How the Cult Saves the World

December website update

For a moment, I thought I had misheard. But Alphius repeated himself.

[Sevenus Holden is looking for you, High Priest.]

I was dumbfounded.

Why has this man come to the temple again?

I had expected him to return to the Holden estate or, at the very least, assist with the restoration of Sercion.

What brought him back here?

Furrowing my brow, I rose from the bed. My body and spirit were weary, irritation welling up within me. With a sigh, I left the High Priest's chamber, changed into my priestly robes, removed my glasses, and stepped out of the temple building.

Immediately, I saw Sevenus dismounting his white horse. Strangely, his knights were nowhere to be seen.

Did he come here alone?

I couldn't begin to guess why.

"Brother? What brings you here again?"

I forced myself to speak as kindly as possible. Why are you here, you rascal?

"Levi."

Sevenus approached me quickly.

"I've heard about your condition. Are you alright? Why didn't you go straight to the estate? What are you doing here?"

Instead of answering, Sevenus just walked towards me. What's going on?

"Brother, where are all the kni---"

Suddenly, I stopped speaking. In an instant, Sevenus had closed the distance and embraced me tightly.

What is this situation?

Why is he doing this? I was so baffled that I froze in place.

"I'm sorry, Levi."

Sevenus' voice was a whisper in my ear.

"Brother?"

What was he apologizing for? Had my lapse into unconsciousness caused a sudden change of heart?

"I should have been kinder to you. I've been lacking all this time."

"...What? No, you haven't."

"No, it's true. The things I did, thinking I was being considerate of your illness, might have hurt you. I'm sorry."

Sevenus' voice was serious and trembling. And then, I felt something hot and damp on the shoulder he was leaning on.

Tears from Sevenus, and unexpectedly, my own emotions surged. I gently patted Sevenus's back.

"I'm fine, Brother. I was fine before, and I'm fine now."

As I spoke sincerely, Sevenus's shoulders shook. Seeing this, I closed my eyes.

...Why am I crying too?

I'm not the real Revelof Holden, nor am I Sevenus' brother.

Yet, for some reason, it felt like a knot in my heart was being untied.

---Sniffle.

The sound of Kyros' crying somehow eased the unnamed emotions that had welled up inside me.

I wiped my tears away and quietly comforted Sevenus, who was silently crying.

After a while, Sevenus pulled away from me, perhaps embarrassed.

He averted his gaze, his reddened eyes and nose proving he had been crying. Seeing this emotional side of Sevenus for the first time, I couldn't help but smile.

"Ahem."

Sevenus cleared his throat and met my gaze with effort.

"I should return now. I left my knights to help with the restoration of Sercion, so I must hurry back."

"Oh, I see."

"And tell the High Priest, thank him for saving me and my knights. I will repay this debt someday."

I hadn't saved him to incur a debt.

"Understood, Brother. Take care of yourself."

"You too, take care of your health."

With a smile, Sevenus ruffled my hair and turned away. He strode with long steps to his horse and mounted it.

Afterward, Sevenus waved at me and left the temple.

I watched his retreating figure until it disappeared from sight.

Family...

To some, it's a word filled with intimacy and familiarity, but not to me.

However... I feel like I'm beginning to understand its true meaning.

Time passed, and today was the day to reopen the Aldone Temple.

The statue of Kyros by Sasha was completed, so we chose the earliest date possible.

During the temple's refurbishment, we also promoted it to the local citizens.

We had reported to the Aldone Kingdom authorities in advance, so there were no troubles.

Everything had gone smoothly, leading up to today.

---You always look so fitting.

After changing into my High Priest robes, Kyros spoke with satisfaction.

Pleased by his compliment, I left the High Priest's office with a smile. As I walked down the corridor, I glanced through the window at the temple entrance.

'Many followers have gathered.'

---Yes. More than I expected.

There were more people from Aldone than when we opened the temple in Robel.

'I'm nervous.'

When the temple in Robel was opened, I was confined to the Holden estate due to training with the Fanatics, so the role of High Priest was performed by a disguised Zain. Therefore, this opening of the Aldone Temple is technically the first time I will officially greet the followers as High Priest.

My heart beat with pleasant anticipation.

"High Priest! Everything is ready!"

Reaching the first floor of the building, Abel's cheerful voice reached me. Behind Abel were the children, Jacob, Zain, and Troy, waiting for me.

"Good."

I moved forward with a smile, and my companions naturally followed.

"Let's welcome the followers with joy."

I spoke while looking at the still-closed main gate of the temple. Then Alphius and Chester opened the gate.

Finally, the Aldone Temple was open.

