Apostle of the Goddess of War

Ch.200 Apostle of the Goddess of War

Rudy gripped the sword quietly. Sion watched her fingers trembling. The one who hadn't shown fear even when facing vicious thieves was trembling while holding the sword.

'Is she afraid of the sword?'

The time of the decisive battle came.

Rudy sent signals with her eyes to the gang, including Jena. All nodded with determined faces.

Operation start.

Some children turned back quickly. Because the weeds were overgrown, the children bent their bodies and moved without being caught.

Two turned back and reached the place to retrieve Pale. The remaining three waited in front.

Rudy became the bait, and Jena along with the remaining one played the role of operating the traps installed in the alleys.

It was a fairly solid operation. Even to Sion's eyes, it seemed to utilize everything they had to the maximum. Though they used everything to its fullest, there was still no guarantee of success. Sion's heart leaned more toward the side of failure.

Nevertheless, one must measure before knowing the outcome. Miracles were still possible.

'Though I still don't know what these kids are really thinking.'

Whoosh!

Rudy picked up a stone and threw it.

"Hmm?"

"What was that sound?"

The thieves who had been snoring in their sleep opened their eyes one by one. It would have been better to ambush them while they were completely asleep, but unfortunately the children had neither the weapons nor the strength for that.

"Hey, isn't that the kid who came during the day?"

"Haa…."

"Was sleeping just fine, damn it."

The thief stood up and drew his sword, then walked straight toward Rudy. Since he had let her go once before but she had come again, he truly would show no mercy this time.

His momentum was fierce.

Rudy was slightly scared but immediately began executing the planned operation.

"I came to save my companion."

"Haha! Kids' friendship is truly touching."

"You came alone? You must have a death wish."

"You're the ones who are going to die."

Screeech!

Rudy drew her sword. The old and dull blade flashed in the moonlight.

Naturally, the thieves weren't scared—there was no reason to be scared at all. Rather, they began teasing Rudy, saying an interesting spectacle had arrived.

"Hound! Play with that kid and then kill him! It's boring if you finish it immediately."

"Let's see what he's got."

"Heh heh. Good thinking. Hey, kid—drawing a sword means you're prepared to die, right?"

"Th-that's right!"

Rudy stared straight ahead. Sion watched the unfolding situation quietly.

"Gutsy. I like it."

"Then let's have a match."

Rudy raised the blade straight. The thief spun his dagger and gripped it in a reverse hold. The fight began immediately.

Rudy swung the sword with wide, sweeping motions, and the thief avoided each strike leisurely, his face full of laughter.

Smack!

The thief struck Rudy's neck with a knife-hand blow. Rudy staggered and retreated. It hurt as though her neck had nearly been broken.

"Ugh!"

The thieves grew more absorbed in the fight as though it were a spectacle. The one named Hound even started betting money on whether he could hit the kid or not.

In the meantime, Sion kept his gaze on the far end of the alley. The children who had gone back first were approaching very slowly. If they succeeded in retrieving Pale, Rudy would begin retreating as well.

Rudy had to attract attention and buy time until then.

Thwack! Screech! Whoosh!

Rudy struggled hard. She was already in a terrible state after several exchanges—she had been beaten once during the day, then ran around all day without rest, so it was only natural. The fact that she was still fighting in that condition meant her stamina and mental fortitude were far superior to what her age would suggest.

'Not bad.'

Sion gave Rudy passing grades in almost every area except swordsmanship. But swordsmanship could be taught. He found himself liking her more and more.

Clang!

Rudy was knocked down by Hound's kick.

"Ugh! Ugh!"

She hit the ground and ate dust. Thick blood flowed from the corner of her mouth. The fact that she had endured this much through everything that had happened today was truly admirable.

Sion smiled.

'Now, what will you do?'

Pale had been successfully taken away by the other children. They would now head to the shantytown via a shortcut only they knew, going around the village outskirts.

What remained were Rudy's retreat and effectively shaking off the thieves.

Rudy suddenly stood up.

Dash, dash, dash!

She started running into the alley without looking back.

"W-wait! Hey! She's running away!"

Hound shouted in confusion. It was an unexpected development. He had been enjoying himself and was just about to finish things off—having her suddenly bolt was unacceptable.

But that wasn't the end.

"What the—!"

"What happened?!"

"Where did the kid go?"

"Huh? She was just here…"

The thieves panicked. None of them were thinking straight. If the young master disappeared, they would lose their money—and likely their heads too.

"That kid was a diversion!"

"You idiots! Everyone knows that! Run now! Catch them!"

All the thieves scrambled to their feet and began running recklessly, clutching their weapons.

"There! They went this way!"

One of them spotted the direction Pale had gone. Four thieves headed that way, while Hound ran after Rudy to finish her off.

Rudy ran through gritted teeth. Limping on her injured legs, she weaved through the alleys frantically—but not in a straight escape. Her path was calculated to confuse direction, clearly aimed at taking Hound down somewhere in the maze.

"Now!"

Rudy jumped and shouted.

Jena, who had already finished her preparations, matched the timing from the other side.

"One, two!"

Boom!

They lifted the rope laid across the ground at just the right moment. Hound, charging forward, tripped and went down hard.

"Ugh!"

Hound's chin slammed beautifully into a stone. From Sion's perspective, it looked like it might have cracked.

But the children's counterattack didn't end there. Jena poured contaminated oil she had brought beforehand over Hound's head and back.

"This—what the hell are you brats doing?!"

"Al! The torch!"

"Ah, ugh!"

The child named Al ran quickly, holding a torch. Sion couldn't help but note how thoroughly they had prepared—he had no idea when they had arranged all of this.

All that was left was to throw the torch at Hound, set him alight, and it would be over.

However.

"Aaah!"

