How the Cult Saves the World-Chapter 179

At Bayar's earnest plea, both Kyros and I had no choice but to become serious.

"What happened, little elf?"

At Kyros's serious words that didn't match the puppy's appearance, I almost burst out laughing but barely held it in. Though I tried to listen seriously, for him with that giant elf's appearance to be called 'little elf.'

I inwardly blamed Kyros while trying hard to calm my twitching lips. Then Bayar, who was looking at me as if he couldn't understand, began explaining his circumstances to Kyros in a sob-like voice.

"So the beginning of everything was a few hours ago, from our Clan Leader who returned after briefly going out."

The elf clan leader—I knew roughly about them. I had seen them several times in the original.

'The elf clan leader definitely had considerable power.'

According to the original's description, they were stronger than the Diego Church's apostles. Though since the Diego Church's power is considerable in this world, it's uncertain whether the elf clan leader is still stronger than the apostles now.

"The Clan Leader who returned from going out had a 'black orb' emitting ominous energy embedded in their forehead. After that, the Clan Leader, who had always been generous and only thought of our welfare, suddenly changed. They attacked their own kind." 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

Bayar continued his explanation. The elf clan leader spread the same energy as that emanating from the black orb embedded in their forehead, infecting the elves.

Not only that, they also brutally killed elves who tried to stop them.

"Because of that, many of our kind died, and even now they are dying. I barely managed to escape, but......"

Tears were flowing from Bayar's eyes as he finished the story.

Upon hearing his story, it was certain. What was embedded in the elf clan leader's forehead was the real 'Black Arc.'

The real 'Black Arc' strengthens the user's power. The degree of strengthening weakens as time passes, but the Black Arc had a bigger problem than that. It didn't just contaminate the wearer, but could spread the Evil God's energy itself to the surroundings and infect others.

Elves were beings born from nature. In other words, they were in a similar category to spirits. Lifeforms that could obtain abundant mana from nature would rot throughout their bodies when exposed to the opposing energy of the Evil God's power, just as Bayar had earlier.

'The elves know that fact well too.'

Bayar also said he felt an ominous energy when he saw the Black Arc.

'The problem is who embedded the Black Arc in the leader.'

Ordinary elves also knew about it, so there's no way the leader wouldn't know. Moreover, there's no way they would have accepted the Black Arc knowing that.

In other words, someone had forcibly embedded the Black Arc into the elf clan leader. And those who could do such a thing were......

'It must be one of the Diego Church's apostles.'

Even if the elf clan leader's power is strong, if they aimed for when they were off guard, or used other means, it would be possible.

"So please, help me, no, help our elves!"

While I was absorbed in thoughts about the culprit, Bayar appealed once more. Then a system message appeared before my eyes.

[Sub Quest 'Phinis's Request' 3. <The Suffering Elf> Cleared!]

[Sub Quest reward will be given.]

[Sub Quest 'Phinis's Request' 4. <Elf Clan Salvation>

Content: Save the elf clan infected by the 'Black Arc.'

Goal: Save the elf clan within 24 hours (This quest is a linked quest.)

Final Success Reward: ???

Upon Failure: -

[Will you accept?]

[Yes/No]

Looking at the next quest having no trace of continuation, this must be the last quest.

'Elf clan salvation......'

If it was an incident caused by the Black Arc, a considerable number of elves might have already lost their lives.

"Child, what will you do?"

Kyros asked while looking at Bayar, who was bothering him.

'Still, I have to try. If I can save even a few.'

The deliberation wasn't very long.

I immediately accepted the quest. And I told Kyros.

"Yes. I'll help."

Then Bayar's gaze turned to me. It was a look much softer than before. Then even Kyros's mouth, who had been listening to the story with a solemn expression, opened.

"Right. My first apostle will help you."

At those words, the elf Bayar's eyes clearly improved. He looked at Kyros with warm eyes and said.

"Thank you, Lord Kyros. And thank you, Church Leader."

Though Bayar's gaze looking at me had improved, why did he use honorifics with Kyros but speak informally to me?

'I don't particularly like this guy himself.'

Still, since I had already decided to help, I had to accept this discrimination. After sighing inwardly, I asked Bayar.

"So where do I need to go?"

"Ah, don't worry about that. I'll guide you."

Bayar wiped away his tears and spoke with a resolute expression. I immediately followed behind Bayar.

"Please be careful, Church Leader."

"Yes, don't worry."

After smiling at the worried-looking Phinis, I left the Flower of Life.

"Have a safe trip, Church Leader."

After also saying goodbye to Quir and waving to the centaurs.

After finishing the greetings, Kyros transformed into light again.

"Lord Kyros won't be accompanying us?"

Bayar asked in an obviously regretful tone. I smiled with effort and nodded.

"Yes. Still, he's watching the entire situation. His voice constantly reaches me too."

