Tsuyokute New Saga (LN)
Book 8: Chapter 15

Thus began the fifth day of the meeting. Since their biggest arguing reason, the war, had disappeared, many of the participants seemed refreshed. During the meeting itself, they mostly just discussed lighter topics. For example, business relations, and differences in taxes, and although they were all important in their own right, it wasn’t like a country’s fate was on the line. Even for Kyle, most of the meeting was filled with boredom instead of non-stop tension and exhaustion. However, when the afternoon rolled around, he woke up instantly.

“Then, on to our next topic of discussion…regarding the Mera Cult.”

Both Kyle and Sakira froze up.

“As you surely know, the Mera Cult is an evil sect that diminishes any race that is not human. For that, we have seen many demi-humans suffering discriminate attacks at their hands.”

After the discussion of the cease-fire had ended, the de-facto leading role of the meeting, the king of a small country, exclaimed bluntly.

“Yes. Our countries have suffered casualties at their hands, too.” The representative from one of the countries that housed many demi-humans, Korodes, spoke up while shaking his head.

“Yes. We consider them our sworn enemy,” said Garadoff with an unpleasant expression. “They had been especially active in the past, but over the last…year and a half, they suddenly started showing up everywhere, causing problems wherever they go.”

“I would rather not present our country in a bad light, but one of our crucial ministers was in close contact with them, scheming in the shadows. Needless to say, we have already cut him off,” Sharidan said with a harsh tone.

Since a big country like Taihon could suffer at the hands of the Mera cult, all the other smaller countries grew worried, wondering if they would be fine.

“I was told that the leading figure of the cult was a man called Cordi…”

“Yes. He’s an individual who rarely shows himself. That said, they seem to have an individual called their Holiness in the center of it all, never nobody has ever seen them.”

“Does that Holiness exist? Isn’t it just a symbolic existence?”

“I heard that they were worshiping this Holiness as if they were a god themselves…Maybe it might be the reincarnation of the Goddess Mera herself?”

Someone joked around like that, but both Kyle and Sakira could only flash wry smiles.

“I would rather not phrase my statement like this, but I feel bad for Goddess Mera.” sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ Nʘvᴇl(F)ire.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of nøvels early and in the highest quality.

One of the faithful followers of the Goddess of the Earth Cairys said so, but because Kyle knew the true Mera, he almost burst out laughing.

“She loves humans, and yet she hurts them…Like a hedgehog, that goddess.”

Mentally, Kyle retorted that, in reality, she mostly deserved it all through her actions.

“What a pitiful Goddess…Even though she is the older sister of Goddess Cairys. How could they be so different?”

Soon enough, the whole room began feeling pity for Mera. If only she knew what people were saying about her. Both Kyle and Sakira were terrified.

“I believe the conversation has drifted a fair bit. Let us leave the religious questions aside…I intended to discuss countermeasures against the cult from here on out, but…” The one leading the discussion stopped mid-sentence. “Oddly enough, around eight months ago, their movements stopped almost entirely. On the contrary, many of the local extreme groups had been crushed by someone.”

“What is this about? Some sort of revolution?”

“Or maybe an external force?”

This was caused by Kyle cutting down the leader of the cult’s extremist faction, Cordi, with Layla and Souga cleaning up after the extremists to keep them under control. That was why the extremist faction had not shown up to cause major harm as of late.

“I’d like to press honesty as I ask this, but do we have someone in here involved with the clean-up of the cult or someone who knows the circumstances?”

Of course, even if there was, nobody would be stupid enough to raise their hand. Surely, she must have known. However, when Kyle saw Sakira almost raise her hand, his heart stopped.

“Aheck! Aheck…Ahack?! Shack?!”

Kyle pretended to clear his throat, only for him to start coughing for real which made him sound like a squished frog. As a result, everyone was staring at him.

“E-Excuse me. Please continue.”

Seeing Kyle’s glance directed at her, Sakira realized how careless she’d been.

Be more careful!

I-I’m sorry…

They were exchanging gazes but no words.

“It seems like…this has been happening completely unrelated to our situation. But since we don’t know what’s going on, with no harm being made, is there really anything we can do?”

“Good question…As for now, we can only be more careful of their movement.”

With this, the discussion ended, finally allowing Kyle and Sakira to sigh in relief. After that, Kyle felt bad for having been so harsh to the dejected Sakira, but still reminded her to be careful of what she said.

Sᴇarch the N0vᴇlFire(.)nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of nøvels early and in the highest quality.