Chapter 24

Ch.24 Apostle of the Goddess of War

Older villagers believed in the existence of the mine monster.

Some had actually seen it, and others had fled to remote mountain villages to escape it.

Its very existence was a disaster, and only a knight from a religious order could stop it.

Therefore, the strongest weapon humanity possessed was the knight.

But in a village where people spent their entire lives in mining, this fact was unknown, so the presence of someone like Sion didn’t resonate with them.

They didn’t understand the destructive power held by one who was a knight of the goddess.

Only Tier, who had some exposure to the outside world, desperately tried to prove Sion’s worth.

“Yes! In Foils, rumors are already widespread. Sir Sion is stronger than the knights of the Church of Light!”

“The Church of Light? Isn’t that the biggest church?”

“Stronger than the knights of the Mains Deity’s order?”

At the claim that he was stronger than the Order of the Holy Sword, the villagers finally reacted.

So, it seemed, one had to be famous first to be taken seriously.

Only after hearing he was stronger than the Order of the Holy Sword did the villagers begin to truly grasp his significance.

People’s gazes turned toward Sion.

Sion awkwardly smiled at the unexpected praise.

“S-Stronger than the Church of Light?”

“Is that even possible?”

“You’re saying this little brat is stronger than the knights of the Holy Kingdom? Tier!”

“Don’t you get it even after seeing it just now? Those measly bandits aren’t even comparable!”

“Watch your mouth! Someone might be listening!”

A few villagers scolded Tier as if he had uttered blasphemy.

Even the claim of being stronger than the Order of the Holy Sword couldn’t completely erase their fear of the bandits.

“My younger sister was taken! I don’t even know if she’s alive! Isn’t that right? Mr. Lumen? Your daughter was kidnapped too! And you, Aunt Rea, you just stood there and watched your sister get taken!”

Tier pounded his chest as he pleaded.

Once opened, his mouth continued spewing anger without pause.

“How long will you keep trembling in fear? How long will you keep losing your family? Aren’t you angry at all?”

“Who isn’t angry?”

“We just don’t have the strength to fight back… We have to survive, don’t we?”

“They said if we stay quiet, they’ll return them. It’s best not to cause a commotion.”

“You actually believe a promise made by bandits?”

“We can’t help it! Are we supposed to all just die? What’s the point of dying pointlessly?”

“Haa…!”

Tier felt as frustrated as if a thorn were lodged in his throat.

Sion empathized with his feelings.

But at the same time, he fully understood the villagers’ perspective.

“Without strength, it’s natural for them to act this way. They can’t believe. They don’t have the mental strength left to believe.”

It would take a long time and peace to restore minds that had been subdued by relentless violence and terror.

The people here were utterly exhausted, both mentally and physically.

Sion grabbed Tier’s shoulder and shook his head.

“Tier. Stop. They’re not listening to us right now.”

“What? But—”

“We have to show them through action. Once we solve the problem, the villagers will understand. Please guide us to where the leader is. You know, right?”

“I-I know the mountain paths, but…”

The village chief interrupted Tier, warning him in a concerned voice.

“Are you really planning to go alone? Right now, there must be at least thirty of them.”

“I can’t run away just because the battlefield is unfavorable.”

Sion answered calmly, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Indeed, this was the path an apostle of the Goddess of War was meant to walk.

“I clearly… warned you.”

The village chief had issued his warning, but Sion remained unmoved.

“My Goddess will protect me. Don’t be afraid.”

Reading Sion’s determination, the village chief nodded as if making his own resolve.

“Tier. Guide him to the left path from Fist Rock. That way leads to the back trail of the mine.”

“…Yes, Chief.”

“They’ve just sent someone out, so they’ll let their guard down until sunrise. This is all the help I can offer, Sir Knight. If you don’t return within half a day, we’ll evacuate the village. That means you’ve failed, and we’ll have to find our own way to survive.”

Sion nodded.

Simply not blocking their path was already a great help.

“I’ll be back before then.”

“Please, return safely.”

“There will be no more suffering for you in the future.”

“…”

The village chief turned away, and the knight climbed the mountain without a farewell.

***

Climbing a little higher and looking back, Sion saw the villagers beginning preparations to leave the mountain valley.

Just as the chief had said. If things went wrong, they feared retaliation and were trying to escape early.

Even though their family members had been kidnapped, they were powerless.

“Those who can survive must survive.”

As Sion felt sorrow for the villagers’ plight—

“Ugh— I’m so frustrated I could die! I’m a coward myself, but I just don’t understand why everyone in the village has become such a bunch of cowards!”

Tier vented his frustration by taking out his anger on a tree with his axe.

Sion watched him and chuckled.

“Lower your voice, Tier. The bandits patrolling around might hear you.”

“Ah, yes. Sorry, sir…”

Tier lowered only his voice but remained furious.

“No! No matter how scared you are, how can they just sit there doing nothing when their daughters, sisters, and siblings are being taken?”

“…That’s because you’re a brave man, Tier.”

“What?”

Tier raised only one eyebrow.

He genuinely didn’t understand what Sion meant.

“You’re a courageous man.”

“What are you even talking about…”

Sion smiled and explained.

“Acting when in crisis, speaking your mind in front of many people—it’s not easy, is it? I couldn’t do it myself.”

In fact, thanks to Tier’s courageous actions, Sion had arrived here.

And so today, one unknown woman had been saved.

Though no villager acknowledged Sion’s efforts or expressed gratitude, Sion felt satisfied.

Tier was grateful.

And Goddess Achille surely knew.

“You’re a special person, Tier. So there’s no need to be angry. Special people become heroes. We’ll solve the problem, that’s all.”

When that time came, people would understand without needing to be told.

