Chapter 101

Ch.101 Apostle of the Goddess of War

Sion tried to imagine his master’s emotions.

Poisonous rage would be welling up from deep within his heart, seeping into his brain.

Who needed rationality at a time like this?

‘If I were in his place, I wouldn’t be able to just sit still either.’

As if resonating with that thirst for revenge, a sharp, blade-honing sound rang from the mind sharpened with killing intent.

Every time he thought about it, murderous intent surged.

Sion tightly shut his eyes.

Thinking of his master made his chest ache.

He wanted to splash cold water on his face to clear his mind.

The place where everything was entangled—Seongguk.

Only by resolving matters there could Elim finally achieve true independence.

Or, perhaps, be recognized as a member of the Round Table.

‘Personally, that’s not a choice I’m particularly drawn to.’

Sion decided to stop thinking here. The rest was no longer his responsibility.

It was entirely up to the will of the Goddess of War.

In any case, Sion took the situation of Garfenn’s imprisonment very seriously.

It was clearly dangerous.

Causing chaos in Seongguk would be problematic.

And going to seek revenge on the Apostle of Darkness would be even worse.

The image of his master losing didn’t come easily to mind. Even if Garfenn fought Lagan, Sion would bet on his master’s victory.

However—

There was that one in a million chance.

The opponent was an absolute powerhouse, ranked among the top three of the Evil Gods.

His cruelty was beyond human comprehension.

There was no way to predict what methods he might use in an attack. The variable Sion feared most was precisely that.

The Evil God knew no honor, and his apostle would not fight fairly either.

That’s why he had to be stopped.

Even if it wasn’t the best option, fighting at a disadvantage was unacceptable.

Revenge had to be carried out perfectly.

It couldn’t be done recklessly in a fit of rage.

Just as Sion had sworn he would kill the ones who murdered his family and fulfilled that promise half a year later.

Sion asked for confirmation.

“Are they detaining him for protective reasons?”

“Yes.”

“I suppose I should be relieved.”

“For now? You need to go and stop him. If he loses his mind and starts rampaging, even he might… die.”

“I understand what you mean.”

The objective became clear.

Stop Garfenn and pass the trial of Seongguk.

Now that the forces of the Evil God were becoming increasingly overt, the cults of the Round Table would gradually begin to feel the necessity of the War Cult.

Who stood to lose more?

When thought deeply, it was obvious.

There was a reason they were now accepting the appointment of the priestess and pretending to be cooperative.

‘Seongguk alone cannot suppress the Evil God’s forces.’

Even if it were possible, the cost in blood would be too high.

Their pride had already risen to its peak.

The high-ranking, rigid, and hypocritical members of the Round Table wouldn’t willingly make their hands bloody with sacrifice.

Thus, they intended to use the War Cult as a weapon of war.

Knowing this, Sion still had no choice but to accept.

It was an uncomfortable coexistence.

Yet it was also a situation both Achille and Sion desperately desired.

As the scale of war expanded, Sion could quickly accumulate achievements.

He would grow stronger as fast as possible, making it impossible for them to ever use the War Cult again.

No.

So that they would kneel before him instead…

‘I hold the negotiation card.’

It all depends on Sion.

He had to keep that in mind.

“Sion.”

Bishop Gustein spoke.

His tone was unusually serious.

He looked up with utterly exhausted, hollow eyes.

“I entrust him to you. You’re the only one who can bring him back safely.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll bring Master back to Elim with me.”

Gusteine gave a faint smile.

It was the kind of smile that came from recalling something quite happy.

“He deserves some happiness now, doesn’t he? With his wife and child.”

That’s right.

There was Anna.

And inside her womb…

Sion slowly nodded his head.

Garfenn had another choice. He could start anew.

He could bury the past and look toward the future.

People must move forward.

That’s how they live.

To remain stuck in the past is no different from being dead.

“Tell that bastard to snap out of it and come back quietly.”

An old soldier must survive.

He must end his quest for revenge and penance.

He must find peace and spend his remaining years in tranquility.

Hopefully, Garfenn would find happiness.

“Yes. Leave it to me.”

Gustein secretly clenched his fist tightly.

He was almost there.

Happiness was right before his eyes.

After a full thirty years—Serving the Goddess, sacrificing his own life, running this entire time.

He should have broken long ago.

Now, all that remained was to part ways with the life of a puppet, forcibly patched together and kept moving.

‘Let the future be entrusted to the young ones, my friend.’

***

It was the night before setting off to Seongguk with the Holy Sword Brigade.

For Elim, which had been walking on the edge of a blade, a brief moment of peace had arrived.

The immediate crisis had passed, and it was time to regain stability.

Elim had suffered no direct damage, and there were no injuries.

In fact, having repelled the Wisdom Cult without shedding a single drop of blood only raised their reputation further.

Around this time, influential traders from the western islands beyond Foils began making contact.

Sion, deep into the night, was observing and refining the insights and inspirations he had gained from meeting Arwen and Lagan within his mental domain.

Until someone came to him, he maintained an extreme level of concentration, as if dwelling within the universe itself.

Knock knock.

―Big brother, it’s me. Can I come in?

A voice that sounded somehow damp, like it had been soaked in water. It was Ruina.

“Yeah.”

Creeeak.

Ruina came in wearing her nightgown.

Her movements were slightly more cautious than usual.

Like a cat, perhaps.

“What? Can’t sleep?”

“Yeah.”

“Can I lie down next to you?”

Not long ago, they had shared a bed inside a cold prison. It was a request that shouldn’t have felt strange at all.

But, for some reason…

Lately, Ruina was different.

She treated Sion not as a younger sister, but as a woman.

Sion wasn’t unaware of this.

‘I didn’t know how fast Master and Anna were progressing.’

