Chapter 104

Ch.104 Apostle of the Goddess of War

“Is this… the right place? Huh?”

The main force of the Order of the Holy Sword had moved on the word of a single War Priest. It was a rare sight.

Only Sion could track the Apostle of the Blood. They had to follow him without question.

However.

The place they arrived at after a breathless chase was an unexpected one.

They had passed through villages and arrived at a large city.

“Is that true?”

“Yes.”

“This is a large city close to the Holy Kingdom. The Apostle of Blood hid here?”

Sion nodded with certainty.

“He didn’t just hide here. I believe he’s been hiding here for quite a long time.”

He narrowed his eyes and stared at the castle tower towering over the city.

“I feel an especially strong presence from that tower.”

Lagan bent one of his sharply arched eyebrows.

“I don’t feel anything.”

“That’s because they hid it properly.”

“Hid it? How?”

Lagan emphasized again.

“This is a city under the influence of the Holy Kingdom. The lord of this city is also from a lineage that has served only the Goddess Eru for generations.”

Sion didn’t pay much attention to Lagan’s words.

The situation was changing.

No matter what happened, it wouldn’t be strange at all.

Even if a family had served the Goddess of Light their whole lives, it wasn’t a basis for judgment.

Sion thought thoroughly based only on the information he had obtained.

“They might be targeting exactly that point. The idea of building a nest in a place where it’s ‘absolutely’ impossible.”

“……Is that so?”

Lagan tilted his head, tempted. The squires and aides behind him clicked their tongues.

It was nonsense.

The heretics building a nest in a place reached by the light of the Goddess Erru.

Lagan also recognized the seriousness of the statement.

“Brat. Can you take responsibility for those words? Are you sure the Apostle of Blood is really in this city?”

“Yes.”

“It could be blasphemy. If I get annoyed, I might just arrest you.”

Sion didn’t seem to care.

“It’s pretty much the same anyway. It’s no different from being dragged here.”

“What, you punk?”

Actually, Sion was indifferent, and Lagan was acting easygoing, but…

Currently, the relationship between the Order of the Holy Sword and the War Cult was closer to bad.

Didn’t the Holy Kingdom summon Sion, insisting on putting a leash on him, even for something they could have just accepted?

If it were another Cult, it wouldn’t be strange for them to rise up immediately and protest, claiming they were insulted.

The reason the War Cult and Sion remained silent was because various interests were complexly intertwined, such as the whereabouts of Garfenn, Kaili, and Achille.

Judging that accepting for now was more beneficial than fighting.

Moreover, now they had a common enemy before them.

“If you don’t believe me, I’ll step back too.”

“Who said I don’t believe you? It’s not that I don’t believe you, it’s that it’s hard to believe.”

Sion pointed at the castle with his finger. It was an old castle that stood out even in the fairly large city.

“Under the castle. There must be something there.”

“You sound like a priestess. Do you have some spiritual connection or something?”

“No. I’m just saying what I feel. Down there, I smell blood.”

“Hmm.”

Lagan narrowed his eyes and stared at the castle.

No matter how much he thought about it, it was a story hard to believe.

It wasn’t that he didn’t know the owner of the castle.

He was acquainted with the lord.

‘Vincenzo, that simple man, betray us? No way.’

But the Commander of the Order of the Holy Sword was in a position where he had to exclude personal feelings.

Even if he was a good drinking buddy, there should be no exceptions in spreading the Goddess’s light.

Alright!

Lagan urged his horse.

“Let’s go.”

“Do you believe me?”

“Believe or not. That’s the only way.”

***

Caldenz Castle, which had long served as a gateway to the Holy Kingdom, was originally a quiet place.

Although a huge trade route leading to the Holy Kingdom passed through.

Particularly, few people from outside visited here.

Lord Vincenzo Alberone liked that point.

Keeping distance from the central imperial family, war, politics, and the smell of blood, accumulating moderate wealth while living a life believing the Goddess Eru.

