I think about it, your brother said that at dinner time. ''Yes.'' He talked to Kyros while keeping his eyes on the Third Prince. Gawayn greeted his mother warmly and shook hands with Sevenus. And the nobles flocked to him and greeted him. ''I like him even less when I see him in person.'' When Terdius visited the Imperial City in the original work, he nagged at him every time he spoke. He had to listen to a lot of insults from the Third Prince because he chose the wrong options a few times. ''That''s why I hate him more.'' He wanted to leave his seat. The banquet was not fun at all, and no one talked to him. He was going to stay as long as possible because it was his mother''s birthday banquet. He was thinking that when. The Third Prince, who he hated to see, came closer. ''...He''s noting to me, is he?'' ---It seems like he is. Damn. His sad hunch was right. "Nice to meet you. You''re the second son of the Holden family, right?" Gawayn came up to him and said bluntly. Yeah. He was royalty, and he was the second son of a Count, so he could do that. He didn''t like the way he looked at him. He said he was d to meet him, but he didn''t look happy at all. "Ah, yes. It''s an honor to meet you. Your Highness, the Third Prince." All he could do was smile for business and greet him. But the Third Prince''s brow wrinkled. What''s wrong with him. "But..." He narrowed his eyes and slowly opened his mouth. "Howe you joined a religion that no one has ever heard of? It''s too much to say that you cured a disease... It''s a ce where even the name is not known." Wow, this kid. He expected it, but he really spoke without a brain. ---Oh, my child. How can he say such a thing! Just a disease! ''That''s right.'' He knew there were few sane people among the royal bloodline, but this was too much. I cursed inwardly, but I didn''t lose my smile. "Your Highness, the disease I had was not amon one. It was ''Malone''s disease''." I deliberately spoke loudly so that others could hear. "Malone''s disease?" "Yes. That''s right. It''s an incurable disease. There are many people in the Empire who suffer from Malone''s disease. But thanks to the treatment I found in the Kyros Church, I was able to recover." I continued to speak firmly, without lowering my voice. "Originally, I had only a year left to live. So I had given up on my life. But the treatment from the Kyros Church extended my life, and I decided to dedicate my future to the Kyros Church, a future I wouldn''t have dreamed of otherwise. Anyone in the Empire can choose the religion they want." This was the so-called ''Listen to this, nobles, this bastard has no sense'' strategy. It was to expose the insolent remark of this royal bastard in front of everyone. "My goodness, did the Third Prince just insult the second prince of the Holden family?" "It seems so." As the nobles started to whisper, the Third Prince''s face turned pale. When my Mother''s gaze also turned to this side, the Third Prince''s face turned blue. ''He had no choice.'' The current Emperor of the Herpheon Empire greatly respected my Mother, who was a war hero. On the other hand, the Third Prince had been overshadowed by the outstanding bloodlines since he was very young, and he was out of the Emperor''s favor. There were hardly any nobles who supported him. He had nothing but the royal bloodline, and he was weaker than the nobles who had the Emperor''s trust. In this situation, the Third Prince made a blunder towards me. ''Of course, even though I''m a noble, I''m just my Mother''s son.'' But the situation was different for him. My Mother was arade and a close friend of the current Emperor, who had risked their lives together on the battlefield since they were young. When my Mother tried many ways to cure me of Malone''s disease, the Emperor personally sent the royal physician, and even the magicians and alchemists. And the reason why the current Emperor was cold to his own son, the Third Prince, was not only because the other bloodlines were outstanding, but also because of a fundamental cause. It was because of the Third Prince''s father. "Ah, I made a mistake. I''m sorry." In the end, the Third Prince apologized to me and asked for a handshake. He must have realized the situation, no matter how stupid he was. "No, Your Highness. It''s okay." I smiled and took the Third Prince''s hand. But this kid, he put some strength in his hand as he shook it. ''Ouch.'' I wasn''t going to let him win. I smiled and squeezed his hand. "Ugh." Then the Third Prince groaned and let go of his hand. He red at me with an ugly expression, but he didn''t say anything more and turned away. Yeah, why did you pick a fight. ---Too bad. You could have given him more trouble. ''I think he got the message.'' ---If you say so. Kyros was a bit disappointed, but I felt quite relieved. Right after Leira Holden''s birthday banquet ended, Sevenus Holden left the banquet hall and headed to the mansion. It was to see his younger brother who had returned to the mansion an hour ago. ''Levi.'' Sevenus felt uneasy whenever he thought of his young brother. Since he was young, when Revelof had Malone''s disease, the two had grown apart, but Revelof was always a precious brother to Sevenus. But once the brothers'' distance widened, it was not easy to narrow it. "Sigh." Sevenus sighed softly. He didn''t mean to distance himself from Revelof. It was just a small consideration that started it. When his precious brother was on the brink of life and death, he couldn''t show his happiness alone as his older brother. So he hid his emotions, and he didn''t do anything happy for fear that his brother would envy his life. He lived so harshly that he couldn''t get close to his brother. As a result, he naturally began to drift away from Revelof and reached the present. He tried to be kind to Revelof, but the distance that had developed was not easily narrowed. But he finally found a way. ''You left me behind.'' Revelof left the Holden family on his own. He couldn''t stop him. He had always been lying in bed, locked up in his room, and it was his own choice of life. But Sevenus always wanted to support his brother. Knock knock. Sevenus knocked and opened the door to Revelof''s room. Then Revelof, who had changed into a priest''s robe, greeted him. "Brother." He looked a little surprised, but Revelof smiled at Sevenus. ''He''s so nice.'' "Levi, you look tired." "A little. It''s been a long time since I attended a banquet." "Thank you for being with me." "No." Sevenus bit his lip slightly as he looked at Revelof, who seemed indifferent. He didn''t feel good when he thought of what had happened at the banquet hall today. "Levi, I heard about what happened with the Third Prince today." "Oh, you did?" "I was furious when I heard that he said that to you, and so was Mother. She said she would see the Emperor himself and tell him about today''s incident." "Really?" Revelof''s eyes widened at the unexpected words. Happy Reading! Please give the novel a rating and a Review on [NovelBin]. It will help the website and also help people find this novel! Chapter 79 "What is this? You''re going to tell the Emperor what happened today?" "It''s only natural, since the Third Prince insulted you." Of course, the Third Prince''s words had made me feel very bad. But I had exacted revenge in my own way, so I was fine. I didn''t think it was necessary for my Mother to intervene and report to the Emperor. It felt like I was a child who ran to his Mother. "I''m fine. You''ve been so busytely, Mother. It would be too much trouble for you to meet the Emperor in person." "But, Levi..." "Brother. I''m really fine." I repeated with a smile, and Sevenus closed his mouth. He was lost in thought for a moment, then nodded slightly. "...If you say so, Levi. But if something like this happens again, Mother and I won''t stay silent." "Yes, Brother. I understand." "I''ll talk to Mother for you." Ugh. What a mess because of that Third Prince. "Brother, I''ll go back to the Temple now." I wanted to go to the Temple and rest as soon as possible. "Levi, why don''t you stay here for the night?" "No, thank you, Brother. I have things to do at the Temple." "What? You''re working at thiste hour?" Oops. "I have to greet the believers who visit the Temple early in the morning. It''s the priests'' duty." I added an excuse. Then Sevenus'' expression softened. "...Well, I guess there''s no helping it." Sevenus looked disappointed, but I couldn''t help it. I wanted to rest. Fortunately, Sevenus didn''t hold me back any longer. After that, I said goodbye to my Mother and left the mansion. I felt much lighter when I returned to the Temple in Holden''s carriage. As I dealt with the backlog of Rovel''s work, Arhen''s coronation was approaching. The day before Arhen''s coronation. She called me early in the morning. On the way from the Pce to the main Pce, I admired the structure that was erected in front of the Pce. ---Is that where the coronation will take ce? ''Yes. It''s the first public coronation in Bahano''s history.'' Usually, only nobles could participate in Bahano''s coronation, but not this time. Arhen had the full support of Bahano''s people, so she announced that she would open the coronation to them. So a huge tform that looked like a stage was built in front of the Pce. ''It''ll be packed with people from the royal garden to the entrance.'' I imagined the spectacle I would see tomorrow and entered the Pce. The ce where Arhen was waiting for me was the reception room, so I could find it easily without any guidance. "You''re here." "Hello, Princess. I mean, Your Majesty." I hesitated and corrected my greeting, and Arhenughed out loud. "The coronation is tomorrow, so you don''t have to do that yet." I smiled and sat down opposite her. A fragrant fruit scent wafted from the prepared tea. As I took a sip of tea, Arhen suddenly said. "I want you to crown me at the coronation tomorrow." "Pfft!" I spat out the tea I was drinking. Luckily, I still had the teacup on my lips, so the tea didn''t ssh out. "Oh, are you okay?" "Yes, I''m fine." I burned my tongue a little, but it wasn''t a big deal. I wiped the tea stains on my lips with a handkerchief. ---My littlemb, you look very surprised. ''Of course I''m surprised. She asked me to crown her at the coronation.'' ---Hmm. But isn''t that something that the regents usually do? ''...Well, yes, but.'' I never imagined that something like this would happen to me. "What do you think?" "I was... very surprised. I didn''t expect you to say that." "Really? I thought you would have anticipated it. Didn''t I tell you before? I''m going to announce Kyros as the state religion at the coronation. So it''s only right that you, the leader of the state religion, crown me." There was no room for argument. It was a reasonable statement. So in the end, I had to ept it. "...Yes. I understand." "Master, are you okay?" "Priest, you look pale." Zain and Troy worried about me, but their words didn''t reach my ears. We three were standing in front of the terrace on the second floor of the Royal Pce. And in front of the Pce, there were countless Bahano''s people, and the coronation was taking ce on the wide tform. I stared nkly at the scene. ---My little bird, don''t be nervous. I couldn''t hear Kyros''s encouragement either. "Master, you''ve preached boldly in front of people, why are you so nervous?" That''s right. I had said embarrassing things to many people. But why was I so nervous today? Maybe it was because it was the first official event I had to do with the ''Priest'' title, but I couldn''t calm my nerves and my hands kept shaking. Meanwhile, the coronation proceeded steadily. Before long, the nobles and Arhen on the tform sang Bahano''s national anthem. Now it was my turn. "Priest, it''s time to go." The servant who was waiting nearby called me. I''m going crazy. I clenched my hands and followed the servant down the stairs. The Pce door opened, and I saw many eyes. As I walked slowly to the tform, Bahano''s national anthem continued to y. Finally, when I arrived at the tform, the people''s song ended, and only soft music was heard. I followed the rehearsal and climbed up to the center of the tform. Then Arhen knelt down on one knee in front of me and closed her eyes. "Priest." One of the nobles who attended the coronation handed me the crown that was ced on a red velvet cloth. I carefully took it and ced it on Arhen''s head. As soon as I did, a roar of cheers erupted from the crowd. "Woohoo!" "Long live Arhen, the King of Bahano!" "Long live!" I felt a bit relieved then. The cheers of the people reached my ears, and I stepped back and looked at Arhen''s back. She raised both hands and greeted the people as if to respond to them. The cheers didn''t stop easily. They continued for several minutes, and Bahano''s national anthem also rang out like a festival. ---You''re amazing. Both her and you who made her rise to this position. ''Really?'' ---Of course. In this world, you''re the only one who''s this special. My child. Thanks to the relief, I felt ted by Kyros''s praise. While I was smiling, the cheers of the people subsided. "I, Arhen Bahano, have something to announce at this ce." Arhen dered to the people in a firm voice. "From this moment on, I proim Kyros, the hero of Bahano, as the state religion." As soon as she finished her speech, the cheers resumed. I clenched my fists. I finally made it here. At that moment, a system window appeared like crazy. [Kyros has been designated as the state religion for the first time!] [Kyros''s fame spreads throughout the Kingdom of Bahano!] [You have achieved the achievement ''Bahano State Religion Designation''.] [As a reward, you gain the eternal trust of King Arhen.] [Now King Arhen trusts Kyros infinitely.] Wow, this is awesome. While I was admiring, the notifications continued. [14,522 people of Bahano Kingdom have be believers of Kyros!] The number of believers increased in an instant. Just by being designated as the state religion, the total number of Kyros''s believers exceeded 30,000. And the number of believers kept rising. Of course, it didn''t mean that the entire poption of the Kingdom would believe in Kyros just because it was designated as the state religion. People''s faith was needed regardless of the state religion designation. But it was an amazing feat that the number of believers surpassed 30,000 with the state religion deration. ''I heard that the total poption of Bahano is about 500,000, so someday...'' Everyone will be a believer of Kyros. It might take a little more time, but it might be possible within the remaining deadline. [Warning! The Evil God Diego detects a faint change.] [Warning! The Demon God Shamir detects a faint change.] When I was smiling, another notification appeared. It seemed that the warning message popped up because the number of believers increased rapidly. ''But now they''vepletely detected the change.'' The good thing was that it was a ''faint change''. ''...Anyway, it was something I would have to face someday.'' There was no turning back now. As the number of believers increased day by day, the Evil God and the Demon God would notice Kyros'' existence. Until then, I nned to run without stopping. To oppose them. The main Temple of Diego. The meeting room of the First Apostle. In the darkness where nothing could be seen, Terdius stood in the center. At the end of his sight, a shadow moved in the darkness. The First Apostle, who hid his appearance thoroughly, stared at Terdius in the darkness. "I heard some interesting news." The First Apostle uttered in a sarcastic voice. Terdius guessed what he was going to say. "A few days ago, the Kingdom of Bahano designated Kyros as the state religion... Did you know that, Third Apostle?" "...I didn''t know." "Hmm, really?" "Yes." Terdius answered without showing any emotion. The First Apostle looked at him for a while. It was a fierce look as if he was trying to pierce through Terdius''s mind, but Terdius didn''t care. "How was it when you saw it yourself, Third Apostle? I heard that Kyros was involved in dealing with Rizes in Bahano." There was no way out of this. The First Apostle knew that Terdius and Khalid were there when Kyros was active in Bahano. "...Kyros did intervene, but the current King of Bahano, Arhen Bahano, was more impressive." Terdius said with an indifferent face the story he had prepared in advance. Then the First Apostle''s eyes narrowed. "Is that so?" "Arhen Bahano had a grudge against Rizes from before. And she also showed her skills in swordsmanship, so it was possible." The First Apostle and the other apostles of Diego didn''t know exactly what happened in Bahano. ''Especially, the powerful magic that was there.'' It was a power that Khalid didn''t notice either. Only Terdius could feel it in Diego. So it made sense to put Arhen Bahano forward. "The High Priest of Rizes who was strangling Bahano was not a very powerful person. If anything, he was only good at poison. And the Protection of the Demon God was also within the Pce, so Arhen Bahano would have known the location, and she would have easily dealt with him as soon as he escaped from the western tower." "...I see." "Anyway, even though Kyros became the state religion of Bahano, I don''t think we need to be wary of it at this point. It''s just ''Bahano'' after all." Terdius poured his words out like water. The First Apostle nodded his head slightly as he listened to his story. There was nothing suspicious. But there was nothing convincing either. ''...Besides, the Third Apostle can''t betray us.'' Terdius''s lifeline was in his hands. "I understand. Let''s watch for a while." With that, the First Apostle''s shadow disappeared into the darkness. Left alone, Terdius turned his body in the meeting room. Happy Reading! Please give the novel a rating and a Review on [NovelBin]. It