Became an Apostle of an Ancient God

Chapter 19

Amelia Louise was reading the scripture to the kids at the orphanage today as well. It had been two days since Haru was summoned by Luther.

Amelia was not a core combat force of the Hall.

Nevertheless, Amelia, who had some talent for rites, was able to pick up various information from the priests of the Hall for two days.

Suddenly, a dark acolyte appeared from the 5th Church. Fortunately, Bishop Luther managed to repel him, but it is said that the pursuit failed.

And according to the story from a fellow nun, the compassionate Bishop Luther is now preparing to specially accept Haru as his adopted son.

Perhaps he noticed the outstanding talent of the kid. Recently, as the kid who often showed his face at the orphanage disappeared, Amelia gently stroked the scripture with a somewhat lonely face.

"Amelia Noona. Is something wrong?"

One of the pure kids from the orphanage peeked at her and asked. Amelia shook her head with an awkward smile.

"No, it's nothing. Just... a little worried. About Haru."

"Since he went with Bishop Luther, I'm sure he'll be fine."

"Yes. I'm sure he will, right?"

Bishop Luther was once one of the six Heroes, and now he is the Master Bishop of this sacred sanctuary that reforms heretics.

The treatment and hospitality received at the central church would certainly be much better than what is received at this orphanage, so there should be no need to worry.

But what is this feeling?

After he left for the central church, from the shadow of that kid.

Why did I see pitch-black darkness?

It was when Amelia was lost in such thoughts.

"... Ah!"

Amelia, who was reading the scripture, felt a clash of powerful Divine Power that covered the area surrounding the Hall of Atonement.

Amelia's pupils trembled in front of the great power surge created by the collision of rites. It was because Amelia had never felt such a clash of power until now.

A skirmish between Sun-level...

No.

It was perhaps a thrill that could only be felt in a clash of priests of the cosmic rank. Amelia hurriedly left the orphanage and turned her head in the direction where she felt the clash.

The direction Amelia's head turned to. It was none other than the central church.

"No way...!"

A bad thought crossed her mind.

'Could it be that the dark acolyte who appeared this time from the 5th Church attacked the central church targeting Haru's powerful Divine Power...?'

And shortly after, a golden flash and lightning struck from the central church. It was unmistakable.

That was Bishop Luther's rite.

"No. No...!"

Amelia knew it too. At best, she was just a priest of anywhere from star to moon rank. She knew well that she couldn't be of help in this battle of cosmic rank priests.

But she had to go.

A lamb that once passed through her hands might fall into the hands of a wicked apostle of darkness. She couldn't just stand by.

"Sorry, director. I need to excuse myself for a moment!"

Amelia hurriedly headed towards the central church. Anyway, it wasn't difficult to take a carriage as the people of the knights already knew that something had happened at the central church.

After much trouble, Amelia somehow arrived at the central church, where heavily armed priests and knights were feeling the dense flow of Divine Power and waiting.

"No. I can't see...!"

Amelia, who tried to squeeze in from behind the knights to look inside, found it impossible to get through the sturdy men in armor.

And shortly after.

"Hoo... Ha... Ha. Haaa..."

Opening the door of the central church, Bishop Luther appeared. Luther, who seemed very exhausted, was being supported by Ismael, his direct attendant, as he struggled to step outside the church.

"Wh-what happened?"

"..."

Bishop Luther, panting, looked around and raised his left arm to calm the knights and priests.

"Calm down. It's noth... Cough. Nothing."

"For the Bishop to be this exhausted. Could it be... that dark acolyte."

"Dark acolyte, huh."

Luther nodded slightly and explained.

"Yes... It was. A heretic attacked the central church directly. Quite a strong heretic. I broke a sweat after a long time. But if it's that heretic, rest assured, I handled it safely."

"Then we'll take custody of the heretic."

"No. I'll personally capture and bring in that heretic. As you can see, it wasn't an ordinary strong one. Then I'll take a little rest."

Amelia couldn't hold back and grabbed Bishop Luther as he was about to retreat.

"Master Bishop. Haru... is the kid okay?"

"..."

Luther slightly turned back and looked at Amelia. In his eyes, there was a whirlwind of negative emotions that could not be felt from the usually compassionate and kind Bishop Luther.

But only for a moment, Luther answered Amelia's question with a face that truly seemed sorrowful.

