Henry exited the room in shock, breathless. His steps were unsteady as he entered the hallway. Ahead of him, the elderly were still chatting—voices drifting through the wooden doorway.
"Hey, the Liora priests hadn't made me feel like this at all."
"I know, right? It feels like… there is a goddess actually looking out for us!"
"That saint Dilek is actually a good person. Sad he had to go through all that."
Henry paused mid-step.
'No…' He looked at them from the corner of the corridor. Dilek had met them for only an hour or two…
And in that short time, he had completely changed them.
"Should we really worship Liora?"
The moment he heard that, panic flooded his chest. His breath quickened; the world seemed to tilt.
'W-what? N-no, this isn't it… N-No, it can't end… Dilek… He is dangerous… He is not to be taken lightly… The Archbishop… he must know…'
He muttered under his breath as he broke into a run, rushing toward the exit.
'I can't shout at Dilek… I can't tell others he is evil— they'll think I'm jealous… I can't argue… I can't get angry…'
The elderly saw him sprinting away.
"Bishop Henry?" one called out.
But another old man grabbed his arm.
"Leave it…"
So no one called after Henry again. He disappeared through the inn doors, running as if being chased.
—
Nandita lay sprawled on the bed, face buried in a pillow.
"THAT WAS SO CRINGE… GOODNESS, I REALLY HAD TO ACT LIKE THAT? AWHHHHHHHGGHHH!"
Ami was on the floor, limbs spread out.
"YOU THINK YOU HAD IT WORSE?! I HAD TO ACT LIKE THIS DORK'S PERSONAL BELIEVER—BANDIT-TURNED-GOOD GUY! I feel like I might actually become a bandit just to forget all this."
Dilek sat on a chair, deadpan. "Okay, I get that you had to do that. But you guys are overreacting at this point."
Diego raised his hand. "Saint, why was I here? I didn't even act."
Nandita turned her head. "Diego, the reason the old people felt that bad is because out of everyone in the room, you cried the ugliest—"
Diego blinked. "Well… that story really was sad. Wait—SAINT, WAS THAT REALLY TRUE?!"
"Nope. Not at all," Dilek said casually. "I was born on Earth, dude, not in this country. Or this world. So no, I wasn't a slave."
"Oh…" Diego muttered, relieved.
Dilek stretched. "Okay, now that this is done, I have even the last people who believed in him on my side."
"Really?" Nandita asked. "But from what Ami told me, you only convinced people who were listening. Not the whole village."
Dilek smiled. "Well, that's enough. The fire spreads quickly…"
"Fire?" Diego tilted his head.
Nandita sighed. "Ah… I see." She looked at Diego. "He just convinced the die-hard believers."
"Eh?" Diego stared blankly.
"Diego," she explained patiently, "early in the morning there were a group of people listening to the ballads of Liora being told by the bishop. Around 30 to 40 people—or more. Now, who would do that early in the morning?"
"The die-hard believers?" Diego said.
"Exactly. Now if the die-hard believers told others about Dilek—a saint who heals for free—it'll cause interest. Especially coming from people who wake up early just to listen to the bishop."
"Ohhh! So that's how it spreads?"
Ami asked, "But if they're really die-hard, didn't they believe Dilek too easily?"
"Not really," Dilek answered. He leaned back, crossing his arms. "Ami, from what I've seen, in this world healing magic is considered a gift—an expensive one. Only some people can heal, and those who can are usually from the church or adventurers with low-level healing. Even they charge a lot. So the cheaper option is the churches, but with strict rules—praying, following, paying donations, extra money for better healing. Most people are poor; they spend all their earnings on low-quality heals that only help temporarily."
He shrugged. "Now I come in, offering full healing for free. That's enough for them to think, Following this faith isn't getting me anywhere, but this man is healing me for free… Isn't his faith better?"
Ami stared at him blankly.
"Almost fell asleep. Keep it shorter next time…"
She stood up and left, heading upstairs toward the others' room.
Nandita looked at Dilek. "Don't exert yourself for this."
Dilek smiled lightly. "Don't worry. This time I can tell whether I'm reaching my limit or not. And if I am, I'll fall into your arms dramatically. Then you can say stuff like, Oh no… Dilek has passed out heroically healing everyone!'"
Nandita stared at him in disbelief before chuckling. "I am not doing that."
He smiled.
"Well then," she asked, "what do you think he's going to do next?"
"Hmmm…" Dilek leaned back against the wall. "I do have an idea. But let's just wait."
"Just say you don't have any plans," Nandita said as she left.
"WHATT?! NO, I REALLY DO! I'M A GENIUS, YOU KNOW!!!" Dilek shouted.