will help the website and also help people find this novel! Chapter 80 Three days after Arhen''s coronation. I had been taking care of most of the temple''s work during that time. Meanwhile, the remodeling of Bahano''s temple was almost done. In a few days, Bahano''s temple would be ready for use, so I had something to do before that. [Officer 1-time draw ticket (10 pieces) Grade: ??? Description: You can draw officers from C to S grade.] It was time to use the reward I received after destroying Maseen''s blessing. I was alone in Bahano''s Pce bedroom, so it was the perfect state to use the draw ticket. I reached out for the draw ticket right away. As soon as I felt the draw ticket touch my hand, I felt a sensation of floating and my vision flickered white. The next moment, when I opened my eyes, I was already transferred to another dimension. There was only one slot machine in front of me. [You can set the desired branch by using 5 officer 1-time draw tickets.] [However, the grade is random and you can only draw one officer.] I smiled at the words written on the slot machine. I already knew what branch I wanted. So, I decided to use all 10 draw tickets and draw two people. I chose the two branches I wanted and pulled the lever right away. [10 officer draw tickets will be consumed.] I had no more officer draw tickets left. I had no regrets either. As long as I could draw the branch I wanted. Still. ''Please, S-grade!'' Lord Kyros, no, Administrator! Please give me the power of S-grade! Beep! Beep! Beep! The slot machine spun violently with a loud sound effect that hurt my ears. It slowed down gradually, and the grades C, B, A, S crossed each other. Finally, the slot machine stopped. Maybe it was because I used 10 draw tickets at once. The grade that the slot machine stopped at was two. "Wow!" S and A. I roared with joy at the slot machine that stopped at the two slots. [Congrattions! You have drawn an S-grade officer!] Fireworks went off. And the slot machine emitted light and I was back in the bedroom where I was before. ''But S-grade is one person, right? I''m not sorry for A-grade, but.'' It was a satisfying grade. A smile came to my face naturally. I turned my head slightly and saw the silhouettes of two people who suddenly appeared in the bedroom where there was no one but me until a while ago. "It''s an honor to meet you, Master!" A cheerful voice came to me when I was smiling. As soon as I saw the owner of the voice who stepped forward, I recognized what branch he was. He was definitely a High Priest. I didn''t know the grade. "I''m Abel, an S-grade High Priest." Ah. I drew another S-grade High Priest. That''s good. I reached out my hand to Abel, who was smiling politely. "Nice to meet you, Abel." Abel''s lips went up in a fresh smile as he shook my hand. Abel was a handsome young man of a simr age to me. He had half of his silver long hair tied up, and his red eyes were beautiful like jewels. He looked like an elf, should I say. "By the way, you are very beautiful, Master." "Uh... you too." "Really? Thank you!" Abel seemed to have a high tension. I had Alphius, the High Priest, but the reason I drew another High Priest was simple. I needed someone to manage Bahano''s Temple as soon as it waspleted. Bahano had many more believers than other temples. So I decided to leave Rovel and Aldone to Alphius, and Bahano to Abel. And next. "Nice to meet you, Master. I''m Jacob, an A-grade cook." When I turned my eyes from Abel, a middle-aged man with a goodplexion greeted me with a grin. He had a heartyugh and a brown beard. He was tall and muscr. "Nice to meet you, Jacob." Finally, Kyros Church had a cook. As the number of temples increased, I felt the need for someone to take care of the meals for the officers. ---Oh, my new children! I look forward to working with you! "Don''t worry, Lord Kyros! I will work hard to help the Master!" "Just leave it to me!" They are reliable. I opened my mouth as I looked at the two people who greeted Kyros. "Jacob, from now on, you will cook delicious food for me and the officers. And Abel, I want you to take care of Bahano''s Temple as soon as it ispleted." Actually, when I saw the two people, I was a little surprised because they were not children like Alphius, Chester, and Sasha, but I was rather pleased. I felt like I was exploiting children, but these people were a little morefortable to use. ''Jacob reminds me of the boss when I worked part-time... Well, I have to use him more.'' "Nice to meet you." "Yes! ...Yes? Why do I suddenly feel cold..." Jacob shivered as he saw me smiling. The number of believers increased day by day. The number rose quickly every day, and soon surpassed 40,000. ''The growth rate has been steep since Bahano became the state religion.'' But sadly, the percentage of the main quest still didn''t rise. ''When I heard from Arhen, the poption of Celeste Continent is about 100 million.'' That means, I have to make at least 1 million people Kyros Church believers to make 1 percent. Toplete the main quest, I had to make 80 million people Kyros Church believers. ''...Is this a possible number?'' I sighed at the huge number that was overwhelming. But since Bahano was proimed as the state religion, the number of believers was rising rapidly... Maybe it will be possible someday. There were still more than two years and a few months left until the deadline set by the main quest... ''I have to work harder.'' Soon, I would have to deal with a few incidents that would happen, which would increase the number of believers. Besides, I had to gather the believers quickly and be stronger. I felt stronger thanks to the power I received from Kyros, but it was still far from enough to confront Diego Church. The mostcking thing was, of course, ''Should I say defensive ability?'' I had Alphius''s barrier, but that was only possible when I was with Alphius. ''...It would be perfect if I had an artifact that could defend.'' I sighed as I thought so. When I did, I met Zain''s eyes, who was sitting across from me. "Master, do you have any worries?" He asked me while knitting. I shook my head. "No." Right now, Zain, Troy, and I were riding a carriage to Aldone. It was to manage Aldone''s Temple, after finishing most of the things I had to do right away. I wanted to ask the children to do it like when I installed the portal in Rovel, but the children had never visited Aldone. ''The children can only move freely to the temples they have visited.'' I asked with a glimmer of hope, but Alphi said it was impossible and apologized. Anyway, that''s why I had to ride this guy''s carriage again. ''Did you think there would be a portal? It was an element that wasn''t even in the game.'' I grumbled for a few days and arrived at Aldone, and we went straight to the temple. "It''s changed a lot." As we entered the back alley where the temple was located, Troy muttered. As he said, Aldone had changed a lot. It must have been because of the Purification Right I used before leaving Aldone. The people who were addicted to Happy regained their vitality, and the zombies-like wanderers were no longer visible. Creak. I opened the door of the temple and went inside. It was spacious, but the size of the chapel and the garden was bigger than Rovel''s. "It''ll be fine if we manage it well." "Right?" I smiled faintly at Zain''s words. ---It would be very nice if we managed it like Rovel. ''That''s right.'' I entered the chapel. There was little dust for the period I left. But there was no interior to speak of inside, so it looked gloomy. "Can you alle over here?" I called the children, Abel, and Jacob. Then they appeared, cutting through the space. "Is this Aldone?" "Yes, Alphi." I had told the children in advance throughmunication that they would arrive at Aldone soon, so they should get ready ande over. "Wow..." Unlike the children who admired softly, Abel and Jacob''s expressions were not very good. "Hmm. The interior is not good." Abel frowned openly, and Jacob looked around and shook his head. "I have to clean first for the best cooking." "That''s right, Jacob." I called them to make Aldone branch usable. "Let''s start with cleaning together. Let''s think about the interiorter." "Master, do you have any direction in mind?" "I just want it to be bright like Rovel''s temple." As I said so to Alphius, he nodded his head. "Then leave it to me!" "Yes, Master. Alphius and I will try our best." Abel also lit up his eyes. After I introduced the two people I drew from the draw ticket, the children were very happy. Zain and Troy were surprised by the two people who suddenly appeared, but fortunately they epted them. "Then let''s start cleaning each area." At my words, they all moved to their cleaning areas. They all had bright eyes, but Zain seemed reluctant and his shoulders sagged. "Take it." "...Ah!" I threw him a money bag. Then Zain''s eyes shone, and he moved the broom as if dancing. "Money grubber." I red at him for a moment and moved on. My area was the High Priest''s room. It was also the ce where I would stay as the master''s room, but it was for installing the portal. When I opened the door of the High Priest''s room, the traces of that day remained. The day Troy''s hand pierced the High Priest''s body. ''But...'' It was lucky that the dried blood only sshed on the carpet. I just had to throw it away. I turned my eyes away. And I looked for a ce to install the portal. No matter how I looked, the back of Kyros''s Blessing seemed the best. I went there right away and installed the portal, and finished the settings so that the officers and colleagues coulde and go. Then I suddenly wondered. ''I installed three portals.'' Then where are the destinations of each portal? This was a very important question. I decided to experiment for myself. I went to the portal right away. I hoped to arrive at Rovel first. As I thought so and crossed the portal, Rovel''s master room appeared. ''Oh, really.'' I crossed the portal again and thought of Bahano this time. But I was able to arrive at Bahano''s Pce bedroom. Finally, the conclusion was reached. ''You can go wherever you want.'' There are such smart things. I returned to Aldone and smiled contentedly. Although there were only two portals left. ''...But this is enough.'' Shall I start cleaning now? ---Hey! It was then that I heard Kyros''s urgent call. ''What''s wrong, Lord Kyros? What''s going on?'' ---I hear a very sad cry from Bahano. He must have heard a prayer again. ---I heard a desperate prayer that he wanted to save his twin brothers'' lives. He''s of a race called dwarf... [Sub Quest urred!] [Sub Quest Content: Kyros heard the dwarf''s prayer and wants to help him. Goal: Rescue the dwarf''s twin brothers Sess: Dwarf''s gratitude Failure: -] [Do you ept?] [Yes/No] The quest window appeared with Kyros''s words. And I smiled very contentedly. Happy Reading! Please give the novel a rating and a Review on [NovelBin]. It will help the website and also help people find this novel! Chapter 81 Even though the number of believers had increased a lot, Kyros didn''t ask me for more favors. Maybe it was because of the system''s settings. That''s what I thought. And when I saw the quest window that popped up in front of my eyes, I was sure of it. It was because the ''Dwarf Rescue Operation'' quest also appeared in Woosebeop, the original work. But I had no intention of epting this quest when it showed up. It was too bothersome and the reward was not worth it. However, things were different now. If the quest sess reward was ''The Dwarf''s Gratitude''. ''I have to do it.'' The dwarves in Woosebeop were a craftsman race that made various artifacts, including weapons. If I seeded in the quest, I could ask the dwarves for an artifact. ''I have to do it.'' If the dwarves made armor, it would be at least of legendary grade. So I pressed the ept button right away. ''I got it, Kyros. I''ll help you.'' ---Thank you, my littlemb. ''What for.'' I put down the cleaning tools and left the High Priest''s room. "Troy, Zain." I called the two guys who were cleaning the spacious hall. I felt sorry for the kids, Abel, and Jacob, but I needed these two. "Alphi, I have something urgent to do, so I have to go first. It''s something that Kyros asked me to do." [That''s okay! Don''t worry, Leader. Have a safe trip.] "Yeah, sorry." After exining to the kids, Zain and Troy came over. "Leader, what''s going on?" "Why did you call us?" The guys, who were holding a rag and a mop, looked at me with curious eyes. They looked pretty good in aprons, so I couldn''t help but smile. "Both of you have to go somewhere with me." "Where?" Zain''s eyes sparkled. He quickly put the cleaning tools away, as if he hated cleaning. "Kyros asked me for a favor. So, let''s go to Bahano." I went to Bahano with the two of them through the portal. Since I taught them how to use the portal, Zain and Troy followed me to the Pce. The dwarf rescue operation would take ce outside of Bahano, so I needed Troy. And Zain was also useful as a ranged dealer, so I brought them both. ''Kyros, where are the dwarves?'' I didn''t remember where the dwarves were, because I didn''t do this quest much in the original work, since the reward was not lucrative. ---They''re in an alley near the temple under construction. They keep crying and looking for me. ''Don''t worry. I''ll get there soon.'' I heard the destination from Kyros and left the Pce right away. And before I left the royal city, I told Zain and Troy firmly. "Make sure you wear your hoods well this time. Don''t make thingsplicated." "Got it." "Okay, Leader." I checked that they covered their hoods and left the royal city. The capital was full of life today. It was chilly, but there were many people walking on the streets. As I walked past them, Zain, on my right, asked me. "So, Leader, what did Kyros ask you to do?" "I''m curious too, Leader." "Oh, right. I forgot to tell you guys. Kyros heard the ''dwarf''s prayer''. He said he wanted to save the lives of the twin brothers who were in danger." I exined briefly. Zain smiled. "I''m looking forward to meeting a dwarf for the first time in my life." "Me too." I felt the same way. The first non-human race I saw aftering to this world was Troy, who was of a Mont race. As I thought about that, I arrived near the temple. "Wow..." The temple looked more decent than I expected. The fruit shop building that covered the temple was gone, and a wide road was made in its ce. At the end of the road, there was a temple with a splendid architectural style. ''It looks like a Pce at a nce.'' I admired it softly and scanned the nearby alleys. Then I found a small creature crouching in an alley near the tavern. "Hic, sob. Lufu." The one who was crying like a child was a dwarf. ''Wow...'' I looked at the dwarf in astonishment. He was only half my height, but his whole body was full of muscles. His face looked like he was in his mid-forties, and his red hair was like a lion''s mane. And his long red beard was braided in two. ''It''s more amazing to see it in person than in graphics.'' After seeing the Mont race and the dwarf, I was looking forward to meeting the elves someday. ---That''s him, my child. I remembered that this dwarf was our believer when Kyros said that. How amazing. He must have stayed in Bahano and became a follower of Kyros. I didn''t expect the sub-quest to be connected like this. "Hic, who are you?" Then, the dwarf who was wiping his tears noticed us and asked. I entered the alley and removed my hood. "Nice to meet you. I''m the leader of the Kyros Church, Leviathan." I greeted him with a business smile, and the dwarf''s eyes widened. "Gasp!" He leaped up from his seat and ran to me. He looked at my face and body carefully, and then opened his mouth to scream. "Oh my! Lea, Leader- Ack!" Thankfully, Troy''s intervention stopped the dwarf''s scream. "Good job, Troy." If Troy hadn''t covered the dwarf''s mouth, all the people passing by on the street would have flocked here. "Calm down. I came here at Kyros'' call. Your brother prayed earnestly to Kyros, right?" I spoke calmly to the dwarf, whose mouth was still covered by Troy. The dwarf nodded. He seemed to have calmed down a bit, so I gestured to Troy to let him go. Troy removed his hand from the dwarf''s mouth. "Leader, I can''t believe you came to see me in person. Thank you, Kyros. Thank you so much." The dwarf thanked the sky. ---Haha, I always listen to the prayers of my believers. ''You''re amazing.'' I gave a brief answer to Kyros and asked the dwarf. "I heard you want to save your twin brother." "Yes, yes. That''s right. Oh, Kyros heard me properly. He''s truly Kyros!" "Can you exin in detail?" "Yes, of course. First of all, let me introduce myself. I''m Katu." Katu slowly exined his situation. Katu had a twin brother, Lufu. They both traveled around the world. And they had promised to meet in Bahano, theirst destination. But Lufu didn''t show up on the day they agreed to meet. "Not only that, but he didn''t contact me at all. Then, yesterday, he finally contacted me." Katu recalled yesterday''s memory and grimaced. He took out a small object from his pocket and handed it to me. What Katu handed me was a copper coin. It was the same size as a gold coin, but it had a different shape from the usual currency. There was a pattern of two crossed hammers on it. "This is the symbol of our dwarf tribe. If you look closely, you can see Lufu''s name engraved here." On top of the hammer, where Katu pointed, there was a dwarf letter just as he described. "Wemunicate with each other through the messenger birds we raised in our hometown. The coin I brought today was Lufu''s messenger bird. And the meaning of this coin is... that he''s in mortal danger." Katu handed me the coin with tears in his eyes. The dwarves carried coins with their names engraved on them. And when