Apostle of the Goddess of War

Chapter 135

Ch.135 Apostle of the Goddess of War

Foils, visited after a long time, was still bustling. The smell of human life and the fishy scent of the harbor pleasantly struck his nose.

“Waa―!”

Set, who was seeing this pulsating commercial city for the first time, exclaimed with his mouth agape. Purity poured from his sparkling eyes.

Even though the sun didn’t rise, this city hadn’t lost its vitality.

Rather, the cityscape where every building emitted light was unique and even beautiful.

“Woah! Woah!”

Jien beside him thought Set was rustic and didn’t leave Sion’s side.

“What’s so good about this chaotic city?”

“There’s lots of delicious food too! Look at that! What’s that?”

“Seeing goat intestine skewers for the first time?”

“Yeah!”

“…….”

Jien shook her head side to side and asked Sion.

“Where should we go now?”

Sion was about to say something, but he paused when he saw a group approaching from afar.

“It seems we don’t need to go find them.”

“Huh?”

Clatter! Clatter!

Three or four splendid carriages came rushing over. The carriages stopped before Sion, people rushed out and laid down a carpet in front of the most dazzling carriage.

The door opened, and a man with the bearing of a toad waddled out, revealing himself.

“Oh, my. My! Long time no see! Sir Sion!”

Snap, snap!

The chairman of the Foils Merchant Alliance, Apur, snapped his fingers as he approached Sion. Sion gave a slight smile and greeted him.

“Long time no see, Guild Master. I hope you’ve been well?”

Sion’s attitude had the dignity befitting the representative of an organization. He had to change now. Sion’s adaptability was truly living up to its reputation.

Apur also laughed contentedly.

“Thanks to Sir Sion, I’ve been very, very well. I should have visited you more often. I’m truly ashamed. But you could say my busyness is also because of you, Sir Sion?”

“Huh?”

“You told me first, didn’t you, Sir Sion? That investing in Elim would be huge.”

He probably said something similar. Sion responded with a relaxed smile.

“It turned out just as you said, Sir Sion. Since I started investing in Elim, my business scale has doubled!”

“Wow, that’s great.”

“Is that all?”

Apur grinned. His golden teeth outnumbered his white ones.

“My business did so well that I’ve taken over the merchant guild entirely.”

Apur wore a somewhat sinister smile.

Rumor had it he had acquired all the businesses of the merchant guild entrepreneurs. It was an overwhelming capital power amassed with money earned from Elim.

“That’s good news. Apur’s future is bright.”

Sion spoke like a politician. The corners of Apur’s mouth showed no sign of dropping.

“Sir Sion must have many things to celebrate too, no? Ah, before that.”

Apur deliberately put on a sad face. It was as natural as someone changing masks.

“The news about Sir Garfenn is unfortunate. A sad affair.”

“Yes, thank you.”

Sion also smiled bitterly. Sorrow hurts less when shared. It was something to be grateful for, receiving comfort like this.

“At the same time, I hear you are now the Apostle of the Goddess of War. I’m truly sorry I couldn’t attend the Priestess appointment ceremony.”

“It’s fine.”

“But you did receive my gift, right?”

Sion recalled the precious ornaments from a distant eastern island. They were said to be items whose value couldn’t be measured.

It showed how great Apur’s sincerity was, to give such a thing as a gift.

“Of course. Thank you.”

“You probably came because you have something specific to discuss?”

“Yes. That’s right?”

Apur responded amiably and guided Sion.

“Now, now. Let’s go first. Let’s talk there.”

Even without prior notice, this was the treatment he received.

Sion’s standing had risen so high that Apur put aside his busy schedule to come. It was almost treatment befitting a state guest.

Apur glanced subtly at Set and Jien, who were speechless with their mouths open.

“The people beside you……?”

“They are my attendants. Could you provide a separate carriage for them?”

“Of course. By the way.”

Oh-ho…….

Chairman Apur twisted the ends of his goatee and observed the two attendants with interest.

“When I first met Sir Sion, you were that youthful, you see.”

“Well, they really are still young.”

Sion replied as he walked.

“Isn’t it proof of how much Elim has grown? Sir Sion, who used to carry out missions alone, now travels with two attendants.”

Is that so.

Sion responded indifferently. But inwardly, he was pleased. It meant that even in the eyes of someone with good discernment like him, the Church of War’s growth was remarkable.

Apur looked at Set and Jien and said.

“You two, ride in my carriage with us!”

Apur pointed his fingers at the servants. They moved busily, preparing to depart again.

Set and Jien, who ended up riding in the golden carriage together, became stiff and frozen.

And for good reason.

‘I heard my brother was important in this city…….’

‘I never thought the Guild Master would come out to meet Sir Sion with a golden carriage.’

‘He’s amazing. It’s insane!’

‘Just how far will Sir Sion’s coolness go?’

Because Sion’s status was much higher than they had heard.

The head of a massive city, whose economic power alone made Elim still incomparable, was showing such a humble attitude.

Set and Jien looked at each other, then looked back at Sion. Their eyes gazing at the Apostle of War sparkled.

They shared the same heart, the same emotion.

‘I too…… want to be like my brother someday.’

‘I love you, Sir Sion!’

In a corner of their hearts, admiration for Sion ignited.

The carriage moved. Outside, the people of Foils waved their hands at Sion. It was the visit of the Apostle of War, which could be seen as a triumphant return.

***

Sion conversed with Chairman Apur, while Set and Jien stood guard behind Sion’s back.

They felt pride as the Apostle’s squires, or attendants, or aides. They tried to hold their weight with their swords, but it wasn’t easy because of the laughter threatening to spill out.

It was a good experience.

