A Living Saint Who Truly Belonged to the Imperium

Legends of the Emperor's Swarm began to circulate throughout the Imperium.

The missionaries stood on a high platform in the market square, one hand holding Aquila emblem, the other clutching a scroll, their voices booming like bells:

"May the Emperor bless His servant!"

Countless believers crowded around the Chaplain, all looking up at them.

The Chaplain addressed the crowd with fervor. "The Emperor has blessed his servants! Emperor's Envoy Lin En, the Emperor's special envoy, led the loyal Purple Carapace Chapter to sweep away the Xenos and defend the Imperium! The Greenskins have fallen, the Drukhari have fled, and the evil Necrons have retreated to their graves! This is the Emperor's grace! This is the power of our Lord!"

"Our Lord's glory shines upon all things, causing even the humblest Xenos to bow in submission! The Emperor bestows swarms of insects to aid the Saint in battle! You believers, praise the greatness of our Lord!"

"Praise be to our Lord!" the people exclaimed in unison.

The Chaplain nodded in satisfaction, raised the holy emblem to the sky, and raised his voice even higher.

"The Emperor's Swarm sweeps away the Xenos and defends the Imperium! You believers, go home and spread this message! Let your families know, let your neighbors know, let the whole Imperium know! Our Lord has not abandoned His poor lamb! Our Lord has sent the swarm to fight for His lamb! Praise be to our Lord!"

Praise be to our Lord!!!

The shouts of countless people were earth-shattering.

Everyone was fervent, as if they had seen a savior.

So what if it's Xenos? The brilliance of my god can even subdue Xenos.

The soldiers stationed there also heard the Chaplain chanting in the street.

They chatted after distributing the money.

Are insects truly loyal?

"Have no idea."

"Isn't it loyalty that they eat Greenskins?"

How many years have the Greenskins and humans been fighting? Every time, it's been a bloodbath. The Mortals Guard Army are also known as the "line-filling babies." When Astartes faces these Xenos, they call it "combat," but when the Mortals Guard Army face these Xenos, they literally risk their lives to fill the gaps.

The average battlefield lifespan of Mortals army is only a few hours to a few days.

A soldier, wiping his gun, nodded. "That's pretty good."

How did you know?

"The Chaplain wouldn't lie to us," the warrior said matter-of-factly. "Besides, how could humans command the Tyranids? Is there any other explanation besides the Emperor's blessing on Lord Lin En?"

If insects could fight and die for humans, and humans wouldn't have to die, that would be too good to be true.

"I've heard that the bugs and Greenskins are both difficult and brutal to fight. If the Imperium really doesn't have to fight the bugs and Greenskins anymore, that would be really great."

They wished they would never have to fight again so they could go back to their hometowns and farm.

"Now you want to farm again? Didn't you join the army back then because you didn't want to farm?"

That's different!

The group laughed for a while.

After laughing, they were quiet for a few seconds.

A round-faced soldier raised his gun, squinted at the rifling in the sun, and muttered, "If only that Living Saint had appeared sooner."

The hand that was wiping the gun stopped again.

The veteran rested his gun on his knees and looked down at the ground.

"Yes," he said, his voice lowering, "It would have been better if it had happened sooner."

Who in the military hasn't had family or friends killed by Xenos?

If only this Living Saint had appeared sooner!

That way, perhaps not so many people would have died.

The soldier picked up the tarpaulin and continued wiping the gun, working very slowly.

Things will get better; we won't have to sacrifice lives anymore.

"Um."

"Those who died before didn't die in vain, at least the Imperium has survived this long without taking too many lives."

"Um."

The veteran stood up, slung his cleaned rifle over his shoulder, and said, "Alright, alright, stop pissing around here! Are you done cleaning? If you're done, line up! We have drills later."

The soldiers stood up, dusted themselves off, and walked towards the parade ground with their rifles.

The Chaplain's voice still echoed through the streets, "Emperor's Swarm! Emperor's Blessing! Sweep Away the Xenos! Defend the Imperium!"

The round-faced soldier walked at the very back, glancing back at the spire of St. Andrew's Cathedral in the distance.

That's wonderful; it's a promising Imperium.

"Victor! What are you standing there for?! Hurry up and catch up!"

"They're here, they're here, don't rush me. I just want to turn around and see those Chaplain preaching..."

Then the soldier turned around, grinning, and jogged to catch up with the group.

*******

The Ecclesiarchy's document requesting the canonization of Living Saint reached Bolomite.

Lin En was getting fed up with the Iron Hammer at the time. "No way."

"Why not! Tell me honestly, it doesn't look good!"

"It looks good, but it's not good."

"I've polished the carapace samples, and the luster is just like a real gemstone! I've even mixed the pigment formula!"

"No."

"You--"

"Lord Lin En!" The communications officer rushed out of the administration building, holding a roll of parchment, and almost tripped on the steps in his haste.

Lin En turned to look at him. "What's wrong?"

"Documents from the Ecclesiarchy! From Terra! Urgent!"

"Give it to me." Lin En took the parchment, unfolded it, and glanced at it.

Iron Hammer leaned closer, his head squeezing next to his arm. "The Ecclesiarchy? What? What did they write?"

Lin En kept his head down, reading line by line.

The emblem of the Ecclesiarchy was at the top, a black eagle on a gold background, below which were densely packed formal words: [Respectfully requesting Lord Lin En's guidance, when you have time...]

Lin En held the document, somewhat at a loss for words, unsure whether to laugh or cry.

He doesn't need that kind of thing anymore.

"The Ecclesiarchy's investiture of Living Saint means that the Ecclesiarchy officially recognizes your status. From now on, you are a saint recognized by the Imperium, and your own biography will be recorded. All believers in the Imperium will know your name." Phoros and the others were quite happy to see this, feeling that Lin En's status had finally been recognized by the Imperium.

"The Ecclesiarchy has finally opened its eyes!"

The canonization of Living Saint is not merely a matter of name. Once officially registered as Living Saint, all the resources and influence of the Ecclesiarchy will henceforth tilt towards Lin En.

Lin En, however, chuckled and poured cold water on their enthusiasm, "My current status doesn't require the recognition of the Ecclesiarchy at all."

He can now attack whomever he wants, wherever he wants, directly connecting the Throne Room and the Lord Regent's office. The Inquisition avoid him when they see him, and the High Lords Council him with utmost respect.

What use would it be for him if the Ecclesiarchy then re-established his status as Living Saint?

Wasting several days, going to Holy Terra, Terra Cathedral, the Pope personally presiding, representatives from all the Chapter attending, and the entire Imperium watching the ceremony live...

They're just putting on a show for the Ecclesiarchy.

It doesn't even qualify as showing off.

Phoros and the others also realized what was happening.

That's true.

Given their current status, why would they need the recognition of Ecclesiarchy?

Lin En replied to the Ecclesiarchy.

"Your Excellencies, due to the urgency of the war, we hereby waive all formalities to avoid delaying military affairs."

There's no need for a formal investiture ceremony; just register him as a Living Saint.

He really dislikes going through all those formalities anymore; it's a waste of time and makes him look like a fool.

He has enough time to lead his swarm to attack two more battlefields.

The Ecclesiarchy received a reply from Lin En.

Some people were very dissatisfied, believing that Lin En was disrespecting the Ecclesiarchy.

But the Pope reprimanded them.

They believed that people like Lin En were the true Living Saint of the Imperium.

(I had some things to do tonight and didn't finish writing, so I owe you two chapters. I'll continue writing during the day.٩( ᐛ )۶)