How the Cult Saves the World

[Subquest 'Light of Hope' 4. <Salvation of Aldone Kingdom> cleared!]

[Subquest rewards will be given.]

[Subquest updated!]

[Subquest 'Light of Hope' 5. <Bahano>

Description: You have saved the Aldone Kingdom from the Rizes Church within the time limit. Now it is time to leave for Bahano.

Objective: Reach the Bahano Kingdom within a week (This quest is a linked quest)

Success: Next quest clue

Failure: -

Final success reward: ???

[Do you accept?]

[Yes/No]

I skimmed through the quest content and pressed accept.

The quest update window appeared when I invoked the Blessing of Maseen in the Rizes Church's Aldone Branch High Priest's room, but there were so many notifications at that time that I postponed checking it.

So I checked it now at the inn.

'It doesn't change the fact that I have to go to Bahano anyway.'

We came back to the inn before leaving for Bahano. It was to pack up the things we hadn't taken care of.

Actually, most of my belongings were in my inventory, so I didn't have much to pack, but Zain made a fuss about the knitted goods he made and came along.

"Are you done?"

"Yes. I'm done now."

Zain smiled contentedly, holding a thick bag of his belongings. I was about to move when I saw Troy.

'...I can't go out like this.'

Troy, who had been with us since we escaped from prison and dealt with Hamel, was still in Banra's state. Fortunately, there were no people wandering around on the way back to the inn, but now it was morning and there would be a lot of eyes.

Of course, Troy's body was in a clean state unlike before, but the biggest problem was his tail.

'No matter how many races live on the continent...'

It wasn't impossible to see them, but humans' perception of other races was not very good. No matter how Zain and I had no prejudice, it wouldn't make other people's prejudice disappear.

I took out an extra robe from my inventory. Troy looked surprised as if he had been watching me.

"Master. Who are you? You can pull things out of thin air."

The answer came from Zain, not me.

"Master is an amazing person. So be respectful. Don't talk informally."

But Troy didn't answer Zain's words. He ignored him as if he didn't care or didn't know. I smiled softly and handed Troy the robe.

"I know it's uncomfortable, but wear it. We're fine, but other people's perception is not so good... I'm sorry."

"No. It's okay. I needed it. I don't want to attract attention either. Thank you, Master."

Somehow Troy's words sounded sad, but I forced a smile. As I did so, Zain's expression was not very pleasant.

"Hey, are you ignoring me? Be polite to Master."

Zain narrowed his eyebrows and spoke, but Troy ignored him again. He must have heard him with his developed hearing as a Mont race. As I chuckled softly, Zain glared at me. So what, what are you going to do if you glare at me?

---You two are cute.

'Ah, I disagree with that opinion. Zain is not cute.'

I left the inn chatting with Kyros, and the two followed me on both sides.

'Is it left money bug, right black panther now?'

I smiled as I felt more secure around me.

---

There was no big trouble in getting a carriage to head for Bahano after leaving the inn. It was a long journey, but the coachman gladly accepted it when I offered him twice the money.

I paid half of the advance and got on the carriage. The seats were quite soft, so my butt wouldn't hurt even if I rode for a long time.

As I leaned back on the seat, Zain sat across from me and Troy sat next to me. Then the carriage started moving.

'It starts again.'

I stared blankly out the window. At times like this, I missed modern culture. Public transportation, of course, but even a bicycle would have been nice.

As I thought so, a voice broke the silence in the carriage.

"Master."

It was Troy who called me. Zain, who had been knitting quietly, flinched at his short speech, but he just glared at Troy without saying anything else.

"Why are you going to Bahano?"

Come to think of it, I didn't explain it to Troy. I looked into his golden eyes shining in the sunlight and whispered softly.

"Because Kyros wants their salvation."

"Salvation?"

I nodded my head at Troy.

"Yes. The current situation in Bahano is quite chaotic. According to the information that Kyros gives me from time to time, there is also the Rizes Church there."

At the mention of the Rizes Church, Troy's expression turned cold in an instant. His fists clenched with force, showing his veins.

"Then I'll help too."

There was a determined will in Troy's eyes.

"Thank you, Troy."

"You were going to help anyway, but you didn't want to if you didn't like it?"

"Don't catch my tail, you petty human."

"You two just don't want to get along, do you?"

I laughed for a moment at the sight of them bickering, but soon I wiped the smile off my face.

Actually, I said so, but I was a little worried. I was able to save Troy in time and prevent him from going berserk in Bahano, but I couldn't be sure. So I decided to keep a close eye on Troy when we arrived in Bahano.

As we had a short conversation, the carriage ran hard and soon left the Aldone Kingdom.

I closed my eyes as I saw the barren land again.

The journey to Bahano would take about three days. By the time we arrived in Bahano, it would be the end of autumn.

