Became an Apostle of an Ancient God

Chapter 14

"Damn."

In the dense forest behind the 5th Church, the dark acolyte was staggering, groaning in pain. Seeing no other presence chasing her, the acolyte carefully lifted her robe to examine the injured area.

A Rite of Light that could be activated simply without chanting. An explosive blow that burst out at such close range. It must have been [Smite].

It wasn't that strong of a rite. Rather, it was a basic rite that would be strange for a priest serving the light not to be able to use. But Luther's [Smite] was indeed on a different level.

The proof was this current wound.

Lifting the baggy habit revealed not the well-muscled waist of a man, as might be expected, but the slender waist of a woman.

On the slender waist, a deep blue bruise, large enough to cover almost the entire abdomen, was settled. It was already a large wound, but it even seemed to be gradually growing larger.

'That kid with Luther. He was completely different from the kids I've been with so far.'

Tsk, the black acolyte clicked her tongue, confirmed no one was around, and pushed back her Hood. Then, dark, deep blue hair falling to her shoulders was revealed.

It wasn't just that the situation was flowing unfavorably. As the attention of the Hall of Atonement turned towards the 5th Church, she gained some leeway.

However, if Luther were to take possession of that child, she would have no chance of winning.

"It's better to act quickly."

The acolyte of darkness muttered, lightly drank a potion hanging from her waist, and applied an ointment with a strong herb scent to the wound.

And in the blink of an eye, she melted into the shadows of the forest.

As if no one had ever been there from the beginning.

* * *

It took Luther longer than expected to handle the situation at the 5th Church.

First, he had a star (stella) rank priest investigate the forest where the black acolyte had fled and conducted a preliminary search for any remaining Shadow remnants nearby.

And secondly, he checked among the civilians and the priests of the Hall of Atonement if anyone knew the identity of the black acolyte or was cooperating with her.

For now, there were no Shadow remnants.

There were no signs of monsters either.

Only the uninformative replies from the star rank priests came back, saying they couldn't track the black acolyte's whereabouts. Meanwhile, while Luther was focusing on his main job, Haru was thinking about something completely different.

"The rite that man uses definitely wasn't a Rite of Light."

[They are rites originating from darkness and shadow. Summoning Shadows seems to be the power of a Holy Relic, as Luther also mentioned.]

Shub answered Haru's question.

"All the Heretics who come to the Hall of Atonement had restraint collars around their necks. But that person earlier. She didn't have a restraint collar, right? It means she wasn't brought here as a captive."

[Then, it's highly likely she came from outside the Hall of Atonement.]

"Or, she could be a traitor from within. Whatever her objective is, it's clear she's antagonizing Luther and the Hall. I don't know why she's hostile towards the Hall. But doesn't our direction align?"

[That's a good idea. But the risk is too high.]

Shub swept back her black hair and stood in front of Haru. Slightly crouching down to meet the short Haru's eye level, Shub poked the center of Haru's forehead with her index finger and said.

[That mortal targeted you first, even before Luther. And she aimed for the head, trying to finish it in one shot. Isn't it worth considering whether she's a suitable partner for cooperation?]

Shub Noona's words made some sense. After all, there was almost no information about that black acolyte.

"For now, let's watch the situation a bit more."

Just as Haru thought that, Luther came into view.

Having finished his work, Luther had shed the serious impression he had during his duties and had somehow returned to the appearance of a warm adoptive father.

"I'm sorry, Haru-kun. Things got a bit busy. And let me apologize once again. To think I would put you in such danger. It was my negligence. Please forgive this incompetent adoptive father."

"It's okay. I wasn't hurt, so that's enough. Right? And you were really cool. The lightning falling from the sky! How did you do that?"

Luther brought his index finger to his lips and said.

"That's a secret. Let's go back to the central church. Oh, right. Haru-kun."

Luther glanced back as if he had just remembered while trying to board the carriage. However, Haru, who had sharp eyes, could tell. That it was a thoroughly planned act.

"That Heretic targeted you first, not anyone else. It's not that I don't trust the guards of the Hall of Atonement. But that acolyte also possessed a Holy Relic. And the rite she used was of a high level. Probably, a sun (solar) rank priest."

"So?"

"I'll arrange a room for you inside the central church today. Sleep there tonight. At least I'll be in the central church. You'll be safe. Is that alright?"

Haru quickly thought of two things upon hearing Luther's words.

The first was 'to show behavior and act appropriate for that age.' The second was 'how to strategically obtain what he wanted while maintaining such behavior.'

"Today. I was supposed to play with Becky."

"Becky? Ah. You mean Rebecca. Are you getting along well with her?"

"Yes. Reasonably well. Becky, you know? She's the girl who approached me first, despite this necklace around my neck."

Haru originally wanted to use words like 'prejudice' or 'restraint collar,' but since he had to act like a 'kid' as much as possible, he avoided such words and continued the conversation.

