Ch. 182

I put on a robe and pulled my hood over my head, then left the temple with Terdius and Ivan. Terdius also wore his hood, seemingly having no intention of showing his face like me.

The sight of two hooded men walking with one child was enough to attract people's attention, but those who saw us leaving the temple quickly turned their heads away.

The public order in Rovel was currently the best in Holden Territory. Rovel was safer than even Elwin, the center of Holden Territory, and the standard of living had risen to the point where you couldn't think of it as the slums it used to be.

Moreover, this was none other than the Kyros Temple.

The Kyros Temple was so trusted in Holden that there was a joke that the estate residents trusted it more than the Lord's castle.

That's why people could just pass our suspicious appearance by.

'Rather than being complacent about safety, it means it's become that much better to live here.'

Anyway, where I was leading the two of them was a house registered under my name that was close to the temple within Rovel and slightly away from the residential district.

Six months ago, after the Demon God's attack that swept over Holden Territory, I realized that I needed a space where the senior members and I could rest comfortably besides the temple.

So I purchased land and quickly built a house there. Of course, it wasn't a detached house.

'Though it's a villa concept that doesn't exist in this world.'

What was created was a space about three stories high with appropriately sized rooms. That said, the senior members weren't currently living there, and it was merely one of the contingency plans for emergencies, so it was currently empty.

Anyway, most of the rooms were similar in size, but the first floor was different. It was large enough for one family to stay in comfortably and even had two attached rooms. Though I hadn't foreseen a situation like this...

'I made it as a space for me to rest comfortably.'

But given the circumstances, there was no helping it.

I opened the door to the interior of the first floor of the building. Then I said to Terdius and Ivan.

"Please stay here."

Either way, I could just stay in another room if needed, but since Terdius and Ivan were family, it would be better for these two to stay here.

Thinking so, when I showed the two of them the living space, Ivan's eyes sparkled.

"Wow...!"

Ivan began looking around the house with a smile on his lips. I had already stocked the entire building with daily necessities, and there were things like running water and magic lamps. In other words, it was a space ready to move into.

"It's not that big, but it should be fine for two people to live in."

"...Thank you, Leviathan."

Terdius also expressed his gratitude to me with slightly surprised eyes after seeing the interior. Then Ivan, who had quickly looked around the house, came running to me and bowed.

"Thank you!"

"Not at all, Brothers. Now that you two have become family of our Kyros Church, please make yourselves comfortable."

I greeted them politely with a business smile. Then Ivan fidgeted his hands as if he had something to say.

"Um, Church Leader."

"Yes, Brother."

"Can I... visit the temple whenever I'm bored?"

"Of course."

"Can I visit every day?"

Ivan's eyes sparkled. I answered again with a smile.

"Of course. Please feel free to visit anytime."

***

After finishing showing the house to Terdius and Ivan, Revelof slowly returned to the temple. Since he had roughly finished everything he needed to do today, he walked leisurely.

'I never expected Terdius to visit so suddenly.'

Moreover, his connection to Diego had been severed, and he had even joined the Kyros Church. He had thought it was something far in the future, but now that it had actually happened, he felt quite pleased.

Thinking so, Revelof entered the temple building. When he exchanged greetings with the senior members and entered his office...

"What are you doing alone?"

Revelof encountered Zain, who had been waiting in his office. Zain was sitting on the sofa drinking tea, having apparently been waiting for some time.

Revelof looked at that sight and took off the robe he was wearing, then swept back his hair.

"You're here, Master?"

"Yeah. But what are you doing here alone? Were you waiting for me?"

Revelof immediately plopped down in the head seat. Then Zain spoke with unusually serious eyes, without his usual playfulness.

"I have a question."

"What is it?"

Revelof hadn't heard from Zain yet, but he expected what he would say. The story about that guy must have already spread among the senior members.

"Why exactly is that guy here?"

As expected. Zain asked a question that didn't deviate one bit from Revelof's expectations.

Revelof gulped down the cool tea that had been prepared for him. Then he spoke leisurely.

"He's joined the Kyros Church."

"What? But that guy is from the Diego Church...!"

Zain flared up at Revelof's monotone words. But before Zain could say anything more, Revelof's sharp gaze turned toward him. As if telling him to listen to everything.

The person who usually seemed so easygoing would sometimes turn sharp like this. That's why Zain couldn't act rashly, at least toward his master.

"Yes. That guy was an apostle of the Diego Church. But I no longer sense the Evil God's energy from him. This is a fact that Lord Kyros has also verified, so there's no need to doubt it."

