How the Cult Saves the World

The force felt from afar was without doubt the aura of 'Black Arc.'

'Of all times...!'

I bit my lip before I could stop myself. Of all things—at the hour when the sun was setting, a monster horde carrying the energy of Black Arc was heading toward Belseth village.

'But why?'

The first thing that came to mind was a suspicious question. Why would monsters imbued with Black Arc be threatening Belseth Village?

'Is it simply an experiment with Black Arc? Or is it...'

An attempt by someone within the Diego Church to undermine the Holden family.

Looking at the probabilities, the former was more likely. Even if the main branch of the Kyros Church was based in the territory, the only thing that could really be held against the Holden family by the Diego Church was that all its members had joined the Kyros Church.

'Unless the Diego Church knows my true identity, there's no reason for them to pick a fight with me first.'

Moreover, if they had somehow discovered the secret that the second son of the Holden family was the leader of the Kyros Church, they wouldn't be sending monsters to Belseth Village—they'd be sending them here, to the villa.

"First, please inform my mother and my brother."

Having worked through my thoughts, I immediately relayed this to the knights.

***

Shortly after, an emergency meeting was held in the reception room of the villa.

My mother and Sevenus were seated at the head of the table. The senior officers of the knight unit who had been summoned, along with the vice-captain of the knights—who was in overall command of security for this vacation—had all gathered, and the spacious reception room felt almost cramped.

"Let's begin."

"Yes, My Lady."

My mother confirmed everyone was present and opened the meeting.

Through the vice-captain, we were briefed on what kind of monsters were approaching Belseth Village.

"According to the report, what is currently approaching the village is a group of trolls with unusually large builds."

They were Giant Trolls.

Among the trolls that existed in this world, those with exceptionally large frames were called Giant Trolls.

And a Giant Troll stood approximately five meters tall. What's more, each individual troll possessed considerable strength.

'Even a single Giant Troll would have more than enough power to destroy an entire village.'

And yet, not just one but a full five Giant Trolls were advancing on Belseth village.

'Of course, trolls are naturally brutal creatures to begin with...'

I let out a deep inward sigh. The one saving grace was that there was a high likelihood this particular 'Black Arc' was a counterfeit.

The genuine Black Arc, precious even within the Diego Church, wouldn't be used on mere Giant Trolls.

Not five of them at once.

Of course, just as with the Merfolk, a genuine copy could have been used on the leader—but...

'That possibility is low. Unlike the Merfolk situation, there's not much to be gained from Giant Trolls.'

Giant Trolls may be powerful, but their durability is lacking compared to their enormous size.

'Meaning they're not even worth using as shields in a war.'

So it was clear someone was playing games with a counterfeit Black Arc.

'...I can't quite guess who, though.'

But in any case, that wasn't what mattered right now. There was a more pressing problem.

'Combat strength.'

With the forces we currently had, fighting five Giant Trolls would be no small feat.

Of course, this assumption was based on me having stepped aside. Right now, I was not Leviathan, the Church Leader of the Kyros Church—I was Revelof Holden, second son of the Holden County family.

"Give us a full report."

A heavy silence fell over the emergency meeting room. My mother spoke.

The moment she heard of this situation, my mother had immediately returned to her role as 'Holden County Lord.'

"Yes. Fortunately, the trolls' pace is on the slower side. Based on their speed of movement, we estimate we have approximately twenty minutes to prepare."

Vice-captain Smith reported.

Recently, the Mage Tower had developed communication orbs capable of operating over considerable distances. Thanks to my grandmother's friendship with the Archmage, the Holden family had been given an opportunity to use the communication orbs ahead of their official release.

'In war, the presence or absence of communication orbs would make a significant difference. It really is necessary to maintain a friendly relationship with the Mage Tower.'

It wasn't as though I had foreseen something like this happening, but as things turned out, we had benefited greatly from the Mage Tower.

'It seems the training carried out after the incident a while back has been well taken on board by the knights. That's a testament to my mother.'

In any case, one of the knights keeping watch from Belseth Village's central tower had spotted an unusual movement, and using a reinforced telescope that had been distributed to the knight unit, he had identified the source as Giant Trolls.

Furthermore, he hadn't stopped there—he had calculated the trolls' speed of movement and worked out how much time remained before they arrived. This was something that wouldn't have been possible if they had grown complacent in peacetime.

'Even so, only twenty minutes remain.'

That was an extremely tight margin. On top of that, the nearest towns or cities to Belseth Village were quite far away.

In other words—no reinforcements. Even if reinforcements were called, it was obvious they would only arrive after everything was already over.

"...For now, send a request for reinforcements to the nearest city. In the meantime, we hold out until they arrive."

"Yes, My Lady."

At my mother's command, the knights began to move in disciplined order.

And it wasn't only the knights who became busy.

"Prepare your equipment thoroughly."

"Yes, Mother."

My mother and Sevenus too began to gather their armor and weapons with steady, focused eyes.

Neither of them were the kind of people who would merely give orders and watch from a safe distance.

At last, when my mother, Sevenus, and the entire knight unit had all begun their preparations for departure—

I, who had been watching the situation, approached my mother as she was inspecting her weapons alone.

"Mother."

"Ah, Levi."

My mother welcomed me with a smile, but her eyes were clearly filled with worry. I held out the healing potion I had taken from my inventory in advance.

"Please take this. It's a special healing potion made by the Church Leader. It will ease your fatigue."

"Thank you."

My mother drank down the healing potion I handed her in a single go.

