[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-apostle-of-the-goddess-of-war":3,"chapter-apostle-of-the-goddess-of-war-apostle-of-the-goddess-of-war-chapter-1":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Apostle of the Goddess of War",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":12,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},394459,657,"Chapter 1","apostle-of-the-goddess-of-war-chapter-1",1,"\u003Cp>Ch.1 Apostle of the Goddess of War\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In an era where the ceaselessly burning flames and the screams of the defeated had vanished, and even the rust had settled on the swords that had penned countless epics—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Goddess of War broke her long silence and spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Garfenn, Garfenn. My child.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘You called, Goddess.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment the divine voice echoed in his ears, Garfenn stopped what he was doing. He knelt and bowed his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blood dripped from the half-severed neck of the bandit Garfenn had been cutting down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[At last, I have found it.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Found… what?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[That. That very thing.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Huh? I’m getting old now, so unless you speak plainly, I won’t understand, Goddess.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Garfenn thought he heard the goddess sigh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[My successor.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Huh?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[You heard right. A successor.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Garfenn’s mind sharpened, and he asked again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Are you saying there’s another lunatic in this world besides me who chases battlefields and willingly drinks blood?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, the goddess audibly sighed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Garfenn, my child. Not a single word of that is wrong, but this goddess feels a little hurt.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It’s fine, Goddess. I’ve been waiting thirty years for a successor, and my cartilage has worn down to nothing. I’m the one who’s hurt.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The goddess’s voice seemed to lose some of its vigor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[……Are you serious?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Of course, I’m joking.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[You’ve grown up, Garfenn. You even dare to jest with a goddess now.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Well, I’m fifty now. At this age, I should’ve been married and playing with grandchildren…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Yes, indeed. My great warrior should be doing that by now. It’s time to rest.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Time to rest,” Garfenn muttered to himself before asking the question that intrigued him the most.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Goddess of War, does my successor truly possess the qualities to become your sword?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[They do.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Didn’t you say the same thing last time?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[I was mistaken then. Who could’ve guessed that child would suddenly choose to serve the Goddess of Wisdom?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘……’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[With the decline of divine power due to the disappearance of war deities, my apostle must strive harder.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Garfenn had much to say but kept his mouth shut and bowed his head once more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I have been lacking in serving you properly, Goddess.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[How kind you are. My Garfenn.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Garfenn decided to stop joking and asked seriously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘What kind of child is it?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[They possess radiant talent. A martial genius even I envy.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Goddess of War, envious?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Garfenn couldn’t believe his ears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I’ve never heard you say such a thing before, Goddess.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Indeed. Even I can scarcely believe it.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The goddess Garfenn served was none other than the Goddess of War.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Goddess of Blood and Steel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Ruler of Battlefields.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Deity of Combat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among all the renowned goddesses, none could rival her in sheer strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Naturally, no ‘human’ talent had ever caught the eye of the Goddess of War Achille.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘……Enough to make even you envious?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The goddess wouldn’t lie, but Garfenn decided he wouldn’t believe it until he saw it with his own eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He asked something else instead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The conditions to become the goddess’s apostle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To confirm both martial talent and character.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Are they good?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Good. They have the will to use their strength for good.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Perfect.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Right?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The conditions were excellent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But one concern remained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The most critical issue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘All that’s fine, but… will the successor even want to become an apostle?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[They will.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The goddess was adamant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Garfenn had never seen her so certain before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Why?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Because that child was born from war. They hate war more than anyone.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Ah.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[They will wish for war to vanish from the world.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An answer that made Garfenn nod involuntarily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His blood began to boil.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At last, a successor had been found.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A moment to repay all his years of hardship.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Time to repay with unwavering faith.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Goddess of War. Where must I go? What is my adorable, precious successor doing right now?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Wait where you are. They are coming.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Huh?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The goddess said no more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead, a merchant caravan appeared in the distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master of the caravan. Look.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone called out to the caravan leader, pointing ahead with a finger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A giant man blocked the path of the traveling merchants.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘A bear? No, a man?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At first glance, the man was so massive he could be mistaken for a wild beast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His terrifying face was covered in scars, and half his scalp bore no hair, likely due to severe burns. Pus oozed from his remaining hair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Closer to a beast than a man, his name was Garfenn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Apostle of the Goddess of War.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Garfenn approached, the caravan leader, emboldened by his hired mercenaries, shouted, “What’s the meaning of this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Slave trader?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Garfenn’s sudden question made the slave trader fold his hands respectfully. The mercenaries, too, hesitated to move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Y-yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Garfenn ignored the sudden shift to polite speech and glanced around.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Looking to buy slaves?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A nod.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With one word and a nod, nearly ten caravan members were overwhelmed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The slave trader jerked his chin. The prison door opened, and four slaves were dragged out in chains—bound at the neck, wrists, and ankles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All were children.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This the lot?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Y-yes, just children for now… We’ll fetch the adults later.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Garfenn ignored the last part and scrutinized the shackled children.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if selecting food, he examined them meticulously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm. It’s this one.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Garfenn stopped in front of a boy and observed him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A skinny, scrawny boy of about fifteen or sixteen, with messy hair and eyes sharper than the others. Unlike the rest, he showed no fear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘He doesn’t fear me.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Garfenn crouched to meet the boy’s eye level.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s your name?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The boy answered in a dry voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……Don’t have one.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Where are you from?