Chapter 52

Ch.52 Apostle of the Goddess of War

“Then please rest well. I’ll be waiting downstairs, so call me whenever you need anything.”

The man said with a smile. He was an attendant of Chairman Apur of the trading company.

Since Sion had rescued people from the northern mountainous region of Foils, the trading company had willingly prepared accommodations for them to stay.

With around thirty people, finding a suitable place to stay had been difficult, so this was fortunate.

The people of Foils were particularly favorable toward Sion. Their goodwill went beyond the fact that Sion had once saved Foils and removed a troublesome problem.

‘Even now, donations keep increasing, don’t they?’

What Foils loved most was gold.

Elim was seen by merchants as a land full of opportunities to make large amounts of money.

And Sion was the central figure and the public face of it all, so they treated him with exceptional generosity.

Right now, for instance, he had just received a certain amount of gold coins.

“Thank you.”

Sion did not forget to express his gratitude.

The people of Foils did not forget to treat him like a hero. In this city that loved money, Sion’s influence continued to rise day by day.

The attendant closed the door. A comfortable silence settled in. It was a long-awaited rest.

“Phew— You’ve both worked incredibly hard. Just keep resting! I’ll go check on the people.”

After unpacking his luggage, Tier straightened his back. Garfenn and Sion nodded.

Tier took care of various miscellaneous tasks. This was the best role for him.

‘I’m still far from being truly helpful.’

Through this mission, Tier had gained many realizations.

He clearly understood the vast difference in levels of combat power.

‘When I return, I’ll focus solely on training. Not yet… it’s still not my time.’

His reflection was clear. Yet his passion hadn’t diminished. If anything, it had intensified even more.

“I’ll leave it to you, Tier.”

“Yes, sir!”

After the attendant, Tier also left the room. Sion and Garfenn each lay down in their respective resting spots.

“Ugh. My bones are screaming in pain.”

Garfenn turned his neck, producing a series of cracking sounds. He hadn’t properly rested while protecting the people. It had been a grueling week.

“Still, we’re lucky. There weren’t any major conflicts. I was worried they might send the Apostle of Blood with a whole group.”

“Exactly. Meeting just a few monsters and a couple of bandit gangs felt like a miracle.”

“Thanks to the Goddess’s protection, no doubt.”

“You’re starting to sound like a proper priest now.”

“Hehe.”

Sion recalled the past week.

He had been unable to let his guard down, not knowing when or where the Blood Cultists might attack. He hadn’t slept more than three hours at a time throughout the entire week.

“Now… what will happen next?”

Sion asked while lying down. Garfenn opened his eyes, which had been closed.

“What do you mean?”

“The Blood Cultists. Also, the Evil God’s forces are becoming increasingly active. It worries me.”

Although Sion had survived the den of the Apostle of Blood thanks to his brilliant talent and a series of fortunate coincidences, the mere fact of having encountered such a being was itself a shocking event for the world.

Because the Apostle of an Evil God, previously assumed to be recuperating far outside the empire, had boldly established a nest right in the heart of the empire.

Even if the Blood Cultists were known as a particularly active heretical Cult, this news was undoubtedly shocking.

“If the apostle of the Blood Cultists could penetrate so deeply into the empire, the other bastards must have infiltrated much more extensively than we can see.”

Garfenn clicked his tongue in annoyance.

“Those sinister creatures. Who knows how long they’ve been parasitizing in the shadows.”

“If they all suddenly emerge at once…”

“That’s quite likely.”

Both Sion and Garfenn shared the same concern. The Empire and the Holy Kingdom would simultaneously become paralyzed, and the helpless would be sacrificed in the streets.

“Even if the Holy Kingdom is taking action, progress is sluggish. We need to report this matter quickly.”

“Yes, we should.”

Sion sat up from the bed.

“Then I’ll be off.”

“Are you going out?”

Sion answered while putting on his clothes.

“I’m going to see Sir Roben off.”

“He said he was returning to the Holy Kingdom?”

“Yes.”

