âDoesnât matter, you donât need to worry.â
âSecretive.â
âCan I ask one last thing?â
âWe have little time left, so Iâll answer in short.â
âAfter getting rid of Zenith, what will you do next?â
Perhaps she thought it was an unexpected question, so Pyro couldnât answer right away.
âWhat do you mean?â
âAre you going to simply devour the Zenithâs holy orb of influence?â
Pyro never thought deeply about what she wanted to do.
Zenith was trying to get rid of her, so she was trying to equally execute the concept of revenge.
So what next?
âWhoever it is, one of us will be gone.â
12 Gods turned to 11 Gods.
And with the collapsed interests, they can no longer be called as one.
If thatâs the case, what should she do?
âThat is a difficult question.â
Jamie knew that Pyro couldnât answer.
This simple goddess wouldnât have thought that far.
âI am on your boat now.â
âRight.â
âThen a goal needs to be set. For the boat to not be capsizedâŠâ
Not all gods were clever.
And looking at Pyro, it was evident.
On the other hand, there were smart Gods.
Like Zenith, the God of War and Peace, and Arbela, the God of Wisdom and Stupidity and Jillian, the God of mischief and fine tricks.
There are more, but the above there were whom Jamie acknowledged.
Among them, Zenith was specialized in armies.
âKeep this in mind, dark magician.â
Pyro looked at him.
The time seemed to have run out.
Her body began to turn blurred.
âI donât know when we will meet next, but try to survive till then.â
âDonât worry.â
âI believe you.â
And with a flash, the Goddess vanished.
â⊠uh.â
Ricky, who was the medium for it, sighed and then fell to his knees.
And spoke to Jamie with tired eyes.
âDone talking?â
âYou did good.â
Jamie walked to the entrance, as he patted his friend who was struggling to walk and gave him a hand.
âWhat did you talk about?â
Ricky, asked.
Jamie put his hands in his pocket and stared at the dark ceiling.
When he didnât answer, Ricky waved his palm in front of Jamieâs face.
âWhat did you talk about?â
Jamie held out his palm.
Ricky stopped and then rubbed his eyes at what he saw.
A scale to weigh sins, a symbol engraved on the palm.
Although he was an Apostle, Ricky wasnât fully awakened, so he didnât have the symbol of the goddess.
Jamie raised his hand and then went up the stairs without a word.
Left alone, Ricky looked blankly at Jamie, and then followed him.
âLetâs go together!â
By the time Jamie went up, the memorial service was done.
But people stayed till the end, they waited for each member of the church who was killed to be sent away.
Once this was done, the coffin would be removed. And the service for today will be wrapped up and tomorrow they will head to the main church of Pyro to hold a grand funeral.
âWhere were you?â
The voice of Marquis Bell.
He looked to the side and looked at Sears with Sarah approaching them.
âI had something to do.â
âWhat did youâŠâ
The Marquis titled his head and when he saw Ricky next to him, he bowed.
âI am glad you are feeling much better.â
âIt was thanks to the Marquis. Thank you.â
âI donât even know what to call you.â
Sears rubbed her eyes, and Ricky shook his head and said.
âPlease treat me like you used to. I am Jamie's friend.â
âI will do that then. Sarah, greet Ricky.â
ââŠâ
Sarah stared at Ricky while staying behind her mom.
It felt strange, Jamie didnât understand why Sarah didnât show any affection for Ricky. Rather, it was as if she hated him.
From Rickyâs point of view, it was embarrassing.
Sarah hesitated and then opened her mouth.
Was she finally going to say it?
âWhere is sister Anna?â
Ugh.
Ricky threw away his hopes and then bowed his head, as if he was going to cry, but then he answered.
âAnna is probably with sister Fiona.â
âI want to see sister Anna.â
âShould I take you to her?â
âThat, I donât likeâŠâ
At Sarahâs firm refusal, Rickyâs face went stiff.
Jamie looked at his friend and then shook his head.
âDid you do something wrong without our knowledge?â
â⊠not once.â
Then, she must hate people.
And Ricky decided to just accept it.
âHahaha. It is nice seeing everyone here.â
In the meantime, the Marquis smiled warmly, thinking that the conversation between kids was cute.
In Jamieâs eyes, the Marquis looked odd.
Sears comforted Ricky as he was feeling awkward now.
âRicky. It is because Sarah hasnât talked to any other boys other than Jamie. Donât be too hurt.â
That being said, she did spend a whole lot of time with Ricky on the journey till Apton.
But Jamie didn't say it out loud.
Because if he did say it, Ricky would be heartbroken.
âWell, letâs go back. If I could, I would like to send away my friend, butâŠâ
Marquis looked at the coffin of the Archbishop which was being carried by four priests.
âThere is so much to do.â
A fire shone in the Marquisâs eyes. He too must be feeling great anger at Zenith church.
He was one of the most powerful people of Seldam kIngdom, so he put enough pressure on the Zenith church for making a contract with demons.
The pressure would spread and come from kingdom level, and the forces would have bad relations with Zenith.
At the thought of Zenith crying, Jamie smiled.
âSo everyone is here!â
As they were about to move, they heard Larsâ voice.
Jamie didnât think each one would arrive one by one.
âExecutioner. But the ones behind you?â
The Marquis greeted Lars warmly and looked at the two people behind him.
The two glanced at Marquis, but didnât answer. Instead, it was Ricky who they bowed to and said.
âThe sword which carries the justice of the Goddess, Holy Executioner Philos Oran bows to the Apostle.â
âThe sword which carries the justice of the Goddess, Holy Executioner, Airak Tedley, greets the Apostle.â
At their actions, Ricky couldnât hide his bewildered expression.
Ricky looked at Jamie with eyes begging for help, but Jamie too was startled.
âExecutioners?â
He did think that they were unusual.
And he never thought that Lars could be the only Holy Executioner.
âY-you both should rise.â
With Rickyâs words, they got up.
Godâs Apostles are like Godâs second appearance, and to them the paladins are servants. And it was their duty to protect their Apostle, the symbol of God in the world at the cost of everything.
Therefore, even the highest priest in a church would have to kneel in front of them.
Like Lars.
âI see that you are Executioners.â
Marquis Bell nodded.
Philos bowed his head feeling bad for greeting the Apostle before the Marquis.
âPlease forgive us, Marquis Bell.â
âThere is no need to, I know how this works.â
âThank you for understanding us.â
As Airak raised his head, he looked at Jamie.
It was as if he was shocked by something, like he saw something he shouldnât have.
âW-what is this?!â
âAirak, what is it?â
âD-deputy commander. This childâŠ!â
âHm? Ack!â
âWhy are you two... Oh!?â
Lars frowned at the two seniors who were acting strangely at the sight of Jamie.
However, as he turned his head at Jamie, he had the same expression as them.
âWhy is everyone looking at my son like that?â
When Sears saw their reaction, she thought it was rude of them, but Philos shook his head.
âI-It isnât what you are thinking, my lady.â
âThis child⊠oh god. Oh god.â
Philos and Airak looked at each other and gulped.
Lars, who calmed down, walked over to Jamie.
â⊠Jamie, by any chance?â
âYes.â
The answer came from Ricky who was beside Jamie.
Everyone turned to Ricky.
Jamie just clicked his tongue as if he didnât like the annoying situation.
Ricky opened his mouth.
âThe Goddess has ordained Jamie as a Saint.â
Silence.
The first to scream was the most unexpected person.