Chapter 72

Ch.72 Apostle of the Goddess of War

Sion, having concluded his conversation with Kegan, went to find Yohart.

This young noble was attempting to rise once more as the lord of Deogel. His previously dull eyes had changed. A strong man now stood firmly in place.

“Oh, Sir Sion.”

“Lord Yohart.”

“Drop the honorifics. I don’t deserve them.”

“Still, you’re the lord.”

Sion continued.

“So, where are you planning to go now?”

“I considered relocating to Elim, but ultimately, that would be shameful to my ancestors.”

Sion subtly pursed his lips in disappointment.

‘Another potential customer gone.’

It would have been best to increase Elim’s population as much as possible and strengthen the city. Bringing the entire Deogel populace would have greatly helped Elim’s development.

“You look disappointed.”

“Well, it’s just that we’re parting ways like this.”

The interpretation was slightly off, but the disappointment was real.

“Still, I won’t forget the grace I received from the Goddess of War. The Deogel territory will serve the Goddess of War from now on.”

Sion nodded. That was enough. When peace returned to this vast territory and the people regained their smiles.

Goddess of War Achille and Sion would smile happily.

“For now, stay in the castle. Until we eliminate the cause of the increased monsters in this region.”

“Understood. I’ll do just that. I’ll do my best to gather the people of the territory and hold out in Deogel Castle, protecting them with my life.”

“I leave it to you.”

Yohart extended his left hand. Sion smiled bitterly and shook it.

“I’m sorry about your wrist.”

“No. I’m actually grateful. Not just for saving my life, but for helping me regain my senses.”

“But still—”

“I’ll spend the rest of my life looking at my empty wrist and reminding myself. I will repay my sins until my dying day.”

Yohart’s guilt was still immense. There were far more people who resented him than those who liked or truly followed him.

This wasn’t an emotion that would fade quickly. He had killed and annihilated families. Not just this village, but many other villages had suffered damage.

“If someone seeks revenge and kills me, I’ll humbly accept it.”

This was the desperate resolution of a fallen noble. There was no room for opinion. Somehow, he reminded Sion of Ruina.

All he could do was wish him luck.

“May the Goddess of War’s protection be with you.”

“Sir Sion, I wish you good fortune as well.”

Sion turned around.

He intended to join the Black Banner Unit, who were preparing to depart. But he was stopped.

“Knight. Please take this with you.”

“Oh, no need. You all should eat it.”

“Just seeing the young knight’s face fills us up. Here, take it.”

“Heh, thank you.”

The villagers hurried over and handed food to Sion. Though they had been scornful toward the lord, they were endlessly warm toward the knight who had truly saved them.

“We’ll faithfully pray to the Goddess of War.”

“Brother, take care.”

“Thank you. May the Goddess’s protection be with you.”

Only after a few more minutes of being detained did Sion finally leave the village. Waving his hand, he thought.

Though brief, it had been an intense encounter.

Carrying the magic sword strapped to his back, he vowed to always remember this village.

The lives he had saved continued to grow, one by one.

Nothing grand.

Doing good within his capabilities.

Going where his eyes can see.

This was the path of the knight that Sion walked, the ballad of merit inscribed upon his holy status.

[Your star has grown even brighter, Sion.]

The Goddess smiled along with him.

***

“Commander. What are you going to do about it?”

“What about what?”

“That brat.”

The officers of the Black Banner Unit approached Kegan, who was leading the group.

A nuisance had attached itself to the mercenary band. They needed to swiftly move to their next destination, but the young knight was extremely bothersome.

Yet, they couldn’t easily drive him away. After all, Kegan himself couldn’t bring himself to do it. Only the subordinates were boiling with frustration.

Unable to endure it any longer, they approached, but Kegan’s reaction remained lukewarm.

‘I’m the one eating bitter herbs.’

Kegan, the leader of the Black Banner Unit, concluded after much deliberation. This arrogant junior was deliberately obstructing him, trying to drag him back to Elim.

‘What the hell is Elim? At my age? I have far more urgent matters to attend to right now.’

The Sword Ghost he had been diligently chasing.

Since this creature had taken many lives in the region, it was his top priority target.

Yet, when he finally succeeded in the pursuit and arrived, Sion had already intercepted the prey. All his efforts over the past month had gone to waste.

And the opponent was a knight to boot.

Since he had acted according to the Goddess’s will and done good, it was hard to pick a fight.

In the end, he had to look for another job.

To keep leading the mercenary band, he needed money.

They had to protect people and collect protection fees. Even if not excessive, they needed to accept the rewards offered out of goodwill for the band to survive.

For a target like the Sword Ghost, they could have received a substantial sum. Especially from Lord Yohart, the Sword Ghost’s true identity.

All these plans had been ruined by that one person, Sion. Since he couldn’t expect anything from the target himself, he urgently needed to find a new job.

Kegan clicked his tongue.

“Just ignore him. If we keep ignoring him, he’ll get tired and drop off.”

“Hmm…….”

“You’re being too soft for a commander. Normally, you’d draw your sword and slice off an ear to show you’re serious.”

“He seems to know you. What’s your relationship?”

The subordinates were unusually persistent today. Kegan tightly closed his mouth. He was normally a taciturn boss.

‘The more I care, the more I lose.’

He wanted to forget the past entanglement with the War Cult. The immediate matter at hand was more important. He decided to keep his eyes shut and continue deceiving himself.

Even if that choice slowly consumed him and ultimately led to his death from guilt. Kegan considered even that his karmic burden and fate.