they sensed death, they left them to the closest person. That was their tradition. I looked at the coin for a moment and handed it back to Katu. "Katu, then where is your brother now?" "Lufu is... at the ck Moon Lake." Katu''s words made Zain and Troy''s eyes widen. They had no choice. "ck Moon Lake, are you sure?" Zain asked as if he was in doubt. He couldn''t believe it. Then Katu lowered his head and answered in a trembling voice. "...Yes. That''s right. I found out through Lufu''s messenger bird. It must be true." "I heard the dwarf''s messenger birds are smart." Troy''s words made Katu nod. "That''s right. The messenger birds we dwarves raised remember the whereabouts of their owners. That''s how I was able to find out that Lufu''sst location was the ck Moon Lake." As I listened to the story, Zain tilted his head and whispered to me. "...Leader, I don''t think this is a good idea. We''ve never had an easy job, but the ck Moon Lake is really dangerous. Haven''t you heard of it?" "Yeah. I know." Then, Katu grabbed my pants. "Leader, Leader. Please. Please, save my brother Lufu. I beg you. I, I don''t have anything right now! But if you save Lufu, I''ll give you everything I have to Kyros." Katu pleaded with me, not only with tears but also with snot. The dwarves were a proud and stubborn race. At the same time, they had a lot of affection for their family. I bent my upper body and looked into Katu''s eyes. And I smiled softly. "Don''t worry, brother. I won''t ignore your brother''s situation." "Th, thank you. Leader. Thank you so much!" Katu wiped his tears and snot and backed away. I whispered to Zain, who looked unhappy. "Zain, rx. You know what? Katu might make you a bowter." Zain''s eyes started to shine then. "Leader, you''re smart." Troy looked at me proudly and approached Katu. And he patted Katu''s shoulder. "Don''t worry. We''ll help you find your brother." We rented a carriage and got on it. We had to cross the northern border of Bahano to get to the ck Moon Lake. As I looked out the window, I felt a burning gaze. I turned my head and saw Katu sitting across from me staring at me. "Is there something on my face, brother?" I asked Katu with a smile, and he nodded. "Yes. Beauty is on it." "...Ugh." Zain turned his head as if he had seen something he shouldn''t. But Katu didn''t care. "You''re very handsome. Are you an elf by any chance?" "No, I''m human." "Haha. I see." I was embarrassed, but seeing Zain''s displeased face made me want to act shamelessly. I yed along with Katu''s words. And before I knew it, we reached the northern border of Bahano. Happy Reading! Please give the novel a rating and a Review on [NovelBin]. It will help the website and also help people find this novel! Chapter 82 As we arrived at the northern border of Bahano, the guards stopped our carriage. "Hello." I greeted them with a smile. They were surprised and straightened their posture, then bowed their heads to me. "Oh, Leader! How are you?" The influence of the Leader of Kyros Church was stronger than I thought in Bahano. "Where are you going?" "I have something to see." "I see. Well, okay. Please go ahead." Without any further exnation, the guards let our carriage pass easily. "As expected of the Leader!" Katu looked at me with shining eyes. It wasn''t such a big deal, though. We didn''t go far before our carriage stopped. Our destination was the ''ck Moon Lake''. It was a dangerous area, but it wasn''t far from the northern border of Bahano, so it didn''t take much time to get there. "Thank you." I handed some money to the coachman and looked around. ''Now we have no other means of transportation, so I guess I have to ask Troy.'' I felt sorry and hesitated to say anything. Then Troy transformed into a ck panther on his own. "Master, I''m fine, so get on." Troy knew that the distance to ck Moon Lake was quite long and he was considerate of us. "Thank you always, Troy." "No. I will always assist the Master, so there''s no need to apologize or thank me." He was so kind. ---He''s truly my child. I grabbed Troy''s soft fur and climbed onto his broad back. Zain followed me naturally. He used to be scared of Troy, but he seemed to have adapted by now. "Wow! Troy is a Mont tribe!" And Katu looked at Troy with bright eyes. He examined Troy from all angles and then smiled brightly and followed us onto Troy''s back. "Wow, thank you so much, Troy!" "It''s nothing. Hold on tight. We''re leaving now." After Katu settled in, Troy started running. The ck panther''s sprint cut through the barrennd without hesitation. I couldn''t even open my eyes properly and held onto Troy''s fur tightly. "Woah! This is so fun!" Katu''s innocent voice of joy reached my ears. Zain, on the other hand, seemed to be speechless. Thanks to Troy''s sprint, we were able to reach the vicinity of ck Moon Lake in no time. Troy stopped and we got off him. Then Troy returned to his human form. "That''s ck Moon Lake over there." "Yeah, I can see that." I could tell without Zain''s exnation. ck Moon Lake was a bit far away, but it was so wide that I couldn''t see the whole thing at once. It looked like a sea, and that was our destination. ---The terrain around here is strange. ''Indeed. It doesn''t look like ake shore...'' As Kyros said, the terrain around ck Moon Lake was bizarre. There were lush grasses growing everywhere, but there were also pirs of stone rising up here and there. They varied in size and shape, and they looked like they were artificially made at a nce. I knew it wasn''t ordinary from seeing it on the game screen, but it was even stranger in reality. "Grrr." As I looked around for a moment, a nasty cry came from behind a stone pir as tall as a building. ''I knew it wasn''t quiet.'' ck Moon Lake was a ce where you had to beat up a lot of monsters to get through for a quest. I had hoped for the best, but of course I couldn''t pass by quietly. "Be careful, everyone." I took out the holy mace from my inventory and told mypanions. Zain and Troy quickly got into battle mode, and Katu took out the hammer he had been carrying on his back. "One-horned orcs." Zain said as he saw the monstersing out from behind the stone pir. They were dark green orcs with one horn. They were about two meters tall, taller than me. "Orcs are dull but strong, so you have to avoid their attacks." I nodded at Zain''s exnation. ---My little bird, be strong! ''Don''t worry.'' I answered Kyros and lifted my foot. Then six orcs charged at us. Thud, thump, thud! The ground shook as if there was an earthquake from the heavy orcs'' charge. I barely kept my bnce and hit the abdomen of the orc that ran at me first. Splurt! "Ugh!" The orc vomited green fluid. Yuck, it got all over my mace. I pulled out my mace in a hurry, and the one-horned orc that was attacked by me rolled on the ground. Whizz- thwack! An arrow imbued with power hit the eye of the orc that was behind it. "Kraaak!" Another orc fell with a scream of pain, and Troy attacked another one with his sharp ws. Splurt! Thwack! Then Katu joined the battle and hit the orc''s leg. Swoosh-! I quickly jumped into the air and swung my mace at the one-horned orcs without stopping. "Haa." The battle ended quickly thanks to ourbined attack. The orcs ally on the ground, breathless. "Huff, huff. You all, huff, really, huff, fight well!" Katu breathed heavily and smiled at us. Sweat dripped from his forehead. "Phew, I was so nervous that my hands are still shaking." Come to think of it, Katu had never fought before. He was clearly soaked in sweat from the tension. "Brother, you don''t have to join the fight if you don''t want to." I spoke to Katu with a merciful smile. We three had done all the fighting this time as well. "No, no! This is for saving my brother. I can''t just sit back, haha." "Still, don''t push yourself too hard." "Yes, yes. Don''t worry!" He had such a likable personality. I thought so as I brushed off the orc''s fluid from my mace. Then I saw Zain collecting the horns of the one-horned orcs. "Zain, what are you going to do with those?" Troy, who was watching Zain, couldn''t help but ask. Zain put the orc''s horns in his bag and retorted disdainfully. "The horns of the one-horned orcs are used as medicinal ingredients. They''re worth quite a bit." "Zain, you''re really resourceful." He said so, but Troy''s expression didn''t show any sincerity. Even after the battle with the one-horned orcs, more monsters attacked us. From three-tailed scorpions to desert rabbits. We fought every monster we encountered. Katu dropped out in the middle, but he wasn''t a significant number to begin with, so we didn''t lose any strength. The only real problem was that there were so many monsters that Zain was exhausted, and Troy seemed to have consumed a lot of stamina. After the battle was somewhat over, I handed them healing potions. "Drink. They also have fatigue recovery effects." "Do I have to?" Zain looked at me with a ''You''re wasting this expensive thing on fatigue recovery? How much money do you have!'' look, but I shook my head firmly. Thankfully, Troy drank the healing potion on his own. Now that their stamina was somewhat restored, it was time to move. As soon as the brief rest was over, the battle continued. We killed the endless stream of monsters and gradually approached ck Moon Lake. Just when we had killed five three-tailed scorpions, "This is...!" Katu had found something. It was an object stuck in the gap of a stone pir. It was a ne made of various animal and monster teeth. "It''s Lufu''s tooth ne!" Katu picked it up and looked at me. "He must have left it here as a sign for me to find him! He must be around here!" "Okay, brother. Calm down. If you raise your voice, more monsters wille." I calmed down the excited Katu. Katu nodded and put the ne in his chest. We quietly continued our search. We dealt with the asional monsters and finally reached ck Moon Lake. The ck Moon Lake looked like an endless sea up close. But the water of theke was so dark that it didn''t feel like it was of this world. I felt a creepy feeling that if I fell into theke, I would nevere back. ---My child, be careful. There''s something in there. ''Yes. I''ll be careful.'' Kyros had a good sense. He realized that there was something sinister under theke even though it was his first time here. But... yeah, I didn''t want to face it either. As I looked at theke water, Katu''s scream rang out. "...Lufu!" In the center of ck Moon Lake, there was arge rock sticking out. On top of it, there was a nest-like structure made of various grasses and branches, and there was a dwarf who looked just like Katu. "How can this be, Lufu!" Katu cried and threw himself towards the ck Moon Lake. "Calm down, brother." If I hadn''t grabbed his arm, Katu would have already fallen into theke. "Lufu is right there!" "Brother. Calm down. First of all, there might be monsters in thiske, so we have to be careful." "But Lufu is right in front of me... What if he''s badly hurt, or already dead?" Katu sobbed and pleaded. Then, Troy grabbed Katu''s shoulder. "Don''t worry. Fortunately, your brother is alive. He doesn''t seem to have any serious injuries." "Don''t get too excited, dwarf brother. This guy is a Mont tribe. He has exceptional vision and smell, so he must be telling the truth." Zain also calmed Katu down, and then Katu finally settled down. "...I see. That''s a relief. And I''m sorry, Leader." "No, brother." Well, the problem now was how to save Lufu. As I pondered over the distant Lufu, Zain spoke first. "People avoid ck Moon Lake not only because of the number of monsters around, but..." Zain looked at theke and continued. "Because of the ''ck Moon Bear'' that lives in theke. That nest in the middle also belongs to the ck Moon Bear." "Zain, how do you know that so well? You''re smart." "Well, this kind of information ismon sense. The biggest reason I didn''t want toe here in the first ce was because of that thing." ck Moon Lake was quite famous, so many people knew about it. Troy didn''t seem to know, though. That was possible. "Yes. There''s a fearsome bear in thiske." Katu also nodded and said. "Yes. I also read about the bear in a book. And we have to kill the ck Moon Bear to save Lufu, brother." Lufu was in the middle of theke. We couldn''t cross without killing the monster that lived in theke. Bubbling. Then, bubbles started to rise from theke near where we were standing. "Everyone, back off!" Everyone backed away at my shout. I clenched my mace and watched theke. Ssh- At that moment, the darkke water parted and the ''ck Moon Bear'' finally showed itself. Happy Reading! Please give the novel a rating and a Review on [NovelBin]. It will help the website and also help people find this novel! Chapter 83 "Ugh!" "What is that...!" I heard mypanions gasp in shock. And I just blinked, unable to do anything. The ck Moon Bear that we faced was extremely... no, incredibly huge. The part that was visible above theke was more than three meters long, and its body was at least four times bigger than a human. It looked like a ck bear, but it had long fangs protruding from its mouth and ws as long as a sword on its front paws. "Eek!" As Katu shrieked, the ck Moon Bear moved. It swung its front paw at us, ring at us with ferocity. Bang! Fortunately, no one was hit by the Bear''s paw. But its destructive power was astonishing. The ground was cratered as if it had been struck by a meteor. "Everyone, snap out of it and attack!" "Got it, Master." "Yes, sir." At my shout, Troy ran towards the ck Moon Bear. And Zain also took out his bow. I followed them with my mace and headed for the ck Moon Bear. Whoosh- The Bear''s massive arm aimed at me precisely. I rolled quickly and avoided the attack. But I sneezed while rolling on the ground. ---My child! ''I can endure this much.'' I had blood on my knee, but I had no time to care about such a minor injury. I hurriedly got up. Then I saw Troy dodging the Bear''s attack and shing with his ws. His ws were like well-sharpened des. They attacked the Bear''s arm. But they only grazed it, not leaving a deep wound. Squeak-! Zain''s arrow flew at the right moment. But it couldn''t even pierce the Bear''s skin. "Zain, aim for the eyes." I gave Zain an order and ran towards the Bear without waiting for his answer. I used the momentum from running and leaped. I struck the Bear''s arm with my mace. Bang! I heard a crunching sound of bones breaking. It hurt. "Grrr!" The Bear screamed in pain and swung its arm wildly at me. With a sound of cutting through the air, both arms attacked me at the same time. It was so fast that I wondered if I could dodge it with my injured leg. ---Pull yourself together, my child! I was in a daze, as if the game I enjoyedfortably and the reality where life and death were at stake ovepped. "Master!" Someone caught me. It was Troy. "Are you okay?" "Ah, thank you, Troy." "Don''t space out!" "Sorry. I hurt my leg." "Is it bad?" "Not really." While we were talking briefly, the Bear prepared for the next attack. It aimed at us and swung both arms. At that moment. Crack! Zain''s arrow pierced the Bear''s left eye. "Krrr!" "Sir, are you okay?!" "Uh. Good job, Zain." The Bear groaned in agony. Troy didn''t miss the chance and continued his attack. ---Don''t lose your focus in battle, my child! ''Yes, Kyros. I was just startled.'' I observed the battle situation and thought. It seemed better to switch to long-range attack than to swing my mace in this state. So I raised my left arm and gathered my energy. ''Huh, it seems like I have more energy than before?'' I thought so and released my energy. Whoosh-! The bright light that flew out. "...!" It blew off the top of the bear''s forehead. The resulting fluid scattered in the air. Ssh! The ck Moon Bear fell into theke. There was no more movement. "Sir, what is that... How can you have such power when we''ve been struggling so much?" "I didn''t know either." "What do you mean..." Zain looked at me with a puzzled look. "Master, are you okay?" "My goodness." Troy and Katu came to me in surprise. The one who was more surprised than them was me. The size of the energy release I used just now was simr to before. But the density of the power was much stronger than before. About twice as much? After the Bahano incident, it was the first time I used energy release. I didn''t know my power was this much. Of course, it was much weaker than when I faced Helis. But still, I didn''t expect to have such destructive power. ---You''re amazing, my child! No wonder I felt more energy gathering when I used energy release. As my power increased, so did my energy consumption. But I could control that part, so I had to adjust itter. ''By the way...'' Because of the Bahano incident, the number of believers increased and I received a lot of energy from Kyros. That''s why I could release such power. The ck Moon Bear itself was not that strong of a monster. ''But still, this is much stronger than me swinging my mace.'' Maybe I should also infuse some energy into my mace like Zain. As I thought so, I suddenly realized that the quest was notpleted. "Troy, the Bear is dead, right?" "Yes. It''spletely dead." This meant that I had to get Lufu out of the ck Moon Bear''s nest toplete the quest. "Excuse me, Master. When will Lufu..." "I was thinking of a way to do that, brother." I was wondering if I had to swim across the ck Moon Lake. I didn''t want to go into theke where the monster''s corpse was. While I was hesitating to speak, Troy transformed into a ck panther. "I''ll bring him back," Troy said, and went to the edge of theke. He moved to the closest spot between the ck Moon Bear''s nest and thend. And the ck panther leaped in one go. "Oh my." "Wow..." "As expected of the Mont tribe!" Zain, Katu, and I admired Troy. Troynded on the ck Moon Bear''s nest and bit Lufu''s clothes in his mouth. And he leaped again with