How the Cult Saves the World

Whatever exclusion he faced within the Imperial Palace, Cedric Herpheon was still one who carried the Emperor's blood.

And such a prince bent at the waist to express his gratitude to Revelof, the Kyros Church leader.

Revelof was momentarily surprised at the sight, but then broke into a gentle smile. He extended his hand to Cedric and said:

"Please raise your head, Your Highness. I simply followed Her Majesty the Emperor's command."

"I conveyed my gratitude on Her Majesty's behalf as well."

Cedric straightened at Revelof's words. At that, the rebel forces officers who had been standing a little way off came rushing over.

"Er, Church Leader. This person is......"

Among them, Maxsimon the leader approached and asked Revelof. He and the other officers were deeply surprised as they looked at the person exchanging greetings with Revelof.

Their eyes held a strange expectation mixed with murmurs of "could it be, perhaps" — and seeing that, Revelof chuckled and introduced him.

"Ah, this is the very person who will help you all. His Highness the Second Prince Cedric Herpheon."

Revelof introduced Cedric to the stunned officers. And at the word "prince" that came from him, the officers' eyes went wide.

They already knew that the Kyros Church leader Revelof had come under the Emperor's orders — but they hadn't expected the "Second Prince" himself to come find them in person.

"Pardon? Who did you say?"

Maxsimon in particular asked back in shock. At that, Revelof reintroduced with a smile:

"His Highness the Second Prince Cedric Herpheon of the Herpheon Imperial Family."

"......Good heavens."

Maxsimon looked at Cedric with disbelieving eyes. Then right away, he and the other officers bent at the waist and hastily greeted Cedric.

"W, we greet Your Highness the Prince."

At that, Cedric waved it off.

"Please raise your heads. There's no need for such formality. Although I hold the position of a prince, I did not come here to be treated accordingly. I came for you."

"Then......"

"As you have surely already heard from Church Leader Revelof, I came to protect you. These are my escorts. They and I will protect you."

Cedric introduced his escort to them with earnest eyes. The officers' eyes went wide once more. Then they turned to Revelof with expressions of disbelief.

"From now on, His Highness the Prince will be protecting you."

Revelof said, gesturing toward Cedric and the escort. At that, Cedric spoke to them again:

"The location of the village you are currently living in has already been discovered by Diego Church, so from now on you will need to relocate."

"What? Relocate to where......"

"I have a small estate I privately hold in secret. It is far from the capital, and there is no Diego Church temple nearby, so it is safe from them. And if your identities are properly changed as well, you won't be traced any longer. We will handle all the necessary measures for that."

At Cedric's explanation, the expressions of the officers brightened slightly. Revelof smiled watching that.

Everything the prince said was true, and the rebel forces would no longer have to run.

'Everything that remains will be handled by the Imperial Family.'

Revelof smiled warmly as he watched Cedric and the officers. It was a reasonably good outcome in its own way.

The rebel forces would be completely protected, and the Second Prince had formed his own force for the very first time.

Diego Church headquarters.

Archbishopp Gawen moved at a quick pace, unable to contain his fury.

He had finally found the rebel forces' base — only to be met by the Kyros Church leader himself.

And the Kyros Church leader had shown overwhelming power, driving out even him, a Archbishopp, in a single stroke.

'How dare he cause me such humiliation......'

The overwhelming difference in power had made him feel fear too, but what gripped Gawen even more was the rage directed at Kyros Church.

He already harbored considerable hostility toward Kyros Church, and having something like that happen on top of it — his fury had risen to the top of his head.

And so Gawen intended to speak with one of the "apostles" he believed himself to have some personal connection with about what had happened today.

'Kyros Church leader, I will make you regret today.'

To some it might have seemed like mere venting of frustration — but Gawen was someone who could make that venting a reality.

Thinking that, Gawen moved quickly. Before long, he arrived in front of the room where a certain apostle was staying.

Before knocking, Gawen checked his attire once more and took a deep breath. Then he lightly knocked on the door.

Knock knock.

But from inside, not a single sound was heard. Even though he had clearly been told by the other apostles attending to him that the man was here today.

Knock knock.

Gawen knocked again just in case. For better or worse, this time an irritable voice came from inside immediately.

"Come in."

Gawen immediately opened the door and stepped inside.

A pungent smell of tobacco smoke filled his nostrils. Gawen endured the stinging in his eyes, nose, and mouth and looked around.

On the sofa of a clean office. There he was, sprawled without a care, puffing heavily on a cigarette.

"I greet the Fifth Apostle."

Gawen bowed toward Khalid, who was still lounging even while looking at him. Only then did Khalid look at him.

"Ah, right. What was your name again. Anyway...... Archbishopp."

