Legendary Apostle

What had been a peaceful return march after the Knight Order's triumph suddenly took a turn for the worse. The one who had died was a knight held in great respect.

If someone was praised only by nobles, he was most likely a hypocrite. But if even commoners respected him from the bottom of their hearts, then he was someone worthy of respect.

Many commoners in the city heard of En Edwin's death. "Heavens, how could such a righteous knight die?"

This winter was destined to be shrouded in gloom. The Old Sword Saint had no time to mourn. He had already retrieved the [Hero's Sword], but regrettably, this aged Sword Saint was not someone acknowledged by the Sacred Sword.

When he had still been young, he had gone beyond the borders to confirm this. He could not draw the sword. The massive stone seemed sealed by some powerful restriction and could not be destroyed, so they could only transport the stone and the Sacred Sword back to the imperial capital together.

If humanity fell once more one day, there might still be hope when the true Hero appeared. That was all the more reason not to let this sword fall within the Demon King's Army's control.

"I need to see His Majesty, as well as His Holiness the Pope. This concerns humanity's survival and must be handled immediately." The aged Sword Saint had already arrived at the palace. The Demon King's awakening meant that the Hero definitely existed, so he needed to select the Hero as quickly as possible.

Human talent and lifespans both had limits. If he could not put an end to all this within his lifetime, it would be a betrayal of his disciple, En.

"Lord Sword Saint, can this not wait until after Lord Edwen's funeral? Was he not your disciple?"

Everyone knew that En Edwin was this Old Sword Saint's most prized disciple, the most gifted swordsman to appear in many years. Given enough time, he would surely surpass the Old Sword Saint himself.

"I know. But please understand, he was my disciple. I am honoring his final wishes." The Old Sword Saint took a deep breath. His grief and rage were all compressed within his weathered eyes. This old man had to live longer—ten more years, twenty more years, thirty more years—until the day he could no longer swing a sword.

He was Eugene, the Sword Saint, the Empire's most outstanding swordsman in a hundred years.

"Very well, I understand. I will notify His Majesty at once. As for the Pope, I believe you know that His Majesty and the Pope have never gotten along."

"I will find a way to handle that. But the selection of the Hero Squad must begin."

"Can we not do as we did before—wait for talented people to grow up, then make them members of the Hero Squad?" The court official adjusted his glasses.

"Such Heroes would have no chance of defeating the current Demon King. If someone can draw that sword, I will devote every drop of my blood to training him." The Old Sword Saint stood where he was. Ever since they had encountered that Blood Demon warrior on their journey home, he had determined this matter's priority in his heart.

"What exactly did you encounter? There was no Demon King's Army on the road back. Or did the Demon King's subordinates ambush you?"

At the question, the Old Sword Saint instinctively gripped the sword at his waist. However, he quickly calmed himself and answered the person before him, "We encountered a Blood Demon. All four of his limbs bore shackles, with broken iron chains and ancient curse patterns upon them. He had blood-black pupils and an incomparably domineering greatsword."

In that single instant of clashing, the Knight Order had been scattered.

"Lord Eugene, you must be joking, right? How could something that exists only in religious tales truly exist? I recall that you are level 75. Even you were defeated?"

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"He was stronger than I was. The moment we clashed, the other members of the Knight Order did not even leave behind corpses. They were reduced directly to a mist of blood."

"But do Apostles really exist?" The court official's expression had already changed, and none of his earlier leisurely manner remained.

What was an Apostle? It was something he had heard about in stories since childhood. Before such a powerful existence, an army of any size seemed fragile.

The question now was, if the Demon King had even subdued such a legendary monster, then just how powerful was the Demon King himself? He did not dare imagine it.

He did not continue speaking with the Sword Saint. Instead, he hurried to inform the Emperor of the Empire. The Gard Empire had stood for two hundred years; it could not ignore such a risk.

The Emperor of the Empire came swiftly. He set aside his other work and hurried before the Old Sword Saint, his expression grave. "Master, is everything you said true?"

"Yes, I am certain. The one who fought us should have been a legendary Apostle. The Imperial Knights, nearly two thousand strong, were the most elite force aside from the Royal Knights. Yet half of them could not even leave behind corpses. Your Majesty, do you understand what I am saying?"

"I will ask about this. I will ask personally. Master, could a single person truly cause such horrific consequences? Or were you attacked by the Demon King's Army?" It was not that he did not believe the master who had taught him swordsmanship, but as the ruler of a nation, he had to consider more.

Perhaps they had been deceived by powerful demons using magic and suffered hallucinations. That would be better than a mythical creature appearing in this era.

"Every survivor of the Knight Order can testify to this. There is not the slightest lie in what I said!" The Old Sword Saint was utterly certain. His mind had been clear at the time, because in a battle so close to life and death, one had to cast aside all chaos and strike calmly.

Yet that powerful being had killed his disciple right before his eyes. No matter how furious he became or how he swung his sword, the damage he inflicted was not enough to kill the [Blood Demon]. This was a legendary Apostle, yet he had most likely become the Demon King's subordinate.

"Very well, I understand. If we select the Hero Squad and begin training them now, when will we be able to defeat the Demon King's Army?"

"Hopefully within my lifetime, Your Majesty. The Empire has already existed for two hundred years."

"Master Eugene!"

"You are the Emperor now, and I am your subject. You need not address me that way."

After a brief silence, the man who was Emperor reined in his emotions and instructed the court official beside him, "Go invite the Pope. This is urgent. Since the Sacred Sword has returned, we can begin. What puzzles me is why you insist on beginning the Hero selection today. Is that not too hasty?"

"Because I also saw another Apostle—the legendary Black Robed Prophet. I saw him shortly after En died."

The Old Sword Saint had not mentioned this to anyone before. He was telling the Emperor now because, as the nation's highest authority, the Emperor had to know.

"Did that Prophet say that the Hero would be found today? What happened afterward? Did you not bring the Prophet back?" the Emperor asked again.

"Your Majesty, it was raining then. He whispered in my ear, but quickly vanished into the rain."

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