Ch. 203

About four days ago, Revelof, who was handling work in his office as usual, heard from puppy Kyros, who appeared in a rush, that he had discovered the location of another 'holy relic.'

Revelof had been on high alert about Diego Church's strengthened and changed actions. He handled the temple's work in a rush, then began moving together with Terdius.

'It's hot.'

The journey toward the desolate rocky mountains that still boasted heat was terribly difficult, but Revelof accomplished it grudgingly.

In that process, Terdius silently followed him. Revelof told him about the holy relic while also saying they would go meet those living in the rocky mountains.

But no matter how Terdius thought about it, he couldn't understand people living in this environment, and when his trust in Revelof was gradually falling...

Due to Kyros appearing triumphantly, Terdius had no choice but to try believing him.

Like that, they climbed and climbed the desolate rocky mountains again. When they were walking and walking again while dealing with rock golems...

'Over there...'

At the end of Terdius's gaze, an utterly unbelievable scene unfolded.

"We've finally arrived."

At Revelof's bright words, Terdius looked at him with eyes that showed he couldn't understand at all.

"We've arrived? Are you saying that after properly seeing that scene right now?"

At Terdius's question, Revelof answered with a bright smile.

"Yes. Of course."

Terdius couldn't understand at all what this guy was thinking and living.

The scene unfolding before them now wasn't a simple landscape. Because a sheer cliff had appeared.

The unique point was just that at the cliff's edge, a withered tree about 5 meters in size was growing. That kind of tree that matched well with the desolate rocky desert.

Terdius looked at such a tree and asked back as if absurd.

"What exactly is here?"

At that voice mixed with slight complaint, Revelof smiled faintly. Since Kyros had already returned to spirit form, he was the only one who could resolve Terdius's doubts.

"Then just a moment."

Revelof just approached next to the withered tree with a faint smile. Terdius looked at Revelof's back with a gaze that still showed absurdity.

Knock knock.

It was then. When Revelof knocked on the giant and severely twisted tree.

'What's he doing?'

When Terdius was looking at Revelof with suspicious eyes...

Click.

A sound like a door opening was heard from the withered tree's trunk. At that strange sound, Terdius approached close to the tree. Then Revelof put his hand to his mouth and made a gesture to be quiet.

'Why exactly...?'

When Terdius nodded, Revelof's head turned. Soon Terdius also turned his gaze following him. Then a strange sight entered his eyes.

'What on earth is this...?'

Terdius unconsciously opened his mouth small in surprise. On the tree Revelof had knocked on just before, a tiny entrance had appeared.

A wooden door made of the same material as the tree's surface. Moreover, that door was in an open state, and inside it was a bizarre life form.

The life form's identity was very small dwarves roughly the size of an adult man's finger.

"Who are you? Why do you know about our gnome space!"

And the elderly man with a long beard standing at the very front among the dwarves shouted loudly. Though that sound wasn't very loud, it wasn't very small either, so it was clearly heard in Terdius's ears.

'Gnomes, if they're gnomes...'

Terdius could easily recall the mysterious races he had only seen in fairy tale books as a child.

They were dwarves whose size was as small as fairies, but were as strong as humans and had strong solidarity within the race.

However, gnomes greatly disliked humans, and for ordinary people, they were ones whose existence was hard to see even in a lifetime.

'Don't tell me the cute ones Lord Kyros mentioned are the gnomes?'

Only then could Terdius realize why they had come all the way to this place.

'He finally caught on.'

Revelof, who noticed Terdius's expression change, smiled inwardly. That's right. One of Kyros's holy relics was being kept by the gnomes.

Revelof heard about this place from Kyros and recalled information he had forgotten. Additionally, information about gnomes too.

'And these small dwarves dislike humans like other non-human races.'

Just like most non-human races existing in this world. So Revelof greeted them as politely as possible.

To the gnome elder who was shouting at him, and to all the gnomes sending frightened gazes.

"Nice to meet you. I am Leviathan, Church Leader of Kyros Church."

Revelof greeted with his usual business smile. Terdius, seeing that, thought there was no way the gnomes would cooperate just from greeting like that.

Because he too knew well the fact that non-human race gnomes disliked humans.

However, the next moment, the gnomes began buzzing.

"Gasp, that human serves Lord Kyros!"

"What? Is that really true?"

"Oh, come to think of it... I think I can feel Lord Kyros's power from that human!"

When the buzzing gradually grew louder, the gnome elder restrained them.

"Stop! Everyone be quiet!"

At the elder's shout, the gnomes became quiet. Then the gnome elder reached his hand toward Revelof.

"I'm sorry, but may I confirm?"

