How the Cult Saves the World-Chapter 178
Due to Diego's gesture, the black energy that left Terdius soon pierced through the screen and returned to where it should be.
After a moment, Terdius in the screen let out a painful groan and then collapsed.
He hadn't lost his life. He had just lost consciousness, fortunately his breath was still attached. Diego pondered for a moment whether to cut off his breath since his usefulness had ended anyway, but decided not to.
Because there was no need to take the life of Terdius, who was now just a 'human.'
And Diego reached his hand toward the air.
"Now......"
Diego slowly released his own power that he had just withdrawn from Terdius. While simultaneously adding the power he already possessed.
Glug-
The black energy from Diego began gradually taking form from simple black light.
Starting from the toes, feet, ankles, calves, thighs, waist, and soon arms, neck, and even face were created.
What was revealed was a lifeform in human form with pale skin.
Diego opened his mouth with satisfaction while looking at the existence he had created.
"You are......my first son that I directly molded, and from now on, you are my 'Great Apostle.'"
***
After leaving Bahano's borders, I moved my steps diligently while fighting the tremendous heat.
'I'm really going to die from being steamed. When will we arrive?'
If I had known I'd walk this long, I should have brought Troy.
When such regrets arose, the giant tree entered my field of vision. It was the entrance to the Centaur Forest I had visited before.
Upon confirming the entrance's appearance, I immediately started running. Because a familiar centaur with bronze-colored body and horse lower body was standing in front of the giant tree.
Meeting my transportation......no, the centaur who would become my ride in this scorching heat, I was very pleased.
"Quir!"
I immediately called his name. Then Quir's gaze turned to me. Upon discovering me, Quir immediately ran at a fast speed.
It was quite a speed befitting a centaur.
Thanks to that, I stopped running. Then Quir arrived before me shortly.
"Church Leader, have you been well?"
"Yes, I've been well. How about you, Quir?"
"I've been well too. But since there's no time, hurry and get on."
"Ah, yes!"
I immediately climbed onto Quir's back. Then Quir moved like an arrow.
'Ha, it's cool.'
Thanks to Quir's swift movement, wind came even in the heat. While I was briefly enjoying that wind, we soon stood before a tree.
"────."
Quir chanted in a language I couldn't understand, just like before. Then a portal was created in the tree.
'We're finally here.'
[Sub Quest 'Phinis's Request' 1. <To the Centaur Forest> Cleared!]
[Sub Quest reward will be given.]
[Sub Quest 'Phinis's Request' 2. <Phinis's Request>
Content: The Spirit of Life, Phinis, is waiting for you. Hurry and meet Phinis.
Goal: Meet Phinis within 10 minutes (This quest is a linked quest.)
Upon Success: Next quest updated
Upon Failure: -
Final Success Reward: ???
[Will you accept?]
[Yes/No]
Unlike the outside where the heat was beating down, as soon as I entered the cool Centaur Forest, the quest was updated.
While reading the content, I was a bit flustered by the short time of '10 minutes.' Still, since I was riding on Quir, it shouldn't be too difficult.
I immediately accepted the quest and looked around.
It was still a beautiful natural landscape. Flowers and trees of unknown identity, fresh fragrance, and birds flying here and there.
'Ah, it's healing.'
As expected, it was a landscape that made me happy no matter how many times I came. Moreover, the coolness the forest gave was tremendous for me, who had been fighting the heat until just moments ago.
—It's still a beautiful place.
Kyros also seemed quite satisfied. After running for about a few minutes like that, I could see the Flower of Life.
The Flower of Life I had barely saved seemed to have grown even larger than before.
'Now it's almost as tall as a building.'
I got off Quir's back as he stopped and looked at the Flower of Life. The Flower of Life was still beautiful and full of vitality.
And around it were centaurs I had seen before.
"Thank you for carrying me, Quir."
"Not at all, Church Leader."
After thanking Quir, I walked toward the Flower of Life.
Because the Spirit of Life was waiting for me right in front of the Flower of Life.
Phinis with palm-sized green hair, green eyes, and a green body welcomed me.
"Church Leader, you're here!"
Phinis was very happy to see me. I greeted Phinis with a smile.
"Long time no see. Have you been well?"
"Yes!"
Then, white light shone between me and Phinis, and soon Kyros popped out.
Puppy Kyros approached Phinis while floating in the air.
"I came too!"
As soon as Kyros appeared, the centaurs around us gathered toward us.
"Kyros, you've come."
"Welcome, Kyros."
Kyros seemed pleased with the centaurs welcoming him and immediately approached them.
I watched that scene briefly, then asked Phinis.
"But why did you call for me?"
Then Phinis urgently guided me.
"Please come this way, Church Leader."
I moved following Phinis. Phinis led me toward the Flower of Life.
