Apostle

Levi and Ryandel’s expressions completely froze.

Something enormous had happened, but they seemed unprepared to accept it.

Ryandel’s mouth opened and closed repeatedly, while Levi stared at me with wide eyes.

The temple had returned to its peaceful state, but my heart was still racing.

The fiery sensation that had burned within me earlier seemed to stir beneath my skin.

Something was definitely different.

“Huh! Becoming Michel’s apostle, that’s amazing!”

I said, and Ryandel, seeming to regain his composure, shook his head.

“Lycoris, are you really… an apostle?”

Ryandel’s voice was filled with disbelief.

“No, that’s… impossible…”

“Why? Is it strange that I became Michel’s apostle?”

“An apostle… hasn’t appeared since ancient times, about 5,000 years ago. Not just for Michel, but for any god.”

Ryandel remained silent for a moment before speaking cautiously.

“Huh? Really?”

My heart began to race even faster.

An apostle after 5,000 years!

That would make me a historical figure!

I suddenly felt proud.

“How can I prove that I’ve become an apostle?”

Ryandel thought for a moment.

“According to ancient texts, all apostles have a symbol of their respective god imprinted on their body. It’s called a Saint’s Mark.”

“Oh! A Saint’s Mark!”

The idea of having a symbol imprinted on my body sounded so cool!

I quickly checked my hands and arms, but there was nothing.

“Huh… what’s going on?”

Feeling confused, I also checked my shoulders and legs, but there were no marks.

“Am I really an apostle?”

Both Ryandel and Levi looked at me with puzzled expressions.

Suddenly, I remembered the Saint’s Mark I had seen in a game.

A Saint’s Mark is usually on the back, right?

“Wait a minute!”

I grabbed Levi’s hand and headed to a small room next to the temple.

Such temples usually have small quarters for priests.

The room had a simple bed, a small desk, and a mirror on the wall.

Moonlight streamed in through the window, softly illuminating the room.

“Levi! Check if there’s a Saint’s Mark on my back!”

Without hesitation, I began to undress.

As the black dress fell to the floor, I was left in my lingerie.

“Huh! L-Lycoris!”

Levi gasped in surprise.

Her face turned bright red.

“Why? Just check quickly!”

At my urging, Levi awkwardly averted her gaze but began to examine my back.

Her warm hands touched my skin.

“Here… here, there’s a symbol emitting light in all directions… in red…”

“Yay!”

I jumped for joy.

“I’m really an apostle!”

Unfortunately, I couldn’t see my own back.

Then, Miel and Cecilia fluttered around the mirror on the dresser and the mirror on the wall, pointing at me.

“Oh! You smart ones!”

I excitedly adjusted the mirrors until I could see the Saint’s Mark on my back.

In the center of my back was Michel’s symbol, a light radiating in all directions. Unlike the usual golden color, it shone red.

“Wow… it’s amazing!”

The Saint’s Mark wasn’t just a tattoo; it seemed to glow from within the skin itself.

It was so beautiful that I stared at it for a while, mesmerized.

I wanted to show it to Ryandel right away.

I quickly put my dress back on and returned to the main hall with Levi.

“It’s here! Lycoris has Michel’s symbol on her back…”

Ryandel’s face turned pale.

“Then… you’re truly an apostle.”

He muttered weakly, as if it still felt unreal.

“Really amazing, aren’t you?”

“Ryandel, tell me more about apostles!”

I asked with curiosity-filled eyes.

I was eager to know what changes becoming an apostle would bring.

Ryandel cleared his throat and spoke slowly.

“An apostle is a representative of a god. They can use some of the god’s abilities and are mainly tasked with spreading the god’s teachings.”

“Oh! That’s what I’ve been doing!”

I had been spreading Michel’s teachings so earnestly!

And now I could use Michel’s abilities too. It was perfect!

“Huh-huh, I’m really an apostle!”

I knelt before Michel’s statue again and prayed.

“Michel, thank you for choosing me as your apostle. I’ll work even harder to spread your teachings!”

Feeling proud, I checked my status window again.

『 [Michel’s Apostle]

  – You have been chosen as Michel’s apostle. 』

Huh?

Michel, the god of light and war?

Originally, he was known as the benevolent god of light…

But now he’s the god of war?

Curious, I checked the descriptions of Michel-related traits I had.

『 [Michel’s Encouragement]

  – Michel, the god of light and war, cheers you on♡  』

『 [Michel’s Flower]

  – Michel, the god of light and war, cherishes your flower scent♡ 』

Huh!

Previously, it was written as the “benevolent god of light,” but now everything had changed to “god of light and war!”

I remembered seeing Michel’s encouragement trait many times when I was a novice, so I was certain.

“…What’s going on? Did becoming an apostle allow me to learn Michel’s hidden responsibilities?”

My heart swelled with emotion.

Humans saw Michel only as the benevolent god of light, but I had always known he liked blood and slaughter.

That’s why I kept offering him blood sacrifices. And it was the right thing to do!

“These foolish humans didn’t know Michel’s true self. But I recognized it and served him properly, so I was chosen as his apostle!”

Thinking this made me even prouder.

Only I, who knew Michel’s true nature, was worthy of becoming his apostle.

My devotion had been recognized!

As I gazed at the status window, lost in thought, the quartet approached me.

