How the Cult Saves the World

Ten minutes before Revelof and his party left the goblin castle, Terdius, who had departed earlier, ran a hand lightly through his hair and thought:

'...There's definitely something about Leviathan.'

He recalled Leviathan's movements in the Goblin King's castle.

For some reason, they had improved significantly compared to before. Even in the audience room, where he faced the Goblin King, Leviathan's movements surpassed what they were in the chaotic hall filled with thousands of goblins. At a glance, Leviathan seemed to be on the same level as Terdius himself.

Such rapid progress was unnatural. It hinted at exceptional combat talent---

'Or perhaps... Leira Holden's residence...'

Was there a secret technique from Leira Holden's lineage? But even with such a technique, ordinary humans couldn't develop this quickly.

'That's not all.'

Despite the brief time spent with Leviathan, Terdius could clearly feel his own mind grow sharper.

He wished he could stay close to him if possible every day so his mind wouldn't be cloudy.

But the difference in their positions made it difficult for Terdius to approach him rashly.

While walking, lost in thought, Terdius sensed a familiar presence nearby.

Whoosh!

In a flash, he vanished, reappearing by a large tree behind a bush.

With his usual indifferent gaze, he stood before the tree and said:

"Come out."

At his sharp command, the person hiding revealed themselves---it was the Seventh Apostle, Rawin.

"Why are you here?"

Terdius asked, narrowing his eyes. Rawin responded with a question of his own:

"Why are you here, Third Apostle?"

Terdius's tone turned cold.

"I don't need to report my every move to you."

The chill in his voice and gaze made Rawin tremble which was the complete opposite of the look in his eyes when he was thinking about Leviathan just now.

"...Well, that's a good point."

"More importantly..."

Terdius, however, was distracted, still thinking about the Goblin King's castle. So he decided to fabricate a reason.

"I need to tell you something. Follow me."

"Tell me something?"

"Yes."

Terdius nodded and led the way, putting distance between them and the castle. Rawin followed without question.

Terdius intended to distract him with a story from the First Apostle, ensuring Rawin wouldn't cross paths with Leviathan.

His plan worked.

Because before Rawin and Revelof's party could meet each other, he could feel himself already descending the mountain.

Terdius felt a wave of relief as Leviathan's presence faded.

***

After leaving the Goblin King's castle, we returned to the temple five days after departing Rovel. As soon as we entered, I opened the quest window to check the status of the Goblin Disease outbreak.

[Sub-Quest 'Plague' 2. <Stop the Goblin Disease!>]

Content: The Goblin Disease, which is highly contagious, has already reached Holden Estate. If the number of infected patients increases, the future of the estate will be in jeopardy. (This quest is a linked quest.)

Objective: Cure all Goblin Disease patients in Holden Estate (Currently cured: 0/10)

Upon Success: Find traces of the next quest.

Upon Failure: -

Final Success Reward: ???

[Do you accept?]

[Yes/No]

'Oh my goodness.'

Unfortunately, the number of patients had risen in that little time. Initially, there were only four; now there were ten.

'Still, the number still isn't too bad.'

Considering the entire estate, ten was manageable, thanks to the quick sealing of the territory.

"Church Leader, you're back!"

Alphius greeted me warmly as soon as I returned to the temple late at night.

"Yes, Alphi. Good work. How are the patients? How many are here?"

"All ten patients in Holden Estate are at the temple. I've also instructed believers to bring any new cases here. So, if there are any new cases, they'll bring them here."

"I see. Good job, Alphi."

I patted his head, proud of his actions, pleased by his initiative without me. Alphius smiled brightly as if quite pleased with the pat and began to recount his efforts, like a child eager for more praise.

"We've isolated the patients in the priests' quarters. Chessy, Sasha, and I have been taking turns caring for them."

"I see. You must have had a hard time. Where did you sleep?"

After sending Zain and Troy to rest, I headed to the isolation ward with Alphius. Along the way, he gave a detailed account of the events during my absence.

"Actually, Chessy, Sasha, and the senior members don't necessarily need to sleep. When we're really tired, we can just rest in the subspace."

"Oh, that's right."

That's right---the children had a subspace.

"But what about Cheryl? Cheryl can't enter subspace."

"Don't worry. I told Sister Cheryl to stay at her home for now. She wanted to help, but it's all chaos right now so..."

"Yeah, I see. Good job."

As we talked, we arrived at the priests' quarters. I headed to the reception room first.

"Alright, I'll make the cure now. I'll leave the patients to you, Alphi."

"Yes, don't worry."

I entered the reception room, after Alphius took his leave. Opening my inventory, I took out the materials and spread them across the table.

-No matter how I look at it, my child seems really smart. How do you even know how to cure a disease that disappeared long ago?