force and came back to us. "Oh, Lufu!" Troy put Lufu down on the ground and Katu ran to Lufu, crying. In the meantime, Troy returned to his human form. "Good job, Troy." "It''s nothing." I patted Troy''s shoulder and praised him. I was d that Troy was on my side. "Lufu, Lufu! Wake up!" On the other hand, Katu shook Lufu''s body, who had lost consciousness, while sobbing. Lufu looked just like Katu, but he wore different clothes and had a big mantis on his forehead. And there were scratches all over his body. "It seems that he barely survived after being caught by the ck Moon Bear at theke. The ck Moon Bear keeps its prey in its nest to preserves its freshness." "Preserves its freshness..." "It doesn''t know when it will get more food. But it doesn''t eat every day, it eats every three days. So I think we were lucky to save him in time." I frowned at Zain''s exnation. It was like throwing away the mood. I produced a healing potion from my inventory and approached Lufu. "Excuse me, brother." And I pushed Katu away and gave Lufu the healing potion. Soon, Lufu''s eyelids opened. "Where is this..." [Sub Quest Clear!] [Sub Quest Reward is given.] [You get ''Dwarf''s Gratitude'' as a Sub Quest Reward.] [Dwarf''s Gratitude: You can request item production from Katu and Lufu. (Limited to 3)] The quest was finallypleted. "Lufu! Are you awake?" "Katu? Why are you here... I was sure..." "I came to save you, you bastard!" I smiled at Katu and Lufu''s reunion. And I turned my eyes and read the system message. ''Dwarf''s Gratitude'' must be a production reward. But the item production is only three. It''s a pity, but three dwarf-made items were a good result. "Lufu, I told you, right? I became a believer of Kyros Church." "Oh, yeah. You wrote that in the letter." "This is the Leader of the Kyros Church. And the person next to him is Troy of the Mont tribe, and this is Zain." Katu introduced us to Lufu and told him about the journey that brought us here. "I prayed to Kyros, and they came. That''s how I was able to save you!" "Oh, really. I see. Thank you very much. I thought I was dead when I was caught by the ck Moon Bear!" Lufu bowed his head politely to us. "No, it was your brother''s request." I smiled kindly and said, and Katu hugged Lufu''s shoulder and looked up at me. "Leader! Thank you very much! I want to repay you for this!" "Yes. You are my lifesaver, so if you need anything, I will do my best to make it for you, even if it''s impossible! We are the best craftsmen among the dwarves, you know!" Katu and Lufu''s eyes sparkled. And Zain poked my side. I knew what he meant without him saying anything. But I had to get out of here first. "Let''s move to a safe ce first." We killed the monsters around theke and got out of the ck Moon Lake area on Troy. When we reached the barrennd where no monsters appeared, Katu and Lufu came to me again. "Master! Just tell us!" "Yes! We want to repay you as much as we can!" I answered them with a smile. "Then can you make one piece of equipment for each of us?" "Of course!" "Sure!" Zain and Troy''s expressions brightened. I was going to take all three of the dwarf-made items, but I decided to give one to Zain and Troy each. I just had to get the things that were hidden all over the world. But even among them, the number of defensive items was small, so it was not a bad thing to get one dwarf-made item if I got the chance. "Wow, I''m touched. Master." "Master, thank you." "What. It''s natural." ---- You''re so considerate of my child. Zain and Troy were the ones who would be with me for a long time, so it was an investment for the future. ''Properly made dwarf equipment is not something you can buy with money.'' Sometimes, people would enve the dwarves and make them produce equipment like a factory, but those equipment always caused problemster. In that sense, proper equipment was like having reliable insurance, so it was not bad at all to have it. When I thought that, the two dwarves asked us amon question. "Then what kind of equipment do you want?" "I want a bow." "I want armor." "I want something that can protect my body. Something that I can carry lightly. A ne or a bracelet would be fine." My words were longer than Zain and Troy''s, and Katu and Lufu pondered. The two of them discussed with each other and asked carefully. "Master, do you want something that can use magic, that is, an ''artifact''?" "Yes. I want it to activate a protective effect when I want it." "First of all, we can make the equipment for Zain and Troy right away, but for an artifact, we need a special material." "Magic Stone." Zain answered Katu''s words. As a merchant, he knew about Magic Stones. "Yes. That''s right. We need a Magic Stone, a special mineral that can hold magic." Unfortunately, I didn''t have a Magic Stone. Magic Stones were hard to get in the market, and even if I got them, they were only low-grade Magic Stones. I didn''t want a low-grade Magic Stone that was worthless. But I knew very well where to get a high-grade Magic Stone. "So why don''t you go to our vige first?" It was the dwarves'' vige. Happy Reading! Please give the novel a rating and a Review on [NovelBin]. It will help the website and also help people find this novel! Chapter 84 To be precise, it wasn''t the dwarf vige, but ''that ce'' near it. "Are you talking about the dwarf vige?" I asked Katu. "Yes, that''s right. Master. If we want to make good quality equipment, we have to make it at our forge in the vige. And we also have our Magic Stones in the vige." "I see." I answered with a smile. I knew well that ''that ce'' was near the dwarf vige. But I had never been to the dwarf vige when I yed the game of dominance. So I was very excited. "Wow, I never thought we would go to the dwarf vige...!" "I''m looking forward to it." It was a relief that Zain and Troy seemed happy too. ---It will be fun! ''Indeed.'' I had a brief conversation with Kyros, when Troy transformed into a ck panther. He was now changing automatically, which made me grateful and sad. "Our vige is close to Bahano, so we''ll arrive soon," Katu said as he climbed on Troy''s back. When everyone was ready to leave, Troy moved. The dwarf vige was a ce that appeared when you went east from the ck Moon Lake. I felt a thrill as if I was going on a trip. "Turn left, turn right, go around, and turn right again! The front is a gravel road, so slow down please." "Can''t you stop that? It makes me feel bad." "What? What do you mean? I''m just telling you the way. Don''t you not know the direction?" "...Master, is it weird that I feel bad right now?" "Uh... Just bear with it, Troy. It''s true that we don''t know the way." The enthusiastic dwarf''s guidance and Troy''s fast speedbined to reveal the destination quickly. After running for about ten minutes, the barrennd ended and a meadow appeared. Beyond the vast meadow, there was a huge rocky mountain. The dwarf vige was right next to the rocky mountain. "Wow, this is where the dwarves live." "It''s amazing." I looked around as I heard Zain and Troy''s admiration. The dwarf vige was quite cute. ''I guess it''s because the dwarves are short.'' The houses were smaller than the buildings I had seen in general. But they were big enough to enter if I bowed my head. And the architectural style was more crude than Bahano, Aldone, or Herpheon Empire. But the weapons and equipment that the dwarves carried were excessively fancy. ''It''s interesting.'' They built houses roughly, and only focused on item making. The vige''s view was nothing but rocky mountains, so there was no natural scenery to speak of. At best, there was only a small forest. "Hey, Katu! You''re back. But... who are those humans behind you?" "Oh my! That person is... the Leader of the Kyros Church that I saw in Bahano?" "What?!" As we entered the dwarf vige, the eyes of the dwarves who were walking around the street were drawn to us. "Oh my! The Leader is visiting us!" There were dwarves who recognized me, which meant that there were Kyros Church believers here too. ''Katu was one of them, and it''s close to Bahano, so it makes sense.'' ---Naturally, there must have been believers who came and went from Bahano. ''That''s right, right?'' ---Of course! By the way, they are all so cute. Kyros smiled like a child as he liked the dwarves. "Katu, Lufu!" As I greeted the dwarves with a business smile, an old dwarf came from inside the vige. Katu and Lufu ran to him as soon as they saw him. "Father!" "Oh, my children! Did you have a good trip?" "I missed you!" Katu and Lufu hugged their father like children. They were adorable. "Father! Actually, this happened." Katu and Lufu immediately exined to their father what had happened so far. The dwarves who were gathered also heard about what had happened at the ck Moon Lake. "So that''s what happened! You are our benefactor!" "As expected, you are the Leader!" "Zain, Troy. Thank you!" The dwarves'' unexpected assault of warm affection made Zain and Troy a little embarrassed, but they soon epted it all. I also smiled and replied to them. "I am Katu and Lufu''s father and the chief of this vige, Mos." I had heard his name in the quest, so I roughly knew who he was. I greeted Mos politely. "I am the Leader of the Kyros Church, Leviathan." "Thank you for saving Lufu. I really appreciate it. And thank you to both of you." Mos hugged me tightly. I almost screamed without knowing it. Mos''s strength was no joke. He was not a dwarf for nothing. "The day iste, so stay the night and go." Mos said with a smile. It was already dark when we left for the dwarf vige, so I was going to do that anyway. "And let''s have a simple festival for the benefactors of Lufu!" After Mos'' deration of the festival. We were guided to the amodation with the biggest bed in the vige. Thud! "Ouch!" "Be careful, Zain." The buildings in the dwarf vige were mostly low, so it was easy to hit your head. Zain was especially prone to hitting his head. "Ugh, I''m trying to be careful, but this happens." "Zain, you''re stupid." "You little-!" Whether they fought or not, I sat on the bed. The bed that the dwarves used was really bigpared to them. ---It must be ufortable. As soon as Iy down, Kyros said. ''My legs fit perfectly, but it''s soft, so it''s okay.'' Unlike me, Zain and Troy''s feet were sticking out of the bed. I didn''t feel very good seeing that. "Leader! Are you ufortable anywhere?" Katu stuck his head through the open window. "Yes, brother. I''m fine." "Then hurry up ande out. Everything is ready. It''s modest, but let''s enjoy it together!" Finally! I got up from the bed and left the room. As soon as I went out, the smell of meat wafted over. I was hungry anyway, so I followed Katu in a hurry. Zain and Troy followed me closely. "Here you are!" In the center of the dwarf vige, bonfires were burning brightly. Various monster meats were skewered on several bonfires. ''I''ve eaten it before, so I don''t have any aversion to it now.'' I sat down proudly at the ce Katu guided me to. Zain and Troy came to my side and Mos, Katu, and Lufu sat across from me. "Drink as much as you want, and get drunk without any regrets!" The party started at Mos'' words. I ate the monster meatfortably and drank the dwarf''s special beer. ''Wow, it''s really delicious.'' ---Me too, I want to eat it too. ''Please restrain yourself if you can.'' ---I''ll have to go to the temple and eat it! ''If you ask Jacob, he''ll make it for you.'' ---Come back soon! I bid farewell to Kyros and focused on eating. "Yawn." I stretched and got up from the bed. I had enjoyed a lot of food and drinkst night, but my body was light. ''It was fun.'' Last night was really fun. The dwarves'' songs and dances were fun, and their homemade beer was very tasty. "Ugh, Master, you''re up already?" Zain, who had just woken up, greeted me with a scowl. But he couldn''t open his eyes. Fortunately,st night, Zain didn''t cry andin about his life like before. The alcohol content of the beer was not that high, so that was why. "Are you hungover?" "Yes. I feel like I''m going to die." Zain drank the whole bottle of water on the bedside table. The sound woke Troy up, who was sleeping on the floor. "Ugh, water." He also looked for water as soon as he woke up. Troy, who drank a whole bottle of water, couldn''t straighten his face like Zain. "Ugh, I''m dying." "You should have drunk moderately." As I said lightly while stretching, their eyes turned to me. Why are you staring at me? "You drank more than us, Master?" "That''s right. Master drank more than us. You should be grateful that you don''t have a hangover." Well, that''s not my fault. Maybe it was because of the ''Thousand-Year-Old Wine of Zine'' effect that I didn''t get drunk easily and didn''t have a hangover. Knock knock! When I was about to go for some morning exercise, someone came. When I opened the door of the room, I saw Katu and Lufu. The two dwarves handed me a tray with soup. "Leader, good morning." "Here''s your breakfast. When you''refortable, pleasee to the biggest forge in the vige!" "Ah, yes. Thank you." As I took the tray, the two dwarves sang and walked away. They were cute. "Zain, Troy. Come and eat." "What? I''m not eating." "Me neither." Troy even refused breakfast. What can I do? "You have to eat this all if you want me to make your equipment." As Iid down the rule, the two finally jumped out. They should have done that sooner. After finishing our meal, we headed to Katu and Lufu''s forge. It was arge forge that could be seen at a nce without the exnation from the two. It was the tallest in the vige. "Come this way." Inside the forge, there were various weapons and armor made by the two dwarves. They were all of good quality, and they could sell them and make a lot of money. "Master, can''t you just give me a few?" "...You sold your conscience, Zain. It''s like you, but no." "Tsk. How much money would it make if I sold it." I ignored Zain, whose shoulders were drooping, and approached Katu and Lufu. Katu ced a transparent blue stone on the anvil. A faint aura flickered on the blue stone that shone like a jewel. "This is a Magic Stone. There are low, medium, high, and above that, the highest grade of Magic Stones." "And this is the medium-grade Magic Stone we have." Katu and Lufu exined about the Magic Stones to us. All Magic Stones have inherent magic that manifests as a faint aura. And the grades are distinguished by color, low-grade is yellow, medium-grade is blue, high-grade is red, and the highest grade is white. "I would like to use the highest grade Magic Stone if I could, but we only have this medium-grade and low-grade Magic Stone." I knew well that Magic Stones were rare in the original work. Magic Stones were essential for making artifacts that could use magic. But Magic Stones were very rarely found in mines, so they were very rare. "Master, you may not know, but this medium-grade Magic Stone is worth a lot." "Really?" "Yes. That one alone would be enough for a middle-ss family''s living expenses for a year." I didn''t care much about money because Kyros Church had plenty of it, but I was a little shaken when I heard Zain''s story. ''No. I have to make an artifact.'' As I shook myself, Katu cautiously opened his mouth. "If you''re okay with it, Leader, we''ll start making it with the medium-grade Magic Stone." "Is there no way to get a higher grade Magic Stone?" I pretended not to know, even though I knew everything, and asked. Then Katu and Lufu scratched their necks as if they were in trouble and said, "There is. But it''s dangerous... Um, but I think you might be able to do it, Leader." Then, Zain poked me in the ribs. "Master, you have to do it. Whether it''s high or the highest grade, you have to get it." ''I''ll do it even if you tell me not to, you bastard.'' Happy Reading! Please give the novel a rating and a Review on [NovelBin]. It will help the website and also help people find this novel! The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Chapter 85 "What is that method?" I asked Katu, who pondered for a while and slowly gave me an answer. "There is a mine near the vige. There are top-grade Magic Stones there, but... it''s very dangerous. Maybe even more than the ck Moon Lake." Katu''s expression was full of worry, but I was fine because I knew where he was talking about. "...Is it that dangerous?" Zain looked worried somehow. "Zain, don''t worry. We have the Leader. Didn''t you see? The Leader is a scammer who hid his power." Troy pointed at me and reassured Zain. I was grateful that he trusted me so much, but was that apliment? I wondered for a moment and looked at Troy, who avoided my gaze somehow. ''That guy, he was good at talking when Kyros appearedst time...'' Meanwhile, Zain''s attitude changed a bit from before, as Troy''s words were convincing. "Then... hmm." Zain kept pondering. I grabbed his shoulder and said, "If you don''t like it, just rest in the vige." "Really?" Zain''s face brightened. This kid, he must have wanted to avoid going. "Zain. Are you really going to rest?" "The Master said I could." "Pathetic." "What?!" "What good are you if you''re so scared?" "I''m not scared, I''m justzy- no, why do I have to exin to you?" These guys never had a day without fighting. I ignored them and asked Katu. "Where is that mine?" Katu and Lufu decided to guide us personally. So we followed the two dwarves out of the vige. "You''re going with us anyway, so why did you resist?" I smiled at Zain, who came along after all. "Ha, really." He red at Troy and sighed deeply. Zain, who was bickering with Troy, ended up joining us somehow. "This way." The ce where Katu and Lufu led us was not the big rock mountain of the dwarf vige, but another rock mountain next to it. "This is the mine." There was a fairlyrge mine where Katu and Lufu stopped. "There are top-grade Magic Stones inside. I believe you can do well, Leader, but