From Apostle to Centurion
“Indeed, a fitting insight befitting my lord. If the Apostle starts as a centurion and steadily racks up achievements, gaining proper qualifications step by step, everyone in this land will acknowledge him.”
Tilia bowed her head with a satisfied smile. Yoahim shot her a resentful glare.
To Tilia, Yoahim was just some guy with no real skills trying to snag a vice-commander position for free. She'd served Haellagos for a long time, so she must have taken immense pride in her own role as vice-commander. It was obvious she'd feel slighted by some no-name nobody she'd never seen before getting promoted to the same rank. That's why she'd looked at Yoahim with disdain and conveyed her opposition to Haellagos.
'No, come on... I'm still Kakari's Apostle, aren't I...'
Being Kakari's Apostle was the same as being the incarnation of an evil god descended to earth. Questioning such a being's qualifications was blasphemy against a god, but Tilia couldn't care less. After all, her true loyalty was to Haellagos, not Kakari. The object of her devotion just happened to worship Kakari.
“My lord. Even so, assigning a centurion role to the Apostle...”
Halbert trailed off cautiously. He too harbored doubts about Yoahim's abilities, but even he thought it excessive to start Kakari's Apostle from the bottom rung as a lowly centurion.
“I won't hear objections. I could have ignored Tilia's opinion and made Apostle Yoahim my vice-commander outright. But I didn't—because all vice-commanders stand on equal footing. If she doesn't recognize the Apostle, can we truly call it equal just because he's in the same position? As Tilia said, the Apostle must prove his worth and demonstrate his capabilities.”
“Wise words indeed, my lord.”
Tilia bowed again. With Haellagos siding with her view, Halbert had no choice but to hold his tongue. No one else raised any dissent. Gellios stayed silent, and Billad just swung his food around like an idiot.
“Therefore, I appoint Apostle Yoahim as centurion and give him one month. Prove your qualifications and abilities in that time. Perfect timing, really. Isn't this a chance to show those vile rebels in this land that the god's will lies with us?”
Rebels? Yoahim, who had been listening quietly, furrowed his brow.
As far as he knew, the Withered Land had been unified by Haellagos after long wars—that's why his nickname was Lord of the Underworld. Rebels? Who the hell would dare rebel against him here?
'Wait... Alkados from Witchkill mentioned something about Lich Alzahar.'
Alkados had mocked that Haellagos's forces existed merely to protect against Alzahar's threat. Haellagos hadn't refuted it, so it must have been true. The Withered Land only bordered Melos Kingdom, so Alzahar wasn't some external enemy. That left only one possibility.
“Apostle Yoahim. I defeated countless rivals to become ruler of the Withered Land. I brought prosperity here over a long time, building cities and the Spire Tower, welcoming all who live here as my subjects.”
Haellagos cleared his throat and continued.
“Everyone in this land accepted me as their ruler, so it seemed my reign would last forever. But one being's emergence forced me into yet another long war. That was Alzahar.”
“Alzahar...”
A lich-level high undead would have the power to stand against a great demon. Yoahim could see why Haellagos hadn't rebutted Alkados's jab.
“Alzahar is a servant of Kakari like me, but he interprets the doctrine differently. Where Bellrallion saw Kakari's will as the destruction of all things, Alzahar sees it as the death of all things—turning every living being into undead.”
Yoahim, listening silently, nodded and asked, “So you're telling me to take out that lich?”
Haellagos shook his head. “No, Alzahar is a formidable foe. Even as Kakari's Apostle, you're not ready to face him yet. What I task you with is recapturing the villages he stole from us.”
“Villages?”
“Not all my subjects live in this city. Scattered across the Withered Land are small villages, some of which Alzahar has seized. We war daily, trading villages back and forth multiple times a day.”
If Alzahar could fight Haellagos on even terms, his forces must be no joke. Yoahim stroked his chin and asked, “But how did Alzahar build up power here in the first place? Didn't you unify the Withered Land?”
“I did crush all rivals and claim this land. Alzahar wasn't from here originally—he deceived me, infiltrated, and secretly built his forces. Then he rebelled. Those who had submitted to me after defeat flocked to him, and his power swelled overnight.”
