Knight: from Apprentice to the Almighty

Chapter 335: Chapter 322: The Holy Son’s Invitation

"This is... astonishing!"

Gazing at the enormous stone statue that nearly blotted out the sky, Galvis let out a sharp whistle. His fingers brushed unconsciously across his instrument’s strings, releasing a few stray notes.

"The Lord of Billions of Radiance... I never thought this Fiery Sun Church would actually worship Lodestar."

"Lodestar?"

Roland’s eyes narrowed slightly upon hearing the name.

He had seen records of this Deity in certain old tomes.

The god of the sun, dawn, and rebirth.

According to ancient texts, his followers revered every sunrise, seeing it as a sacred symbol of Darkness retreating and Hope blossoming.

It seemed, then, that the Fiery Sun Church might not be some fanatical organization that used faith for personal gain and to delude the masses. Instead, it appeared to be a positive force that advocated for hope, mutual aid, and growth.

Of course, this was all under the assumption that the believers here still adhered to their original doctrines, and that their faith hadn’t been corrupted.

As his thoughts churned, Roland tore his gaze from the magnificent statue and began to carefully survey the scene within the Land of the Sun Crown.

The Holy Land, hidden deep within the canyon, was much larger than he had anticipated, resembling a small, fully functional settlement.

At a rough glance, there were several hundred followers gathered here, dressed in two distinctly different types of attire.

Some wore simple white or beige robes, appearing to be scholars or Priests.

The others wore practical leather or metal armor, clearly combat personnel.

However, regardless of their attire, they all bore a common, clearly embroidered emblem on their backs or chest plates.

A sun, rendered in simple lines, that seemed to burst outward with light.

’This emblem...’

Roland’s gaze lingered for a moment on the blazing sun insignia.

It was identical to the one worn by the Fiery Sun Church followers he had seen fighting goblins in the dense forests of the Black Water Territory.

The entire Land of the Sun Crown felt less like a simple religious site and more like a tight-knit, self-sufficient community.

In the distance, crops grew on cultivated terraces. Closer by, artisans forged and repaired items under sheds. From even farther away, he could faintly hear the clash of metal on metal from what sounded like a training ground.

All the buildings and facilities here exhibited a style of pure pragmatism. They were constructed from local stone and wood—sturdy, but without any unnecessary adornment.

There was no trace of any pursuit of luxury or pleasure, only a simple tranquility focused on faith and survival.

The sudden appearance of Roland and his party naturally drew the attention and wariness of the followers within the Land of the Sun Crown.

"Don’t worry..."

Gloria said reassuringly, seeing Roland and the others tense up under the followers’ gazes.

"Don’t be intimidated by their appearances. Most of them have struggled to survive in this land for so long that they’ve grown accustomed to protecting themselves with a hard shell. The Fiery Sun Church selects and nurtures resilient Warriors and diligent craftsmen first and foremost, not smooth-talking socialites."

She gestured toward a Warrior in the distance who was teaching a young boy how to adjust the angle of his Crossbow, hand over hand.

The Warrior’s face was stern and his words were terse, even seeming a bit rough, but his movements were incredibly precise and patient.

"They might not smile often, and their words can be so direct it’s sometimes awkward, but they believe that ’actions speak louder than words.’ Sharing their last piece of bread, standing watch over a wounded companion, unhesitatingly blocking a blade meant for you from behind... those are their ways of expressing faith and kindness."

Her gaze swept over the figures laboring silently among the ridges of the fields, who then placed the plumpest fruits neatly into the public granary. Her tone carried a firm gentleness.

"So, rest assured. They may seem aloof, but they are by no means bad people. Beneath the laws they strictly observe lies the steadfast heart of hope and mutual aid that Lodestar desires."

"Lady Saintess?"

From the crowd, an old man who had been engrossed in recording a supply inventory stopped writing and walked slowly toward them.

His gait was steady, and he exuded an air of unquestionable authority.

The surrounding followers all stopped their work and lowered their heads slightly in a show of respect, making his position of power self-evident.

The old man’s appearance, however, was in stark contrast to his status.

His hair and beard were completely white, his features coarse. His skin was a deep brown from long years of exposure to the sun and wind, and his wrinkles were as deep as if carved by a knife.

He wore a faded old linen robe underneath, and his back was slightly stooped. He looked more like a taciturn old farmer than a leader.

But his eyes were a different story entirely.

They were sharp, worldly eyes that had seen the vicissitudes of life.

As he approached Gloria, his gaze first swept quickly over Roland and the others. It was an almost instinctual, unconcealed appraisal, as if he were assessing a potential risk or threat.

There was no welcome in that look, only a calm wariness born of responsibility.

"Why have you come at this time?"

The old man’s voice was low and hoarse, a direct question with little room for pleasantries.

"The scheduled Crown Day should still be nearly a month away."

"Mr. Bordo..."

Gloria took half a step forward, as if to shield them slightly from his scrutinizing gaze.

She shot Roland and the others a reassuring glance, then lowered her voice and quickly recounted the recent events, including the attack and the Duke’s conspiracy.

"What?"

As Gloria spoke, the old man named Bordo’s brow furrowed tightly. The initial scrutiny in his eyes was swiftly replaced by shock and fury, and he let out a low growl of disbelief.

"The culprit behind the suffering of the common people in the East is our own country’s Duke? And... he dared to meddle with the Power of the Abyss?"

His white beard trembled with rage. He paced back and forth anxiously for a couple of steps before abruptly stopping. His gaze, now fixed on Gloria, became incredibly sharp and resolute, his tone firm as iron.

"Lady Saintess, we absolutely cannot stand by and do nothing! The duty of the Fiery Sun is to burn away filth and guard new life. If there is any need..."

He turned to the side, gesturing forcefully toward the entire Land of the Sun Crown.

"Everyone here is at your command."

"Thank you, Mr. Bordo."

Gloria seemed to have anticipated the old man’s attitude and reaction, showing little surprise on her face.

"But before that..."

She gestured to Roland, who stood beside her.

"Please allow me to introduce you. This is Mr. Roland..."

Bordo’s anger subsided slightly, but some of his inherent scrutiny returned.

Following proper etiquette, he gave Roland a slight bow. His wording was formal, almost cold.

"The Fiery Sun Church will remember your righteous deed, Mr. Roland. By protecting the Saintess, you have protected our Hope."

"Should you require anything, you may ask it of us, so long as it does not violate our doctrines."

The old man’s words of thanks sounded more like a calm declaration of debt.

However, the moment he straightened up and his eyes swept across Roland’s face again, the formulaic, stern expression on his own face suddenly froze.

His eyes widened slightly. All his previous wariness, scrutiny, and even his recent anger were replaced in an instant by utter shock, followed by an uncontrollable fervor.

"Hm?"

Roland was about to offer a simple bow in return but was taken aback by the sudden, dramatic change in the man’s expression.

Before he could speak, Bordo surged forward excitedly, abandoning the distance he had maintained just moments before. He gripped Roland’s hands tightly, his composure completely lost.

His once-sharp and guarded eyes now shone with the light of someone who had discovered a priceless treasure.

"Perfect! This is... a divine revelation from Lodestar!"

His voice trembled with excitement as he looked Roland up and down, as if appraising a masterpiece that transcended the mortal realm.

After a moment, he seemed to regain a shred of self-control, but his voice still shook violently with emotion.

All his previous aloofness was thrown to the winds, replaced by a passion that was almost pleading.

"Mr. Rola—no! Your Excellency! Do... do you have any interest in believing in the great Lord of Billions of Radiance and deigning to become the Holy Son of our Fiery Sun Church?"