still be careful. If you feel it''s dangerous,e back right away." "Yes. You have toe back safely." Katu and Lufu looked at me with moist eyes. I smiled and said to them. "Don''t worry." "Then we''ll be making your equipment first. We wanted to give you something useful, but we don''t have anything to offer you right now." "It''s okay." "Be careful!" Katu and Lufu kept urging us and left. After the two dwarves left, I took out a club from my inventory. "Zain, Troy. Get ready." "Yes, I understand. Master." "I''m always ready." After confirming that the two were ready for battle, I stepped into the mine. [You have discovered the hidden dungeon ''Miner Mole''s Mine''!] [The hidden quest ''Miner Mole Extermination'' has urred!] [Hidden quest urred!] [Hidden quest Content: There is a miner mole living in the mine that loves ore very much. The miner mole has a special ore that he cherishes, though he mined and consumed from all kinds of ores. You never know. If you kill the miner mole, you might find that ore! Goal: Exterminate the miner mole Sess: Obtain the miner mole''s ore Failure: -] [Do you ept?] [Yes/No] I skimmed through the quest and epted it. In the original game, I didn''t do this mole extermination hidden quest after clearing it once. The hidden dungeon of the mine was one of the easiest among the hidden quests, so it was not fun for me, who was a multi-yer, to clear it, and it was not a necessary part of the game progress. ''It''s simr to a boring sub-quest.'' Besides, unlike the thousand-year-old genie, there was nothing to gain from the mole itself. That is, the only thing to get from this hidden dungeon was the top-grade Magic Stone. ''...Of course, the top-grade Magic Stone itself is a pretty good reward.'' As I was thinking about the quest, we entered the entrance of the mine. The inside of the mine was marked with traces of the dwarves'' use. There were a few ores rolling around, and pickaxes used for mining were scattered. "Ugh, it reminds me of the genie''s cave." Zain muttered with a twisted face as he looked around the inside of the mine. The mine was no different from a cave, so it reminded him of the memory with the genie. On the other hand, Troy looked fine. Well, he met the genie before he met Troy, so he must have had no bad experience. ---I don''t know what''s inside, but I can feel a strong energy, just like I felt at the Lake. ''Really?'' ---Yeah. Be careful. Even if the difficulty was easy, it was a hidden dungeon, so Kyros seemed to feel the energy properly. ''But judging by theparison with the Lake, it''s not as bad as the genie.'' I was worried that the hidden route''s characteristic difficulty spike would ur here. Fortunately. "Squeak." That''s when it happened. In the dark interior, yellow eyes appeared. Their numbers were... about thirty. "Squeak!" Thud thud thud- As soon as the short cry ended, the monster ''mine rat'', which was three times bigger than a normal rat, started to swarm. "Ugh." I groaned softly. ''That''s why I didn''te here.'' I had met many monsters, but these ones felt especially disgusting. They looked bad on the monitor, but even worse in reality. That''s why I clenched my mace tightly when I heard Zain''s low chuckle. "Do you have something you''re afraid of, Master?" "...I''m not afraid. I''m disgusted." "It''s the same thing." This kid. I red at Zain, and then I saw something ck running out. Thud-! It was Troy, who had transformed into a ck panther. Oh, right. He was a cat! ''Go, cat!'' I cheered for Troy in my mind and smiled. sh- Troy''s long ws mercilessly shed the gray rats. "Squeak! Squeak!" Indeed, cats are the best. "Good job, Troy!" I unconsciously shouted to cheer for Troy, and then I felt a gaze. Zain was looking at me, trying hard to hold back hisughter. At the same time, I heard Kyros''sughter. ---Our little bird has something he''s afraid of too. ''I''m not afraid, okay?'' ---You look like you are. ''No, I''m not!'' As I vehemently denied Kyros''s words, Troy came back after finishing the battle. Behind him, I saw the corpses of the rats that had lost their vitality and focus. "Good work, Troy." "No, it was easy. It felt like my instincts came alive for the first time in a while. It was fun too." ''That''s because panthers are cats.'' I swallowed the unnecessary words and patted Troy''s shoulder, praising him generously. And we went inside again. The inside of the mine had only one path so far, so we followed it. "Wow!" In the meantime, Zain started picking up some of the ores that were rolling on the floor. "Zain. Why are you picking those up?" "Why?" Zain looked at Troy with contempt. ''You idiot, of course it''s because they''re money,'' he seemed to answer without saying. And Troy looked at Zain with pity. ''They both look down on each other...'' ---They''re interesting kids. ''They''re only interesting once or twice.'' I was sick of seeing them every day. "Zain, I told you before, if you show off your money too much, you''ll lose all your hair from your body." "Do you believe that nonsense? How naive." "It''s not nonsense, it''s true. It starts from your head and falls off. Even now, every morning, your pillow has more hair than the Master''s." "What, you bastard? I''m balding... I should shut up." Zain said that, but he still picked up the ores diligently. The ones he picked up didn''t look very valuable. I guess he was trying to make a mountain out of a molehill. "Zain, if you pick up too much, it''ll be too heavy to carry them all." "Don''t worry. I''ll find a way to carry them." "What if monsters attack, how are you going to run away?" "I''ll think about that when it happens, okay? Maybe I''ll swing them around?" Zain smiled brightly and put the ores in an empty sack. That hopeless guy. I stuck my tongue out at him and continued walking. As we followed the long path, we heard a strange sound. Scratch, scratch. It sounded like something was scraping the rocks. "Shh." I signaled Zain and Troy to be quiet and moved carefully. When we finally turned the corner, we saw a bunch of moles gathered together. The moles, which were about the size of an adult male, were eating something in a line. It was the ores. But those guys. "...They''re oddly cute." The mine rats were bad, but the moles looked pretty good in reality. I didn''t feel anything in the game. Scratch, crunch! The moles finished their meal. Their eyes turned to us as a group. There were four of them. That was enough. "Zain, Troy." I didn''t have to step in. As I thought that, Troy leaped and Zain''s arrow cut through the air. Thump, thud! They were monsters of the hidden dungeon, but they were easy enough for the two of them to kill. "That was nothing, right?" "Yeah, good job." After we killed the moles, we saw a forked road. The problem was- "...Wow, what is all this?" The number of forked roads. There were more than thirty passages drilled in the huge wall. "The moles must have dug them all and made them look like this. What are we going to do?" Zain frowned. Yeah, what are we going to do? I had only cleared this hidden dungeon once. And that was thanks to the choices that helped me ovee the difficulties. I rubbed my neck and wondered. Sniff, sniff. Troy started sniffing. "Master, this way." ''Of course, cats save the world.'' We followed the passage that Troy pointed to. It was big enough for five adults to enter, so we could pass easily. "I smell something simr to the moles we smelled before, but more vicious." "What? Then there are more monsters?" "The dwarves said we had to kill the monsters to get the top-grade Magic Stones, Zain." "I know, but we could have gone a safer way." These guys, they''re at it again. "Calm down, Zain. Troy''s nose is the only clue we have." Happy Reading! Please give the novel a rating and a Review on [NovelBin]. It will help the website and also help people find this novel! Chapter 86 I red at Zain, my eyes spitting silent curses. The Miner Mole was a creature of incredible speed, rarely offering a chance to hit it with a burst of spiritual energy as I had just done. "...I''m sorry, Master." Zain, catching the meaning behind my gaze, rose to his feet and bowed his head. "Sigh, it''s alright." It''s not like he fell on purpose. ---Don''t be too harsh, my child. It wasn''t intentional. ''...Right.'' ---Yes. So let''s forgive him this once. I clenched my trembling hands tightly. "Zain, be more careful. Your actions just cost us a perfect opportunity." Yes, Troy. Well said. Zain, looking deted, didn''t retort this time. "I''m sorry." "It''s okay. Everyone makes mistakes, don''t worry about it." Even Troy, who had been scolding him, softened upon seeing Zain''s disheartened look. They''re both quite adorable. "It''s fine. We''ll get another chance." Facing the Miner Mole, I gripped my mace with renewed strength. Then I said to the two of them, "Let''s go." "Pant, pant." ---You''ve worked hard, my child. I gasped for breath. That damned mole was disgustingly fast. Even for a hidden dungeon of easy difficulty, it would have been tough to clear without Troy. The mole, a master of escape, easily dodged my mace swings and Zain''s arrows. After several misses, Troy''s attack barely connected, but even that was a struggle. My spiritual energy release was also dodged as soon as the mole sensed it, making it an exhausting effort. Controlling the amount of spiritual energy was already challenging, and wasting it like this quickly drained me. Eventually, Troy, transformed into a ck panther, managed to catch the Mole. While he held the mole by its side in mid-air, I released my spiritual energy and finished it off. [Hidden Quest Complete!] [Hidden Quest Rewards will be distributed.] Creak- As the system message appeared, vibrations emanated from the boss room''s floor. I immediately approached the center where the ground was splitting. "What is this..." Zain and Troy, who had been resting, came over as well. In the cracked floor, a small space revealed itself, shining with Magic Stones that brought a smile just by looking at them. Two red Magic Stones, and one white. Given the nature of Magic Stones to change color based on the stored mana, we had obtained two superior Magic Stones and one top-grade Magic Stone. "Is this all?" Zain sighed as if disappointed. But this was quite a haul. "You saw earlier. The moles were munching on Magic Stones." Fortunately, the top-grade Magic Stone was left. I collected the Magic Stones with a smile. When we emerged from the hidden dungeon and returned to the dwarf vige, the sun had already set. "Brothers, we have returned." Holding my hungry stomach, I entered Katu and Lufu''s forge. "Gasp! Leader! You''re back already?" "My goodness! Are you hurt anywhere?" The two dwarves rushed over in surprise. "I''m fine. No need to worry." Despite my assurance, Katu and Lufu circled around me, checking my condition themselves. "Truly a relief." "Who would have thought you''d return so quickly!" The dwarves beamed with joy upon confirming my safety. I handed them the Magic Stones. "Please use these to craft my artifact." "Wow, these are in excellent condition!" "Ha, it''s been ages since I''ve seen a top-grade Magic Stone! Don''t worry! I''ll create a masterpiece to remember!" The grinning dwarves received the high-grade Magic Stones I had also handed over. "Use these for Zain and Troy''s equipment." "Gasp... Master!" "Ma, Master. You don''t have to do this." Zain looked at me with grateful eyes, while Troy tried to dissuade me. "No. It''s better to have good equipment. So don''t worry, Troy." "...Thank you, Master." Troy quickly epted the gesture. And Zain looked at me with sparkling eyes. "As expected of Master! I knew I could trust you!" A lie. I had clearly seen Zain''s envious gaze as I collected the Magic Stones in the mine earlier. "Don''t think about selling these for money. Now, I leave it in your hands, brothers." "Leave it to us!" "Don''t worry! We''ll craft it properly!" Katu and Lufu assured us that the equipment crafting would take about two days, so we should rest in the vige in the meantime and ushered us out of the forge. With nothing else to do, I guess I''ll take a look around the vige. "Yawn." What to do with my time starting today. The n to explore the vige endedst night, quite abruptly. ''Maybe I should visit Bahano since I have two days free.'' With that thought, I got out of bed. Since I had slept in, I was the only one left in the lodging. ---Look, there are the children. ''Where?'' ---Over there, by the stall. Following Kyros'' words, I peeked out the window and saw Zain, engrossed in taking notes while surveying a street vendor''s wares. He seemed to be searching for information worth some money. And there was Troy, voraciously eating skewers at a nearby shop. The pile of empty skewers in front of him suggested he had devoured dozens already. ''Eating so much meat first thing in the morning...'' With a nod of respect to the ck panther''s impressive appetite, I began preparing to step out. Having finished my preparations to visit Bahano, I had just left my lodging. I considered setting up a portal in my room, but it was too cramped, and there was no suitable space within the dwarf vige. Besides, exining it to the dwarves if they noticed would be a headache. Since I had some time to spare, I decided to take a leisurely stroll and enjoy the scenery on my way to Bahano. At that moment... Clip-clop, clip-clop. The sound of a horse galloping reached my ears from the entrance of the dwarf vige. "Who could it be?" Turning my head, an astonishing creature came into view. "Good heavens." ---Oh, what is that! It wasn''t just me; even Kyros seemed surprised, his voice filled with excitement. "Who do we have here, if not Quir?" The dwarves, familiar with the creature, naturally struck up a conversation. The man with curly ck hair had a bronzed, muscr torso on disy. Behind him, the body of a horse extended. ''A centaur!'' I was speechless. To think I would encounter a centaur here! The centaur, looking around, spoke to a nearby dwarf, and I was taken aback. "I''ve heard the leader of the Kyros faith is here." Why would a centaur be looking for me...? As I stood bewildered by the unexpected visitor and his words, the centaur''s gaze found me precisely. Standing tall among the short-statured dwarves, I was easily spotted. Especially since Zain and Troy were nowhere to be seen. The centaur approached me. Clip-clop, clip-clop. I watched, dumbfounded, as the centaur drew near. ''To meet a centaur here, of all ces.'' It was a situation I had never anticipated. Even after countless iterations during my gamey, I had never interacted with them. After all, centaurs were a race that greatly despised humans. "Are you the leader of the Kyros faith?" The centaur looked down at me, his gaze seemingly displeased. "Ah, yes. That''s correct." I answered cautiously, and his eyes softened. "I''ve finally found you." "...Yes? Why were you looking for me?" I couldn''t fathom why a centaur would seek me out. As I asked for rification, he brushed his hair back and said, "Some time ago, a light enveloped all of Bahano. I need that light." Could he be referring to the time I used therge-scale Purification Light? "Let me introduce myself first. I am Quir." "Ah, yes. I am Leviathan, the Leader of the Kyros faith. But what do you mean, you need that light?" "In the forest where I live, there is a ''Flower of Life'', akin to the lifeblood of centaurs. That flower is currently dying." The centaur and the Flower of Life. ''The Flower of Life?'' Even as a top yer in Woosebeop, this was a tale I had never heard before. "However, the parts of Bahano touched by the light you released came back to life. Curious about this phenomenon, I investigated and learned that the light originated from the leader of the Kyros faith. That''s why I''vee to seek your help." [A sudden quest appears!] [Sudden Quest: Revive the Flower of Life Description: The nature-loving centaurs. Please revive the Flower of Life they worship. Objective: Restore the centaurs'' Flower of Life Sess: The goodwill of the centaur race Failure: -] [Do you ept?] [Yes/No] A quest had suddenly emerged, and it was a sudden one at that. I calmed my startled heart and reviewed the quest details, then felt a surge of astonishment. ''Incredible.'' The reward was the goodwill of the centaur race? A race that loathed humans to the point of abhorrence! ''I can''t possibly refuse this.'' I didn''t know what benefits or dangersy ahead. But without hesitation, I epted the quest. If I could convert these centaurs into followers, perhaps they would aid me someday. And for someone who thought they had experienced every route, the prospect of a new one was too enticing to pass up. ---The centaurs are a race skilled in magic. And they are incredibly beautiful! Kyros seemed just as excited as I was. Indeed. I had never encountered centaurs in Woosebeop, but I knew they were a remarkable race. Though few in number and disdainful of humans, they were said to be adept in magic. ''But to be involved with centaurs like this...'' During the original gamey, I knew there was a dwarf vige nearby, but I had only visited the hidden dungeon, never the vige itself. After all, the dwarf vige wasn''t essible from the game''sunch. Hence, I had never interacted with the centaurs. Especially since the rewards for the dwarf sub-quests had changed after I arrived in this world. It seemed right to assume that one could only interact with them through a hidden route. ''The centaurs'' Flower of Life...'' Could the flower, which was dying, have been revived, even partially, by therge-scale purification? Has the Flower of Life suffered from magic? I couldn''t make sense of it. The original game barely mentioned centaurs, let alone the existence of the Flower of Life. ''I epted the quest, tempted by the goodwill of the centaurs.'' But