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Karak.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Eastern countryside.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Garfenn grinned, the kind of smile one might wear while skinning a person alive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m thinking of buying you. Any objections?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The boy hesitated, then nodded. Garfenn’s eyes widened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You do?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……If it’s just me, I don’t want to go.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Slap!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A rough hand struck the boy’s cheek. The slave trader.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You useless pig! How dare you object! You should be groveling in gratitude!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Apologize!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The boy didn’t. Instead, he glared at the slave trader with chilling eyes, as if he’d twist his neck the moment he was free.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘This kid’s something.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unnoticed, Garfenn’s lips curled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A difference in perspective.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he were looking for a slave to exploit, this boy would be trash. But Garfenn sought an apostle’s successor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fearless and skilled with a blade—that was all that mattered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Where does this trash get off glaring—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The slave trader, unable to contain his rage, pulled a whip from his waist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment he raised it, a chilling aura made him freeze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Garfenn spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey. Can’t you see I’m talking?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why are you laying hands on my property?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“H-hey! You haven’t paid yet! How is he yours?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Trembling, the slave trader spat back. It took guts to be a slave trader in this world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What nonsense? Why would I pay?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The moment you stopped before me, everything—you, the slaves, the mercenaries, the wagons—became mine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The slave trader’s lips twisted as he cursed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You thieving—! Kill him!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mercenaries. Move, and you know what happens.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mercenaries didn’t move. They couldn’t from the start.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They knew the moment they showed hostility, their heads would roll.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their weapons, too, felt unnaturally heavy, as if refusing to be drawn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Garfenn finally looked away and turned back to the boy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You want your friends freed too?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A nod.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good kid.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Garfenn inwardly gave full marks. His character was better than his own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Free them all.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I said free them. They’re mine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The slave trader gritted his teeth. This was too much.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You damned bandit—!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sigh.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Garfenn scratched his head. Killing him would be easiest, but the goddess disapproved of unjust slaughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Achille, the Goddess of War, had oddly many restrictions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was an effective solution for this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sacred duel to settle things.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Character, courage. Two conditions met. Now, for combat skill…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Garfenn grinned and made an offer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fight and win. Then I’ll acknowledge your rights. I’ll leave quietly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s absurd—!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not me. Him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The slave trader looked at the boy Garfenn pointed to—a frail child who could barely walk. An adult fighting a child was ludicrous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet the slave trader seemed to think it manageable, his expression easing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Y-you’re serious?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You won’t back out, will you? A grown man against a dying child?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fine! A deal’s a deal!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I swear by the goddess.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Garfenn took the keys and unlocked the boy’s shackles. Then he spoke to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Kid. You have no choice. Fight that slave trader. Win, and I’ll take all your friends as promised. Deal?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The boy looked at his enslaved friends one by one. All trembled in fear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A duel means one must die. That’s my way.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Really?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What, scared?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No. Relieved.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The unexpected answer made Garfenn blink. Relieved?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’d have felt sick if I couldn’t kill him. He hit me and tormented my brother.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A man who sells children as slaves deserves death.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The boy’s face finally relaxed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ever fought before?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ever held a sword?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Interesting. Garfenn smiled warmly and placed a hand on the boy’s shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Weapons are meant to be taken from the defeated. Whether it’s a weapon, freedom, or your friends—seize them with your own hands.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The boy gave a faint nod.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The slave trader finished preparing and faced the boy, fully armored and armed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The boy, meanwhile, was empty-handed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Garfenn deliberately gave him no weapon—not even a wooden stick.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To let the future apostle experience the Goddess of War’s doctrine firsthand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Strangely, the boy accepted the unfair duel without complaint or question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Not a word about it being unfair. Hah. What kind of kid is this? Does he really think he can win? Against an armed adult…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Garfenn was half-doubtful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But at the same time, he liked the boy even more. A warrior of the goddess must never yield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Show me. The martial talent even Achille envies!’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Begin.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Garfenn pushed the boy forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The boy glared at the slave trader for a moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whatever he was thinking, his eyes held a bloodlust beyond his years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, as if resolved, he walked forward without hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite the armed man before him, he didn’t falter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Step. Step.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“O-oh? Coming to die? Fine!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The slave trader, unnerved by the boy’s aura, raised his voice and lifted his sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The distance closed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Flash!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The blade gleamed above the slave trader’s head—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment it descended toward the boy’s skull—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The boy’s arms crossed in the blink of an eye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His blurred hands now held the sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“H-huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The slave trader had lost his weapon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No—it had been taken.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The boy swung without hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mimicking the motion, he slashed diagonally—downward, without pause.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Slick!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A clean metallic sound contrasted with the slave trader’s guttural scream.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Agh, aaaagh! My arm! My leg!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The slave trader rolled on the bloodied ground, his severed limbs spraying blood uselessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The boy’s face showed no emotion. As if all this were natural, he remained calm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having witnessed it all, Garfenn—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘……Never held a sword? That?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—trembled at the unprecedented talent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Schedule: Every mon, wed, fri and sun\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Review at\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>NovelUpdate\u003C\u002Fp>",1879,"2026-05-30T06:48:22.039Z","2026-06-01T04:30:34.110Z","novelbin.me","d1718b0eb7c25ee7bdafbccc5cdc34ede72fdaf31237c2bae38dfbcc631f1ae0","apostle-of-the-goddess-of-war-chapter-2","apostle-of-the-goddess-of-war-chapter-100",174,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fapostle-of-the-goddess-of-war-cover.jpg"]