Ch. 174

The Celeste Continent had distinct seasonal changes year-round. However, there was one place in the continent where seasonal changes didn't exist—the Sele Mountain Range located at the northeastern end of the continent and its surrounding area.

Currently, most regions in the continent were experiencing midsummer, but in the Sele Mountain Range, fierce blizzards were still raging.

The problem wasn't just the harsh natural environment. The 'Sele Kingdom' located in an area adjacent to the Sele Mountain Range always suffered from monsters descending from the snowy mountains at this time.

The King of the Sele Kingdom would send soldiers annually to subjugate the monsters, but as time passed, the monsters grew stronger.

Just as humans adapted to the extreme cold, the monsters also evolved to fit the environment.

And due to the monsters growing stronger each year, the Sele Kingdom King's worries only deepened. The Sele Kingdom wasn't very large in scale.

Due to the majestic yet cruel environment of the snowy mountains, the population was small, and consequently, annual production was low. Though it was called a kingdom, its actual wealth and power were no different from a single territory in the Herpheon Empire.

However, they didn't abandon their land, their country. It was their homeland boasting hundreds of years of history.

This was the same for the Sele Kingdom's king. As king, he had to send his soldiers to their deaths, but it was an unavoidable task to protect his people.

Thus, soldiers were dispatched to subjugate the monsters of the snowy mountains, and they worked hard to defeat the monsters.

Among the monsters of the snowy mountains, two types particularly inflicted great damage on the soldiers.

White Wolf and Snow Bear. Monsters of enormous size reaching 1.5 times that of humans, their ferocity was worse than other monsters.

Moreover, they were cruel enough to eat humans alive, and their attack power was considerable.

"Kwaaar!"

The soldiers struggled to face the two types of monsters charging at them. They blocked attacks using shields, and in that gap, the assault unit stabbed the monsters with swords.

But why was this? This year's monsters were so strong that swords couldn't even penetrate their hide.

Clang-!

Rather, swords bounced off the monsters' hides. Fear quickly filled the soldiers' eyes.

"Kaaah!"

The White Wolves and Snow Bears began charging at the soldiers all at once. The soldiers who had lost their weapons immediately retreated. The commander who had been directing the soldiers had long since had his neck torn off by a White Wolf.

Without commander or weapons, all that remained for the soldiers was just fear.

Whoosh-!

At that moment, a strong wind blew once. They wondered if another blizzard was starting, but it wasn't.

Flash-!

Five pure white arrows that flew from afar pierced through the necks of the White Wolves and Snow Bears that were about to devour the soldiers. Just like that, ten large monsters collapsed in an instant.

The soldiers looked at the monster corpses with dazed eyes. The gaze of thirty people looked at the corpses, then turned to the arrows. The arrows emitting holy light had lost their glow.

And the next moment.

"Oh, there were people here."

A cheerful voice that didn't match the desperate situation was heard. The owner of the voice was approaching through the snowfall. And it wasn't just one person. A total of three people were heading toward the soldiers.

Since they were wearing black robes, even in the snowing situation, it was possible to confirm there were three people.

"From what I can see, it looks like you were battling monsters."

A pleasant voice flowed from the man in the center. The man wearing a hood must have forgotten the cold, as he lowered his hood. Then appeared beautifully shining golden hair and a man with considerable beauty despite wearing glasses.

"Are you all alright?"

The man asked with an extremely benevolent and warm-looking smile. Then the soldiers' mouths opened slightly.

"Zain, Troy. It seems we need to check on these people's condition first."

"Yes, understood."

"Got it, Church Leader."

After giving orders to the men on either side, the 'Church Leader' immediately approached the soldiers. After examining their condition quickly and thoroughly, he soon extended both hands into the air.

Flash-!

The next moment, pure white light burst from the man and enveloped the soldiers. That light felt so warm and gentle even in the bitter cold.

The soldiers felt not only their bodies, which had been growing cold, warming up, but also the wounds on their bodies healing.

Only then did they ask the man with astonished eyes.

"Wh-who are you?"

"Ah, I'm late with introductions."

The man answered with a smile.

"I am the Church Leader of the Kyros Church, Leviathan."

The appearance of Leviathan and his party, Zain and Troy, brought hope to the Sele Kingdom. Leviathan treated the soldiers wounded by monsters, and Zain and Troy defeated monsters with ease beyond what they could have imagined.

Just the number of Sele Kingdom soldiers saved by these three people already exceeded one hundred.

"Come to think of it, I heard about the Kyros Church from a merchant who visited before. They even saved the Bahano Kingdom once."

The soldiers who had gathered thanks to the three's efforts chatted in small groups.

