Apostle of the Goddess of War

Ch.194 Apostle of the Goddess of War

Around the time twilight settled over the capital's walls, a long procession appeared.

At the front were Sion and the Goddesses.

Behind them was a line of those who were bandits but converted into Guardian Knights protecting the Goddesses.

There were no trumpets, no cheers.

It was devout.

Solemn and peaceful.

People just stopped on the roadside one by one and bowed their heads.

Children, women, merchants, and blacksmiths.

Homeless people and porters pulling donkeys.

Everyone showed respect.

Sion standing on the horse did not hold a sword. He did not wear the Emperor's cloak. It was not attire fitting the end of war, but he returned as he was.

Beside him was a Goddess.

The Goddess of War….

No, the Goddess of Protection.

Achille did not shine.

Divine power was calm like breath, and instead of dazzling brilliance, it mixed naturally into human gazes.

There were not many who recognized her. There were almost no humans who had seen the faces and true bodies of Goddesses.

For most, this was the first time encountering the real thing.

Nevertheless, people bowed their heads for unknown reasons. Because inexplicable divinity and peace had settled on the streets.

Sion got off the horse in front of the city gate. He stopped for a moment and looked at the city.

A place broken countless times and built up again.

Land where blood and prayers were mixed.

And now, a place where living people breathe.

Humanity's new nest and the cradle of life to start anew.

Elim.

Heart of the New Empire.

"You have returned."

Achille said quietly.

"Yes. It took long."

All the long journey was contained in that one sentence.

The days screaming after losing precious ones, the path walked as the Goddess of War's apostle, the solemnity of holding a sword in a world without Goddesses, even the moment Divine power returned on the last battlefield.

Achille and Sion walked in together.

In the center of the city was the site of a temple ruined long ago. Traces of rebuilding hard remained everywhere.

It was a place collapsed amidst war and fall, which no one touched again. Sion stood in front of it. He closed his eyes for a moment, then said in a low voice,

"This is the new church. It is the main hall of the Goddess Religion."

Achille did not ask.

Because she knew the reason.

The temple will be built again. Different from before.

Not a place for one Goddess to stay but a place where all Goddesses will be.

People can now pray to all Goddesses and receive blessings in one church.

"You called it Goddess Religion?"

"Yes."

"It is fine."

There was no gold, no huge altar. No towers were built to pierce the sky. It was a space felt with human hands, firmly stacked with stone and wood.

The name was not grand either.

Goddess Religion.

No name of war, no light of light, no hymn of victory was attached.

People who came for the first time were cautious. They did not expect miracles.

Instead of kneeling and wishing for something, they quietly put their hands together. Someone thought of families lost in war, someone worried about tomorrow. Silent prayers spread softly.

Achille did not stand in front of the altar.

She just stayed at the back. Priests did not call her either. Achille was no longer a Goddess who responded or intervened.

Just a Goddess who exists.

From now on, believers will greet the existing Goddess, receive a few words of blessing, and heal wounded places at most.

There is no powerful authority like before to overturn mountains and seas, or birth terrible demons.

Divine power has returned, but one must not expect miracles like before.

Because the age of humans has come.

There are many who believe in Goddesses, but now there are also many humans who do not rely.

The Goddess's power is weaker than before.

She will protect humans for a long time as a precious existence and then slowly disappear.

Until the day in the distant future when humanity stops seeking Goddesses.

At least for now, prayers continued.

"Thank you for letting us live safely today too."

"Please watch over us. So we do not go down the wrong path."

Those words flowed through the air.

Sion was watching that scene from behind. The hand that put down the sword slowly clenched and unclenched a fist. He no longer calculated how much he had thrown away for this landscape.

Achille approached his side.

"Now it is truly the end."

"No."

Sion shook his head.

"From now on. However… as the War, Apostle of Protection, my story ends here."

Goddesses smiled. It was not a smile looking down from above like before. It was the expression of a companion.

All Goddesses and humans, Holy Knights had the same face.

Those meeting the new era were endlessly calm and quiet.

Like wild grass shaking in the wind unchanged.

Like mountains, stones, river water.

Slowly entrust the body to time. It was nothing great.

"Now I must live as Emperor Sion."

"You will do well. You."

"Of course."

"Then I must convey my last words as your Goddess too. You worked hard. Sion."

"Infinite gratitude and honor to the Goddess who was with me."

Sion, who bowed briefly, looked at people entering the temple.

Humans trying to live by their own strength. Even in a world where Goddesses might disappear, there were those still praying.

Tears even welled up in the pastoral landscape.

Clang— Clang—!

Bell sounds rang. Not a sound announcing miracles, but a sound announcing a day had passed.

Emperor Sion stood in that spot. No longer the Goddess of War's apostle, but as a human Emperor.

And the Goddess beside him, quietly watched the world.

The door of the new world was quietly open.

***

Several months of time passed mindlessly.

Scars of war still remained in various places of the city, but shadows of death were no longer visible on people's faces.

Elim was quietly catching its breath and growing vitality. The Emperor's day was more complex than the battlefield, and documents were heavier than swords.

Looking outside while pausing work, the city expanding boundaries little by little was visible, and scenes of grass and trees becoming lush here and there were seen.

