Apostle of the Goddess of War

Chapter 9

Ch.9 Apostle of the Goddess of War

Sion had now become skilled at handling horses. Garfenn trusted Sion enough to let go of the reins.

‘Versatility is a good thing.’

Sion was quick to learn anything. Garfenn still couldn’t understand where such a boy had come from.

“Master. Is that the village up ahead?”

As they passed over a hill, Sion pointed somewhere in the distance with his outstretched finger.

There, a small village was nestled along a river.

It was modest in size, and the sparsely built structures were so dilapidated that they could hardly be called houses.

The only relatively intact building was a church perched on the village hillside.

“Yes. That’s Elim, our destination. That decent-looking building is our main church.”

Elim.

Once a city that worshipped the Goddess of War, it now resembled more of a shantytown.

Though far from the grandeur expected of a holy site for the Goddess of War, Sion’s heart pounded with excitement.

If he worked hard, perhaps that place could regain its former glory.

Few people lived in the village.

Those who remained were either sick or visibly disabled in some way.

“Why are all these people like this?” Sion asked as he guided the horse.

“They’re victims of war.”

“Victims?”

“Yes. Some hate the Goddess. Others came here seeking compensation. They’re all different. But they all receive the church’s care equally.”

Sion looked at them with a complicated gaze.

‘Blaming the Goddess for all their war-inflicted disabilities. How convenient. I suppose that’s human nature.’

Yet, in a way, Sion understood their feelings.

Once, he too had resented the world with similar thoughts.

The carriage passed by beggars and headed toward the shabby church.

They had finally reached the end of their journey.

Swish, swish—

A man sweeping the courtyard noticed the carriage, stopped his work, and approached.

“Oh my. Garfenn? You’re not dead yet and back again.”

“Have you been well, Bishop?”

“As you can see, not particularly. But more importantly, this is unusual, Garfenn.”

Garfenn stepped down from the carriage and asked,

“What’s the matter?”

“This time, instead of grim news, I’ve heard something good.”

“You mean the Estert territory?”

“Indeed. In all my years, I never thought I’d hear praises for the Goddess of War from the place you went.”

Garfenn chuckled and pretended to be offended.

“Would people mistake me for a villain if they heard that?”

“Aren’t you? Just look at your face—it screams villain.”

“Well, you’re not wrong. The rumors are thanks to this child.”

The bishop’s gaze shifted to Sion and the shy children standing behind him.

“Who are these kids?”

“My successor and some helping hands for the church.”

“…Successor?”

The bishop twisted his lips.

“Your jokes are as tasteless as ever, Garfenn.”

“This time, I’m serious.”

“Swear on the Goddess?”

“On my honor as well.”

“…”

The bishop, gaunt with strikingly large eyes, asked again.

“Is it true? Has the Goddess finally found an heir to the Apostle?!”

“Yes.”

The bishop approached Sion, examining his face with rough hands.

“Health seems fine. Physique… well, Garfenn’s built like a bear, but this one’s decent. Still young enough to grow.”

“I can hear you, Bishop.”

“Hey, kid. Can you use a sword?”

Sion politely shook his head.

“I’m not sure.”

“There’s no butcher like him.”

At Garfenn’s remark, the man made the sign of the cross in the air and muttered,

“Oh, Goddess.”

Garfenn formally introduced the bishop to Sion.

“Greet him, Sion. This is the Empire’s only bishop and priest of the War Church… Bishop Gustein.”

Sion bowed.

“Hello. I’m Sion. These are my siblings—Ruina, Set, and Kaili. Please take care of us.”

The children bowed in turn. Gustein stared at them blankly before speaking.

“You won’t run away this time, will you?”

Garfenn clutched his forehead in exasperation.

“Is that something a bishop should say?”

Sion looked at Garfenn for an explanation.

“Master? Is this man a slave trader?”

“Haha. He’s twisted, but probably not a bad person. Maybe?”

Gustein awkwardly shut his mouth.

“Come inside. Have you eaten?”

***

For the first time since losing their home and being shackled, Sion and his siblings slept deeply.

Though the church symbolized war, the Goddess’ embrace was warm.

It was ironic—children who had lost everything to war found stability in the Goddess of War’s church.

“They’re fast asleep.”

“They must be exhausted. It was a tough fight.”

Garfenn looked at the closed door of Sion’s room with pity.

Gustein poured wine into a glass.

“Should a bishop be drinking so freely?”

“There’s no doctrine against it. It’s my choice, isn’t it?”

Garfenn smirked and clinked his glass.

The wine from the chipped glass tasted unusually sweet today.

Both Garfenn and Gustein were in high spirits.

Good news has been rare over the past few decades.

They drank several glasses in silence.

Having served an unpopular goddess for decades, they understood each other without words.

“An heir at last. It’s surreal. Finally, change is coming.”

Gustein was the first to speak.

His wrinkles were as deep as Garfenn’s.

“Indeed.”

“…I’ve waited so long for this moment.”

Gustein spoke slowly, his eyes glistening with tears.

“It’s been too long. Too long.”