Given the current situation, Roben had no time to rest either. He needed to return to the Holy Kingdom as soon as possible to report the matter of the Apostle of Blood and also report the War Cult’s accomplishments.

“Then please deliver my request as well.”

“You mean the demand for the right to appoint a priestess?”

“Exactly. Now that Goddess Achille has regained her power, we should gradually reclaim the rights of our Cult.”

Garfenn smiled slightly. The War Cult’s growth rate was quite good—thanks entirely to Sion.

That was also what Sion wanted.

Regardless of what outcome the appointment of Kaili as priestess might bring, at the very least, their position in Elim would become solidified.

“Ruina as bishop or academy dean, Kaili as priestess, Set as Commander of the War knights? Just imagining it is fun.”

Sion smiled as he mentally drew blueprints for his siblings’ futures. Their happiness was Sion’s happiness.

“Understood. I’ll be back.”

“Alright. I’ll get some sleep.”

Sion closed the door and left. His body felt as heavy as lead, but there was still a mountain of tasks ahead.

***

He left the room and went downstairs to the first floor of the lodging. The second floor was for accommodation, the first floor served food and drinks—a common business model in any city.

At the entrance of the first floor, filled with the smell of alcohol late in the evening, Roben waved at Sion.

“Oh, Sir Sion.”

His single remaining arm looked somehow pitiful. After all, he was someone who had spent his entire life on the path of a warrior.

“Have you been waiting long?”

“No, not at all. I just came out myself. Shall we go?”

Roben, about to leave, was stopped by Sion’s voice.

“Are you sure you don’t want to rest more? Your body isn’t in normal condition.”

“Haha. If I said I was fine, it’d be a lie. But I need to return as soon as possible to deliver the news.”

“…I see.”

Roben’s destination was the Holy Sword Brigade. He belonged to the Second Sword Brigade and had participated in the campaign against the Blood Cultists.

Given the nature of the enemy, the scale of troops dispatched by the Holy Kingdom was unusually large. The Holy Kingdom was not staying idle either and had launched a large-scale purification operation.

‘They even sent the Commander of the Holy Sword Brigade himself, I heard.’

Since the Blood Cultists had begun active operations in earnest, the Holy Kingdom had to send strong forces.

No one expected that the commander of the Holy Sword Brigade himself would be sent. Garfenn had been unusually surprised as well.

Sion walked alongside Roben. On the way to the city gate, Roben told him about events since their meeting.

“I kept thinking about it. Your sword, Sir Sion.”

“My sword? Why…”

“It was an overwhelming power, wasn’t it? And back then, when I met you, you had only just started walking the path of a cultivator.”

Sion recalled the time he had met Roben. Even now, things were similar, but back then he was definitely a complete novice.

‘Back when I didn’t even know of the existence of divine power.’

Unaware of divine power, he had fought a Magon for his life. Thinking back now, it was a terrifying moment.

‘How did I even fight back then?’

Ignorance sometimes provided courage.

“I’m still far from good enough.”

Hearing Sion’s humble reply, Roben wore a bitter smile.

‘For someone who claims to be inadequate, he’s achieved something too extraordinary.’

He had survived an encounter with the Apostle of Blood. Not only that, but he had also stolen the Blood Sorcery technique. This feat should be reported to the Holy Kingdom immediately.

“Back then, you were already ahead, but now you’ve reached a place I can never catch up to.”

Roben saw Sion, walking beside him, as a being from another dimension. It was hard not to deify him.

What other genius in the world could not only master the sword but also use magic?

If the Mage Alliance heard this news, they would surely invite Sion and appoint him as a professor at their academy.

They would undoubtedly shower him with every kind of courtship to recruit him.

Sion, then as now, couldn’t think of anything else to say. He was simply too weak when it came to compliments.

“At that time, I was very envious. I couldn’t even sleep properly at night.”

“Y-you were? I’m sorry.”

“Haha! Why are you apologizing, Sir Sion?”

Roben laughed, his face slightly pale.

“…I’m thinking of giving up now.”

“Give up on the sword?”

“Yes.”

“Isn’t it still possible with just one arm?”

