The courtyard of the cathedral fortress was silent.
Moonlight spilled across the white stone like pale water, reflecting off the towering statues of heroes and saints. The wind whispered softly through the tall banners hanging from the walls.
Kaito stood alone near the center of the courtyard.
Or rather, he appeared alone.
Across from him stood the Divine Apostle.
The golden-armored figure looked almost inhuman beneath the moonlight. Its armor shone faintly, engraved with ancient holy symbols that pulsed with a faint glow. A long white cloak flowed behind it without a single stain.
Its helmet concealed its face entirely.
It hadn't moved since Kaito arrived.
Not a single breath.
Not a shift of posture.
Just standing there.
Watching.
Kaito crossed his arms casually, pretending to stretch.
But inside, his thoughts were racing.
This thing is strange.
Ever since the Apostle had arrived three days ago, everyone treated it like a divine messenger.
The priests bowed.
The soldiers revered it.
Even the royal knights lowered their heads.
But Kaito noticed something… unnatural.
The Apostle never spoke unless asked a direct question.
It never showed emotion.
It never ate.
Never rested.
Never even seemed curious about anything.
It's too perfect.
And perfection felt wrong.
Kaito took a slow step forward.
The Apostle immediately turned its head toward him.
Smooth. Instant.
Almost mechanical.
Kaito smiled lightly.
"Relax," he said. "I'm not here to fight."
The Apostle remained silent.
Kaito walked in a slow circle around it.
"Everyone says you're a servant of the gods."
Still no response.
"So that means you're stronger than me, right?"
Silence.
Kaito stopped behind it.
Let's test something.
He quietly released a tiny pulse of mana.
Barely noticeable.
Weak enough that most people wouldn't even feel it.
But the Apostle reacted instantly.
Its hand moved to the hilt of its sword.
The motion was precise. Perfect.
Too perfect.
Kaito's eyes narrowed slightly.
That reaction time…
It felt automatic.
Like a trap responding to movement.
Not a person reacting to danger.
Kaito stepped back.
The Apostle's hand slowly left the sword.
Returning to stillness.
Again.
Perfect.
Kaito looked up at the moon.
"…You know," he said casually, "heroes in stories usually work with angels or spirits."
He glanced at the Apostle.
"But you… you feel different."
No response.
Kaito sighed.
"Alright. Let's try something else."
He raised his hand.
Light gathered in his palm.
A small holy spell.
Nothing dangerous.
Just enough power to sting.
He fired it toward the Apostle.
The beam shot forward.
Before it even reached its target—
The Apostle moved.
Faster than human sight.
Its sword flashed once.
CLANG.
The spell shattered instantly.
The Apostle returned to its original stance.
As if it had never moved.
Kaito blinked.
"…Wow."
That was fast.
Even faster than most high-ranking knights.
But something about it bothered him.
The movement had been flawless.
But…
There was no emotion behind it.
No tension.
No battle instinct.
Just execution.
Like a machine performing a programmed action.
Kaito lowered his hand slowly.
It's not fighting me.
It's responding to stimuli.
Like a puppet.
A very powerful puppet.
His chest tightened slightly.
Then who's holding the strings?
The priests said the Apostle served the gods.
But what if that wasn't the full truth?
Kaito stepped closer again.
This time, very slowly.
He stopped directly in front of the Apostle.
Their faces were only inches apart.
"Tell me something," Kaito said quietly.
The Apostle's helmet reflected the moonlight.
"…Do you have free will?"
Silence.
Then finally—
A voice emerged from the helmet.
Calm.
Empty.
"Servant of the Divine Order. I exist to execute the will of Heaven."
Kaito felt a chill run down his spine.
Not because of what it said.
But how it said it.
There was no life in the voice.
No personality.
Just a statement.
Like reading a command line.
Kaito forced a small smile.
"Right… of course you do."
He turned away casually.
But inside his mind, thoughts were colliding.
This isn't a person.
It's a weapon.
A weapon sent by the gods.
Or whoever controlled the system.
Kaito looked back once more.
The Apostle stood exactly where it had been before.
Unmoving.
Watching.
Waiting.
Always ready to respond.
Never questioning.
Never thinking.
Kaito's stomach tightened.
Is that what they want me to become?
A perfect hero.
A perfect servant.
A perfect weapon.
His system interface flickered faintly in the corner of his vision.
[Hero System: Emotional State Detected]
[Loyalty to Divine Order increases strength.]
Kaito clenched his fist.
For the first time since arriving in this world…
He began to wonder if the gods were truly on humanity's side.
Or if everyone was simply part of something much larger.
Something controlling the entire war.
High above the world…
Beyond mortal sight…
The Custodians quietly watched.
And one of them spoke.
"…The Hero is beginning to question."
Another voice responded calmly.
"Observation continues."
But a third voice whispered something darker.
"If he deviates… correction will be necessary."