I Became the Apostle of an Evil God Chapter 46

“The god’s fire? What did they do after stealing it? What do they even use it for?”

True to form, Van’s god was more curious about the reason behind breaking the taboo than what had happened to those who committed the transgression. If I had known this would happen, I would have read that story summary summary post in more detail… Van groaned, trying his best to recall what he had skimmed through, but ultimately shook his head slowly.

“I only heard about it in passing, so I don’t know the full details.”

“Is that so?”

Fortunately, Orma quickly lost interest, turning his head back to gaze at the Black Field Wood.

It was certain that Jaena was in there. In that case, there was no need to waste time.

Orma unleashed his shadows once again, widening his net to search the area. Unlike before, however, every living, breathing thing touched by the shadows was completely beyond reason. The creatures screaming and begging to be killed resembled Orma’s own inner self to a bizarre degree.

‘Die! Die! Die! Die! Die!’

‘Whywhydowekeepburningandburningeverysingledaybutneverdiedon’tanyonespleaseendthispainpleaseletmedieplease!’

‘Eternity, eternity, e ter nal ly… A repetition of another such day.’

Everything within the Black Field Wood yearned for death. Yet they could not die, continuously cursing the blazing fire, and cursing themselves for being unable to perish. Exactly like Orma.

“What is the matter?”

“…No, it’s just a bit strange.”

Van was uncannily good at reading Orma’s flustered expression. Orma didn’t explicitly explain what was strange, but judging by his hardened face, the information coming through his connection to the shadows wasn’t anything good.

Could Jaena have died already? …No, if that were the case, the system would have notified him that the quest had failed by now.

After pondering for a moment, Van led his horse ahead of Orma and steered it into the roaring flames. Perhaps because it was imbued with Orma’s power and could withstand the catastrophic sunlight, the horse advanced fearlessly into the interior despite being surrounded entirely by a sea of fire.

He didn’t know why the snake tribe had kidnapped Jaena. However, judging by the content of the hidden quest that suddenly appeared—which tasked him not only with finding Jaena but also with proselytizing to new believers to save them—the intent was clearly for him to proselytize to the kidnapping snake tribe and convert them to believe in Orma.

But… most beast-kin were believers of Muhwi. Even if the snake tribe had been exiled as punishment for stealing Muhwi’s sacred fire, would they really curse Muhwi? Wouldn’t they cling to him even harder, repenting and begging for forgiveness instead?

Furthermore, the quest didn’t end there.

Van glared at the word “Save” boldly written on the quest window. Wasn’t the instruction to “save” far too abstract? The person executing the quest was ultimately Van himself. Why would Van, an ordinary human rather than Orma, be saving anyone? He had enough problems of his own to handle…

“Are you riding forward knowing where Jaena is?”

“I intend to head toward the center first. The flames are strongest over there.”

Hadn’t Orma mentioned that Jaena’s prayers whining about burning to death were continually audible? Whatever the reason the snake tribe had kidnapped Jaena, it certainly couldn’t be good.

However, no matter where he looked, all that could be seen was the black field. No other living creatures were visible, nor were any charred corpses. There were only embers and ash fluttering through the air. Just as the sound of crackling fire filled the surroundings, a faint voice drifted over.

“…Ah! Infidel…! To think the successor of the tiger tribe would become a pagan!”

It was a voice sharp with anger and reprimand. Orma must have heard it too; after briefly locking eyes, the two immediately drove their horses toward the direction of the sound. The closer they got, the more the scorching heat stung their eyes and the acrid smoke made it difficult to breathe, but regardless, before long, the two managed to spot Jaena.

“…Huaaaa! N-No! I hate it! I said I hate tiger butter!”

“What the hell are you talking about with tiger butter! Convert already! You need to live a new life as a believer of Muhwi again!”

“It makes absolutely no sense for the successor of Bion to not believe in Muhwi! This is heresy! Repent this instant for your twisted faith before Muhwi!”

Jaena and the snake tribe were screaming at one another, but their conversation resembled independent shouting matches where neither side was listening. It was difficult to understand why Jaena was suddenly crying about hating tiger butter, but hearing the snake tribe roar about “heresy,” it seemed they had realized Jaena was a believer of Orma and were furious at him for being an apostate.

