The Game Difficulty
Has Gone Crazy
The Black Cult.
A fanatical group that worships a god called Kalungod, and while being human themselves, they harbor extreme hatred toward other humans and the Minice Church.
Their actions—such as human sacrifice—are far beyond the bounds of morality, which is why they have suffered endless persecution from the Papal Holy State.
‘The history books said that over several hundred years, tens of thousands of ordinary believers and hundreds of high-ranking priests were arrested and burned at the stake.’
Yet despite the efforts of the capital’s Heresy Inquisition and the lords of each region, they had managed to maintain their power for hundreds of years, from the founding of the Papal Holy State to the present day.
The Papal Holy State believed the reason was simple.
The cult leader had never been captured.
‘The cult leader, Porvinus.’
The leader who had guided the Black Cult for centuries, and one of the worst villains in all of Gray Eden.
As long as the one called immortal—neither aging nor dying—remained uncaptured, the Papal Holy State would never be able to sever its vicious ties with the Black Cult.
However, capturing Porvinus was close to impossible.
Porvinus was a figure shrouded in mystery. No one knew his age, or even whether he was male or female. His location and activities were also completely unknown.
The very existence of Porvinus had only been revealed centuries ago, when the pope of that era interrogated a prophet of the Black Cult whom he had captured.
That was why Romina could not help but feel puzzled when Glen suddenly declared that he would capture such a vague, mysterious figure.
“Are you serious?”
“When have I ever lied when saying something like this?”
“…You haven’t, but still. How are you planning to do it?”
“It’s simple. We storm the Black Cult’s headquarters and capture the cult leader.”
“…It’s not like the Papal Holy State didn’t try that because they didn’t think of it. If they don’t even know where the leader is—wait. Don’t tell me you know?”
When Romina covered her mouth in shock, Glen slightly raised the corner of his lips.
“I do. I received a divine revelation.”
In truth, Porvinus was a mystery only to the people of the Papal Holy State. Seong Yohwan, who had played the original game hundreds of times, already knew detailed information about both things.
Not only the location of the Black Cult’s hidden headquarters, but also the true identity of the cult leader Porvinus.
“…At this point, your god must be ridiculously biased. Not saying a word to the Saintess or the Pope, but telling everything to you.”
“Guess they’ve fallen for me.”
Romina narrowed her eyes.
Her expression clearly said she couldn’t understand what part of a human who casually uttered such blasphemous remarks the god Minice found so likable that it kept granting him revelations.
Of course, she would never know that the source of that knowledge was not divine revelation, but Seong Yohwan’s memories from repeating this world countless times.
“Still, being able to wipe out those bug-like bastards is definitely good news.”
Saying that, Romina turned her gaze away with a prim expression.
“You say that, but you don’t look very happy.”
“Isn’t it because I won’t be able to deal with them myself?”
“Oh? Why do you think that?”
“Even if you and I don’t step in, the Istirenne Heresy Inquisition will try to handle it on their own, right?”
“Oh. Sharp, aren’t you?”
With Glen’s current strength, he couldn’t overwhelm even a prophet beneath Porvinus, let alone the cult leader himself.
‘It was already a close fight even against Chel.’
That was why Glen planned to mobilize the Heresy Inquisition as soon as they arrived in Istirenne.
That way, the Black Cult could be dealt with without him needing to step in personally.
Of course, for Romina—who bore deep resentment toward the Black Cult—there was some disappointment.
The moment another holy knight joined in, she, a demon race, would no longer be able to reveal herself.
Still, knowing that it was the most efficient and reliable method, she seemed to accept it without making a fuss.
‘Considering she still wasn’t satisfied even after carrying out that massacre in the Veronia territory, she must have had a lot pent up.’
Letting out a quiet chuckle, Glen walked to the bed, pushed aside Romina’s legs, and sat down beside her.
“I’ve wanted to say this for a while. Getting revenge on the Black Cult is fine, but I don’t want you to be consumed by it.”
“Not really. That’s never happened. From the day you saved my life, I decided to become your faithful servant.”
Romina smiled seductively.
“I don’t have any other desires. Ah, of course, I’ll still kill every Black Cult member I see with all my strength.”
“I appreciate the sentiment, but…”
Romina averted her gaze.
Glen knew well that revenge was the driving force behind her actions.
“Still, don’t forget your real wish. The true target of your revenge lies elsewhere. Beyond the border, in the Demonic Land.”
“……”
Romina.
Romina El Blanditaire.
As long as the blood of the previous Demon King flowed through her veins, she had no choice but to defeat the current Demon King, Luphelros.
All of her misfortune had begun with that man.
“If I followed my heart, I’d go to the Demon King’s castle right now and tear that bastard into thousands of pieces. But at my current level, I wouldn’t even be able to leave a scratch on him.”
Romina was intelligent.
She clearly understood what she possessed, and where she was lacking.
That was why she quickly assessed her situation and suppressed her rage toward the Demon King.
As a result, the wound festered.
“I’ll admit it. The Black Cult was a target of revenge too, but like you said, I think I got emotionally swept up in it.”
The anger she had been suppressing toward the current Demon King.
Romina had vented it on the Black Cult. If she hadn’t, she would have gone mad from helplessness.
The image of her trampling over Black Cult corpses with bloodshot eyes was still vivid.
At that time, Romina’s anger was not directed solely at the Black Cult.
“The place my real anger should be aimed at was somewhere else.”
Romina lowered her eyes in self-mockery.
Because her awareness was sharp, the self-reproach that followed looked endlessly bitter.
“…You think I haven’t felt that way too?”
The circumstances were different, but Glen had experienced many similar situations when he was still Seong Yohwan.
Moments when he faced situations so overwhelming that running away was the only option.
“Every time, I ran away too.”
And he vented the helplessness and despair he felt in the wrong places.
Just like Romina venting her anger toward her father’s murderer on the Black Cult.
But in the end, he realized something.
“If you don’t solve the root problem, nothing really changes.”
“The root problem…”
Romina repeated Glen’s words.
“Yeah. No matter how much you take out your anger on the Black Cult here, as long as Luphelros is alive, your heart will stay suffocated.”
The helplessness and rage born from the current Demon King should be directed entirely at the current Demon King.
“…I can’t beat that man.”
“Then you just have to get strong enough to beat him. Not wander around thinking only about revenge on the Black Cult.”
“……”
“The Black Cult will give you a chance for proper revenge someday, in a way you don’t expect. So focus only on getting stronger and avenging yourself on the Demon King.”
He had said he would wipe out the cult entirely, including the leader, but it wouldn’t be easy.
Even if the leader died, remnants would always crawl back out. That was the Black Cult.
“So, Romina. Right now, you don’t need to worry about the Black Cult.”
There was only one thing she needed to focus on.
Gaining the strength to defeat Demon King Luphelros and avenge both her father and herself.
“Ah… of course, I’m not saying you should go off on some reckless solo training.”
Just absorbing Glen’s demonic energy every day was already allowing Romina to grow at an exceptionally steady pace.
Honestly, things were fine as they were.
“……”
Romina stayed silent.
