Chapter 117

Ch.117 Apostle of the Goddess of War

“But… is it really alright to just walk out like this?”

“What are you talking about?”

Sion asked as he followed Lagan.

“Well, they’re high-ranking officials of the Holy Kingdom, after all. I lashed out in anger, but…”

“You were practically ready to draw your sword and start swinging, and now you’re worried about repercussions?”

Sion shrugged his shoulders. In truth, he was less worried for himself and more concerned that Lagan would have to clean up the mess afterward.

“You went out of your way for my sake, didn’t you?”

Lagan snorted dismissively, laughing as if Sion’s words were ridiculous.

“For whose sake? I only care about myself. I’m the incarnation of selfishness. That action just now? I did it for me.”

“Hmm.”

“The cardinals are corrupt, just as you said. They claim purity, but anyone can see otherwise. They occupy those positions merely because they were born earlier and became followers of the Light Cult a little sooner.”

Sion closed his mouth and pondered Lagan’s words.

The phrase ‘merely because they were born earlier’ struck him deeply. He realized one could indeed view things that way.

“But surely they weren’t always like this from the beginning.”

“Well, true.”

Lagan readily admitted it.

His gaze, fixed on the distant horizon, seemed to yearn for the past.

“When I was still a rookie, they were devout too. They worked day and night for the Holy Kingdom and Lady Eru.”

Sion asked,

“What changed them?”

“…Who knows.”

Lagan seriously contemplated Sion’s question.

What has changed?

Their hearts?

The world?

Were they originally pretending to be decent humans?

Or perhaps…

At the end of his contemplation, there was no answer.

Humans cannot know everything.

Humans cannot even fully comprehend their own hearts.

How could they possibly grasp another’s selfishness, desire, or fickleness?

Soon, Lagan sighed deeply.

“I don’t really know. Is it strange that I haven’t changed? Or have I changed without realizing it?”

“It’s difficult. I’m even afraid of firmly believing I must represent ‘goodness’ and ‘justice.’”

Though impressed by Sion’s philosophical musings, Lagan also found them somewhat distasteful.

“Don’t overthink things at such a young age. It’s not cute.”

“I’m an adult now.”

“One year passing doesn’t magically make you shout, ‘Hey, I’m an adult now!’ Do you really think that makes sense?”

The more Sion got to know Lagan, the more he felt Lagan was an obnoxious person.

Now he fully understood why Arwen disliked this man.

“And in my opinion, only humans who remain unchanged and good can become apostles of the Goddess. We’re the abnormal ones.”

“Hmm. Perhaps you’re right. Though boasting about ourselves like this feels silly.”

“Sometimes you need to act obnoxiously.”

Sion changed the subject.

“What happens now?”

They had just heard shocking secrets and truths.

A sense of helplessness still weighed heavily upon both their chests.

Apostles of Evil Gods.

What should they do about their gathering?

What about the coming war?

And the problem of losing contact with the fading Sovereign God and Goddess?

These were suffocating obstacles.

The burden felt crushing, as if their internal organs might burst.

“There’s nothing we can solve just by worrying among ourselves.”

“True.”

“We need more people to put their heads together.”

Sion looked puzzled.

“Hasn’t the Apostle of Light prepared any countermeasures?”

“Since ancient times, the Apostle has only dealt with issues posing direct threats to the Holy Kingdom.”

“But now…”

“Yes. Destroying the Holy Kingdom itself is the will of the Goddess. Even the Apostle can do nothing.”

It was chillingly indifferent.

Was this truly a matter they could ignore so casually?

Seeing Sion’s frown, Lagan added an explanation.

“She is a transcendent being. The Goddess is the same. It’s better for our emotional stability to stop thinking from a human perspective.”

“A human perspective…”

Come to think of it.

Helping the weak, saving them, protecting their lives—these were all fundamentally human perspectives.

Wishing for the Goddess not to depart was likewise human.

If the Holy Kingdom’s very existence enabled the survival of Evil Gods, then erasing it entirely aligned with the Goddess of Light’s perspective.

Though alternative methods might exist, from an inhuman viewpoint, nothing could be cleaner, faster, or more efficient.

“If the Goddess’s will is thus, silently obeying is the apostle’s duty. That’s all.”

“And you, Commander?”

Lagan exhaled a long sigh before answering.

“I must think about what comes after. I’ll be the one actually leading the Church of Light.”

“Will the true age of humanity really begin?”

“If we fail, the age of Evil Gods may dawn instead.”

Sion swallowed hard.

This was, in essence, a matter concerning humanity’s survival.

Humans, who had grown only within the garden cultivated by the Goddess, were now attempting to stand on their own.

The Goddess’s apostles would become humanity’s leaders, guiding mankind forward.

Easier said than done.

It was an incredibly distant, abstract concept.

“We must prepare thoroughly.”

What was truly right remained shrouded in uncertainty.

“Let’s seek advice once.”

“From whom, if not the Apostle?”

“There’s more than one apostle.”

An apostle worthy of the Commander seeking counsel.

Only one person came to mind.

“Our master?”

“Yes. …Hmm. We should release him.”

* * *

Creeeak.

Finally, Garfenn was released.

Having been captured after causing a disturbance in the Holy Kingdom, he remained solemn.

In truth, had someone not restrained him back then, who knew what he might have done?

Indiscriminate rampages leave only wounds behind.

“Thank you, Sion. I showed you an undignified side.”

“You looked magnificent.”

Smiling, Sion attended to Garfenn. As Garfenn stepped out through the iron gate, his expression hardened abruptly.

“But why is that guy here?”

“That guy”—Lagan smirked.

“Long time no see, senior.”

