Ch. 204

'What? Why...?'

For a moment, one scene flashed through Terdius's mind. It was a memory as if he himself had been in the place where Revelof was now.

Though that scene didn't come to mind clearly. A subtle sense of déjà vu, blurry but like 'wasn't it like that?'

'What exactly are these memories?'

Just because Diego's brainwashing had ended, this sense of déjà vu didn't disappear. Terdius's confusion wasn't easily removed due to this déjà vu felt particularly whenever he was with Revelof.

Of course, from when he joined Kyros Church, the oppressive feeling that had been pressing him down and the fog filling his head had disappeared.

But he still couldn't know the identity of these strange memories.

"After it's confirmed that you've definitely relocated us, I'll hand over the holy relic."

When Terdius was confused for a while, Revelof finally heard the answer he wanted to hear.

"Yes. Good."

Revelof answered without a hint of doubt. Though he shouldn't easily trust the words of gnomes who disliked humans, now was different.

Gnomes were ones favorably disposed toward Kyros like the centaurs. That's why they had protected Kyros's holy relic for a long time.

"Brother!"

Revelof, who finished talking with the gnome elder, immediately turned his gaze to Terdius. Meaning to help with the gnomes' relocation together.

However, due to Terdius who looked somehow dazed, Revelof's head tilted sideways.

"Brother? Are you sick somewhere?"

"Oh, no. I'm fine."

When Revelof asked, only then did Terdius come to his senses. Revelof wondered if something was wrong and looked at Terdius for a moment, then soon turned his head toward the gnomes.

"We'll help with your relocation."

***

Relocating the gnomes wasn't very difficult. After briefly waiting for the gnomes to pack their luggage, Revelof took out an item he had made beforehand so they could move safely.

It was something he had asked Sasha to make in advance—small chairs with safety belts attached. Like those attached to amusement rides, several chairs were attached, and there was even a lid with oxygen holes to prevent any external shock.

When the gnomes climbed onto those chairs, Revelof and Terdius held them and ran. An unfamiliar speed—since ride comfort was what Troy cared about in the first place, there were gnomes complaining of motion sickness, but there was no big problem in heading to Centaur Forest.

After arriving at Bahano, when entering Centaur Forest, only Revelof moved inside alone.

It was unavoidable because the centaurs didn't welcome humans other than Revelof.

Like that, after safely relocating the gnomes to Centaur Forest, Revelof even acquired Kyros's holy relic.

Afterward, Revelof and Terdius returned to Rovel by taking the portal at Bahano Temple.

"I'll head home first."

"Yes. You worked hard, brother."

Revelof personally saw Terdius off all the way outside the temple, who had worked hard for him for days and days. After briefly watching Terdius's retreating back, Revelof moved his steps to look around Rovel, which he had returned to after a long time.

Rovel and the entire Holden Territory was already late at night when the moon had set.

So there wasn't a single person walking the streets.

'Should I go for a patrol and walk...'

Revelof took off the hood he was wearing and carefully examined his surroundings.

While doing so, he suddenly recalled when he first visited Rovel. Even at that time, there were many vagrants addicted to 'Happy,' and Rizes Church was trying to swallow Holden Territory.

But now, just over a year and a half from then, it was completely different.

Rizes Church had disappeared from the whole world, and Rovel's streets were clean. The shabby buildings had also been repaired, and people had increased to rival Elrune, the center of Holden Territory.

And the one who accomplished all of that was none other than Revelof.

'Well, it would have been impossible without Kyros...'

Revelof smiled faintly while looking at the changed streets. Like that, after looking around Rovel roughly once, when he had almost arrived at the temple...

Thud.

Revelof's steps stopped. He stood still and looked up at the sky.

"Ah, really..."

Revelof lightly closed his eyes and muttered small. Then soon he spoke toward someone who must be behind him.

"Hiding your form doesn't mean your power will be hidden. So come out."

As soon as Revelof's words ended, someone appeared behind him. Revelof slowly turned his body.

Then someone wearing a robe appeared. Revelof spoke to that person.

"Don't tell me you thought I wouldn't feel the heterogeneous power in this city?"

Revelof's lips were drawing a smile, but his eyes weren't smiling.

"...There's no way."

Then a voice flowed from the other party. When Revelof looked with an indifferent gaze, the one standing opposite pulled back the hood they were wearing.

Then the appearance revealed was none other than...

"Saintess of Diego Church... what brings you to find me at this hour?"

It was Emily, Diego Church's Saintess and Zain's older sister. Revelof asked while making eye contact with the expressionless Emily.

'About a month?'

