How the Cult Saves the World-Chapter 133

After waking up once, I couldn't fall asleep again. So, I forced myself out of bed, even though the sun had yet to rise. How long had it been since I'd spent time awake this early?

It was then that Kyros, who had been absent from my side often lately, returned.

-Child, you look a bit tired. You definitely slept, didn't you?

'Yes, I did, but it wasn't good.'

-I see. So, are you leaving now?

In truth, I had only slept for about four hours. It wasn't just me who hadn't gotten enough rest---Zain and Troy were likely just as fatigued with this little sleep.

'No, I'll let Zain and Troy sleep a little longer,'

I replied, stepping away from the campsite and into a forest nearby. Finding an open space, I began my morning practice, though it was a bit earlier than usual.

I started with some light stretching, followed by the breathing techniques my grandmother had taught me.

Gradually, my restless mind began to calm.

"Master, you're up already?"

I hadn't noticed when Zain approached me, interrupting my training.

"Why don't you sleep a little more?"

"Well, the sun's already up."

Only then did I realize how much time had passed since I had started practicing. The once-dark sky was now brightening with the sunrise.

"Oh, I see."

"Master, when did you wake up? You're covered in sweat. Have you been practicing all night?"

Zain asked, his voice cracking.

I shook my head.

"No, not at all. I got a good night's sleep and started practicing at dawn."

"Please don't push yourself too hard."

"I'll take good care of myself, so don't worry about it."

I wiped the sweat from my face and waved my hand at Zain.

"Wake Troy up too cuz I'm gonna go and get washed up now. I'll wrap this up quickly, and I'll leave after."

"Yes, yes. Have a nice trip."

I headed to my tent.

Once inside, I activated the portal and headed to my office in Rovel. There, I washed up before returning to camp through the portal---a method I often used when washing up outdoors.

'Portals really are convenient.'

By the time I came back and deactivated the portal, Troy was awake, and we quickly prepared breakfast before resuming our journey. Troy seemed energized, keeping a brisk pace as we crossed mountains and fields.

Eventually, we stopped on a hill overlooking Prell.

"Troy, you can return to human form now."

"Are we there?"

"Almost."

At my words, Troy shifted back to human form, and we looked down at the town below.

"Is that Prell?" Troy asked, scanning the small town.

"It looks like it's sealed off---just like Holden's estate. Has the Imperial Family not done anything?"

Troy asked curiously. And he wasn't wrong to wonder. The entrance to Prell was sealed, yet there were no Imperial Guards stationed there.

Normally, during such an epidemic, the Imperial Family would act, but the Herpheon Empire seemed to be doing nothing.

"Maybe even the Imperial Family hasn't found a clear solution yet."

"But Master," Zain chimed in, "you've already created a cure."

Troy answered for me.

"That's only possible because he's a church leader, isn't it?"

"Yeah..."

Zain nodded slowly. As I listened to their conversation, I recalled the events of the original story.

The situation was the same in HSAW. The Herpheon Imperial Family had no idea the Diego Church was behind the spread of Goblin Disease. That's not to say they had given up entirely.

Even the Imperial Family was trying to find a cure.

But rather than sending personnel to Prell, they chose to seal it off, fearing the disease might spread to the Capital.

'Of course, that was their justification on the outside.'

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The town of Prell wasn't under any noble's territory---it was a small village run by commoners. The Imperial Family merely sent a few herbs and potions and ordered them to keep it sealed.

And the people of Prell were following Imperial Orders.

'The truth was, however, that it was the conspiracy of the Diego Church members who had infiltrated within the Imperial Court.'

Even the Emperor was in the dark about the entire epidemic situation, including Prell. His senses were being clouded by those loyal to the church despite the power he held.

'Sooner or later, we'll have to deal with them.'

First, I descended the hill with Zayn and Troy. It was time to enter Prell.

While it was possible to sneak in through a different route than the entrance, doing so would mean missing out on one of the critical rewards.

So, I approached the entrance, where guards---residents of Prell---stood watch.

"Are you visitors?"

We were greeted by a group of men who appeared nervous and somewhat awkward.

"Yes, that's right."

I replied on behalf of our group.

The man hesitated, his expression troubled.

"I suppose you haven't heard the rumors. Prell is currently under lockdown due to an epidemic."

I responded with a calm, professional smile. Then in my form as the church leader, I spoke calmly.

"I know."

"What? You know?"

"Yes. My name is Leviathan, the leader of the Kyros Church from the Holden Estate."

Before I could continue.

"Kyros Church? Could it be..."

The captain of the guards, who had been observing us from a distance, stepped forward with a knowing look on his face.