The Withered Land was a place no race dared enter lightly. It was perfect for Kakari's followers to grow their forces undisturbed. Alzahar hiding here to oust Haellagos made sense—he wanted to build power without interference.
“Apostle Yoahim, as Kakari's Apostle, you have a duty to punish heretics who follow twisted doctrines. Devote yourself fully to reclaiming those villages.”
How the hell am I supposed to do that? Yoahim had only hunted monsters solo or taken mercenary guild quests for small skirmishes. Leading a hundred troops into battle? He wasn't confident. And who knew how strong Alzahar's minions were?
As Yoahim's face twisted like he'd eaten shit, Tilia let out a snicker.
'She's laughing at me on purpose, right?'
Yoahim glared, but Tilia composed herself as if nothing had happened.
“And Tilia.”
“Your command, my lord.”
Tilia placed her fist over her chest in a rigid salute, bowing. It showed her training and loyalty to Haellagos.
“Accompany the Apostle.”
“...Pardon?”
“Accompany the Apostle. Travel with him and report his achievements to me.”
“Ah, no, I... My lord, why me...?”
Tilia was visibly flustered. Naturally—she hated Yoahim.
“You're the only one who doubted the Apostle's qualifications and abilities, aren't you? Watch him until you're convinced. And if he falls into danger, assist him.”
“B-but if I go with the Apostle, it'll disrupt scout unit operations.”
“Hand it off to your vice-commander. Tilia, you only ever oppose my will.”
“Th-that's not true!”
She'd been cocky earlier, but now she was getting her comeuppance. Sweet, so sweet. Yoahim deliberately snickered.
Tilia shot him a death glare, but he schooled his face innocently, just like she'd done.
“Halbert, pull a hundred Skeleton Warriors from your forces.”
“Understood.”
“Dismissed for today. There's a celebration banquet for the Apostle tonight, so return to the Spire Tower without delay.”
As Haellagos left, the other vice-commanders rose slowly. Billad vanished first, bellowing some weird song, followed by Gellios.
Now only Halbert, Tilia, and Yoahim remained in the hall, staring at each other in silence.
“Well then, everyone head out. Yoahim, I'll arrange for you to meet your subordinates soon. I'll summon you again later...”
“No, Halbert sir.”
Tilia cut in, glaring daggers at Yoahim.
“Hand over the soldiers right now.”
“Hm? Right now? Tilia, no need to rush. I'll have them transferred by tomorrow...”
“No, Halbert sir. Transfer the soldiers now. I'm dying to see the Apostle's skills.”
What the hell, picking a fight again? Ignoring Yoahim's glare, Tilia looked to Halbert.
After a brief silence, Halbert spoke. “Hm... If that's your wish... But remember, Tilia—doubting the Apostle's abilities is doubting my lord's judgment.”
“...I have no such intention. I'll keep your advice in mind.”
“Very well. Follow me. Yoahim, you too. I'll pick sturdy ones for you.”
The three took the inter-floor teleporter down to the first floor, exited the Spire Tower, and followed Halbert to the infantry barracks.
Demon and dark elf soldiers sweated through drills on the training grounds, while the ceaseless clang of hammers echoed from the smithy behind.
A unit finishing training passed Yoahim; even a fleeting sense of their aura told him they were highly skilled.
“The infantry always looks so reliable.”
Halbert chuckled at Tilia's words. His infantry comprised dark elves, demons, and undead—some units segregated by race, others mixed.
The barracks teemed with soldiers, but this was far from the full force. Haellagos boasted he could war with Melos without Alzahar's threat. To fight a kingdom head-on, the core infantry would number several times this.
“Yoahim, wait a moment.”
Halbert stopped a passing demon and ordered a hundred Skeleton Warriors transferred. The execution was swift—within ten minutes, the demon returned with them.
“These soldiers are yours from now on. Lead them well and live up to my lord's expectations.”
The Skeleton Warriors clacked their jaws at Yoahim. Their stares were intimidating.
Low undead lacked intelligence, following orders blindly, but commanding a hundred lives hung heavy on him.
“Alright, now let's see what you've got.”
Yoahim grimaced at Tilia's mocking tone.