"But... does that make sense? That the Diego Church would release him so freely."

"I'm also puzzled about that part. Because Diego isn't that kind of guy. But even thinking about it now, I can't come to a proper answer about this. So for now, I can only think about the present."

Zain's expression softened a bit at Revelof's answer. Then soon, Zain spoke as if chewing his words.

"But even so, the evil deeds he must have committed don't disappear, do they?"

"Yes, Zain. Of course, you're right. However, Terdius... was in a state of being 'brainwashed' by Diego."

Revelof continued with a brief explanation about Terdius. Not to defend Terdius, but at least to clear up the misunderstanding.

So Revelof told him briefly about the situation Terdius had experienced, focusing on the key points rather than detailed explanations. Zain's eyes wavered after hearing that story.

"Well, I'm not telling you this so you'll immediately get along with him. I just mean don't hate him too much. Regardless of the process, we're now one family."

Revelof said this and drank the remaining tea. Then he issued an order for Zain to leave, who was looking confused.

"Well then, you can go now."

"Ah, yes."

After greeting Revelof, Zain left the office. He paused before taking a step, lost in thought. Then Zain's eyes became resolute.

'Right, all of this... must be Diego's fault.'

***

Clatter, clatter.

Only the sounds of dishes and chewing food echoed in my office. I felt like I might get indigestion while eating.

'The past few days, how did it come to this?'

How did I end up having a meal with this configuration? Did I do something wrong from the start?

I engaged in self-reflection while looking at those sitting together at the table. Terdius sitting across from me, Ivan next to him, and Zain sitting across from Ivan.

'What kind of combination is this?'

So the beginning of this goes back a few days.

At some point, Ivan, who had become friends with Alphius, came to visit the temple every day. And since he wanted to see me every day, I occasionally spent time having tea with him.

Then when it became mealtime, I ate with Ivan.

And Terdius, who came looking for Ivan, naturally joined us. Since Ivan quite liked the temple's cooking, I told both of them that they were now part of the temple family, so they should feel free to come eat.

And from then until now...

For some reason, I ended up eating with them too. And in my office with the table set up.

Then Zain, having heard the news, was suddenly sitting with us at some point.

Of course, Zain didn't talk much during the meal. Terdius was also quiet except when dividing side dishes for Ivan.

In other words, at this unbearably quiet dinner table, the only ones talking were Ivan and me.

"Is it delicious, Brother?"

I deliberately asked Ivan to break this atmosphere that felt suffocating enough to die. Then Ivan nodded with an angelic smile.

"Yes, Church Leader! It's so delicious!"

"I'm glad to hear that."

I looked warmly at Ivan smiling cutely. A few days ago, Ivan had already become a follower of the Kyros Church. It seemed to be thanks to becoming friends with Alphius.

'Though Terdius has only joined and the message saying he became a follower hasn't appeared yet.'

I still didn't know what that guy was thinking or what he was doing usually. Other than coming to pick up Ivan every day, he seemed to be busy.

"Chew thoroughly."

I spoke to the cute Ivan again. Ivan nodded vigorously and chewed his food diligently.

'Ah, seriously. He's so cute.'

To think there was such a cute child besides Alphius, Chester, and Sasha.

As I was fondly watching Ivan, the meal time ended before I knew it.

"Well, thank you for today as always."

Ivan bowed to me as he always did. And Terdius, holding Ivan's hand, just gave a light nod and left my office.

After the two left, Zain remained in my office. I brewed cool fruit tea and handed it to him while looking at him. Then I sat down and called to Zain.

"Zain, so why are you doing this?"

I meant why he kept joining the meal without saying anything. Then Zain took a sip of tea and soon spoke.

"What you said, Master."

It seemed to mean what I had told him about Terdius.

"I understood it in my head, but I couldn't understand it in my heart. So I participated in the meals to try to convince myself forcibly, even."

Zain seemed to have been observing Terdius during the meals. Though I had roughly guessed the reason.

"So was it effective?"

I asked Zain. Then Zain nodded with serious eyes.

"Yes. Just a little though."

"Oh, really?"

"Watching that guy and Ivan, I could see that he went through a situation similar to when I lost my family to the Diego Church. So... I even felt a bit of hope."

Zain said with a faint smile.

"If even someone who was an 'apostle' regained his freedom like this... couldn't my sister do the same?"

Zain said this and stood up abruptly. Then he bowed his head slightly to me and left my office.

I watched his retreating figure and thought.

'Right, I'll help you... to get her back too.'

I will.

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