---

Bahano Royal Castle, top of the West Tower.

Moonlight seeped through a small window. It was a deep night with a full moon, but the one trapped in the tower couldn't sleep.

There was a woman with black hair and blue eyes at the corner where the moonlight touched. She sat on the floor with her legs hugged.

Her blue eyes sparkled brilliantly in the bright moonlight. But her gaze was unfocused.

"Is Bahano going to disappear into history now?"

A tear streamed down the woman's eye.

'How did it come to this?'

The woman's name was Arhen Bahano. She was the Second Princess of the Bahano Kingdom and the third bloodline of the Bahano Royal Family.

And she was the only one in the Royal Family who was still 'sane'.

Arhen turned her head to the side. She saw the bars that confined her in her sight. And in front of the bars, there was a bottle of Happy rolling around, and next to it, there was a plate with rotten bread crumbs.

Arhen bit her lip at the sight of Happy. That was the cause of all this.

'The Rizes Church...'

The Rizes Church had entered the Bahano Kingdom less than a year ago. In that short or long time, one religion had swallowed up the kingdom.

"Sigh."

Arhen let out a small sigh. Her white breath was as thick as the cold air. She slowly closed her eyes.

Arhen's father, Hebius Bahano. The king of the Bahano Kingdom and a follower of the Rizes Church.

Eventually, he was addicted to Happy and his whole body was almost dyed blue.

The last time Arhen saw her father, he could barely recognize Arhen's face.

'I don't know what's in Happy, but it's clear that it makes people lose their minds.'

And the situation was serious not only for Hebius, the current king. Arhen's older brother, Haven Bahano, who would take over the throne next, was also in a similar situation.

"Melina, Sister..."

Arhen muttered softly. Melina Bahano, she was the one who did not lose hope and resisted her Father and the Rizes Church until the end in this desperate situation. Arhen's sister, the First Princess, lost her life at the hands of her Father, the King, a few weeks ago.

'Father and Brother are not in their right minds.'

The only thing left now was her, Arhen, but she was locked up in a tower.

If this goes on, there will be no more hope left in the Bahano Kingdom.

'If only I could get out of here, I would do anything.'

But it was a near-impossible assumption. The one who locked Arhen in the west tower was her Father, King Hebius.

Of course, Arhen knew that it was 'Celos', the High Priest of the Rizes Church's Bahano Branch who was manipulating him behind his back.

So she appealed to her Father, but she couldn't beat Celos.

And they could have killed Arhen at any time, but they deliberately didn't.

'To see me despair and crumble.'

Celos was such a malicious person. He offered Happy to Arhen but didn't force her to eat it.

'Because I have no power or authority.'

They knew that and kept her alive. Unlike Melina, Arhen had nothing. Arhen who couldn't pose any threat at all. That's why the Rizes Church, including Celos, kept her alive as a toy.

"But."

Arhen clenched her fist tightly.

'I won't give up.'

Her bright eyes shone in the moonlight.

'If I ever get power, I will risk my life to,'

Save this country.

Arhen vowed firmly.

---

A bonfire burned on the barren land. It was a little away from the road where carriages passed by, but it was perfect for camping because it was a flat ground with almost no stones.

Two makeshift tents were set up around the bonfire, and they were currently in use. Each one had a coachman and Zain was sleeping in it.

And I was on guard duty with Troy by the bonfire.

There was nothing to do for hours, so I just stared at the bonfire blankly.

'Fire-gazing is best done outdoors.'

I felt relaxed as I watched the branches burn with a crackling sound. I felt like I could stare blankly for hours like this.

"Master."

It was then that I heard Troy's voice.

"...Yeah?"

I hadn't spoken for a long time, so my throat was dry. As I cleared my throat, Troy said something.

"I hate the Rizes Church."

"I know."

I knew Troy's past very well. I had seen it several times while playing Woosebeop.

"They trampled on our land and killed all my family and tribe."

"...Yeah."

"So I want to get rid of them all too."

Troy's eyes sparkled with firelight. I looked at him and closed my mouth for a moment.

How should I tell him? I wondered about that.

At that moment, a white light bloomed over the bonfire. As I saw the light flicker and take shape, I knew what was happening.

'Kyros.'

The light gradually changed into a small and cute puppy. It was Kyros' manifestation.

Then Troy's eyes widened at the sudden situation. He was so surprised that he couldn't say anything. I opened my mouth to him.

"This is Kyros."

"Is that really him? He's smaller than me? He's smaller than the children of our tribe."

"Shh. Don't say anything rude."

Troy couldn't believe his eyes. But soon, Kyros straightened his chest and opened his mouth.

"Yes. I am Kyros, kid."

Kyros appeared in the air and slowly floated towards Troy. Then Troy realized the reality and closed his mouth and knelt on the ground.

"Ky, Kyros."

"...Huh?"