a significant problem remained: how to heal the ''Flower of Life''. ''Can a flower even suffer from magic? If not, what should I do?'' ---Child, the essence of holy poweres from life force. Even without using the power of healing, holy power has a faint ability to heal living beings. Though it''s not as strong as the power of ''healing''. ''I see.'' ---The power of purification ultimately stems from holy power. It''s like the root from which the fruits of purification and healing grow. From what I had seen in Woosebeop, the power of healing was something only a select few within the Kyros faith could wield. And only those with abundant holy power. So, the power of healing was a force that could bloom from a vast reservoir of holy power. ---In this case, you became a ''conduit'' for the power of purification, so your holy power, which contains healing abilities,bined to heal the flower. ''Even if it wasn''t magic?'' ---Yes. The power of purification extended from you. Now I understand. The healing power within me had mingled and healed the flower. That''s why the injured in Bahano weren''t in such dire condition. With my doubts cleared, confidence surged within me that I could heal the flower. "I will help you." I said to Quir, smiling. Happy Reading! Please give the novel a rating and a Review on [NovelBin]. It will help the website and also help people find this novel! Chapter 87 "Thank you." Quir seemed to be waiting for my response, a hint of relief in his voice as he answered. A slight smile graced his lips. Even a centaur can be handsome. ---Such a beautiful race. I''m quite taken with them. Even Kyros waspletely charmed. "Huh? Master!" "Leader!" Out of nowhere, Zain and Troy appeared. They had been somewhere out of sight and now made their way through the dwarves to reach me. "Is this... a centaur?" Zain whispered to me. I nodded and briefly exined what had just happened. "So, I''ve decided to help the centaur." "Ah, I see. The Flower of Life, I''ve never heard of it before." "I have." It was unexpected. Troy knew about the Flower of Life. Well, it made sense, considering both the ck panther and the horse are animal-type beings; they might share the same legends. "To think we''ll visit the centaur''s forest. I''m excited!" Zain''s eyes sparkled with anticipation. The centaur race, shrouded in mystery, seemed to intrigue him greatly. "I''m looking forward to it too." Troy''s eyes also shone with excitement. "It''s not possible." A firm voice from the centaur followed. "Only the High Priest of Kyros may enter our forest. With the Flower of Life in peril, we cannot bring in others of different races." Quir''s response was understandable. One wouldn''t bring a doctor''s acquaintances to a family member''s sickbed. I felt it was a bit much to argue given our request... but there was no need to start trouble here. "...Ah, I see. That was thoughtless of me." "I''m sorry. I didn''t consider the situation." Instead of burdening Quir with unnecessary talk, Iforted the disheartened Zain and Troy. "I''ll tell you all about it when we return, so cheer up." It was something even I couldn''t help. Fortunately, their expressions brightened quickly. "Then let''s depart immediately." Quir turned around. "Mount up, Leviathan." Troy''s figure ovepped with Quir''s in my vision. I climbed onto the horse. "Hold onto my shoulders so you don''t fall." It was oddly embarrassing, but necessary to avoid injury. As I held onto Quir''s shoulders, he began to move. Clip-clop, clip-clop. His swift pace quickly took us out of the dwarf vige. ''Wow, he''s really fast.'' Troy was fast, but Quir''s speed seemed to match, if not surpass, his. "Quir?" I called out to him cautiously as the scenery whizzed by. Quir''s voice, calm and ubored, answered me. "What is it?" "Why is the Flower of Life dying?" I was curious about the fundamental reason. Was it because of the curse, or something else? "Our Flower of Life is a very noble being. It has stood guard here long before we were born, nurturing the forest from the same spot for ages." Quir continued his tale without a tremor. I listened intently. From this point on, I had no knowledge whatsoever. "A flower with such a powerful life force only dies when a great crisis befalls the world. And only a very grave crisis at that." "A crisis? Does the Flower predict them?" "Yes. The Flower of Life is unlike any ordinary flower." "Since when...?" "About half a year ago." It seemed like it foresaw the catastrophe that almost befell Bahano. Forbidden magic had spread to the empire, nearly causing countless casualties. Fortunately, I had prevented the disaster, but that was just a few weeks ago. If the Flower had been dying for half a year, it couldn''t recover on its own. Even if the crisis was averted, it would still be dying. "We''ve arrived." Lost in thought, I was brought back by Quir''s words. Turning in the direction he was looking, a small forest came into view. ''That''s...'' I looked around. The centaur''s forest was quite close to Bahano. It was a distance that could be covered on foot in a matter of minutes. ''So close, the light of purification must have reached it.'' But isn''t this too close? I heard centaurs despised humans. Yet their foresty so near the human kingdom. Close enough for the unaware to wander in. ''I can''t make sense of it.'' Meanwhile, Quir, carrying me on his back, took a few more steps and stopped in front of a massive tree. Wondering what was happening, I watched as he began to murmur in an iprehensiblenguage. A portal-like shimmer appeared in the tree. Then Quir headed towards it. A sudden intense light poured down, and I instinctively closed my eyes. "This is our centaur forest." As I opened my eyes at Quir''s words. "Wow..." I couldn''t help but exim. ---Incredible. It''s so beautiful. Such beautiful creatures living in such a beautiful ce! ''You can say that again.'' I responded to Kyros as I slowly took in my surroundings. It was as if I had stepped into another dimension, a sight foreign to my eyes. Unlike any forest I had seen in this world, this ce felt sacred. ''The sanctuary of the centaurs... perhaps.'' The entire forest was shrouded in a blue mist, but it wasn''t a frightening atmosphere. Giant trees grew densely, and small, firefly-like beings flitted around them. It wasn''t just that. For the first time in my life, I saw mysterious flowers and fruits, butterflies that glowed on their own, and blue squirrels. It truly felt like I had stepped into a forest out of a fairy tale. "How beautiful," I marveled. "Isn''t it? Our homnd is always a sight to behold," mypanion agreed. "But I''m sure this was a different forest before. Did we just teleport?" I asked, wondering if the centaur, skilled in magic, could have performed such a high-level spell. Quir shook his head. "No, that''s not it. Strictly speaking, we''ve hidden our forest within the Bahano Forest. It keeps humans from entering." "Ah, because of the Bahano Kingdom. But why settle here?" If they disliked humans, they could live far away from them. "From the beginning, this was our territory. To be precise, humans started settling in our home. So, we concealed our forest to protect it." So the centaurs had been living here even before the Bahano Kingdom existed. ''An incredibly ancient race.'' As I looked around, I realized Quir''s pace had slowed. "Aren''t you running anymore?" "Do you want to?" "No, it''s just that since entering the forest, your steps have slowed. I feel embarrassed to keep riding." "Outside the forest, there are human eyes. We speed up to avoid their gaze. If you''refortable, you can continue to ride." "Alright then." Good. Riding Quir and taking in the surroundings was morefortable than walking. As I admired the beautiful forest... "Master!" Abel''smunication came through suddenly. Is something wrong? I was about to respond when I remembered Quir was with me, so I spoke in my mind. ''What''s the matter?'' I couldmunicate telepathically, but I usually spoke out loud. I didn''t want to increase the number of people I talked to telepathically with, except for Kyros. It was too chaotic. ''Where are you?'' ''Near Bahano. Why? Is something wrong?'' ''No!'' ''...You contacted me even though there''s nothing wrong?'' ''Yes!'' Abel''s cheerful response left me dumbfounded. This kid was more troublesome than I thought. ''I just missed you, Master!'' He looked fine, but his actions were more childish than actual children. ''Alright. I''ll be in Aldone soon, so hang in there.'' I couldn''t be harsh to someone who missed me, so I replied calmly. ''Understood!'' Fortunately, themunication ended quickly. ''What a peculiar fellow.'' Alphius, Chester, Sasha---they didn''t contact me unless it was important. Was Abel the odd one out? ---Isn''t he adorable? ''Ah, yes. Well... it seems so.'' It wasn''t too bad, almost like family checking in. I smiled faintly and lifted my head. Before me stood about a dozen centaurs. And behind them, a flower of immense size bloomed. "...Wow." They expect me to heal that? Somewhere in the main building of the Diego Church. Terdius walked alone down a dark corridor, his eyes sadder than usual as he headed deeper into the building. He stopped in front of a massive iron door, a ce even the apostles of Diego School could not enter. Except for Terdius. He ced his hand on the door, infusing it with his power. ck energy flowed out, enveloping the door. With a nk, the door opened, but Terdius hesitated to enter immediately. He stood there for a moment, then, with resolve, stepped inside. The room was small, but it contained a single ss coffin. "...Ivan." Insidey a ten-year-old boy with ck hair like Terdius''. Terdius knelt before the ss, reaching out towards the boy''s face. All he touched was the cold ss. "Ivan..." He whispered his brother''s name softly. But Ivan did not stir. He was breathing, but that was all. Stricken with an unknown illness, Ivan barely clung to life inside the ss coffin. A thin ck mist swirled inside. Only the power of Diego kept Ivan tethered to this world. "...I''m sorry." Terdius whispered to his brother, unable to help him. His eyes began to moisten. And at that moment, in a far-off dimension. In a world shrouded in darkness, only one creature existed. A massive serpent, coiled and watching Terdius'' image on a screen,ughed with satisfaction. ''You cannot escape me, Terdius.'' The serpent''s tongue flicked across its mouth. ''In this cursed world, you must be my protagonist.'' Watching Terdius'' tears, the Evil God Diegoughed out loud. ''Forever.'' Isn''t this too much? ''A flower, they said?'' I denied the reality before me. But no matter how much I denied it, reality remained unchanged. Behind the dozen centaurs was a flowerrger than a tree. A ck flower as massive as a five-story building. ''Judging by the petals, it must indeed be a real flower.'' The flower the centaurs gazed upon stood out even in a forest filled with towering trees. Its stem alone was ten meters tall, with wide petals fully bloomed above. Iughed in disbelief. "Ha, haha..." How am I supposed to heal this? Happy Reading! Please give the novel a rating and a Review on [NovelBin]. It will help the website and also help people find this novel! The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Chapter 88 The colossal flower seemed to wither as Quir had said; its entirety was wilting. ---Fortunately, it''s still alive. I examined the flower. Even with the petals in full bloom, I couldn''t identify its species. It seemed like a flower I was seeing for the first time. Then, a small part of a petal that had sprouted towards Bahano''s direction caught my eye; it was slightly white. "Quir, is that the part touched by the light?" "Yes." How fascinating. Even in the forest concealed by the magic of the centaurs, the light that began in Bahano reached here. It''s the same space, but perhaps it''s because the ce is conceptually hidden. Moreover, it was astonishing that Bahano''s light had reached it. Therge-scale purification used at the time was meant to cleanse the entire kingdom of Bahano. ''If the light was of such magnitude...'' The size of the light from the purification I had seen before was considerable, so the kingdom''s purification would have been evenrger. I was at the center of it, so I don''t know exactly what difference there was on the outside, but that means the fringes of the light must have reached this forest. ''Well, it''s not certain.'' As I was lost in thought looking at the Flower, I suddenly felt a gaze. All the centaurs were looking at me. "Oh, right. I haven''t introduced myself. I am Leviathan, the Leader of the Kyros Church." As I greeted them with a smile, the centaurs hesitated. "They are all worried about the Flower of Life." "Oh... It''s okay." After all, I knew well that centaurs despised humans. I replied to Quir and was about to turn my gaze back to the flower when one of the centaurs approached me. "The Flower of Life is the source of our forest, and in a way, our own origin. Please take good care of it." Although I didn''t like that he didn''t introduce himself as I had done, his polite request softened my heart. "I''ll do my best." ''I''m not sure if it will work, though.'' As I spoke of my effort, the stern expressions of the centaurs eased a bit. I took a deep breath and slowly approached the Flower of Life. Then, I ced my hand on its thick stem. ''Using a healing potion might be better than this.'' Even if I poured all the healing potions I had, it seemed difficult to treat something of this size. Besides, I didn''t know when the potion would be absorbed, and touching it directly would be faster than using a potion. ---My littlemb, be strong. ''Yes, Lord Kyros.'' I steeled myself and used my healing skill. A pure white light escaped from my body and wrapped around part of the stem. ''Please, please be healed.'' But nothing happened. ''...Is this for real?'' I was certain my healing skill could be used on living beings, so naturally, I thought it would work. However, the Flower in front of me remained ckened. ''Why? Can''t my power save it?'' Confusion set in as my healing skill had no effect. ---My little bird. Then, Kyros called me gently. ---This child has a different method of healing than humans. ''...Do you know about this Flower?'' ---I came to know through the energy I felt. To heal this child, you must infuse it with ''holy power'' itself. Not a healing skill, but holy power itself. Remembering Kyros'' words, I closed my eyes. With the desire to heal this being, I infused my holy power into it. I could feel the holy power slowly draining from my entire body. ''I hope this power heals you.'' I don''t know exactly what kind of flower you are or what role you y. But this beautiful forest and the centaurs wish for your health. It was at that moment. "...Gasp!" I opened my eyes wide. The holy power was flowing out faster than I had anticipated. As if the Flower of Life was sucking in my holy power. "What in the world...!" I tried to pull my hand away in a panic, but it wouldn''te off, as if it was stuck to the stem. ''What is this...!'' Even amidst the growing confusion, the holy power continued to be drained. The part of the stem where my hand touched began to regain its green hue. I could see that it was being healed, but this was too much, wasn''t it?! As the holy power was rapidly drained, my head spun. My vision even started to blur. ''Ky, Lord Kyros! Save me!'' But there was no answer from Kyros. What I heard instead was. [Thank you.] It was a man''s voice I had never heard before. [Sudden Quest cleared!] [Your reward for the sudden quest will be granted.] Through my blurred vision, I briefly saw the quest window. But the next moment, I lost consciousness. "Heave..." I took a deep breath and opened my eyes wide. What I saw was the night sky, filled with countless stars. ''What in the world...'' I steadied my breath and recalled myst memory. That is, I had treated the Flower of Life at the request of the centaurs... And lost consciousness as the holy power was drawn out of me like crazy. "You''re awake." As soon as I recalled myst memory, Quir''s face suddenly appeared. "Quir?" "You had fainted, High Priest." I knew that without being told. I looked up at him and slowly sat up. I felt surprisingly refreshed for someone who had been lying on the grass. "It seemed your body was not in good health, so I gave you a special centaur stamina potion." "Is that so? Thank you." The centaurs were skilled not only in magic but also in alchemy. "By the way, what happened to the Flower of Life?" I asked, my concern evident. During the treatment, I had lost consciousness, leaving me clueless about the fate of the Flower. Yet, considering it had drained nearly all of my sacred power, I hoped it had recovered at least halfway. "See for yourself," Quir urged, stepping aside to reveal the Flower of Life before me. "Wow..." Despite having all my holy power siphoned off by that damned thing, I couldn''t help but marvel at it. In the midst of the beautiful forest stood something even more magnificent. ''It would suit Kyros perfectly.'' The previously pitch-ck appearance was gone. The thick stem and leaves were now brimming with life, a vibrant green. And the blossoming white petals at the end looked as if they were crafted by a deity. "This is truly..." I found myself drawn towards the Flower of Life, walking as if under a spell. Fireflies and glowing butterflies swirled around the colossal bloom, creating a scene that would have startled Zain. "It''s not just beautiful; it''s miraculous..." I had always considered myself a veteran of the game, knowing everything about this world. But this sight made me realize I was wrong. ''The game I knew was just that -- a game.'' This was the world where I truly lived. And it was vast and wondrous. The