The name made Leonidas' heart skip a beat. He had never heard it before, but for some reason, it resonated to an impossible degree with him.
'I won't sugarcoat it. Fallen Apostles are the enemies of Gods. No matter which uppity bastard it is, as long as they find out that you have a connection to us, you will lose your life. It could be said that the Fallen Apostles are the antithesis of all it means to live in this world.'
Leonidas' fists unconsciously clenched. So, this was what the spirit had meant. He had really been thrown into a mess.
He couldn't help but think that this wasn't a very good hideout. There was a very blatant entrance that could be seen easily in the day right smack dab in the middle of a valley. What kind of 'hideout' was this supposed to be if anyone could find it?
'What are you thinking, brat? I can see that weird look in your eye. This hideout was actually very well hidden, that entrance…'
The spirit sighed.
'Fine, you're right. If there's one flaw we Fallen Apostles all have, it's that we're a bunch of arrogant pricks. We didn't put much effort into hiding our hideouts to begin with because anyone who dared to step foot into one would die without a doubt.
'Unfortunately, that lady with the big ass who ran a sword through your chest stumbled into this place after so long. The basilisk carcass I created as a protector lost its effects over the long years because the energy I used to sustain it has begun to wane.
'That male Apostle was then caught in its spell, but because he didn't die, it continuously drains what small bit of energy there is remaining. Due to that, one of the concealed entrances was exposed to the daylight. That's why you can see it so easily now.
'Soon enough, there'll be no energy left and whether it's the entrances or the statues, they'll all cease to work properly. The darkness spell will probably disappear too.'
The spirit shook his head. He decided that he might as well be honest with this brat. He had to know that this hideout would soon be useless to him.
"Are you saying… That I am a Fallen Apostle now?"
'Pft…. HAHAHAHAH!'
The spirit doubled over into a fit of laughter. Maybe if he wasn't in such a form, he would be leaking tears.
'Oof, that was a good laugh brat. You, a Fallen Apostle? As if. Do you know how much blood needed to be shed before each one of our Brothers and Sisters earned such a title? Do you think it's so meaningless and weightless?'
Leonidas didn't respond.
The spirit shook his head, his face showing a hint of seriousness, his momentum becoming dignified.
'The title of Fallen Apostle isn't something you just luck into, brat. At most, your meeting me gives you an opportunity, nothing more, nothing less.'
Leonidas' deadpan eyes were the only look he received in return. But, this time, the spirit didn't seem put off by it.
The spirit took a breath, his momentum deflating. He looked off into the distance, his mind swirling with unshared thoughts.
'… In this world of Gods and Goddesses, we lowly beings have no choice but to swear fealty at their wooden, stone, bronzed, marbled feet… We only have the power they allow us to have, the Blessings they force us to slave for, the honor they bestow upon us.
'But, just as quickly, all of this can be snatched away. There is no true will, no freedom, and there's only one law: Their whims.
'A Fallen Apostle snatches back what is rightfully theirs. They are a man or woman capable of playing Gods for fools, snatching Blessings as they please. They aren't tied by a single God, no single law, no single will. They do as they please! We are truly unfettered!'
Leonidas' crimson eyes glowed, a hidden flame igniting within them.
The spirit shook his head. 'Brat hasn't even formed his first Shadow yet, but he's already excited. Kids these days…'
"Shadow…?"
Leonidas knew what a shadow was, but obviously it meant something he wasn't aware of in this context because he most definitely had a 'Shadow' already.
'A Shadow is the core component of what's necessary to fool a God. A Fallen Apostle uses their Shadow to receive the Blessings of a God and empower themselves.
'To become a Fallen Apostle, one needs to succeed in forming their first Shadow. However, the creation of a Shadow requires an astronomical sacrifice, a sacrifice you are far too weak to procure. Let alone being a Fallen Apostle, you aren't even worthy of taking the first step toward such a goal.'
"Then what should I do?" Leonidas asked.
The spirit smiled. Usually, when he got to this point in the speech, he would have to deal with some arrogant brat talking about how they'd succeed no matter what. But, didn't all those idiots end up dying?
This was the first time he had heard such a question in all these years. Maybe this brat wasn't as arrogant as he thought.