I expressed my gratitude to the followers who visited the temple. Not only that, but the children and the officers also joined me in welcoming them.

And now, after some time has passed, I stood in the corridor of the High Priest's office, looking down at the temple.

"Sasha's statue is receiving the most admiration," I mused.

As I strolled through the garden, most of the devotees were expressing their awe at Sasha's statue. Even the statue of Kyros in the prayer room had the power to convert non-believers on the spot.

"Leader," a voice called out.

I was wearing a contented smile when Troy approached me, seemingly out of nowhere.

"Troy, what brings you here?" I asked.

He looked at me with a seriousness that belied his usual demeanor. Concerned that something might be amiss, I inquired further, only to see him shake his head.

"No, it's just that I have something to tell you, Leader."

"Oh? What is it?"

Matching his serious tone, I engaged in the conversation. Troy's yellow eyes met mine directly.

"Thank you."

"Excuse me?"

In the past few days, Troy had done nothing but labor, and now he was thanking me? I didn't understand. Then he added,

"I never thought this city, which was like hell to me, could feel so beautiful. I wanted to express my gratitude."

"Ah..."

It was then I realized what he was talking about.

'Yes, that's right.'

Aldone had been a place of pain for Troy. But now, hope had overlaid where once there was only suffering.

"I'm glad you've found happiness, Troy."

I patted Troy's shoulder reassuringly, and his rigid expression softened.

"Thank you, Leader."

After the grand opening ceremony of the Aldone temple, night fell. Having returned to the temple of Bahano through the portal, I opened my inventory before retiring for the night.

'The temple of Bahano will be open tomorrow.'

I planned to recruit more leaders. Touching the Leader Recruitment Ticket, I was enveloped in a bright white light and transported to another dimension, just like before.

This time, I intended to use five tickets to select another High Priest.

It seemed prudent to have a High Priest in each temple.

I chose the High Priest option on the slot machine and pulled the lever.

Beep, beep, beep!

'Please, please!'

I silently prayed as the machine blared. When the slot machine stopped,

"Wow, this is insane! Do I have the golden touch?"

The characters revealed on the slot machine were the dazzling letter 'S'. Once again, I had drawn an S-rank.

"To think my hands are golden!"

In my past life, everything I touched turned to dust, but in this world, I had the Midas touch?

Lost in thought, I suddenly found myself back in the temple of Bahano.

"Nice to meet you, Leader."

A calm voice with a rigid tone came from behind me. Turning towards the sound, I saw a young woman in her early twenties with short brown hair and gray eyes.

She was dressed like Alphius and Abel, the new High Priestess.

She was as tall as me and as beautiful as Abel.

---Welcome, new one!

"It's an honor to meet you, Kyros, Leader. I am High Priestess Selena."

Selena greeted me with a deep bow.

"Nice to meet you, Selena."

I offered her a handshake, and she took my hand with an impassive face.

"Selena, I'd like you to take charge of the temple of Aldone."

"Understood."

Selena responded immediately. Perhaps it was because of what had happened with Abel recently, but her calm presence was a relief.

"I'll head straight to manage the temple of Aldone."

"Yes. You can use the portal over there."

"Yes, Leader."

Selena bowed politely again as she left.

---Such a well-mannered child.

'Indeed.'

I smiled as I watched Selena cross through the portal. This draw was very satisfying.

---Now I can breathe a little easier.

'Probably.'

With a High Priestess in each temple -- Rovel, Aldone, Bahano -- there should be no significant issues with the temples' operations, especially with the other children and Troy taking turns assisting.

Bahano had the most devotees, so it would receive the most support.

'I can't leave Abel to shoulder the burden alone.'

Currently, the number of devotees Abel had to manage in Bahano far exceeded the combined devotees of Robel and Aldone.

Therefore, I had planned for each temple's High Priestess to take the lead, with the others and Troy rotating to help.

Having discussed this with the leaders, they had agreed to my proposal without any complaints or concerns.

'All that's left is tomorrow's opening of the temple of Bahano.'

The preparations for the opening of Bahano had finished around the same time as Aldone, thanks to the completion of Sasha's statue.

Originally, I had planned to open both temples on the same day, but I decided to space them out by a day.

Arhen had said she would attend the opening of Bahano's temple.

She was now the leader of a nation. Arhen's schedule only allowed for tomorrow, so I adjusted the date accordingly.

'I can't miss such a great promotional opportunity.'

How could I pass up the chance for the country's celebrity, the queen herself, to visit our temple opening?

---My little bird, you look rather scheming. What are you thinking about?

Kyros asked with a concerned tone.

'Scheming? It's all for our benefit.'

If the Kyros faith thrives, so do I.

I smiled broadly.

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