Apostle of the Goddess of War

Chapter 42

Ch.42 Apostle of the Goddess of War

As Sion placed his hand, Garfenn took a long, deep breath. His broad back expanded like wings before contracting again.  

His breathing method was different from others. The realm Garfenn had achieved was more awe-inspiring the more Sion learned about it.  

‘This is strength achieved without the Goddess’s direct blessing. It’s incredible.’  

He had felt it when Garfenn slaughtered the demon-blooded blood cultist, but now Sion felt renewed reverence toward his master and focused intently.  

“Our Cult’s divine power utilization method primarily emphasizes physical enhancement and instantaneous explosive power. It’s better to experience it directly rather than just hearing about it.”  

As he finished speaking, Garfenn closed his eyes and began drawing up divine power. A searing heat, like molten lava, suddenly surged into the palm Sion had placed on his back.  

Huuung.  

Beyond mere heat, Sion began to feel the pure essence of stars.  

A vast path, as if the constellations of the night sky had been directly engraved into his body, unfolded in his mind.  

The divine power spreading through Garfenn’s entire body traced mystical patterns, sequentially filling his physical form.  

Explosive, yet smooth.  

The surging momentum resembled that of a noble steed.  

The image of the Goddess charging across the battlefield naturally appeared in Sion’s mind—a magnificent, majestic figure.  

‘Incredible.’  

It seemed far superior to the demon-blooded utilization method Marquisin had hinted at.  

How much time, effort, and research must have been required to discover and map out such a technique?  

“This is……”  

Sion suppressed his excitement and focused on the path. To avoid wasting the divine power granted by the Goddess, he had to clearly memorize the flow of energy.  

“Now, try the reverse. Move your own divine power exactly as you saw.”  

“Yes.”  

This time, Sion and Garfenn switched positions. Garfenn placed his hand on Sion’s back.  

“Now, try it.”  

Garfenn spoke gently.  

Sion closed his eyes and began moving his divine power along the path Garfenn had shown him.  

It was difficult, but Sion was succeeding.  

Merely experiencing it once allowed him to replicate it exactly. Creation was hard, but imitation was possible.  

Three times.  

That was how many times Sion stood still, practicing the War Cult’s unique utilization method.  

That was enough. He now understood the War Cult’s combat techniques, embedded within the principles and utilization method, almost perfectly.  

Indeed, it was worthy of being called a Cult of combat.  

Garfenn’s own master must have deeply understood the War Goddess’s fighting style.  

Sion gained many new insights into aspects he hadn’t previously understood.  

Even beyond the utilization method, Sion had grown significantly stronger.  

“That’s enough. You’ve learned quickly—just as expected.”  

Garfenn removed his hand from Sion’s back. His palm was damp with Sion’s sweat.  

Sion turned and bowed deeply, expressing his gratitude profoundly.  

“Thank you, Master. Thank you, Goddess.”  

“Practice this utilization method for now. Day and night, without pause, until you’re completely familiar with it. If you have questions, you may ask.”  

Garfenn said with a faint smile. Sion bowed deeply once more.  

“I will.”  

On his way to the dormitory where Ruina and his siblings were sleeping after receiving the teaching, Sion looked up at the night sky and smiled faintly. His mood was excellent.  

For a while, he had felt invincible just by wielding his sword.  

Then he met a demon-blooded being and encountered a wall.  

He had newly realized how vast the world was and how many astonishingly strong individuals existed.  

At a time when he might have become arrogant, he had experienced a timely defeat.  

Perhaps that was why he had learned the divine power utilization method faster than Garfenn had anticipated.  

Misfortune turning into fortune, a blessing in disguise.  

Through defeat, Sion had transcended and grown stronger.  

‘I’ll master this quickly and become stronger. Wait for me, demon-blooded being.’  

Sion didn’t enter the dormitory, afraid of waking the children. Instead, he leaned against the building wall, sat in lotus position, and sank into deep meditation.  

The unusually bright stars felt like the pleased smile of the Goddess Achille.  

* * *  

For an entire week, Sion devoted himself entirely to mastering the divine power utilization method.  

He hadn’t missed even a single morning prayer, which he had previously done half-heartedly.  

