Ch.50 Apostle of the Goddess of War
Garfenn groaned as he saw Sion, nearly dead. This enemy had been far too great for the young disciple to handle alone. He should have been grateful the boy was still alive at all.
“M-Master… Thank you. I’m grateful you ca to save .”
Sion spoke, almost clinging to Garfenn. His voice was weak. Garfenn’s heart ached, his wrinkles deepening further.
“I’m sorry. I should have co sooner.”
“It was my own stubbornness.”
“I should have noticed earlier.”
Even the Goddess of War’s senses had been deceived under the Blood’s Blessing—how much more agonizing must it have been for Garfenn?
They needed to act quickly, to restore the Goddess of War’s power through their deeds.
First, they had to return and rescue the others. But just as they turned to leave, soone grabbed their ankles.
“A… augh…!”
A pained groan echoed. They turned to see Belzama—still breathing. She was gasping, desperately searching for Sion as if on the verge of death.
“So it’s that demon after all.”
Garfenn raised his foot, ready to rcilessly crush her skull.
“Master. Just a mont.”
“Hm?”
Sion gently disentangled himself from his master’s support and crouched before her.
“A… ah…! B-Blood…! B-Blood…!”
Belzama stretched out her trembling hand, pleading. She needed blood to survive. Especially Sion’s blood, rich with strong life force—drinking it would heal her instantly.
Garfenn asked,
“Are you going to save her?”
“No. I just want to look at her.”
“Hm?”
Sion stared intently at the dying woman. As if sketching every feature into his mory—her facial structure, the movent of her magic, the details of her pupils, even her foul stench.
“I’m morizing the traits of a demon. The flow of their magic, their appearance, the characteristics of their eyes, even their disgusting sll…”
Garfenn fell silent at Sion’s cold, emotionless words. To have such a ticulous disciple—every ti he learned more about him, he felt both pride and astonishnt.
“H-Hey! ……Save , please? Huh? I-I’ll help you! I’ll even teach you magic! Isn’t that what humans want?”
Belzama crawled across the floor, trying to lick Sion’s foot. Her trembling tongue brushed against the tip of his shoe.
“Huh? I’ll do anything you say!”
“You don’t need to.”
“…What?”
“I’ve seen everything already.”
Sion opened his eyes coldly. His gaze, sharp as an icicle, pierced through Belzama’s entire body.
“Uuuh… Save …”
“Die, and pay for your sins.”
“N-No—”
Kiiing!
Sion’s blue-tinged sword flashed.
Thud.
Belzama’s pretty head, severed from her body, rolled across the floor with wide, staring eyes.
But Sion wasn’t finished.
He imdiately knelt and prayed toward the Goddess.
Having slain a demon, he now demanded proper recompense.
[Ha ha ha. My Sion. Do you think I would ever leave you wanting?]
This was a feat that would shake the entire continent.
Had the Holy Kingdom, the Imperial Court, or especially the Magic Alliance heard that a man who didn’t even understand the basics of magic had mastered blood magic’s source, they would have rushed here imdiately to invite him.
It was Sion who was the anomaly—calm, indifferent, as if such an impossible feat were nothing.
The Goddess quietly tallied Sion’s rits.
First, the minor Blood Cultists, then the Vampire Lord’s head, and the significant blow dealt to the Apostle of Blood.
[Considering Sion’s current level, these accomplishnts are utterly absurd.]
Summing it up, changes occurred within the Goddess herself. Her power had doubled.
Destroying just one Blood Cultist hideout had granted her more strength than ever before.
[Look! Another step on the staircase has appeared! The day to reach the Round Table is not far off!]
“Oh.”
Even Garfenn, who had been silently listening, opened his mouth in awe. Another step toward the Round Table had appeared—proof of an achievent so subli it defied asure.
[Good. Very good. With this, I’ve recovered considerably.]
“How much exactly, my Goddess?”
Garfenn couldn’t help but ask, curiosity overwhelming him.
For so long, due to her prohibition, she had crawled along the bottom, reduced to the lowest rank of Goddess.
Garfenn had t the Goddess of War in her darkest days and suffered every hardship imaginable.
Thanks to Garfenn’s long, imnse sacrifices, so restrictions had been lifted. Now Sion, his successor, was building her foundation anew.
And the speed of this progress was extraordinary.
[At this rate, I can grant a Priestess’s Mandate.]
“Oh? Then?”
[Yes. That child, Kaili, can now be elevated as the Priestess of the War Cult.]
“You an you have that much power now?”
[Yes.]
It was astonishing progress.
Originally, a cult that had committed sins was never allowed to have a Priestess.
But now, that has changed. She had regained enough power and authority to appoint one.
“So all that remains is to formally request it from the Holy Kingdom.”
[Exactly. Once the final restrictions are lifted and approval granted, my cult will finally be restored to proper form!]
Achille, the Goddess, was visibly delighted. Her voice sounded just like Kaili happily playing with her toys.
“Congratulations, my Goddess.”
[Thank you, loyal Garfenn. You endured sacrifices without reward, steadfastly advancing forward, bearing the weight of my karmic burdens. This Goddess acknowledges your efforts.]
The Goddess gently caressed Garfenn’s cheek. Garfenn chuckled softly. Whenever Achille was truly happy, she always beca unusually talkative.
And she had reason to be. After hundreds of years, the chance to return to the Round Table had finally arrived. No wonder she could hardly contain her joy.
“How could there be any doubt? Everything is thanks to your guidance, my Goddess.”
The Goddess smiled contentedly, then spoke in a voice like rolling crystal beads.
“And… Sion has good news.”