"......I see. Understood."

Bayar immediately turned toward me. I silently followed behind him.

***

"........."

Terdius opened his eyes with a start. Then what he saw was a familiar ceiling. It was the house where he had been staying every day recently.

He slowly recalled his last memory. Clearly, he had lost consciousness complaining of pain from suddenly felt agony.

'......So that's what happened.'

Terdius could quickly grasp the current situation. When he opened his eyes, even the faint fog remaining in his mind had completely lifted.

That wasn't all. Terdius also noticed that the 'Diego god's energy' that had been flowing through his entire body had also disappeared.

In other words, the brainwashing he had suffered from Diego until now had ended, and the power granted by Diego had also disappeared.

'I expected such a time would come someday.'

He didn't know it would be this sudden. It was clear he had noticed that he had decided to abandon him.

'But I thought he might kill me.'

Was it because the God's temperament was originally fickle? Thanks to that fickleness, he had clearly saved his own life.

At that moment, Terdius felt the hot sunlight coming through the window.

Though it was quite hot due to the midsummer weather, Terdius somehow felt a sense of liberation.

'It feels like my head is very clear for the first time in years.'

Thanks to that, he felt both refreshment and the peace that came from it. For a moment.

'......What should I do from now on.'

Since the Diego voice that had been binding him and that power had disappeared, it wasn't easy to get his bearings.

"......Brother? Are you already awake?"

At that moment, Ivan, who had woken from sleep at some point, rubbed his eyes and called Terdius.

"What are you doing?"

Terdius smiled faintly at Ivan, who was looking with eyes that didn't understand what was happening. Ivan, who found his brother sitting blankly unfamiliar, tilted his head.

Terdius patted Ivan's hair.

'I don't know what I should do from now on, but......'

Only two things immediately came to mind. Protecting Ivan, his only family.

'And......I need to repay my debt.'

Terdius slowly opened his mouth while looking at Ivan.

"Ivan, let's move."

"Move? Suddenly?"

Ivan's eyes widened. But not seeming to dislike it, color soon returned to his face.

"Right. It's sudden, but it's a safer and better place than here."

"Will there be friends if we move?"

At Ivan's innocent question, Terdius nodded.

"Of course."

Because there would be children around Ivan's age there.

"Where is it?"

At Ivan's question, Terdius smiled brightly.

"Rovel."

Rovel in Holden Territory. Terdius decided to live there from now on.

***

The Elf Forest was hidden in a very deep place, away from human eyes.

A vast forest, beautiful streams crossing the forest, always clear skies, abundant food.

The Elf Forest was originally as beautiful as the Centaur Forest, a place where nature's life force could be felt directly.

"Aaah-!"

But now it had transformed into hell where elves' desperate screams echoed.

The forest that had always been green was stained with elves' blood, and elf corpses were scattered everywhere.

And the main culprit who contaminated the Elf Forest, the elf clan leader, was standing firmly in the middle of the forest.

"Kaaah!"

He roared due to the splitting headache and guilt about what he had done. Black tears even flowed from his eyes that had turned black.

No matter how much he tried to pull out the Black Arc embedded in his forehead, it wouldn't come out.

He had even tried to take his own life, but the Black Arc's power was blocking even that.

All he could do was roar.

"Kaaah!"

A roar full of pain echoed through the Elf Forest.

"How noisy."

And watching all that scene was Rawin, the Diego Church's Seventh Apostle.

He was the culprit who had embedded the Black Arc in the elf clan leader.

Rawin was floating in the air while concealing his body. And he had been observing the elf clan leader's condition until now.

'The plan went awry.'

Rawin had originally tried to cast the 'Black Butterfly's Curse' on the elf clan leader using the real Black Arc.

When the elf clan leader was off guard while away from the forest, Rawin moved quickly.

But the leader noticed the sign.

'If I used all my strength, I could have faced them.'

But not wanting to make things big unnecessarily, Rawin gave up on brainwashing. Since subduing would also be difficult, he just forced the Black Arc in.

This matter wasn't from any separate order, just something Rawin impulsively committed.

Normally he wouldn't have done so, but because life had been rather boring lately.

'Well, still, it was a good show.'

Though he wasted a Black Arc regrettably, it wasn't a bad show.

'Now the leader's Black Arc power has been reduced to half.'

Since quite some time had passed, the Black Arc's effectiveness had decreased. And the leader had come to their senses and realized what they had done.

The sight of the elf leader falling into self-loathing was interesting for only a moment, and now interest had completely dried up.

Just as Rawin, who no longer had a reason to be here, was about to leave the Elf Forest.

Flash-!

But at that moment.

Bright light spread from the entrance of the Elf Forest.

Following that, even a clear and pure energy was felt.

At the same time, Rawin's gaze turned toward the light.

'This energy is......!'

A welcoming smile was drawn on his lips.