Apostle of the Goddess of War

Chapter 187

Ch.187 Apostle of the Goddess of War

Sion moved almost as if flying even without flight ability. He ran until his eyebrows fluttered and arrived at the Goddesses' sanctuary.

The atmosphere was messy.

Goddesses were gathered at the sanctuary entrance, murmuring. It was an awkward sight since they usually played in the fields or streams and took naps in the shade.

"Ah, Sion."

As one Goddess discovered Sion, others followed her gaze.

They all bowed their heads to Sion. The Goddesses did not forget their respect toward Sion. The relationship had properly reversed.

'This is uncomfortably dead.'

Sion thought while awkwardly receiving the greetings.

'Anyway, the atmosphere is strange.'

Sion passed through the gradually splitting crowd of Goddesses. Achille had finished preparing to leave with some Goddesses and their luggage. The number was at least ten.

"My Lady?"

Sion asked. Achille waved her hand toward Sion. Sion smiled with a regretful face.

"Where are you going?"

His intuition was on point. Achille's heart, for whatever reason, was not staying here.

Achille looked at Sion and requested.

"Sion. Create some time for a moment. I want to converse in a quiet place."

"Yes. Let's do so."

Sion nodded readily. Achille moved her footsteps along that path.

She headed straight inside the sanctuary. It was a small forest where trees hung lushly. It was also a place where small animals surviving the apocalypse had begun to settle little by little.

Achille stopped in the middle and said,

"I have decided to go on a journey."

"A journey?"

"Yes. You might feel it's sudden, but I think it is necessary for me."

"I agree, but I want to ask the reason."

Sion had guessed roughly. But it was different from hearing it directly and agreeing. It was an important matter.

Achille lightly placed her hand on Sion's shoulder.

Physical contact was still awkward for both Goddesses and Sion.

"……My apostle. You have shown much sacrifice and devotion for me."

"It was only what I had to do."

"No. It was this Goddess's unilateral force. You had no choice."

Achille breathed slowly. With a slightly apologetic face, she continued.

"Looking back, it was truly a cruel act. Seeing the treatment of Goddesses now makes it more so. We have no choice so we feel resentful and anxious, but haven't humans always received this treatment throughout that long history?"

"What…."

Sion could not think of words to say immediately. It would be funny to deny it when the Goddess felt so.

"I have never resented you."

"I know. I am grateful to my apostle. Truly, I was thankful and sorry."

"……So—"

Sion asked back. He was curious about the reason for deciding to go on a journey.

"What kind of journey?"

"A journey to find my True Name, you could say."

"True Name."

"Yes. Sitting still, it does not come to mind at all."

"It is quite difficult."

The Goddess sighed too. She closed her eyes tightly while discouraged.

"I thought it would come to mind when the God of Destruction disappeared. But it wasn't so."

"It seems some other method is needed. Lady Eru did not mention anything separately either."

Achille nodded.

"For that reason, I intend to leave quickly to help you as much as possible. Sion, will you understand?"

"I understand. I will hurry the plans too then."

"Plans?"

Achille asked. She hadn't heard Sion's thoughts recently either.

There weren't many chances to converse. There were many watching eyes, and she didn't want to make Sion difficult.

Sion bit his lip as if deciding and answered.

"I will become Emperor. And…."

"And?"

"I will create a new religion."

"Religion, don't tell me?"

"Yes. Goddess Religion."

It was understood at once just by hearing the words.

In the past, each Goddess's faction was divided with the Goddess of Light at the head.

It was a system maintained as a union under the Holy Kingdom but would collapse quickly like a sandcastle.

After experiencing that case, Sion thought differently.

He thought it was necessary to bind and manage the religions into one.

'Division is not good.'

Sion did not think he was the correct answer. But based on his experience, he derived a slightly better conclusion and intended to realize that ideal.

"Even if imperfect, I intend to move forward while experiencing trial and error. That is being human."

It was words boasted to the God of Destruction. Sion intended to keep the claims and logic he uttered.

"I understand well what you mean, Sion."

Achille smiled satisfactorily.

"It is a good conclusion. If my apostle becomes Emperor and rules, this Goddess will have no more regrets. The Goddess Religion can exist as justification somehow."

Sion shook his head.

"No. The Goddess Religion will be bigger and have higher prestige than before."

"Hm?"

"It will become a religion more friendly to humans."

"You are serious."

"Yes."

Achille realized Sion's sincerity.

He was not simply putting on a show but drawing a real Goddess Religion as the next Emperor.

Sion is a man who does what he says. Achille agreed quickly.

"For my plan to be fully realized, I need your True Name. The Goddesses must find powers and Divine Power again and bless me and my bloodline."

"I understand what you mean. My shoulders are heavy."

"I will be waiting."

Sion extended his hand. He requested a handshake. Achille took Sion's hand and covered it warmly with both hands.

It was a relationship from Goddess and holy knight to Emperor and something. It was still hard to define that 'something'.

Believing the answer lay at the end of the journey, Achille moved her footsteps.

***

Thump.

A few days later, Sion summoned people.

It was a gathering of people with the will and strength to organize the chaotic period.

