How the Cult Saves the World

The bartender and the employee were greatly taken aback when they saw the figure who had just entered the tavern. They couldn't make out his identity, but to anyone's eyes, he didn't look particularly strong.

A beautiful face, a reasonably tall height, and an average build. That was all.

The problem was that he had appeared together with Elzes and Hayen, who should not be here.

'Why on earth have Elzes and Hayen brought this person here?'

Among them, the bartender recalled what he had once said to the two of them.

"If we visit the tavern without prior arrangement, that means..."

The fact that the two had come here to Lejiwell meant that something had happened to the "rebel forces."

And so the bartender immediately locked eyes with the employee. The moment the two exchanged a look lasted no longer than about a single second.

Thwack—!

Then both drew their weapons in an instant. The bartender drew his sword from beneath the bar, and the employee drew his bow that had been hidden near the bar.

Clang—!

The bartender and the employee rushed at Revelof with a speed hard to call that of ordinary people. But the bartender's sword was easily blocked by nothing more than the mace Revelof produced.

Whoosh— thud!

It wasn't only the bartender's sword that was blocked. The employee's arrow was aimed precisely at Revelof's head, but Revelof simply tilted his head to the side and easily avoided it.

His arrow merely lodged itself into the pillar beside Revelof.

"My goodness... I'm not sure what to do with such a warm welcome."

Even with both of them attacking simultaneously, Revelof simply responded with a smile. And the ones actually alarmed by the two's actions were Elzes and Hayen.

"Maxsimon! Seize! Stop!"

Elzes hurried in front of Revelof and held the two back. The sincerity in her expression had the bartender and the employee thrown off.

"This person is someone who helped us!"

"......What?"

"Is that really true?"

"That's why......"

Elzes quickly summarized the events they had been through to the two. Perhaps because the content was hard to simply believe, neither of their expressions eased throughout listening to it.

"Is that the truth?"

The bartender asked Elzes. Elzes nodded and pointed at Revelof with her hand.

"Yes. So please, at least speak with him directly first."

At Elzes's words, Revelof nodded.

"Yes. Elzes is right. So please don't worry. I didn't come here to harm any of you — I came to help."

Revelof's bright smile plunged the tavern into momentary silence.

At the same time, somewhere believed to be near the rebel forces' base.

Terdius and Cedric were searching diligently for signs of the rebel forces. And just as Cedric was beginning to tire—

[Brother Terdius.]

Terdius received a contact from Revelof.

"What is it?"

[Come to Odret right away. The rebel forces' base is here.]

At those words, Terdius's eyes opened very slightly wider.

"Understood."

The communication ended quickly. Cedric watched with curiosity as Terdius spoke alone.

"Just now, there was a contact from Leviathan, the Church Leader."

"What? So just now, when you were talking to yourself — that's why?"

Terdius nodded.

"Yes. We are going to Odret. Apparently the rebel forces' base is there."

"Odret... I see."

Cedric's expression brightened a little. Then he spoke with serious eyes.

"Before we go to Odret, there is something I need to do."

"What would that be?"

"Let's go together."

Cedric quickened his pace alongside Terdius. Now that they had learned the rebel forces' base, there was no more time to waste.

The door of Lejiwell — always open — was now firmly shut. And Lejiwell's two employees and Revelof moved to the small storeroom at the back of the tavern.

Revelof, the bartender, and the employee — three people — sat down at the round table inside. Elzes and Hayen watched from a little further back.

"To introduce myself once again, I am the leader of Kyros Church, Leviathan."

Revelof greeted them with his usual business smile. Yet even so, the expressions of the two remained impassive.

'Hmm, much as I'd love to just reel everyone here in as Kyros Church believers...'

But that wouldn't resolve the essential problem. Or rather — it would increase the probability of resolving it, but still.

'Either way, the imperial family will be managing these people, so there will be plenty of opportunity.'

Just as Revelof was thinking that, the bartender and the employee slowly opened their mouths.

"I am Maxsimon."

"I am Seize."

The brief exchange of names concluded, and Revelof smiled at them again.

"As you've already heard from Elzes, I came here to help you."

"We don't need help like that."

Seize cut him off with a sharp tone. At his attitude, Maxsimon grabbed Seize's arm and shook his head.

"Calm yourself, Seize."

At the restraint of Maxsimon, the rebel forces leader, Seize — though still watching Revelof with hostile eyes — pressed his lips firmly shut.

Revelof was not particularly bothered by Seize showing open hostility toward him. He had no plan to persuade them anyway.