"Yeah, yeah. Dumb genius," she muttered, waving dismissively. "Diego, let's go."
Diego stood and followed her upstairs.
Left alone in the room, Dilek exhaled and smiled faintly.
"Well, I do know. If I'm correct… he's going to go complain about me to the Archbishop of Liora."
—
Henry ran through the afternoon sun, Dust kicked up under his boots, scattering across the road. He looked up, breath hitching.
'Liora's faith is going to collapse by tonight?! No… no, that's not possible…'
People turned as he sprinted past them, their murmurs fluttering like insects in his ears.
'D-don't… W-what did I do? A-all my life I only followed what was taught to me…'
He pushed open the doors of the church. The hall was dim, lit only by shafts of sunlight slipping through stained glass. Not a single soul was there except the priests of Liora. They greeted him politely, but Henry ran past them, panic seizing his throat.
He stumbled to a halt, breathless. His hand gripped his chest as the high ceiling seemed to tilt above him.
"Henry?"
The voice echoed gently through the chamber. Henry looked up.
The archbishop stood there, smiling, his secretary beside him. The secretary didn't even glance Henry's way.
"Y-Your G-g-Grace?" Henry stammered.
"Henry… so, how did it go?" Kaelis asked, his smile calm.
Henry trembled. "Y-Your g-grace… D-dilek… H-he is a th-threat… He is too good… H-he can turn people on his side in hours or minutes… H-he is too smart…"
"Henry," the archbishop said, still smiling. "Failure after failure. I helped you rise to the position of bishop. All those years I raised you like my own son, and failure is all you give me? When I gave you the world?"
Henry's knees nearly buckled. "Your Grace—"
"No, my son. Look up."
Henry raised his head obediently—
SLAP—
The sound cracked through the empty church. Henry's eyes widened. The archbishop stepped closer, shadows covering his face.
"Last chance, Henry. Last chance… And what if he is a threat? I have taught you how to take care of such brazen people, right?" Kaelis murmured with a smile. "The festival will begin in the evening. I hope you can think of something by then. After all… an insect shouldn't be a problem."
Kaelis turned and walked away, his robes brushing against the marble floor. Henry stood alone beneath the enormous dome, trembling.
'Take care of him…'
Henry knew exactly what the archbishop meant.
'He had meant for Dilek to be killed off… Killed…'
He shook violently.
'I-I have to k-kill? N-No… I must… I must not disappoint him…'
He forced himself upright and walked toward the doors. His thoughts spun.
'Assassinate him?
The villagers already hate me…
If they discover it's me, I'll be torn apart.'
'But if I say no… the archbishop will punish me instead.'
'Dilek… he knew it all… What do I do…'
He paced outside, the festival banners fluttering in the early breeze. Stalls were being set up. People laughed, unaware of his despair.
'If I get him killed by someone, they will think I did it… since only I could do it… He's already too well liked…'
'How, how, how…' Henry clutched his hair. 'Nothing will work… HOWWW!'
He staggered forward—
—and heard a scream.
"PLEASE, PLEASE, I JUST NEED SOME MONEY! PLEASE! I GAVE YOU SO MUCH MONEY! I JUST NEED SOME FOR FOOD! THE GOD SHOULD HELP ME! GOD LIORA PLEASE!"
A desperate man was being held down by priests near the church steps. Henry froze.
The priests struggled with him as the man writhed on the cobblestones.
A thought flashed in Henry's mind like lightning.
'That's it… A scapegoat… I just need a scapegoat. A desperate person… Someone who makes sense to kill someone… That's it… If he kills Dilek, no one can blame me… I-I will be spar-spared… Ri-right?'
He forced a calm expression and walked over.
"What are you doing?" Henry asked softly.
"Bishop Henry!" the priests said, startled. "We're so sorry—this man is causing a commotion."
"Is this the way to hold him down though?" Henry asked mildly, glancing at their rough grip.
They immediately let go, bowing in apology.
The man crawled forward and grabbed Henry's leg.
"BISHOP, SAVE ME! I NEED MONEY, PLEASE, PLEASEEE!"
Henry smiled gently at the priests. "Go outside. I'll take care of this."
—
Inside the church hall, Henry handed the man a piece of bread. The man devoured it in seconds, crumbs spilling down his chin.
"Thank you so much—thank you so much… Praise God Liora… Praise him, praise him…"
Henry smiled faintly. "Such devotion… I'm amazed. It seems you would do anything for our God…"
"Yes," the man breathed. "I was saved just now by you, Bishop. I will do anything… for you or Liora… But Bishop… I really need money for—"
"Hold on. Hold on." Henry raised a hand. "Look, I understand you need money. But if you can do something for me… I'll get you as much as 70 Sisho."