Whether he had rolled on the ground while resisting violently, Jaena was bound tightly to a stone-carved altar looking completely covered in soot like Cinderella, yet he was still struggling and screaming with all his might.

“Never, ever! If I say I believe in Muhwi, you’re just going to kill me as a sacrifice anyway! Hieeeing, Lord Orma! I’m going to die!”

“…He’s being loud enough to wake the dead.”

“Gasp! L-Lord Orma!”

Despite the voice being laced with utter annoyance, questioning why he had to go through this misery to find someone like him, Jaena thrashed about in pure delight. Only then did the snake tribe notice Orma and Van’s presence, turning around in stark surprise.

In truth, the tiger tribe like Jaena possessed appearances that were remarkably close to humans. In contrast, the lower halves of the snake tribe were entirely covered in scales, featuring a slithering snake torso and tail instead of two human legs. Their vertically slit pupils lacked proper focus like a reptile’s, sending chills down one’s spine the moment their eyes met, and they continually hissed, darting their thin, long tongues out.

Since they moved in such a manner, it was no wonder they could kidnap Jaena in the dead of night without being noticed. Finally understanding that the whispers about not seeing a “tiger man” but seeing a “talking serpent” meant this, Orma slowly scanned them before speaking up.

“Are you trying to offer him to Muhwi?”

“…Hieek! T-The eyes… they’re golden…!”

“Is he truly the evil god? Oh, Muhwi… Please cast that evil god back into hell and judge him with your sacred flames!”

The snake tribe babbled nonsense in a panic instead of answering the question. Seeing Orma’s brow furrow instantly, Van quickly stepped in before the god could follow his temper and slaughter the entire snake tribe.

“I am the apostle of Orma, and the beast-kin you have restrained is a believer of Lord Orma. For what reason did you kidnap Mr. Jaena?”

“W-What did you say…”

“…That human claims to be the evil god’s apostle?”

“Do people truly believe in the evil god?”

Despite Van’s calm and composed voice, the snake tribe merely stared at Van blankly or busied themselves trading glances in confusion. Judging by their muttered conversations, it seemed they couldn’t believe the appearance of the evil god Orma, let alone that he had an apostle and a believer following him.

While the one who appeared to be their leader kept his mouth tightly shut in silence, a distinct thought voiced aloud by someone broke the stillness.

“…Why?”

Everyone present except Van immediately caught onto the underlying meaning of that “…Why?” and agreed with it: Why on earth would a human like that believe in an evil god of all things?

Even if the snake tribe had poor eyesight, they weren’t entirely blind. One look at the mysterious, beautiful knight showed that even in this hellish landscape, he alone looked as elegant and holy as an angel. He didn’t match the evil god in the slightest, who was radiating a murderous intent so foul it looked like he would rip them to shreds at any moment, yet he was the apostle?

…Could the evil god be holding something over that human? Or did he brainwash him? If he were in his right mind, there was no way he would be Orma’s apostle…

“I do not understand the meaning behind your question, but please release Mr. Jaena.”

Van, who alone failed to comprehend the muttering, tilted his head slightly and spoke politely. Only then did the elder of the snake tribe snap out of it, letting out a furious roar as if the request were entirely unacceptable.

“Absurd! To think the successor of the tiger tribe would dare be an apostate! He must confess, repent, and willingly display the sincerity of his faith by dying before Muhwi!”

“…Is that how you receive forgiveness?”

“W-What?”

“If Mr. Jaena does that, will you all be forgiven by Muhwi?”

Faced with a question asked without a single blink, even the snake tribe elder was left speechless.

How did a human, who wasn’t even a member of the beast-kin, know about that? How did he know the snake tribe was being punished by Muhwi…

“Did Muhwi truly say that your sins would only be absolved if you offered up a fellow beast-kin believer as a sacrifice?”

“T-That is…”

“There is no way he did.”

Because ever since they were banished and driven out into the Black Field Wood, the prayers they offered would not have reached Muhwi. At the piercing gaze and cold voice that seemed to see through everything, the elder flinched, his body trembling violently.

Yet Van did not stop there, delivering his conclusion to seal the matter.

“Muhwi has rejected your faith. Therefore, as those who have been excommunicated, are you not no longer believers of Muhwi?”

A chilling silence fell over the area at the declaration that there was not a single believer of Muhwi present. Not a single soul dared to deny those words.