Where is Kbosni? Kpaisni ran off to Zheliyin.
In fact, she was right at the very front of the Judgment Assembly, dressed in the long robe of a Slope Order official, disguised as an elven nun, staying close to Sage Knight Order Second Company Commander Ophika. Hanging behind her was Samimiโs water-drenched body.
Kbosniโs emotions were no different from the masses of the Royal City. Her heart was gripped by a sorrow she could not express, a kind of helplessness that left her unable to do anything, feeling utterly insignificant.
As she walked towards the Royal City Peopleโs Square, she felt an unprecedented pressureโthe kind brought by the millennia-old oppressive authority of the institution known as the Church.
Today, there were no citizens inside the Royal Peopleโs Square.
Inside, there was only a deadly formation assembled from over a thousand hired goons dressed as Slope Order officials, all lackeys bought and long-term maintained by Archbishop Tyrus with his golden scepter.
These people had no faith. They joined the Church solely for better payโwhoever has money, they serve. Good or evil, justice or vice, they simply donโt care.
There was not a shred of emotion on their faces, always ready to draw their swords and cut down anyone decent.
No matter how superb Samimi and the othersโ acting was, no matter how tragic the legend of the Demon-Hunting Nuns, it could not move these peopleโs hearts.
Some people are just born without empathy. Some people never shed a tear. Some are innately cold. That is simply human nature.
Itโs not like a few beautiful girls putting on a pitiful act can tug at everyoneโs heartstrings. Donโt think so simply of humanity, donโt write the world as if itโs black and white.
Though Archbishop Tyrus has little intelligence and even less cunning, he has money! He has power! He has men!
This time, heโd gone all in, summoning every ounce of hidden strength accumulated over years, determined to publicly kill the Demon-Hunting Nun to set an example.
So, when Klosi arrived, she saw a true face of the Church.
Her own identity as a clergy represented the compassion of the Church, the conscience of the goddess.
But these so-called โholyโ scoundrels before her represented the Churchโs ruthless, evil side. As Samimi had said, they had no faithโhistory of the goddess was merely their excuse for committing evil.
โSo thatโs how it isโฆโ
With a start, Kbosni understood what Samimi had meant earlier about clearing out the poisonous rot.
Anyone can claim to want to save the world, but how does one truly save it?
To eliminate a poison, one must first gather it together.
And right now, all the poison of the Church had been drawn together in one place.
Sweep them away in one fell swoopโwas this Samimiโs plan all along? Even Klosi felt a bit of admiration for Samimi.
โSo many peopleโฆโ
Actually, Samimi hadnโt thought this far ahead at all. Seeing the execution scene, even she could only smack her lips in surprise.
Because this was a sudden incident no one had foreseen, she never imagined that dead-brained Archbishop would have so many evil lackeys!
This also meant one of Samimiโs long-held reasons for restraint might soon be broken.
That was the prohibition against killing.
Once the fighting started, faced with these sorts of scoundrels, she might not be able to hold back from deadly force.
I canโt bear to kill elven children, but when facing scum and monsters like you, killing one feels good for a day, killing ten is good for a year.
So, where are you, slaughter maniac Qiqi? Hurry and save me! Come help me kill, kill, kill!
โEveryone be careful. Once we make our move, thereโs no turning back.โ The Second Company Commander, Ophika, took the lead and said.
She was speaking to Samimi, but also to Kpaisni. Since they had chosen this path, they had to see it through.
โFate, huh. Qiqi used to say that too. You lot really love stirring things up.โ Samimi suddenly relaxed a lot, teasing.
โEvil elves donโt look like they want peace,โ Klosi remarked with utter seriousness.
It was clear nowโshe didnโt just hold grudges against Samimi and Nancy, even Qisese had been added to her list. Sooner or later, everyone would get a turn being shot by her.
โI broke out last time; I can do it again this time,โ Samimi said confidently.
โIf I hadnโt helped last time, youโd be dead already.โ Ophika glanced at her, not knowing where her confidence came from.
โThese sorts of people, even if a thousand more show up, canโt beat our sisters.โ Samimi was not so much confident in herself as she was in the Sword Slope Girl and Rain Domain Maiden.
She was rightโsuch so-called โholyโ lackeys were nothing but weeds before the true Saintesses.
The real threat would come from the soon-to-return Holy Knight regiments.
After all, even among the Holy Knights, there was divisionโlike within the Sanctuary Knights and the Church, many factions existed, with internal strife everywhere.
The ones helping Samimi now were only the Second Company of the Sanctuary Knightsโit didnโt mean the whole Holy Knight Order was their ally.
In fact, those internal traitorous Holy Knights were the greatest threat to them right now.
โEveryone, donโt panic. We move according to planโattack!โ
Ophika calmly gave the order and led everyone into the Royal City Peopleโs Square.
The Judgment Assembly advanced slowly into the square, immediately surrounded by layers upon layers of โholyโ lackeys stationed along the edge.
Their formation was deliberateโthe whole square had become a huge trap, making it clear that today, the Demon-Hunting Nun would never escape.
Soon, the Judgment Carriage halted before the plaza stageโthe same place where the Holy Seeโs funeral reception had been held. Now, it was arranged as a Judgment Platform.
