Apostle of the Goddess of War

Ch.190 Apostle of the Goddess of War

For a Goddess who lived with power to wield mountains and seas forever, traveling as a human is not an easy task. It was full of inconveniences and even dangerous.

Moreover, what about waging war? For them, it would feel like walking on a hell fire pit in their own way.

Except for exactly one person, no, Goddess… Achille.

"Attack—!"

Achille shouted the start of battle and charged. The luxurious heaven clothes were torn short to move easily, and leather armor was layered on top. She wore swords and bows on waist and back, and the winged helmet became famous in the area before long.

"It's the Hawk Mercenaries!"

"Hawk?"

Bandits opened their eyes wide.

A warrior charging alone toward this side was visible from afar. Seeing the feathers on the helmet, they were sure.

"It's real."

"F*ck! Run!"

It was the head of a wandering mercenary group gaining fame recently.

Swordsmanship shaking the tongue and bravery made bandit groups running wild nearby unable to breathe.

Security stabilized in an instant. It was an achievement achieved by one person.

"Run away!"

Of course, the Hawk Knight doesn’t allow anyone to escape. There was no prey that escaped from the Hawk's hook until now.

Whoosh!

Approaching fast like wind as if receiving wind's protection, the Hawk Knight blocked the front of the fleeing group instantly.

"Wh-when?"

"Throw away all weapons. I will save your lives."

The Hawk Knight warned. Sharply opened eyes were like a lion capturing prey. Just looking at them made breath stop.

"Kill! Quickly!"

"Ugh."

"You son of a bitch! Do you want to die by me? Or by that guy?"

"Ah, no…."

"Hurry!"

Whoosh!

The one who said that fell first. The Hawk Knight struck the guy's solar plexus instantly and hit the neck.

It was speed hard to grasp even watching with eyes. Bandits only blinked.

"Is that really human speed?"

"It feels like seeing the Goddess of War's apostle."

"Hey! Billy! Watch your words. He is Emperor His Majesty now."

"Uh, um. That's right."

The Hawk Knight sneered at them.

"You who only do banditry call him Emperor His Majesty faithfully."

"W-what?"

"It's funny. Breaking the rules set by the Emperor."

"……"

Bandits lost words. The Hawk Knight glared at them.

"You who once served Goddesses. Be ashamed. Will the Goddesses who cared for you be happy seeing your state now?"

"What?"

"She speaks as if she is some Goddess."

"I know you guys were Water Knights."

"……!"

"Ah. How did you know?"

The Hawk Knight retrieved the sword. No more fights needed.

Originally, these guys were not suited for banditry either.

"Sheep who lost their way."

The Hawk Knight took off the helmet.

Gorgeous black hair flowed down wet with sweat. Bandits' faces turned red. Without a single exception.

"By special order of Emperor His Majesty, I am gathering those who served past Goddesses."

"……Yes?"

"Recruiting Holy Knights again. You join too. Let's do the right thing."

"B-but there are no Goddesses now."

"That's right!"

The Hawk Knight shook her head.

"They will descend again. They are just waiting for the time."

"What nonsense…."

"Achilleeee!"

Another knight as pretty as the Hawk Knight ran from afar. Seems like trying to join late with weapons, but the situation was already over.

Confirming this, the knight, Mesilla, plopped down on the ground. Novilla or Goddesses following behind caught Mesilla and raised her.

Except for Achille, the Hawk Mercenaries were a ragtag group.

"Again!"

"Di-didn't you just say Achille?"

"If Achille, perhaps…."

A quick-witted bandit blocked the mouth of the guy opening his mouth carelessly.

"Shut up. You stupid bastard!"

Achille narrowed her eyes looking at them then turned her head.

"Follow. I am gathering people like you. Serve under me temporarily."

"Th-then what happens?"

Achille answered quietly.

"Returning to New Empire Capital Elim before long. You will be treated as Imperial Holy Knights and just bear the noble duty."

Achille presented a path to those who lost their way.

"Will you follow?"

The answer was already decided from the heart.

"I will bow my head and follow. Noble one."

Achille smiled.

***

Goddesses gazed at the bandits they caught. They were eating separately.

It was soup boiled with a little hunted deer meat, but it was a plentiful meal even now.

"Achille. What will you do now? Will you keep catching bandits like this?"

"I should."

Novilla tilted her head.

"Why?"

"Didn't I say before? I said I will help Sion."

"I know that. But that's something the Emperor should do directly."

Achille's thought was different. No matter how strong a human Sion is, he is only one human after all.

He gets tired, and is a human who eats and sleeps the same and feels emotions.

It was consideration and delicate worry possible only for Achille who experienced the weakest parts directly from the closest place.

"They will be used as his guard or Holy Knights. Rather than those guys losing their way and acting as bandits, that is better."

"I know. I know how good your intentions are."

"Then what is the complaint?"

Achille asked back calmly, telling the Goddess of Peace to calm down.

"It's your journey to find your True Name. I'm complaining that time is being taken away here continuously."

"Hmm."

"At first I thought winning by fighting helps, but now I don't feel that feeling either. Right?"

Achille closed her mouth.

Certainly, it was only like that at first, and after that, there was no feeling of Divine Power or heart swelling.

