Apostle of the Goddess of War

Chapter 188

Ch.188 Apostle of the Goddess of War

The atmosphere emanating from the rushing crowd was grim enough to be eerie. After going through a chaotic period, even bandit groups were at their peak venom.

There was nowhere to rely on, and food was scarce.

The state of the era after the war was miserable as seen in history. It was natural for bandit groups to swarm.

If this situation was neglected even a little more, it was to the level where pseudo-religions worshipping Evil Gods would inevitably surge again.

'Humans.'

The Goddess of War knew this fact better than anyone. Terrible and ominous history repeats. Even Goddesses could not change it.

'Was the God of Destruction's claim truly right?'

It was a problem even Goddesses still pondered deeply.

Achille did not take her eyes off the bandit group rotating quickly while driving the horse fast.

'They are quite trained.'

It was natural since knights who once served a certain Goddess would be acting as bandits.

The head of the bandit group rushed quickly at Achille. The speed riding the horse was tremendous. Heavy force was felt head-on.

"Achille—!"

One Goddess shouted.

No matter the Goddess of War, she was now merely a single woman without a single Divine Power. If her head flew off like that, she could not revive. Blessings and prayers could not be hoped for either.

Achille was clearly overdoing it.

"It's dangerous!"

Screeech!

The bandit's blade flashed.

Achille held her breath and chased the sword tip to the end.

Whoosh! Thap!

Achille caught the blade flying toward her nape with both palms. She could not stop it completely due to the speed.

She entrusted her body to the attack direction, kicked the floor, and jumped as is to mount behind the bandit's horse.

It was soft and splendid like dancing.

"What? No way!"

Goddesses dropped their jaws.

Their worries were merely groundless. They were ashamed of themselves for thinking of Achille as a mere woman.

'Yes, she is the Goddess of War.'

Even having lost power, Achille is Achille.

The Goddess of War who made even Evil Gods tremble in fear.

Goddess of combat, and the peak of violence.

It was foolish to worry about her.

"Where!"

The bandit struggled. He grabbed Achille's clothes and pulled. He intended to drop her and finish it.

Achille did not do as he wished. She stole the sword with fast and precise hand skills and held it to his neck.

"Stop the horse."

"Ugh? When?"

"Hurry!"

Achille shouted. The blade held blood.

Neigh!

The horse lifted its body and stopped.

It snorted and blew breath wildly. It seemed like it didn’t like that there were two people on its back.

Achille commanded coldly.

"Tell your subordinates to dismount and throw away their weapons."

"If I don't?"

"I do not know mercy. Human."

"The way you speak is arrogant."

"……"

Achille pushed the sword in a little more. As cold steel touched the uvula, the bandit finally broke his stubbornness.

"Throw away weapons and dismount! We surrender!"

"C-Captain!"

"Damn listen! Do you want to see me die!"

"Ugh."

The bandit group dismounted and threw away weapons. Achille signaled to fellow Goddesses. It meant to recover weapons and suppress remaining bandits.

Quick-witted Goddesses moved quickly. Since they were in the state of mere women, tension was full.

Hands recovering weapons trembled.

"This is absurd. Complete beginners. Even though only women are gathered, what guts do you have to wander around here? Without weapons even?"

"……It's none of your business."

Achille dismounted. She held the blade between his legs in case the guy ran away. The bandit followed orders while sweating coldly.

"F*ck. What now? I hope you just save our lives."

"There seems to be no reason to save you."

Achille said coldly. It was actually the first time threatening humans while holding a sword.

In the numerous battles the Goddess of War fought, her enemies were always Evil Gods and demons. It was the first time opposing ordinary humans.

'The feeling is strange….'

She always fought to protect humans. However, it is a world where Evil Gods and demons disappeared.

Now she was confused about what she must govern war for.

War does not disappear, so it was more so.

'Must I watch humans' fights? No, are Goddesses needed in the world?'

Achille gathered the bandit group in one place while agonizing.

Bandits knelt and begged for their lives.

"We were hungry."

"We said we had no choice but to steal to feed our families!"

One Goddess clicked her tongue.

"Stealing others' property saying that? What selfish thought is that?"

"Well, it can't be helped."

"It can't be helped?"

"Yes! Then what do we do! Even beasts hunt and prey to eat and live!"

"……"

Goddesses could not think of words to refute. Precisely, they did not refute.

They knew well that words saying 'You are humans because you are different from beasts' did not work.

'What now? Achille.'

Goddesses asked Achille. Leader-type Achille had to make a decision.

Achille pondered for a moment then opened her red lips.

"Human. Is your bandit group all of you?"

"……That is not so."

"Then?"

"There is a separate base. There is a small village on the mountainside. We hide and live there."

"Military strength?"

The chief calculated for a moment and answered.

"Twice the current number."

"Quite large scale. That much could have acted as this village's self-defense corps."

"That's troublesome again, you know? We just want to live freely."

"Humans."

Achille sighed. The bandit chief gathered courage and asked.

"You keep saying human, human from a while ago. Does that mean you are not humans?"

"What?"

"It's a bit funny. Who are you all? Every single one is beautiful, does it mean you are of some imperial bloodline?"