Time had passed like that since she came from Diego Church to Holden Territory for missionary activities. Saintess Emily looked not much different from then, but Revelof knew.

That Diego Church's missionary activity results weren't very good.

'Well, I know everything happening in the territory clearly.'

When Revelof was thinking so, Saintess Emily's mouth opened.

"Our Diego Church is now thinking of leaving Holden Territory. So before leaving, I came to greet the Church Leader one last time."

Saintess Emily showed a smile that looked somehow stiff. Revelof smiled back at her and asked.

"It seems the missionary activity results weren't very satisfactory."

Then Emily, whose expression changes hadn't been very large, was seen biting her lip. Of course, that sight was only for an instant, but Revelof saw clearly.

'Interesting.'

When Revelof was smiling inwardly, Saintess Emily regained composure forcibly and slowly continued speaking.

"This territory is quite strange. Everyone was rejecting our Diego Church as if brainwashed by Kyros Church..."

Saintess Emily's lips rose faintly as she said so. Though the tone seemed to treat Kyros Church as a cult, Revelof, as Church Leader, could have felt bad, but he was rather smiling.

'Look who's talking.'

Revelof hit back with a bright smile.

"Haha. Brainwashing, you say. Rejecting other religions isn't in our doctrine, but it seems our believers learned from seeing what some great religion somewhere does."

"...!"

At those words, Emily's expression hardened slightly. Though it was a minute change that didn't show, Revelof read the change.

'Yeah, it's what you guys did.'

Emily also seemed to have grasped the underlying meaning and couldn't refute further. At that sight, Revelof almost laughed out loud.

'Well, from the moment I heard Diego Church was coming for missionary activities... I was confident.'

In the first place, Holden Territory was no different from being 'saved' by Kyros Church. At moments of crisis that covered the territory several times, it was Kyros Church that saved them.

Moreover, when Revelof's family, the Holden Estate family members, became believers of Kyros Church, would the territory residents be easily swayed?

'Besides, we appeared at the moment people wanted most.'

Brilliant heroes appearing at a moment about to be stained with pain and death. Revelof and Kyros Church were such existences for Holden Territory.

But how could those who dared come to proselytize relying only on their size compete?

"We'll retreat this time, but... next time I'll definitely succeed."

Emily said while clenching her fist tightly where it couldn't be seen. Toward such an Emily, Revelof curved his eyes with sincerity.

"Yes. Please do so."

Though that would never happen. Revelof no longer even hid his leaking laughter and stared at Emily's retreating figure.

'By the way... did they really visit the territory just for missionary activities?'

Revelof soon tilted his head sideways. Surely, Diego Church seemed to have approached with another purpose... but even though he had observed diligently all this while, nothing particular had happened.

At most, it ended with providing some information for the incident Khalid and Rawin committed.

'...If that's the case, then it's fortunate.'

Though Revelof wasn't very refreshed, he was still satisfied feeling Diego's aura gradually disappearing from the territory.

***

Around dawn.

There was a group of carriages leaving Holden Territory. They were carriages with Diego's symbol engraved on them.

Among them, the Saintess Emily, who was riding in a carriage alone, was leaning against the window lost in thought.

Right after arriving at Holden Territory hearing the command to preach the great Diego's will...

A letter arrived for Emily. A letter with the First Apostle's seal stamped on it, and the content was simple.

'When returning, come together with Third Apostle Terdius.'

Emily heard from the First Apostle that Terdius had betrayed them, and she tried to follow the First Apostle's order.

However, though she contacted Terdius several times, the First Apostle's order was practically impossible.

Terdius had already become a believer of Kyros Church, and his combat power was even stronger than when he was at Diego Church.

'My power didn't work either...'

Emily, as Saintess, had a power different from apostles who had combat strength. It was a power called 'Repentance,' essentially the power of brainwashing that made the other party into a believer of Diego Church.

Though Emily, the person using the power, didn't consider it brainwashing.

Anyway, that power didn't work on Terdius, and Emily almost lost her life instead.

"Haah..."

A faint sigh leaked from Emily's emotionless face. Because it was a return without much achievement, she would definitely receive punishment from the First Apostle.

'Still, for Lord Diego's sake...'

When she was thinking so, one person's face suddenly came to Emily's mind.

Her younger brother she was meeting after a long time. Eyes surprised at seeing her. Recalling that sight, Emily muttered small.

"...How foolish."

At that moment, Emily's eyes moistened faintly. But that was only for a very brief moment.

Soon Zain's appearance disappeared from Emily's mind, and her eyes were coldly cooled again.

Like a doll.

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