How the Cult Saves the World

December website update

The voice emanating from the orb belonged to Dr. Fran, the attending physician. Soon, Dr. Fran's face appeared in the gap of the door, looking much younger than he does now.

"Impossible. Levi has Malone's disease! Doctor, could there be a mistake in the results?"

The following voice was my Mother's. The screen shifted to her; a younger version of my Mother gripped Dr. Fran's shoulder with an angry expression.

"I couldn't believe it either and checked multiple times, but..."

Dr. Fran's voice trailed off, and my Mother's body slowly crumbled.

"Darling!"

Suddenly, a strange voice I had never heard before reached my ears, yet it was a voice that existed in my memories.

The screen revealed the owner of the voice.

He was a man in his early twenties, with dull golden hair and blue eyes. And I knew who he was.

Cain Holden. Revelof Holden's father. I never thought I'd see his face again, which existed only in Revelof's memories.

Cain, my Father, held my Mother in his arms. His complexion was far from good.

After Revelof Holden contracted Malone's disease, it wasn't long before Cain Holden also passed away due to illness. His pallor made sense.

"Levi, my child..."

Mother, supported by Father, headed towards the bed where a young Revelof lay. Revelof's eyes were hazy as if he had just woken up from sleep.

"I'm sorry, Levi."

Father also apologized to Revelof. But in the next moment, the child's small hand wiped away their tears.

"I'm okay."

The child was smiling instead.

Watching this scene, I felt a strong sense of déjà vu. It was the same sight I had seen in a dream about young Revelof's past. It was as if I had truly become Revelof in that dream.

Was that why? A bitter feeling washed over me.

Then, the orb's screen blurred.

"Sevi? When did you get here? You should have come in."

Mother spoke, looking straight at the screen. Only then did I realize whose perspective this screen represented.

"Mother, is Levi sick? Is it serious?"

The owner of the perspective, a young Sevenus, spoke with a quivering voice. His voice from childhood was so different from now that I was initially confused. But since Mother called him Sevi, it must be him.

"Yes. Levi is very sick right now... So, as his brother, you must take good care of him."

It was not Mother, Leira, who responded to the tearful Sevenus, but father, Cain. At father's words, Sevenus stopped crying and nodded in agreement.

"Yes, I will."

The first orb's footage ended there. I immediately approached the second orb and touched it, and the next video played.

This footage also began from the gap in the door. Inside the room was a young Revelof.

"Cough, hack-"

Revelof, in pain, coughed up blood. The screen watching him blurred as Sevenus began to cry.

The second video was hard to see properly because Sevenus was endlessly shedding tears. However, judging by the continuous sound of young Revelof's coughing, I could guess what it looked like.

The video ended like that. I immediately played the third video.

The background of the third video was the Holden mansion's garden. The sight of running across the green lawn. Then, at some point, the screen changed.

Somewhere in the Holden mansion was shown. At the window of the mansion stood a young Revelof. The child was smiling, but there was a sadness in his eyes. Then Sevenus' perspective turned towards the lawn, and the video ended.

I played the last video. This video quickly went through the daily life of young Sevenus.

The child, who used to run around the garden, gradually went out less and stayed in his room.

He no longer smiled. As if not to show a happy face to young Revelof, he refrained from all joyous activities.

He silently carried on only with his studies and duties that benefited the family.

And at the end of the video, the child lost his smile.

All the videos had ended.

My head felt cluttered. I sighed softly, and the four orbs in front of me disappeared.

And in the place where the orbs had been, sat a child, hunched over. The emotionless face of the child was familiar.

I had just seen it in the videos.

"Sevenus."

The child was the young Sevenus.

And then, I realized what this space was.

This was inside Sevenus' nightmare.

His nightmare was nothing more than being forced to watch his beloved younger brother suffer.

All he could do was erase his own happiness so that his brother wouldn't envy him.

"Ah..."

That's why I envied the real Revelof even more. And at the same time, I felt a sense of guilt. I was deceiving a family that loved the real Revelof this much.

"But..."

I took off the glasses I was wearing and splashed water on my face.

Even though I felt guilty, there was no turning back. So, I had to do what I could now.

I approached the young Sevenus, who was crouched down, and squatted in front of him.

Young Sevenus looked straight at me. I smiled at him and said,

"Brother, I'm okay."

Young Sevenus' eyes widened.

"I've always been okay. So, I want you to be happy too."

Would the real Revelof have said something like this? As I speculated and spoke, tears streamed down young Sevenus' face.

I gently embraced the child.

And at the same time, my vision flickered.

When I opened my eyes, the first thing I saw was Sevenus. I let go of his hand that I was holding and examined myself. Fortunately, I was still in the state of about to use the healing skill. The glasses I was wearing were still on my face.

