Chapter 79

Ch.79 Apostle of the Goddess of War

The solemn induction ceremony of the newly founded Order of the War Knight concluded rather haphazardly.

The twenty or so mercenaries still wore bewildered expressions, but judging by Commander Kegan’s determined demeanor and Sion’s dazzling verbal maneuvering, they seemed to have accepted the situation for now.

The atmosphere was a strange mixture of solemnity and awkwardness.

At the center of this confusion, Sion quietly closed his eyes and focused on prayer.

Of course, his prayer bore little resemblance to the devout reverence of ordinary worshippers.

‘Hey, can you hear me, Goddess? No, you must hear me. Can you see what’s happening right now?’

Inside his mind, he began calculating like a shameless Abundance Cult disciple tallying up profits.

‘Look at these rough but loyal and noble souls.’

[Hmm?]

Achille, who had been silently observing, tilted her head curiously and listened to Sion’s words.

She felt a sudden spark of interest—what was her child about to say this time?

‘Their loyalty, willing to lay down their lives for their comrades. In just one day, I’ve gathered twenty of these top-tier disciples for you.’

[Well… yes. Good job, my Sion.]

Goddess Achille felt flustered by Sion’s bold rhetoric.

She had no issue with him persuading the Black Banner Unit with eloquent words.

She had always been amazed by his skill—each time she witnessed it, she couldn’t help but marvel.

But now that the target of his persuasion was herself, she couldn’t help but feel flustered.

‘Isn’t this an achievement rarely seen throughout the entire history of the cult?’

Of course, Goddess Achille did not directly respond.

Sion continued speaking one-sidedly, while Achille remained silent, merely listening.

Yet Achille gazed as if Sion were standing right before her, completely entranced.

[That’s right. That’s absolutely correct. Never before has a priest converted such outstanding warriors in a single day. Indeed. Absolutely.]

Achille readily nodded her head.

‘If you acknowledge that, could you please grant me some assistance?’

[Assistance?]

Achille echoed into the air.

‘Could you grant me the blessings in advance, as a reward for the disciples I’ve brought in and the offerings and prayers they will bring in the future?’

[What…?]

Goddess Achille tilted her head in confusion.

She wasn’t unfamiliar with the concept Sion was suggesting.

She was simply astonished by how radical his proposal was.

During battle, when the situation became dire, there were cases where divine power was drawn to its fullest.

Many worshippers prayed to the Goddess, demanding divine powers and blessings.

But—

[I’ve never heard or seen anything like this before. Calculating future offerings and asking for blessings in advance? You’re asking to receive divine power on credit?]

Though slightly flustered, she found Sion’s cleverness impressive. The very idea was amusing.

[I was planning to grant blessings as I observed the situation…]

But a worshipper directly proposing such a transaction was something entirely new.

The divine power granted by the Goddess’s judgment and the divine power requested in advance by a priest felt entirely different from the outset.

[How amusing. As expected of Sion.]

Sion’s thinking knew no bounds.

It was free, unpredictable, and fluid.

The unique sense Sion displayed in combat also shone brightly in his negotiation with the Goddess.

‘I need your divine power right now. These new disciples need it to fight against the Decay Cult.’

Sion furrowed his brow.

Since he didn’t know how to genuinely pray, he strained his face as if making a great effort.

At this fake exertion, Achille chuckled and tilted her wine cup.

It was wine brewed from wildflowers gifted by the Goddess of Wildflower a few days prior.

[I understand your words well. Sion is indeed an outstanding strategist and negotiator.]

At the same time, she also felt relieved.

She couldn’t even imagine what catastrophe might have occurred if this clever child had fallen into the hands of another Goddess.

[If he had become a disciple of Abundance… that Goddess obsessed with gold and treasure… the very structure of the mortal world might have changed.]

If the Abundance Cult’s disciple had been Sion, gold supremacy might have permeated the entire empire.

Achille was certain that if this man Sion truly set his mind to it, he could usher in an age of gold.

‘I beg you, Goddess. Please look kindly upon this new knightly order and protect them.’

Sion’s prayer grew increasingly fervent.

He was cunning yet intelligent. From the Goddess’s perspective, there was absolutely no loss.

He had crafted a deal so clever that it removed even the grounds for refusal.

The Goddess bit her fingertip, then made her decision.

As if enchanted, she agreed with his suggestion.

Without realizing it, she had been persuaded and found his logic convincing.

[On the contrary, showing generosity and granting blessings at such a moment would deepen faith even further.]

It was the moment Sion’s shameless yet logical prayer ended.

Whoosh—!

Suddenly, sacred energy burst from Sion’s body like a storm.

Thick black divine power scattered like mist, enveloping the unit members.

Even the last remnants of decay lingering in the air screamed and vanished, and the unit members were wrapped in a warm, reassuring sensation, as if standing before a massive log fire in the dead of winter.

“Uh, huh?”

That wasn’t all.

The faint light barrier faintly surrounding those who had sworn loyalty to the Goddess condensed, transforming into a more distinct and solid form, like tangible armor.

Over their worn leather armor, a barrier-shaped image of black chest and shoulder armor engraved with the sword-and-cross insignia materialized.

“W-what is this…?”

“Could it be, this…?”

“Goddess Achille’s…?”

There was no other explanation that immediately came to mind.

“So the Goddess truly watches over us!”

Though they didn’t understand the details, it seemed the Goddess of War had answered the boy Sion’s plea for help.

“Oh, Goddess!”

The mercenaries moved their arms and legs, unable to suppress their astonishment.

This was no mere protective barrier.