“Huh? What kind of news?”
Garfenn beca curious. Given Achille’s mood, she might even be willing to bestow a Divine Sword.
“It’s a sha the War Divine Sword remains sealed in the Holy Kingdom.”
The Goddess paused briefly before speaking.
[Sion’s Stellar Rank has been inscribed.]
“Huh!?”
Garfenn jumped in shock, shouting aloud. Even Sion, who had been quietly praying, opened his eyes in surprise.
“Master?”
“Ah, um… Sorry. The Goddess has a ssage for you.”
Sion’s eyes lit up.
“Really?”
“Yes. Um.”
Garfenn closed his eyes briefly, communing with the Goddess. She didn’t hesitate in her decision.
[A new star has appeared, faintly glowing. Sion’s na has been inscribed upon it.]
“Good heavens! ……Is it truly Sion’s star?”
[Yes. Absolutely certain. Guide him.]
“I will.”
Garfenn opened his eyes and gazed at Sion. Sion knelt, waiting for his master’s words—a rare and admirable display of respect.
“The divine apostle who achieves great sacrifice and outstanding martial feats is recognized for their rit, and their na is inscribed upon a star in the heavens. The loom of truth and fate weaves it automatically.”
“…?”
Though taken aback, Sion solemnly nodded, patiently awaiting the rest.
Garfenn’s gaze drifted far, as if piercing through the night sky.
“That star belongs solely to the individual, and holds independent power. The strength inscribed upon the star is not influenced by the apostle’s past deeds, character, or martial achievents.”
His voice was heavy and solemn.
“Yes.”
Sion’s reply was short, but within him, a mix of nervousness and excitent surged.
Garfenn t Sion’s eyes and continued.
“Once your personal star is fully ford and woven into a constellation, you will be able to draw upon its power and use it.”
At those words, Sion trembled slightly, as if struck by a sudden chill.
“I understand what you’re saying… but…”
Why bring this up now?
A faint smile appeared on Garfenn’s lips.
“Stellar Rank. Your own star has appeared.”
“…!”
Sion’s heart pounded as if the night sky itself had fallen like a shooting star.
Stellar Rank.
A star of his own.
The words felt distant, like a fate not yet fully grasped.
Garfenn slowly exhaled, gazing into the empty air.
“You are the first human in history to receive a Stellar Rank before even becoming an Apostle.”
“R-Really?”
Sion’s pupils trembled.
“The Goddess Achille herself has confird it. Among all divine apostles, there is no precedent. Normally, one cannot accumulate such feats before becoming an apostle.”
But you did.
Garfenn added.
Though he hadn’t delivered the final killing blow, he had dealt a severe blow to the Apostle of Blood. Sion was the key to unraveling the Blood Cultists’ dark arts.
“….”
“Just as the heroes before you did, walk your own path.”
His fingertips trembled.
Sion awkwardly scratched his head.
He was never comfortable with such attention.
He hadn’t thought what he’d done was extraordinary, yet the reward was overwhelming and imnse.
‘I’ll just have to repay it with even greater deeds…’
Sothing flared deep within his chest.
Sion slowly bowed his head.
“I understand, Master.”
Thus, Sion’s saga of martial feats began to be written among the stars.
***
After destroying the Blood Cultists’ hideout and stepping out beyond the cavern walls, they found a flock of crows cawing loudly.
They must have caught the scent of blood and corpses from the people just erging from the cave.
But Tier kept strict watch, preventing them from approaching. Just then, Sion and Garfenn rejoined them.
“Lord Sion! Master Garfenn!”
“Any problems?”
When Garfenn asked, Tier confidently flashed his axe blade.
“Of course not! Not a single crow dared co near!”
Groups of people, still dazed from the cult’s magic, huddled together. Though Tier tried to sound cheerful, the situation was grim.
“There are still many suffering seizures.”
“Those who were in pain when they first saw light still can’t open their eyes. How long were they imprisoned here…?”
Sion frowned.
Not only had they been drained of blood, but they’d been trapped in darkness for who knows how long. He could imagine their suffering.
Most kept their heads bowed low, rejecting even the faint moonlight.
“Still, you’ve done well. Carrying people out must have been exhausting. Go rest.”
These people couldn’t even walk properly, let alone stand. While Garfenn fought the Blood Cultists, Tier had carried each person out one by one.
Tier had earned great rit of his own.
“It’s nothing! This is nothing at all!”
Tier rolled up his sleeves, proudly showing off his strong muscles.
“At least I’ve got stamina!”
But resting while Sion and Garfenn had risked their lives fighting enemies was out of the question.
“Then go catch those noisy crows and prepare dinner. We need to eat sothing.”
“Ah, yes, sir!”
Tier hurried off noisily.
“Hm.”
Garfenn approached the people, checking their conditions. His brow slowly furrowed.
Upon closer inspection, the severity beca even clearer.
“They won’t recover just by resting a few days. Their biological circulation is completely destroyed. Sunlight won’t help. It might even trigger worse seizures.”
“Is it because of the blood magic?”
“I don’t know exactly, but there must be side effects from having their blood drained by the Blood Cultists. It’s not for nothing that victims often turn into cultists themselves. It’s a vile, insidious magic.”
Garfenn gritted his teeth.
“Only a high priest or a priestess could cure this… but even if we went to fetch one, it would be too late by then.”
They had rescued the people, yet were powerless to help them.
Unable to just leave them like this, his heart burned with frustration.
That was when it happened.
“I’ll try.”
Sion stepped forward, kneeling before the person who appeared worst off—Loven.
“I think I can do sothing with the control technique I just learned.”
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