Chapter 66

Ch.66 Apostle of the Goddess of War

Sion greeted Marquisin and then sat down beside Kaili.

Set and Tier were dazed and groggy from the medicine. Kaili was feeding them doses at regular intervals and putting them to sleep.

Kaili, who possessed a spiritually gifted aura, had a positive effect on their recovery just by being nearby.

Simply put, it was a two-birds-with-one-stone situation.

“Uuuurgh.”

“I was wrong… Hic… Hic…”

Sion stared at them blankly. Was their condition actually improving?

‘They look like they’re hallucinating on the surface… But it’ll be okay, right?’

Still, they were beside a spiritually potent forest and with Kaili. This synergistic environment would also benefit their training.

“Kaili. Weren’t you bored?”

“Yeah, I was.”

“But you endured it well.”

“Well…”

Kaili shyly averted her gaze. Praise from her Brother Sion felt strangely embarrassing for some reason.

She idly kicked a small pebble with her foot.

“How do you feel?”

“Hmm. I like being here. My head feels clear.”

“You said your head sometimes gets foggy, right?”

“Yeah.”

Kaili murmured lightly. But this wasn’t something to take lightly. It was a kind of spiritual illness that shamans often experienced.

If this symptom persisted and worsened, it could lead them down a dangerous path. For instance—

‘If another Goddess or an Evil God approaches.’

Fortunately, Kaili was under Elim’s protection. The Goddess of War was watching over her, and she was hidden within the barrier of the Goddess of Wildflower. There was no chance for another deity to approach.

‘Unless Elim itself is attacked.’

That was the worst-case scenario Sion had imagined. Preparing for that moment demanded greater strength and power.

The growth of the Order of the War Knight and Sion’s personal development were becoming increasingly important.

‘I wish we could get good news from the Holy Kingdom.’

The best-case scenario would be receiving formal recognition of the right to appoint a priestess and making Kaili the Priestess of War.

There was no luxury to debate whether it was good or not. The signs that Kaili would become a priestess were clear, so the only choice left was whether to protect her or risk losing her.

‘Kaili will absolutely…’

Sion sat down beside Kaili. As if waiting for it, Kaili rested her head on Sion’s leg.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m sleepy.”

“Alright, go ahead and sleep.”

“Mmm!”

Kaili smiled innocently and snuggled closer to Sion.

Sion gently stroked her soft hair, then closed his eyes.

‘What would it be like if Kaili became a priestess?’

It was a future he somewhat looked forward to.

His childish little sister becoming the priestess of an entire Cult.

The image of her, still not fully grown, wearing sacred robes already seemed adorable.

‘It is cute… but I’m more worried.’

Sion himself still hadn’t fully adapted to Cult life. His mindset and attitude as a religious person were still clumsy.

He feared that he might be placing too great a burden on Kaili, who still viewed the world with curious eyes, at such a young age.

Sion opened his mouth.

“Kaili.”

“Hmm? What?”

“Do you remember what I asked you before? About what you want to do when you grow up?”

Kaili answered with her eyes still closed.

“Yeah. But I still don’t know.”

“You don’t have to do something specific.”

“But I do have something I want.”

Kaili mumbled softly. Whenever she said something embarrassing, she always pouted her lips like that. It was an adorable habit.

“What is it?”

“To be together. Just like now.”

“That’s sweet.”

Sion pinched Kaili’s cheek as he spoke. Kaili twisted her body, saying she was ticklish.

After a brief silence, Sion spoke again.

“Hey, Kaili.”

“I know already, Brother.”

“Huh? What? What do you know?”

Sion stammered, startled.

“That I’m different. No, special?”

“You’re special, Kaili.”

“Of course. I’m this cute, after all.”

Kaili said it casually. Despite being shy, she could say things like this so easily.

Sion nearly laughed awkwardly. He had to be careful—he’d end up being ignored for days if he did.

“Kaili is cute.”

“Right. So don’t worry, Brother.”

“Worry about what?”

“I’ll work in Elim when I grow up too. Like Sister Ruina or you. I’m already working now, see?”

Kaili poked the sleeping Set and Tier with a twig. Sion chuckled.

“That’s right. Yeah.”

Yet, at the same time, Sion’s heart grew heavy.

He worried that experiencing hardship at such a young age had caused an adult’s heart to grow inside the child.

Kaili was far too mature. She probably sensed everything and more.

“You’re reliable. But it must be really hard, right? There must be times you want to quit.”

“It’s okay.”

Kaili replied serenely, as if it were nothing at all.

“Then you’ll comfort me.”

Sion chuckled. Was that all it took?

“Alright. You can come crying to me every day.”

“No. You have to come to me often and comfort me.”

“Alright, alright. I will.”

“Promise?”

“Yeah, promise.”

Sion found Kaili’s whining adorable. As long as giving her a head pat could make her feel better, he’d do it endlessly.

He was even prepared for far greater things. This was a bargain, really.

She was mature beyond her years. Sion hadn’t expected her to have such feelings. She was a child whose inner thoughts were impossible to fully grasp.

‘Could Kaili have made her own resolution without me realizing it?’

Kaili, who would grow into another tree protecting Elim as a priestess. Perhaps, another sprout had already taken root in Elim.

That’s why he felt even more grateful.

Because he understood her feelings without having to go through each one step by step.

Kaili curled up on Sion’s leg like a kitten. Sion smiled again and warmly accepted her affection.

“I’m really going to sleep now. I’m sleepy.”

“Yeah. I won’t wake you up.”

