Chapter 68

Ch.68 Apostle of the Goddess of War

“How about it?”

“Are you serious?”

“You know I’m not joking.”

It seemed so. Loenhaugter awkwardly smiled and scratched his cheek. This was the first time someone had so openly asked him to convert.

The funniest and most unsettling part was that he himself was tempted by the offer.

‘Haha. What a sweet proposal indeed.’

Yet, Loenhaugter soon shook his head.

“I’m grateful for the offer, Sir Sion. But while I may serve different masters from time to time, I do not serve a Goddess.”

“I see.”

Sion clicked his tongue in disappointment. He really would have made an excellent informant.

“Please forget I ever made that offer. It was sincere, but also rather impolite of me.”

“Haha, it’s fine. My Goddess wants me to befriend people who are profitable, after all. I believe this conversation has brought us closer.”

Sion shrugged. The more he got to know this man, the more useful he became. In a situation where Goddess Achille’s power was limited, nothing was more important than information.

‘I should probably establish a dedicated intelligence organization in Elim.’

His perspective broadened. Loenhaugter had given Sion inspiration through conversation alone.

Sion bowed his head respectfully.

“In any case, thank you sincerely for freely sharing such valuable information. It’s been a great help.”

“I’m glad to hear it, Sir Sion.”

“Could you also relay this information to Bishop Gustein?”

“Of course. I’ll stop by on my way back.”

Loenhaugter turned and left. He headed toward Elim, while Sion continued eastward toward Siren.

It felt like the cooperation between Foils and Elim was growing stronger.

Elim gained money, while Foils and the Goddess of Abundance gained the military power of the Goddess of War and Her apostle.

No one lost. Benefits circulated in a loop, generating only positive outcomes, again and again.

People who acted based solely on profit and money, rather than superficial goodwill, were far more trustworthy. In this regard, Foils, Loenhaugter, and even the Goddess of Abundance met Sion’s standards.

‘I can keep doing business with them.’

Sion waved and smiled at Loenhaugter as he walked away.

***

Swishhh―

A cold wind swept across Sion’s face, waking him from the brief nap he’d taken on the cart. His sleep wouldn’t continue.

Sion opened his eyes. The borrowed carriage was still moving.

He had left Elim and kept moving constantly. This was a long journey across land, far too vast to walk. That’s why he had joined a merchant caravan.

‘Has it already been a month since I left Elim?’

His memory was hazy. He had passed countless ruined villages and fallen castles destroyed by war. Some of their survivors had probably fled to Elim.

“This place is ruined too.”

One of the merchants said. Sion slowly turned his gaze. It was a small village, burned black by fire.

“Tsk. Only crows get to feast here.”

There were still many crows around. That means plenty of food remained. Sion’s heart felt heavy. The war had already begun in all but name.

The ones suffering were the powerless civilians.

Looking at the ruins and the few survivors, Sion saw his own past self.

“These are chaotic times. The end of days.”

“Food is getting scarcer. We profit from trading, but…”

“Fool. If there are fewer people to work, eventually we’ll have nothing to sell either.”

“Yeah, that’s true.”

Listening to the merchants’ conversation, Sion fell into thought.

Elim was relatively well-off. In fact, as the world crumbled, it was the only city rising again. That’s why more and more people were gathering there through word of mouth.

In an era where people were threatened by devil worshippers, and the Goddesses’ Cults couldn’t protect them all, people would naturally seek out strong military power.

Sion asked the driver.

“Hey.”

“Yes? Sir knight?”

“Are we almost there? Siren?”

“Yes, yes. We’ve long since entered the Siren region. The area where the Black Banner Unit operate is just ahead.”

Sion looked back at the village. A baby’s crying echoed sadly. Unlike the previous villages, where no one remained, this one had a few survivors.

Sion’s heart stirred.

“Then, I’ll get off here.”

“Really?”

“Yes, thank you for the ride.”

“Don’t mention it! Thanks to you, we survived a bandit attack and gained extra goods! I’m actually sorry I couldn’t take you all the way to your destination.”

Sion lightly jumped off the still-moving cart.

“Safe travels, Sir knight!”

The merchants waved at Sion. Perhaps because they served the Abundance Cult, they were friendly toward him—even though he hadn’t revealed his Cult or name.

Those who served the Goddess of Abundance seemed naturally drawn to Sion. After all, he protected their money and brought fortune just by being around.

Thud.

Sion sent the cart on its way and walked toward the village. He moved slowly, not wanting to startle anyone.

As he walked, Sion unfolded his map, roughly estimating his current location.

‘Is it here?’

If he hadn’t misread the map, this was the Deogel territory in the Siren region.

The Deogel family had ruled this land for generations, but according to the merchants, the count had been killed by a monster.

After that, the family naturally dissolved. They were plundered by bandits and lost all functionality as lords. Their remaining family members reportedly fled, hiding their names.

This was why the security had collapsed so badly.

“No wonder a powerful Cult is the only hope now.”

But even the Wisdom Cult didn’t have infinite personnel. Their capacity to manage areas was limited.

That was the background behind mercenaries uniting their strength.

Yet, in all these circumstances, neither the Wisdom Cult nor the mercenary bands had saved this village. That was why Sion had gotten off the cart.

Just as he stepped over the broken fence, slashed as if by a blade, a woman came running toward him. She wasn’t much older than Sion—only her clothes made her look so.

“S-Sir knight. Are you a priest?”

Sion wore black armor and a black cloak. At a glance, he could easily be mistaken for a mercenary or wandering knight. It was surprising she recognized him as a priest.