sight before me, unlike anything I had seen through the game screen, stirred emotions within me. "You''re awake, my child!" It was at that moment that a familiar voice reached my ears. My head instinctively turned towards the sound. "Are you feeling alright?" Startled, I blinked. There, in front of me, stood Kyros, manifested in the form of a puppy. "Kyros? When did you manifest? And... is it really alright for you to reveal yourself like this?" "I may have weakened, but I am still a God, my child. Is there any reason I shouldn''t?" He had a point. There was no reason Kyros couldn''t manifest. Why was I worried? Subconsciously, I must have thought it dangerous for others to see Kyros in his manifested form. ''No, that''s not it.'' I btedly remembered the real reason. In my confusion, I had forgotten the threat of an attack from the Diego Church. If they learned of a God''s manifestation, they would surelye after us. Therefore, it was best for Kyros to manifest only in front of the higher-ups. Though he had already shown himself to the centaurs. "...Sigh. Still, we should be cautious, Kyros. If the Diego Church learns of this, they might attack us. It''s a well-known secret that they deal with powerful religious factions." I spoke softly, ensuring only Kyros could hear. "Hmm. You make a valid point. We should be careful for now. But for the moment, we are safe!" Kyros proimed confidently, puffing out his chest. I wondered what made him so sure. Could there be members of the Diego Church among the centaurs... Ah. These creatures despise humans, so perhaps we are safe? As I pondered this, I noticed the smiles on the centaurs'' faces. The atmosphere had changed drastically since before the Flower of Life was healed. Then I remembered the system window I had seen just before fainting. Completing the quest had earned the goodwill of the centaurs. For now, at least, we were safe. "You''ve regained consciousness." At that moment, a fascinating being appeared before me. It resembled a fairy, norger than the palm of my hand, with green hair and eyes, looking like a teenager. No, in this world, it would be... a spirit? "Greetings. I am Phinis, the Spirit of Life." I knew spirits existed in the original work, but I had never seen one. They were even rarer than centaurs. "Ah, yes. It''s a pleasure to meet you. I am Leviathan." Following the centaurs had been a wise decision. To think I would meet a spirit as well! And such a tiny creature was truly adorable. "We''ve met before. We encountered each other before you lost consciousness." Huh? When did I meet a spirit? This adorable being was new to me. "My child." Kyros floated up and pointed with his short paw at the Flower of Life. "That flower is Phinis." Ah, of course. Spirits are born from nature. "Is that so? But Kyros, do you know this spirit?" I asked, sensing familiarity in his tone. Kyros immediately shook his head. "No. This is our first meeting." Really? "However, its rootse from me, so there''s a sense of kinship." "That''s right. My survival is all thanks to Kyros'' power." Ah, connected by sacred power, they had grown close. "I thank you both once again." Phinis fluttered its tiny wings and stepped back, bowing respectfully to Kyros and me. And it wasn''t just Phinis. The centaurs gathered behind the spirit and knelt before us. "Thank you, Kyros." "We are grateful, High Priest." There was a distinction in the way they addressed a God and a human, but the centaurs'' goodwill made it hard to feel bad. "My little bird has simply done what was natural for beauty!" Kyros, seemingly ted, hopped around among the centaurs. The sight of a puppy frolicking among the giant creatures was quite endearing. And it seemed the centaurs were charmed by his cuteness as well. Life sparkled in their eyes. ''Now that I''ve gained their favor, it would be perfect to convert them into followers.'' Is there a way? As I mulled over this, Phinis approached and spoke. Happy Reading! Please give the novel a rating and a Review on [NovelBin]. It will help the website and also help people find this novel! The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Chapter 89 "I''ve heard you''re the first apostle serving Lord Kyros," they said. Had they heard the story from Kyros while I was unconscious? I nodded to Phinis'' question and replied. "Yes, that''s correct. To be precise, I hold the position of High Priest in the Church of Kyros." "I see." Phinis smiled serenely. The petite spirit sped her hands together as if in prayer and continued. "We, too, have decided to follow Lord Kyros." Did Phinis mean she had be a follower? But who did she mean by ''we''? "The centaurs and I have chosen to serve Lord Kyros. So, please take good care of us, High Priest." Phinis'' eyes curved beautifully. In other words, there was no need to make the centaurs into followers. A smile formed on my face without me realizing it. "Should you need our assistance, please call upon us at any time." Then, Phinis extended something towards me. A leaf, asrge as Phinis herself, appeared out of thin air. "What is this..." As I muttered, holding the mysterious leaf, Phinis answered with a smile. "When you need me or the centaurs, infuse your power into this leaf, and your will shall reach me." So, this leaf had the same effect as the flute Terdian once gave me. "Will it work even over great distances?" "Yes. This leaf is connected to me, so your call will reach me wherever you are." If the magic of the spirits and centaurs allowed it, perhaps it was indeed possible. "Thank you, Phinis." To think I had not only made the centaurs into followers, but also befriended a spirit. I felt an indescribable sense of pride at this achievement. The next morning, with Quir''s help, I left the forest of the centaurs. It had been toote to leave the sanctuary yesterday, so I spent the night in the forest. Now, I had conversed with the centaurs, now my followers, and watched Phinis and Kyros y joyfully. I had slept in a bed made by the centaurs, not an ordinary bed. Though made of flowers and grass, it was as plush andfortable as a royal bed in a pce, allowing me a deep sleep. "I''m truly grateful, High Priest." Upon reaching the outskirts of the dwarf vige, Quir set me down and bowed. "Please, no more thanks. You''ve already expressed your gratitude plenty." I had heard it several times already, so it was time to stop. Then Quir extended his hand to me, as if asking for a handshake. "Alright. Then I shall always support you." "Me too." After our handshake, Quir turned and ran back to their territory. ---That was a short but fun adventure. ''For me too. It was a truly mystical and beautiful ce.'' ---Let''s go again sometime. After a brief exchange with Kyros, I entered the dwarf vige. It waste morning, and the vige was bustling with activity. "Master! You''ve returned!" "Leader! You''ve finally arrived!" Zain and Troy, who were eating skewers nearby, spotted me and rushed over. "I''m back." "How was the forest of the centaurs?" "I''m curious!" These guys seemed more interested in the centaurs'' forest than in my well-being. "Let''s eat something first, then talk." I had filled up on fruits given by the centaurs in the forest, but it wasn''t enough. The skewers they were holding looked tempting. "Why don''t you eat this while you tell us?" The quick-witted Zain handed me a fresh skewer. Persistent, aren''t they? But since I epted the skewer, I owed them the story. I sat down with the two on a nearby bench. First, I took a bite of the skewer. The well-marinated chicken was delicious, the seasoning permeating with every bite. "Master, start with the story." Troy seemed to be turning into someone like Zain. Were these guys bing friends through their constant bickering? I chewed the meat quickly and began. "The forest of the centaurs is close to Bahano." I slowly recounted my experiences in the centaurs'' forest to them. Their expressions changed with every detail. How adorable. That afternoon, as the sun began to set, Katu and Lufu summoned us to the forge. "You''ve arrived! Come in!" "This way, please!" Katu and Lufu looked exceptionally pleased. They must have created equipment they were proud of. ''I''m quite excited about this.'' I licked my lips and stepped inside. Zain and Troy''s eyes were filled with anticipation, just like mine. "Ahem!" Katu cleared his throat, drawing our attention. Katu and Lufu, the two dwarves, stood on either side of a broad wooden table, looking at us. On the table between themy the equipment. Even at a nce, the bow, the armor, and the ne were extraordinary. "Wow..." "This is incredible!" Zain and Troy approached as if enchanted, reaching out for their respective equipment. But then... p! Katu and Lufu''s hands stopped them. "Let''s calm down first." "We''ll hand them over in order." I wondered why they couldn''t just take their items, but since the dwarves had made them, we followed their method. Fortunately, Zain and Troy quietly epted the dwarves'' instructions. "First, for Zain." Zain was the first to be called. His face lit up noticeably. Stepping forward, Katu handed him the bow. "Wow... this is really my bow. It must be expensive, right?" Zain eximed in awe as he received the bow. The bow, entirely white, looked incredibly noble. And at its center a red Magic Stone was embedded. ''They''ve embedded a high-grade Magic Stone.'' After all, it''s more efficient to use a Magic Stone as is than to process it. "Next up, Troy." "Mm." As Troy stepped forward, Lufu handed him a set of armor. Troy''s armor, ck as night, covered his shoulders and chest, with a red Magic Stone embedded in its center. "Thank you." "I''ve only done what was necessary." While Troy offered Lufu a brief word of thanks, Katu approached me. "Lastly, Leader." Heeding Katu''s call, I stepped forward, and he presented me with a ne. Encased within the ne was a pure white Magic Stone, shielded by a clear gem. It was light, barely heavier than two of my fingers. "The use of the Magic Stone is simple. Just infuse it with your own magical power." Our power is divine, but the principles of mana and divinity are the same, so using the Magic Stone posed no issue. Indeed, many priests in the Order wield artifacts through their divine power. But this meant Troy would need divine power too... ''Kyros, could you bestow some divine power upon Troy soon?'' ---Of course! For that faithful child, I would share it this instant! ''Thank you.'' Kyros answered without hesitation. Troy''s actions thus far must have pleased him as well. ''This will make Troy even stronger.'' Nodding at this favorable progress, I overheard Zain conversing with Katu and Lufu. "Zain''s bow will grow stronger with power infused." "Thank you, Katu, Lufu." Zain embraced the two dwarves with a bright smile. Then Lufu exined Troy''s armor. "Troy''s armor won''t break easily. Plus, it''ll adjust its size to fit when he transforms into a ck panther." "Oh! Thank you. That''s very convenient." Katu then pointed to my ne. "Leader. Try on the ne and infuse it with power." "Yes, brother." I did as Katu suggested, donning the ne. As I gathered divine power, a soft light spread rapidly from the ne. Whoosh- The light flowed out, enveloping me in a protective circle of white, like a shield. "The ne is called ''Barrier of Protection''. Made with the finest Magic Stone, it will guard you in any situation." As Katu named the ne, a message appeared. [You have acquired ''Barrier of Protection''.] [Barrier of Protection Grade: Legendary Item Description: Crafted by two exceptionally skilled dwarves, this itembines a top-grade Magic Stone to create a powerful protective shield for the user.] A Legendary item. Though I possessed relics, they were divine gifts from Kyros. Until now, I had no notable equipment. But with the dwarves'' craftsmanship and the superior Magic Stone, a Legendary item was born. "I''m truly grateful, brothers." Like Zain, I embraced the dwarves warmly. With this, I needn''t worry for a while. ''No, I won''t likely die anytime soon.'' My lips refused to stop smiling. I thanked the dwarves again and again. After repeated thanks by Zain and Troy, the dwarves showed signs of weariness. Only then did we leave the forge. Our business in the dwarf vige wasplete. We bid farewell to the dwarves we''d grown close to and rode on Troy, now transformed into a ck panther, straight to Bahano''s Pce. Arriving at the Pce bedroom, night had already fallen. After telling Zain and Troy to rest, I pondered whether to do the same. With nothing pressing to attend to, I decided to head to the Aldone Temple. ---Oh, the children have been busy, I see. The temple had undergone significant changes since I left it in Aldone''s care. The former high priest''s chamber was now neatly arranged as my office, designed to my preference, much like Rovel''s. ''The children have done well. Abel and Jacob too.'' ---Indeed, they are my children! Leaving the office, I noticed the corridor was much cleaner than before. The beige tones lent the interior a sacred yet cozy feel. Descending the stairs to the first floor, I saw the garden. Sasha''s unmistakable sculptures adorned the space. ''ssic Sasha.'' Without needing my direction, she had done a perfect job. Clean and stylish. A wless talent. That''s when it happened. "Ah! Master!" As I quietly headed to the garden, a cheerful voice called out. Turning, I saw Abel running towards me with a bright smile. Must he always run? "Abel. Be careful, or you''ll fall." Abel was sprinting down the corridor at full speed. "Are you worried about me?" He stopped abruptly, just before colliding with me, as if to prove his innocence with his overly pure gaze. I nodded in response. "Well, yes." "Typical Master!" Abel beamed at me. "But when did you arrive? And if you wereing, you should have told me! Shall I ask Jacob to cook something right now?" Abel then proceeded to talk non-stop. Somehow, he reminded me of arge, tail-wagging dog. It was a bit bothersome, but not unwee. "Abel, calm down. There''s no need to ask Jacob to cook. It''s toote, and he needs to rest too." "But you must be hungry." "I appreciate the thought, but I''m fine." I declined Abel''s offer and continued down the corridor, checking if any areas still needed cleaning. "Ah! The cleaning of Aldone Temple isplete." "Is that so?" "Yes! Sasha is currently sculpting a statue of Kyros in the prayer room. It should be finished in a few days." "Alright. I understand." Then there was no need to tour the temple right now. ''I''m starting to feel tired anyway.'' I nned to return to Bahano to rest ande back tomorrow. Heading straight for the office to use the portal, Abel, seemingly tireless, kept following me. "Abel, how far will you follow me?" I had to stop in front of the office and ask. He looked as if he still had something important to say. Abel then smiled brightly and said, "I want to apany you, Master!" Happy Reading! Please give the novel a rating and a Review on [NovelBin]. It will help the website and also help people find this novel! The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Chapter 90 Chapter 90 Abel''s innocentughter caught me off guard. "You want to apany me?" I mused. No child had ever made such a request before, and it intrigued me. "Why do you wish to apany me?" I asked, curious about his fundamental reason. "Because I like you, Master," Abel replied without hesitation. Abel, what am I to do with you? While the other children have shown me affection, Abel felt like... a fan of mine. At least, that''s how it seemed to me. "Thank you, I appreciate it. But I can''t always have you by my side, Abel." "Why not?" His shoulders slumped, yet he asked with a glimmer of hope. Was he truly unaware? "The Bahano Temple will soon bepleted. As I''ve mentioned before, you must take charge of it, Abel. The followers there need someone to care for them." "But..." He seemed to want to say more but, finding no sharp retort, he eventually fell silent. "Of course, I don''t expect you to tend to the temple every day. There are times when I need you all, and I don''t intend to only give orders." "Really?" "Yes. And as our congregation grows, so will the number of those wishing to be priests of Kyros. Once the High Priest can leave without the temple falling into disarray, then you''re free to follow me as much as you like." At that, Abel grabbed my hand and jumped for joy. Despite beingrger than me, he was as delighted as a child. "Yes, I understand, High Priest!" He''s like a giant puppy. Some timeter, the remodeling of the Bahano Temple wasplete. Upon hearing the news from a servant, I, along with Zain and Troy, immediately headed to the temple. "Wow, it''s unrecognizable." "Remarkable." "Money does wonders." Zain, Troy, and I stood in a line, marveling at the transformation. Having known the temple''s former state during the days of the Rizes faith, we were all the more astonished. What pleased me most was its essibility. Arhen must have taken my request to heart, for the temple stood out even from afar. The buildings that once obscured the temple were gone, and the pathway had been widened. It could now amodate hundreds in its garden alone. "His Majesty has purchased all the buildings nearby, apparently to widen the entrance," Zainmented. I nodded in agreement. I would have to express my gratitude to Arhen separately. "Let''s go inside." Together, we entered the Bahano Temple. Passing through the spacious pathway and the ornate entrance, a beautiful garden unfolded before us. The temple''s garden was as meticulously maintained as a royal pce''s. Though winter meant no vibrant flowers, spring would surely bring life back to this ce. ''I onlymissioned the exterior remodeling, but they''ve taken care of the garden too.'' There was even a fountain in the center of the garden, something I had long desired. ---I''m quite