Ch. 146

How the Cult Saves the World

I was utterly shocked to see my grandmother collapse helplessly. She sacrificed herself to save the other me---perhaps my future self, in the near future.

'How did this...?'

Could this be the future that I'm seeing and not just a dream? That's when the thought crept into my mind.

Suddenly, the scene shifted. I saw Zain and Troy being attacked by an unknown entity, dead.

And they weren't the only ones. Alphius, Chester, Sasha... All of the senior members were killed in battle. Sevenus and my mother lost their lives as well. And in the end---even my heart was pierced.

'What...the hell is this?'

Watching this horror unfold, I felt like my breath had stopped. No matter how much I tried to rationalize it, this place didn't feel like a dream.

Questions flooded my mind. Why am I seeing this? Where am I? What is happening?

'That is...'

Through my fading vision, I saw Rovel in complete ruin. Everything was destroyed.

And then, there was nothing.

Just darkness.

'All those scenes I witnessed...'

They were too vivid to be just a dream. But at the same time, they hadn't happened yet. Which meant...

[Seems you're very surprised.]

An androgynous voice rang in my ears---or rather, in my mind.

I knew this voice.

[Are you okay?]

It was warm, familiar, even affectionate. The system administrator.

The moment I heard that voice, I knew---he was the one who had shown me those scenes.

'What on earth did I just see?'

I asked, my voice sharper than intended, due to my nerves. But the system administrator didn't seem bothered. I was a mere human to him and simply sighed softly before answering in his usual calm manner.

[I couldn't show you everything due to the principle of cause and effect, but what you saw just now---that is the future of Rovel.]

My heart sank.

So...that really was the future?

I felt ashamed that I had thought, foolishly, that I could find a way to prevent disaster.

Even though unexpected quests kept appearing different from the original, I believed that since I had managed so far, I would continue to do so.

But in the end...

Everyone will die.

'So... Everyone really dies?'

[That is the future that will unfold if things continue as they are now.]

'Shit...'

I cursed under my breath.

If it was all going to end like this, what was the point of everything I had done? All of my struggles---just to run headfirst into death?

[But, child. Don't worry too much.]

The system administrator's voice was gentle, as if trying to comfort me.

As if telling me not to worry would make a difference.

Just as I was internally scoffing---

[I came to you for a reason.]

Oh. Now that I think about it.

[The attacks of the Demon God are too much for you to handle in your current state. That's why I'm here---to adjust the difficulty, that increased so rapidly like it did last time.]

'...You're going to help me?'

[Yes.]

'Why? You did that last time, and even now...'

I had always believed that there was no such thing as kindness without reason. So why was he helping me?

For some reason, his attitude almost seemed as if... He genuinely wanted me to save this world.

And yet, he was the one who brought me here. The one who forced this ridiculous quest upon me.

[I can't explain everything now. My time is limited.]

'...What?'

[The principle of cause and effect resists direct intervention from me. But don't worry.]

Then---

In the pitch-black void, a pure white light appeared.

A small, glowing bead.

It floated toward me---

Fwoosh-

And before I could react, it merged into my body.

There was no pain. No impact.

[I am always on your side.]

The voice faded, growing distant.

At the same time, my consciousness slipped away.

***

Somewhere in a distant dimension, on a vast plain.

Kyros sat upright, his gaze fixed on a screen that displayed Revelof.

Revelof was asleep in his office, as if he had fainted. Kyros pitifully watched his child---this boy who had endured endless trials in his place, struggling to save this world.

And then---

A ray of pure white light descended from the clear sky.

The warm ray wrapped around Kyros.

Soon, the voice of the system administrator, the same voice that had spoken to Revelof, echoed through the air.

[Don't worry too much. I had a good talk with him.]

"...Thank you."

Kyros gazed into the pure white light and expressed his sincere gratitude.

[Don't mention it. It was only natural. This time, I just took precautions before a major disaster could unfold.]

Without the system administrator's intervention, that terrible future would have become reality.

The vision Revelof saw in his dream wasn't just a nightmare---it was the very future Kyros had foreseen after expending a portion of his power.

The moment an attack by the Demon God became certain, a deep, instinctive anxiety gripped Kyros---an overwhelming fear, much like the time he had almost lost his child in Bahano.

Desperate, he sacrificed half of his stored power to glimpse the future. And based on what he saw, he pleaded with the system administrator for help.

Because of that, Revelof was protected.

"I'm sorry. I know you're busy."

[It's fine. It's about time I started paying closer attention to your world.]