The appearance of an heir to the War Apostle meant many things.

It meant they could finally lay down their burdens.

That their efforts had helped the Goddess regain some strength.

Like building a mountain grain by grain, even a small mound was significant.

A new era for the War Church, led by new winds and new people, was about to begin.

Neither doubted that Sion and his siblings would fulfill that role.

“It reminds me of that child from before.”

“Arwen? That child… wasn’t meant to be. We took her by force, trained her by force. Her leaving was entirely her own will. A fate we couldn’t stop.”

Garfenn smiled bitterly, swirling his glass.

“This time, it’s certain, right?”

Gustein’s voice was laced with concern, but Garfenn reassured him.

“This time, the Goddess herself saw the light.”

“…That’s a relief. Divine power truly is returning.”

“Truly a relief.”

“At last, the curse will lift, and people’s misunderstandings will fade.”

Gustein spoke as if comforting Garfenn.

“Now, you can finally rest.”

“Tch. Not yet, not yet. Do you think I’m some old man? Retirement is a century away.”

“What more can you do with that broken body?”

Gustein clicked his tongue, but the reply was so typical of Garfenn.

“I need to travel and find a pretty, kind wife. Spend my later years with a rabbit-like kid.”

“With that face?”

“Are you cursing me to remain a widower like you, Bishop? How cruel. Is that any way for a priest to act?”

Gustein swallowed a curse and shook his head. Then his eyes turned serious.

“Will you chase after that bastard?”

“…”

“That’s obsession. It’d be wiser to leave it to the heir. I fear vengeance will blind you and ruin things.”

“I’ll handle it my way.”

“Tsk.”

Gustein looked at Garfenn with pity before changing the subject.

Their greatest concern now.

“So, what’s the heir like?”

“…Sion, that boy, is a monster.”

“A monster? Coming from you?”

“If only that were all. The Goddess herself called him a prodigy worthy of her envy.”

Gustein paused with his glass at his lips.

“The Goddess… said that?”

Garfenn nodded with difficulty.

For the Goddess of War to envy a mortal’s talent was still an abstract concept.

“It felt like the Goddess of War had descended in human form.”

Gustein hiccuped mid-sip.

“…That much?”

“Would you believe he killed eight bandits and looted their bodies without ever being taught?”

“Never taught, yet he did that?”

“Calmly.”

Gustein set down his glass.

The shock was greater.

“By the Goddess of War.”

He couldn’t hide his astonishment.

“That boy’s moral compass is completely twisted!”

“Yes. A ruthless one.”

“Unbelievable.”

Gustein refilled Garfenn’s glass. Both wore wry smiles.

“All we have to do is witness the birth of a hero and bless him.”

“Heh, exactly.”

“Just endure a little longer, Garfenn.”

“Now I’ll have to play nursemaid too. Unlike you, Bishop.”

“Ah!”

The bishop clutched his head.

He’d have to care for three growing children.

“Damn it! I’d forgotten. Ugh…!”

Gustein downed his wine in one go, refilled it, and drank again.

Garfenn laughed heartily at the sight.

The two men’s night deepened.

But unlike before, it wasn’t gloomy.

It was a night brimming with excitement.

***

After arriving in Elim, Sion felt a peace he hadn’t known in ages.

He woke at dawn, rubbing sleepy eyes to pray, then repeated a routine of cleaning the church or moving heavy objects.

Occasionally, troublemakers would demand the church revive family members lost in war, and chasing them away fell to Sion.

In spare moments, Garfenn sparred with him, or he studied letters with his siblings.

Ruina, the second oldest, came from a fallen noble family and could read and write.

Everyone learned from her.

“Brother Sion. Can you read this?”

“…Do you like me?”

“Hmph! Of course, Brother Sion picks things up fast. You’re so smart.”

Ruina was as enthusiastic as if teaching her future husband.

Though she had ulterior motives, no one pointed them out.

Sion didn’t mind.

He only wanted to grow stronger and smarter to serve the Goddess.

Ruina, being literate, began assisting with church duties.

The church effectively functioned as the village’s ruling authority, managing residents, security, and supplies.

Ruina was quick-witted and good with numbers, earning Gustein’s favor.

The boy below her, Set, followed Sion, learning the sword and helping with chores.

Garfenn actually spent more time training Set.

Though not as talented as Sion, Set had ample potential.

“Brother. Garfenn said I could be the town guard captain. What’s that?”

“…Sounds like protecting the town?”

“Oh! I want that!”

“Then I can leave Ruina and Kaili to you and wander freely.”

“Trust me, Brother!”

Sion ruffled Set’s hair.

“Yeah, sure. Get strong for me.”

Sion smiled, then looked at the youngest, Kaili.

“Kaili. What do you want to do?”

“I… dunno yet.”

“That’s fine. You’re still young. Just eat and sleep well for now.”

“Okay.”

Sion patted Kaili’s head, smiling.

Kaili grinned back, sticking out her tongue.

Without words, without eye contact, they knew this moment was peaceful and happy.

A moment they wanted to remember forever.

Schedule: Every mon, wed, fri and sun

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