Simply put, they were talents to lead the nation to be established next. Sion declared while ruling over them.

"I have thought deeply."

People swallowed saliva. A decision hanging on humanity's fate was about to come from his mouth.

It would be hard to oppose whatever it was. The moment a voice of opposition was raised, it would have to be concluded by duel.

They just hoped the next leader would lead them to the most correct path.

"I will actively accept the opinions of my subjects."

"Th-then…?"

Someone asked cautiously. It was a person who became the head of the Merchant Alliance following Apur, who died due to the God of Destruction.

"We will gather the scattered forces and establish one leadership system, one nation. The leader is…."

Everyone focused on Sion's mouth. There was only one answer they desired. The earnest wish for a human to lead, not a Goddess.

"It is I. I will become the first Emperor of the empire to be established."

"Oh."

"Woah!"

"Damn! Finally!"

"You decided well! Your Majesty!"

"Already Your Majesty?"

People's reactions were intense. Some teared up.

They were mostly Sion's closest associates like Set, Kaili, and Ruina. Sion decided to wear the crown as his siblings wished.

He judged it better for Sion himself to do it than entrust it to anyone else.

'Above all, there are things I want to do my way.'

Sion raised his hand slightly and urged silence.

"……"

As the Emperor raised his hand, subjects closed their mouths. In neat silence, the Emperor set conditions.

"There is a condition. I will establish a religion. It is the Goddess Religion. Unlike the past Holy Kingdom, it will be a unified religion."

"Does that mean—"

"Yes. Humans will still serve the Goddesses."

Sion insisted strongly. He emitted a gaze that he would not accept refutation.

"Humans are weak. So they need an object to rely on. A lighthouse to lead a ship navigating the vast ocean."

"I agree with those words."

"Thinking about it, it might be too early for humans yet."

"That's right. That's right."

"Of course. Do not add words to the wise decision made by His Majesty the Emperor."

There were also those who came out roughly saying they would beat them to death first if they added words.

It was already a board of flatterers trying to look good to the first Emperor and line up.

Sion was sick of this atmosphere, but it was a problem he had to endure since he decided to become Emperor.

'Politics and schemes can never be separated.'

He was prepared.

Sion was confident he could do well.

He must do it.

'Because it is a promise with the world.'

Sion, bearing his own grand beliefs and weight, gestured with his chin.

"We will enter reconstruction quickly from now. Hmm, we should decide the country name first, right?"

"Suppose so."

"Hmm-hmm."

Sion stroked his chin dignifiedly and spoke the name.

"Elim. Let's make it Elim."

"……!"

"Oh oh. Sanctuary of the Goddess of War! I see. There is no better name than that for a new start!"

"Good. Ho-ho, nothing to find fault with!"

"The name is holy from the start and the departure is auspicious, Your Majesty."

"Anyone objecting?"

"No way."

Sion let the flatterers' words flow in one ear and looked toward his siblings. His siblings were smiling more happily than ever.

'Yes. This is enough.'

***

"You know. I heard interesting news from the people in the village below."

"Hm? What kind?"

"They say a new nation was established."

Achille, who was washing dishes in the stream, pricked up her ears.

A month had passed since leaving Sion. During that time, they continued the journey experiencing twists and turns.

People who had evacuated also began to scatter little by little, and there were those spreading new nests.

Several places were created where people moving could stay as villages were formed temporarily.

Achille and the ten Goddesses were camping near that village and resting for a moment.

It was news about Sion that was heard at such a moment. She suddenly missed the days when she communicated with mental power only since losing Divine Power.

"A nation. What is the name?"

The blacksmith Goddess who brought the news looked at Achille and grinned.

"Well. I think Achille will like it?"

"Hm? Me?"

"Yes. They say it's Elim. The name of the newly established nation is Elim."

"Aha-ha."

"It's the Sanctuary of War, isn't it?"

"That's right. Wow."

Goddesses surrounded Achille and envied her.

"Having one apostle well placed, even a nation is established?"

"Amazing."

"Then is the first Emperor also that child who was Achille's apostle?"

"Yes, they say so. Elim's First Emperor Sion Achilleus."

Achille opened her mouth first.

"Achilleus?"

"It seems to be a surname newly made upon becoming Emperor. He took his Goddess's name. It is incredibly honorable."

"I'm envious— Achille."

Achille smiled without words. Flush formed on her cheeks. For some reason, it was embarrassing.

She finally understood a little why Sion was always embarrassed when receiving praise.

'Sion. So this was the feeling. It tickles terribly.'

Achille shook off the dish water and raised her upper body.

It was at that moment.

"Huh?"

Thud-thud-thud-thud!

Noise came from the front, and the ground began to shake too.

"What is that?"

The Goddess of Waterways pointed in one direction with her finger. A group of people running on horseback was visible from afar.

"Tsk. Something ominous."

"They are holding swords or spears. The appearance of rushing is really…."

"Bandits are already running wild?"

Achille murmured.

"It must be warlords trying to quickly loot and increase scale before the empire's system is fully established."

"What will you do?"

"Fight? We have no power."

Some Goddesses were scared. However, Achille stepped forward while protecting those Goddesses.

"I will handle it."