Apostle of the Goddess of War

Chapter 186

Ch.186 Apostle of the Goddess of War

On the day a star dragged its tail and fell to the ground, a woman opened her eyes.

The woman's body was plunged into the earth, and the surroundings were dug out, with dust and heat haze rising endlessly.

As the dust settled, the woman barely raised her body. Her fine skin had not a single scratch despite the fall.

The woman slowly stood up and looked around.

Fields and grass were everywhere, mountain ranges lay in the distance, and the scent of the sea mixed in the wind.

The woman murmured softly.

"This is the human world…."

The woman looked at the sky for a long time. The night sky was clear without a single cloud. She tried to find where she originally was, but since being chased out of heaven, the authority to detect that place itself disappeared.

Stars twinkled as if sad. The woman stood in place for a long time.

The night sky, like scattering ground stones on silk made of pitch black, was very pretty. The moonlight was brilliant, and its appearance descending to the ground was inferior to no statue in heaven.

"This place is beautiful too. Yes."

Achille, the Goddess chased out of heaven, fell in love with the human world for the first time.

***

"Achille. Do you believe your apostle's words?"

Novilla, the Goddess of Peace, asked. She was one of the few Goddesses who did not disappear in the World War.

Most Goddesses who could be called Achille's close associates disappeared. They used strong power as much as there was strong responsibility. They ascended, and would be waiting endlessly for Achille's guidance.

Achille had the duty to find out the True Name as soon as possible. Still in the dark, but nevertheless, she was fighting hard every day to the point her head throbbed.

"Hoo."

Breath rose along Achille's lips and scattered. Though the surroundings were full of warmth, Achille's breath was cold.

"I believe my apostle. He speaks only the truth."

"Still, he is human. Humans are cunning and tend to change their words when their situation changes. Having obtained omnipotent power, would he do good things for us?"

The Goddess of Peace continued advice mixed with concern. Though it was words spoken because she didn't know Sion well, it was also advice someone had to give once.

Mesilla, the Goddess of Waterways, who was listening quietly beside them, grumbled.

"It's hard, it's hard. Waterways in the sea are hard to know, how can we know human hearts? Your apostle already has the Supreme Goddess's power. It's a mistake to think he's the same as before, Achille."

"That's right."

Novilla and Mesilla exchanged words and prodded Achille.

Achille did not waver at all. She was just listening because she knew the Goddesses' advice was not malicious.

Novilla clicked her tongue. She already knew. The fact that Achille trusted her apostle more than Goddesses.

"You have no intention of listening to our words."

"That is not it."

"You will follow that guy's opinion anyway, right?"

Mesilla added. Achille did not refute. Because it was the truth.

The corners of Achille's mouth went down and trembled.

"I don't want to argue with you on this topic. The war…… is over."

"The end of the war was achieved by admitting what doesn't disappear. You must accept it."

"That's right."

"Hoo."

Mesilla sighed and patted Achille's shoulder. The Goddess of Waterways was in heaven, but she was a Goddess closer to the ground.

She had helped when Achille fell to the ground. A bright smile bloomed on Mesilla's lips.

"This is like Achille. So, what will you do now?"

"Hmm."

"You must do something to find the True Name. Honestly, we have no reason to oppose. If your apostle's words are true."

"That is true."

Novilla also made a gesture of raising both hands and nodded.

It was strange for Goddesses to oppose being given back authority. They were just worried beforehand.

Achille hugged her knees. Confidence dropped a lot. She thought the True Name would come to mind if she won the war.

"What. What is lacking?"

Mesilla explained.

"Originally, I thought you would regain the Round Table's power and recall the True Name when the war ended. But it completely disappeared, and your memory also floated away."

"Then even if I recall the True Name now, will anything change?"

Novilla also crossed her arms. Her head started to tangle like a ball of yarn.

"Let's recall it first anyway."

Mesilla played the role of a staff officer. True to the Goddess of Waterways, she performed the role of a guide showing the way thoroughly.

Her aspect as Menesia's younger sister stood out.

"What is the method?"

"Well. First, wouldn't it be good to look around places related to the Goddess of War?"

"It's all gone."

"Ah."

"Right. That's true."

Like pouring cold water on Achille's words, the chatty Goddesses closed their mouths.

The three Goddesses lifted their heads simultaneously.

Many places for humanity to step on disappeared. Compared to the past, it was less than one-fifth of the ground surface.

There was no problem for humanity to live on for now. There was plenty of empty land in the past too. Only the distant future was the problem.

"Well… Still, wouldn't it be better to move around than sit still?"

Novilla suggested readily. It was words suggesting a trip.

"Trip?"

"Yes, why. The pilgrimage humans did. Let's do it too. We might gain enlightenment while suffering as humans."

Mesilla also nodded saying it seemed plausible.

"It looks fun."

"Is, is that so?"

Achille didn't dislike it either. She was already tired of being trapped quietly in the sanctuary called a prison.

Rather, she felt wary receiving only food without doing anything.

"Good. Let's do that. Let's go on a journey and find the True Name."

"Great! Then I'll try to find companions to go with."

"Companions?"

"Yes. It will be boring if only the three of us leave."

"……Alright."

