If you don't want to just drift through life, you have to go through time.

Truman found it strange.

"Frilian, what's going on?"

He subconsciously asked his companion.

The old man seemed to have noticed something as well, and he asked, "Lord Truman, don't you remember me?"

"Excuse me, I've never seen you before... Of course, if it were my past self who had seen you, then I—"

"You truly are the Holy Spirit!"

The old man once again made a devout prayer gesture, looking slightly agitated.

"...Huh!?"

Truman was dumbfounded.

He had never spoken of the Father, the Holy Spirit, and the Son to anyone except Frilian, yet the old man knew everything about it and was deeply moved by it.

"Frilian?"

"Didn't I tell you, Truman, that you actually founded a church called the Church of Truth? Although its members are few in number, they are scattered throughout the continent."

"Hello!"

You didn't tell me something this important?!

Truman stared at Frillie silently, but the shameless elf only put on a kind old lady's expression, as if to say that she had a bad memory.

And what is that pose with palms apart but fingers pointing towards each other? Is it Tien Shinhan's Ki Blast? Can he shoot out a blast from it?

"Um... hello?"

Truman imitated him, striking the same pose. Luckily, he had seen Haita before and had gleaned some understanding of the behavior of monks or priests from him, so he didn't appear too abrupt.

It seems he established a church in the past.

The doctrines are also quite bizarre.

Within your own capabilities, don't endure any hardship, don't listen to any unpleasant words, and simply walk away from people you don't like.

The primary task in life is to avoid pain, not to pursue happiness. Discarding all unnecessary guilt and prioritizing comfort is the highest principle.

People don't just die when they get old; they can die at any time. So, within your capabilities, you must love yourself well and put your own feelings first.

These appear to be the three rules of the church.

I said, what does it have to do with the word 'truth'?

Is it certain that this is a cult of truth and not a cult of giving up?

And what is its relationship with the Axis religion?

"Hehe, Lord Truman seems a bit surprised, but it is precisely because of this doctrine that a considerable number of believers joined when the demons were rampaging. Even I believe in this code, which is why I have been able to live to this age without any worries."

The old man smiled innocently.

This word seems a bit awkward to use on him, but in Truman and the others' eyes, he seems to have always maintained the yearning for a better life that he had as a child.

Truman neither confirmed nor denied this.

While these three doctrines may sound like a sign of desperation, they also give believers the will to live.

Eighty years ago, when the demon race ravaged the continent, such doctrines might have actually helped them overcome their inner conflicts and face life positively.

"Lord Truman, you never mentioned the existence of the Truth Cult."

Philon puffed out his cheeks.

She seemed to want to join in as well.

"Don't complain to me. Even I don't know, do I?" Truman also indicated that he had something to say, and rolled his dead fish eyes at Frillie, who had turned her head away.

"Hehehe, little girl, don't be angry. The Truth Cult doesn't have any baptism or initiation ceremony. Anyone can join. In fact, it's a small church without even a proper church."

"...What? It's so weak."

Truman sighed in disappointment.

"It was Lord Truman's request."

The old man explained with a smile, "The Truth Cult doesn't teach people what truth is, nor does it make its followers do any obligations. Its purpose is to give people hope for survival, so it doesn't matter who you are, when you join, or when you leave."

This seems like a decision I would make myself.

Even the Axis religion has its own churches, conducts baptisms, and recruits people, but Truman doesn't care about that. Rather than trying to instill faith in them as a god, Truman prefers to help them emerge from the shadows and embrace a new life.

"Then I am now a follower of the Truth Cult."

"Philan... never mind, whatever makes you happy."

Truman instinctively wanted to stop her, but seeing her pouting, he could only let her be.

The old man chuckled.

"So, Lord Truman, Lady Frilian, you two have come here for the seal of Kuval, haven't you?"

"Kuvar?"

Philon brought up the topic at the opportune moment.

The old man explained, "The corrupt sage Kuwal was a demon who committed countless evil deeds here 80 years ago. It was the hero Simmel and his companions who helped seal him away, and after that... facing many homeless villagers who wanted to die, Lord Truman spread his faith here."

"It's basically just giving up."

"That's good... That's why many villagers are gradually moving on, no longer dwelling on the past, and facing life positively. I also want to thank you, Mr. Truman."

"……Um."

Truman really wanted to say that the old man was able to live to this age because he was healthy and didn't have any anxiety, and it had nothing to do with him.

But constantly arguing with them would only upset the elderly, so they kept quiet.

"So, that seal will be broken soon, and that's why I came here to get rid of him. Judging by the timeline, I won't make it back in time," Frilline explained to Truman and Philon, then added doubtfully, "But honestly, how did you know? I haven't told anyone."

"That's what Lord Truman said."

"……I?"

"Master Truman said that one day he would take care of it."

This is getting stranger and stranger.

Following the old man's footsteps, the group arrived at the location where Kuval was sealed. After careful observation, Frilian concluded that the seal was indeed unstable and said that they would take action to eliminate this hidden danger the next day.

Truman and Philon had no objections.

evening.

With the warm hospitality of the old man, they checked into the village's inn. It wasn't luxurious, but it was cozy enough. Both the room's layout and location showed great care.

He took exceptionally good care of Truman.

Truman arrived outside Frillian and Philon's room and knocked on the door.

"Frilian, Philon, are you asleep?"

"no."

"Sorry to bother you."

Upon entering the room, Truman found that Frillian and Philon were both wearing cotton pajamas. He had mentioned this unguarded state to them several times, but they both insisted it was fine, which gave Truman a bit of a headache.

"What is it, Truman?"

"I have a question. If my future self teamed up with your past self, then I should have learned more powerful magic by then and could have easily eliminated Kuval, right? Why did you seal him away in the end?"

"It was Truman who requested it."

"What's the reason?"

"To test your strength, you said that your future self would leave the beginner village and embark on a journey, and needed a powerful opponent as a test, so you requested that Kuval be sealed away."

Our "Frilian" has its own great tree guardian?