---My dear lamb, what happened? Your consciousness had vanished just a moment ago.

'How long was I out?'

---Just a few seconds.

That's a relief. Nothing serious happened in the meantime.

'When I gave Sevenus the power of healing, it seems my consciousness was sucked into his. It appears that the superior demon used his nightmare.'

---Did you see your brother's nightmare?

'...Yes.'

I slowly assessed Sevenus' condition.

Before using my healing skill, I had assumed that the 'Curse Removal' option was simply activated upon use.

But the recent event proved otherwise; I had entered Sevenus's consciousness myself.

It seemed that depending on the type of curse, the method of healing also varied.

And sometimes, it was exhaustingly so.

'If that's the case, it should be clearly stated.'

I cursed the system, but nothing changed. It used to be so responsive.

Regardless, it was clear that the 'Curse Removal' option of my healing skill had sent me into Sevenus's memories.

"Hmm."

That was my conclusion when Sevenus groaned, his eyelids fluttering. After a moment, he struggled to open his eyes and, upon seeing me, his lips parted slightly.

"Levi...?"

Perhaps he remembered me from his consciousness. But now, I was Leviathan, the High Priest of the Kyros Church, wearing my cognitive dissonance glasses.

"You're awake, brother."

I said with a gentle smile, and Sevenus' eyes snapped open.

"You are... the High Priest of the Kyros Church?"

"Yes, it's been a while."

Sevenus sat up abruptly, looking at me incredulously.

"How did you get here...?"

He furrowed his brow, trying to recall his last memory.

"I was certain that I..."

I spoke to him softly.

"I heard from Priest Revelof. A rift opened here in Sercion. Thus, Lord Kyros sent me."

Sevenus frowned. He still seemed to dislike me. But I continued without pause.

"And by chance, I found you attacked by a superior demon and brought you here."

"What happened to that superior demon?"

Sevenus asked urgently. His words were brief.

"I took care of it."

One of his eyebrows arched in surprise.

"You did... how?"

I shrugged.

"Well, I am also the leader of a religion."

"But you were a heretic..."

"No, I am not."

I replied firmly. Sevenus stared at me blankly. Seeing his thoughtful look, I asked,

"By the way, are you feeling alright? I treated you as best as I could, but if there's any discomfort, please let me know."

"Ah... I'm fine."

Sevenus examined himself and nodded. He was being formal again. Well, as long as he wasn't in pain.

I turned away from him and looked out the window. The rift in the sky had completely disappeared, and the screams of the people had ceased.

"The rift is gone."

Sevenus followed my gaze and spoke. I stood up.

"It seems the situation has calmed down, so I will take my leave."

Having changed Sevenus' future, my task for today was done.

I rose from my seat without hesitation and turned away. Sevenus' gaze clung to me, but I didn't look back.

After treating Sevenus, I immediately sought out Zain and Troy. Thanks to communication magic, I quickly found Zain, and Troy's large size made him easy to locate.

With the demons that plagued Sercion gone, we returned to Rovel straight away.

I would have liked to preach before returning, but the circumstances were not favorable.

I heard some of the villagers whose lives I saved shouting their newfound faith in the Kyros Church...

---I wish I could have spoken more with those children. It's regrettable.

'It's unfortunate, but it can't be helped. The priests from the Diego Church must have arrived by now, and there's no point in clashing with them.'

I left Sercion quickly to avoid meeting the Diego Church priests, especially since entering Sevenus' consciousness had left me extremely fatigued. So, I returned to Rovel, lying almost prone on Troy, who had transformed into a black panther.

---You're right. It's regrettable, but I can't put you in danger. Still, some strength has returned to me, so consider this a small gift for your help.

[Sub Quest

<For My Only Brother>

<For My Only Brother>

[Sub Quest rewards have been added to your inventory.]

Lying on the bed in the temple of Rovel, I checked the quest rewards given by Kyros.

'A lottery ticket?'

Kyros had granted me five officer recruitment tickets. Despite my lack of strength, I was grateful for such a reward.

'This will help me recruit officers to aid the Bahano Temple.'

The Bahano Temple would have many followers, so Abel would need another hand.

'I'll think about this part later...'

Having checked the rewards, I wanted to rest.

---Child, you look very tired.

'Yes. I'm going to sleep.'

Though the sun had not fully set, my body and spirit were incredibly weary.

Having exhausted my holy power to defeat the demon's offspring and having ventured into Sevenus' consciousness...

As I closed my eyes, an unbelievable message from Alphius arrived.

[High Priest! Your brother has come to see you again!]

...Is this déjà vu?

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