The long-awaited Witch Judgment Assembly arrived as scheduled.
After a period of information bombardment, all the residents of King’s Collapse were well aware of the story of the British Spinning Road Team, as well as the legends of the Demon Nun.
No, it wasn’t just the Royal City—news had spread across the whole Kingdom.
But this trial assembly was meant to openly pronounce judgment and sentence, to use the execution of a Demon-Hunting Nun as a display of the Church’s strict inviolability, her charge being the grave crime of rebellion and insubordination.
The crowd gathering for the spectacle was even larger than last time, with many not from the Royal City itself but drawn from all corners, a motley throng of every kind.
Regardless of good or evil, men or women, old or young, at this moment, all were here to witness the fate of the British heroes. Would it be downfall, or ascension?
Yet this time, the expressions of the Royal City residents were collectively gloomy, their demeanor now even more befitting the mood for attending such a somber ceremony, each one looking as if they had lost a loved one.
“You really think that Demon-Hunting Nun is from the Blood Ghost Order?”
“How could it be? If she could use blazing fire magic and walk freely under the sun, how could she be a blood ghost?”
“Isn’t the charge rebellion? She fought the Royal City coalition with earthshaking force, but in the end, was still defeated and captured by the Holy Knights.”
“So pitiful. She’s so young, yet can wield such formidable magic?”
Everyone thought that things wouldn’t be so simple, that a great upheaval was brewing, and the matter could never be so easily resolved.
“If given time, she could become a God of Magic.”
“Geniuses cut down in their prime—such things happen all too often.”
“Let’s hope there’s a turning point.”
Many believed the world-defying Demon-Hunting Nun couldn’t possibly fall so easily.
“This world just isn’t fair.”
Even old grandmothers, leaning on canes, dragged themselves out to witness it. Even if it meant risking death, it was worth seeing with their own eyes.
Sure enough, the Pope’s funeral was merely a prelude—the Witch Judgment Assembly was the real festival.
Back at the heart of this gathering, the Sage Knight Order Second Company was in formation.
All the Holy Knights of the Kun Knight Order’s Second Company were already prepared.
As the hosts of this Judgment Assembly, they had all polished their Holy Knight armor until it gleamed brilliantly.
Though most were reluctant, it was the Commander’s order; they had no choice but to obey. Today, everyone had to wear the finest and most imposing equipment onto the field.
The Second Company Kun Knights formed up in a square formation, and in their midst stood the main figures of this Judgment Assembly.
It was a purely wooden Nun’s Execution Carriage, specially designed with two distinctive iron crosses, meant to imprison the two rebel nuns.
At the front was a barbed cross, from which the Demon-Hunting Nun was hung. It forced her to stand—she couldn’t even lie down—her struggle and defiance against the Church publicly displayed for all to see.
At this moment, Samimi wore only a simple Nun Prisoner Carriage robe, barefoot, with disheveled hair, hanging motionless from the cross, scars of abuse and torture visible all over her body.
Behind her was an even larger iron cross, shackled with dozens of thick chains, binding another nun, dressed the same, but of a different race.
Niubao’s body was bound by silk ribbons, a warning mask strapped to her face, her head bloodied and battered, her eyes flashing with resentment, bearing the same abused and beaten look.
Her spirit was much better than the Demon-Hunting Nun’s, though. Like a wild beast, she kept making strange gestures, uttering unyielding animal cries.
But those indomitable hands and ankles were securely locked in chains.
Of course, all of this was just makeup.
It seemed the makeup was no longer limited to simple stage acting—even the wounds and costumes strove for perfection.
Even Niubao was acting; though Niubao never expressed any opinions, she was present at every crucial secret meeting where the Kun Knights planned their operation, and followed instructions.
It could be said that Niubao’s acting skills were truly top-notch. It’s one thing for everyone to know Samimi would go berserk—nothing new there.
But if even the honest and simple Ox Nun was beaten down, if even the adorable half-beast girl was battered and made into such a sorry sight—then it really spoke of utter cruelty.
Everyone would think it was too tragic, too pitiful.
Few in the city knew the truth—within the Holy Knight Second Company, only a few captains had been informed by the Commander; to move the world, they first had to convince their own people.
So the entire Second Company’s Kun Knights wore dark faces, extremely unwilling to perform their duties, all forced to attend the Judgment Assembly by the Commander and their captains.
Still, there was one who refused orders outright, refusing to take part in the Judgment Assembly no matter what: Kun Knight Atui.
On this important day, he drank until he was half-drunk, hadn’t put on his Holy Knight helmet, his face covered in stubble, his hair unkempt and greasy. In just a short while, a young man had turned into a broken old soul.
“What are you doing? Obeying orders is our duty as knights,” an old knight came forward to persuade him.