Miel fluttered around my hair, leaving a trail of blue light, then flapped her wings rapidly as if she understood something. She seemed to be saying, “Impressive!”

Cecilia spread her fiery wings on my shoulder, giving me an unusually warm sensation.

Rote circled around me faster, and even the usually lazy Glacia stayed close, her eyes sparkling.

They seemed to sense how amazing I was.

Especially Miel, who looked deep in thought, occasionally glancing at Michel’s statue.

Does she know something?

“Huh-huh, thanks, guys!”

A happy smile spread across my face.

But Levi and Ryandel still looked stunned.

They seemed dazed, as if in a dream.

“Let’s go! We need to meet the master!”

We left the temple.

The night sky was filled with countless stars, and the fresh night air brushed against my face.

The village was already asleep, and the quiet streets were dimly lit by streetlights.

When we reached the village entrance, someone was waiting.

It was Evan.

“I came to see you off, Lycoris.”

Evan greeted me politely.

“Huh? You waited for me?”

I was unexpectedly moved by Evan’s consideration.

“Evan, I’ve become Michel’s apostle!”

I immediately shared the news.

Evan’s eyes widened.

“What? An… apostle?”

Evan stuttered in disbelief.

“Yes, and there’s even a Saint’s Mark on my back.”

Levi added, confirming my words.

“Huh-huh, so tell the central guild that I’m Michel’s apostle!”

Evan, still dazed, nodded weakly.

“A-alright…”

“Huh-huh! We’ll be off then!”

We bid farewell to Evan and left the village.

Following the moonlit path, we headed toward the Frozen Ridge.

Soon, the massive entrance of the Frozen Ridge came into view.

A gigantic ice gorge, hundreds of meters high, shimmered faintly under the moonlight.

The endless ice walls and snowfields created an illusion of being in another world.

“Wow, it’s beautiful…”

Gazing up at the massive ice gorge, I couldn’t help but marvel.

This was the barrier to the master’s home!

It looked like a huge wall.

But then I wondered, since I had become an apostle, would the master be okay with it?

Would the master like that I had become Michel’s apostle?

It felt like being caught between arguing parents.

But the master, being like a mother, was more important to me.

I wondered what expression the master would make when seeing the Saint’s Mark on my back.

What would they say?

Why does the master dislike Michel so much?

What happened between them?

Is it just because of their roles as god and demon?

Or is there a deeper reason?

‘Oh, hopefully Michel isn’t listening…’

I wouldn’t want to hurt Michel’s feelings.

But I also didn’t want to upset the master.

As we passed through the Frozen Ridge, not a single monster appeared.

I had wanted to test my new apostle abilities, but with no monsters around, it was frustrating.

“No monsters around?”

“It seems you took care of them all yesterday, Lycoris…”

Ryandel said cautiously.

‘Hmmm… Should I test it on the air?’

“Ryandel, do you know what abilities Michel’s apostle has?”

Ryandel thought for a moment before speaking.

“According to ancient texts, Michel’s apostles are mainly specialized in healing abilities.”

“Huh? Healing?”

I already had the healing pollen ability.

But Michel’s ability would surely be more special.

Let’s try it.

“Ryandel, stay still for a moment.”

I turned to him with my palm open.

He flinched and stepped back.

“Huh-huh, don’t worry. It’s fine.”

I thought of Michel and focused on “healing” in my mind.

Suddenly, a soft light began to emanate from my palm.

But this was completely different from my healing pollen.

Instead of the pollen floating and slowly taking effect, the light shot out like an arrow and enveloped Ryandel!

As the light wrapped around him, he looked surprised.

His eyes brightened, and his tired look vanished instantly.

“This… this…”

Ryandel examined his body and widened his eyes.

“My body feels so light! As if gravity has disappeared!”

He raised his arm, and it moved as lightly as a feather.

“Not only is my fatigue gone, but my magic feels much fuller than usual. This is on a whole different level from ordinary healing magic…”

“Really? Let me try it on Levi too!”

This time, I turned to Levi and extended my hand.

Again, the soft light enveloped her.

Levi’s body seemed to float slightly before returning to the ground.

“Wow!”

Levi’s face lit up with a bright smile.

“It feels amazing! Like I could fly! All my fatigue is gone, and…”

She examined herself and looked surprised.

“My quiver is glowing!”

A soft light emanated from the quiver on her back.

She pulled out an arrow, and its tip shone with red and golden light.

“Is this a blessed arrow?”

Levi asked in awe.

“Huh-huh, I guess so!”

However, using the apostle’s ability didn’t change anything in the status window.

Usually, acquiring a new skill would show up, but…

‘Oh, right! This is a divine ability, beyond what the status window can contain!’

Thinking this made it feel even more special.

It truly felt like being Michel’s apostle was extraordinary.

At that moment, the status window buzzed noisily.

『 「Authority – Divine Radiance」 skill acquired.』

『 「Authority – Sanctus Judicium」 skill acquired.』

『 「Authority – Lux Purificatio」 skill acquired.』

『 「Authority – Oculus Veritas」 skill acquired.』

『 「Authority – Hemomancy」 skill acquired.』

『 「Authority – Deathmark」 skill acquired.』

What the…!

Why is the status window doing this now?!

Ignoring me earlier and now yelling at me?!