'I suggest that you go back to your little town and become an existence who can lay claim to it first.'
Leonidas' expression changed. Return to Violet Waters? Would he even be able to survive such a thing? Lady Eve could kill him on sight, in broad daylight, and no one would blink an eye. This didn't even mention his unresolved issues with Gauteron…
As much as Leonidas wanted revenge… He wasn't a fool. He didn't know how strong Lady Eve was, but he knew that she was a mountain he couldn't climb.
'You have such a good opportunity here and you haven't even noticed it.' The spirit mused. 'There's a Missionary waiting to be killed here. Not only can you use him as a sacrifice to gain more gifts from me, you would then clear a position at your Sub-Shrine for you to inherit.
'As long as you bring something of value back to your God, the position is guaranteed to be yours.
'Once you have status as an Apostle, as long as she isn't a Deacon, which she definitely isn't, she wouldn't be able to unilaterally kill you. At least… not in public or outside a sanctioned battle overseen by your God.'
The spirit grinned. 'Great chance, don't you think?'
He seemed oblivious to the fact Leonidas' head was spinning. Were all Fallen Apostles this crazy?
The spirit spoke of murdering an Apostle in cold blood and returning to that death trap of a town as though it was just another afternoon. When he was describing Fallen Apostles, it was clear that he had forgotten to mention that they were all madmen, clearly.
Before Leonidas could react, though, he found four heads sitting around the very altar he was still sitting upon. With shock, he realized that these heads belonged to none other than the male Apostle, Manfroi, Kyzer and… Daisy.
The spirit chuckled. 'That woman is indeed quite odd. She killed the male Apostle in a fit of rage after she exited, but then she ended up stuck as a result. So, she used her Substitution Doll to escape. But, the moment she did, the remaining power of the basilisk was more than enough to kill the Paladin and the two Clergymen that were left.
'Without the Apostle resisting the brunt of it, the strength was too much. I hope for your sake that you didn't care too much about them. If it wasn't for my actions, their heads would be stone right now.'
The spirit spoke offhandedly. It was clear he didn't care even if Leonidas had such qualms or not. He was very used to death. He had watched some of his closest comrades fall right before him. It was safe to say he didn't care about the pain of others either.
Leonidas gazed toward Daisy's head just a small bit longer. He still remembered those words she had spoken that night.
Which choice would you make…?
If she knew that it would definitely end this way, would she have still made this choice?
Leonidas didn't have any special feelings for Daisy. He didn't even see her as a friend. Maybe his current self was completely incapable of forming even such a benign relationship.
But for some reason, at this moment, he remembered her casual smile when she met him in the showers for the first time, her nagging voice constantly nipping at his eardrums, the softness of her lap when she held him after he passed out for the hundredth time.
'I see. I guess I do care.' Leonidas thought to himself.
It was as though he was logically deducing his own emotions, almost like he was psychoanalyzing someone other than himself.
Leonidas reached out, closing the lids of Daisy's eyes.
'Do you want me to not use her in the sacrifice?'
Leonidas shook his head. "No. Use her."
His words were firm and the baritone of his voice was almost tangible. Much like he had with his mother's coins, he would carry Daisy with him from now on until he too met the same fate she had today. Maybe, somewhere in some far-off distant world, she would appreciate his choice today.
'Even though you aren't a Fallen Apostle, as one accepted to chase this mantle, you will be known as a Fallen Disciple.
'As a Fallen Disciple, even though you have no right to the true well of power of Fallen Apostles, you do still have some benefits.
'The first is the Knowledge Well.'
The spirit pointed a finger toward Leonidas' forehead. At that moment, the latter felt a jolt implode within his mind.
'Fallen Apostles have no convenient way to convene and our hideouts aren't safe places to keep our stores of knowledge. As such, we have developed techniques to remotely access most things Gods need a Shrine to use.
'Of course, it isn't that Gods cannot use such methods. It's more accurate to say that they do not for the sake of maintaining control.
'Whenever you enter a Shrine and witness the appearance of a well all to your own, this is technically an extension of such techniques. There's no reason for you to have to enter a Church to experience this considering the strength of Gods. But, those arrogant pricks love to hold onto every shred of power they can.'