Became an Apostle of an Ancient God

Chapter 9

A new morning dawned at the orphanage.

Amelia's sleeping figure, a smile on her face, came into Haru's view.

Her blonde hair was slightly tousled, spread across the pillow, and her soft, whispering breaths reached his ears.

But Haru's attention was elsewhere.

'Alien God... is that it.'

A board game he used to enjoy with his Noona when he was young. Haru vividly remembered the existence of the gods in that game.

When his Noona first told him about the game, she had mentioned that this was the 'story of those who uphold the will of the gods'.

However, the word Alien God was completely new to him. But if that were the case, things started to make some sense.

The reason Shub Noona existed in this world in an incomplete form, the principle behind the power Shub Noona wielded, and finally, the reason Haru himself was framed as the Child of the Devil.

Shub-Niggurath, for the humans of Lusis who serve Goddess Serre, the existence of Shub, an Alien God, and the child she loves would be threatening.

However, despite it being quite a shocking truth, Haru didn't feel particularly bothered.

Considering he hadn't experienced drastic emotional changes even when he first experienced killing, perhaps since coming to this world. More accurately, since meeting Shub Noona, his emotions might have been restricted somehow.

"Did you sleep well?"

Amelia's voice came from beside him.

She brushed her slightly messy hair back with her hand and smiled.

Although Amelia was the one asking 'Did you sleep well.', she seemed to have slept lightly.

Having unintentionally harmed someone with Divine Power at a young age, it seemed she had spent the night checking if Haru was sleeping well, if he was having nightmares.

"Yes."

[Hmph.]

Shub, on the other hand, wore a peculiar expression, seemingly displeased that Haru had slept in the same bed with another girl.

'I hope she doesn't hold it against me. My feelings for Noona are genuine.'

"It's almost mealtime. I'll bring some water right away. Wash your face and come down."

"Yes."

[She seems like a fundamentally good kid, though.]

Shub, who had been watching Amelia leave the room from the side, threw in a comment. Haru carefully agreed.

"Yeah. But you know there's only one person I truly like, right?"

[Yes.]

Shub patted Haru's head as if proud. The peculiar expression on her pretty face had already melted away like snow at his single response.

* * *

After finishing the meal, Haru followed Amelia to her room.

Amelia's scent, mixed indistinctly with the fragrance of flowers from outside the window, filled the room, naturally easing his mind.

"Really, it suits you well. Yes, yes."

"R-Really?"

Amelia looked at Haru with a satisfied expression. However, Haru found Amelia's gaze slightly burdensome.

Before arriving at the Hall of Atonement, Haru had been wearing clothes given to him by an old woman he had stayed with in the village near Lisboa harbor. They were a bit large, but still wearable.

However, right after being labeled the 'Child of the Devil', those clothes were torn here and there, stained with blood in places, losing their original color and shape.

Seemingly bothered by him wearing clothes that were no better than rags, Amelia had dressed Haru in new clothes.

Below his neatly combed hair, he wore a fine white shirt and a navy vest, black shorts reaching down to his knees, long white stocking-like socks, and brown shoes that faintly reflected the light.

"These are clothes specially prepared by the Master Bishop. This fabric, you see? It has the property of absorbing the Divine Power that slightly leaks out of your subconscious and becoming tougher. Wearing this will reduce the chances of you getting hurt."

"Master Bishop. Are you referring to Luther-nim?"

"Yes. He's a truly kind and great person."

[Hmph. Is that really so?]

Shub, who had subtly revealed herself beside him, examined Haru from head to toe. Sniff, sniff, she even smelled him, and though she couldn't feel the texture, she ran her fingers over various places.

[So this is the feeling. Not bad.]

Just as Haru nodded his thanks, careful not to let Amelia notice, Amelia gently took Haru's hand.

"If you're okay with it, shall we take a short walk? To show off your new clothes. There's also something I want to show you."

Haru, having no particular reason to refuse Amelia's suggestion, nodded his head.

"Yes."

The place they went to together was the orphanage's backyard. Like the children who lived in this orphanage, flowers of various colors and personalities were mixed here and there, creating a beautiful harmony.

Not only that. Where there are flowers, there are naturally insects. Flying butterflies and bees made the garden scenery a little more vibrant.

"Haru. That. Luther-nim... told me to treat you just like the other children at the orphanage. He said that, but. I can't do that. Haru, you... you are a little different from the other children."

The quick-witted Haru immediately understood what Amelia wanted to say and lowered his head. Having spent a long time as a low-level office worker, he knew that quick apologies and acknowledgments were very helpful.

"That. What I did to Leo... I'm truly sorry. I didn't mean to do it. Really. I'll apologize properly to Leo later too. So."

"It's not particularly your fault. Anyone can make mistakes. Haru, that power you showed at that moment. It's the light Goddess Serre bestowed upon us, a gift. A blessing. We call it Divine Power."

[I see, so this is how the education of believers takes place. Well, it's not entirely wrong.]