'Well, I read a lot of books when I was sick and couldn't go out. I especially enjoyed old documents.'

Of course, that wasn't the whole truth---I couldn't exactly say I learned it while playing HSAW. Still, it wasn't entirely a lie. The real Revelof had read extensively and studied old documents to cure Malone's disease.

'Even so, I feel a twinge of guilt.'

Pushing those thoughts aside, I quickly laid out various herbs and the Goblin King's blood on the table. The process of making the remedy was surprisingly simple.

First, I ground the ingredients in an empty bowl and added a few drops of the Goblin King's blood.

Then, I added water and boiled the mixture until it was fully cooked. Finally, I let it cool---the remedy was complete.

The only problem was the amount I had to prepare. It turned out to be more than I expected, so it took a while.

'It's already so late.'

When I looked outside, the sun was beginning to rise. 

By then, I had enough of the cure to treat hundreds of people.

'There are only ten patients right now... but there may be more outside the territory. Having extra can't hurt.'

I poured the remedy into small vials I had.

'This should be enough for a single person.'

The Goblin Disease didn't require a huge amount of the medicine to cure---and even that took effect immediately, completely curing a patient.

'This should do.'

After completing the remedy, I immediately set aside the necessary amount, and stored the rest in my inventory. Then, I took ten vials for the patients and left the reception room.

"Ch-Church Leader! Have you finally finished making the cure? I heard from High Priest Alphius that you were preparing it...."

The first person I met in the hallway was Hervandes, Elenis's father.

I smiled at Hervandes.

"Yes, of course. It's ready."

"Really? Thank you so much, Church Leader!"

"Let's go, then."

Since none of the other patients' guardians were in the hallway, I headed to Elenis's room first. It was the closest and Elenis was the first to be brought to the temple.

"Elenis...my daughter...."

Hervandes approached his daughter with tearful eyes and held her hand tightly.

"Don't worry, Elenis. The Church Leader will heal you."

Elenis was unconscious, her breathing shallow, but Hervandes kept speaking to her.

I approached and carefully lifted her head. Hervandes helped me support her.

I poured the remedy into Elenis's mouth.

Gulp, gulp.

Thankfully, she swallowed the medicine even in her unconscious state.

After administering the dose, Hervandes looked at me with an expectant look on his face.

"Ch-Church Leader, when will the effects start to show?"

"The cure will work right away. Don't be impatient---just wait a moment."

I understood his urgency, but no medicine works instantaneously.

No matter how quickly the cure works, it still takes some time.

For Hervandes, those moments likely felt endless, but this wasn't a game where items take effect instantly. 

After about three minutes, the green bumps on Elenis's body began to subside.

"M-my goodness!"

Hervandes's eyes widened in disbelief. A moment later, Elenis's eyelids fluttered open.

"E-Elenis? My daughter, are you awake?"

"Umm... Dad?"

Her voice filled the room. Though quiet from lack of use for a while, it carried no trace of illness.

At last, the first patient was healed.

"Oh, Lord Kyros! Thank you so much for saving my daughter. Thank you!"

Hervandes hugged Elenis tightly, shedding tears.

"Sister Elenis, are you feeling any pain?"

I asked gently. Elenis, smiling as she clung to her father with her small hands, shook her head and smiled brightly.

"No! It doesn't hurt at all!"

"That's good to hear."

I lightly stroked Elenis's hair, and Hervandes, still teary-eyed, let go of her to clasp my hands tightly.

"Church Leader, I tr-truly thank you from the bottom of my heart. I will repay this kindness, I swear!"

"No need, brother. This was all thanks to Lord Kyros. If you wish to repay the favor, do so with your faith in Him."

"Yes, I understand. Thank you, Church Leader. Thank you, Lord Kyros."

"Now that sister Elenis is cured, you may leave the temple. Once someone recovers from Goblin Disease, it doesn't return."

"I see...! Thank you so much!"

"Thank you, Church Leader!"

I left the priest's quarters after receiving thanks from the two and quickly moved on to the other patients. Administering the cure to each of them, I healed them all.

[Sub-Quest 'Plague' 2. <Stop the Goblin Disease!> Cleared!]

[Sub-quest rewards will be distributed.]

[New sub-quest triggered!]

[Sub-Quest 'Plague' 3. <Epicenter of the Goblin Disease>

Content: You've cured the patients in the territory. Now, it's time to travel to the epicenter of the Goblin Disease and end the epidemic once and for all. (This quest is a linked quest.)

Objective: Reach Prell, the epicenter of the Goblin plague, within a week.

Upon Success: Unlock the next quest.

Upon Failure: -

Final Success Reward: ???

[Do you accept?]

[Yes/No]

With the urgent patients treated, it was time to head to the source of the goblin disease.

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