[{"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-144":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Apostle of the Goddess of War",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},394552,657,"Chapter 144","apostle-of-the-goddess-of-war-chapter-144",144,"\u003Cp>Ch.144 Apostle of the Goddess of War\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Just enjoy it for now?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This wasn’t exactly an enjoyable situation—and one usually needed a certain maturity to enjoy hardship. Even Sion, who’d experienced more than most before turning twenty, found this overwhelming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Evil Gods—those terrifying beings—were wearing aprons and serving food?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not dishes of human flesh, eyeball desserts, or brain broth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Real, warm bread, milk, soup, and roasted meat filled the table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Poison?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sensed none.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All traces of malice had been scrubbed clean.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This truly resembled a meal prepared in an ordinary human household—perhaps even that of a modestly prosperous noble estate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Seriously.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How was he supposed to interpret this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sion’s thoughts tangled like overcooked spaghetti.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is it ready?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A stunning woman with jet-black hair placed her hands on her waist and asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other beauties replied in unison:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yep. All done. Time to eat.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Right.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Cooking is tough.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their voices—lethal in harmony—carried unmistakable nobility. Listening to them felt like standing before royal blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Creak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One by one, the Evil Gods took their seats.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sion sat at the head of the aristocratic table, committing each of them to memory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had to gather as much intel as possible—this might be his only chance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Though I might not even see the outside world again.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once seating finished, the last Evil God pulled out her chair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had the palest skin and darkest hair of them all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outwardly, she looked every bit a noble lady—save for her unearthly beauty, capable of toppling nations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘The Goddess of Darkness.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Magoth sat directly opposite Sion, her face unreadable as she stared at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She licked lips as black as inked ash.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My name is Magoth. Mistress of this manor—and the one who invited you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I know. The Goddess of Darkness.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Murmurs rippled among the Evil Gods at Sion’s answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Oh my, that one…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘He’s insane.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Has no fear at all?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Sion didn’t flinch. He was terrified—but resolved not to show it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, beings like them could easily read his anxiety through his sweat, uneven breath, or racing pulse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But presence mattered more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What others saw was what counted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Evil God, yes. That’s precisely why I summoned you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“For what?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Magoth lifted a glass. The rich aroma of grape wine filled the hall—not magic, but pure fruit. It lifted everyone’s mood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Drink first.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why would I gulp it down blindly? For all I know, you’ve laced it with poison.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Evil Gods surround you in every direction. If I wished you dead, it’d be easier than flicking a finger.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Undeniable. Sion hadn’t truly expected to act—just to avoid appearing weak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Pushing too hard makes me look desperate. Enough.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He softened his stance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No point in meaningless posturing—better to have a real conversation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Sion, too, raised his glass, Magoth smiled—a smile as dark as obsidian—and offered a toast:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To the fall of the Heavens and the dawn of the Age of Man.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Simple. Austere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Evil Gods smiled contentedly and drank. After watching them, Sion took a cautious sip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bitter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Ugh.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His grimace drew a question from someone:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s wrong? Doesn’t it taste good?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Judging by appearance and aura, the speaker was the Goddess of Decay.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve never liked alcohol.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh? How cute. You can’t hold your drink?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was said humans imitated the gods in drinking—alcohol being one of the goddesses’ blessings to humanity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What was natural to them wasn’t always natural to mortals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Magoth spoke gently:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Eat freely. We prepared everything with care.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“For your reference, every ingredient was grown by our own hands.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sion picked up his knife and fork and asked:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Seriously—what are you all doing here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The meal began.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The conversation belonged only to Magoth and Sion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The clink of cutlery. The sip of soup.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The exchange of tableware played out like a painting—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if such dialogue were utterly ordinary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Evil Gods focused entirely on eating, as though accustomed to such scenes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Magoth swept her straight hair behind her ear and replied:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As you can see—we’re enjoying daily life.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Daily life?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A vein throbbed on Sion’s temple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maintaining reason would require immense discipline.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He prayed his lifelong spiritual cultivation would help.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Out there, people are dying. Your followers wage war and torment humanity. What right do you have to mimic human domesticity?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He spoke with anger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mago listened calmly before answering:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How arrogant. Do you not know that humans copied our way of life?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mago stared at him, then sighed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You couldn’t possibly know the primordial truth. This conversation runs on parallel lines.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sion fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was likely right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The goddesses had bestowed all wisdom upon humanity—their customs, tools, even tables and wine. Human civilization was divine in origin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps it was Sion’s perspective that was narrow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Long before Eru built the Heavens, we goddesses lived exactly like this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Before the Heavens existed?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. This land is older than the Heavens themselves.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sion’s mind went blank. This was information he hadn’t anticipated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Likely, only Eru and I know this. In the beginning, only the two of us existed—and we dwelled upon this earth.