How the Cult Saves the World-Chapter 147

"Zain, Troy."

The two of them ran so fast I couldn't see their legs. Then they stood in front of me, breathing heavily.

"What's with you two? Is something wrong?"

I asked them. Then Troy spoke to me after catching his breath.

"Church Leader, have you just woken up? How can someone sleep for an entire day?"

Was that sarcasm or concern?

"I was just that exhausted. I hadn't slept for practically two whole nights."

"Mm, I see. Then I understand. But everyone, including me, was worried about you, Church Leader. At first, we thought you were dead."

"Well... I'd react the same way in your place."

It wasn't just a half-day nap, but a full day's sleep.

While I was talking with Troy, Zain, who had apparently finished catching his breath, started speaking.

"Master! You scared us! That's why you should take care of yourself, Master. You can't die before us!"

He spoke as if reminding me of our contract. I nodded with a slight smile.

"Okay. Don't worry. I'll keep our promise, no matter what. And if you were that worried, you should have been taking care of me in the bedroom."

"I had a mountain of things to prepare; it couldn't be helped. It was all because of the tasks you assigned, Master."

"Alright, alright. I'm sorry."

That promise to bring down Diego Church. Even if it weren't for the promise with Zain, it'd all be over if I failed the main quest anyway.

"By the way, the temple looks cleaner overall."

As I casually glanced around while speaking, Zain and Troy's shoulders went up. Zain said with a proud look,

"Right? After all, it's us. We got everything neatly done just as you ordered, Master!"

"That's right, Leader. Zain, I, and the other senior members all worked together to finish the temple's maintenance. We threw away unnecessary items so that more people could enter, and even removed all of Sasha's statues."

"Ah, really...?"

Originally, there weren't many items in the Kyros temples, including Rovel's. Mostly just the essentials but...

"I see. Good job."

Given the circumstances, this time it couldn't be helped. The necessary items could be restocked after the work was done.

"Oh, and of course, we've also taken a break, so you need not worry. We even drank the healing potions you left in the temple."

"That's right, Leader. There's nothing to worry about. But Zain took a few more of your healing potions, I saw it."

Troy accused Zain. This rascal, did he finally put his hands on them?

"Hey, when did I ever do that!"

"I saw it clearly with my own eyes."

The two of them bickered. I frowned slightly and gave Zain's shoulder a firm squeeze. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

"Ah! That hurts!"

"Zain, you shouldn't touch communal items without permission. They were meant for use only in emergencies."

"Alright, I was wrong to do that!"

Zain quickly admitted his mistake. It seems he quickly realized that delaying would only hurt him.

"If you understand, then return it to its original place."

Once I released my hand from his shoulder, Zain pouted.

"Tch. As if I took that many."

"Huh?"

"Ah, got it. I'll go put them back now."

Zain immediately turned away from me. Then Troy whispered to me,

"Leader, I'll follow and keep watch on him."

"Alright, Troy. Thank you."

After Troy left with Zain, the puppy Kyros, who had been missing for a while, came to me.

"Kyros, where did you go?"

"Hmm? I just took a casual stroll around the temple. My children really have cleaned everything up."

"I see."

Zain and Troy would've been so happy if they saw the incarnate Kyros.

"Oh, and I'm going to go give some power to the children."

"Yes. But please, don't push yourself too hard."

"Alright. Don't worry."

Kyros gently patted my head with his small paw, then soared away into the air.

After watching the little puppy fly away for a moment, I quickly started walking.

'Actually now that I can install the Administrator's Protection...'

I no longer need to accommodate so many people in the temple. However, I should still do it as insurance against any unforeseen dangers.

'But then, where would be the best place to install the Administrator's Blessing?'

I slowly pondered as I removed my glasses. There were no devotees inside the temple at the moment.

The temple doors were closed in preparation for this situation. So there was no one to recognize me. I took off my glasses to briefly step outside.

'I don't know exactly what the range of the Blessing is...but I hope it's somewhere close to me.'

That is, if it's not to be installed inside the temple.

And I had no intention of installing the Administrator's Blessing in the temple. Since the temple already had Kyros's blessing, a different location would be better to save more people.

'Anyway...'

While walking along the street outside the temple, I noticed an unusually chaotic scene among the inhabitants of the territory.

At least Rovel's people were all Kyros devotees, so there was no visible anxiety, but it was a bit different in Elwin.

I saw some people loading up on their belongings, and among the merchants, some were even closing down their shops.

'...I'd do the same, even if it were me.'

According to what I heard from Zain, last night---while I was asleep---my mother, the Lord of Holden Territory and the owner of the land, publicly announced the news to the inhabitants.