"So, Bishop. This necklace. Could you... loosen it a bit? It's uncomfortable too."

It was a perfect build-up. For the Master Bishop of the Hall of Atonement, removing a single prisoner's restraint collar would be a very easy task.

"That might be a bit difficult. Haru-kun, although perceptions are changing slightly, you are here as a Heretic. In that

position, if I were to remove your restraint collar on my whim or a single command, what would the other Heretics and the Hall's priests think? It might be difficult for you, still a child, but there is such a thing as order in this world."

"I... see."

Seeing his crestfallen face, Luther placed a hand on Haru's head and said.

"Then... right. Let's do this. Haru-kun? If you promise to become my adopted son, I'll think about it."

"Really?"

"Yes. Of course. It would be strange for the Master Bishop's adopted son to wear a restraint collar, wouldn't it? Everyone will surely understand. Now, then. Shall we return to the central church? It's getting late."

"Yes."

Luther lifted Haru up into the carriage and asked the coachman to head towards the central church. Inside the smoothly departing carriage, Haru could be certain this time.

This man was definitely plotting something internally.

* * *

"The Chosen Child-nim's room is this way."

Having returned to the central church, Haru was guided by Abigail, one of Bishop Luther's aides, and received a splendid room.

Honestly, it had an excessively luxurious aspect for a room used by a nun.

The queen-size bed, large enough for two grown adult men to sleep comfortably, and various pieces of furniture decorated here and there with gold were dazzling to the eyes.

"We will bring your dinner. If there are any ingredients you avoid, we would appreciate it if you could let us know in advance."

"No. There's nothing like that. Thank you. Abigail-nim."

'Oh dear... Has that man's way of speaking rubbed off on me too?'

Haru tilted his head slightly and smiled. It was to act as innocent a child as possible.

"Well then. I shall take my leave."

Abigail bowed politely to the 'Chosen Child' and left the room. Haru, checking his surroundings once more, let out a deep sigh and ruffled his hair wildly with his hands.

"Haa. Acting like a young child is incredibly tiring."

[Wearing a false mask for a long time takes effort.]

Shub casually said so and sat on the bed first. Shub's single remark applied not only to Haru but also pierced through Luther.

"That's why we need to investigate. Noona."

[Okay. Wait just a moment?]

Shub reached a hand slightly into the chest area of her dress, rummaged around, and pulled out a small piece of Amber.

Of course, that was the sight 'Haru' saw, but if someone other than Haru had seen that sight, it was a considerably grotesque scene enough to make them foam at the mouth and collapse on the spot.

A Holy Relic containing the power to create fireflies.

Amelia had said it was merely a 'star' rank Holy Relic, the lowest grade, but Shub, who had seen through the true nature of the Holy Relic to some extent from the beginning, said it wasn't just that kind of object.

Haru grasped the Amber and injected a considerable amount of Divine Power. The Holy Relic responded by scattering a faint scarlet starlight.

However, what was created by doing so were merely two bugs.

The first bug was a small beetle-type bug with wings.

The other one was a bug similar to a cicada, about the size of an adult's thumb.

But one thing was certain: neither of them was a 'firefly'. They were completely new bugs that didn't exist in Haru's original world, nor in this world.

"Go."

Haru first sent the small beetle flying. However, the beetle slightly lowered its body as if paying respects to Haru, then exited through the window and flew leisurely towards the room.

[That Amber doesn't simply create fireflies.]

"Then... what exactly is this?"

[The bug trapped inside is one of the very first species of bugs that existed when humans could barely recognize something as a 'bug'. It was born through the hands of the Mother of Life. In other words, it's no exaggeration to call it the 'origin of all bugs'.]

Shub had said that in the past when she and Haru were alone in Amelia's room.

"Then what can I do with this?"

[You can freely use powers originating from 'bugs'. Yes. To give an easy example. Haru, you can create any 'bug' you imagine by injecting Divine Power.]

"Any bug I imagine?"

[Yes. Even bugs that 'couldn't possibly exist' in this world. Of course, creating something like that consumes a considerable amount of Divine Power.]

The first 'non-existent bug' that Haru created like that was...

"Ah. Connected."

Just then, the cicada-shaped bug on the desk began to rub its wings, creating a 'sound'. But it wasn't the ordinary cry of a cicada, but a 'human voice'.

Among them, it was 'Luther's' voice.

"... Kzzzt. Kzzzzzt. Th. Then? How is the Chosen Child?"

Eavesdropping bug and sound bug.

Those were the very first imaginary bugs that Haru created.

The beetle-shaped bug collects sound, transmits it via its antennae to the cicada, and the cicada-shaped bug replicates the sound by rubbing its wings for Haru to hear.

The range barely exceeds 500 meters, but for now, this is sufficient.

"Alright, shall we listen to what Luther is saying?"