“R-really?”

Roben tried hard to act as if he was fine.

It wasn’t about the presence or absence of an arm. The psychological turmoil stemmed from encountering a wall too great to overcome.

“Yes. As long as you don’t give up, anything is possible.”

“…I’ll try my best. Since Sir Sion is cheering for me.”

Roben’s heart sank like into a swamp as he looked at a once-in-a-lifetime genius.

No matter how much he looked, he couldn’t understand, couldn’t accept. Was this really a human being? He didn’t feel like one at all.

Even walking beside him now, it felt the same.

‘It’s like a legendary dragon wearing a human mask. Really…’

If the person had simply been someone extremely old, he might have been able to accept it and give up.

As they walked, they reached the city gate. They had shared camaraderie, exchanging various stories. It had been the same on the way to Foils.

“Well then, I’ll hurry on my way.”

“Lord Roben. Please don’t push yourself too hard.”

“Yes.”

Roben bowed his head. He mounted his horse. This horse had also been prepared by the Foils Merchant Association.

They spared no effort, material or otherwise, for Sion’s convenience.

One might even wonder whether the goddess they served was of prosperity or of war.

“I’ll definitely convey your request about the right to appoint a priestess.”

“Please do. It’s a very important matter.”

“Of course. I hope this time the negative image surrounding the War Cult will finally be cleared up.”

Perhaps the fate of the War Cult’s negative rumors rested in Roben’s hands.

It depended entirely on how he reported the experiences from this mission.

He must properly convey the War Cult’s achievements and merits.

“It’ll take at least two months to return to my unit and then back to the Holy Kingdom. Until then, I wish you good fortune, Sir Sion.”

“Thank you. May your journey be blessed by the Goddess.”

The horse crossed the moat. Roben gripped the reins, breathing in the night air.

Even as he left, the lingering emotion didn’t fade.

‘When we meet again, how much more will he have grown…’

Despite not being an enemy, Roben felt chills run through his entire body from fear.

Perhaps Sion had the potential to become an even scarier being than any enemy.

‘At the very least, the Holy Kingdom must not turn the War Cult into an enemy.’

***

Only after the horse carrying Roben had completely disappeared into the depths of the night did Sion turn his body around.

The cold night air brushed against his cheeks, but his mind was burning hot with the intensity Roben had left behind.

Roben’s honest expressions of envy, reverence, and even fear—all evident in his gaze.

‘Am I really at that level?’

Returning to his master’s sleeping room, he lay down on the creaking bed, and as if waiting for him, his entire body’s fatigue pressed down on him like lead.

Perhaps because he was too exhausted, sleep didn’t come immediately. Instead, his mind strangely became even clearer.

The battle with the Apostle of Blood vividly returned to him as if it had happened yesterday. Because he had lived under constant invisible tension, he hadn’t had the leisure to review that fight and his insights.

‘I’ll do it now.’

It hadn’t simply been a battle of exchanging divine power and magic.

The Blood Sorcery displayed by the Apostle.

Each principle and flow was disassembled and reassembled in his mind. How he had controlled blood, how he had constructed magical arrays, and where his weaknesses lay.

Like solving a complex puzzle, every step of the battle began to be logically understood.

‘There’s a difference between instinctively disrupting the flow of magic and completely understanding it.’

Sion observed the Blood Sorcery with his eyes closed.

After a long period of contemplation, Sion reached a conclusion.

The magic created by the progenitor of vampires wouldn’t be of much help to him.

‘I only need to understand it as a countermeasure. It doesn’t synergize with the fighting methods I’ve mastered.’

This was the time to purely refine his sword and senses further. It would be a waste of time to focus on flashy things like magic.

Efficiency alone dictated this.

No matter how much he researched magic to grow stronger, he could never match the transcendent power granted by Achille.

It would be better to spend every spare moment in prayer and offering the enemy’s blood to gain sacred energy.

‘Still, now I’ve realized how to counter magic.’

To observe energy, feel it, read it, and break it.

On a night when the world held its breath. The child of war squeezed through that gap and took another step forward.

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