In any case, lately, being around Ruina wasn’t as easy as it used to be.

Ruina was shaping their relationship this way.

Still, Sion kept repeating to himself, ‘She’s my sister. She’s Ruina.’ and brushed it aside.

But today, the atmosphere was odd.

Somehow, he didn’t feel he could easily brush it off.

From her clothes emanated a sweet, warm scent. Her hair was wet, as if she had just bathed…

‘She’s made her move.’

Sion’s thoughts stuttered. He could barely get words out.

“Yeah, lie down.”

Sion said, lying on the side closer to the wall. Ruina silently climbed onto the bed like a cat, moving close to the wall—so close that she could smell the scent from the top of his head.

“Ruina…?”

“Hm?”

She calmly turned the question back at him.

“You’re too close.”

“We’re close, right? We’re that kind of relationship.”

“That’s not what I mean.”

Ruina ignored Sion’s words, slipping into his arms.

Thump thump thump…

No matter how much self-control he exerted, Sion couldn’t stop his heart from pounding.

‘You damn heart!’

Ruina giggled.

“Big brother, why is your heart beating so fast?”

“You’re suffocating me.”

“Are you nervous?”

“What are you talking about, kid?”

Sion had no resistance against Ruina teasing him. He never had, even from the beginning.

Recently, the intensity had sharply increased, making it hard to keep his mind clear.

“This time too… will it take a long time?”

“Huh? Yeah, probably.”

Ruina sighed, still nestled in his arms.

“It feels like I barely get to see you.”

“I’m sorry…”

Sion truly felt guilty—he didn’t feel worthy of facing his siblings.

Even when he wanted to help Set with his training, he barely had time.

The same went for tending to Kaili’s condition.

Lately, Kaili herself spent more time in Elim Forest, adjusting her body with divine power.

Marquisin, the doctor, was busy, so his time with Sion had also decreased.

“The longer we’re apart, the more distant we feel.”

Sion lightly slapped Ruina’s back—gently, so it wouldn’t hurt.

“What are you saying? That could never happen.”

“I just feel that way.”

“I know you’re feeling neglected… but I also—”

“Let’s have a baby?”

Sion’s words were instantly cut off.

“Wha—what?”

Among all the possible things he had imagined Ruina might say, this wasn’t on the list.

It was completely out of the blue. Ruina was the only person in the world capable of tearing through Sion’s deep, solid heart.

“I was jealous of Sister Anna.”

“…”

“Even when she’s far from her lover, she still carries his trace inside her. When she misses him or feels lonely, she touches her belly and finds comfort.”

“What kind of nonsense are you saying.”

Ruina turned her body with a soft sigh, shifting out of Sion’s arms to gaze at the ceiling.

“We’re both adults. Isn’t it about time we started a family?”

Sion had thought Ruina had decided to make a move today, but he never expected this.

‘She didn’t just decide—she’s aiming for the final blow!’

Sion’s vision went as dark as his mental domain.

“What do you think?”

Ruina turned her body and asked. Her brown eyes shimmered under the moonlight and starlight.

This was no joke.

Ruina had struggled greatly before confessing.

Her sincerity came through clearly.

To keep avoiding this would be disrespectful to Ruina.

Sion turned his body and lay down, staring at the ceiling.

“I… like you too.”

“What?”

“Ruina, I like you. I still think of you more as a little sister… but if I were to get married, it would probably be you. I can’t really imagine anyone else.”

Ruina rested her chin on Sion’s chest. Her excited breath brushed against his lips.

“Really? You really mean it?”

“Huh? Of course I do. Would I joke about something like this?”

Ruina made a mysterious, ethereal expression, then snuggled back into Sion’s arms.

“I’m glad.”

“Glad about what?”

“Just… that you see me as a woman too.”

“Really?”

“You never showed it. I was the only one feeling anxious and all.”

If that’s how she had felt until now, then her feelings were justified.

Still, as time passed, Ruina’s actions had gradually seemed more flirtatious and womanly.

Sion could no longer delay.

He had to let go of the thought of her merely as a younger sister.

Ruina was a beautiful young woman.

“I just… I’m cautious too. After all, the situation still isn’t stable.”

“Mm, I know.”

Ruina sat up. Sharak.

The sound of fabric brushing against skin tickled his ears.

He found himself hyper-aware of every single movement she made.

Ruina walked to the window.

Her silhouette in the moonlight looked exceptionally beautiful tonight.

Had Ruina always been this beautiful?

Innocent, yet cat-like and haughty.

And also, exquisitely lovely.

Without realizing it, Sion stared intently at Ruina’s profile.

Then, suddenly, Ruina turned her head sharply.

“Let’s have a baby later.”

“Huh?”

“When things settle down. Then.”

“Was that for real?”

“I’m always sincere, big brother.”

From the moment Sion entered her life, the moment he rescued her from the hands of thieves, the moment he took the beating for her,  the moment she saw his back—in all those moments, Ruina had been sincere.

“Always.”

For the first time, Sion felt afraid of Ruina.

Until now, he had thought of her as just a noisy young girl.

But now he realized she had this side to her.

Sion felt he should perhaps be a bit more sincere too.

Not with a light heart.

He didn’t want to hurt her.

‘From now on… I need to be careful.’

—It was at that very moment.

Ruina’s face suddenly appeared right in front of Sion’s nose.

Smack.

The surprise attack happened before he could react.

Sion touched his lips in shock, stunned.

On his fingertips—a long strand of saliva clung.

When he finally regained his senses, Ruina had already closed the door and left.

Only a lingering, sensual aftertaste remained.

“Crazy…”

He couldn’t even form coherent words.

It felt as if he had been enchanted by a fairy of the moon.

Gradually, Sion was becoming an adult too.

……It was winter.

Footnote

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