EP.151 Apis Realized a Moment Too Late.
In the beginning, there was the world.
The soil that embraced the green.
The water that would become the source of all things.
The fire that heated life.
The first being to set foot in that imperfect space, where even light and darkness did not exist, was an unnamed white giant.
No one knew the true intent behind the visit of that transcendent being.
A sense of mission. Compassion. Perhaps it was just curiosity to see the barren land that had no one to glance at.
However, the giant buried its own flesh in the ground to cultivate it, endlessly spilled blood to nourish the earth, and scattered its burning heart to give birth to fire.
Thus, vibrant life and death emerged in that dull, gray world, and humans, woven in the image of the giant, began to spring up like mushrooms.
The giant, who was fond of them, granted them courage and even trials to hone that courage.
The black pit where the giant’s flesh was buried would be called a dungeon in the future, and the maggots crawling in and out would come to be known as monsters.
As a means to confront such trials, the weapons the giant bestowed upon humans were its soul and body, its mission and name.
Saint and Hero.
The giant looked on with great satisfaction at the exploits of its avatars who fought valiantly against all adversities to preserve their existence.
The scene of joy resembled watching a child enthralled in a role play, clutching different dolls in each hand.
When the beloved doll inevitably aged and had to be replaced, it left a sense of regret, but that would also become a new transition to enjoy.
However, as that amusement continued for tens, hundreds, and thousands of years, the giant began to think.
“I’m bored.”
No matter how infinite the variety of games, eventually, one would grow tired of playing them indefinitely.
Having enjoyed enough, the giant, at that moment, decided to turn its back on the world it had painstakingly cultivated and return to its original place.
Clank!
A heavy chain gripped tightly around the giant’s ankle.
In confusion, the giant cast its gaze downward, only to see the creations it had thought were mere dolls trying to suppress its very existence.
The emotion transmitted beyond the restraints binding its own body was an insatiable desire.
Their shamelessness, willing to attack their creator for their own safety, inflamed the giant’s heart.
But that emotion was not anger.
Yes, it was the thrill of certainty that the tedium it had felt until now would be overturned in an instant.
In order to fully cleave its soul and cram it all into a single human body, they were attempting to tame the being they called God.
A joyful smile spread across the giant’s face.
It could easily push them away if it wanted, but the giant resolved to surrender itself to them without any resistance.
Even as its soul and body were being torn apart in multiple directions, the smile on the giant’s lips never dimmed.
This was only natural for it.
Surely, this would ensure that it wouldn’t feel boredom for a few hundred years to come.
◈◈◈
“And thus, to completely liberate the gracious god’s soul and body oppressed by sinful humanity and to deliver a fitting divine punishment to the lowly creatures who dared to rebel against the divine, that is our noble aspiration. Our holy mission.”
Sigh…
What a waste of time.
With a sigh laden with that sentiment, Apis frowned.
The dark interrogation room was illuminated only by the faint flicker of candlelight.
In this stifling space, Apis was having a private conversation with the assassin who had once attempted to assassinate a hero, for two reasons.
First, with the blessing ceremony nearing its conclusion, she wanted to monitor what sudden actions the would-be assassin might take this time.
Secondly, before leaving this monastery, she hoped to extract some information about her backer from the assassin she had so painstakingly secured.
However, despite her efforts, Apis had not obtained a single answer she sought.
“Stop with the lengthy nonsense and tell me about the location and structure of the organization you’re part of. Are those blunt ears just for decoration? If you need it, let me know. If two ear holes aren’t enough, I can personally make you an extra one.”
“Oh my. That seems problematic. Piercing ears? I’d prefer to refrain from such vulgar acts, as I’m a sworn servant of the divine.”
Despite Apis’s threatening tone, the woman remained unfazed.
Bundled in a suffocating prison outfit with a blindfold over her eyes, the only part of her body that enjoyed any freedom was her lips, which were only temporarily unbound.
Furthermore, if Apis’s predictions were correct, she had likely been subjected to severe torture by rough interrogators just moments before Apis arrived.
Apis’s golden eyes scanned the pools of blood and the torn nails strewn around her.
After glancing sideways at the complex array of torture tools, she twisted her gaze back to the woman’s face.
It was absurd.
In a situation where an ordinary person would have likely lost their sanity, the woman’s demeanor was as calm as a tranquil lake.
“Are you that curious about me? Hot-headed Elf? Alright, if you promise to grant me a small favor, I will swear to the divine that I will answer any questions you ask.”
“Just spit it out.”
“Please bring the Savior… the Regis Priest here right this moment.”
“Forget it. Take a hike.”
Apis, who outrightly rejected the assassin’s proposal, stood up as if there was nothing more to discuss.
Ever since her exile from her hometown, her instincts honed over hundreds of years were ringing alarms, warning her of an unprecedented crisis.
She could not let that woman meet Regis.
That was the only clear certainty in the chaos surrounding her now.
Sigh. You’re too much. I don’t ask for much, just to exchange a word with him. What scheme can I possibly hatch tied up like this? Don’t you have any humanity, Elf?
“Late at night, breaking into someone’s house to stab them..?!” Apis thought to herself.
“Well, that’s true.”
Suppressing the urge to shoot an arrow through that smug expression, Apis barely managed to restrain herself.
Pain would have no effect on that woman at all.
Frustration would only make her more self-satisfied. Apis determined that ignoring this attention-seeking drama queen was the best course of action.
“But still, aren’t you being a bit too strict? It’s true I almost took his life once, but that’s all in the past now. Just a mere thing of yesterday, right? Isn’t that so? I’m not well-versed in Elf law, but isn’t it common knowledge that human sins can be cleansed if they’re not excessively malicious?”
“Those who claim sins can be cleansed so readily shouldn’t even dare utter those words… that’s my belief.”
“Oh hoot, you’re quite the heartless one…”
Disgusted by how her every word seemed to provoke a reaction, Apis adjusted her attire and turned to the door, at that very moment.
“Why are you so against me meeting him? Are you perhaps infatuated with him as a man? Is that the case?”
Sigh…
With a response too ridiculous to even consider, Apis turned around irritably.
What unfolded before her was the truly bizarre sight of the woman who had just been tied up now replaced by a somewhat disheveled Regis standing there in her place.
However, there was not a hint of turmoil in Apis’s eyes.
She already knew that the woman possessed the ability to weave sweet dreams for others—so-called illusions—and had power.
Smirk.
Seeing the illusory Regis smile sweetly at her, Apis inhaled and exhaled a weary breath.
“Nice try…”
“Oh? Not working, huh?”
“Maybe on a hero, but that trick won’t work on me. Got it?”
“Hmm…”
From the illusory Regis’s lips flowed the woman’s dissatisfied voice just before the triumphant smile blossomed on Apis’s face as she swung the door open and energetically left.
Click-clack. With powerful strides echoing through the quiet corridor, confidence radiated from her.
She thought to herself that she must have taken a considerable detour.
Apis’s feelings for Regis were closer to that of someone who cherishes family, rather than any romantic interest in a man.
Moreover, she was absolutely convinced that the only person deserving to be his partner was the hero.
Unless she went into heat or something.
For someone like her, who had built walls against sexual desires, it was downright laughable to even try such tricks.
Just then, a forgotten fact floated back to Apis’s mind.
“Wait? Hold on, speaking of that…?”
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