The cult leader was a handsome man with bright blonde hair, a gentle impression, and a holy aura.

He looked convincingly like a clergyman, naturally inspiring reverence in others.

‘Tsk, tsk, using that handsome face to spread a cult religion.’

The service resumed, and I roughly followed what others were doing along with Damian.

Eventually, it was time to introduce new believers.

The man assisting the cult leader beside him called out to the people.

“New arrivals, please line up over here.”

I glanced around cautiously before standing up and getting in line.

One by one, people greeted the cult leader and performed the oath ceremony for joining.

Soon it was my turn.

“This is Sister Jella Irene, introduced by Believer Damian.”

At the assistant’s introduction, the cult leader welcomed me with a gentle smile.

“Welcome, Sister Jella.”

Then gasps of admiration came from behind.

‘He is handsome enough to cause gasps, but this seems a bit excessive?’

Suppressing my puzzlement, I looked at the cult leader.

But the cult leader’s reaction was strange.

He seemed somewhat perplexed and also looked uncomfortable in some way.

Then, he immediately showed his perfect teeth and smiled at me more brightly than before.

“…?”

I blinked at him.

‘What is he trying to do?’

Just when trembling spasms began to appear at the corners of his upturned lips.

Hearing the groaning sounds from the believers behind me, a thought suddenly crossed my mind.

‘Ah. Could it be? Do I need to praise the cult leader’s beauty to move on to the next step?’

Having reached this realization, I grabbed my eyes with both hands and sank down.

“Aah, my eyes!”

“What’s wrong, Sister?”

I answered the cult leader, who asked in a surprised voice, using a fabricated tone.

“The cult leader is so beautiful that my eyes are dazzled.”

“Oh dear. How pitiful.”

Despite his sympathetic words, he looked quite satisfied.

I must have gotten it right.

‘They said it was a cult, and the leader does seem a bit odd.’

The cult leader personally helped me up and said in a holy voice.

“Then let us begin the oath ceremony.”

He smiled gently and held out a golden chalice before me.

“You just need to make your oath before the holy chalice, Sister Jella.”

“Yes.”

“Do you swear to dedicate your life and answer the call whenever summoned for our lord god Arne?”

I hesitated.

‘Dedicate my life?’

It sounded extremely suspicious even at first glance. I had a strong intuition that I absolutely should not answer “yes.”

Suddenly, I remembered a similar situation I had experienced in the past.

‘It is a promise, Cail. On my twentieth birthday, you will grant one thing I wish for.’

In the past, I had placed a binding oath on Cail with Helasio’s power.

‘I was the perpetrator back then, though…’

Each person’s words had the power to move souls, and that was an ancient oath magic that utilized this power.

Of course, not just anyone could cast it.

Even I couldn’t do it with my own power, so I had borrowed Helasio’s power that one and only time.

It was difficult magic that couldn’t be easily cast without corresponding power…

‘Anyway, I absolutely must not answer.’

I thought while looking at the cult leader’s suspicious holy chalice.

It seemed likely that this was the means by which the collapsed women’s life force had been stolen.

When I hesitated to avoid answering, someone behind me urged.

“What are you doing? Hurry up and make the oath.”

“Ah, um, hmm, ahem.”

Just when I was clearing my throat, unable to answer easily.

“Cult Leader! Cult Leader!”

The cult leader frowned and turned toward the voice interrupting the oath ceremony.

“What is it?”

“Th-the Saint has brought Pope Yupheon Arne this way…!”

The cult leader paused and fixed his gaze on the open door.

Everyone’s attention turned that way as well, including mine.

A moment later, Yupheon entered the chapel, holding Yuria’s hand affectionately.

‘That’s really Yuphe?’

My eyes widened in surprise.

I looked at Damian in the pews with a “what’s going on” expression, but he seemed just as clueless, staring at Yupheon with eyes that looked ready to pop out.

I looked back at Yupheon, but he didn’t seem to notice me, consistently smiling brightly while looking only at Yuria.