"It really works well. I feel the fatigue disappear immediately."

"Is that so?"

"Absolutely. Please convey my gratitude to the Church Leader later."

"Yes. I will."

After taking the potion, my mother looked at me for a moment. Then, with a serious expression, she said,

"Levi, stay here at the villa."

I had expected this. But I immediately shook my head.

"No, Mother. I'll go with you."

"You can't, Levi. It's dangerous."

"But—"

"Listen to your mother this time, Levi."

At that moment, Sevenus—who had apparently been nearby—came over and tried to stop me.

"This situation really is dangerous. Even if you have received training from Grandmother."

Sevenus was firm, but I had no intention of backing down.

"Mother. Brother."

I looked at both of them and spoke with resolute eyes.

"I am now a priest of the Kyros Church."

"But Levi—"

Sevenus began to say something, but I cut him off.

"Brother. Do you still see me as your little brother who is sick with an incurable disease?"

"No, it's not that. I just...".

"Then, Mother. Do I still seem fragile and weak to you?"

"...No, Levi."

My mother and Sevenus, who shook their heads with bitter expressions—I was sorry to them, but this was a matter I could not yield on.

"Yes. I am now free of my illness, and I am no longer weak. And I met Lord Kyros, and received holy power from him."

My mother and Sevenus simply looked at me. I continued.

"Therefore, I intend to assist you both and the knights in this battle. There must be things I can do with my power—whether healing or otherwise."

At my words, the two were silent for a moment. Then my mother and Sevenus exchanged glances. Before long, my mother turned back toward me. She spoke with a voice thick with worry.

"If that's truly your wish, then very well. Levi."

Judging by my mother's expression, it was clear she was reluctantly granting permission.

"But Levi, promise me clearly. That you will not do anything dangerous."

"Yes, Mother. I promise."

The likelihood that I would be able to keep my promise to my mother was low—but for the moment, I answered that way.

"Then let's go together."

I followed my mother and Sevenus as they moved.

***

—The atmosphere is looking grim.

'Yes. After all... an unexpected situation has unfolded.'

I replied to Kyros while surveying my surroundings. Outside the villa, the knights were moving about busily.

They had to finish their combat preparations somehow before the Giant Trolls reached Belseth village.

And my mother and Sevenus were issuing instructions to the knights.

Before long, Mother, Sevenus, myself, and a portion of the knights would ride ahead on horseback toward Belseth village.

'Since the advance party agreed to go ahead and hold back the Giant Trolls first.'

On top of that, since we had come by carriage, the number of horses available for the knights was insufficient. With me also joining the battle unexpectedly, this was even more the case.

'Even so, it's only a handful...'

So in practice, those heading to Belseth village as the advance party accounted for the bulk of our fighting strength.

—By the way, child.

'Yes, Lord Kyros.'

—Are you planning to enter the fray in your current state?

'I'm still thinking about it. I had been considering revealing my identity to my mother and Sevenus at some point anyway.'

—Hmm. But you weren't planning to reveal it right away.

'Yes. You know me too well by now.'

—Haha, well, it has been over a year and a half that I've been with you.

'Yes. I don't want to reveal it right away either, and I have no intention of revealing it in this battle if I can help it. But...'

—But?

'If it comes to a situation where my mother or Sevenus are in danger, I'll have to accept that.'

—It seems you've grown attached to your family. It's a good sight.

I did not respond to Kyros's words. Attachment—attachment, he said. When did those family members, who had once felt so unfamiliar, become precious to me?

'I'm not sure. It feels a little strange to me too, and a little awkward. I used to think of them as not really my family...'

—Is that so.

'But at some point, genuine memories of Revelof Holden have started surfacing unexpectedly. As if I really am Revelof Holden.'

—It seems you're confused.

'Yes. A little.'

—I see. I understand. But for now, focus on the enemy in front of you.

'Yes. I should.'

As I finished my exchange with Kyros, a knight led a horse toward me.

"Here is the horse for you, Young Master."

"Ah, thank you."

"Hold on—about giving Levi a horse..."

Sevenus started to say something, but before he could finish, I had already thanked the knight and mounted the chestnut horse. From up on the horse, I saw my mother and Sevenus looking up at me in surprise.

"Levi, when did you learn to ride?"

My mother asked, her expression a mix of surprise and delight.

"Ah. I learned at the temple. The Church Leader taught me."

"Is that so. Well done."

And Sevenus, too, said with a slightly surprised look,

"I was about to suggest you ride with me."

"...Ha, haha."

At Sevenus's words, I laughed awkwardly. If I'd had to ride with him, I really think I would have hated it.

"Let's depart now."

"Yes, Mother."

I rode after my mother. As she set off, dozens of knights began to move in formation behind Sevenus and me.

Thud, thud, thud, thud—

The sound of so many horses moving at once was nothing short of a thunderous roar.

The road to Belseth village led down from the mountain, making it a dangerous path for anyone without riding skill.

But there were no falls among our knight unit. Nor from me, for that matter.

Thanks to this, we were able to descend the mountain swiftly. And near the entrance to Belseth Mountain, a little over a hundred Belseth village residents had taken shelter.

This was because the knights who had discovered the advancing troll horde had immediately evacuated the villagers before reporting to us.

"P-please, My Lady! Drive those monsters away!"

"We beg you, knights!"

The villagers, looking to us as their last hope, begged us over and over.

"Have no fear!"

My mother called out to the villagers, then spurred her horse to a faster pace.

And before long, we arrived at Belseth village.

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