Khalid spoke casually, his long violet hair hanging down to the floor as he lay there.

But in that moment, Gawen couldn't even breathe properly from the tension.

Because although Khalid was lounging in a relaxed posture, the pressure coming from him was considerable.

"So what is it that you want?"

Khalid stared at Gawen and asked.

Even as he did so, Khalid's expression showed not a hint of any feeling.

"Ah, yes. You see, today...... I experienced this."

Gawen began explaining as calmly as he could.

About the rebel forces, and about going to their base.

"And there I encountered a completely unexpected person."

"Who?"

"The Kyros Church leader."

At those words, Khalid's expression changed.

His eyes lit up for an instant with something like madness.

But it was only a fleeting moment, so Gawen did not notice the change.

"What? Who?"

"The Kyros Church leader, Leviathan."

"......Hmm. And then?"

"He was helping the rebel forces who had been insolent to our Church. And...... neither I nor my subordinates were able to handle him."

Gawen spoke with a sunken expression, and one of Khalid's eyebrows twitched.

"So you're asking me to take your revenge now?"

Only then did Khalid get up from his seat.

He swept back his disheveled hair and walked, step by step, toward Gawen.

"Ah, yes...... to put it plainly, y, yes."

As Khalid drew gradually closer, Gawen began to stammer. And in the very next moment—

Sssss.

"Kgh——!"

The cigarette Khalid had been holding touched Gawen's forehead. There was the sound of burning flesh, along with a foul smell.

Gawen groaned in pain but couldn't attack Khalid, who was an apostle. And he couldn't criticize or evade Khalid's action either.

"What an idiot."

Khalid tossed the extinguished cigarette on the floor without a second thought. Gawen, face twisted in pain, looked up at Khalid with difficulty.

"Do you think this is the time to be worrying about those measly rebel forces? And you dare come asking me to help with your revenge?"

"I, I'm sorry!"

When killing intent began to surface in Khalid's eyes, Gawen hastily fell to his knees.

"Our Church is about to accomplish the 'great work' before long. Meaning we don't have time to waste effort on worthless things like this."

Khalid gave Gawen a light kick.

Bang!

The sound of Gawen hitting the wall rang out, but Khalid was unfazed. Still wearing a blank expression, he walked out of the room.

'Right. The great work.'

Khalid still wanted to get his hands on the "Kyros Church leader." But it was a distant prospect for now. Because Terdius was at his side.

And so Khalid decided to wait quietly.

When their Church brought the world to heel...... then, he would be able to get Leviathan.

'So just wait a little longer.'

The corner of Khalid's mouth twisted upward.

"There really is no place like home."

The moment I stepped into the Church Leader's office, the first thing I did was sit down at my work desk.

The moment the rebel forces matter was resolved, Terdius and I had returned straight to the temple in Rovel.

Time had turned to evening, but I went through the documents that had piled up during my absence.

'In this rebel forces quest, I also gained the trust of the Emperor and the Second Prince.'

My heart felt a little lighter. Thinking that as I looked over the documents, I suddenly had a thought.

'Come to think of it, winter will be coming soon.'

Winter coming meant war would come. Once war began, I wouldn't be able to rest for some time.

So I planned to get some rest before then. Though that period would amount to only a single day.

"Alphi."

[Yes, Church Leader!]

I said to Alphius with a faint smile.

"Please let all the officers know. Tomorrow, every temple in every region will be closed for one day. And all officers are on holiday for a day."

[What? Suddenly?]

"Yes. I can't give much time, but...... I thought a day's rest would be needed for you all, too."

[Yes! Understood!]

After conveying the message to Alphius, I went back to looking through documents. As I did, Kyros's voice reached me.

—Child.

'Yes, Lord Kyros.'

—What's come over you to officially declare a holiday? Ha ha, how unusual.

'That's because...... it seems like war won't be long now. I thought it would be good for everyone to get some rest before things get truly busy. And I'll take a day off myself too.'

—That's right. A holiday is always a good thing.

'Well, it doesn't feel like it's been long since I last rested, so getting another break feels a bit unsettling.'

—That may be so, but workaholics like you need to rest frequently.

'Yes. I know. And the officers have been working without pause, so they'll need rest too.'

—Right, right. Good thinking.

Talking with Kyros, I processed work quickly. Since a holiday had been given for tomorrow, it was so I could get tomorrow's work done in advance too.

How much time had passed like that. Just as I had finished preparations for tomorrow's holiday, a knock at the door was heard.

Knock knock.

"Yes. Come in."

I answered without taking my eyes off the documents. Then the door opened and someone entered. When I raised my head, what I saw was—

"Church Leader."

Grandmother looking at me with a bright smile.

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