He couldn't help but be happy as Emperor.

"Your Majesty. Sightseeing outside again?"

"Gustein. Please let me be today. It's an important day. I need to relax."

"Hmm. That is true. It will start soon. Shall we go?"

"Let's!"

Sion kicked the door and jumped out as if waiting.

Gustein watching that held his forehead.

"The Emperor's dignity…."

Just for today, the Emperor's clock stopped.

Deep inside the Imperial Palace.

The door was firmly closed, and in front of it, Sion stood without being able to move a single step.

Instead, hands trembled unconsciously. Had he ever been this nervous?

'Even facing Magoth, it wasn't this much.'

From inside, Ruina's breathing sound was heard.

Short, deep, enduring breaths.

Screams filled with pain.

Sion felt his heart tightening at each of those sounds.

He had passed through numerous battlefields, and had fought against Evil Gods. He was more afraid now than any moment.

Rather, fighting risking life was less scary.

"Your Majesty."

"It's just the two of us. I told you to call me Brother."

"Still."

"Are you going to make me nervous too?"

"Hey really. Sensitive."

Royal Guard Commander Set stood cautiously beside. The always cheerful voice was quiet as a dead mouse. He too clasped both hands, unable to hide anxiety.

"It'll, it'll be okay. Ruina is strong."

"Yeah. That's right. Haa—"

Both stood leaning backs against the wall. Though eyes were closed, all senses were toward the room.

Even the famously calm Royal Guard Commander.

Even the Iron-blooded Monarch Sion was now merely a human who could only pray.

"Emperor His Majesty."

A servant who approached sometime bowed his head low.

"The Goddesses have arrived."

Shortly after, the air changed.

Goddesses gathered one by one, two by two in front of the room.

Supreme Goddess Achille and Goddess of Healing Leilora, Goddess of Motherhood Marizienne were there. Everyone had the same expression.

Quiet, earnest faces, they greeted the Emperor.

"Goddesses…."

"Relax. Sion. I called my most reliable Goddesses."

"Yes. Please take care of it."

Leilora and Marizienne nodded lightly and entered inside the door.

It was a celebration of bearing the Emperor's child.

It was a time when Goddesses' blessings were earnest.

"Let this child reach the world safely."

"Please lessen the pain."

"Please protect mother and child together."

Quiet blessing words were heard from inside. Only then could Sion breathe a little relief.

Though it is the age of humans, Goddesses were still needed by humans.

It is the role of becoming a windbreak for humans, and becoming a roof.

'Please.'

Sion also offered a prayer to the Supreme Goddess in his heart. Achille held a smile quietly.

Time like eternity flowed.

Rough breathing and prayers mixed. Ruina's groans from beyond the door rose and settled again.

And.

When the Emperor's mental strength was frayed to the limit.

Inside the room became quiet.

Too quiet, everyone stopped breathing.

Sion's fingertips grew cold.

"What is it?"

The moment Set cautiously opened his mouth.

Waah—!

A sharp, powerful crying sound tore the air.

Instantly, Sion and Set looked at each other blankly.

"Huh?"

"Waah?!"

Boom!

The door opened fiercely.

Kaili poked her head out from inside.

"Brothers. Come in. It's over."

"Kaili?"

"Are you okay?"

Sion touched Kaili's cheek. Kaili looked at Sion then hurriedly avoided eyes.

"I and the baby are okay. Rather, check Sister first."

Kaili touched her slightly bulging belly and made way. Sion stroked Kaili's belly then ran to Ruina.

Kaili shook her head slowly watching Sion.

"A day like this really comes."

It was a day dreamed of.

A day like a dream where Ruina and Kaili become Sion's spouses, and have children.

And Ruina safely gave birth to the Emperor's child.

Kaili came out and leaned her back beside Achille.

"My Lady."

"Yes. My Priestess. Is it Crown Prince, or Princess?"

"You know. It's a Princess."

"She will grow up pretty."

"I'm having a boy, right?"

Kaili asked. Achille shrugged playfully.

"Shall we check again?"

Achille leaned her ear to Kaili's belly and said this.

"Child of Sion. You too be born healthy and become my conversation partner."

"It will be boring."

"It is learning wisdom."

Meanwhile, Ruina wiped tears and laughed.

"Your Majesty. They say it's a pretty Princess."

Sion received the child and could not move for a while.

He exhaled very slowly. He observed the child's eyes, nose, and mouth in detail as if they would break with just a little force.

"Haha. She resembles me."

"Right?"

Ruina also laughed and agreed.

"Pretty."

"Because it's our child."

A small, warm life nestled in Sion's arms. The reason he fought so much was here, in this place.

'It was this. It was for this child.'

Sion's eyes reddened. Hot, ecstatic tears fell drop by drop.

Small hands twitched.

Sion carefully extended his hand to Ruina.

"……You worked hard."

Ruina held that hand and smiled.

"Your Majesty too."

"What shall we name her?"

"There is something I thought of. Since it's a daughter—"

"Garfenia."

"That's right."

"Garfenia. I am your father."

The child cried loudly once more.

"Waah—!"