The days spent under the protection of the Holy Kingdom were truly a life without envy.

Today too, Vincenzo was spending such a peaceful day.

“Hah, hah! My lord! There’s an army in front of the castle gate!”

Vincenzo, who had finished breakfast and was sitting on the terrace, almost dropped his teacup at the words of the servant who came running, panting.

“Army? What did you say? What flags?”

The servant said with a trembling voice.

“Whi, white golden wings!”

“The Order of the Holy Sword?”

Vincenzo was puzzled.

It was very common for the Order of the Holy Sword to come and go from the castle.

It was also a gateway to the Holy Kingdom, and it was not uncommon for them to receive supplies stored in this castle and take them away.

Unless it was a servant who had just arrived.

It wasn’t a servant who didn’t know that fact.

There must be a reason for running so urgently.

“The number of wings?”

“Eight. Octowings.”

Vincenzo’s complexion rapidly worsened.

“The main force? What business brought them here?”

Even though he was acquainted with Lagan, the moment he learned it was the main force of the Order of the Holy Sword, he became frightened.

The main force of the Order of the Holy Sword.

The military force of the Church of Light.

Those who deliver the judgment of light.

Every move they make is destructive, and their movement means that it is the will of the Goddess Eru.

It definitely doesn’t mean they came for tourism without any purpose.

Vincenzo’s anxiety peaked. He bit his perfectly fine thumbnail and thought over and over.

“Wh, what should we do? My lord.”

“Surely not. It can’t be.”

“Yes?”

Vincenzo shook his head.

He left the terrace and went inside.

Taking off his flowing silk robe, he headed towards the bathtub.

“Bring out the most precious wine in the castle. It seems my friend has come wanting to drink.”

“Is, is that so?”

“Yes. Prepare a banquet. Enough for all the holy knights.”

As the servant left the room.

Vincenzo opened the door of the luxurious bathtub.

It was a bathtub where he had firmly ordered that no castle servant could enter.

He had even dismissed the bathing attendants.

Because this place…… was not for washing.

After confirming no one was there.

He prostrated himself on the cold marble floor and prayed.

“Apostle of Blood. I have words to offer.”

The tips of his fingers were already bleeding, dripping onto the floor.

A moment later, a eerie voice that rang in his ears resonated through the marble bathtub.

―Speak.

“The Commander of the Order of the Holy Sword has come to the castle.”

―The purpose?

“I will have to meet and talk to find out. Sometimes he came to share a drink, other times to deliver special news.”

A brief silence flowed.

The non-human voice was heard again.

―He probably didn’t just come to play.

“Could he have noticed something?”

The voice transmitted through the vibrating marble was firm.

―That cannot be. Surely it must be another purpose.

“Is that so.”

―Act as you normally do. Be extremely careful with any noticeable activity.

Thud.

Vincenzo touched his forehead to the floor.

“I will do so.”

―And, offer me one unmarried woman. I am thirsty.

Thud!

“Of course. I will offer my daughter! Grant me this glorious opportunity—”

―Then the eyes around you will become strange. You fool.

“Ah. So, sorry.”

Vincenzo’s body flinched.

A voice as cold as ice echoed from the ceiling to the floor.

He could feel the discomfort.

―I already know your loyalty well. I will give you eternal life and eternal youth as you wish. Just do as I say.

“I will keep that in mind.”

The incantation ended there.

Nothing more was heard.

However, His spiritual presence remained like an afterimage, pressing down on Vincenzo’s shoulders.

Vincenzo remained prostrated in that position.

He stayed motionless for more than 10 minutes.

Serving the Apostle of Blood was considered training, so it wasn’t difficult.

“I sweated too much. I need to bathe in blood.”

***

As the castle gate slowly opened, a faint bell sound echoed from inside.

The procession of the Order of the Holy Sword maintained a neat formation and moved with heavy steps.

The castle guards saluted, and servants and spectators lined up.

It was the procession of the main force of the Order of the Holy Sword.