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sion smiled awkwardly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The word ‘primordial’ felt alien—like hearing myths from childhood, except the teller sat across from him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Is this really not a dream?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Lady Achille might not know this. It was genuinely shocking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Eru and I lived this way, and later settled on this continent—the world you now call human—carving out civilization ourselves.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Thank you for correcting my misunderstanding. My apologies.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Magoth gave a faint smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then did she lift her utensils and slice a piece of meat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Try this. Food grown on primordial soil. You’ve never tasted anything like it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll eat gratefully.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sion followed Magoth’s words and began eating. His eyes widened at the soup, gasped at the bread, and melted into rapture at the steak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>True, the meal Apur served him in Foils once held his personal record for finest cuisine—but this surpassed it by far, leaving a lingering afterglow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It felt as if flowers bloomed inside his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘How can food taste this good?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sion couldn’t hide his astonishment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, every Evil God stopped eating and watched only Sion’s reaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All eyes fixed on his mouth—hungry for his response.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Uncomfortable under their gaze, Sion dabbed his lips with a napkin and said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Honestly, this is the best I’ve ever eaten. Nothing compares.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Right?! Told you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Goddess of Decay beamed and blurted out—food spraying from her mouth. The instant it left her lips, it decayed so thoroughly it vanished before hitting the table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Magoth scolded her:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Marnaki. Don’t shout with your mouth full—especially with a guest present.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hehe, so what? They’re just humans anyway.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her thoughts were as unrestrained as her mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This clashed wildly with Sion’s image of her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘That monstrous presence from before… was this woman—the Goddess of Decay?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her aura had once rotted flesh to the bone—yet now she was an ill-mannered glutton at the dinner table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sion’s worldview shifted in real time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He still felt as though in a dream.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His mind remained in chaos.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the Goddess of Decay wasn’t alone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every Evil God seated here had inflicted horrific curses and massacres upon humanity—yet their true forms were oddly… human. Sloppy, even.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Are they deliberately showing this side to evoke sympathy?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though unexpected, Sion wouldn’t let his resolve waver. Magoth likely didn’t intend mere manipulation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, her true motives remained shadowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The meal continued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beyond small, idle chatter, Magoth asked Sion nothing of consequence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was as if he were merely a passing visitor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Magoth held all control.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet even she seemed more focused on eating than scheming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sion decided to prioritize nourishment—food meant energy, and energy meant readiness for battle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…And indeed, they ate the entire time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The food was delicious—undeniably so.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the meal, Magoth rose and approached Sion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Walk with me. Do you enjoy strolls?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It depends on who I’m walking with.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Come.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Magoth led Sion outside the manor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A meticulously tended garden came into view—evidently crafted with great care.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is truly unexpected. I never imagined Evil Gods would enjoy such things.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As I’ve said before—humans learned your customs from us.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, but that’s not what I meant.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Magoth tilted her head slightly, genuinely curious—her eyes wide as she stared at Sion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re Evil Gods. You slaughter humans, yet secretly enjoy hobbies like gardening? It feels… strange.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Magoth gave an enigmatic smile and kept walking through the maze-like garden, where floral scents hung thick in the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, suddenly, she stopped by a small fountain and turned to face Sion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her chilling gaze pierced his chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re arrogant.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Goddess of Darkness spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Think, Apostle of War. War is commonplace even among mortals. You, of all people, should understand: enemies’ kings and knights may seem like demons—but what are they truly?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sion froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He saw her point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the other side, the Evil Gods’ behavior made perfect sense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To their own, they’re ordinary people—noble rulers, even.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Magoth nodded sharply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You see me only as your enemy—as a demon, a monstrous Evil God who shouldn’t enjoy food or flowers.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But I’m no different from the Goddess you serve. Only our convictions diverge.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was absolutely right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To Sion, Magoth was absolute evil—yet from another angle, she was merely another Goddess.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their enmity existed only because Eru, the Goddess of Light, walked the opposite path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To her own, Magoth was surely warm—perhaps even motherly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Come to think of it… I’ve slaughtered fanatics myself.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The line between good and evil blurred.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sion’s wariness visibly faded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This conversation had become a rare chance to understand his enemy’s perspective—and he was moved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, a chill ran through him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Is this erosion of hatred itself a form of corruption?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If so, it was a terrifyingly subtle method.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Snapping back to clarity, Sion sharpened his mental blade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘She’s still the enemy. Learn from her words—but never fall for false temptation.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Reinforcing his resolve, he asked coldly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What is your true purpose in bringing me here? It’s time to speak plainly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Magoth’s faint smile returned as she whispered:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A plea for surrender. Humanity’s final mercy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Schedule: Every mon, wed, fri and sun\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Review at\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>NovelUpdate\u003C\u002Fp>",1700,"2026-05-30T06:48:22.319Z","2026-06-01T04:30:34.110Z",1,"novelbin.me","323664a6972fada746c123847630b6b980d7f3977247685383689093d35db6d7","apostle-of-the-goddess-of-war-chapter-145","apostle-of-the-goddess-of-war-chapter-143",174,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fapostle-of-the-goddess-of-war-cover.jpg"]