"The acolyte who invaded this place. Was targeting the Chosen Child. Regrettably... Haru-kun."

"No way..."

"Yes. The Chosen Child has returned to Serre's side. I did my best, but."

At Luther's words, the priests gathered in front of the central church murmured.

Their reactions were polar opposites.

One side thought it was fortunate that Haru, who was originally the 'Child of the Devil', had died.

The other side felt sorry and pitied that the young child, whom Luther cherished enough to be treated as the 'Chosen Child', was killed by the acolyte.

Naturally, Amelia was the latter.

"It can't be..."

Amelia sat down, looking up at Luther. Was it an opponent that even the mighty power of Bishop Luther couldn't handle? If only she had been there, would the situation have been different?

"Everyone, at times like this, we must rely on Serre. Now that a thick dark mist is about to cover the Hall, the only way to overcome this situation is to believe in each other, rely on each other, and believe in the light."

Luther briefly revealed his faith in Serre, clasped his hands, and prayed.

"I believe. That your prayers. Will be able to drive away the darkness. Let's all pray together."

In front of Luther's declaration, Amelia lowered her head in sorrow. Under the guilt of not being able to protect a lamb.

* * *

The light that the priests of Serre loved and worshiped so much.

Iron Mask, who was confined in the underground prison of the Hall of Atonement, where Serre's light almost never shone, was blankly staring at the fireflies that came through the Bars of the prison.

"Hey, Anatolian!"

"What?"

Iron Mask looked up and glared at the guard who called him.

"It's a visit. A priest wants to see you for a moment."

"A priest? Has my execution been decided or something?"

"Shut up and just come out already!"

Under the watch of three guards, Iron Mask crossed the Bars of the prison and silently climbed the stairs to the meeting room.

Naturally, he was wearing a special straitjacket, so moving his body was almost impossible except for walking. Even turning his neck was difficult.

In front of him appeared a haggard nun. She had golden hair, but the luster was gone, and the eyes that once shone brightly had lost their light.

"Well then, enjoy your visit."

The guard left the meeting room to protect Amelia's privacy, not Iron Mask's. It seemed he didn't think Serre's loyal apostle would do anything.

"Amelia, was it? Why do you look so dead? Did something happen?"

"... In this Hall of Atonement. The only acquaintance remaining for Lee Haru is you. I came to inform you. You haven't heard any news from outside... have you?"

"Well, no."

Iron Mask barely bent his back, trying to nod. Of course, it didn't work well.

"Haru... that kid. Was killed by an acolyte who raided the central church."

"Haru?"

"Yes. They say... they're preparing for a grand funeral. You, as a prisoner waiting for a penitential sentence, won't be given the right to attend the funeral. But for now... I came to inform you of the obituary."

"Hmm."

But Iron Mask didn't seem particularly sad or surprised. Amelia couldn't read Iron Mask's face at all because of the mask, but there was no hint of sorrow in his voice.

Unable to bear it, Amelia slammed the table and shouted.

"A kid who didn't even reach fifteen years old died! Couldn't you pretend to be a little sad, Anatolian! This is why people from Anatolia..."

"Well."

Iron Mask slightly pulled the chair forward and answered Amelia's question.

"He's alive. That guy."

"... What?"

Iron Mask whispered to her very quietly, calmly, lest others hear.

"You are... no. Most of the people in this hall, including you, are being deceived. Haru is alive. Without a doubt."

"Wha... what?"

With a face filled with shock, Amelia stared at Iron Mask. As she blankly gazed into the burning eyes hidden behind the mask, she quickly realized that this man was not lying.

"I'll soon present the proof right in front of you. So don't worry about that guy."

"Wait."

Amelia stood up and asked.

"You're... going to present it?"

"Don't go around stabbing people. Amelia Louise. I'm telling you this especially because you're the only nun here who still seems sane. If you so much as think of betraying me, the first one to be skewered by my spear will be you."

Iron Mask glanced around, then brought his face close to the meeting room window and spoke.

"I'm the insurance in case something happens to that guy. I'll be getting out of here soon."

"Don't tell me, you're planning a jailbreak...!"

"Yeah. Honestly, I could handle it alone. But if you could briefly divert the guard's attention or something, it'd go a lot smoother."

Iron Mask chuckled in a low tenor voice, driving the point home.

"This is all part of rescuing Haru."