From the face, they were incarnations of beauty. It wouldn't be strange to be mistaken for elves.

Rather, it was a thankful thing if they misunderstood. It would be difficult in many ways if they answered they were Goddesses.

"……That's right."

"There, you must be suffering too. Elves are now subjects of oppression. You must have been running away, yes?"

"Hmm."

Since the Goddesses' authority fell to the ground, elves who were treated as their own children naturally started to be despised too.

The trend of elves truly running away to forests or mountains and hiding was increasing. By hearsay, there were also cases of elves being hunted.

'It's confusing. Sion must strengthen and organize power quickly.'

Achille said after worrying.

"Guide us to your group."

"Huh? What are you going to do there?"

"We must occupy it."

"Huh?"

"What!?"

Bandits and Goddesses' reactions were the same. It was like declaring they would crush the bandit group instead of just going quietly on their way.

"Are you inviting danger, Achille?"

"I am doing what must be done."

"We don't like it. We can't even fight."

"I only need to fight."

"I know you are strong but still you are alone!"

Achille did not listen to opposing claims.

"You can't only choose advantageous battlefields."

"I'm really going crazy."

They didn't wish for an ordinary journey, but they didn't think they would go finding battlefields either. Goddesses fell into confusion as a group.

"Guide us."

"You crazy nobles!"

"Shut up and lead. Human."

Achille stabbed the bandit's back with the sword tip. Blood came out quite a bit, but Achille realized belatedly she had no means to heal it.

Achille closed her eyes tightly and shouted.

"……Hurry!"

"Yikes!"

***

"Is that place it?"

"Yes…."

The bandit answered while sweating. Climbing the mountain while bleeding was hellish.

Still, because of this crazy woman who didn't give time to rest, it felt like he would truly die.

"Alright. Now enter with me."

"G-going, what will you do?"

"I should recommend surrender."

The bandit chief frowned. He gathered his lips and twisted his body as if having something to say.

"Why make such an unpleasant expression?"

"Unpleasant… No, rather than that, there is something I want to say because there is some misunderstanding."

"I permit it."

The bandit thought the woman's speech style was truly strange. Anyway, he spoke without showing it.

"I am not the head of this village. I just lead a strike team somewhat. Well! It's not a very low rank and is quite high but—"

"Why say that only now?"

The bandit scratched his head.

"Be-because you didn't ask."

Achille sighed. She had to change the plan like this.

"There is no choice but to suppress by force."

"Really?"

"Then? They won't listen nicely even if told by words."

"Th-that's true but aaaaah!"

Achille pinched the bandit's cheek. The bandit felt pain as if his cheek was falling off.

It was not a normal woman's grip strength. She was a monster itself.

"Do not add words to my speech, human."

"Ah, no! I must say this!"

"What?"

Achille asked while wiping her fingers on leaves. The bandit answered with a bad mood.

"Our captain is strong."

"Puh—!"

One of the Goddesses listening held her stomach and laughed. Other Goddesses also held smiles without making sounds.

"What, what's funny!"

"How strong is he?"

Achille asked calmly. She was the only Goddess not underestimating the opponent.

"Though he became the head of bandits now, he was once a Holy Knight Battalion of the Holy Kingdom. He served the famous Sir Lagan too."

"Ah, I see."

"Ah I see? Ah, I seeee!?"

Achille frowned. The bandit's sneer was really not pleasing to her heart.

"Did you hear the story? I know you are quite strong, but the opponent was a former Holy Knight! Yes? You chose the wrong opponent!"

"Is that so?"

"Yes! Even now, throw away weapons and run. Since I saved your life, I will forget here and go on my way!"

The bandit chief bestowed kindness in his own way. It was funnier because it didn't seem like a lie.

"I know so lead the way. Go in and call your captain."

"You're crazy. Really?"

Stab.

Achille stabbed the back with the sword again. The bandit's face turned pale. It seemed she wasn't a normal crazy woman.

"Really."

"A-alright. You have no regrets? I definitely warned you."

"Yeah yeah."

The bandit led the way along that path. He showed his face to the guard and passed. Because he returned as a hostage, the village became noisy soon.

Before long, the real head of this village the bandit feared so much appeared.

He was a man who looked quite strong as per his words. A sturdy physique and facial scars showed the life he had lived.

"Speak what you demand!"

"Dissolve this village and live quietly, and kindly. Stop stealing others' property."

"……Spouting such old-fashioned words. You are a fool who doesn't know what era this is."

"What? F-fool?"

Screeech.

The bandit chief drew his sword. Even the posture of drawing the sword was extraordinary. He was absolutely not material to act as a bandit.

The era brought down this strong man.

"I am not in a good mood today so I am too lazy to play along with word games. Attack. I will teach you the bitter taste of the world, Elf."

"Hmm."

Blood vessels formed on Achille's temple.

"If you do not cancel the words called fool, I will show you the taste of fire."

"The point of anger is a bit absurd."

Whoosh!

Achille threw the bandit who was a hostage.

"Haa-at!"

The bandit chief aimed for that gap and rushed in.

Achille calmly took her stance.