Achille gazed at the two Goddesses running excitedly. She didn't know if this was right, but she focused on the fact that her heart certainly started to pound.

She loved humans, and fell for the land where humans lived.

She would now purely enjoy the fun of exploring that place she had only seen with her eyes.

'Hmm. Becoming human might not be so bad…?'

***

Scree— ech!

The blade slid and spat fierce sparks. The man risked his life to flow sword strikes, but instantly yielded his nape to Sion's swordsmanship that reached the peak.

"Match over! Winner Sion!"

Whoosh.

Sion retrieved the sword and put it in the sheath. No one properly captured even that short motion.

Sion's sword reached beyond the sky to the universe. No one could oppose him with a sword.

"Is it done? Are you satisfied now?"

"I-I am not without dissatisfaction. But I will concede."

Sion nodded and made a bone sound. His expression became grim anew.

"You talk too much. Attack again."

"Huh?"

"You only need to say you concede, why chatter so much…. Attack, again."

"I apologize. I will concede."

Sion glared at him. It felt like breathing was blocked and overwhelmed by a fighting spirit.

The defeated man withdrew quietly. Even while turning away, his legs trembled and he almost died.

"Next!"

The duel conductor shouted. This time, a woman came up to the arena. A knight with noticeable pink hair.

"Ravienne?"

"I've been waiting for this moment."

"What moment?"

"A chance to compete with you with pure swordsmanship only."

"Hmm."

Sion rubbed his stiff shoulder and asked.

"So, are you dissatisfied?"

"Not really. I just want to beat you and hold the decision rights."

"Ah—"

Sion nodded indifferently.

Money changed hands quickly among the spectators.

A duel staking decision rights the War Cult's way.

The strong choose everything. No one could oppose.

It was the maximum consideration Sion could give.

This topic was about the treatment of Goddesses.

Most humans argued to send Goddesses to a small island and let them live quietly. Sion opposed this and picked up the sword after a long time.

"I won't go easy. I will make the Goddesses receive Goddess treatment again."

"As a former apostle, I don't particularly oppose. The Goddess of Purity disappeared, but it's true I miss that time."

Sion nodded.

He drew the sword and lightly spun it with his wrist. Ravienne also leaned her upper body forward slightly.

The stands became quiet. Ravienne is one of the few candidates who might have a chance to beat Sion.

If Ravienne loses, it can be seen that remaining candidates among humans to beat him are annihilated.

Arwen, the Apostle of Wisdom, had no interest in such fights at all. Partly because she became disabled having lost an arm.

"I'll go."

"Come."

Sion provoked by flicking his finger. He spread his limbs appropriately and faced the surprise attack head-on.

Scree— ech!

Ravienne's speed was enormous. It was fast enough to push air away momentarily.

Sion blocked the quick sword with swordsmanship close to prediction. No one captured Ravienne's speed with their eyes.

"What, what was that!?"

"What was that just now?"

No one fully saw the two knights' figures. Metal sounds burst out intermittently, and figures just kept appearing here and appearing there repeatedly.

"Crazy…."

"At this level even without Divine power?"

Brave ones who showed fighting spirit put their swords back. Battles transcending cognition continued.

If it's this level without using Divine power, ordinary people cannot reach it no matter how much they try for now.

Clang!

Clang!

A few more exchanges were made. Blood dropped little by little on the floor. Drops drew pictures here and there.

Whoosh!

Sion snatched the falling sword and aimed it at Ravienne's neck. It was the sword Ravienne used.

Sion regulated his breath briefly and said,

"Is it done?"

Ravienne grabbed the wound on her forearm and nodded. Her pretty face wore a somewhat bittersweet expression.

"As expected, I can't do it."

"I was in danger too."

"Dangerous my foot. Without a single scratch."

"……It's true."

Click!

Sion sheathed the sword. He extended his hand, grabbed Ravienne, and raised her.

It was art beautiful enough to be cruel. The audience finally came to their senses and realized Sion achieved an overwhelming victory.

"You haven't fully recovered from wounds yet. I was just lucky."

"Unlucky to the end."

Ravienne withdrew. Now there were no regrets. She could put everything down and rest.

" Swordsmanship close to irrational."

"The answer was actually decided."

"Right. Just challenging out of competitiveness. What could be done."

People whispered. Sion's words were absolute at this point. If dissatisfaction was shown, it would be considered natural even if subdued immediately.

"Now, next!"

The conductor looked around the seats and asked. This time, no one raised their hand or stepped forward.

It was foolish to step forward even after seeing the high-level duel just now.

Just as Sion was slowly trying to leave the duel arena. A messenger ran into the arena.

He panted and looked for Sion.

"S-Sir Sion!"

Set, Sion's proxy, blocked the messenger with an incomplete arm.

"What is it?"

"That, that is. The Goddesses request to see Sir Sion!"

"Oh? But why is that something to make such a fuss about? You could have whispered to me."

Set spoke coldly. Set, considering Sion an Emperor, did his best to add weight to the existence called Sion.

He prevented people from approaching recklessly, and filtered words so they didn't speak directly.

"The Goddesses are trying to leave!"

Sion, upon hearing the words, immediately ran out of the duel arena.