Became an Apostle of an Ancient God

Chapter 7

Hall of Atonement.

Or. The grave of all Heretics.

"Not a single person sent to the Hall after receiving the sentence of atonement has returned unharmed."

Iron Mask assessed it that way.

However, following behind Amelia, the Hall of Atonement that revealed itself was slightly different from what Lee Haru had imagined.

"Free stew distribution! Everyone line up. Line up! Women first, then workers."

"Cigarettes, coffee, and luxury goods are this way. Everyone, please keep in line!"

What Lee Haru had thought the sentence of atonement meant was torture, like whipping, until one became a docile believer of Serre, just like what was done to Iron Mask.

However, upon actually arriving at the Hall of Atonement, no such scene of torture was visible.

Instead, it was filled with men and women covered in sweat and grime.

Had they come from doing manual labor somewhere?

They trudged weakly, like zombies, to receive free meals and buy luxury goods.

"Who are those people?"

Haru was well aware that he was acting the part of a weak young boy.

He tightly gripped the hem of Amelia's nun habit with both hands and looked up at her, feigning bright, innocent eyes.

Then, Amelia smiled and replied.

"They are diligent workers, working to build the new cathedral church."

Around their necks, unmistakably—restraints were fastened.

Indeed, Lee Haru thought.

Is the sentence of atonement a kind of labor sentence?

Worked to death as labor for building the new church, either dying or returning half-crippled.

However...

"Lord Serre. Hail."

"May Lord Serre's blessing be upon today's meal as well."

"Glory to Lord Serre. Glory to Lord Serre. Glo... ry... to Lord Serre."

"Every day is so happy because of Lord Serre..."

They... looked strange somehow.

The workers' eyes were tinged with a faint golden light, and above their heads floated faded halos, commonly called angel rings.

"Will I, having received the sentence of atonement, also work like them?"

When Haru asked, Amelia gave a completely unexpected answer.

"No. Those people have completed their sentence of atonement. They are doing this work voluntarily. For the Goddess of Light, Serre."

At Amelia's answer, Haru looked at them and swallowed hard.

Eyes shining with golden light, halos floating above their heads.

Unmistakable. They were clearly being controlled by some kind of rite.

However, even though they seemed controlled at first glance, the sight of them seeking luxury goods like cigarettes or coffee suggested they hadn't completely lost their humanity.

Is it some kind of advanced brainwashing that forces them to serve Serre?

But the angel-like girl before him, Amelia, had no halo above her head. Her eyes weren't shining either.

Unlike those being controlled, Amelia was a nun who genuinely believed in Serre based on her own faith.

Does Amelia not know? The fact that the workers' faith is an imitation, forcibly created by someone.

Just as that thought crossed Lee Haru's mind, the Noona who appeared faintly like a heat haze saw the scene and spoke.

[Hmm. They're using quite an interesting authority, aren't they?]

"... Shub Noona."

In a voice too soft for Amelia to hear, Haru asked.

"It's not just me seeing it, right? Those rings. The shining eyes."

[Yes, I see them too. It seems someone is playing around with a holy relic.]

"..."

Haru recalled the battle on the Holy Maiden Jeanne. The holy relic used by Father Moore had the ability to transform other living beings into 'beasts'.

It was a powerful force, different from ordinary rites. Should I say it's on a different level?

Even now, Haru could clearly feel the power of the [Beast's Holy Relic] that Shub was keeping.

In that case, it would be reasonable to conclude that the one ruling this Hall of Atonement possesses a holy relic that makes others serve Serre.

A powerful force that encompasses the entire crowd, no less.

A power so immense it feels wrong to compare it to something like the [Beast].

'Damn it...'

Thanks to Amelia's goodwill, he was sent to the orphanage instead of the prisoner camp, but he still bore the sentence of atonement.

Sooner or later, the clutches of that brainwashing would surely reach not only Haru but also the man in the Iron Mask who had somehow ended up here with him.

I can't let that happen.

I've gained a chance to start over in the form of a boy.

I miraculously reunited with Shub Noona, whom I once thought I'd never meet again.

But to spend my whole life seeking only Serre like a parrot.

There's no hell quite like that hell.

However, Haru didn't just despair in this situation. Instead, he clenched his fists tightly, strengthening his resolve to move forward.

'In that case, I'll take it from them instead.'

If I succeed in snatching this holy relic with the power of brainwashing from the one ruling the Hall of Atonement.

'Perhaps I might even be able to reverse my current situation of being branded the Child of the Devil.'

If there's a wall obstructing the path between myself and Shub Noona, I'll break it down and overcome it. Even if it's the absolute law governing this world.

'Somehow, I need to find a way to avoid the sentence of atonement, or more precisely, the brainwashing.'

For now, is it right to continue acting like an innocent child while gathering information about the brainwashing and the holy relic?

Haru quietly held his tongue and glanced up slightly at Shub, who was staying by his side.

