Chapter 55

Ch.55 Apostle of the Goddess of War

After walking a little past the southern gate, Elim disappeared from view.

They had stepped out from the War Cult’s sphere of influence into the wild. No one would protect them now. Instead, they themselves had become the protectors.

Their mission as the War Knight Brigade was to protect their family and fellow believers who had settled in Elim.

The atmosphere of the War Knight Brigade, inexperienced as they were, sank heavily. Tension weighed down on their shoulders like a physical burden.

Tier thought to himself.

‘Well, there’s no need to worry. Sir Sion is with us. If anything happens…’

He had faith that Sion would step forward and solve any problem—this belief had helped him manage his tension until now.

Sion stopped walking as they faced a patch of bushes where the chirping of insects rang out, “beep—beep—.”

Sion scanned the members, then slowly opened his mouth.

“Come to think of it, I haven’t yet informed you of an important fact.”

“Huh? What fact?”

Tier asked, puzzled.

“I won’t be involved in this mission.”

“Wha—?”

As soon as Sion finished speaking, the trainees’ faces turned to shock. Tier’s expression froze like a stone statue.

“From now on, command will fall entirely to Commander Tier. You will carry out the monster extermination mission among yourselves. Understood?”

“Huh? No, I mean, Sir Sion?”

“You decided we wouldn’t use honorifics like ‘Sir’ anymore, didn’t you? Commander of the War Knight Brigade?”

Sion pointed out sharply. Tier immediately realized his mistake and apologized.

“S-sorry. But I wasn’t informed of this beforehand.”

“Well, I just told you, didn’t I?”

“But what—”

Sion slowly began moving his body toward the bushes.

“We need to exterminate the goblins before they fully establish their territory in the marshlands. If a colony forms, it’ll be troublesome.”

Sion waved his hand and completely disappeared into the bushes.

“I’m heading off to carry out another mission now. I wish you good fortune.”

“…”

“…?”

“…!”

Sion’s voice came from beyond the bushes, taller than a man’s head. It felt as if they were haunted by a ghost.

“Ah, yes?”

“Uh, is this right?”

“…We’re doomed.”

Someone muttered in a voice filled with despair. That single phrase spread like a contagious disease.

Their determined expressions vanished completely, replaced only by anxious glances, like fledglings that had just left the nest.

The courage they had felt when leaving Elim’s city walls had stemmed entirely from the fact that Sion was with them. Now that this safety net was gone, raw fear had descended upon them.

Swish, swish, swish.

Looking around, all they could see were pitch-black darkness and swaying bushes.

The strongest ally who had just been with them had vanished like a mirage.

“W-what should we do? Commander…?”

Alt approached and asked. Everyone was panicking.

Someone needed to restore order. For that, a leader was necessary in the group.

Right now, only Tier could restore order to the disarrayed War Knight Brigade.

Tier was just as flustered. He even felt betrayed. Resentment welled up, bringing tears to his eyes.

‘No.’

At the peak of confusion, several faces flashed through Tier’s mind.

The bishop who frequently scolded him but entrusted him with the commander’s position. Garfenn, who seemed indifferent but never hesitated to offer advice. His younger brother and neighbors who always cheered him on…

And Sion, who had recognized and acknowledged him.

‘Sir Sion… trusted us.’

They were personnel selected by his exceptional judgment. He had said he picked only those who could fulfill their roles in actual combat.

They needed to trust Sion, who trusted them, and move forward.

Tier shouted.

“Everyone! Calm down! We haven’t been abandoned, have we? Sir Sion, the bishop, and even the Goddess herself sent us because they believe in us!”

They had been pushed out of the nest to learn how to stand on their own.

Thinking this way brought comfort. Courage returned.

Moreover, if they collapsed here, they would betray the faith of the Goddess who blessed their departure and the citizens of Elim who cheered them at the city gate.

‘I can’t allow that. Run away again? Do nothing?’

Recalling his weakness during the last mission, Tier clenched his fist tightly. Back then, he had relied on everything on Garfenn and Sion.

