Chapter 121

Ch.121 Apostle of the Goddess of War

Calm rationality and a temperament like wildfire coexisted; noble as a knight, yet possessing the rough, ruffian-like demeanor of a street brawler.

Garfenn was a complex man.

An unstable human striving for perfection.

Truly, he was the ideal Sion aspired to, without any deficiency.

Just now, even upon meeting his former disciple who had betrayed and abandoned him, he maintained composure.

“Arwen.”

“Ah, uh, I, um….”

Sion encountered Arwen in the Holy Kingdom’s plaza—she should have been fighting the Apostle of Chaos. Under the scorching sun of the heavenly halo, the uncomfortable master-disciple pair reunited.

Sion cautiously stepped back one pace, then quietly observed their conversation.

“Uh, er, um.”

Arwen couldn’t possibly meet Garfenn’s gaze. She fidgeted restlessly, unable to keep her fingers still for even a moment.

Not only did she emit strange, stammering sounds,

But, as always, tears soon began welling up at the corners of her eyes.

And this despite being followed by no small number of Knights of the Scales.

It could even be considered disgraceful.

Yet, for Arwen, the guilt Garfenn inspired in her was so immense it overrode all social dignity.

Hic, hic.

Arwen began crying outright. Garfenn, until then, hadn’t opened his heavy mouth even once.

He simply didn’t know how to deal with this pitiful, disappointing former disciple.

Though he genuinely felt glad to see her, resentment toward her was equally strong.

To claim he felt no betrayal or bitterness would be a lie.

Yet, too much time had passed to demand an apology—and it was ambiguous exactly what he should demand she apologize for.

What could one say to someone who simply found the Goddess of Wisdom’s ideology and doctrine more appealing?

Thus, both stood frozen in the plaza, unable to muster the courage to speak.

Everyone around them moved—but for them alone, time seemed to stand still.

‘Sigh.’

Both were people for whom dealing with others was the most difficult thing in the world.

‘How on earth did they ever manage as master and disciple?’

It was the greatest mystery of Sion’s life. Watching them made him dizzy and queasy.

Helplessly, Sion stepped forward.

“Uh, hello. Arwen.”

“Huh? Ah, ah. Yes, yes. Sion.”

They were peers. Though not on good terms, they were at least acquainted, so conversation flowed naturally.

“If you’ve got nothing to say, shall we just continue our last fight?”

Sion tossed out the remark jokingly.

Then—

“……!”

Arwen’s pupils dilated like a chameleon’s as she stared fixedly at Sion.

“Now that you mention it…”

Arwen twisted her body and muttered to herself. Now that you mention it—what?

Arwen’s face flushed so deeply it looked ready to burst. Judging by her expression, she seemed to be plotting an escape.

No chance.

Sion subtly blocked her path and spoke.

“Say something. Since our former master is here, how about explaining your invasion of our cult?”

Sion spoke brazenly.

Garfenn was here now.

There was no reason to feel intimidated before the Wisdom Cult. Now was precisely the time to trust his master and speak his mind freely.

“Keck! Keh-hek! Kol-lo! Kol-lok…!”

Arwen choked. She had inhaled too deeply in her panic. How flustered must she have been to react like this?

‘Even looking again, it’s absurd. How is this person an apostle? And yet…’

The terrifying strength Arwen had displayed was utterly incomprehensible.

Having recently learned methods to grow stronger from Garfenn, Arwen now felt even more powerful to him.

‘She definitely wasn’t using her full strength when fighting me.’

Thinking this, resentment welled up inside him. Next time, he was certain he could win. No—he must win.

But not now.

Now was an emergency—Evil God forces could emerge at any moment.

‘Still, I must get an apology.’

Sion narrowed his eyes and thrust his face directly in front of Arwen’s.

“Huh? Huh?”

Arwen flailed, trying to turn away from Sion while wiping tears and snot.

“I-I’m sorry.”

Arwen finally surrendered.

“What was that?”

Sion spoke sharply. He was relentless. Madness glinted in his eyes—he was determined to extract compensation for the harm and psychological trauma he had suffered.

“I said I’m sorry….”

“Why did you do something so sorry-worthy?”

“……That’s…”

At that moment, Garfenn’s voice, silent until now, was heard.

“Arwen.”

“H-hiik! N-nhe?”

“I know you didn’t do it because you wanted to.”

“Y-yes. That’s right.”

“You were following the Goddess’s orders.”

Having seemingly composed himself, Garfenn continued in a tone even colder than Sion’s.

“Nnng….”

“But this old master is deeply disappointed.”

Hic

Arwen burst into tears again. Selana and Antarius, watching from behind, flinched.

How dare they humiliate our apostle like this!

—That was the look in their eyes.

But this was different from when Sion had been alone. Now, the most fearsome giant in the world stood beside him—a renowned knight even the Commander treated with caution.

There was a time and place for stepping forward.

Somehow, right now, Garfenn’s fist felt closer than Menesia’s wisdom.

“You betrayed me, turned your back on Goddess Achille, and even attacked Elim.”

Hic

“I don’t know how I’m supposed to accept that.”

Drip, drip.

Arwen, who had been silently shedding tears, spoke in a barely audible voice.

“I’m sorry….”

“Just words?”

Garfenn prompted, and Sion followed up.

“The psychological trauma suffered by our cult members during that confrontation was severe. They endured immense terror. I still have nightmares—dreams of you kidnapping my little brother.”

“Th-that’s!”

“I had one again today. Look, see these dark circles under my eyes?”

Amidst this, Arwen stared intently at Sion’s eyes with her tear-filled gaze, leaning in close!

She muttered softly.

“That doesn’t seem true….”