Hearing those words, Kyros realized---this long journey was already halfway through.

"I still need more power."

[I know.]

The Kyros Church now had just over 100,000 believers. It was a significant increase, but still far from enough to challenge the snake, Diego.

[You already know what's coming next, don't you? Your child will do a good job.]

"...Yes."

[Don't worry too much.]

The administrator's voice gradually faded.

[This world is...]

***

Suddenly, my eyes opened.

The first thing I saw was the familiar ceiling of my office.

Warm sunlight streamed in through the small window in the office. It seemed like it was still morning.

'What the heck... Was that just a dream?'

I let out a small sigh. Did I sleep well?

I remembered going to bed when the sun was still up, which meant... I barely got any sleep.

Still, my body felt lighter, as if a great deal of fatigue had been lifted.

--My child.

Kyros's voice echoed in my head. While rubbing my face awake, I responded.

'Yes, Lord Kyros.'

--Are you okay? You slept the whole day.

'...Wait, what? I slept for a day?'

I asked in disbelief. Kyros answered bluntly.

--Yeah. You were out like you were dead for a full day. They even thought you'd stopped breathing. The kids were especially freaked out and came running.

Apparently, while I was asleep, the senior members had checked in on me several times, worried because I wouldn't wake up.

Each time, Kyros had to step in and reassure them, explaining that I was simply resting.

'Thank you, Lord Kyros.'

--It's ok.

By the way, I slept for an entire day. I must have been completely exhausted. But now, I felt much more refreshed, as if all my fatigue had melted away.

As I sat up and got out of bed---

[Special rewards from the Administrator will be granted.]

A system message suddenly appeared before me.

[Administrator's Blessing

(Buff): When the defense battle begins, all abilities increase tenfold for 24 hours.]

[Administrator's Protection

(Active): You can place an Administrator's protective barrier in a desired area. This protection covers a wider range than existing barriers. However, even if set up in advance, the protection effect will only activate once the defense battle begins and will last for 24 hours.]

[All Administrator effects will disappear after the defense battle ends.]

So, that conversation with the administrator in my dream... I mean, in my subconscious... It was real.

I had hoped it was just a dream, but now, seeing these rewards, I felt some relief because I received a considerable gift from the administrator.

'Even if it was just a dream...seeing my family and comrades die like that...'

The memory was nothing short of painful.

But thanks to the power the administrator had given me, my anxiety lessened.

If my abilities were enhanced tenfold, I would be just as strong as I had been during the battle at Bahano. No---perhaps even stronger, now that my number of followers had increased.

'This might actually be doable.'

The Administrator's Protection had appeared in my inventory as an item---a pure white bead, similar in appearance to Kyros's Blessing.

If it covered an area wider than the existing barriers, did that mean it could protect all of Rovel?

'That would put my mind at ease.'

It seemed like a simple matter of installing the bead to activate it.

Both buffs had a 24-hour limitation, but that was expected.

After all, the goal of the defense battle was to protect 80% of the territory's population for exactly 24 hours.

'Still... I'm really grateful for the administrator's help.'

If the future I had seen had actually come to pass, I wouldn't have been able to endure it.

--My child?

'Yeah?'

--What are you so lost in thought about?

'Ah... There's not much time left.'

I spoke to Kyros while opening my quest window to check the remaining time.

According to the system, the defense battle was set to begin at 7:00 PM tomorrow.

That meant I had less than a day to prepare.

Without wasting another moment, I hurried out of my bedroom---only for a light to flash before my eyes.

From the glow, Kyros appeared---this time in the form of a small puppy.

"Lord Kyros?"

"The believers are in danger. I can't just sit back and do nothing. I'll help however I can!"

"Thank you."

After exchanging words with Kyros, I headed to the bathroom, quickly washing up before dressing.

First, I put on my church leader's uniform, but just to be safe, I pulled a robe over it.

Then, with Kyros trotting beside me, I left my church leader's office.

"I'm going to give the children a little more of my power."

As we descended the stairs, Kyros---who was floating slightly above the ground---spoke with determination in his eyes.

"Are you sure? You don't have much power left as it is."

I was a little concerned. Kyros always shared most of his power with me whenever he could, leaving himself drained.

But he simply shook his head, his fluffy fur shaking along.

"I'll be fine. It's harder for me to watch the children suffer while trying so hard for my sake."

For a moment, I felt unexpectedly touched by his words.

"Master!"

"Church Leader!"

At the end of the hallway, Zain and Troy spotted me and quickly rushed over.

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Notes

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Ch. 146

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