“Senior? I have no reason to accept your greeting. Why are you even traveling with my disciple in the first place?”

Sion slightly defended Lagan.

“He helped me greatly in the Holy Kingdom. Especially during the cardinals’ interrogation.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes.”

“No need to thank me. I’m merely repaying debts owed to you to ease my conscience.”

“What?”

Lagan scratched his cheek awkwardly, smiling uncomfortably.

Clearly, there was some unspoken, deep history between the two.

Trying to dispel the tense atmosphere, Sion lightened his tone.

“First, let’s eat something?”

As a religious city, the Holy Kingdom had no establishments selling delicious food.

That was why they settled at one of the city’s many distribution centers.

True to its identity as a nation, the Holy Kingdom imposed no extravagance on food.

Simple bread and soup were all that was available.

Since Garfenn had no interest in culinary pleasures, he began eating without complaint.

Throughout the walk to the dining area, he hadn’t exchanged a single word with Lagan.

Judging by his demeanor, it seemed closer to him being unable to speak.

‘To silence even that rogue… Just what exactly is our master…’

Since Garfenn himself never spoke of it, Sion didn’t know much, but the status of Apostle of War, Garfenn was far, far higher than Sion had imagined.

Even the Commander treaded carefully around him.

Considering even the Apostle of Blood hid during Garfenn’s prime—

‘Truly extraordinary.’

Being his disciple suddenly felt immensely proud and fortunate.

‘Also, an honor.’

Anyway.

With Lagan remaining silent, Sion alone had to recount everything that had happened.

Though countless issues specific to the War Cult overflowed beyond matters concerning the Holy Kingdom or Goddess Eru, those weren’t topics for discussion here.

Something far more urgent demanded attention.

After listening to the long story, Garfenn remained silent for a while, scraping his empty plate before finally speaking.

“If the Apostles of Evil Gods truly hold some kind of gathering, it’ll be a troublesome problem.”

“Yes, correct.”

“We don’t know where or when.”

“We can’t find out. Though there is one plausible conjecture.”

Until now silent, Lagan finally spoke at Sion’s words.

“What is it?”

“……”

Garfenn glared fiercely at Lagan for suddenly interrupting. Even the imposing Lagan appeared infinitely small beside Garfenn.

Moreover, he seemed visibly tense under Garfenn’s oppressive aura. The sight grew increasingly amusing.

Smiling inwardly, Sion explained.

“Simply put, we need to find holes.”

“Holes?”

“Yes. It’s just a term I use for convenience—it refers to places where the Goddess of Light’s influence has weakened.”

Lagan nodded.

“Places like the Lord Vincenzo family’s territory?”

“Yes. Roughly similar.”

“Sacred holes. I suppose that’s how I should understand it.”

“By searching such places, we might uncover clues. The problem is…”

“Problem?”

Sion spoke with concern.

“Would they really choose to hold it within imperial territory? There’s no need to risk such danger.”

“That’s true.”

Then, Garfenn added his opinion.

“No, I believe they’ll hold the gathering within imperial territory.”

“Why?”

“Their recent movements suggest it. They’ve stubbornly established nests and operated within imperial lands—even infiltrating cities right at the Holy Kingdom’s gates.”

“Hmm.”

This meant followers of Evil Gods had already multiplied beyond the point of reversal.

The Goddess of Light’s power had been weakening for a long time, and the Evil Gods, noticing this, patiently and persistently infiltrated bit by bit over a long period.

“Even that bastard Apostle of Blood, whose body is broken and should be recuperating safely, chose to hide near the Holy Kingdom despite the risks.”

“…Surely not.”

Both Sion and Lagan found Garfenn’s reasoning plausible. The more they heard, the stranger it seemed.

They were gradually converging toward a very nearby location.

“In the south lies Death, in the east Chaos, in the west Blood, and in the north Darkness.”

Thud.

Setting down his spoon, Garfenn continued speaking, sounding as certain as someone confirming a deduction.

“All are advancing toward the continent’s center.”

“……”

“The gathering will likely occur much closer than we imagine.”

Garfenn stated calmly. Sion, persuaded, fell silent and began assessing the possibility.

Lagan’s face grew serious again as he murmured,

“The Holy Kingdom…”

“Concentrating surveillance around it is probably the most realistic approach for now.”

Sion asked the two,

“Is their goal to destroy the Holy Kingdom?”

Finally, a vulnerability had appeared.

The forces of Evil Gods wouldn’t miss this opportunity.

“If the Goddess of Light intends to close the gate to heaven, they’ll surely rush desperately to stop her.”

“After all, the Evil Gods’ ultimate goal is to seize the Round Table.”

Garfenn quietly clenched his fist.

“So there was a reason the Evil God of Darkness was sighted near the Holy Kingdom…”

Lightning flashed in his eyes.

Had he finished contemplating?

Sion was concerned about this.

If the situation ultimately unfolded as predicted, conflict with the apostles of Evil Gods would be unavoidable.

And if the Evil God of Darkness finally appeared then…

‘Master will definitely try to kill the Evil God of Darkness.’

He wanted to avoid that at all costs.

Because when fighting the Evil God of Darkness, Garfenn wouldn’t be in his right mind.

It was the moment he’d waited for his entire life.

No one could predict what emotions would surge forth.

Blinded by rage, he might commit irreversible mistakes.

‘Master…’

Please, think of An-na and the child.

Sion prayed silently.

May the Goddess look upon us mercifully.

At this moment.

Goddess Achilles, who had listened to the entire conversation, was no longer present.

She had headed straight for the Round Table.

Now that she had gained the right to enter, it was time to meet Eru.

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