Now that deep night had arrived, they were stuck due to the fiercely falling blizzard.

Still, thanks to the spacious cave that Leviathan found, about a hundred soldiers could stay there.

Moreover, the food supply that had been lacking was also gathered again with Leviathan's help, so the soldiers were able to spend their first comfortable night after deployment.

As a result, they could pay attention to things other than 'battle.' Naturally, their topic was the Kyros Church and Leviathan.

"I also often heard rumors when I visited other regions. That the Church Leader of the Kyros Church defeated the Demon God's children and blocked numerous rifts."

"Looking at how they're even helping us......they really seem like amazing people. Honestly speaking, just a few hours ago we had no hope."

The soldiers felt very grateful to Leviathan and the Kyros Church. After finishing their late evening meal and when all the soldiers had fallen asleep.

Leviathan, Zain, and Troy, who had been resting briefly at the cave entrance, rose from their positions.

"It's about time to wrap things up."

At Leviathan's words, the three simultaneously left the cave.

The Sele Kingdom soldiers realized the three had disappeared around dawn.

"N-no! Where did the three go?"

"Don't tell me monsters attacked last night......!"

The soldiers were confused. Fortunately, the blizzard had stopped, making a search possible. The soldiers quickly began entering battle readiness.

It was time to repay the favor to those who had saved and helped them.

With that determination, just as the soldiers were about to leave the cave.

Leviathan, Zain, and Troy were seen returning from afar. Moreover, in Troy's hands were held two enormous heads.

Those were the heads of the veteran leaders who had been in the snowy mountains for a long time.

"Th-those are......!"

"They're the leaders of the White Wolves and Snow Bears!"

The leaders, easily twice as large as normal monsters, were more ferocious and strong than ordinary monsters several times over. But Leviathan, Zain, and Troy had caught both leaders without a single injury.

"You're all awake."

And toward the soldiers who were standing with their mouths agape in surprise, Leviathan spoke nonchalantly with a smile.

"Ch-Church, Church Leader, what are those......?"

One of the soldiers struggled to speak. Then Leviathan answered.

"Ah, those are the leaders of the monsters that were occupying this area. White Wolves and Snow Bears have strong cohesion, but when the leader disappears, that cohesion also disappears. So from now on, you won't see White Wolves and Snow Bears in the Sele Mountain Range."

Leviathan's words meant that the longtime nemesis that had plagued the Sele Kingdom had disappeared. The soldiers who realized that meaning had chicken-poop tears streaming from their eyes.

"Th-thank you so much."

"I don't know how to express this gratitude......!"

"That's right, let's go see His Majesty the King right away!"

The soldiers expressed their gratitude to Leviathan, Zain, and Troy, then soon praised the three as heroes. And they persuaded them to go to the kingdom together to meet the king.

"No, it's fine. Really."

Leviathan declined while trying hard to smile. However, the soldiers were adamant.

"Please come with us. You all are the heroes of us...... no, of this Sele Kingdom!"

"That's right! We can't just let our benefactors go!"

Eventually, due to the soldiers' insistence, the three had to go to the Sele Kingdom together.

'Damn it, I already got everything I needed anyway......'

Leviathan thought so and followed behind the soldiers. In fact, he had set foot in the Sele Mountain Range to obtain medicinal herbs he would need in the future.

Because the leaders of the White Wolves and Snow Bears had all kinds of precious medicinal herbs that only bloom in snowy mountains.

And saving the Sele Kingdom soldiers he encountered by chance was, as Church Leader, naturally something he should do. That didn't mean he intended to go all the way to the Sele Kingdom to be treated.

'I've already collected most of what I needed, and I've become stronger than expected......'

He had planned to return directly to the temple to rest. But since things had turned out this way, he couldn't just brush off the soldiers and leave.

'Still, if I've become a hero...... it's also an opportunity to increase the number of believers.'

Unavoidably, he had to head to the Sele Kingdom.

When Revelof, Zain, and Troy entered the Sele Kingdom together with the soldiers, they truly received 'hero' treatment.

The Sele King, who had heard the entire story from the soldiers, even gave the three the treatment of state guests. Moreover, as gratitude for eliminating the monsters that had plagued them for hundreds of years, he even proclaimed the Sele Kingdom's state religion as the Kyros Church.

Revelof, who hadn't expected to receive such generous treatment, was very pleased.

Thanks to this, a small temple was established in the Sele Kingdom, and a portal was installed at the Sele Temple.

Since the journey was essentially over anyway, the three rode the portal at the Sele Temple and comfortably returned to Rovel.

"Finally...... we're back."

At last, the six-month training and journey had ended.

Comments