Chapter 121: I Will Launch a Purge (33 — Goes on Shelves Tomorrow)

The Holy See.

The Archbishop looked at the boy who had left and returned, the corners of his mouth lifting unconsciously, and said gently, "Judging by your look, heh, I suppose you've already found your answer."

"Yes."

Herbert respectfully lowered his head and offered his thanks with a measure of sincerity: "Thanks to Ninde Sect, I finally understand what I've been lacking."

Without the Archbishop's reminder, Herbert was afraid it would have taken him much longer to notice what he'd been missing when interacting with monster girls.

Sincerity.

In the end, he was missing a single, untainted sincerity.

Perhaps other people might still harbor some ulterior motives, but Valentina truly had none.

For a monster girl like her, he ought to show his own sincerity.

Sincerity for sincerity, true feeling for true feeling.

The Archbishop gazed at the young Holy Knight who had clearly undergone some kind of spiritual transformation, and slowly nodded.

Young man, your eyes look quite different now.

Not bad.

Not slow-witted.

The Archbishop looked at the boy, and in those grey eyes he saw many scenes.

There was blood and fire, slaughter and death.

A dragon soared through the sky, spewing flames, and countless living beings wailed and perished amid the ruins.

Is this the catastrophe you mean to bring upon that city?

But at the same time, he saw other, entirely different scenes.

There was sugar and honey, fresh flowers and fine wine.

Countless citizens poured into the streets, their faces alight with joy, singing and dancing in celebration of the happiness.

And is this the happiness you mean to bring them?

Which, in the end, is your true choice?

"Then, I'll ask you once more."

So the Archbishop asked: "Herbert Albert, do you intend to bring death and destruction to Frost Crystal this time?"

It was a sharp, soul-piercing question, but with his prior experience, Herbert had long since prepared his answer.

"No."

He straightened his back and said firmly:

"I am indeed bringing slaughter and death back to Wang Cheng this time, but not for the sake of destruction."

"I will bring the people of Frost Crystal the thing they have been waiting for… justice!"

His eyes were full of resolve; he made no attempt to hide his sincerity, stating his goal without evasion.

He was going back for revenge.

But… not only for revenge.

He said:

"The afterglow of the dragon-slaying hero has long since faded; today's Frost Crystal royal house has become utterly corrupt, its members riddled with far too many degenerates."

"They have colluded with the other nobles in Wang Cheng, wantonly enslaving and oppressing the people, hoarding land, issuing debts, trafficking slaves…"

"Too many have died because of their greed, too many families shattered by their desires, too many people forced onto the evil path on their account."

"Those people do indeed deserve punishment, but the true source of evil is not them — it is the degenerate nobles who drove them to that point."

"Though they have, through layers of connections, washed the stain from their crimes and let that money soaked in black blood fall clean into their own coffers, that sin will not simply vanish."

"They are the true sinners, and sinners deserve punishment!"

After all his buildup, Herbert finally dropped the True Weight: "The Frost Crystal Kingdom needs a purge, a thorough transformation."

"I will join hands with the Frost Crystal royal house to launch a top-down purge across the kingdom; not a single degenerate noble will escape."

"Not even the Albert family."

That was the reason Herbert was confident he could persuade the Archbishop not to interfere with his plans back home.

He did indeed intend to take revenge, but not as a simple blood feud — he would use a perfectly legitimate pretext.

"The Frost Crystal Kingdom is like a great tree; parts of its roots have already begun to rot. What must be done now is to cut away those rotten parts, so that it can keep on growing."

He had no intention of striking at this world's existing order, no intention of abolishing the noble system, or of abolishing slavery.

Such a course would be far too radical — the time is not ripe, and it would serve no purpose.

What he could do was to carry out a bloody purge of those people in the name of justice.

Holy Knights are indeed virtuous, but what they can do far exceeds that soft virtue — they know how to kill!

Sure enough, after hearing all this, the Archbishop pondered for a moment. Rather than rebuking him, he asked in return: "And if they don't agree with your idea?"

"Then I'll do it for them!"

The boy answered in a low, firm voice, resolutely proclaiming the bloody future about to descend upon Frost Crystal's royal city.

"If the Frost Crystal royal house won't agree, then I'll do it myself."

"No matter what, evil must be purged!"

The Archbishop nodded, indicating his agreement with the view.

But then he shook his head and sighed softly: "Yet your strength is not enough to let you accomplish any of this."

The Frost Crystal Kingdom was, after all, a powerful kingdom, and would not lack true experts.

Against such a behemoth, a single high-ranking Holy Knight was rather insufficient.

"I understand that, which is why I wish to ask you to bestow your blessing upon me."

"Oh?"

Herbert drew his personally fitted sword, then held it out with both hands before the Archbishop, dropped to one knee, and said respectfully:

"I already possess a sturdy shield to guard my safety; now I beseech you — please grant me a sharp sword to destroy evil."

Yes, this was the true purpose of Herbert's visit to the Archbishop this time.

He had come to freeload food and drink.

All the buildup before this — whether sincere or feigned — was for this one moment: Old man, cough up the cash!

The Archbishop blinked, picked up the blade, shook his head and sighed softly: "Child, you have a private motive."

"Yes."

Herbert admitted without the slightest hesitation, and said earnestly: "But precisely because of that anger and hatred, I will not let a single fallen one escape."

"But at the same time, as a Holy Knight, I can also promise that I will absolutely never harm a single innocent person."

The Archbishop gazed at him, thought for a moment, and finally nodded.

"Very well."

"Then since you have this resolve, how about this… this time, I'll go with you."

Herbert's head snapped up.

Staring blankly at the old man.

Huh?

???

"Uh-uh!"

His eyes blinking rapidly, he stammered: "Th-then there's really no need for that…"

Well, they were indeed guilty.

But… they really hadn't committed a crime that severe!!?

For you, sir, to personally step in — did they somehow violate a heavenly law? Uh, offend the gods?

That can't be right!

"You… serious?"

The Archbishop nodded frankly, slowly rose and stretched his body, and asked in return: "Of course — I can't go?"

"Uh, I think you'd better not go?"

Herbert wiped his sweat and said awkwardly: "After all… this place still needs you to hold things down."

"Mm, fair enough."

"Also, I think dealing with them probably won't require you."

The Archbishop sighed a little disappointedly, sat back down, and murmured: "Ah, won't need me, then…"

"Sigh, young people these days just don't know how to show consideration for the elderly."

Herbert shot a sidelong glance at the old man saying this; he had a great many retorts he wanted to spit out, but in the end swallowed them all back down.

Don't ask why.

He couldn't win!

Frost Crystal Wang Cheng, Silver Wing Duke's Manor.

"Household head, my lord, Princess Feliya has sent someone with an invitation to her coming-of-age banquet. I… should I have someone go tell Prince Herbert about this?"

To the butler's tentative inquiry, the thin silhouette standing by the window gazing at the moon did not turn around, and said coldly:

"Don't bother with him. If he wants to stay there, then let him fend for himself there."

"Understood."

The butler lowered his head and withdrew; only that lone figure remained in the room.

After a long while, there was only a barely audible sigh.

"Sigh…"

(End of chapter)