Apostle of the Goddess of War

Chapter 185

Ch.185 Apostle of the Goddess of War

Everything ended.

It was the conclusion of a long, great catastrophe.

Humanity survived, half of the Goddesses disappeared, and the remaining half lost their power.

It was truly a new world.

***

Sturdy knights surrounded Sion, standing around the meeting room. The physiques and facial scars revealed through their pitch-black cloaks showed they were warriors undefeated in a hundred battles.

The dignity of the War Knights was revealed to the world. Now, no one could resist the War Cult.

While Sion remained silent, Kaili began to speak.

"Brother. No. Sir Sion. You must make a decision now."

"……"

Sion looked around the assembly with a heavy face. He was not very interested in their intentions. He was just deeply lost in thought alone. He could barely hear Kaili's words.

"You must become Emperor and lead the new nation. Goddess religions are no longer needed."

Kaili, once a Priestess, spoke coldly. After the Goddess of War's power disappeared, she viewed the situation even more coldly.

Her intention to somehow persuade Sion to sit on the throne was visible.

"That is correct. If we drag out time, the remaining cults might rise first."

The Goddesses lost their power, and humans also lost Divine power, the root of transcendent strength.

Literally, human pure skill and numbers were the weapons.

In that sense, the faction most superior among humans is the War Cult. Their military strength was certain.

'I'm sick of it.'

Sion listened to no one's words.

Even after ending all wars, the fighting continued immediately.

It was like snakes of greed immediately lifting their heads.

He reached a point where he was confused about what he had been fighting for until now. He was disillusioned with everything.

"Must it really be like this?"

Sion finally opened his mouth. It was words that poured cold water on the meeting room.

"Isn't it time to stop fighting? How can you think of fighting immediately after the God of Destruction disappeared?"

Kaili bit her lip and said,

"I know your heart, Sir Sion. I want to do that too. But someone has to do the work. If someone must become a leader, I think it is right for you to do it, Sir Sion."

"That is correct. Who else is qualified? You are a conquering monarch."

Sion spoke as if holding ice in his mouth.

"Conquering monarch…… No."

"Ah, yes. I apologize."

"Kaili. You stop too. I'm sorry, but please leave this place. Now that you are not a Priestess, you have no right to speak."

"What? Are you really doing this?"

Kaili got truly angry. However, she could no longer oppose her brother Sion, who had steeled his heart.

Even his unshakable eyes were different from before.

Sion was sincere. His eyes distinguishing public and private matters were sharper than blade edges.

"……I don't want to be hated by you, Brother. Alright. But I hope you make the best choice. You went through all the hardships, so I don't want to see others filling their bellies."

Sion closed his eyes slightly. He remained silent until Kaili left the meeting hall.

Creak— Thump.

Only after the door closed did Sion immerse himself internally. His agony deepened.

'Kaili's words are a hundred percent correct.'

It was a matter of conscience and face, to some extent.

As Kaili said, he went through all the hardships, and he knew that giving the leader's seat to another greedy human they couldn't trust would make all efforts void.

'At least among the humans I know, there is no one worthy of entrusting.'

Even Marquisin, of the most noble imperial bloodline Sion knew, had disappeared. The impact of the World War was too great.

The absence of excellent people was keenly felt.

'Then….'

It was better for Sion himself to sit on the throne. No matter how many times he chewed it over, the conclusion was one.

'Surely that is best. This isn't greed or anything.'

However, even if that future actually came to pass, there was something uncomfortable like a thorn in his throat.

'Goddesses.'

It was the problem regarding them, who had now become old folks in a corner. Surprisingly, the losers of the era were the Goddesses.

Goddesses who lost Divine power and abilities were merely humans who were beautiful.

Even if a tiny bit of power remained, that was all.

They would not receive the same praise and faith from humans as before.

The age of Goddesses ended, and the age of humans came.

All stories related to Goddesses were destined to be relegated to fairy tales and myths and handed down orally.

In the distant future, there was a high possibility they would be dismissed as stories found only in novels or songs, not believing in Goddesses.

'I didn't want this ending.'

The Goddesses worked hard and sacrificed as much as Sion. They gave everything to save the world.

However, humans did not appreciate their efforts.

Now that an era where they didn't have to bow their heads had finally arrived, the majority argued why they had to do so again.

'They truly don't know gratitude. Humans….'

Sion felt deep skepticism. He felt with his own body that the Goddesses' thoughts were partially correct.

The bad thought that he should have let the God of Destruction destroy everything even crossed his mind for a moment.

'Greed and conflict never end. This is human. I claimed this was beautiful, but overcoming it is not an easy task.'

He does not regret it now.

Because it was Sion's thought that happiness must be found within this ugly aspect of humans.

'Still, we must live. I must find a way somehow.'

He persuaded the God of Destruction with this logic. If he gives up now, Sion becomes a failure. He wouldn't be able to look at all those who sacrificed.

If division started in the War Cult he trusted, it was obvious without looking at other cults.

Sinister thoughts were basic, and severely, there would be cults that would rebel.