Avoiding the brainwashing is one thing, but before that, there was something else to address. This innocent girl of heat haze, currently sending a gentle smile.

The girl whose beautiful yet chilling presence Lee Haru clearly felt whenever he perceived the existence of a holy relic.

'My Noona, who sadly can only exist in the form of a heat haze right now.'

Noona... who exactly...

No, what is she?

"Alright, we've arrived."

Lost in various thoughts while walking, they quickly arrived at the orphanage.

A small cottage built upon a garden where yellow flowers bloomed brightly.

In the garden, boys and girls of various ages were running and playing.

Children playing hide-and-seek, children playing house. Children playing while drawing pictures.

That scene, like a painting, was filled with a genuine purity that Lee Haru, with his adult mind, couldn't dare to imitate.

"Ah, it's Amelia Noona!"

When Amelia arrived, the children greeted her happily and started clinging to her. They were so energetic that Haru, who had been standing right next to her, had to take a step back.

Amelia Noona, look at this. A flower crown! I made it. Try it on!

"Look at this, the orphanage, and Noona. I drew us. Look! Look?"

"Wow, you drew it really well? The flower crown is so pretty too. Thank you. Sarah, Rebecca."

Amelia seemed to remember the names of all the children in the orphanage, calling each one by name and smiling at them.

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that almost all the believers of Serre in Lusis whom Haru had met so far were villains.

However, the blonde nun before him now, Amelia, was different from them. The bright smile that naturally bloomed on her face when she met the children.

It wasn't an act, but a genuine smile of happiness.

Haru felt genuinely sorry for having taken advantage of such an Amelia.

And he felt a slight contempt for the higher-ups of the Hall of Atonement who were exploiting this pure Amelia.

"Now, now. Today is the day to introduce a new friend. I'll just go inside for a moment and talk with the director. Um... uh."

Amelia affectionately patted Haru's head and asked.

"Come to think of it, I didn't ask your name. You. What's your name?"

"It's Haru."

He deliberately didn't mention the surname 'Lee'.

Just the name Haru might have been accepted as a name from this world, but the full name Lee Haru was completely foreign in this world.

"Then, Haru. Will you play with the kids for a bit? I'll go talk with the director for a moment."

"Yes."

Amelia said that and went inside the cottage. Then, the children's attention immediately focused on Haru. For better or worse.

"So, your name is Haru?"

The first ones to show interest were the girls. Among the various hair colors—red, brown, yellow, silver, gold, a kaleidoscope of shades—Lee Haru's black hair stood out significantly.

"Your hair is pretty. Did you dye it?"

Just as the girls were touching and stroking Haru's hair.

Perhaps jealous that all the girls' attention was focused on Haru, one boy pointed a finger at Haru and spoke.

"What's with that guy? He's wearing something weird around his neck."

"I saw that. The people who work at the Hall of Atonement. The really baaad people who don't believe in Goddess Serre wear those."

"Then, is Haru a bad kid?"

"No. That's not it. I..."

It was when Haru was about to make some excuse.

Haru realized then that malice born from innocence is scarier than the thoroughly planned and calculated malice of adults.

"This guy, isn't he just a bad kid! The bishop said so. People who don't believe in Serre are bad people. Because there are people who don't believe in Serre, monsters pop out. People steal things too. And also... alsooo..."

Following the malicious words of one child, other children began to agree.

"Then, if this kid is nearby. Monster! A monster will pop out?"

"It's a monster! It's a monster!"

"..."

Haru, possessing an adult's mind albeit somewhat twisted, tried to just let it pass. By putting on an awkward smile and acting as harmless as possible.

"Me too. I believe in the goddess just like you guys. This necklace is. Right! It's a 'charm'. I was given this because they said monsters won't come near if I wear it."

"Monster! Monster!"

"Bad kid! Bad kid!"

But then. One brave, or rather, mischievous boy pushed Haru into the garden and shouted.

"Get out of our orphanage! Our orphanage doesn't take in Heretics like you!"

"..."

Haru, who got a cut on his hand as he fell backward, momentarily let a genuinely angry expression show.

And, because he was still inexperienced in using his power, a tiny speck of Divine Power leaked out.

The result was.

[Take your hands off my child. You lowly mortals.]

To Lee Haru's eyes, it only looked like the girl swallowed her anger and gave a warning.

But it was different for the boy who had pushed Lee Haru.

"...Hieeek!?"

A great goddess, revealing purplish tentacles, 'manifested' for a brief moment, less than three seconds.

Because it wasn't a 'complete manifestation', the form was invisible to the other children and only seen by the mischievous boy who had pushed Lee Haru.

The effect was devastating.

When a human momentarily encounters something beyond their comprehension.

Especially when a boy, still mentally young, encounters it, the reaction is... obvious.

With a face contorted in terror, the boy wet himself on the spot, his eyes rolled back, he showed signs of a seizure, and collapsed.

[Hmph!]

And Shub, the cause of all this, looked somehow quite pleased.