It was quite a polite tone for a gnome. So Revelof showed his holy power lightly toward the gnomes while smiling happily.

Seeing the bright and pure white light spreading beautifully, smiles drew on the gnomes' lips.

"Ooh, you're truly Lord Kyros's apostle!"

Especially the gnome elder's expression also brightened considerably.

"Yes. That's right."

Watching Revelof exchange greetings with the gnomes with a bright smile, Terdius admired inwardly.

'Just what are this person and Lord Kyros...?'

When Terdius was newly amazed by their power, Revelof brought up the main topic to the gnomes.

"So what brings you all the way here?"

"Ah, I received a revelation from Lord Kyros. That Lord Kyros's holy relic is here."

At Revelof's words, the gnome elder's expression brightened for a moment, then soon transformed into a face full of worry.

"Hmm, yes. That's right. However... I'm sorry to you and Lord Kyros, but I can't just hand over the holy relic."

Even at the gnome elder's words, Revelof's smile didn't disappear.

'I already know.'

Because this was something he had already experienced when playing the original.

"I see. Then what should I do?"

Revelof asked the gnome elder favorably. Then the gnome elder's expression brightened a bit.

"Um, may I ask you for a few favors?"

"Of course. Please speak comfortably."

The expressions of the gnome elder and gnomes brightened considerably. And what the gnome elder said first was a simple matter.

Roughly summarized, due to rock golems that had rapidly increased in recent years, it was hard to obtain proper food, so they wanted him to get food and drinking water.

"We're almost out of the food and water we've stored... I'm sorry."

The gnome elder looked up at Revelof with an apologetic expression. And Revelof opened his inventory with a grin and smile.

"It's fine. Here."

Revelof held out bread large enough for a hundred gnomes to eat and have leftovers. And he also handed over cool bottled water contained in small potion bottles.

Then the gnomes' eyes sparkled greatly.

"Ah. If it's too big, I'll cut it for you."

Revelof knew gnomes were strong, but he cut the bread that was too big to pass through the entrance into appropriate sizes and handed it over.

Then the gnomes moved diligently and carried all the bread inside. Then the gnomes also worked hard to carry the small potion bottles containing the bottled water Revelof had given.

Fortunately, since they were potion bottles similar in size to one gnome, there was no big problem with transportation.

"Th-thank you so much! Thanks to you, we all got full for the first time in a long time."

The gnomes who hurriedly finished the bread and water sent thanks to Revelof with full bellies.

"Not at all. And what's the next task you'll have me do?"

After scanning the steadily updating quest window, Revelof asked the gnome elder.

"Ah, that is..."

The gnome elder continued explaining to Revelof. Until just a few years ago, their territory was a good place to live, but it became desolate due to suddenly increased monsters.

That's how it transformed into this desolate rocky mountain range.

The gnomes also fought several battles with rock golems, but due to gradually decreasing food, they couldn't do even that recently.

"So please, can you relocate us to a place suitable to live moderately, unlike this place?"

The gnome elder asked carefully. And Revelof answered readily.

"Of course. What kind of place do you want?"

Then the gnome elder got excited and went on.

And Terdius, who was watching all this scene right next to them, furrowed his brow slightly.

'These are unreasonable demands, but he's trying to grant even all of these.'

The more Terdius heard the conditions the gnome elder was stating, the more he came to realize how much those non-human races loathed humans.

But in the midst of that, Revelof was maintaining a smile while saying he would look into meeting their desired conditions as much as possible.

'Really... does he have no ulterior motives?'

When Terdius was thinking so and sighing inwardly...

Revelof entered into securing the place the gnome elder mentioned.

'Lord Kyros, please.'

—Mmm, don't worry!

Clean air, abundant nature, moderately close yet distant from human villages, fresh food, an environment rich enough in mana for spirits to live.

A space that's not too underdeveloped, a place humans can't easily find, etc.

When taking together various conditions, there was only one place that met these conditions.

—They said it's okay!

Shortly after, Kyros, who had been somewhere, gave Revelof the answer he wanted.

"Lord Kyros just gave me a revelation."

Revelof spoke to the gnomes naturally.

"Ooh, is that really true?"

"Yes! You all can live in Centaur Forest. The Spirit of Life who governs that place has granted permission."

"Ooh, thank you!! Thank you so much!"

"Then can you tell me now where the holy relic is?"

When Revelof was chatting harmoniously with the gnomes...

Bzzzz—

Terdius hardened his expression at a sudden headache that came. Fortunately, the headache went away quickly, but his expression wasn't easily released.

'Why?'

He didn't know the reason, but watching Revelof and the gnomes gave him a sense of 'déjà vu.'

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