But knowing the truth, the old knight was unusually patient. Otherwise, it would have been Atui causing the biggest scene right now.
“I will not wallow in the filth with you,” Atui said.
“If you can’t change things, then just watch from the sidelines.” The old knight didn’t want to push the child, but for the plan to proceed smoothly, he could only harden his heart and hold him back.
“I didn’t become a Kun Knight to turn night into day…” In this way, Atui was abandoned by the Holy Knight Second Company, left to guard the chapel entrance alone, tears running down as he gritted his teeth and watched the Judgment Team leave the Sage Knight Order’s training ground.
Hating only that he himself lacked the power to stop any of it.
Where are you, Holy Maiden? At such a moment, we need you most.
But rationally thinking, wasn’t it exactly to avoid such a situation that Saintess Makima fled? Otherwise, she’d be the one on that stage now.
“Thank you for your hard work, Mage.”
There was no trace of joy, anger, sorrow, or delight on Second Company Commander Ophika’s face. Right or wrong aside, her role was simply to perform as the responsible punisher.
Because outsiders had no idea that Commander Ophika and the Demon-Hunting Nun were actually on the same side.
At this moment, in the eyes of outsiders, the Church’s sword was the greatest villain.
Among the Judgment Squad was a non-Knight member, a mage in a dark cloak. She called herself Mage Modeng Jibi, an important figure inserted by Archbishop Zirus, responsible for overseeing everyone.
But secretly, she was playing both sides.
“Ice Frost Judgement.” Modeng Jibi raised her staff and manipulated the ice and frost elements, laying down a magical field of 80% containment atop the Execution Platform.
“It’s time. Let’s move out.” Second Company Commander Ophika, seeing the magic field in place, gave the order, and the whole team set forth.
The Witch Judgment Assembly had now officially begun.
The first stage was the parade of the condemned.
Just like at the Pope’s funeral, the criminals would be paraded around the entire city, so that every resident could witness the misery of those who opposed the Church.
But before they even exited the gates of the Cathedral, the Judgment Squad first made a lap around the Church headquarters, letting all the Saints see the Demon-Hunting Nun and her companion, as a warning.
Most of the Saints in the Cathedral came out to look upon the Demon Nun.
Yet their faces did not show approval, but rather a collective gloom, resentment, and the atmosphere was filled with a cold, murderous tension.
Hung on the execution cross, Samimi observed their faces with great satisfaction.
Looks like our plan, after all this time, has finally borne fruit.
In another world, mere public anger means nothing—you must make the professionals feel injustice and loss of hope too. After all, what we must cleanse is the Church’s tumor, not the innocent masses.
“- The funeral procession—how bleak—”
Along the road, even the Jade Sheep Priests came out to see her off, making Samimi feel heartbroken.
Even that twin-tailed beauty contestant stood there, staring blankly, tears at the corners of her eyes.
Strange, for Samimi felt she never had that deep a connection with them.
But at the same time, she felt a bit of pity; it’s so easy for her to bond deeply with the female Saints—oddly, they always seem to develop profound feelings for her.
This had nothing to do with her personal charm, but everything to do with her looks—she simply embodied their ideal of an independent woman.
They left the Sheep Cleric Symposium, walking behind the Kun Knights’ Second Company, determined to follow Samimi to the very end.
Not just the Jade Sheep Priests—more and more Saints joined the procession, all hearts filled with doubts about faith and justice.
The Kun Knights made no move to stop them; they let them march along, making the procession even grander.
Once the internal circuit was complete, the Judgment Squad finally left through the main gate of the Cathedral.
Outside, both sides of the street were packed with Royal City residents, witnessing a Judgment Squad far larger than even the Pope’s funeral procession.
Hundreds of Saints streamed out—never had anyone seen so many female Saints together.
In the bleak daylight, the Kun Knights at the head glimmered like blocks of gold, dazzling and resplendent, but now their luster seemed dimmed.
Could you not look back at the Saints behind you?
Silent prayers, unvoiced sobs, hesitant steps—like walking corpses.
The residents of the Royal City, witnessing this, were even more convinced of what they had suspected.
Before, tales of the Demon-Expelling Nun were met with skepticism, but now, everyone basically knew the truth.
Even the proud, high-spirited Saints usually indifferent to others were now visibly grieving the fate of the Demon-Hunting Nun. The answer was clear.
As usual, the Judgment Squad made a full circuit of the main avenue.
The grand, passionate atmosphere of the previous funeral was nowhere to be seen—now, for the judgment of the condemned, the entire city seemed draped in blue sorrow.
It was as if even the heavens found this unjust. Daylight dimmed, black clouds gathered, and a fine rain began to fall.
Yet it could not halt the process of judgment.
Slowly, the Judgment Squad approached their final destination—the People’s Square of the Kingdom.