He attended Bishop Gustein’s services and offered prayers.  

Mastering the utilization method was good, but the most important thing was the total amount of divine power.  

No matter how skillfully one used divine power, it was useless if the Goddess didn’t grant it.  

Especially, the followers who worshipped the bloodthirsty evil god used uniquely lowly and sinister techniques.  

By sucking and consuming the blood of living humans, they could regenerate infinitely.  

Against such foes, battles were highly likely to become prolonged wars of attrition.  

Faith and contribution to the Goddess—  

Everything was important and necessary.  

It was at the moment he finished another round of prayer and divine power circulation that Ruina cautiously peeked her head out.  

“Brother, do you have a short break?”  

“Yeah.”  

Sion smiled gently and welcomed Ruina. She brought a towel to wipe sweat and some food, then sat beside him.  

“How’s training going?”  

“It’s going well. I’m getting a good feeling.”  

“Really? That’s great.”  

“How about you?”  

This was about the recently established academy. Though it was lacking in scale and systematic structure to be called a true academy, it was an institution set up to teach children.  

It was the Goddess’s arrangement and Sion’s achievement.  

Ruina, along with Set and Kaili, was scheduled to attend the academy.  

“I’m excited. I’ll be able to learn things other than theology. I hope I can find my strengths there—something that can help you.”  

“You’re already helping plenty.”  

“Nuh-uh, I’m not. Ruina shook her head firmly.  

“I don’t think I can help you through fighting, of course. But if I can play a big role in Elim, it’ll indirectly help you too.”  

That was just like Ruina. No one else understood Sion’s heart so well.  

Where had that prickly noble lady from when they first met gone? How had she become such a mature woman?  

“You’re amazing.”  

“Don’t treat me like a kid.”  

When Sion stroked her head, Ruina grumbled, but didn’t pull away.  

She was still wearing the hair ornament Sion had bought for her.  

For the sake of protecting such a kind younger sister, Sion resolved once again, as he did every day, that he would do anything.  

Suddenly, Sion remembered something and continued speaking.  

“Is Set training well? I haven’t been able to pay much attention lately.”  

“Don’t worry. He seems to be doing well. He’s always sticking close to Mr. Tier.”  

“Really?”  

“Yeah. Master Garfenn seems to like him. Sometimes he takes him to the Elim forest and they stay there all day, and when they come back, Set’s practically half-dead.”  

“Is that some kind of training?”  

Ruina shrugged. She didn’t know that part.  

“Master Garfenn has also reduced his outside activities as much as possible. For now, funds are coming from Foils, and since you’ve been active, donations have been steadily increasing.”  

Donations. Sion’s lips twitched. He had heard that the Foils Merchant Alliance had increased their investment in Elim.  

Thanks to that, there were no longer financial issues regarding redevelopment or daily living expenses.  

“Thanks to you, Master Garfenn can afford some peace of mind. He doesn’t have to take on all the dirty missions himself just to earn money. For now, he says he’ll focus on cultivating the War Knights.”  

“I see. That’s good.”  

Ruina’s expression had also improved compared to when she first arrived. It felt like just yesterday she was helping Bishop Gustein, barely getting proper sleep.  

‘Even if what I do seems insignificant, it’s helping in big and small ways.’  

Elim’s revival was progressing steadily. All Sion needed to do now is grow stronger.  

To become the blade of the Goddess Achille and act freely across the land—this was his sole mission.  

Just as he began to feel a sense of relief, Ruina lightly clapped her hands. She had remembered something.  

“Oh, right. And about Kaili.”  

“Ah, Kaili. What about her?”  

He had already consulted Ruina about Kaili’s strange symptoms. Ruina was already aware of them.  

So, Ruina had brought it up with Bishop Gustein.  

Ruina slightly furrowed her delicate brows.  

“What we were worried about is true.”  

“……Really?”  

“Yeah. According to the bishop, it seems like signs of divine illness.”  

“Divine illness?”  

At the unfamiliar term, Sion’s neck stiffened. It didn’t sound like a good thing.  

“Don’t panic, brother. Just listen.”  

“I’m already panicking a lot.”  

“Kaili might become a priestess.”  

“What?”  

His words caught in his throat.  

He had never even considered such a possibility.  

