475 Hwaseong Island The central temple, the center of Noviens.
Old priest de Gaulle, who was in charge of chores there, cleaned the temple as usual and went to bed. Of course, he did not forget to pray to Anima, the god of fire and food.
But that day, I felt exceptionally good after praying, and I had a feeling that something special was going to happen.
Sure enough, that night he had a really strange dream.
A dream of a huge giant with red skin and the force of a blazing flame reaching out towards him.
The appearance seemed to be a greatly enlarged version of the Orcs, a monster race that can now only be found in the southern mountain ranges.
Even if it was a dream, it could have been a scary situation, but strangely enough, I wasn’t scared at all.
– The apostate has done a trick. Can not help it. I have to do it with you. Even if you suffer more losses.
Even though the incomprehensible words touched my soul, tears just flowed down from some unknown emotion.
He instinctively realized that the giant was Anima, the god he had worshiped.
The sight of God, who looked completely different from what I had imagined, was so overwhelming that I had no time to feel strange.
– Will you accept me?
As God’s voice rang out again, a small scepter-shaped red sacred object, Flamma, appeared before his eyes.
How could I refuse?
De Gaulle, who welcomed God even in a dream, nodded his head so vigorously that it felt like he was breaking his neck.
Hoping God knows how happy he is.
And then he slowly stretched out his hand towards the sacred object.
The moment when de Gaulle finally held the holy relic in his hands.
– Wow!
He lost his existence with the worst pain he could ever imagine.
After a while.
– The wavelength is lower than I thought. Tsk.
De Gaulle woke up from his bed with a strange voice.
– Your body is too weak. Anyway, what is a human being….
Udduk.
The moment when his skeleton was reorganized with a loud sound and red energy emanating from somewhere swept over his entire body.
Instead of the aged de Gaulle, a muscular giant nearly 2 meters tall appeared.
Brown hair and shiny red skin.
De Gaulle, or rather the incarnation of Anima, glanced down at his body, which had no trace of its previous appearance, tilted his head and stared into space for a while.
“…I think Argar arrived first, but why can’t I feel his presence? That’s strange.”
As the voice of a sturdy young man came out, someone’s spirit wave came from afar as if responding.
[Did you descend to the Anima Temple?]
“Yes, Aion. I will join you after moving the Holy Kingdom as planned.”
[I will wait.]
After finishing communicating with his colleague who had arrived one step earlier, the apostle kicked off the roof of the dormitory and leaped into the sky above the temple.
And soon.
[Listen! God’s will has descended directly on this earth, so God’s servants must obey that will!] A
sacred spirit wave that could not be ignored by any human being, especially a priest, rang through the heavens and earth of Noviens.
* * *
Anima’s voice rang clearly in Ilia’s mind as she tried to take a nap out of anxiety.
There was no way she didn’t know what the strong feeling conveyed at the same time meant.
“this…!”
The worst situation imaginable.
Even though the two potential apostle candidates were almost imprisoned, an apostle descended from another part of the temple.
‘Of all the temples and priests in the world…’
I couldn’t help but sigh, but at the same time, it was something I had already prepared myself for.
‘I can’t run away now.’
Ilya got up from the bed, biting her lip as if she had made up her mind.
There was no need to change clothes as I always wore robes as a habit.
‘Is this my end?’
I didn’t think about running away. I just have a burning will to prevent the central temple from being eaten by the apostles.
In the first place, it was even funnier to expect that he would fully survive while facing God.
‘I’m sorry I can’t help you more, Your Majesty Logan. Please do your part, Sir Harman.’
However, I was just a little disappointed about the things I hadn’t accomplished yet.
Her face, which was filled with regret and regret, soon showed a ray of sadness.
‘…I’m sorry, Sir Victor.’
The face of a young man with a bright smile appeared clearly in my mind.
‘We’ll never meet again.’
The moment when I was surprised to realize the extreme sadness engraved in my heart without even realizing it.
– Your Holiness! The Apostle has arrived. All of Anima’s priests are testifying!
These were words that should have moved the Pope, but to her, they were like a death sentence.
But now she had no other options.
Ilya hurriedly wiped away the tears that had already flowed and answered calmly.
“Okay. I’ll be leaving soon.”
– Yes, Your Holiness.
Ilya slowly left his room with reluctant steps.
* * *
– In the name of God, I declare that Logan McLane is an opponent of God! Eliminate him and erase everything he has achieved!
The apostle’s proclamation seemed to be filled with the scent of blood.
But before they could feel fear, a strong question captivated the priests who heard those words.
Naturally, all the priests’ eyes were focused on Ilia, who had just walked out to the entrance of the central temple. Because it was she, Pope and Saint Ilya Gavon, who declared Logan McLane a God-given hero.
“Your Holiness, what happened to this!?”
“Please tell me. What the Apostle said and what your Holiness ordered are very different!”
“His Holiness the Pope!”
According to legend, when the Apostle descends, all priests blindly obey his will and fulfill the will of God.
If that were true, the behavior of the priests who asked Ilia’s opinion even after hearing the apostle’s voice was exceptional.
Among them, the eyes of former Pope Austin, the high priest of Anima and the original candidate for apostle, were the hottest.
“Your Holiness, what happened to this?”
Illya closed her eyes tightly as she looked at the priests’ confusion.
All of this may have been due to her high reputation, but the situation was too bad to be impressed by such things.
‘…Death was planned anyway. It’s just a little bit ahead.’
Now that it has come to this, I will reveal all the truth that has been hidden and destroy it fiercely.
“in fact…!”
The moment Ilya opened her mouth after making up her mind, the situation began to flow in a completely different direction than she had thought.
[You are an apostate of Amunda. Just follow my will quietly. Then you will be forgiven.]