"Wasn't it your illusion?"

Mesilla intervened. The three were always together. Other Goddesses also heard all stories though not joining the talk.

They worried about Achille with one heart. Anyway, Goddesses who came to follow because they liked Achille.

"Illusion was absolutely not. Just…."

"It probably needs real war."

"Hm?"

A Goddess who was silent until now opened her mouth. It was a Goddess who was once an Evil God then regained sanity.

"Sirin."

Achille called her name.

"I, called the Evil God of Impurity in the past, know."

"What?"

"You are too clean now. Achille."

"What…."

"Confess honestly. No, I mean follow my nature."

Achille's eyebrows trembled. It seemed her nature reacted, not her will.

"You want blood and slaughter. Intestines and bones. Flames and screams. Right?"

"Hey. Sirin. You should choose words?"

Mesilla twisted the corner of her mouth slightly heated. Other Goddesses were the same.

"Everyone be honest. Right?"

"Sirin."

"The human era now is different from when we ruled. One human of steel is ruling. It changed a lot. They won't move as we wish either. It's the same even if Achille regains power and memory."

Novilla lifted her chin and asked.

"What do you want to say? Sirin."

"I mean we need to become more impure. We are not Goddesses now so no reason to be noble."

"Is that something the Goddess of Purity should say?"

"I said it because I'm frustrated. It's stupid, this war play now."

War play?

Achille muttered the word with trembling lips.

"Yes. War play. Just beating a few weak bandits and saying 'I won!' will that quench your thirst? Achille. Goddess of War?"

"That is…."

Mesilla cut the words urgently.

"W-wait! Does that mean! Achille must really jump into a blood-splattering war and win to get what she wants?"

Sirin shrugged.

"My guess is so. Might not be the answer, but I think it's better than being like this."

Novilla opened her mouth with arms crossed.

"There is some reason."

"Novilla. Even you?"

"No, don't just oppose and listen. Mesilla. Isn't it much more comfortable and feels better to walk in the stream than walking on the ground for you?"

Mesilla inhaled breath.

"Well I am—"

"Yes. Because you are the Goddess of Waterways. It's comfortable to immerse your body in waterways."

"That's right…."

"It's the same for Achille too. Real battlefield. The place that kid truly enjoys."

Eyes concentrated on Achille. Achille sat blankly and pondered the conversation.

"Was the battlefield where I truly enjoyed and lived comfortably…?"

Sirin's words were close to an uncomfortable truth.

Feel most stable in a place where blood and flesh are scattered and human screams to protect are full?

'Me?'

Achille felt somehow corrupted. The word war itself sounded like an epithet of Evil God.

'No, it is an epithet of Evil God.'

Because it's a concept gained after being chased out actually.

Strictly speaking, Achille is still an Evil God. She was not a moderate Goddess.

Since the one to become Supreme Goddess is in the state of Evil God, proper Divine Power and authority cannot return.

'My True Name.'

Achille's heart became more complex. If she feels the battlefield is truly comfortable, she doesn't know if she is really a good god.

"Still, I must check. Denying is a stupid thing."

"That's right."

"Battlefield. Is there a place fighting on such a large scale now?"

"There is."

Sirin answered confidently. She continued the words immediately.

"I have already finished my investigation."

"That Fast?"

"Because I am noble."

"What does that matter?"

At Mesilla's blow, Sirin coughed empty.

"Ahem. Anyway! Information received by gathering from former Holy Knight guys."

"Where."

"North. Land's End."

"Land's End?"

"Yes. They say demons are there."

All Goddesses frowned.

"Demons?"

"Yes. Demons."

"Demons are creatures living by demonic energy. There are no Evil Gods producing demonic energy now. Are there any remaining ones?"

"No."

Achille shook her head.

There are no Evil Gods now.

Exactly one.

"I seem to be the culprit."

Except for the Evil God not known properly.

"You?"

"Yes."

"War is still an Evil God's name. So… still breathing and breeding and increasing scale it seems."

Achille's pupils shone blue fiercely. Smile started to overflow on her lips.

"Yes. If it's a battlefield full of demons, I will have no burden."

***

"Your Majesty. This agenda is a bit serious."

Elim Empire First Emperor Sion was spending busier days than during the apostle era.

Before the framework of the nation was even prepared, all kinds of large and small tasks were reported one by one, and he had to judge and decide.

He gathered Bishop Gustein or heads leading each church and appointed them as officials, but still, national work did not mesh smoothly like cogwheels.

It was often creaking or parts missing.

Sion regretted the decision to become Emperor. He wanted to beat his past self like a rat.

Sion rubbed tired eyelids and answered.

"Speak."

"Yes. It is information that demons were spotted at the North Land's End outpost."

It was sound making heart hot while listening.

"Demons?"

"Yes."

"Is it not reported wrong?"

"That is right. It's certain by circumstances."

"I must go out personally."

"Your Majesty? Then who will handle work—"

"I will leave it to Administrator Gustein."

"Yes? But me?"

"That's why."

Administrator Gustein expression and showed anger with gestures.

Since the relationship of Bishop and Apostle was still more familiar, seriousness between Emperor and subject was lacking between the two.

"My body aches too much. Please."

"Haa. I understand."