Ch. 201

The door opened, and the room's interior was finally revealed. And seeing the inside, I couldn't help but let out a laugh.

"How is it? It's nice, right?"

Rawin asked me with an extremely excited face. I had no choice but to nod to him.

In other words, the room Rawin introduced me to was, in a word, no different from a small chapel. Among other things, what particularly caught the eye was...

"When did you become close with Sasha?"

"We didn't particularly become close. However, I showed her my earnestness! Then she gave me the statue and painting here."

Right. In this room, there was a small statue of Kyros that appeared to be carved by Sasha, and even a painting of Kyros of considerable quality.

Though Rawin had only joined Kyros Church a few days ago, just looking at this space, he felt like a quite devout believer.

Though Terdius, who came in before him, showed no sign of it at all... To think Rawin, who was Diego's apostle until recently, had come to like Kyros this much in the meantime.

'Well, the fact that his expression improved is all thanks to Kyros...'

It seemed his change of heart after converting was quite considerable.

"It's a really wonderful room."

I didn't spare praise for Rawin again. Then Rawin smiled brightly, befitting his age.

'Looking at it like this, it's nice to see.'

Before, when he was Diego Church's apostle, Rawin had felt a bit gloomy.

"I repent my sins every dawn and before sleeping while praying to Lord Kyros."

"You're doing well."

"Right? Ah, right. Let me give you some tea."

I followed the startled Rawin out of the room. And waiting on the living room sofa as he guided me, Rawin soon brought out cool tea.

"...You seem more comfortable than before, which is good to see, Brother."

After taking a sip of tea, I spoke to Rawin. Then Rawin's eyes curved beautifully.

"My heart has definitely become more comfortable. Because I don't have to commit sins anymore, and I can always be close to my friend."

Though I hadn't spent much time with Rawin since he converted, he seemed satisfied just meeting in passing.

"I see."

"So now... what should I tell you about first?"

As if Rawin knew my purpose for visiting, he asked me with more serious eyes. Because I hadn't visited Rawin's house just for a housewarming.

And Rawin knew that fact very well too. I asked him with a faint smile.

"Just tell me the latest information about Diego Church that you know."

"Hmm, you probably know most things already..."

Rawin slowly began telling me stories. Most of them were stories I already knew. Though many parts had gone wrong by now, most were still facts I knew from the original that hadn't changed.

"I see."

"Leviathan, looking at your expression, you don't seem very satisfied."

"Well, since it's mostly content I already knew..."

"Then, do you know about this?"

Perhaps because my reaction didn't meet his expectations, Rawin, who had been making a somewhat uncomfortable expression, spoke to me with a confident face. Was there something that amazing among information I didn't know?

Just in case, I quietly waited for the next words. And really, words I was hearing for the first time popped out from Rawin.

"...Great Apostle."

"What?"

"So, just before I and Khalid planned the operation, a 'Great Apostle' appeared at Diego Church."

Great Apostle? That was a term I had never heard even when playing the original.

"He seems a bit younger than me... but he doesn't look human at all. Pure white body, pure white pupils, and even black irises. Moreover, unlike other apostles, the Great Apostle called the god Diego 'Father.'"

"...Don't tell me."

"As if the god Diego created the Great Apostle directly."

At Rawin's words, I couldn't keep my mouth shut. Not only had a 'Great Apostle' appeared that I had never seen once in HSAW, but Diego had directly created it...

Of course, since it was no different from Rawin's speculation, it might not be true. But seeing that 'Diego,' who was cold even to his own apostles, tolerated the Great Apostle calling him father, Rawin's speculation seemed correct.

"This is the first you've heard of this, I see. Your expression isn't good."

"...I'm a bit surprised."

Because it was something even I hadn't expected. Then Rawin looked at me with worried eyes.

"Is it very bad news?"

For the past few days, while staying at Kyros Church, Rawin had learned that we were trying to bring down Diego Church. That's why he was looking at me with tense eyes.

"If I had to say... yes. But what can we do?"

The matter had already occurred, and I and Kyros Church had to get through it.

"Thank you for the information, Brother."

"Not at all. I'm glad I could be of help."

I forced myself to calm my anxious heart and smiled at Rawin.

'It'll be okay...'

Though Diego's side created a variable, we also had considerable variables.

Because the military power I had now was greater than when I played HSAW, it would be okay.

***

The day after hearing about the Great Apostle from Rawin, I trained my body at the back of the temple building from early dawn.

From an even earlier time than the senior members trained every day.

'Am I anxious...'

It would be stranger if I weren't anxious. Right now when I was busy preparing for the approaching Continental War, an unknown existence called the Great Apostle had even appeared at Diego Church.