“…!?”
The apostle’s voice echoed only in her mind. Ilya’s eyes widened at that unexpected story.
what…? Forgiveness?
[Your vices will be re-evaluated as the result of the holy war. So follow my will. If you follow my will, the path to salvation will also be opened for you.]
Bullshit!
‘Salvation must be eating up souls.’
Ilya, who had been laughing at God without even knowing it, was momentarily startled.
I heard that King Logan could read minds, so even a god could do it…
But there was no change in the apostle’s expression.
[What should I do? Are you going to burn your soul here as an apostate, or are you going to follow my will?]
‘What? You must have read minds?’
It would not be an act of tolerance. I’ve already experienced the gods’ fiery temper to the point where I’m sick of it.
Then….
‘You can’t read my mind? Are gods impossible? …I guess not. Could it be that I am stained by Amunda’s spirit?’
Ilya thought about various cases and quickly came to a conclusion.
‘Anyway, this is an opportunity.’
I read Amunda’s emotions. It is clear that the gods suffered some great loss from this incident.
‘Then couldn’t we really be pressed for time?’
In such a situation, it also explains why you don’t punish yourself right away. The moment the Pope changes again, time will definitely be delayed, whether it’s a crusade or something else.
After thinking that far, Ilya slowly knelt down on the spot. It was so unpleasant that it made me nauseous, but I had to endure it for now.
“I am sorry, Apostle. Due to my insensitivity, I made an error in conveying God’s will. I fully accept responsibility and will do my best for the temple.”
Ilya tried to hide her true feelings and spoke out words she didn’t even mean to say.
‘Not everything will go your way.’
At first glance, a cold sneer appeared on the face of the apostle looking away, but he gritted his teeth as he resolved to do so.
But at that moment.
[Good.]
“Ugh!”
As soon as the apostle answered, I felt a burning sensation on the back of my hand.
A pattern of burning flames. The once familiar pattern was engraved on the back of her hand in an even more bizarre way.
– Since the new Pope follows my will, I leave a new mark on him.
“Wow!”
As the apostle’s declaration continued, the priests who were watching Ilia cheered in unison.
An unbelievable situation in which the Pope, a saint of one God, was chosen by another God.
Having witnessed that unprecedented moment, I was so moved that I was almost in tears.
But at that moment, the voice echoing in Ilya’s head was completely different from what the priests expected.
[If you go against my will, your soul will suffer burning pain.]
[Keep in mind. You are a sinner.]
[Only the result of a holy war can wash away your sins.]
Damn gods.
Ilya bites her lip.
– Listen.
With the apostle’s voice heard by everyone again, the passionate gazes that had been focused on Ilia turned to the sky again.
– Tell this to everyone who follows God. Destroy Logan McLain and everything he has achieved. In particular, thoroughly eradicate the outcasts. That is the meaning of the 9 Great Gods!
The apostle disappeared immediately after saying those words, and the change that resulted was truly enormous.
– Conquer McLane, not the empire!
The Holy Corps that had gathered to conquer the Empire and the Kassel Magic Tower changed the destination of their expedition.
However, there was a side effect due to the apostle leaving too quickly.
“What is an outcast?”
“You know, those who cannot use divine power.”
“Is there anyone like that?”
“It happened occasionally, but this time it suddenly increased in the eastern part of the continent. I heard there are quite a lot of them now…”
“So you’re saying we have to kill them?”
“…I guess…I guess?”
“…It feels uncomfortable.”
“But it’s God’s word.”
“Still, I’m a little…”
The antipathy towards that radical message has not been properly resolved.
Thanks to this, when Ilya began to postpone the period of dispatch by pointing out the shortcomings of the Holy Legion, the resistance of the priests was weaker than expected.
“Yes? Again?”
“They said the food wasn’t prepared properly. Please delay it for three more days until the preparations are completely completed.”
The moment Ilya said those words, she felt as if her soul was burning with a hot flame.
‘Ugh, damn God…’
But this is a body that has already been completely eroded and then revived.
Ilya desperately tried to keep a calm expression despite the pain that burned his soul.
“But your Holiness the Apostle…”
“You didn’t say a date, did you?”
“…Of course.”
As Austin took a step back with a shocked expression, Ilya continued speaking in a stern voice.
“It’s a temple. It’s a temple. So wouldn’t it be right to prepare more carefully?”
“…Of course.”
“Then please proceed like that.”
“…I understand. Oh, then shouldn’t we first declare to the world that King Logan is a religious member? Rumors are already spreading.”
“… crack down on that too.”
“Yes?”
“If the rumor spreads, won’t they also prepare in advance? The later the enemy finds out, the better.”
At that moment, the pain burning in his soul became even more intense, and Ilya’s expression distorted.
“Ugh!”
“Your Holiness!? Why are you doing that?”
“No, no. “It’s because I’m tired.”
“…Oh, yes. “It’s worth it.”
“Anyway, we’ll postpone the announcement. Do you have any objection?”
“Yes, I understand.”
Although he thought something was strange, Austin nodded.
Hadn’t he already received another god’s stigmata from the Pope?
As he believed that the Nine Great Gods were perfect, there was bound to be a limit to his thinking.
Seeing Austin turning around like that, Illya gritted her teeth.
‘There are still more excuses to postpone the crusade.’
Now, food, then weapons, then soldiers’ training…
But no matter how much time he waited, it was clear that it would be difficult for more than a month. Even if he held on until his soul, which burned every time he went against the apostle’s will, was completely extinguished. ‘I’m sorry ,
Your Majesty Logan, but this is my best.’
Hiding her burning insides, Ilya prayed desperately and earnestly to Logan,
the saint of McLane. Hoping that he would do something.
