How the Cult Saves the World-Chapter 149

Terdius couldn't easily forget the expression on Leviathan's face...or rather, Revelof's, face during the large-scale rift incident.

'Why did he have that look?'

Revelof seemed to be struggling to control his expression, but to Terdius, it appeared rather anxious. So he hurriedly followed him, riding on a black panther, yet Revelof's figure vanished in an instant.

Some time later, Terdius arrived near the Holden estate.

He had come alone, without any subordinates, to the Holden estate. Somehow, he felt that Revelof would be there.

How to put it into words? It was, rather than prediction or inference, more like intuition. So he tried to enter the Holden estate. But at that moment, Terdius sensed an ominous energy.

'This energy is...'

For some reason, the energy of the Demon God enveloped the entire Holden estate. No, it wasn't just covering it.

'It has completely partitioned the space.'

As if it had been cut off to another dimension in this world, the Demon God's energy had completely separated the Holden estate from the rest of the space.

Hum---

Terdius raised his hand toward the estate. When he did that, the clash between the Evil God's energy and energy of the Demon God caused a gentle ripple. Diego's energy was not weaker than Rizes's power, yet it could not penetrate the energy.

'This is...different from anything I've seen before.'

It was a significant amount of the Demon God's power, on an entirely another level compared to the protection of Rizes Church. Even as an apostle, he could not easily break through and enter due to how strong it was.

Terdius bit his lip. Why was this happening in the Holden estate, where he could feel Revelof's energy so strongly?

'Could it be...is it because of the feats of the Kyros Church during the recent rift...or rather, Revelof's feats?'

Terdius had been investigating Revelof behind his back.

So, he had a rough idea of what Revelof had been doing all this time.

Among other things, he knew that Revelof had slain several of the Demon God's children.

'Because he had slain beings considerably stronger than his own ability.'

The repercussions of that might now be manifesting.

'No matter what, if it's an energy of this magnitude...'

Terdius gauged the strength of the impenetrable Demon God's energy by touching it.

'Is the Demon God planning to attack the entire Holden estate?'

He had a bad feeling about this. Yet Terdius could do nothing at that moment.

'In the end, does Revelof have to bear all of this alone?'

Revelof and the Kyros Church. Terdius felt frustration as he could do nothing but watch them handle it.

'...But why do I feel so frustrated?'

Was it because of his complete helplessness and inability to do anything even though the Demon God's energy was right in his face?

Or was it because Revelof and the Kyros Church were in danger?

Terdius roughly brushed his hair aside, overwhelmed by unknown emotions.

Even if he was impatient, there was nothing he could do immediately. So Terdius had no choice but to retreat for now.

He planned to observe the Holden estate from a distance after withdrawing for now.

'That won't change the fact that I can't see what's happening inside...'

Somehow, the Demon God's energy was blocking even the view into what was happening inside. So, it was impossible to know what was happening inside.

All he felt was a vague sense of unease, a feeling that something bad was about to happen.

'...Please, I hope everything goes well.'

Feeling powerless, Terdius eventually had no choice but to step back for now.

***

After my conversation with the senior members at the training ground, I immediately returned to my office.

Though I wondered if I had been imposing my opinion too much on the senior members...

'When I recalled the absurd future I'd seen...'

I felt that I had done the right thing. I didn't want to see any of the senior members die.

--You're back, child?

As I entered my office, the little puppy---Kyros---rolling on the sofa, greeted me. Of course, just like before, he only lay there without even bothering to get up. So, it was just a greeting in words only.

--You must be very tired.

I smiled faintly as I approached Kyros. The puppy Kyros was lying with his back on the soft sofa, its pink belly and paws clearly visible.

I reached out, as if entranced, extending my hand toward the pink paws. Kyros, looking exhausted from using all his power, barely reacted even when I petted him.

Thanks to that, I could continue petting these cute pink paws.

'I was so tired, but this somehow feels so healing.'

Perhaps feeling tired, Kyros also closed its round little dot-like eyes. Then, in a feeble voice, he said:

--I'm sorry I couldn't get up to greet you. It seems I'm tired after giving the children quite a bit of power today.

'You're not gonna pass out at this rate, are you?'

I shifted my attention from the pink paws to the pink belly. As I petted the soft puppy's belly, Kyros stretched out his body.

--Ugh. It's not that bad. After all, there's no way a mighty god like me would faint in the first place!

Kyros tried to put on a somewhat dignified expression, but the sight of a puppy sprawled across the sofa hardly inspired confidence.

He just looked cute.

'Yes, yes. Of course.'