“Anyway!”

Sion desperately steered the conversation back.

“I believe it’s an unforgivable act of betrayal for cults under the same Goddess to engage in armed conflict like that. How fortunate! Since you’re already in the Holy Kingdom, let’s have you judged!”

“What!?”

“Isn’t that why you came?”

Sion gave her no room to breathe.

He had to tear into her as much as possible.

“Ah, no. I came because I was summoned under orders…!”

“Hmm. So you’re planning to slip away quietly?”

“Huh?”

“You hit someone and then pretend you know nothing? W-i-s-d-o-m C-u-l-t A-p-o-s-t-l-e?”

“No, nooo. When did I ever do that….”

The more she spoke, the clearer it became.

‘She’s a pushover.’

Perfect for teasing. No matter how much you hit her, what came out wasn’t anger—but tears.

There was no human more convenient to torment and exploit than Arwen.

Sion, having finally caught a big fish, relentlessly pressed Arwen.

At that ridiculous spectacle,

Garfenn too had begun smiling.

It was the face of someone who had buried resentment. Just as he had abandoned revenge, he had also let go of bitterness toward his former disciple.

Now, he was a man who looked only to the future.

That his former disciple had spread her wings elsewhere even brought him a sense of accomplishment.

That was enough.

If only he could peacefully watch his two disciples shoulder the future side by side…

“I-I’ll visit Elim separately later. Then… then I’ll properly apologize and make amends, yeeeees.”

Arwen shouted, pouring out resentment, embarrassment, and apology. Her voice trembled like a goat’s.

Only then did Sion smile contentedly. Garfenn too lifted the corners of his mouth, which had remained stern until now.

“Huh? Huh? What? Why are you laughing?”

Arwen belatedly tried to grasp the situation. But it was already too late.

Selana and Antarius smacked their foreheads. Once again, they had been humiliated by these insignificant cult members.

It was a disgrace unworthy of a great cult bearing one axis of the Round Table.

Garfenn, having forgiven his former disciple, spoke gently.

“Arwen. How is your side faring? I heard the forces of Chaos are running rampant.”

“Ah, yes. Yep.”

Arwen, flustered yet inwardly pleased that Garfenn had initiated conversation, answered. Her fidgeting fingers grew still.

“We’ve been clashing constantly. But suddenly, one day, they retreated.”

“Retreated?”

“Yes. They all vanished the day before the summons arrived from the Holy Kingdom.”

Sion and Garfenn exchanged glances. They had the same thought.

“The timing is suspicious.”

“Huh? Do you know something?”

“Hmm. The Holy Kingdom is in danger. Likely, the Evil God’s forces will launch a full-scale assault here.”

Arwen covered her mouth with her hand.

“Better prepare yourself. The real beginning is now.”

Garfenn gently reassured her.

Just as he wielded his sword skillfully, he also knew how to handle the timid, indecisive Arwen.

‘Truly kind-hearted.’

Arwen sighed with a worried expression, grumbling petulantly that there was never any rest.

Even before her old master, her old habits surfaced.

Sion watched them with amusement, then asked curiously.

“By the way, Arwen.”

“Yes?”

“What will happen to the Wisdom Cult’s priestess now?”

“Ah.”

Arwen scratched her cheek, smiling awkwardly.

“It’s still vacant. I’ve been temporarily serving as priestess too.”

“Wow.”

Arwen smiled angelically. Sincerely, filled with apology, she said,

“I’m sorry to your little brother. There are reasons I can’t explain yet—but someday, I’ll tell him.”

“……Hmm. Yes.”

“The Wisdom Cult must find another way too. For now, since the priestess’s revelation has vanished, we’ll have to wait for the next revelation.”

Sion nodded.

Garfenn quietly acknowledged it too.

Arwen’s sincere apology and promise of compensation. Understanding and respect that surpassed even that.

Nothing in this world went smoothly for anyone. Each bore their own hardships, struggling through difficult times. Twists and turns were part of life.

Life was an endless war, wandering in search of victory.

The victory the lone wolf found after a long struggle was peace.

He had resolved to wield his sword only for protection now—for Elim, to become the shield of his family.

* * *

The continent’s precarious balance is collapsing.

The order established by the Goddess of Light is rotting away from unseen places, and humanity, gradually revealing its true nature, has fallen into corruption.

Other Goddesses’ cults too have long festered, covering up sins and evil deeds. It has become a rare age to witness true faith and virtuous acts.

“Our arrival is the destined catastrophe.”

The Apostle of Chaos, gripping the head of a Holy Swordsman, spoke.

Crunch!

With a light squeeze of his hand, the skull shattered, spilling brain matter and bone fragments.

The Apostle of Chaos shuffled over to a figure cloaked in darkness, standing at the cliff’s edge overlooking the Holy Kingdom, and asked,

“When do we strike?”

The ‘something’ shrouded in darkness, barely recognizable as a form, stood silently, facing the wind blowing from the Holy Kingdom.

“All apostles have gathered. The moon is full. The time when the Light’s power is weakest has come.”

At those words, the Apostle of Chaos stretched his lips into a wide grin.

“Really? Now? Finally?”

“Tonight. We hold the festival.”

Darkness commanded the apostles.

“Priority one: the Apostle of Light. Priority two: the Apostle of War. Kill them, and securing the Heavenly Gate will pose no problem.”

At that moment, someone interrupted.

“What about the War brat who killed our elder? He’s dangerous.”

It was a woman who had just become the Apostle of Blood.

Still treated as a novice among the Evil God’s apostles, yet her eyes, burning with vengeance, were quite impressive.

“He’s low priority. Hunt him down yourself if you wish.”

“……Understood.”

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