Set and Jien’s world expanded through this opportunity.

While the two war knights were feeling proud.

“Huh? You’re asking if you can build a Church of War?”

“That’s right.”

Sion heard something he never expected.

“Isn’t this a city that serves the Goddess of Abundance?”

“That is also correct. But it doesn’t matter.”

“Don’t tell me?”

“Yes, that ‘don’t tell me’. Huhuhu.”

Chairman Apur laughed as he put a grape in his mouth.

“If even building a church for another faith can make money, they’ll do it.”

“Ha, haha.”

Sion stuck out his tongue. Truly, she was the most consistent Goddess in the world.

Even after heaven disappeared and she descended to earth, the dream of the Goddess of Abundance to amass wealth remained unchanged.

‘If anything, she seems to have become more intense.’

Even so, they hadn’t talked about building a Church of War in Foils before.

Sion suddenly thought of Kaili.

‘She said it would work out…… Did she know about this?’

Kaili’s spiritual abilities felt newly mysterious. It was even eerie.

Sion glanced subtly at the Goddess Achille. The Goddess only responded with a gentle smile, giving no hint about Kaili.

Apostle and Priestess.

It seemed the principle was not to easily share the exchanges between them.

‘She’s an easygoing Goddess, but she has many secretive aspects too.’

Sion, who was gradually getting to know Achille, focused on Apur again.

“For me, it’s an offer I have no reason to refuse.”

“Haha! I knew you’d say that. I really can’t keep up with such flexible thinking. Me neither.”

Sion shrugged his shoulders. Well, it’s just that.

It was certainly talk that would have been close to forbidden in the past. To build a church in a city ruled by another Goddess and stake a claim.

It’s no different from declaring war.

But the situation had changed, and the progressive Goddess of Abundance, Goldiana, seemed willing to offer even her own holy land if money was paid.

But.

‘She must have a real, separate purpose.’

Sion asked sharply.

“The real purpose is protection under the pretext, right?”

Apur, who was drinking wine, opened his slit-like eyes drowsily and then laughed at Sion.

“……As expected, you’re really quick to catch on.”

“Well, I didn’t think you’d do it without any conditions, Guild Master.”

Thud.

The Guild Master put down his glass and began speaking in a deliberately serious tone.

“The situation has changed rapidly. I don’t know the details, but I heard the Supreme Goddess has disappeared, the Round Table is in a state of dissolution, and the Evil God faction has vanished. People are trembling with anxiety.”

“Yes. I’m anxious too, same as anyone.”

Sion answered while gazing outside. The still dark sky. Humans were adapting to the changed world somehow.

But the sense of unease hadn’t completely disappeared. ‘Light’ was such a major element in this world that removing the unease seemed impossible.

“I hope the shards of the Holy Grail, said to contain the power of the Goddess of Light, are gathered quickly to restore the light.”

“That’s what should happen.”

“Until then, it’s a continuous unease. It must feel like advancing on a dark sea with just one oar.”

Apur’s face, now somber, was expressionless.

When serious, he was endlessly serious, and he continued.

“Who knows when and where the Evil God’s followers might attack a city? It’s also hard to trust the forces of other Goddesses as allies now. Do you know? The movements of the Church of Fire side are unusual?”

Sion nodded without showing emotion.

“In the east, they are gathering at the Church of Purity, and in the south, fire is spreading. With the eternal night, the number of Goddess of Fire followers is increasing.”

Apur stared at Sion with intense eyes. Sion did not avoid that gaze.

Because he knew what Apur wanted, he had to appear even more resilient.

“In chaotic times, you need reliable allies. Don’t you agree?”

“I agree.”

“Everyone seems to be getting increasingly violent, each trying to become the Supreme Goddess. The Church of War and Foils will likely be a thorn in their side.”

Sion asked cautiously.

“Looking at church influence, wouldn’t it be better to side with them?”

“Puhaha! Sir Sion doesn’t beat around the bush.”

“Why bother?”

“It’s a good way to speak. One shouldn’t be half-hearted. That’s right. Frankly, siding with the Church of Fire would be more rational.”

Sion’s eyes flickered open slightly.

“But?”

The sly fox, who had survived fierce competition since birth, grinned.

“It’s a feeling. The intuition with which I boldly invested in you from the start, Sir Sion. My instinct is telling me that.”

There are times when a feeling is more accurate than any rational, logical judgment.

Apur was an intuitive person.

His intuition had led the egg-selling merchant to become the master of a giant commercial city.

This time was no different. Apur was going to invest in the Church of War based on a feeling.

Sion stood up and offered him a handshake. Apur also wiped his hands with a napkin and shook it.

“This will also be an excellent investment.”

“It will be the best investment among my ventures.”

Apur said he would handle the costs and manpower for the church construction himself. The land had already been purchased and preparations were complete.

‘He’s amazing.’

The hearts of Set and Jien, who had been silently listening to this conversation, pounded. A new church is built with just a few words?

This meant they would need a bishop to oversee the Foils branch. Naturally, the two thought of Ruina.

Meanwhile, Apur continued.

“I’m sorry about this. Somehow, I ended up talking only about my business again.”

“It was an important conversation.”

“Mhmm. So…… what is the reason for your visit to Foils, Sir Sion?”

Sion’s pupils shone briefly.

The church was good, but the truly important thing was what he was about to say now.

“I came to meet Sir Loenhaughter. To be precise, I want to bring him to Elim.”

“Ahh, hmm. I see.”

He’s one of his own people. For Apur, this might be news that wasn’t very pleasant.

However, that concern was unfounded.

Rather, worse news came.

“About Loenhaughter.”

“Yes.”

“……I haven’t been able to contact him for a week.”

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