“How did you know?”

“Because you came here after seeing a village in such a state.”

“What if I were a bad mercenary? Trying to rape and plunder?”

“Then I wouldn’t be able to talk to you like this now.”

So she had nothing left to lose. A reasonably logical reason. Strong-willed people usually survive crises.

“Do you need help?”

“Yes…!”

Sion didn’t ask what kind of help. If they needed help, that was enough. The priest serving the Goddess followed the woman, starting to run.

His steps were urgent. It truly seemed urgent.

The young woman had been cautious of Sion, hiding her anxiety while trying to figure out who he was.

“O-over here!”

A few survivors stood guarding a building.

When the woman brought Sion, they opened the way.

Inside, children were visible. All of them were in poor condition.

Injured children, children with high fevers, children breathing as if near death.

People crowded around Sion and asked.

“P-Priest! Can you heal our children?”

“Please, I beg you.”

“Our children…”

Sion wasn’t a priest specializing in healing. The Goddess he served was ‘War’.

Yet both Achille and Sion lived to end war and save people.

If asked whether he could save them, the answer was already decided.

“Yes.”

Sion knelt down, gently taking the hand of the most critically injured child and examining his condition.

He thought of his siblings left behind in Elim. Whenever they caught a cold, he couldn’t do anything all day. It made him feel terrible.

He felt a similar emotion now. His heart was heavy.

The child’s wound was deep—and strange.

Dark magic had seeped in, staining the skin black.

“Who attacked you?”

Sion asked. The villagers hesitated, then the woman who first met him answered.

“The Sword Ghost.”

“The Sword Ghost?”

“We don’t know much. A person wielding a large sword. Or… I’m not even sure if it’s a person. That’s what people around here call it.”

“Is it alone?”

“Yes. It attacked suddenly. In the dead of night.”

“Alone…”

Not a monster, but a human.

Possibly a mage. Maybe even a demon.

In any case, the culprit was clear. Dark magic had seeped into wounds caused by a blade. The child was enduring unbearable pain.

‘Goddess. I offer the merits I’ve accumulated. Please help these children.’

Sion closed his eyes and began to pray.

His Goddess responded immediately.

[No offering is needed. This Goddess now has believers, so power has accumulated. And I’ve drunk plenty of the blood of the wicked.]

From Sion’s hand placed over the child’s wound, a light like obsidian shone forth. An ancient black light. Something that could captivate anyone, regardless of age or gender.

The Goddess’s light. And it was growing stronger—its sanctity would be felt instantly by anyone who saw it.

“That’s…!”

“The light! Is it the Goddess’s light?”

“Oh, Goddess, please!”

People immediately knelt and began praying to the Goddess. They didn’t know which knight Sion was, but they focused on their prayers.

Goddess, please care for these children and save us.

[I will protect you.]

The Goddess bestowed a powerful blessing. Holy radiance pushed back the bleak darkness, brilliantly filling the room.

People’s prayers grew louder. It had been a long night. Salvation wasn’t far away.

“Uuuugh—”

The severely wounded child exhaled deeply. The faint, nearly severed lifeline reconnected. A miracle wrought by the Goddess of War.

“Haah… haah… Are you an angel?”

The child looked up at Sion, shedding a single tear. Sion smiled with the gentlest expression in the world.

“Are you okay?”

The sight of a knight asking after a child’s well-being was sacred and noble. The Apostle of the Goddess had arrived here and created a miracle.

Hope bloomed in the hearts of the people. And so did faith.

***

“So you’re a knight of the Goddess of War.”

“Yes.”

“I’ve heard of you. Only bad things, but was it different in reality?”

“It would be best if you judged for yourself after seeing.”

Sion smiled faintly.

A few people had already begun to follow him.

They said they would start believing in the Goddess of War from today.

The woman who first brought Sion spoke. She introduced herself as Reni.

“You came from far away. All the way from Elim.”

This was the Wisdom Cult’s territory. Their reactions showed they never imagined a knight from another Cult would come here.

Sion explained his situation in detail, including why he had come.

“The Wisdom Cult doesn’t come this far. It’s the outskirts even for Siren.”

“Yes.”

“But the Black Banner Unit came here about a week ago.”

“Exactly when was that?”

Sion’s purpose was the Black Banner Unit. His mission was to bring their leader, Kegan, back to Elim.

‘But judging by the local situation, it won’t be easy.’

How could he take away the only force maintaining order here? It wouldn’t be simple. Conversely, if Sion were in Kegan’s position, he would never accept such a proposal.

“About a week ago. They said they were chasing the Sword Ghost. It wasn’t here then, but suddenly appeared yesterday…”

“So the Sword Ghost is the one who attacked your village?”

“Yes, yes. That’s right.”

Reni answered, wiping away tears. Even now, the villagers couldn’t shake off last night’s terror. It had been a horrific massacre and destruction.

‘The Sword Ghost.’

Meanwhile, Sion began to deduce.

The Sword Ghost attacked this village. And the Black Banner Unit were also chasing the Sword Ghost.

‘If I find the Sword Ghost, I can meet Mr. Kegan.’

Moreover, since the mercenaries were pursuing it, the Sword Ghost was likely the biggest threat in this region.

‘I’ll find the Sword Ghost, eliminate it, and make a good impression.’

Of course, it wouldn’t be easy. If even Master-level Kegan hadn’t defeated it yet, the Sword Ghost must be at least of comparable strength.

It was time for the changed Sion to prove his strength.

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