Chapter 30
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: Apostle of Heavenly Thunder (2)
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Inside the still crude headquarters of the Order.
A banquet, led by Loan, was being held for the new Apostle.
The large table was laden with appetizing bread and vegetables.
Of course, the dishes here had been prepared by the Orders followers under Loans direction.
The only concoctions Loan, who had spent his entire life training in black magic, could make were potions.
Congratulations on becoming the new Apostle!
Loans booming voice congratulated Evan, who was seated at the table.
Receiving Loans congratulations, Evan looked at him with a conflicted expression.
This was the man he had personally swung his sword at, intending to kill.
But now, to be congratulated for becoming an Apostle of the evil god in this manner he couldnt help but feel perplexed.
Faced with Loans cheerful demeanor, as if nothing had ever happened, Evan forced himself to act composed and replied.
Right. Thank you for the congratulations.
I heard that you, the Second Apostle, have gained a tremendous ability.
A tremendous ability, you say.
Youve gained the power to wield lightning, havent you? Ive handled our great lords lightning briefly myself, so I know just how powerful it is.
Hearing Loans words, Evan glanced down at the Astrape he wore on his hand.
He had yet to properly test the divine artifacts performance.
However, he was well aware that it held immense power.
With its various abilities, once he became proficient, he would possess strength far beyond what he had before.
Moreover, Evan was now receiving an endless, vast supply of magical power in place of his divine power.
Feeling a power even more fulfilling than before, Evan nodded in agreement.
He has granted me a powerful gift. A power far greater than I deserve.
In a way, it was a power he had gained by selling his devout faith.
It was only natural to feel some resistance to wielding it.
Nevertheless, Evan had no intention of abandoning the task given to him.
This was a path he had chosen of his own free will.
Even if it was a broken conviction, Evan had to bear the consequences.
If he was to fall into the abyss, he had to fall to its very bottom.
That was the only path left for Evan, who had chosen this divergent way.
With the Apostle among us, our Order will have nothing to fear for the time being.
With a light laugh, Loan tilted the wine glass he was holding.
Seeing Loan drink, Evan also raised his glass and took a sip.
While it was a rule not to drink in the Holy Land, Evan occasionally enjoyed wine when he returned to his family estate.
The aroma of the wine, which he hadn't had in a long time, brought a bitter smile to his lips.
He didn't know where it was from, but to Evan, it wasn't a bad wine.
It seemed to be quite an expensive bottle.
As Evan drank his wine and tore at a piece of bread, his gaze suddenly shifted to a corner of the table.
Hey, who is that over there?
In the corner where Evans gaze landed, Peter was awkwardly picking at a piece of bread.
Even for Evan, who had joined them for the first time today, Peters presence was particularly conspicuous.
Judging by his inability to fit in and his out-of-place attire, he didn't seem like a member of the Order.
But to think he wasn't a worker, he was doing far too little.
Peter, who had been slowly tearing off bits of bread with his fingers, was startled by Evans pointing finger and spoke up.
Uh me, sir?
Yes. You dont look like an ordinary follower.
Im
Questioned by Evan, Peter trailed off in a fluster.
Clutching the piece of bread, his eyes darted nervously around the room.
Tap. Tap.
Evans gauntleted fingers slowly tapped the table.
It was a clear gesture, urging him to answer.
As Peter failed to give a clear response, it was Loan who came to his rescue.
Ah, you mean Peter? He is the First Apostles servant and coachman.
A servant?
A servant and coachman? Not a member of the Order?
He hasnt officially joined the Order yet, but Im sure that in his heart, he reveres our great lord.
Hearing Loans answer, Evans expression grew curious.
Just a simple servant, not a follower of the Order.
Evan took another sip from his wine glass.
Then, looking at Loan, he asked about the Order.
Not a follower? Thats unexpected. I thought the Order captured anyone they saw and used them as sacrifices.
No. We dont do that.
It was Yutenia who answered Evans question.
Without touching her wine, Yutenia was eating her bread with a graceful air.
Evan questioned Yutenia again as she refuted his words.
What are you talking about?
The humans we offer as sacrifices are, without exception, only the unbelievers.
Unbelievers?
Several villages had vanished entirely.
Evan had confirmed this himself while riding through the area.
Yet Yutenia was denying that they had sacrificed entire villages.
As Evan stared at her with a look full of questions, Yutenia continued her explanation.