But now?

There was no one to lean on.

Instead, he himself was the one responsible.

Squeeze…

The pain of his fingernails digging into his palms actually cleared his mind. After taking a deep breath, he deliberately shouted even louder.

“Snap out of it!”

Everyone’s gaze focused on his loud, ringing shout.

“Do you think we’re a useless rabble just because Sir Sion isn’t here? Why are we here? To become the sword and shield of the Goddess of War, aren’t we! We are the War Knight Brigade! Right?!”

Tier desperately suppressed his fear. He couldn’t show any sign of wavering. Even if temporary, he was the face of the War Knight Brigade!

“Let’s repay Goddess Achille! We must live up to the grace of Sir Sion and the Goddess of War who saved us!”

As his words ended, the knights’ previously clouded eyes began to change slightly.

Determination faintly returned to the faces that had been lost in confusion.

Yes, we are the War Knight Brigade.

We even received the Goddess’s blessing.

What exactly is there to fear?

“T-the Commander is right.”

“We can’t turn back now.”

“It’s embarrassing to see ourselves so frightened. How shameful.”

“Was I not scared at all?”

“Wait until your trembling legs calm down before you speak!”

Tier didn’t miss their change and immediately gave orders.

“Good! From now on, move out as trained! Alt, Set! Take the lead and conduct reconnaissance. The rest, march in two lines. Let’s move forward, keeping watch around us! After about an hour, we should find a suitable campsite. Let’s keep our spirits up until then!”

“Yes!”

***

Tier carefully chose the campsite. It was beneath a small rocky hill, open on all sides but offering a place to lean against in an emergency.

He used knowledge taught during Garfenn’s brief training period.

The atmosphere of the gathered knights was completely different from when they had left Elim.

The naive excitement and fear had vanished, replaced by the alertness of those about to face real combat.

“Alt, take first watch with Set.”

“Understood.”

“Yes, sir!”

Tier didn’t panic. His voice now carried the weight of a leader responsible for the unit.

The members moved busily. It was their first camp. They executed everything they had learned without missing a single detail.

And all these scenes were watched by a pair of blue eyes hidden deep within the darkness.

High atop the tallest branch of a massive tree, quite a distance from the campsite, Sion blended into the shadows like a phantom.

Leaning against the tree trunk with his arms crossed, he quietly observed the well-prepared knights.

‘As expected.’

A faint smile appeared on Sion’s lips.

‘Tier is handling the pressure well. Has he changed after going through a major ordeal?’

Tier’s ability to restore order, encourage his men, and skillfully command the unit exceeded Sion’s expectations.

Set was also beyond expectations.

‘Set is surprisingly well-respected. He’s carved out a decent position for himself.’

In his younger brother’s serious profile as he polished his shield, Sion saw the sprout of a true warrior. Pride outweighed his worries as an older brother.

He had worried Set might fall behind or fail to fit in, but that was Sion’s unnecessary concern. In fact, Set’s affable nature was something Sion himself could learn from.

‘So far, my judgment hasn’t been wrong.’

Tier quickly restored order and led the unit. Alt effectively supported him, taking on the role of deputy commander. Set moved briskly, attending to the members, and the rest followed orders perfectly without a single discord.

Everything flowed exactly as Sion had envisioned. While none of them were individually outstanding, the knights relied on teamwork—unity made them strong.

‘So far, they’ve passed.’

Sion quietly closed his eyes. He wanted to share this proud scene with someone, reporting even the smallest details.

The Goddess enjoyed and cherished this attitude of Sion’s.

‘Goddess, are you watching?’

[Of course. My child. I am always watching.]

Sion’s silent prayer echoed in the Goddess’s throne.

‘Isn’t it going quite well so far…? I hope they continue to do well in real combat. And that no one gets hurt.’

Sion’s heartfelt prayer sparkled like a star in the night sky. Goddess Achille watched their journey with the joy of a mother.

[They are the ones who will become my apostle and my knights. Nothing could be more precious.]

Achille truly shed tears. Tears of joy.