Now the concept of cults also became faint. It was closer to warlord factions.

Though everyone would hold their breath with swords hidden under the strongest warlord faction called the War Knights.

'I must organize the situation before it's too late.'

Traffic control is needed. The longer confusion and chaos continue, the greater the pain.

Someone must grab the reins and set the direction.

"Wh-where are you going!"

"Sir Sion!"

Sion kicked his seat and stood up. Now even the title calling him was ambiguous. Because the Goddess of War was now merely a human.

Sion is above all Goddesses.

In fact, Sion was the only god and absolute god.

There was no one with the courage to stop him or block his way even if he disappeared without a word.

Everyone in the meeting hall silently gazed at Sion's back before lowering their heads.

Like the Goddesses, there was no way to know the inner thoughts of the absolute ruler.

'So. Where did he go?'

Everyone thought the same.

***

"You came, Sion."

Achille, who had her feet in the flowing stream, spoke casually. Sion nodded and sat beside the Goddess.

Now, the status as a Goddess was not felt.

Truly, an ordinary woman existed beside him as if dealing with Ruina or Kaili.

But Sion still considered Achille a Goddess and respected her as much as possible.

"Yes, My Lady. Are you managing to live?"

Sion looked around and said.

The stream flowed, and trees were lush like fences. The hills were full of flowers.

This flower garden, which Emily would like, was a sanctuary given to the Goddesses temporarily.

Humans no longer believed in Goddesses.

But until their treatment was decided, they had to pretend to respect them on the outside.

Above all, the transcendent Sion still supported the Goddesses. They had to be wary.

If they rebelled right now, their heads would fly off immediately.

The power hierarchy reversed overnight. Humans were this cruel and full of greed.

It was like tying up hunting dogs to eat them after the hunt was over.

The Goddesses knew this fact and were angry. However, there was nothing they could do besides getting angry and spitting.

Because they were now just beautiful humans.

"It is not manageable. It feels like being trapped in a cage. I felt less powerless when chased out of the Round Table."

"……I apologize. I will organize it soon."

Achille looked at Sion gently.

Once the Goddess of War's apostle, but now he was not a man to be tied to such a status.

At this point, even having lost power, he was stronger than anyone. He was also the peak in terms of pure swordsmanship.

When there was Divine power, the gap would have been less.

"No, Sion, you don't have to do that for us now."

"You make me feel sad with your words."

Achille smiled as if biting a sour candy.

"You have the qualification and power to do so now. Do you not know? War blood flows in us. Since you became stronger than me, you have the right to do as you please."

"No, what—"

"I worship the logic of the strong. It hasn't changed then or now."

Sion shook his head repeatedly. It was a story he really hated hearing.

"I am truly sad. My Lady. I still consider you my Goddess."

"……The world will not think so. No matter how much you acknowledge it, Sion. The trend cannot be broken."

A new wind blows. The world declared the age of humans.

It would be hard for Goddesses to regain the same overwhelming authority as before.

"Sion. You walk your path. You must not waste the future protecting relics of the old era."

"……"

Sion was silent. He murmured to himself so quietly it couldn't be heard.

"……No."

"Hm?"

"I don't want to. As expected."

"What is it? Speak."

"That you receive this treatment. This is, as expected, not right."

"History is the record of victors. No one says anything even if you become cruel."

Sion cracked his neck to relieve stiffness.

"That is records of later generations. I live in the present. I'm not very interested. In later matters."

"What are you trying to do?"

"I will correct it."

"By what means?"

Sion bit his fingernails. Bending his waist slightly, he looked at the Goddesses playing in the stream without thinking.

"We must return the Goddesses to their original positions."

"I ask once more. By what means? Divine power is gone. Originally, there is no reason, no need. We Goddesses do not all desire such things."

Sion agreed with some parts, but most thoughts were different.

"It is too early for the age of humans to come yet. An intermediate bridge is needed."

"Goddesses must play the intermediate role?"

"Yes. Originally, Lady Eru also wished for it to change gradually like that."

"What does Eru wish for so much…."

"She designed many things."

Achille closed her mouth for a moment.

Sion also enjoyed that silence for a few minutes. The moment itself of sitting beside the Goddess and conversing like this was unbelievable.

"Still—"

"Hm?"

"Has it not come to mind yet?"

Achille let out a long sigh. She answered while pressing her forehead. Her obsidian-like hair sparkled more in the light reflected on the water.

"Not yet. No matter how much I think, it does not come to mind. My True Name."

"We must find the True Name to start something."

"I keep saying it's not necess—"

"No, it is needed for humans too. A person in charge everyone can accept."

"Can't you do it?"

Sion shook his head.

"Even a conquering monarch has limits. Loyalty will not well up from the heart."

"Then."

"A symbol is needed."

"A symbol…."

"Even if it's just a shell, humans wish to believe and worship something. I see it as an innate nature."

Achille closed her mouth again.

She was persuaded by Sion's words once again.

"A symbol to play the intermediate bridge role…."

The Goddess of War clicked her tongue once then nodded.

"That much can save face, and humans can compromise appropriately."