She led me to the stem part of the giant Flower of Life, where there was a door made of leaves.
'Oh, interesting.'
When Phinis gestured at the leaf door, the leaves rolled inward and the door opened.
I entered inside with mild admiration. As soon as I did, I could discover someone letting out a painful groan.
"Kugh......"
A man was lying on a makeshift bed made of grass and branches.
Pointed ears and a height much taller than mine, long silver hair scattered on the makeshift bed, and pure white skin.
The moment I saw that being, I could immediately recognize what it was.
'It's an elf......!'
I was finally seeing in real life an elf I had often met in the original.
'How incredibly handsome.'
It was an elf several times even more handsome than me, who receives appearance correction from Kyros.
While inwardly admiring, I belatedly realized why Phinis had called me.
The elf's entire right arm was colored black. As if rotten.
'This is......'
And I also noticed the energy flowing from that right arm.
Then Phinis earnestly pleaded with me.
"Church Leader. Please, help this person."
[Sub Quest 'Phinis's Request' 2. <Phinis's Request> Cleared!]
[Sub Quest reward will be given.]
[Sub Quest 'Phinis's Request' 3. <The Suffering Elf>
Content: The Spirit of Life, Phinis, wishes for the healing of the suffering elf.
Goal: Heal the wounded elf within 1 hour (This quest is a linked quest.)
Upon Success: Next quest updated
Upon Failure: -
Final Success Reward: ???
[Will you accept?]
[Yes/No]
I pressed the accept button on the quest window that appeared before my eyes. Since I had come this far, I couldn't ignore the quest.
'Even if it weren't a quest, I can't ignore a lifeform dying before my eyes.'
First, after answering Phinis that I would, I slowly examined the elf.
The entire right arm was already dyed black. And to check the exact condition, I pulled back the vest-type clothing covering the elf's upper body.
"......!"
The condition was serious. The intense black energy that had climbed up the right arm.
The energy was sharply extending toward the elf's chest like an arrow targeting the heart.
"I-I and the centaurs couldn't treat this person. Because if we carelessly touched them, we would also be contaminated."
Phinis spoke in a voice mixed with tears.
"Yes. I understand what you mean."
That meant Phinis and the centaurs also knew what had contaminated this elf.
That's why they called me.
"This is the Evil God's energy."
"Yes, that's right. Church Leader, only you can help this person."
Right, it was as Phinis said. The Evil God's power that struck this elf must have flowed from the real 'Black Arc.'
The 'Black Arc' was the Evil God's energy itself, powerful enough to turn even ordinary monsters into crazed beasts. Except for apostles or high-ranking officials of the Diego Church who received power from Diego, anyone who carelessly touched it would be devoured by that energy in reverse.
If I didn't have Kyros's holy power, even I wouldn't have been an exception.
"Right, child. Only you can do this."
Kyros, who had entered inside at some point, spoke.
"Yes, I know."
After answering Kyros, I immediately reached my hand toward the elf. And after grasping the elf's contaminated hand, I used the healing skill.
Flash-!
Pure white light burst from my hand. Since the contamination range wasn't that wide, I should be able to heal it.
Hiss-
Fortunately, my prediction hit exactly right. The elf's contaminated arm was gradually purified by the light from the healing skill.
Eventually, all the Evil God's energy that had spread to the elf's right arm and chest was purified.
"Huff......!"
It was exactly at that moment that the elf regained consciousness. I immediately asked him.
"Are you alright?"
It was at that moment.
Thud!
The surprised-looking elf pushed my body away with both hands. Due to the sudden attack, I had no choice but to fall backward.
'This bastard?'
I felt a flash of anger but barely managed to control my mind.
"How dare a mere human touch my body!"
Because I knew well the fact that elves hated humans.
'Right, I know that. But being openly discriminated against by species doesn't feel good.'
I slowly got up and dusted off the dirt on my clothes. Then Phinis flew to the elf and said.
"Bayar! What rudeness is this! This person saved you. He is the Church Leader of the Kyros Church who serves the benevolent God of Beauty, Kyros!"
"What?"
Only then did the elf, no, Bayar seem to come to his senses as he looked at me with an awkward face.
"Right, that's correct. This child is my first apostle."
Even Kyros stepped up to defend me. Right, right. Well done, Kyros!
At that moment, Bayar looked at Kyros with greatly widened eyes.
"C-could you be......"
"Right. I am Kyros!"
Kyros, floating in the air, proudly introduced himself. To my eyes, he just looked cute.
But it seemed different for Bayar. This elf guy immediately prostrated before Kyros.
Isn't this species discrimination too severe?
And Bayar earnestly pleaded.
"Great and benevolent Kyros, please help our elves!"
It seemed this wouldn't end here.
