Merchant Noble is out (2/3 chapters for today)

 

 

War of Extermination

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After the commander of the Church side was changed from Zenon to Cyan, the battles became increasingly fierce. Cyan, who had no military experience at all, repeatedly made reckless charges, causing the Church’s casualties to increase continuously. However, since the believers residing in the Count Shinri’s territory sided with the Church, the Church gradually gained the upper hand.

And one month after the battle against Count Shinri began.

“God! We have captured the last stronghold of the demons.” (Cyan)

Cyan knelt down, tears of joy wetting his cheeks as he gave thanks. The Church army had finally captured all the cities of the Count Shinri’s territory. The count killed his family with his own hands before committing suicide. The remaining soldiers of the Nature Faith and the survivors of the Horimas Order made a final charge against the church army, almost all perishing. Thus, the Count Shinri Household, which had boasted power since before the establishment of the kingdom and was the most traditional noble, was annihilated.

The gruesome battle finally came to an end. Or so it seemed. The real hell began from here.

 

—

 

“Then, I will purify this land. Find the heretics and kill them all.” (Cyan)

“High Priest, we cannot distinguish between the believers of the Holy Teachings and the believers of the Nature Faith by appearance.” (Knight)

In response to Cyan’s spirited orders, the holy knights raised voices of confusion.

Although the two religions have completely different teachings, they had coexisted for hundreds of years. They were all citizens of the Laplace Kingdom in appearance and of the same race. To find the believers of the Nature Faith, one could only obtain a confession from them but knowing they would be killed if they were identified as heretics, they would not answer honestly. Everyone would likely claim to be believers of the Holy Teachings.

After thinking for a while, Cyan casually said this.

“Simply kill all the residents. The believers will go to heaven, and the heretics will go to hell.” (Cyan)

Even the holy knights were left speechless. This was their first encounter with the madness that Zenon had spoken of regarding Cyan.

“B-but they are not just killing non-resisting citizens. To kill not just the heretics but even the believers of the Holy Teachings…” (??)

One person timidly voiced their opinion, and instantly, Cyan’s hair stood on end. The mere fact that someone dared to voice an opinion within the Church sent his anger to its peak.

” You have the nerve to go against God’s will and side with the devil. This is an unworthy spirit for a holy knight! I shall expel you immediately!!” (Cyan)

Another holy knight hurriedly intervened.

“High Priest! This person merely confirmed the purification procedure. I apologize for any misunderstandings.” (Knight)

“Hey. Even Zenon-sama was dismissed. So, do not oppose Cyan-sama.” (??)

Being dismissed from the holy knights would be preferable. The worst-case scenario would be expulsion. For believers, expulsion was a declaration more terrifying than death. They would suffer eternally in the fires of hell even after death.

“I will immediately commence the purification of the people.” (??)

With Zenon, the high priest who had been able to talk his way through situations, now dismissed, there was no one left to stop Cyan’s delusions and rampage. Thus, the Church army began to work on the “purification” of the residents of the Count Shinri’s territory.

 

—

 

Marie, who entered the battlefield slightly late behind the church’s forces, was astonished. The town was in ruins, and corpses lay piled on the roads. It had truly become a town of death with no living humans. Having witnessed such a gruesome scene, the sisters behind her began to vomit. Marie felt nauseous as well, but she somehow endured and began to survey the town.

“That cannot be. The Church has won, and the battle should be over…” (Marie)

The battle should have been over, so why were they being killed? The holy knights, looking awkward, answered the dazed Marie.

“By the order of the High Priest, we have killed all the people living in the Count Shinri’s territory.” (Knight)

“W-why such an order?” (Marie)

“To eradicate the heretics. Since we cannot tell by appearance, we will kill everyone for now. The believers will be saved by God after death.” (??)

“That is absurd!” (Marie)

Marie involuntarily raised her voice. Justifying the killing of not only heretics but even believers of the Holy Teachings was an utterly nonsensical logic. The fact that it was the high priest himself who was making such justifications left Marie unable to hide her agitation.

“It is the command of the High Priest. The holy knights have no choice but to obey. The High Priest said that for every heretic killed, one sin will be forgiven. The ordinary soldier believers are gleefully committing looting, violence, and murder.” (??)

It should not be written in the holy scriptures that killing heretics would forgive sins. The High Priest was likely improvising. If this continued, it would lead to many believers staining their hands with blood.

“Where are they now?” (Marie)

“They are moving to the next town.” (Knight)

Marie hurriedly mounted her horse and left the dead town behind.

It was quickly evident where the Church army was headed. Everything they passed was left in destruction. Fields were ravaged, houses burned, and occasionally corpses lay sprawled. As a saint, Marie offered apologies for not being able to pray for all the deceased while she ran after the Church army.

“I must stop this… I need to stop it immediately!” (Marie)

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