Even Peter is a survivor from one of the villages.
A survivor? Are you saying you leave those who serve your master alone?
Yes. Once everyone comes to serve our great lord, we will then seek other sacrifices.
A small possibility surfaced in Evans mind upon hearing Yutenias words.
They only offer those who do not serve their god as sacrifices for the great cause.
In a way, the Orders methods were not so different from the work of an Inquisitor.
Except that their actions were extreme and the scope of their inquisition was excessively broad.
What if he could convert everyone within the Orders reach?
If that happened, a situation where no one was sacrificed might be possible.
Setting aside whether that was realistically achievable, the mere existence of such a possibility was what mattered.
From now on, we will change our methods.
What method do you have in mind?
We will take a few days to convert them. Sacrificing them can wait until after that.
Are you suggesting we spend a little more time spreading His teachings?
Yes. If the number of those who serve Him increases, our great lord will surely be pleased.
What was his destiny as an Apostle?
To that, the god from another world had told him to set his own beliefs straight.
The master they served wanted one thing.
To drive out the six temples and their gods, and to carve their masters name in their place.
As long as that great work could be accomplished, it wouldnt matter if it slightly altered their existing methods.
Thus, Evan was able to make a decision about what he had to do.
Are you satisfied with that?
That is sufficient.
Then shall we decide to proceed that way from now on? No objections, Loan?
Of course. Who would oppose expanding the Orders influence?
Having received confirmation from the members of the Order, Evan looked down at the gauntlet on his hand.
His destiny was to save people.
And to do that, the entire Holy Land had to fall.
There was only one reason for the recurring wars.
The six temples had designated their master as an evil god and continuously mobilized forces to subjugate him.
As long as the six temples and the god from another world were in conflict, this infinite cycle would continue.
But what if Evans new master took the place of the six temples?
Then, wars would no longer occur.
In a world ruled by the god from another world, everyone would live peaceful lives, forgetting all about heroes and apostles.
If everyone serves Him, there will be no more chaos, no more conflict.
Having set a new goal, Evan began to pour wine into his empty glass.
To restrain the Order and drive out the six temples of the Holy Land.
That was Evans new objective.
The existence of a god in name only would not bring salvation to this world.
But by destroying Crossbridge, he could save the countless more lives that would be lost in the future.
It was enough for him alone to dirty his hands.
If Evan covered himself in all the blood and sin and fell into the abyss, peaceful days would follow.
Phew
In the middle of the noisy banquet.
Peter slipped out of the Orders building and let out a sigh.
He had managed to join the banquet by tagging along with the Orders schedule, but the atmosphere was difficult for him to adapt to.
In the first place, wasnt Peter not even a member of the Order?
It was so bad that he, an outsider, was being treated like a servant, so it was only natural for him to feel bewildered.
Ugh. How did I end up like this?
Peter muttered as he stuffed the bread he had brought from the banquet into his mouth.
The Order distributed bread at every mealtime.
If he didn't manage to slip in with the followers and grab some bread during mealtimes, he would have no choice but to go hungry.
That was also why he had followed Yutenia into the banquet hall this time.
He had to fill his stomach, even if it meant being on edge, or he would have to skip dinner.
But to return to his village now his village had been gone for a long time.
The more he thought about it, the more pathetic his situation felt.
And on top of that, I have this weird brand on my arm.
Peter rolled up his sleeve and looked at his arm.
A black symbol, etched there days ago, remained on his arm.
The shape of a sword piercing through wings.
The murky design, visible even in the dark, looked for all the world like the mark of an evil god.
As Peter reached out and rubbed the symbol with his finger, trying to erase it, the sound of a door opening echoed behind him.
Creeak.
The person who opened the door and stepped out was Evan.
Evan, looking around after coming outside, soon spotted Peter standing in the corner.
The moment Peter saw Evan, he quickly pulled down his sleeve to cover his arm.
Seeing Peter hastily hide his arm with a flustered look, Evan approached him and asked.
Youre Yutenias servant, arent you?
Ah, yes, yes!
Evan had been glaring at him since inside the banquet hall.
Feeling like he shouldnt deny it, Peter instinctively nodded his head.
Thud. Thud.
Evans steps drew closer to Peter.
Now standing right in front of him, Evan looked at Peters hidden arm and asked.
Are you hiding something?
N-No! Its nothing.
Nothing, you say
Its just I just have a brand, thats all.