Leaves danced in the flower-scented breeze, tickling their ears. Frogs jumped into the pond with plops, and Kaili slowly fell asleep in Sion’s lap, as peaceful as a tree.

When Kaili’s breathing began to sound like that of someone deeply asleep, Sion too turned inward, gazing into his inner world amidst the forest’s peace.

It was time to meditate and train.

‘What does the inner world I’ve built look like?’

He breathed deeply and slowly, focusing.

‘…’

Pitch-black darkness. Nothing could be seen.

Was his imagination lacking?

No, it wasn’t.

‘It’s because I lack belief.’

Why did he become a knight and wield a sword?

What did he desire as a War Disciple, as an Apostle of the Goddess of War? What made him fight so fiercely?

Sion had to answer these questions.

Painting the black canvas began with an answer.

Inner world barrier.

Though the concept sounded grand, it was simply a process to grow stronger.

Through self-reflection and deep understanding of one’s inner self, one dissolves the boundary between inner world and reality.

In essence, the core was projecting the world and beliefs one had built outward.

The more one trained, the more the boundary between inner world and reality would dissolve. One’s sword, one’s philosophy and will, would gain the power to enforce themselves.

So, what ideal did Sion wish to enforce upon the world?

‘I…’

I want to protect my younger brother.

And further, I want to protect Elim.

‘Why?’

A frog leapt onto the calm surface of a pond. A small ripple stirred in Sion’s heart.

Because they are precious.

Plop—

A second ripple.

Then why are my siblings and Elim precious?

……He hit a wall here.

Could there even be a reason for the feeling of preciousness?

It was just a feeling he had.

Could such a natural, instinct-like impulse really be concretized and given a reason?

‘It’s difficult.’

Even pondering alone, no answer came. Perhaps even this pitch-black void, where nothing could be seen, was the inner world Sion had built.

Sion didn’t grow anxious.

He accepted what he saw as it was.

If nothing could be seen, then that was his current heart.

Still seeking answers from the Goddess, still asking questions of himself—this wandering Sion was his heart right now.

On this blank black canvas, what picture would Sion draw? That was entirely up to him.

He could keep training steadily, keep swinging his sword, and eventually find the answer.

Grand reasons or profound realizations were too difficult.

For now, it was simply…

To live up to the expectations of his master and the Goddess, and to become the tree that protects his siblings and Elim—this was Sion’s dream.

Was he still a seed? Had he just begun to sprout?

Or had he already grown a few branches?

Sion spent a long time meditating, imagining himself as a tree.

***

Several more days passed.

A faint presence pulled Sion out of his peaceful meditative state. Slowly, he opened his eyes.

Tier arrived—still looking pale and weak, but his eyes, once clouded, were now clear. He had waited at a distance, not wanting to disturb Sion.

Sion opened his eyes and spoke.

“Tier.”

“Sir Sion.”

Tier stepped forward and bowed deeply. His voice was heavy.

“I… I tried to abandon Set… abandon my comrade. I’m truly sorry.”

The apology burst out at last. Perhaps from the moment he regained consciousness, he had wanted to say this.

“Lift your head, Tier. Why are you apologizing to me?”

When Tier hesitated, Sion repeated firmly.

“It’s an order.”

“I understand…”

Finally, Tier slowly raised his head. His eyes were still filled with self-loathing and regret. Sion calmly met his gaze.

“There’s no need to apologize. There’s no need for forgiveness either.”

“But I…”

“I think, as acting commander, you made the best judgment possible. I repeat—had I been in your position, I would’ve done the same.”

Sion’s words made Tier’s eyes tremble. He had thought his actions deserved condemnation, yet Sion only embraced him.

“In that situation, there was no way for everyone to survive. If sacrificing one person allowed the rest to complete the mission and return alive, that wouldn’t be a shameful act. And that’s exactly what you did.”

Sion gently patted Tier’s shoulder.

“And above all, you performed heroically.”

Sion grinned and mimicked Tier’s action—hurling the axe into the monster’s forehead.

“Haha. I was just lucky.”

“No, it wasn’t luck. It was a miracle created by your courage. The Goddess was watching over you.”

Through this trial, Tier hadn’t broken or collapsed—he had become stronger. He could feel it himself.

“You’ve grown, Tier.”

Sion said sincerely. He couldn’t carry all the burdens alone. He needed comrades who would fight alongside him for Elim.

Tier was the right person. The Tier Sion had observed had become a magnificent War Knight worthy of trusting with Elim.

Tier couldn’t speak. He could only engrave Sion’s words into his heart.

“Ugh… I’ll never, never run away again.”

Heat rose in his throat. The guilt that had gnawed at him melted away like snow, and in its place, a new sense of mission took root.

“I will become stronger.”

Sion embraced Tier.

“I’m counting on you. Let’s protect Elim together.”

“Thank you, Sir Sion.”

“Seriously, stop calling me ‘Sir’ already.”

“Understood. Sion.”

“That’s better, Tier.”

The two men smiled, satisfied.

Thus, Elim gradually grew denser and more lush.

***

“You called, Master?”

It was a day when the air had grown colder. As the skin sensed winter’s approach, Garfenn summoned Sion.

Garfenn, as usual, lay on the sofa opposite Gustein, barely opening his eyes to greet Sion.

“You came.”

“Yes.”

“Finally, a mission.”

“Finally!”

Sion cheered. He no longer hid his emotions. Sion had become much brighter here.

Garfenn and Gustein exchanged glances and smiled.

The bishop spoke first.

“We’ve found a training instructor.”

“Who is it?”

“Kegan. A man who almost became a War Knight… once.”

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