It had been about two days since I returned from the Elf Forest. Even though I had just finished handling a major matter, I was busy dealing with paperwork without even a mont's rest.
For two straight days, I processed the backlog of docunts, and in between, I planned for the future bit by bit. More precisely, plans for rest.
'Well, for now, I can stay in this state for a while.'
I had completed a long six-month journey and even gained the trust of the elves, so now my precious rest ti had finally arrived.
'And the weather is insanely hot too.'
Thinking that I had earned a sumr vacation as compensation for all the hardships I'd endured, I intended to spend my ti as fruitfully as possible. Well, not that I'd only be playing around.
[Ch-Church Leader!]
Just as I had roughly finished my paperwork as the sun was setting, an urgent contact ca from Alphius.
"Yes, Alfie. What's wrong?"
What could possibly be the matter that the usually composed Alphius was calling
this urgently?
[A guest has arrived!]
Who on earth could this guest be to cause such a reaction?
"Who is it?"
[It's... the Third Apostle of the Diego Church.]
For a mont, I thought I had misheard. I poked my ear and asked Alphius again.
"Who ca?"
[Terdius Austin, the Third Apostle of the Diego Church.]
Wait, Terdius really ca to find ? Why would he co looking for ?
More than that, I never dread he would visit so openly.
Usually, when Terdius and I t, it was because I detected the Evil God's energy emanating from him and went to find him.
Other than that, we only t when he approached
in an instant before I could even sense his energy.
'...Huh?'
But Terdius had visited our temple, so why couldn't I sense the Evil God's energy?
'What's going on?'
Several thoughts flashed through my mind. So I imdiately stood up and answered.
"Got it. I'll be right there."
After practically throwing aside the docunts I was organizing, I hurriedly left my office. Then I rushed toward the temple entrance.
Since there weren't many believers in the temple at the mont, I was able to reach the entrance easily.
There I saw a tall man wearing a robe with his hood pulled up, and Ivan holding his hand.
I could recognize Ivan at a glance because this young child looked exactly like Terdius.
'He's literally a mini version of Terdius.'
The little one with deep black hair and red eyes had a face so lovely it made you look forward to his future.
'No, that's not what's important right now.'
I approached Terdius who was wearing his hood. Then I heard Terdius's heavy, low voice.
"Have you been well?"
"Yes. I've been well, but... let's go inside first. There are too many eyes watching here."
I spoke quietly to Terdius. Then Terdius nodded. There was more than one thing to be mindful of. The Third Apostle of Diego, who could be called my nesis, and Ivan who was looking up at
with innocent eyes.
Anyway, I led the two people inside the temple. And I guided them to my office with quick steps.
Upon entering my office, I showed them to their seats. Then Alphius quickly brought us tea and snacks.
"A tidy place. Just like your personality."
Terdius said while taking a sip of tea and looking around. Was my personality that tidy?
I watched Ivan eagerly eating cookies, then opened my mouth.
"So... what happened?"
Why can I no longer sense Diego's energy from you, and why have you co here?
That was the aning of my question.
Then Terdius, who heard my question, drew a gentle smile. I couldn't help but be surprised at that sight I was seeing for the first ti.
Of course, that smile wasn't directed at . Instead of answering my question, Terdius spoke to Ivan.
"Ivan, you have to do that thing."
He spoke gently to his younger brother. That sight felt just like the Terdius I had seen in the original work.
'To think he would smile like that...'
It was so beautiful, befitting the protagonist of this illustration-focused ga. If Kyros had been nearby, I think he would have said Terdius should be made Church Leader... no, at least deputy leader.
Anyway, what was this "thing" Terdius was talking about? I looked at the brothers blankly. Then Ivan put down the cookie he was eating and stood up from his seat.
Then Ivan placed both hands below his navel and bowed to .
"Thank you for helping !"
The child who spoke loudly then sat down on the sofa with a thud, lowering his head as if embarrassed. Though I was a bit surprised at that sight, I ended up smiling warmly.
"Not at all, Brother. It was sothing I had to do."
I spoke gently to this cute little one. Then Ivan raised his lowered head and spoke to
with pure eyes.
"Wow. Is the Church Leader an angel descended from heaven?"
I couldn't help but burst into laughter at Ivan's innocent question. I couldn't not laugh out loud at this adorable sight.
—What an adorable little one.
It was at that mont that I heard Kyros's voice.
'Lord Kyros, where have you been all this ti?'
Kyros had been frequently going out to play lately, perhaps bored by my constant work.
—I went to play in Bahano for a bit. Abel gave
lots of delicious snacks.
I thought it was cute imagining Kyros in his dog form wandering around the temple.
By the way, I no longer sense the serpent's energy from the serpent's child.