โHere we goโฆโ
Tyrus, bloated in his bright red archbishopโs robes, stood atop the stage, with several purple-robed archbishops and a large group of high-ranking Church officials at his back.
In addition, there were three powerful personal bodyguards at his side, and even two highly paid mage mercenaries.
Having learned from the previous attack, he had made meticulous preparations to ensure nothing could go wrong.
It was clear Tyrus wasnโt completely clueless; he at least knew how to wield his power and wealth effectively.
This showed just how terrifying it could be for an incompetent man to amass great power and wealth. Yet such men were everywhere in the Churchโan entrenched source of disaster.
Now, all of them were gathered behind Tyrus. Those plain-robed bishops were no lightweights eitherโtruly a nest of wasps.
โHoly Knight, Court Mage, I truly appreciate your efforts.โ
Archbishop Tyrus beamed brightly at the Demon-Hunting Nun and the Bull Nun, obviously pleased.
But it seemed he still lacked any real cunning, for despite being warned repeatedly by Modenmor that Samimi was with the Second Company, he truly believed sheโd been captured.
Second Company Commander Ophika nodded, stepping aside and giving the stage to Archbishop Tyrus to perform.
The Court Mage, meanwhile, didnโt hesitate to climb onto the stage, blending in with the โholyโ lackeys. After all, she was Tyrusโs most trusted confidant and a powerful guarantee of force.
Without the Court Mageโs support, he would never have dared to confront the Demon-Hunting Nun so closely, let alone speak so loudly.
He did not realize that everything was a trap, that he had stepped into the enemyโs snare, unable to escape.
โDemon-Hunting Nun! Are you aware of your crimes?โ
But now that he was speaking, the Amplification Spell boomed his voice throughout the city, letting everyone hear him.
This was a public Judgment Assembly, after all. Of course, the masses must see and hear itโotherwise, there would be no need for such a show. Secretly executing the Demon-Hunting Nun wouldโve been much easier.
Still, the unruly remarks of the Demon-Hunting Nuns had brought great trouble to the Church, seriously damaging its reputation. The Church had to restore order and authorityโthere was no room for mercy.
At the next moment, elven nun Klosi slipped into the sandpit arena, setting up a magical amplification device in front of Samimi, the Demon-Hunting Nun.
โUghโฆโ Samimi bowed her head slightly, letting out a pained moan.
Hearing this, Archbishop Tyrus felt a wave of pleasure, watching this young genius finally kneel before himโnothing could be more satisfying.
โDemon-Hunting Nun, Iโll ask you once moreโare you aware of your crimes?โ Archbishop Tyrus asked again, self-important and thinking himself very impressive.
According to the plan, the Demon-Hunting Nun would plead guilty and beg for mercy, only to be burned alive in the end.
โIโฆ Samimiโฆ gu guโฆโ
โWell, tell everyoneโwhat exactly is your crime?โ Tyrus asked with a grin.
โMy crimeโฆ is not smashing your pig head in!โ Samimi replied fiercely.
โIt seems youโre beyond redemption. Do you know why our Church must clear out all the Demon-Hunting Nuns? Because each and every one of them is a madman, prone to killing, even slaughtering their own allies when they lose control. Like you, irrational and disrespectful, born killersโour Church has no need for such tumors!โ Tyrusโs smile faded, beginning a long-winded lecture.
No one expected this fool could actually deliver such a speech, rousing the crowd as he spoke.
โโฆ.โ Even Samimi, rarely at a loss for words, was struck silent.
She had nothing more to say to this man, preparing to take action.
โArchbishop is talking to youโanswer him!โ But Klosi, seeming to sense Samimi was about to act, suddenly put on a show, coming over and giving Samimiโs belly a hard stomp, forcing her to cool down.
Maybe there was a touch of personal grudge in that kick, but at least she didnโt go too far.
โOw!โ Samimi pretended to be in agony, groaning loudly.
This made the scene all the more convincingโtruly tragic.
Archbishop Tyrus and his men suspected nothing of the Sanctuary Knightsโ Second Companyโthey had absolute trust.
One had to admit, Klosi had a real talent for acting, and could even read Samimiโs mood, perfectly playing along.
After spending so many days together, she knew when Samimi was about to act up. She knew this rice worm could never stand a harsh word, so she intercepted just in time.
But now was still not the time to actโstick to the plan.
โYouโll die miserably! We Demon-Hunting Nuns have given our all to destroy the Blood Clan, and you lot only stab us in the back!โ Samimi cursed loudly, but inside, she had already calmed downโthis time, she couldnโt lash out at Tyrus just yet.
โI donโt know what youโre talking about. Whereโs your evidence? Everything you say is fabricated rumors. You say you gave your all? You say you sealed the Blood Fiend? Whereโs the proof?โ Archbishop Sulu sneered with a laugh.
โHa!โ Samimi was so angry she laughed.
โObsessed and unrepentant. From now on, our Church will never again tolerate the Demon-Hunting Nuns! Theyโre nothing more than a murderous organization, a stain on our Church. Second Company Commander, send her on her way!โ Archbishop Suluโs expression turned ruthless, giving the order for execution.
โSpare her life!โ