The man's eyes widened. "70 Si—Sisho?"
Henry nodded.
"You just have to do one small thing."
"WHATEVER YOU WANT, BISHOP!" the man said eagerly.
Henry swallowed. "Then kill a person, will you?"
The man froze.
"K-kill?"
Henry stared at his face. For a moment, guilt wrenched inside him.
'What am I doing? I-I don't want h-him to kill some—'
Then the archbishop's slap echoed in his mind. His breath shook.
"80 Sisho… if you do it," Henry whispered. "And—and I will make sure you don't get arrested."
He pulled a small dagger from under his robes. "The God Liora has told me that the man is a fraud… Y-you see… O-our god will b-bless you if you do."
The man stared at the dagger, trembling.
"Just do it… It's the Saint of Yaguya… okay? He is an enemy to our lord…"
The man stared at the floor, stunned.
Henry pulled out 10 Sisho and pressed it into his hand.
"F-for n-now… is this f-fine?"
The man looked at the coins, then closed his fist around them. He took the dagger with shaking fingers.
"I'll do it… for taking out the fraud… For the God Liora."
Henry smiled, though fear flickered behind his eyes.
'That's it… It will work…'
The man hurried out of the church.
Henry exhaled sharply.
'That's it… It's perfect…
If this succeeds, I won't take the blame. They will call him a madman and turn to me… and then the archbishop will praise me.'
'And even if it fails… they will arrest or kill the man. That girl bandit… she seemed defensive… she will kill him… and people will hate him. Either way, our church will deny involvement. And I will be innocent…'
'That's… that's it—
I-I w-win.'
The sun slowly started setting as Henry was filled with relief, Hoping his plan succeeds.
—
The evening sun was fading, its last orange light spilling across the floorboards of the small inn room. Dilek lay on the narrow bed, hands behind his head, eyes closed. Marcus sat nearby on a creaking chair, watching the dimming sky through the window.
"Time is passing really fast today, isn't it?" Marcus said quietly.
Dilek, still resting, murmured, "Yea… it is…"
There was a soft rustle as Marcus leaned forward, elbows on his knees.
"Dilek… I wanted to ask… Is this the right path?" His voice was low, uncertain.
Dilek opened his eyes and turned his head toward him. Marcus hesitated, looking away toward the window where the sunset glowed behind the houses.
"I mean… the day we three met, I thought that maybe we would start a slow life… I didn't think the three of us would try to start something like a faith…" he continued.
"I thought the three of us would do quests, come back home and talk all night, then go again on some different adventure later… But I'm not sure… I mean it's nice that you are doing something… Honestly I don't know…"
Dilek exhaled softly. "Yea, I know how you feel… I mean even I never thought I would do something like this…"
Marcus stood up suddenly, chair legs scraping the floor. "Dilek… Do you think we are going down the right path? Are we going to be all right?"
He shook his head. "I meant nothing… Forget it."
He walked out of the room, the door shutting gently behind him, leaving Dilek alone in the dim silence.
Dilek sat upright, staring down at his hands as the sunset faded into dusk.
'The right path… I wonder… Am I going in the right path?
Am I sure this won't harm my friends?
Should I stop… I can…
What do I know? What do I do after the main quest is over?
Do I get sent back?
What does it mean…
Should I stop?'
A message flickered—
and a white screen flashed before him.
———
Main Quest:
Option 1: Start the biggest cult in Orynneya
Option 2: Defeat the Heaven's Tear
Option 3: Defeat Hell's Blood
Option 4: ???
Complete any one of them to finish the quest.
Completing these will allow you to get your second quest.
———
"Huh?" Dilek whispered, staring at the last line.
'This isn't the final quest? This… this wasn't there before…'
"What the hell?" He sat up straight, heart thudding. "That means… There is more?"
'No… What are these quests? Who is sending them? What even is a Heaven's Tear and Hell's Blood? Anyways? Wha—'
A soft knock interrupted him.
Dilek turned toward the door.
Kelid stood there in the hallway, lit faintly by lantern light. She wore a blue skirt that dropped past her knees and a warm, long-sleeved dress. Her face was slightly red, her hands clasped together nervously.
"Do you… wanna go see the festival?" she asked, voice small.
"Huh?" Dilek froze, all thoughts of quests evaporating.
She thought he hadn't heard, so she swallowed and repeated, even more embarrassed,
"Let's go… see… the f-festival?"
Kelid looked up at him with her red, earnest face.