He knew she had a somewhat unusual personality…… but what? A priestess?  

“She’s been doing strange things since she arrived. Staring endlessly at the Goddess statue in the chapel, or that time when the flowerpot she touched while sick bloomed overnight.”  

Sion’s voice faltered.  

“T-That was all a sign of being a priestess?”  

“Yes. It’s characteristic that those born with unusually strong divine power show all kinds of miraculous phenomena before becoming a priestess.”  

Sion covered his mouth.  

He wasn’t sure whether to be happy or not.  

“So then… she’ll become the War Cult’s priestess?”  

“That’s the problem.”  

“Huh?”  

Ruina’s expression grew increasingly grim.  

“The Goddess Achille hasn’t yet regained enough power to officially designate her as a priestess through divine revelation.”  

Achille had already taken notice of Kaili.  

After finding a vessel for an Apostle, now a vessel for a priestess had come to Elim—it was impossible not to be delighted.  

However, the problem was that the Goddess’s power had not yet recovered enough to formally appoint a priestess.  

The Creator God had placed restrictions, one of which involved the appointment of a priestess. To claim Kaili as a priestess without issues, they needed to achieve greater feats to restore the Goddess’s power.  

“So then……”  

“Other Cults’ Goddesses might try to take Kaili. Cults that currently have no priestess.”  

“Damn it.”  

The feeling of unease never left.  

An anxious, uneasy atmosphere hung between Sion and Ruina.  

“If anyone tries to take Kaili, I won’t let them get away with it.”  

Sion said firmly. Ruina tightly gripped his hand.  

“We have to protect her.”  

“Did the Grand Master say anything else?”  

“No, of course she did. The Goddess Achille is aware, and she intends to designate Kaili as a priestess as quickly as possible.”  

“But will Kaili be alright?”  

Ruina let out a short sigh.  

“That’s the biggest concern.”  

“It’s tough……”  

“But we shouldn’t worry yet. She said it would just take some time.”  

“Really?”  

“Yeah. Kaili’s still very young. Until her vessel is fully formed, it’s hard to tell. Sometimes the signs disappear as the child grows.”  

Ruina said, forcing a small smile. She hoped Sion wouldn’t worry too much.  

“Right. Let’s just watch for a bit longer. Kaili’s still very young.”  

“Yeah.”  

“……I’ll also discuss countermeasures with my master.”  

“Alright, brother. Leave Kaili to me and focus only on your training.”  

“Thank you.”  

When Sion finished eating, Ruina picked up the dishes and stood up.  

“Then go at it again with all your strength!”  

Ruina clenched her fist and gave Sion a boost of energy. Sion smiled faintly and closed his eyes once more.  

All worries and anxieties……  

All of it could be crushed with greater strength.  

That was the way of the War Cult disciple.  

***  

“It took longer than I thought this time.”  

Sion went to find Garfenn.  

It had been half a month since he received the Achille utilization method.  

Ck!  

Thud!  

Garfenn was chopping firewood.  

Compared to the time he spent teaching candidates like Set and Tier, the master seemed to spend more time doing odd jobs.  

“I wanted to master it perfectly.”  

“Did you achieve results?”  

“Wouldn’t showing you be the most certain way?”  

Garfenn smirked. His fierce face glowed in the sunlight.  

“Confident, aren’t you?”  

“As always.”  

Garfenn showed clear anticipation. Sion didn’t feel intimidated.  

“If I meet your standard, you’ll let me go, right?”  

“I promise. But that standard will be as high as the sky.”  

“Then I’ll punch the sky.”  

Half-joking, half-serious, Sion replied with a smile.  

Garfenn crossed his arms and shifted to a serious, intense attitude.  

“Just once. You only need to endure one attack from me. Block it, dodge it, or counterattack—it doesn’t matter.”  

“I understand.”  

“But come at this with the determination to die. I won’t hold back—not even a bit—just like when you faced the demon-blooded being. If you can’t withstand it here, you’ll only meet a meaningless death if you go chasing after that demon-blooded being.”  

Kiiing.  

Sion slowly drew his sword.  

“I’ll be fully prepared.”

Schedule: Every mon, wed, fri and sun

Review at

NovelUpdate