Good deeds aren’t done for recognition.

[You are noble on your own, without needing to be taught, my child.]

The Goddess smiled contentedly.

She didn’t regret bestowing divine power upon Sion’s heart.

“Thank you for standing up for me earlier, Tier. I thought you were a coward, but I apologize. I’m sorry.”

Sion said sincerely.

But his words, spoken without much thought, struck Tier’s chest like bolts from a crossbow.

“A hero…? Me?”

“Yes.”

He had never once thought about it in his entire life.

That he could be someone special.

“But everyone in the village hates me.”

In fact, Tier had spent his whole life being disliked. This fact had always made the young woodsman feel inferior.

“I did see someone like that. Was there a reason?”

“My parents died. I had to rely on neighbors for food, so they found me annoying. They treated me like a freeloader.”

Whoosh, whoosh!

Tier swung his axe at young grass sprouting nearby, pouting his lips.

His parents had died shortly after his younger sister was born. To save her, he had no pride or dignity left.

Tier’s life was like his chipped axe.

Who could possibly hate such a person?

…At least Sion didn’t.

“But in my eyes, Tier, you’re a good person. You’re special enough. Believe in yourself.”

“Sir…”

“You have the courage I could never possess.”

“Heh— To receive such praise from a knight of the Church…!”

Tier opened his mouth wide, his prominent front teeth clearly visible.

It was the first time in his life he had ever been acknowledged.

And by a noble knight. Was this a dream?

“Hehehe… No, sir. You’re the special one. I believe in your swordsmanship. Let’s go defeat those bandits!”

“Yes.”

Though a peer in age, Sion was someone worthy of respect.

Tier wanted to keep following him and learn from his attitude and values.

‘If possible, his swordsmanship too.’

Sion pointed forward with his finger.

“Is that Fist Rock? It really does look like a fist.”

“You have a sharp eye. Hehe.”

For some reason, Sion found Tier’s goofy grin unpleasant. It felt like he had suddenly become someone else.

“Let’s hurry.”

Sion turned onto the left path, almost as if avoiding Tier.

***

Tier stuck close to Sion.

He wanted to say something.

But nothing came to mind.

They had almost no common ground, and the gap in their social status was vast.

In fact, it wasn’t normal for them to walk together so casually.

Sion was exceptionally tolerant.

‘Why is he acting like this? Always.’

Sion felt slightly burdened, but the goddess found the situation amusing.

She had never seen Sion so flustered before.

Finally, Tier found something to say.

“By the way, sir… You must feel offended, but are you really alright?”

“Offended? Why?”

“Well… You’re a high-ranking person… And the village didn’t welcome you properly, in fact, they distrusted you.”

Sion sighed and stepped onto an uphill rock.

Indeed, that was an unpleasant fact.

Sion himself didn’t care about being disrespected, but the Church of War being disrespected was far from pleasant.

“It must be because my skill is lacking, or perhaps the reputation of my church is insufficient.”

“That’s not—”

Sion smiled bitterly.

It was a problem he couldn’t solve immediately.

Changing the general perception of the Church of War was as difficult as plucking stars from the sky.

“It’s not the villagers’ fault. After all, even you didn’t know about the Church of War, did you?”

“W-Well, yes.”

“So should I cut off their heads just because I’m offended?”

“Kyaa!”

Tier touched his neck to check if his head was still attached. Thankfully, it was intact.

Thinking back on his rudeness the previous night still made him shudder.

If Sion had been an ordinary noble or high-ranking priest, Tier would have been dead long ago.

“No, of course not.”

“Then I must be a bandit.”

Tier listened carefully to Sion’s words.

He regarded them as precious teachings.

‘Now this is what a real priest should be like. The priests from other churches… pfft.’

Tier’s affection toward Sion and the Church of War he belonged to grew stronger by the moment.

At last, a bandit camp came into view.

A wooden palisade made of sharpened logs surrounded it, and the surroundings were desolate.

Rotten wood fragments and rusted metal pieces were scattered everywhere, clearly showing how rough and neglected this place was.

Sion and Tier crouched behind the tall grass, carefully observing the situation.

Sion narrowed his eyes and scanned the area.

One man guarding the entrance.

Other than that, no signs of life.

“Just one. The rest must all be inside.”

“Sir… What will you do?”

Clang.

In response to Tier’s quiet question, Sion slowly drew his sword.

“There’s something I realized earlier.”

He murmured in a low voice as he rose to his feet.

In that instant, the air around his entire body changed.

The innocent boy was gone. A warrior radiating a chilling aura now stood in his place.

“There’s no need to give scoundrels even a chance to speak.”

“Yes…?”

“Stay here, Tier. You’ll only get in the way if you interfere.”

Sion’s gaze turned cold and sharp.

Now it was time to see blood.

This wasn’t just a simple fight.

It was the Goddess’s punishment upon criminals who had trampled the powerless.

The time for execution had come.

Whirr.

With a flick of his wrist, the sword leapt into the air.

Spin.

The moment he caught the spinning blade in a reverse grip, Sion lowered his stance.

Phwaat.

Pulling his shoulder back and stepping forward with a long stride.

Shwaaark!

Throwing strike.

The blade, slicing through the air, pierced the guard’s chest.

Without stopping, it buried itself deep into the palisade behind him.

“Guh—k.”

The guard collapsed lifelessly without even a scream. The corner of the palisade protruded through his ribs.

Sion walked slowly forward and pulled his sword from the man’s chest.

Creeeak.

Stepping over the threshold of the camp, the bandits resting inside turned their gazes one by one.

Confused stares.

But soon, they turned into instinctive hostility.

Sion calmly met all their gazes and slowly opened his mouth.

“In the name of the Goddess of War. I condemn you.”

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