Ch.31Ep.31 Apostle Council

# Chapter Translation

One month after Cthugha was summoned and vanished.

The world was surprisingly peaceful and quiet— yeah, right. As if.

“Sigh… What’s happened this time?”

“May I, um, report to you?”

“Just tell me without stalling. I think I’ve reached enlightenment now—nothing you say can surprise me anymore.”

As news about another goblin rampage came in, Namgung Ihyun let out a deep sigh.

Mir seemed to anticipate what was coming, but continued with his report anyway.

“This incident is on a different scale. For the past few days… goblins have been attacking cults.”

“Attacking cults? Explain in detail.”

“Goblins have appeared in large groups in Southret. The cult of the Lord Who Commands the Hounds has been completely annihilated.”

“…Annihilated?”

Namgung Ihyun’s eyes changed completely upon hearing that a cult had been attacked.

When she heard that an entire cult had been annihilated, her gaze turned murderous.

Noth Idick, one of the Outer Gods, known by the title “Lord Who Commands the Hounds.”

He was infamous for creating the worst hunting beasts in history, the Hounds of Tindalos, but ironically, his cult was primarily composed of summoners, seemingly influenced by his creative nature.

Of course, that didn’t mean the apostles were any less capable.

Noth Idick’s cult ranked within the top 10 among the Outer God cults.

Particularly, the packs of Tindalos Hounds summoned by Noth Idick’s apostle were troublesome opponents even for someone like Namgung Ihyun.

And now that cult had been annihilated?

“The goblins have enough military power to destroy an entire cult?”

“Yes. Particularly, Noth Idick’s apostle was ambushed while traveling to the apostle council and couldn’t respond properly.”

“I don’t like this… damn goblins…”

From the moment they first appeared, Namgung Ihyun had disliked the goblin race.

They babbled strange nonsense that she couldn’t understand but that somehow made her feel extremely uncomfortable.

Yet she had left them alone, like a runaway child, because they couldn’t capture even a single one.

Just when she thought things were finally calming down, they cause this major incident?

‘Although Noth Idick’s cult is at the bottom of the top 10, and each step up in the rankings means significantly more power…’

They annihilated an entire cult before they could even send a distress signal?

“We need to raise the threat level for goblins.”

“I will see to it.”

“And the apostles will be arriving soon. Make thorough preparations for the meeting.”

“I receive the apostle’s command.”

After Mir bowed and disappeared, Namgung Ihyun spoke stiffly without looking back.

“I know you’re hiding there. Want to come out?”

“Oh my, you caught me?”

The space behind her rippled, and a woman emerged from within.

Her deep purple hair had always commanded attention, and her seductive smile had enchanted many.

She was none other than…

“Milia. Are you acting alone again?”

“You know me well. Do you think I’d die just because I’m alone?”

“Didn’t you hear the news just now? That idiot got killed. What makes you any different?”

“Ihyun, if you keep talking like that, you know better than anyone what might happen, don’t you?”

Milia smiled while emitting overwhelming magical power.

Namgung Ihyun flinched momentarily but maintained a calm smile.

“That kind of Order. I just need to crush it with force.”

“‘That kind’? Let’s be clear about the difference—I’m top-tier and you’re high-tier.”

Tap, tap.

Milia patted Namgung Ihyun’s shoulder as if telling her to keep trying, then left with a fluttering smile.

Namgung Ihyun glared at her back for a while before swallowing her anger.

Yes. Even someone like Namgung Ihyun couldn’t treat Milia carelessly.

The reason was the difference in talent.

Although all apostles of the Outer Gods were embodying their Orders and growing stronger at a rapid pace…

Milia’s Order was growing faster than Namgung Ihyun’s.

Her power was already comparable to that of an Outer God.

In comparison, Namgung Ihyun had only recently reached the lower level of an Outer God.

Of course, thanks to the power bestowed by Yog-Sothoth, she could pride herself on not being inferior to Milia.

But if they were to fight seriously, there would be no opponent more troublesome than her.

“…Damn it.”

How long had it been since she felt this sense of defeat?

Since taking control of Kadinant, Namgung Ihyun had expanded her influence at an incredible speed, like a ship with full sails.

Everything—becoming stronger, making a name for herself.

But about five months ago, starting with Arsia’s escape, something began to go wrong.

“Radios… Radios Magnum… hehe.”

If she had to name the culprit, it would obviously be Radios Magnum.

A man who not only shattered and ruined her plans but also blocked her path forward.

Isn’t he truly fascinating?

“I want to see that face again. I’m looking forward to seeing what you’ll do.”

She laughed maniacally, already forgetting her mental battle with Milia.

And a man was observing this scene while crawling through “chaos.”

***

The apostle council meeting had been decided under Namgung Ihyun’s leadership a month ago.

However, the apostles couldn’t gather in one place immediately.