"Are you the leader of the Kyros Church, the one who discovered the cure for Malone's disease?"

It seemed word about me had traveled far.

"That's right," I said, smiling at the bearded captain.

"This is unbelievable! Are you really here to help us?"

The man's previously tense expression transformed suddenly into a bright one.

"Yes, that's right. There was a Goblin Disease plague in the Holden Estate where our temple is located. I developed a cure for it, and I've come here to help Prell as well."

"Oh, my God!"

The captain looked up at the sky, as if he was deeply moved, before turning back to me with a serious expression.

"Please wait here for a moment. I'd like to invite you in immediately, but I'll need the Elder's permission first."

He quickly disappeared into the village. Left behind, the remaining guards began murmuring among themselves.

"It seems the rumors about you have spread even here, Church Leader," Zain whispered softly, just loud enough for me to hear.

"Yes, it's intriguing to me too."

Troy, standing nearby, added in a quiet tone, "That's to be expected. In Bahano, Kyrosism is the state religion."

It was almost amusing how Troy seemed to take more pride in the Kyros Church than I did.

After a short wait, the gates at the village entrance opened.

The captain of the guard returned, accompanied by an old woman in her early old age.

As the gaunt woman approached, the guards bowed deeply to her.

"Is this them?" she asked.

"Yes, Elder."

The Elder of Prell glanced at me, Zayn, and Troy, having heard of the situation from the guards.

She looked at us for a moment, then opened her mouth.

"Good to meet you. I am Felcia, Elder of Prell. Please come inside."

With a beckoning gesture, she led the way. As we stepped through the tightly closed entrance of Prell that opened up, the quest notification renewed.

[Sub-Quest 'Plague' 3: The Epicenter of Goblin Disease "Cleared"!]

[Sub-quest rewards will be granted.]

[New Sub-Quest unlocked!]

[Sub-Quest 'Plague' 4: Prell's Savior]

Description: You have reached the epicenter of the Goblin Disease. It is now your mission to save the village of Prell. (This quest is part of a linked quest.)

Objective: Cure the Goblin Disease patients in Prell.

(Currently cured: 0/102)

Upon Success, Reward: ???

On Failure: -

[Do you accept?]

[Yes/No]

Finally, the last quest was here. Before accepting it, I skimmed through the description quickly. Then, something caught my attention.

'There are more patients than in the original story...'

There were a staggering 20 more people.

'It must be because the Goblin Disease started earlier than in the original.'

This seemed to be one of the variables of the hidden route---or rather, the actual variable was the early outbreak of the Goblin Disease.

Regardless, the town of Prell looked similar to any other small town.

'At first glance, it resembles our territory, but the scale is much smaller...and its appearance is similar to how Rovel is right now.'

Though Rovel had improved significantly, it still lagged behind other territories, so there wasn't much we could do about it.

However, the air in Prell was heavy with the sounds of painful cries from a lot of places.

"May, open your eyes. Sob."

"M-Mom. I-It hurts so much..."

The cries of children stricken with Goblin Disease and the wails of their helpless parents who could do nothing but watch echoed throughout the village. Everyone else was quiet, as if they were exhausted.

"Let's go to my house first and talk."

As I was quietly walking along with Elder Felcia, she gave me a suggestion.

"All right," I replied, following her lead.

Felcia's house was a small, modest dwelling tucked inside the village.

It was so small and narrow that calling it an "elder's house" felt almost wrong. It was barely large enough for one person to live in comfortably.

When we arrived, Felcia opened the wooden door.

"Come in."

Just as I was about to follow her inside, the guards who had accompanied us stepped forward to enter as well. At that moment, Felcia raised an arm to block the doorway.

"You may return now."

"Huh? But Elder..." one of the guards began to protest.

Felcia shook her head.

"I'll be fine. I can see it in their eyes. They're not the kind of people who would harm an innocent person."

I felt a small flicker of admiration for her in my heart.

'As expected of Felcia.'

The guards, unable to bend her will, soon retreated. Then we had no choice but to pass the retreating guards and follow Felcia into the house.

The interior was small and simple, with little to suggest it was lived in. To anyone else, it might seem like a typical elderly person's home. But to me, someone who knew Felcia's true identity, it was something entirely different.

-Child, I wasn't sure at the village gate, but now that we're inside, I can feel it. This person is...

I smiled faintly at Kyros's words.

As sharp as ever, Kyros.

'I see.'

I replied calmly, my eyes following Felcia's back.

Outwardly, she seemed like an ordinary old person, but...

Kyros was right, Felcia was not 'human'.