“Ohhh…!”

“The Saint has brought the Pope!”

The service was interrupted amid the people’s cheers.

“I will pause the service for a moment.”

The cult leader approached Yupheon and Yuria with a brightened face.

“Welcome, we are honored by your precious presence.”

“I heard there were virtuous people protecting Yuria in my stead, so I came personally.”

Yupheon said with a slight smile.

“I will escort you inside. Please follow me.”

The cult leader took the two of them beyond the curtain at the front of the chapel. It seemed the cult leader’s room was over there.

“Was that really Pope Yupheon just now?”

“Does this mean we have the Grand Temple’s recognition?”

“What recognition from the Grand Temple? We’re the ones recognizing the Grand Temple.”

“That’s right. Isn’t the Saint with us?”

“Above all, we are the true ones serving the Saint…”

I stared at the area beyond the curtain, leaving the people’s whispers behind.

‘I don’t like that woman.’

I remembered what he had said to me just yesterday while holding me, along with how he had just appeared completely infatuated with Yuria.

‘Why did you lie about not liking her or disliking her?’

Well, it didn’t matter.

I never believed such lies anyway, and I knew better than anyone how sweet and devoted he became in front of Yuria.

But this wasn’t the time for that.

Thanks to Yupheon and Yuria’s timely appearance, I was able to avoid the oath ceremony.

I needed to check the suspicious holy chalice quickly while the cult leader was away.

Just when I was about to touch the suspicious chalice while everyone’s attention was focused elsewhere due to Yupheon’s appearance.

BOOM, CRASH, BANG!

With an explosive sound, the curtain beads flew away and a cloud of dust billowed from inside.

“Kyaaak!”

Yuria screamed and fled from inside.

“S-Saint? Where are you going…?”

“W-what’s happening?”

“There was a loud noise from inside…”

Eventually, the dust cloud cleared, revealing a blown-out wall. In the empty cult leader’s room, Yupheon stood alone.

“Tch, he got away.”

Yupheon muttered, standing with his arms crossed at an angle.

Bright red blood was dripping at his feet.

Since Yupheon didn’t have a single wound, it didn’t seem to be his blood.

The drops of blood formed a trail leading out the window.

“W-what have you done?”

“Where is the cult leader…!”

“D-did you harm the cult leader…!”

People instinctively realized there was a threat to the cult leader’s safety.

“C-Cult Leader…!”

“The Grand Temple has begun religious persecution!”

“S-seize him immediately!”

Excited people surrounded Yupheon, each holding something blunt and threatening as a weapon.

“What’s this now?”

Yupheon raised one eyebrow crookedly as he looked at the people surrounding him.

Everyone flinched but maintained their vigilance.

“On the count of three, we attack all at once!”

“B-but he’s the Pope…”

“Pope, nothing. We who serve Lady Yuria are the true servants of God!”

“B-but that person is the hero who saved the continent…”

But while they were in disarray, unable to actually attack.

‘I should take this chance to grab the chalice and escape.’

Just when I was about to grab the chalice and flee in the midst of the confusion.

“Ah, pretty one!”

Yupheon spotted me and called out in a delighted voice.

“What are you doing here?”

Because of this, everyone looked at me.

“Who is that woman? Is she with the Pope?”

“That woman is stealing the holy chalice!”

“She must be a Grand Temple spy too!”

I was startled and put the chalice I was holding into my bosom while exclaiming.

“N-no! I-I’m not some Grand Temple minion, I’m just an ordinary thief!”

“Aha, so you were stealing the holy chalice. Want some help?”

Yupheon asked with a bright smile.

“Don’t pretend to know me!”

When I shouted at him, he covered his mouth with both hands, opened his eyes wide, and asked.

“Oh! Should I hide our relationship?”

Then he lowered his hands and declared in a deliberately solemn voice to the cult believers.

“I do not know that woman. Really.”

“….”

“….”

“….”

A brief silence hung in the air for a moment.