'Because the Second Prince will handle everything.'

He was simply here to open the floodgates.

"You may or may not know this, but Kyros Church is in an adversarial relationship with Diego Church."

"I've heard such rumors."

At Maxsimon's words, Revelof smiled genuinely. At least this one was quite easy to talk with.

'A rebel forces leader, sure enough.'

Revelof met Maxsimon's eyes and continued.

"And that is part of why I helped the two people here, but I also have another reason."

Revelof gestured toward Elzes and Hayen, then added with serious eyes:

"All of this is by the command of Her Majesty the Herpheon Emperor."

Crash!

The moment the Emperor's name came up, Seize shot to his feet from his chair. The violent motion sent his chair tumbling backward.

Then Seize grabbed Revelof by the collar and shook him.

"Seize!"

Maxsimon rushed over and pulled Seize away.

"So you really were a spy for the Emperor after all!"

Revelof could have avoided Seize's attack from the start, but he had simply stayed still.

"Are you all right? I apologize."

Maxsimon, who had sent Seize back, bowed his head to Revelof. Sometimes letting yourself take a hit like this made things easier.

"I am fine."

And when the other party knew about Kyros Church to some degree, persuading them was even easier.

"However, I would appreciate it if you would all calm down and listen to what I have to say."

Revelof spoke with a serious expression once more. Only then did the now-settled Seize take his seat.

"First of all, you are currently being pursued by Diego Church. Diego Church does not yet know that you are here, but... it won't take long for them to find out."

That was something the rebel forces gathered here already knew. That time was running short. And indeed, hadn't Elzes and Hayen almost been captured just today?

"And if Diego Church catches you, they will certainly take your lives."

"......!"

"You already know, to some degree. That Diego Church, which appears kind to all on the surface, is in truth ruthlessly cruel."

It was true. The rebel forces had witnessed many of the cruel deeds carried out by Diego Church while continuing their activities.

They were silent, but Revelof took that as an affirmative.

"I don't know how you will take what I am about to say, but everything I tell you is the truth. Her Majesty the Herpheon Emperor is trying to protect you."

"What on earth...!"

Seize looked at Revelof with disbelieving eyes. Revelof added calmly:

"Her Majesty the Herpheon Emperor has boundless love for her people. You believe the Emperor has become Diego Church's puppet, but that is not the truth. As evidence..."

Revelof reached into his breast pocket and placed something on the round table. It was the Emperor's letter, containing various ciphers.

"Her Majesty the Herpheon Emperor personally sent a letter to me — someone she has met only once — to request my help."

Maxsimon picked up the letter Revelof had offered and read it. He couldn't decipher its exact meaning, but for some reason, the words of the Kyros Church leader carried a sense of credibility.

On top of that, at the time he had rescued Elzes and Hayen, Diego Church's bishop had confirmed his identity.

The Kyros Church leader's standing was comparable to that of a nobleman of considerable rank.

"I cannot reveal the full meaning written in that letter, but in summary, it is this."

Revelof tucked the Emperor's letter back into his breast pocket and continued:

"It said to meet with her closest aide and to help her. And I received a request from that aide to find you and protect you."

"......Protection, you say."

Maxsimon who had been listening let out a low sigh and ventured carefully:

"You mean protection from Diego Church."

"Naturally, that's correct. They will pursue you to the very end."

"But Diego Church pursuing us is no small matter. An Archbishop is moving personally."

At Maxsimon's concern, Revelof grinned.

"That is precisely why I came in person."

It was self-confidence befitting the Kyros Church leader.

And Maxsimon belatedly recalled more of the rumors about him.

A man who had once sealed countless rifts, repelled the Demon God's invasion, traveled the continent saving countless people.

A man who developed a cure for a dreadful plague, and had now even protected his cherished comrades Elzes and Hayen.

"......Understood."

Maxsimon nodded with firm resolve. At his decision, Seize's eyes went wide. But he couldn't bring himself to go against the leader's decision, so he pressed his lips tightly shut.

Even he had sensed it dimly. That if anyone could, this man might truly be able to protect them.

"Then let us change locations. I will take you to our... base."

Maxsimon rose from his seat and proposed. Revelof cheered inwardly as he followed them.

Creak—

Maxsimon moved aside the round table they had been sitting at until just a moment ago. Beneath it, a hidden wooden door appeared.

Clunk—

When the wooden door was opened, stairs leading downward appeared.

"Follow me."

Maxsimon and Seize took the lead and descended the stairs. Revelof followed behind them, and Elzes and Hayen joined in naturally.

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