pleased with it, my child! ''Me too.'' All that remained was to fill the empty spaces throughout the garden with Sasha''s sculptures. "Chessy?" Just as I thought this, Chester appeared from afar, carrying one of Sasha''s statues -- a deer sculpture brimming with vitality. "Master, you''ve arrived?" Chester greeted me with a gentle smile and ced the statue in the empty garden space. The ground thumped softly. "You''ve worked hard." "Hehe, not at all!" Chester grinned innocently and hurried back into the building. The chapel, visible beyond the garden, had transformed into a sight as beautiful as a pce, and it seemed slightlyrger than before. The children, Abel, and even Jacob were busily transporting Sasha''s statues. "Jacob, not there -- here." Sasha sharply directed them, even putting Jacob to work. "Is this the spot, Sasha?" "Yes." I noticed that the children, Abel, and Jacob, regardless of age, spoke to each other with casual familiarity. ''Are they all children of Kyros?'' ---Hmm? What about it? ''Ah, they all use informal speech.'' ---Ah, yes. External age isn''t of much importance. They are all my children. ''I see.'' It might be a surprising scene to others, but it was fine. I approached Sasha with a smile. "Sasha, your works are beautiful as always. You''ve done well." "Thank you." Sasha looked at me intently before nodding. "By the way, the statue of Kyros for the prayer room isn''t finished yet, is it?" "Working on both Aldone and Bahano''s statues simultaneously has taken a bit longer. I apologize, Master." Sasha''s rapid and lengthy response was unusual, but it ended with an apology, which didn''t sit well with me. "No need to rush, Sasha. Take your time and don''t feel pressured, alright?" I gently stroked Sasha''s hair and smiled. Sasha nodded in response. "Okay." Just then, I felt a piercing gaze from the side. It was Zain. "Master, could you not treat me with half the warmth you show the children?" He crossed his arms and tilted his posture, challenging me. "Would you be warm to someone who looks like you do now?" "What''s wrong with how I look?" "Zain, stand up straight like me." Troy, who had been watching, corrected Zain''s posture. "That''s better." Unable to resist Troy''s strength, Zain''s posture became awkward. Iughed, and his brow furrowed. "Ugh, this is really annoying." He grumbled. "Let''s not dawdle and head inside." The temple''s grand opening was imminent, and I was determined to finish cleaning today. Entering the temple with my twopanions, we each headed to our preassigned areas. I, carrying cleaning supplies, made a beeline for the High Priest''s office. ---Hmm, it doesn''t seem to need much cleaning. As I stepped into the High Priest''s office, Kyros eximed in admiration. I felt the same. I had only heard that the children had cleared out the useless trinkets from the old High Priest''s office, but the interior was even tidier than expected. It was arranged with the soft interior decor I favored, much like Rovel and Aldone''s High Priest''s office. Approaching the spacious executive desk, I found a note left on top. [Rest well, Master! -Abel] Abel had already taken care of the cleaning. How thoughtful. ---That''s quite adorable. With a smile, I moved on. ''No need to clean here, so I should do something else instead.'' The High Priest''s office wasn''t just an office; it had several other spaces. The High Priest of Bahano must have been quite greedy, as it wasrger than Rovel and Aldone''s. The bedroom was spacious, and there was even a separate dressing room. The space originally meant for blessings wasrge enough to install a portal. I had brought the portal from Bahano''s vi and installed it here in the High Priest''s office. In front of it was the Blessing that Kyros had previously created. ''Everything seems in order; perhaps I should clean elsewhere.'' Just as I was about to grab the cleaning tools, amunication came through. [High Priest!] It was Alphius. "What''s the matter, Alphi?" [Your brother hase to visit!] "Eh? Sevenus?" [Yes. He stopped by Rovel to pick up some items, and your brother happened to visit.] Sevenus, visiting without notice? What could it be? I immediately took the portal to Rovel. After changing into my priestly robes in the High Priest''s office, I removed my sses. Greeting the asional followers I encountered, I stepped out of the building to find Alphius and Sevenus waiting. "Brother?" Sevenus, mounted on a white horse, dismounted as soon as he saw me. The knights lined up behind him also dismounted and stood at attention. "Levi. Have you been well?" "Ah, yes. I''ve been fine, but what brings you here so suddenly?" His unexpected visit puzzled me, and as I inquired, Sevenus smiled faintly. Behind him, knights approached carrying heavy boxes. "Your birthday ising up soon. I''ve brought gifts." Ah, my birthday. It was still a while away, but... ''Could these all really be my birthday gifts?'' The knights began stacking about ten hefty boxes before me. "The first two boxes contain clothes sent by mother. They''re creations by Pedro, who designed yourst ceremonial robe." Pedro''s clothes, in boxes? Before I could marvel, Sevenus continued exining calmly. "And this is my gift to you." He opened a smaller box, revealing a trove of jewels inside. Insane. How much is all this worth? "And these boxes contain..." Each of the other boxes was also filled with items meant for me. And thest two boxes, pointed out by Sevenus, were brimming with gold coins. "This is a donation for the temple." "My goodness..." I was astonished. Such generosity from this man. As I admired the Holden family''s open-handed wealth, Alphius and Chester, who had arrived unnoticed, approached. "We''ll take care of moving the belongings, Brother Reveloff." "Ah, yes. Thank you." I smiled at the two of them, and Alphius stepped forward to express his gratitude to Sevenus. "We will use the donation carefully. Thank you." Sevenus merely nodded in response to Alphius'' thanks. The children, unfazed by his reaction, began methodically moving the stacked boxes. ---My boy, your brother seems different today. Kyros'' words made me btedly realize that Sevenus'' attire was unusual. I had seen Sevenus in uniform before. At the mansion, he sometimes wore a simple shirt and trousers. But I had never seen him dressed in armor, ready for a campaign, like today. "Brother, are you heading out on a campaign today?" I was puzzled, having heard no such news. It wasn''t yet time for the wars across the Continent. "Yes, I''m off to Sercion." Sevenus spoke in his usual even tone. Sercion. I had heard of it, but what was it? If I had forgotten, it couldn''t have been that important. However... "A few days ago, a rift opened in Sercion. Monsters have emerged, and they need support, so I''m departing." ''This is bad.'' Only then did I remember my mistake. I had forgotten about Sercion because, when ying the game Woosebeop, the story unfolds from the perspective of Terdius. As the game transitions from the early story to the mid-game, yers can overhear a rumor from the NPCs. "Did you hear? The heir of Holden who went to close the rift in Sercion came back crippled. Now he''s gone mad!" That was about Sevenus Holden, the sole heir of the Holden family. ''So that means...'' This was precisely that moment. Happy Reading! Please give the novel a rating and a Review on [NovelBin]. It will help the website and also help people find this novel! Chapter 91 I tried to calm my heart. Then, cautiously, I asked Sevenus, "Brother, is it absolutely necessary for you to go on this mission?" I was even suggesting seeking help from other territories. But Sevenus was resolute. "Of course." His unwavering gaze bore into me. "Sercion is quite close to our own territory. However, it''s distant from the other regions. While Sercion might request aid from other territories, there''s nowhere faster than us to reach Sercion." Sevenus'' expression remained stoic, but his eyes sparkled more than ever. "If we don''t assist them promptly, the damage in Sercion could be catastrophic. We might even risk harm reaching Holden." His words were irrefutable. I bit my lip. "By the Gods, I almost forgot about Sercion." While I had yed the game from Terdius'' perspective, I knew little about Revelof Holden''s life. Our eyes met. Sevenus'' gaze, emotionless yet always concerned for his younger brother. Even though he was an NPC in the game, I didn''t want to witness him losing his sanity. But Sevenus had alreadypleted preparations, including the farewell ceremony with the knights. Holding him back was impossible. It seemed he sensed my turmoil too. "Levi, are you worried?" "...Yes." Of course, I was worried. After all, he was family. "Don''t fret, Levi. Have you forgotten who I am?" Sevenus patted my shoulder as if reassuring me, then smiled and continued. "I''ll return safely." Damn. He even added that clich¨¦d line, like a g signaling impending doom. With those words, Sevenus'' bad ending was all but confirmed. ---Since arriving in Rovel, I''d sensed an unsettling energy, but now a rift had opened nearby. Meanwhile, Kyros seemed to have noticed the rift''s existence. Lost in thought, I pondered. Sercion was a small territory, slightly removed from Holden''s domain, governed by Sercion''s lord. Given its size, Sercion had fewer knights to defend itpared to Holden. To make matters worse, the vicinity of Sercion was gued by frequent monster attacks due to a nearby mountain range. And, of course, it was during one of these monster surges that the rift had opened, further depleting Sercion''s already scarce knight numbers. Predicting monster attacks was possible, but rifts were true disasters. Their urrence depended on the whims of the Gods, making them unpredictable. "Of course, they couldn''t have prepared extra knights in advance for the rift." Sercion had requested reinforcements from the nearest Holden once the rift appeared. If the original story followed the same path, Sevenus would lose a leg and descend into madness. Damn it, what am I thinking? Lost in deep contemtion, I stood there after Sevenus left. Kyros broke the silence. ---Wait, even if I''m a newbie God, surely there''s a solution, right? Suddenly, a thought struck me, and I hurriedly asked him, "Kyrros, do you know how strong the energy of the rift is?" ---Hm. It''s not as powerful as Bahano. If I had topare, it''s simr to Bayas. But weaker than that. Bayas was the vige where the 92nd child of the Maseen had been defeated, Shalom. If it was weaker than that, then Sercion''s rift might be in a state where hidden route variables weren''t applied. As far as I remembered, that should be the case. ---My little bird, why are you asking about this? "I think I need to follow Sevenus." ---I see. You''re worried about your brother. "Yes." Even though Sevenus and I weren''t particrly close, he was still family. Now that I knew what future awaited him, I couldn''t just stand by. When I mentioned that I would go with him, Kyros hesitated for a moment and then spoke slowly. ---I, too, worry about those who will suffer due to the sudden rift. So, Levi, go and rescue your brother and the people of Sercion. As soon as his voice trailed off, the system window appeared. [Sub-Quest Triggered!] [Sub-Quest Objective: Move to protect Sevenus Holden and the citizens of Sercion, who worry the divine Kyros. Goal: Seal the rift in Sercion, protect Sevenus Holden. Sess: ??? Failure: -] [Will you ept?] [Yes/No] I gaped. This quest didn''t exist in the original story. It was purely Kyros'' directive for me. I epted the quest and replied, "Yes, Kyros." After epting Kyros'' quest, I immediately contacted Zain. Waiting in the temple''s abbot room, Zain and Troy returned from cleaning the Bahano Temple, holding cleaning tools. "Master? What''s suddenly going on?" "What''s the matter?" Zain and Troy sat across from me on the sofa, curious. "We''re heading straight to Sercion. A rift has opened there. By Kyros''mand, we''ll seal Sercion''s rift." I briefly exined the situation to them, including Sevenus'' sudden departure. "Hmm. If it''s the Master''s will or Kyros''mand, we should follow." "What you''re saying is a bit strange." "I''ll help too." Troy, unaware of Sevenus'' rtionship with me, looked nonchnt, but Zain regarded me with an odd expression. At that moment, Kyros manifested in his puppy form. "Levi, before you leave, let me share my power with you." "...Kyros!" Troy''s eyes sparkled likenterns as he smiled at the adorable Kyros who had appeared before us. In response, Kyros floated through the air and approached Troy. I silently observed Kyros transferring energy to Troy. Then Zain stepped closer and whispered, "Master, is your journey to Sercion solely because of Kyros''mand?" I disliked how perceptive Zain was. It was as if he had finally caught on to a weakness I hadn''t revealed in a long time, and he asked again. "Is it because of your brother?" "...Yes. Partly." "But..." Zain tilted his head. "Your brother is a strong knight, fully inheriting the bloodline of the Lord. If anyone can handle the rift, it''s someone like him, right?" I remained silent. If it were an ordinary rift, Zain''s reasoning would hold. If it were a rift like the one that appeared in Rovel, with low-level monsters, Sevenus would likely survive. However, the rift in Sercion was anything but ordinary. As Zain had pointed out, it was a rift severe enough to endanger even the mighty Sevenus. In other words, it was a rift where a superior demon, a child of the Maseen, would emerge. "Even though the order is lower..." If my memory served me right, this time the 99th child of the Maseen would appear. For lesser or intermediate demons, even those without divine power could hone their skills to handle them. However, those without any divine power couldn''t contend with superior demons. That''s why Sevenus suffered in the original story. "...Regardless, I''ll follow Kyros'' wishes." "Well, it works out. I wanted to use this guy too." Zain held up the bow he had received from the dwarf vige, grinning. Meanwhile, as Troy conversed with the creature, Kyros, who had bestowed power upon him, nowy on the sofa, revealing a pink belly. And Troy, with eyes filled with gratitude, knelt before Kyros. ''What is this... a cat worshiping a dog?'' I chuckled softly and stood up. Before setting off, I donned a robe and flipped up the hood, then left the temple. Once we were out of sight, I climbed onto Troy''s back as he transformed into a ck panther. There was no time to be detained by the guards patrolling the territory''s borders. Following my instructions, Troy nimbly scaled the narrow wall. Startled by Troy''s jumping ability once again, I gripped his fur tightly. "Whoa!" While I enjoyed the ride like an amusement park attraction, Zain''s scream echoed from behind. Fortunately, Troy didn''t crash to the ground. "Master, which direction should we go?" "Northeast." I directed Troy toward the path leading to Sercion. Sercion''s territoryy beyond the Cartel Forest, to the northeast. Once I indicated the direction, Troy sniffed the air beyond and correctly oriented himself toward the scent of the approaching demon. "Ah, it''s been a while here." Not long after, we arrived at the Cartel Forest, a ce we had visited during our previous Dark Wolf extermination mission. Although there was a path circling the forest, taking that route would undoubtedly make it difficult to catch up with Sevenus, who had already set off. So, we entered the Cartel Forest directly. "It feels like we just fought wolves here not too long ago. Time flies," Zain remarked, seemingly lost in thought as we swiftly passed through the forest. The once-familiar Cartel Forest nowy quiet. asional herbivores grazed in the vicinity. There was no longer any fog or Dark Wolves. "Are there humans living in this forest?" Troy, too, seemed to be lost in contemtion as he observed the passing scenery. "Yes, our followers reside here." "Did you ever imagine there would be worshippers in a ce like this?" "Yes." As I reminisced, we soon emerged from the Cartel Forest. From this point onward, a vast green meadow stretched toward Sercion. The only problem was... ''Where has he gone?'' I couldn''t spot Sevenus leading the Holden knights anywhere. Perhaps they had already arrived due to the shorter distance between Holden and Sercion. Thankfully, Troy''s speed was significantly faster, and we would soon catch up with Sevenus if we continued at this pace. Thendscape blurred by rapidly. Despite the wind dislodging my hood, I paid it no mind. After all, I was traveling to Sercion as the High Priest of Kyros. And not long after, the Sercion territory appeared beyond the wide meadow. "We''re almost there." From a distance, Sercion looked much smaller than Holden''s domain. It consisted of a small castle surrounded by several viges. Although the size was modest, the orderly arrangement of buildings gave Sercion an appealing appearance. Well, it would have been beautiful originally. However, now a massive rift marred the sky above this lovelynd. "Look, the knights are visible." At Troy''s words, I raised my head. Near the entrance to Sercion, a g bearing Holden''s emblem fluttered. However, I couldn''t see Sevenus leading the charge. Dozens of mounted knights raced forward. "We should prepare too." Though we still had some distance to cover, Troy''s speed would get us there quickly. I retrieved a staff from my inventory. Zain, riding behind me, also drew his bow, the sound of it being readied audible. And shortly after, we finally reached the crumbling entrance of Sercion. Happy Reading! Please give the novel a rating and a Review on [NovelBin]. It will help the website and also help people find this novel! The Novel will be updated first on this website. 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