So it wasn't just .
'Right? I was so confused because it was so sudden. Could he be hiding his power?'
No, that wouldn't be the case. Even if he were hiding it, it wouldn't make sense for him to hide his power so perfectly that I couldn't notice.
While I was having this inner conversation with Kyros, I saw Ivan looking at
with sparkling eyes.
I hurriedly answered the child's question.
"No, that's not it. I simply received a mission from the benevolent God of Beauty, Lord Kyros."
"Wow... Lord Kyros."
Ivan murmured while looking up at the ceiling as if impressed. Just then, I made eye contact with Terdius.
"Leviathan, can we talk alone?"
That ant he needed soone to look after Ivan for a mont.
"Understood."
I imdiately called Alphius through communication. Since their ages were similar, I thought it would be fine.
"You called for , Church Leader?"
Before long, Alphius entered my office.
"Alfie, can you spend so ti with Brother Ivan here?"
"Of course!"
Ivan couldn't take his eyes off Alphius. It seed the priest's robe Alphius was wearing was fascinating to him.
"Brother, who is this person?"
Ivan asked Terdius without taking his eyes off Alphius. Then Alphius tactfully introduced himself.
"I'm Alphius, the High Priest of the Kyros Church. Pleased to et you, Brother."
When Alphius offered a handshake with a smile, Ivan grasped his hand.
"Yes, nice to et you!"
Good. Both Ivan and Alphius seed to like each other.
"Then Brother, would you like to go see the statue of Lord Kyros, the God of Beauty?"
"Yes!"
Soon Alphius and Ivan left my office. That left just Terdius and
in the office.
With the children who had softened the atmosphere gone, leaving only large n, an awkward silence flowed.
"Ahem."
I spoke up before this awkward ti could grow any longer.
"So Brother, why... why can I no longer sense the Evil God's energy from you?"
I asked first about the doubt that had remained unresolved since eting Terdius. Then Terdius answered with a faint smile.
"It's just as you expect, Leviathan."
"Don't tell ..."
"That's right. The Evil God's brainwashing has ended."
As I thought. It seems Terdius had been brainwashed by Diego. Enough so that he would say it himself.
"Originally, I didn't worship any god. But a few years ago, when I was in despair after Ivan contracted the Seluron disease, I heard that voice."
Terdius briefly explained what had happened. Diego, who proposed a deal with Ivan's life. And Terdius accepted that deal for his only family.
"In the end, I received no help from him at all."
And when he received the cure for the Seluron disease from
and treated Ivan, Terdius realized that he no longer needed Diego's help.
Right then, Diego reclaid his power from Terdius, and because of that, Diego's brainwashing was lifted.
"I see."
I listened to Terdius's story silently and took a sip of tea.
The situation was quite understandable. But one question remained.
'Even so, Diego just let Terdius go? Why...?'
Of course, it was a fortunate situation. But it wasn't like Diego's personality to do that.
'If it were that guy, he would have killed Terdius without hesitation.'
I was thinking that when Terdius looked straight at
and said.
"Now that I've regained my freedom, I want to repay the debt I owe you."
At those words, I couldn't speak for a mont. Could that an...
"Are you saying you want to join our Kyros Church?"
"Yes."
I was even more surprised to see Terdius answer without a mont's hesitation. My goodness. Since awakening in this world, I had been hoping for a day like this to co.
'To think such a day would really co. Though I'm a bit worried about Diego.'
Well, it's all good.
"Understood. Then I'll accept your intention for now."
"Thank you."
But Terdius wasn't yet a follower of the Kyros Church. I understood. How could soone who just escaped Diego's brainwashing imdiately beco a follower of Kyros?
Hmm, though he's not yet my follower, this child will be fine.
'Yes. Probably... he'll beco your follower soon, Lord Kyros.'
Because the distorted flow had been corrected to so extent.
Moreover, he himself said he ca to repay his debt.
"Um, but Leviathan. I said I ca to repay my debt, but..."
Terdius began cautiously with a slightly awkward expression. It seed there was so problem.
"Yes."
"Right now, Ivan and I have no place to stay."
Huh? Did I hear wrongly?
"I'll pay generously, so could you find us so lodging?"
Ah, this guy. I let out a deep sigh inwardly.
Well, I understood. This guy suddenly ca to Rovel where he had no connections.
'He couldn't keep staying in a place close to the Diego Church headquarters.'
I nodded readily.
"Understood."
I couldn't imdiately accept Terdius into the priests' quarters. He wasn't yet a follower of the Kyros Church, and he had his younger brother too.
There was one lodging suitable for the two of them to live in.
'...Though it's registered under my na.'
I stood up and smiled.
"Let
show you."
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