Shub chimed in. Standing slightly away from Amelia, Shub stared at her with sharp, purple eyes.

"Look."

Amelia reached out her hand towards a flower that had been crushed by someone's foot. A golden light began to emanate from her hand, and the fallen flower regained its vitality, stretching its stem and bud vigorously towards the sky again.

[It's the Rite of Healing. Crafting life force with light and releasing it. A rite, you see, can't be used unless you have some compatibility with that specific rite.

To be able to use the Rite of Healing this skillfully, she must not be a bad kid at heart.]

Does that mean Amelia can be trusted to some extent?

"That's amazing. Could I perform the same miracle too?"

"I don't know about that either. What each person can do using Divine Power is different. But Haru. You might not be able to do the same things as me. But you'll be able to achieve something greater than me."

"Something greater?"

"Most people don't possess enough Divine Power to manifest a rite. But Haru, you're different. You were born with dense, abundant Divine Power, tens. Hundreds of times more than others."

Amelia placed her hand on Haru's head and stroked it.

"If you can learn various rites and how to use Divine Power, your power can be used to save others.

Will you promise me? Haru. That you'll use your power for good. That you'll become someone's light."

Amelia's innocent face.

It was the smile of a steadfast nun who wanted to help as many lambs as possible.

"Yes. I will."

"Then, this."

Amelia took out a small silver box from within her habit. Inside it was a small piece of Amber.

[This is...]

Shub's expression changed the moment she saw it.

Haru, too, couldn't help but be surprised upon seeing the Amber, but having already experienced failure once, he managed to maintain a perfect poker face this time.

The reason Haru and Shub couldn't help but be surprised.

That was...

"Haru. This is called a Holy Relic."

"Holy. Relic?"

From the Amber Amelia took out of the box, a power similar in nature to the [Beast's Holy Relic] was now pulsating like a heart. Not a miracle that a human could imitate, but the power of a miracle directly bestowed by a god.

"This, you see. Is a Star-grade Holy Relic. Holy Relics have grades, you see? From the lowest, there's Star, Moon, Sun, and finally, Universe."

The moment Amelia infused Divine Power into the Amber.

Ancient text floated in the air, glowing brightly, and a light cluster of stars appeared in the clear sky.

The text revealed within that spectacle, which could only be described as a small miracle.

It was text Haru had never seen before, but for some reason, he could interpret it instantly.

[Star.]

"Using a Holy Relic allows one to borrow a portion of a god's power that humans cannot use. For example, like this."

The moment Amelia focused her power on the Amber. A Firefly embracing divine light appeared from her hand, then fluttered towards the sky, shedding the light of healing.

"Pretty..."

"Right? Haru. Want to try it too? Just gently infuse Divine Power into the Amber. Then a pretty Firefly like this will appear."

[A Firefly is created... huh.]

Haru, receiving the Amber from Amelia, realized then that this Amber was no ordinary gem. Looking closely, he saw that inside it contained the Pupa of some insect.

The source of the power wasn't this gem, but was flowing out from the Pupa trapped inside.

[What a waste of treasure. To think they mistake that for a Holy Relic that merely creates fireflies.]

The moment Haru infused power into the Amber. Regardless of the words 'Shub's treasure is being wasted.', just like Amelia, a small Firefly was born from Haru's hand.

However, the light it emitted was distinctly different from Amelia's Firefly. Unlike Amelia's Firefly, which shed a brilliant golden light, Haru's Firefly scattered a deep purple void, 'as if absorbing the surrounding light'.

"Surprised? The color of the light emitted by the Firefly changes slightly depending on the person. I'll give you that Amber as a gift. Remember today's promise and keep it safe?"

At Amelia's words, Haru nodded. The purple Firefly in Haru's hand also fluttered towards the sky, chasing the light.

* * *

"Lord Luther."

"I'm listening. What is it?"

"About the search for the wreckage of the Holy Maiden Jeanne."

The one standing before Luther was a Holy Knight clad in thick armor. He wore a mace at his waist, and around his waist was a cloth bearing the crest of Serre.

"Continue your report."

"We mobilized priests skilled in searching. We scoured the entire nearby sea. However, we could not find the [Sign of the Beast]."

"Is that so. That is truly regrettable. Although it's only Moon-grade, it is still a Holy Relic. You've worked hard, Lord Jikeu. Tell the search team to return."

"Ah. No. We will search more. A Holy Relic is Lusis's power! Furthermore, a Holy Relic that should have belonged to Lord Luther, a member of the 'Heroes'. We cannot give up so easily."

"It's alright. Actually, I have an idea where it might be. Lord Jikeu. You have done very well. You may withdraw. Give the soldiers ample time to rest."

"Yes! Thank you!"

As soon as the Holy Knight Jikeu withdrew, Luther rose from his seat and looked through the window behind him towards the orphanage.

"I don't know the principle. But it must be in your hands, right?"

Muttering softly, he slightly loosened his eyepatch and spoke.

"I will be waiting, Haru."