It was a miraculous blessing that enhanced strength, erased fatigue, and cleared the mind.

This was the grace of the Goddess they had once abandoned. Their eyes naturally reddened, their throats tightening with emotion.

“I can’t feel the miasma.”

“Breathing feels easier.”

“Really. It feels unbelievably light.”

Sion smiled contentedly.

The Goddess always answered prayers.

Was it not joyous?

‘Thank you, Goddess. I shall repay this grace with the heads of the decayed ones. With interest, of course.’

[Sion, compared to the offerings you have made, this is nothing. Accept it freely.]

Goddess Achille smiled affectionately at Sion, gently caressing the young knight’s cheek with the back of her hand.

Though Sion couldn’t feel it, divine energy surged through his body once more.

Sion shouted with feigned innocence.

“See! Everyone, did you see that? Our Goddess always watches over us!”

“Truly. You’ve made me see you in a new light, young man.”

“Haha, I’m Sion.”

“Sion. I leave myself in your care.”

“Me too.”

Someone else spoke up.

“So the terrifying rumors about the War Cult aren’t true after all? The stories about them causing wars wherever they go and bathing in blood?”

Sion pointed at the speaker.

“Those rumors. Since they’re all false, please be careful from now on. Make an effort to correct these falsehoods wherever you go. Our Cult doesn’t cause wars—we go to places where wars are about to break out and strive to prevent them.”

“That could be possible. Ah, got it. I’ll keep that in mind.”

“So now I’m really a War Knight? I can’t believe it…”

The mood was good.

It was a moment filled with the blessings of the Goddess of War.

The gloomy atmosphere had been pushed away.

Hope sprouted, pushing aside the aura of decay—a new beginning in a new home.

Kegan also smiled bitterly.

There had been a time like this before. Déjà vu.

This time, the ending must be different.

It absolutely had to be.

‘Old comrades… I will repay my sins this way, at least.’

Sion placed a hand on Kegan’s shoulder.

Kegan forced a smile in return.

There were feelings between men that needed no words.

Thank you, I leave it to you—this was the meaning Sion conveyed with a nod before stepping forward.

Schwing!

Sion drew his sword and raised it high over his shoulder.

“The Goddess of War is with us!”

“…?”

At first, no one reacted to his fierce roar. They didn’t even understand what Sion was doing.

But Sion remained steadfast.

“The Goddess of War is with us!”

Once more.

“The—Goddess—of War is with us!”

Twice more.

Finally, Kegan caught on and belatedly drew his sword, joining the cry.

“…The Goddess of War is with us.”

“The Goddess of War is with us!”

One person’s roar became two voices shouting together.

“Th-the Goddess of War is with us!”

“The Goddess of War! Is with us!”

“The Goddess of War is with us!”

Spreading to three, then four people,

until it became a single chant, flowing like a majestic military anthem.

“The Goddess has answered your fighting spirit! Let’s go, toward the heart of decay!”

Responding to instigator Sion’s declaration, the newly empowered War Knights answered with thunderous cheers.

“Uwooooooo!”

“Chargeeeee!”

“The Goddess of War is with us!”

[Oh my.]

Sniffle.

Achille covered her mouth.

***

Led by Sion and Kegan, the Order of the War Knights took its first steps onto the gloomy path toward Kashibelli.

The moment they entered Kashibelli Rock, the texture of the air changed.

Along with a sharp, stinging stench that pierced their noses, the air touching their skin felt damp and heavy—a disgusting sensation, as if invisible spiderwebs were wrapping around their entire bodies.

Without the Goddess’s protection, merely inhaling the air would have caused the pain of toxic miasma burning their lungs.

Decay miasma clung like sap to every rock. From atop this poison, indescribable eyeballs of miasma protruded, watching the War Knights’ advance.

They were surrounded by unknown monsters and toxins in the narrow gaps between rocky cliffs.

An ordinary person would have found this oppressive sensation unbearable.

“The… the Goddess of War is with us…”

A few members murmured prayers in fear.

Gradually, ‘The Goddess of War is with us’ was becoming the representative prayer of the War Cult.

And once again, they realized how miraculous the blessing Sion had brought truly was.

The path was clear.

It was a single road, as if the Apostle of Decay had deliberately laid it out to invite them in.

The War Knights advanced cautiously without lowering their guard. On a path toward the enemy’s stronghold, an ambush could come at any moment, from anywhere.

But contrary to expectations, the path was silent. Too silent.

“This is strange.”

Jena whispered.

“Not a single ambush. Do they really think they’ve invited us and thus won’t attack?”

She was right. Along both sides of the path, swamplands clearly showed something wriggling.

Silhouettes of decayed creatures moved faintly beneath the black water.

Yet they never emerged onto the path. They only waited, their red glowing eyes flickering, as if anticipating the knights’ passage.

The warriors of the Goddess of War marched through the heart of enemy territory, under the enemy’s watchful eyes.

How long had they walked?

Finally, the swamp ended, and the entrance to a massive rocky mountain came into view.

Kashibelli Rock.

Its former fame as a beautiful mountain rich in gold veins was now gone. It looked grotesque, as if eroded and melted by the pervasive aura of decay.

The mountain’s entrance was gaping wide like a giant cave. And on both sides of the entrance, dozens of shadowy figures stood in formation.

“…!”

Every member of the Order of the War Knight reflexively tightened their grip on their weapons. Enemies. Disciples of the Decay Cult, draped in sickly green robes.

They carried no weapons, simply greeting the knights in eerie silence.

Tense silence hung thick in the air. It felt as if a bloody battle could erupt at any moment.

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