For those confused about why they couldn't leave the territory, she honestly explained the cause and what was about to happen.

That the Demon God's attack was imminent.

As soon as that fact was revealed, the inhabitants were very surprised and panicked, and there were even some who blamed my mother for the sudden situation.

However, after a little while, most of the inhabitants decided to trust and follow my mother.

Still, as the time of the attack approached, more people began to feel uneasy.

'But this much is...not too bad.'

While I was surveying Elwin's street, I eventually arrived at the clock tower.

'It'd be convenient to protect this place with a Blessing.'

After the invasion began, this clock tower was where I would stay the longest.

Climbing the clock tower, I opened my inventory. Then I took out a sparkling, pure white bead from one of the slots.

'It looks similar...'

It looked similar to Kyros's Blessing, but the Administrator's Blessing was slightly larger.

'Maybe because its range is bigger.'

Ascending the stairs with the pure white bead, I soon arrived at the top of the clock tower.

Facing the biting cold wind, I placed the Administrator's Blessing on the floor.

'To activate it...'

Although nothing was specifically written in the item description, I knew how it would be activated without needing to look it up.

I placed my hand on the Administrator's Blessing and lightly infused it with holy power.

Fwoosh---

As my holy power merged with the light bead, it burst forth with radiant light. In an instant, the pure white light enveloped the entire clock tower, and soon after, it spread widely.

'This is...quite good.'

To be honest, I had hoped that the Administrator's Blessing would not only protect Rovel but also extend to parts of Elwin.

It would be ideal if it could protect even those injured during battle.

And my wish was properly granted.

"Did it read my mind?"

As a pillar of pure white light emanated from the clock tower, startled voices were heard from all around.

Then the light became a barrier that enveloped roughly half of Elwin and the entirety of Rovel. Although the duration during which this engulfed area could be seen was no more than a few fleeting seconds.

I saw it clearly. With an area of this extent, not only all the inhabitants but also those injured in battle could be adequately accommodated.

With everything going as I wanted, I felt somewhat relieved.

'...Now all that remains is...'

***

Immediately after setting up the blessing, I descended from the clock tower and swiftly headed towards the Holden Mansion.

I visited like I did previously as the Kyros Church leader, and the main gate opened faster this time.

It seems my mother had arranged for it in advance due to the event that would soon engulf the entire territory.

"Welcome, Church Leader."

Paul greeted me at the front of the mansion. I gave him a brief greeting and got straight to the point.

"Where is the Lord at the moment?"

"Master is currently in the training ground. She is training the knights for tomorrow's invasion. Is it something urgent?"

"It's not that urgent, but there is something I must convey to her."

"If that is the case... Please, follow me."

Fortunately, Paul took me to the training ground. It was a well-known route, but now that I was the Kyros Church leader, I simply followed him without pretending to know the way.

"Keep it straight!"

"Why is your posture like that?!"

"Swing your sword properly!"

Before long, I heard my mother's voice. Judging from the strained voices, she was rigorously training the knights in preparation for the impending attack.

Upon arriving at the training ground, I saw the knights absorbed in their training and my mother, who was commanding them from the front.

'As expected of Mother.'

Her commanding presence and charisma, rivaling even that of grandmother, as she led the knights, was truly beautiful.

After observing her for a moment, Paul hurriedly ran toward my mother. After conveying some message, my mother's gaze shifted toward me.

She paused the knights' training for a brief break and approached me. Then the eyes of the knights turned toward me.

Among them, Fanatic waves his hand enthusiastically at me. I offered him a brief nod and tried to ignore him.

'He's so unnecessarily cheerful.'

As if he had completely forgotten that tomorrow was the day of the attack.

While I was silently clicking my tongue, my mother approached me.

"Church Leader, what brings you here?"

"I have something to tell you."

"What is it?"

"Do you remember when I mentioned that the elderly and weak among the inhabitants would be protected in the Kyros Church?"

"Oh yes. You said it was because the temple has Kyros's Blessing. But why? Is there a problem?"

For a moment, my mother's eyes sharpened, as if scolding me for being incapable of even protecting the elderly and weak. It hurt my heart somewhat, but I pressed on without showing it.

"No. The range of the blessing, which was previously limited to the Rovel temple, has now expanded."

I informed her that the Blessing's range now covers not only all of Rovel but also half of Elwin, and I added details about the buildings' locations.

"So, if any casualties occur during battle, you can set up a relief center there."

"That's good to hear."

My mother nodded. Then, narrowing her eyes slightly, she asked me,

"But how has the range of the blessing suddenly increased?"