'...Still, it'll be okay.'

Because I had Kyros, Kyros Church senior members, many believers, and even the system Administrator who seemed to be on my side.

"Hmm, as far as I know, you should move your body faster there?"

It was then. I heard someone's advice. I unconsciously turned my gaze immediately. Then I could see a woman I had seen before floating in the air.

The woman hanging upside down from a wooden broomstick floating in the air, looking at me, was a woman in her twenties with light green hair and golden eyes.

It was someone I had met once before.

"...Archmage?"

The head of the Magic Tower and one of the worldview's strongest, Archmage Jenna Lewis. It was her.

"Long time no see. Have you been well?"

She grinned and lightly jumped down from the broomstick. I was a bit surprised. To think the Archmage, who usually stayed holed up in the Magic Tower, came all the way here?

"Ah, yes... it's been a while. But what brings you all the way here...?"

Just as I was about to say that, Jenna's eyes sparkled while looking not at me but behind me.

"Helena!"

Jenna instantly brushed past my side. When I turned following her, I could see Grandmother, who had just come to prepare for training.

'Ah, that Grandmother fanatic.'

Unlike when looking at me, Jenna ran to Grandmother with a very happy face, then immediately embraced her.

"Jenna! What brings you all the way here without even contacting me?"

"Well, naturally because I wanted to see Helena!"

The two hugged each other and laughed warmly. And watching that, I... couldn't do anything like a sack of barley.

'What's with that Archmage? She didn't come to see me?'

Was I being narcissistic? If Jenna came to see Grandmother, I thought she would have headed to Grandmother's house, not to the temple.

"Levi, you came out early."

"Yes, Grandmother. I woke up early today."

I greeted Grandmother and approached the two. Then Jenna grinned and spoke to me.

"By the way, this is Kyros Church's headquarters, right?"

"Yes. That's right."

When I nodded and answered, Jenna stared at me and said.

"Then since I came specially, show me around, Church Leader."

At those words, I was a bit surprised. Currently, I had taken off my cognitive dissonance glasses since I came lightly for training. However, Jenna immediately recognized that I was Kyros Church's Church Leader.

'How does she know?'

I wondered if she heard from Grandmother, but Grandmother wasn't that kind of person. Moreover, Grandmother also seemed surprised.

"Surprised? I'm quite perceptive, kid."

Jenna smiled and told me.

Well, since she was the Archmage, one of the worldview's strongest, I had thought it would be revealed someday.

"Well, lately rumors of Kyros Church are rife throughout the entire continent, so I investigated. Sometimes, I even tailed you."

"Wh-what? You did?!"

"Yes. Last time I went on vacation to the snowy mountains and saw you. Then I noticed that Revelof Holden and Kyros Church's Church Leader had the same mana flow."

"Ah..."

So that's what happened. Well, still, even if Archmage Jenna Lewis, not someone else, knew my identity, it wouldn't be a big problem. Because she, Grandmother's best friend, wouldn't betray me or anything.

"I see, Jenna."

"Yeah. Helena, I was a bit sulky that you deceived me... but you were trying to protect that child."

"Right. I'm sorry."

"No. Helena, you don't need to be sorry."

While the two conversed, I took out glasses from my inventory and put them on.

"Oho, that's quite... an interesting item?"

Then Jenna raised her lips while looking at my glasses. She seemed quite curious.

"I felt it from when I saw you before, but you seem quite loved by a god?"

As if she felt holy power from my glasses, Jenna asked. I nodded and answered.

"Yes. That's right."

"Too bad. You would have become a talent of the Magic Tower. Anyway, show me around."

Jenna shrugged with a regretful face, then soon moved her steps.

I showed Jenna around the temple together with Grandmother.

Since it was a time no different from early dawn, there were no believers at the temple. So I could show Jenna around easily.

"It's the headquarters but really... small."

After finishing the tour, Jenna, who entered my office with me, muttered quietly. Though I was displeased that she kept grumbling throughout the temple tour that our temple was small, considering the Magic Tower's size... it wasn't an incomprehensible reaction.

"Please sit comfortably."

I guided Jenna to the sofa and brought out fruit tea. Grandmother had left after finishing Jenna's temple tour to train the senior members.

Actually, I thought Jenna would stick right next to Grandmother and watch the training too, but she didn't.

In other words, today she really had business with me.

"By the way, what brings you all the way here?"

After handing tea to Jenna, I sat down and asked. Then Jenna told me.

"Kid, you don't know, but... I sometimes see the future."

I know that though. But I kept my mouth shut and waited for Jenna's next words.

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