“Drop it. More importantly, is there anywhere we can go? We’ve already caught the Sword Ghost.”

Kegan changed the subject.

He was thinking only of the next mission.

After all this time, there was nothing good to come from getting involved with the War Cult. It was better to quickly find a new mission and client and roam the Deogel region.

‘Now that Lord Yohart has returned.’

If he could leave behind some debt, his subordinates would eventually have a way to earn a living. This was why Kegan went to such lengths to hunt monsters and protect people.

One subordinate asked what the point of that question was.

“There isn’t. Commander. We originally planned to attack the main base after catching the Sword Ghost.”

“Did we?”

Kegan scratched his head.

He had forgotten the most important objective because Sion had been on his mind.

Losing focus was problematic. He quietly pinched his own thigh.

“What about the intel?”

“We’ve gathered enough. That place is definitely their main base.”

“Hmm. Finally, huh.”

Kegan muttered, scratching beneath his eyepatch. He was missing one eye.

The officers of the Black Banner Unit spoke in unison.

“Finally, it’s here.”

“Took long enough.”

“I hope this is really the end.”

“Wake up. This is probably just the beginning.”

“Damn it. When will I ever get married and have kids?”

Though grumbling, the officers were united in spirit. A vigorous energy radiated from them.

It was clear they all wanted to quickly eliminate the root of evil tormenting them and finally rest.

Though they appeared bright and cheerful, they were utterly exhausted. It was probably the same everywhere, but their battles had been especially brutal.

“Alright. Then for now… we’ll head to the main base, regroup, and then move toward Kashibelli Rock. Let’s finish this once and for all.”

“Yes, Commander!”

“Wait for us, you damn demon bastards!”

The subordinates answered in unison. Courage surged through them. Flames ignited in their chests.

***

From a slightly distant spot, Sion watched the Black Banner Unit as they planned their operation.

He enhanced his hearing with sacred energy and eavesdropped on their conversation. It wasn’t even a secret discussion, so he felt no guilt.

“Such a kid. He’s just a child.”

“But his swordsmanship was solid. He handled a magic sword too.”

“I don’t know what he is.”

Kegan’s subordinates glared at Sion as they passed by.

They tried a bit of intimidation, but Sion ignored them completely, lost in thought.

‘Kashibelli Rock. So that’s where the Apostle of the Evil God they mentioned is, huh.’

Kegan had asked Sion if he could kill the Apostle of the Evil God. It was a provocative statement meant to break Sion’s spirit.

It was an impossible condition—essentially saying that if he couldn’t meet it, he should just leave.

It was a cheap, pride-wounding tactic. Too petty for an adult.

But Sion readily accepted.

Without hesitation or setting conditions.

What Sion was interested in was the target he had to kill.

‘Apostle of the Evil God. A powerful being. Even I might struggle. No, I’m definitely not strong enough yet.’

Though incomplete, Sion had met an Apostle of the Evil God before.

The pale face of the Apostle of Blood, still recovering his strength, came to mind.

Even now, recalling him sent chills down his spine. This time, he might face an opponent of similar strength.

An ordinary person would have left Kegan immediately. They would have run away without even looking back.

‘Essentially, it’s no different from suicide.’

The moment he learned that Kegan, or rather, the Black Banner Unit’s ultimate goal was the Apostle of the Evil God, running away immediately would have been the most rational choice.

But Sion wasn’t someone who stood within the realm of the ‘ordinary.’

He always acted uniquely, beyond prediction.

When he seemed to be speaking in jest or joking.

His sapphire-like eyes were infinitely serious.

The words he casually declared—saying he would kill the Apostle of the Evil God—were absolutely not light.

‘Of course, that’s important too, but restoring Kegan’s memories comes first.’

Garfenn had told him the method.

To take Kegan to the place where he had lost his comrade, cried out in rage, and made a contract with the goddess.

He was told that if he brought Kegan there, Goddess Achille would handle the rest.

‘The problem is…’

The place where Kegan made the deal with Goddess Achille was Kashibelli Rock.

‘Is it fate’s joke?’

Kegan was unknowingly striving to return to the place where he could regain his memories.

‘Kegan probably has no idea.’

Ultimately, if he helped Kegan and destroyed Kashibelli Rock, everything would end smoothly.

Destroying the Apostle of the Evil God and obtaining the spoils and sacred energy.

Considering the merits accumulating in Sion’s star, the sacred energy, and the Black Banner Unit joining Elim, the risk was worth taking.

‘An excellent training instructor and potential members for the War Knight Brigade.’

Fighting the Apostle of the Evil God was dangerous.

But it was a necessary task to make Elim stronger.

A mission desired by Achille and strongly pushed by Master Garfenn and Bishop Gustein.

‘I must accomplish it.’

If they even had a War Knight Brigade, it would mean truly breaking free from one more chain.

Sion could then fully focus on growing as the successor to the apostle of the War God.

‘Kashibelli Rock.’

He seemed to need a bit more conversation. He needed information to formulate a strategy.

Visualizing the vast battlefield in his mind, he pondered how to win the war.

Sion approached Kegan, who was leading the way. Kegan sensed his approach and frowned again.

“So, where are you heading now?”

“You already heard everything.”

“There’s a difference between hearing it and hearing it directly.”

Kegan rubbed his forehead. This was the first time he felt annoyed by someone.

“Kid, why don’t you just go back? Elim probably isn’t in such a comfortable situation either?”

“That’s exactly why I came. You’re needed to properly lead the War Knight Brigade.”

“Why me?!”

Kegan couldn’t hold back and suddenly shouted.

“Why me, huh?!”

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