Al tripped on a stone while running. The path wasn't one many people walked, which had made it useful for setting traps—but that same condition now worked against her. She dropped the torch. Hound stood up immediately, stomped it out, and seized Al by the nape of her neck.

"Aaaah! Let go! Let go!"

"You little brat."

Without mercy, the thief drove his dagger straight toward Al's abdomen.

Clang!

But Rudy, who had charged in bravely, swung her sword and deflected the dagger. It was lucky—by any measure, it was a reckless swing with no technique behind it.

As expected, in the very next motion, Rudy was struck across the cheek and dropped her sword.

Jena rushed in as well, but that was the limit of what she could do. Even with better physical ability than Rudy, she was no match for someone who made their living by killing. A girl could not overpower a man who had taken countless lives.

"Ugh! L-let go!"

"You kids. Is this really all you had prepared? Huh?"

Hound moved to kill Al first—intending to slash the neck he was gripping and let the blood flow.

Step.

Then Sion landed between them.

"Huh? Who are you?"

"The strongest human in the world."

"What?"

Sion ignored Hound's question and turned to Rudy.

"I'll ask you one more time. Rudy. Do you still not need my help?"

"Ugh…! I don't ne—"

"Why are you so set against it? Asking for help from someone stronger than you is nothing to be ashamed of."

Sion pressed her. Rudy refused stubbornly.

"Because I don't know if you're actually strong! And besides—!"

"Besides?"

"I don't want to owe a debt. Adults always make you owe them something and then come to collect!"

Sion's heart stirred. It was a sharp remark—words that sounded like they had been learned through real hardship, not imagination. And because not a single word was wrong, he found it difficult to argue.

Sion thought for a moment, then spoke honestly.

"Fair enough. I came here to take you and your gang, Rudy."

"What—!?"

Even Jena and Al flinched in shock.

"I like you. The courage and actions you showed today, your mindset—all of it."

"You're a trafficker!"

"Excuse me?"

He hadn't wanted to hear that. Sion suppressed his irritation and continued negotiating.

"There's no time for this. Pale and your other friends have likely been caught by now. The operation has failed. It was too reckless from the start."

"Shut uuuup!"

"Make your choice. Either lose Pale like this and die a pointless death here—or ask for help from the strongest man in the world and owe me a debt."

"Haha, these bastards are treating me like I'm invisible?"

Hound snarled and brandished his dagger, licking his lips with a dangerous glare. Sion paid him no mind.

What mattered to him was Rudy's answer.

"The mad dog is about to cut your friend Al's throat. Decide wisely before it's too late."

"Gyaaah! Fine, whatever you want! Just do it!"

Whoosh!

The sharp dagger shot toward Al's young throat.

Rudy shouted without hesitation.

"Alright! Alright!"

The next moment, a miracle happened.

—!

Hound's head, still fierce just a second ago, was now held in Sion's hand.

"Huh?"

"Ah—"

"Gyaah."

Sion had no weapon—he had set out on this journey without a sword. He had simply moved at blinding speed and wrenched the head free with his bare hands.

Rudy, Jena, and Al froze at the sight—it was too surreal to process.

Drip, drip.

Blood dripped from Hound's neck. Al finally slipped free from the loosened grip and collapsed to the ground.

Thump!

"Ah, hey…."

"What… is he?"

"Run, everyone."

Even now, Rudy tried to warn the others about Sion. He simply tossed Hound's head aside and disappeared.

He returned in under a minute, carrying Pale and the two remaining colleagues—one on each arm, one on his back. Pale and the others were already unconscious. The colleagues had wounds, but nothing life-threatening—they had bled a little from resisting after being captured.

"Th-this is…."

Rudy stammered.

Sion tilted his head.

"Still doubting me?"

"How could I not? This is insane."

"I-is he a Mage?" Jena said, her eyes trembling. She looked terrified.

"There are no more Mages."

"Then what are you?!"

"I told you. The strongest man in the world. In more ways than one."

"This is crazy."

The children were in a state of profound shock from witnessing a display of power beyond all reason. There was no way to explain it, and trying to understand it wasn't going well either.

"Well, none of that matters right now. We made a deal, and I held up my end. Now it's your turn to hear my terms. Rudy."

Rudy bit her pale lips tightly, as if bracing herself for a heavy decision.

"I-isn't just me enough? Leave the others. Please."

She changed her tone quickly. She was smart and quick to read the room.

Sion chuckled and refused.

"No. All of you. And I'll be taking your siblings hidden in the shantytown as well."

Rudy gritted her teeth.

"So you really are a slave trader. If that's the case, I'd rather die here."

Sion sighed.

"The thing I hate most in this world is slave traders."

"Then who exactly are you?! I need to know before I can decide anything!"

At Rudy's words, Sion rested his chin in his hand thoughtfully.

"One question. Rudy."

"……"

"Do you like war?"

"I hate it!"

"What about protecting someone?"

"I don't like it either! But—"

"But?"

"I have to do it."

"Why?"

Rudy looked at her siblings. What more reason could there be?

"Because I have to."

It was an answer that struck Sion's heart perfectly. The words he had once said to Garfenn came back to him.

"Good. Rudy of Dreadnought—from this day forward, you are my disciple."

"Huh? Disciple…?"

Sion made a holy sign with an expression that seemed almost too solemn for the moment.

"My name is Sion. Apostle of the Goddess of Protection, Achille."

"Then that means…."

At that moment, Sion's tone—which had carried a hint of lightness until now—changed completely.

The air grew heavy as iron, and his eyes sharpened.

"Rudy."

"……"

Solemn. It felt as though the air itself was tightening around her throat.

"Will you follow me down the path of the shield, serve the Goddess of Protection, Achille, and dedicate your life as her shield?"

<Apostle of the Goddess of War> End