It was a rare and precious sight.

There were even rumors that just seeing it would open one’s eyes and cure diseases.

In particular, there were stories that just touching the body of the Commander of the Order of the Holy Sword could protect one from demons.

To that extent, the Order of the Holy Sword of Light had deep popularity among the people.

It was an army of the Goddess that everyone looked up to.

Vincenzo Alberone shouted.

“Warriors of light, welcome! The land blessed by the Lord shines even brighter!”

As if it were the return of a saint, the castle was engulfed in an overly enthusiastic atmosphere of hospitality.

Lagan, on horseback, turned his gaze slowly as he passed through the castle gate.

“The hospitality is too excessive. It feels like today is some special day.”

Sion, who heard his muttering, said quietly.

“Isn’t this level of hospitality natural for the Commander of the Order of the Holy Sword?”

“Well. That’s true…… but it feels subtly different. From usual.”

“Is that so.”

“Shall I say awkward? It doesn’t feel natural.”

Lagan cleared his throat and glanced at Sion silently.

After a brief silence as if conversing with their eyes, Lagan whispered quietly.

“While I meet the lord, you move.”

“Are you buying time for me?”

“Yes. But don’t dig too deep either. We don’t know what existence is watching us yet. Just discover and leave the rest to me.”

Sion nodded.

Amid the lined-up Order of the Holy Sword on horseback, he maintained silence as if part of the procession.

“If it seems impossible, withdraw immediately. If you join the camp waiting outside, you’ll be safe.”

“I understand.”

It was a short and quiet conversation.

Around them, priests scattered flower petals, and children handed apples and bread to the Order of the Holy Sword members.

It was as if they were welcoming soldiers returning victorious.

In fact, the Order of the Holy Sword deserved such treatment.

No one found this strange.

Only Lagan and Sion, with their good instincts, sensed the discomfort hanging over Caldenz Castle.

‘Certainly, it’s different from seeing it from afar. It feels strange coming directly.’

Lagan was already convinced that Sion was right.

It was far too cold to be a land where the Goddess’s blessing resided.

The air, the ground, the warmth of divine power.

The energy of the Goddess Eru that Lagan knew was greatly diluted.

It was so different from when he had visited just a few years ago.

Finally, upon reaching the castle entrance, Lagan dismounted.

With a solemn face, he shook hands with Vincenzo who had come to greet him.

“Long time no see.”

“Commander of the Order of the Holy Sword! You have taken precious steps. It is an honor for my family!”

Lagan, who had been maintaining a dignified weight under the enthusiastic hospitality, changed his expression and showed a broad smile.

“Uhaha! Lord Vincenzo! I missed the wine you serve. I thought of it while returning from duty and stopped by.”

“Oh my, oh my. The warehouse will be ruined today!”

“Can I take a lot?”

Vincenzo boasted to the fullest.

“Of course! For days like this, I collected only precious wines from all over the continent!”

Thump!

Lagan hit Vincenzo’s back with his large hand.

Vincenzo, who had been holding his breath nervously, almost burst out, Puhuck!

“That’s why I like you, our Lord.”

“How many people have the honor of serving wine to the Commander of the Order of the Holy Sword?”

“Hey! This guy. I said we’re friends!”

“Hahaha! That’s right. Let’s go in! I have prepared a meal for all Order of the Holy Sword members.”

Lagan laughed with a sinister face.

“Did you trust me?”

Lagan immediately put his arm around Vincenzo’s shoulder and ordered his members.

“It’s a grand treat. Be faithful to diplomatic procedures. Do not commit any discourtesy.”

As Lagan went to the second floor with Vincenzo, the Order of the Holy Sword members immediately surrounded Lagan and went up.

The castle servants lined up and followed behind.

And in the midst of that, Sion quietly turned his body away from the flow.

Like an afterimage that disappeared somewhere.

He burrowed into the crowd.

No one called him or noticed him.

As if he was never there from the beginning.

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