I smiled, moving my hand vigorously. As I petted its pink belly and paws, all my worries seemed to vanish.

Even the Demon God's attack which was gonna happen the next day.

--You don't look so good, child.

I thought I was feeling somewhat fine, but it seemed Kyros did not agree. I forced a smile as I said:

'Is that so?'

--Yes. If you don't feel like smiling, you don't have to force it.

Kyros affectionately said these words kindly with a face adorned with three black beans, as if trying to comfort me. Perhaps it was because of that, I was able to be honest.

'...Lord Kyros, actually, I'm scared.'

--What is it that scares you so much?

Kyros, who had been sprawled on the sofa, suddenly leaped up and then trudged over to my lap.

--Are you so afraid of the battle tomorrow?

I slowly nodded as I stroked Kyros's hair.

'Yes. Although I haven't shown it to anyone, I'm actually afraid. I had a dream last night...a dream where everyone died.'

To be precise, it wasn't exactly a dream, but a vision of the future.

--Is that so? If you had such a dream, it is understandable to be scared. But, child...

Kyros extended his little paw and placed it over mine.

--That isn't a reality yet, is it?

Then the puppy Kyros smiled.

--There's no need to be afraid of something that hasn't happened yet. If you do, you'll only end up retreating into yourself. And when you're down, you won't be able to do anything properly."

Kyros stroked my hand, patting it in a rhythm.

--The more scared, the more inadequate you feel, the more you must stand tall. Only then can you face your enemy with all your strength.

At Kyros's words, I slowly nodded. Only then did I realize just how weak I had become.

I had pretended to be strong in front of people, in front of the senior members, but inside, my heart had grown fragile.

--So, child, do not be afraid.

For a moment, Kyros's body began to glow. White light emanated from the puppy Kyros and entered into me. At the same time, Kyros disappeared before my eyes.

"...Lord Kyros...?"

--Because I will always be with you.

At Kyros's voice that came after, I realised that I had come to truly rely on him.

***

Time passed, and the day of the Demon God's attack had arrived. I hardly slept the previous night. It couldn't be helped.

'Even so... It'll be alright.'

I was not alone---Kyros, the senior members, and even the power granted by the Administrator are with me.

Repeating that over and over in my mind, I looked out the window.

Through my office window, I continued to watch the movement of the estate residents that had begun in the early morning.

The senior members of the Kyros Church and the knights of the Holden family were working together to lead the residents to Rovel.

Among them, the weak---the children, the elderly, the sick, and the pregnant---were the first to enter the temple. After dividing the priest quarters by zones, they sorted the people.

So, the weak were the first to be ushered into the Kyros Church's temple, and afterward the estate's residents were guided in according to the number of family members.

'I'm just glad everyone is following the plan properly.'

Occasionally, some of the residents volunteered to fight the Demon God. There were many such individuals among Kyros Church followers. Even though some stopped when the senior members tried to stop them, there were also those who believed in their own childhood strength and tried to push ahead.

I barely managed to dissuade those people, saying that Kyros did not want to see any believers get hurt.

Over the course of several hours, the people of Rovel began to fill the temple and places all over Rovel.

The only place that the residents could not enter was my office.

There needed to be a place for me and the senior executives to hold meetings, and a place where the senior members could take breaks.

Even so, my office wasn't very large, so when all the senior members got inside, it became quite crowded.

Of course, designating my office as their place for rest was not without difficulties---the senior members had initially rejected my proposal.

'I barely managed to persuade them.'

I looked at the high priests who were currently in my office. They were organizing the temple's food supplies.

They seemed to be planning how to distribute the food from the temple and the provisions supplied by the Holden family to the estate residents.

Since there was no shortage of food from the start, it wasn't a major issue.

'At first, right after the Demon God's energy blocked the passage from the estate, external supply of materials was cut off---but that wasn't a big problem.'

This was because, both the Holden family and our temple had stocked up on plenty of food in case of emergencies.

So there was no major problem with food. Although a few daily necessities were lacking, I personally made and distributed potions to somewhat remedy that.

Before I knew it, as various tasks were carried out, time flew by.

The estate residents settled into their positions in Rovel, and the estate was emptied.

And finally, it was six in the afternoon. There was about an hour left until the attack. Now it was time for everyone to move to their positions.

"Grandma, Sasha."

All the senior members moved to their positions, leaving only me, Grandmother, and Sasha in the office.

"Then I'll leave Rovel in your hands now."

I left my final message for the two and then jumped out the window of my office.

It was now time to move to the clock tower.

[Sub-Quest: Large-Scale Rift Incident (3) --- <Holden Estate Defense Battle> will begin soon.]