Like life-giving rain falling on parched land, her believers had gathered again, and Elim had risen.

The sight of an army being rebuilt—blessed in her name and fighting under the banner of war—moved Achille for the first time in hundreds of years.

[You are admirable, my lions. When you wake, muster your strength again. Yes, yes!]

Delighted just by watching the knights on their maiden journey, Achille flicked her finger slightly.

An extremely subtle change occurred.

A faint, mist-like sacred energy spread, so gentle the sleeping knights at the campsite didn’t even notice. It enveloped their weary bodies.

The throbbing pain in their feet subsided slightly, and the fatigue accumulated from the grueling march melted away like snow.

Alt, on guard duty, tilted his head in confusion.

“Huh? Doesn’t the air feel a bit clearer somehow, Set?”

“Yeah. I feel like sleepiness has suddenly left me.”

Scratching his head, Alt replied. The tension of the first night watch pleasantly softened in the cool night air.

From atop the tree, Sion, who sensed the subtle flow of sacred energy, chuckled softly.

‘So the Goddess was here too. As expected.’

The Goddess clearly liked them as much as he did. It felt good to have such a reliable backup.

Sion turned his gaze once more toward the deep marshlands, in the direction where the goblin colony might be. His eyes blazed brightly, piercing through the darkness.

‘Sleep well, Set.’

The real test would begin after dawn.

***

The marshlands were even more treacherous than imagined. With every step, thick, sticky mud clung to their ankles. The stench of rotting water and decaying plants stung their noses.

Woo—

Grrr……

Slish, slish.

Unidentified glowing eyes flashing in the dark, eerie animal cries never heard before, and every tiny rustling sound made their hearts pound.

Some drew their swords in panic at the sound of stepping on a rotten branch, while others slipped in the mud, falling and disrupting the formation. The pressure of real combat was incomparable to training.

At that moment, Set at the front urgently sent a hand signal.

‘Halt. Enemy ahead.’

Tier’s heart dropped with a thud.

Everyone held their breath. A sound came from beyond the reeds—small, cunning, and full of malice.

“Kee-keek, kee-keek-keek……”

Pushing through the reeds with an unpleasant laugh, three goblins appeared, each holding a rusty dagger and a crude shield.

They had been on reconnaissance and had run into the War Knight Brigade.

Real weapons, not training wooden swords—weapons capable of tearing flesh and breaking bones. The killing intent they exuded turned the rookie knights’ faces deathly pale.

“Grrrk!”

“Kyaooo!”

“Kraaaak!”

One goblin lunged at the knight closest to it.

The trainee froze in terror. The front line was about to collapse.

“Don’t fall back!”

It was Set.

Instead of dodging as he had learned from Sion, he stepped forward. Raising his shield, he blocked the goblin’s path.

Boom!

With a dull sound, the goblin’s dagger struck the shield.

The impact numbed Set’s arm, but he gritted his teeth and held firm. Thanks to him, the nearly collapsing formation barely held.

“Now! Fenor! Alt! Attack their sides! The rest, maintain formation!”

Tier commanded decisively.

Even amid chaos, he recalled the talents of the two men Sion had pointed out. Alt and Fenor swiftly charged into the goblins’ flanks.

Clang! Cak-kang!

“Keeeeek!”

With a sharp scream, Alt’s sword pierced a goblin’s side. The first blood was drawn. The battle was messy and brutal.

One knight was knocked down into the mud by a goblin’s shield, another received a shallow wound on his thigh.

But no one retreated.

Under Tier’s command, they fought desperately, guarding each other’s backs. When they finally plunged a blade into the last goblin’s neck, a brief silence fell over the marshlands.

They had won. But no cheers erupted.

Instead, everyone gasped heavily, staring at the corpses before them and the blood staining their hands.

The realization that they had taken living beings’ lives with their own hands. The fear that if they hadn’t killed, they would have been buried in the mud themselves.

A weight far heavier than training pressed down on them.

Tier thought.

‘How did Sir Sion, younger than me, manage to face this again and again…’

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