Though they were bound by the power of the Outer Gods, they still served their respective deities.

Their schedules were packed, so coordinating them took a long time.

The result was one month.

Faster than expected, but not that fast—the apostles finally gathered in one place.

“I heard Grist died. The goblins’ doing.”

“I didn’t know goblins could be this strong.”

“I wonder what Ihyun will say this time…”

The main topic among the gathered apostles was the death of Grist, Noth Idick’s apostle.

The incident caused by the previously quiet goblins had created quite a stir.

Of course, some didn’t participate in the conversation.

The apostle of the Witch of Dreams cult, Milia, and her vice-apostle and archbishop.

And the apostle of the Crawling cult, Fujiwara Ren, and archbishop Serena Tolos.

Other cult members remained silent, seated in the council chamber.

That’s not to say they weren’t speaking at all.

Like nobles and commoners, they simply refused to converse with the other apostles.

“Milia. Seeing you after so long…”

“You think I’ve become prettier?”

“You’re hideous. You seem to stink even more than before.”

“Ha! Says the crawling trash.”

Most conversations between Ren and Milia began with him provoking her.

They had met as classmates at a university before coming to Kadinant.

They weren’t particularly close, but they knew each other’s names and faces enough to greet each other outside.

That’s why they often exchanged playful banter, but…

Boom boom boom.

The problem was that when they conversed, the surrounding atmosphere vibrated with magical power.

They possessed power on a different dimension, so other apostles had no choice but to remain silent.

At that moment, with perfect timing, Namgung Ihyun ascended to the high seat with Mir and sat down.

“Well then, shall we begin the apostle council?”

Under Namgung Ihyun’s declaration, all apostles stood up, clasped their hands toward a circle hanging in the air, and recited:

[Almighty King of the Outer, as we offer you a requiem in this place, we pray for the blessing of blood upon the future of your followers.]

The King of the Outer—another name for the Blind Idiot God.

Naturally, the people of this world didn’t know that the Blind Idiot God had been betrayed.

Their prayers were nothing more than ants marching in a line.

Everything moved according to Yog-Sothoth’s will.

“Today’s main agenda items are the annihilation of the Great Old One, Cthugha, and the military power of the goblins.”

The apostle council began with Mir’s briefing.

In this place, no one dared to speak carelessly.

If anyone other than those with speaking rights made even a breathing sound, Namgung Ihyun’s hand would slice their carotid artery.

“As you all know, Northret has become territory occupied by the Guardian Spirit. Therefore, we decided to summon Cthugha and blow up the entire Northret. However—”

Mir continued explaining about Cthugha’s summoning and the reasons for its failure.

The apostles, who didn’t know the detailed circumstances of Cthugha’s annihilation, listened attentively to his briefing.

After that explanation ended, they moved on to the goblin agenda without pause.

After about 20 minutes of briefing, Mir returned to his seat.

Now, those with speaking rights were the leaders of the three major factions: Namgung Ihyun, Fujiwara Ren, and Milia.

The first to speak was Fujiwara Ren.

“This is newly acquired information. The goblins are a race born from absorbing the blood of Cronos, the former king of Olympus.”

“Cronos… the god who controls time?”

“Yes. Their disgusting regenerative ability seems to be the result of Cronos’s Order. And according to our investigation, the goblin chieftain possesses a Divine Order.”

Murmurs spread throughout the room.

At Fujiwara Ren’s words, not only Namgung Ihyun but even Milia’s face hardened.

Divine Order?

Most people here had acquired Orders, but there was a clear difference between their Orders and a Divine Order.

If their Orders were like water in a washbasin, a Divine Order was like a reservoir.

Among the Outer God forces, only Yog-Sothoth, Idhra, and Nyarlathotep possessed Divine Orders.

Conversely, in Olympus, only Hades, Poseidon, and Zeus possessed Divine Orders.

And now a mere monster has a Divine Order?

“Is that information reliable?”

Namgung Ihyun glared at Ren with wide eyes.

He nodded several times as if to prove there was no falsehood.

Anyone who knew his character wouldn’t think he would lie in a place like this.

Therefore, Ren spoke only the truth.

This was also possible thanks to the noble sacrifices of his subordinates.

Now it was clear why the vice-apostle wasn’t attending this meeting.

“But wait, who is that woman?”

“Hmm? Ah.”

The shock of hearing that the goblin chieftain possessed a Divine Order was momentary.

Ren sensed someone coming up from below.

Namgung Ihyun also sensed this and grinned.

“Let me introduce you to our newly appointed vice-apostle.”

With half her face wrapped in bandages and a prosthetic right arm.

A woman whose eyes radiated immense vengeance and killing intent, as if she wanted to devour the world.

She was none other than…

“Veichel Breate. The former captain of the Guardian Spirit.”