Because You're Not Cruel Enough, Not Bad Enough

As soon as these words left his mouth, all the soldiers present were struck with astonishment.

His adjutant exclaimed in disbelief, "Sir Alex, why are we retreating?! Didn't Marshal say we were to make an example of those Winter Spring Valley mages...?"

"Enough!"

Alex furrowed his brows, clenching his fists as his gaze drifted far away, landing on the residents who had transformed back into humans, their faces aglow with excitement and joy.

"They came to help us," he muttered softly,

"Lakeside Town is my home, and these residents are our kin. We shouldn't be targeting them."

The adjutant was anxious, "But... but..."

"Enough!" Alex barked, abruptly turning around and sheathing his sword.

He strode heavily back the way they had come, murmuring,

"If Marshal holds me accountable, I'll take full responsibility. This matter ends here."

The soldiers, one by one, turned their heads reluctantly, glaring fiercely in Lynn's direction.

Yet, they still followed Alex as he turned and left.

...

In the town square.

Lynn sat in a rocking chair, reading a novel, his gaze casually sweeping in that direction, barely giving it a second glance.

[Conscience, to hold onto it steadfastly, is indeed a difficult thing.]

[Especially when everyone around you couldn't care less, to still hold onto your principles is no easy feat.]

[But is this a mockery, or a commendation... Hehe.]

Lynn nonchalantly flipped to the next page.

The faint glimmer of light on his finger gradually dimmed and vanished.

At the same time, the transparent wind blades hovering above them also dissolved and disappeared.

At least you saved them, Alex.

...

[Church]

"What did you say?!!"

Marshal, lying on a wooden bed, was seething with rage.

He glared furiously at Alex, who was kneeling before him with his head bowed, grinding his teeth.

"Say that again if you dare!!!"

Alex kept his head low and said, "Lord Marshal, those Winter Spring Valley mages came to help our town through this crisis. They are distributing antidotes to the residents who turned into piglets. I believe, as a human, I cannot attack them now."

Marshal was so infuriated by his words that he actually laughed.

"As a human? What a noble sentiment, as a human!"

"Do you know what you're doing? You're defying a superior's orders! I could have you sent to the Hall of Judgment for this!"

Alex kept his head down, silent, saying nothing.

As a knight of the Holy Church, he was well aware of what the Hall of Judgment was.

It was the sacred place where knights who had erred were punished.

Those sent there, even if they survived, would emerge battered and broken, hardly human.

He hesitated, his palms already sweaty.

After a long while.

He touched his forehead to the ground, closed his eyes, but still said nothing.

Seeing Alex's attitude, Marshal grew increasingly furious. His hands clenched and unclenched as he watched Alex, one of his personally promoted knights and a trusted confidant, being so unrepentant. It was beyond infuriating.

"You...!" he roared.

Crack—

A very crisp sound of something snapping.

Marshal shuddered all over.

The physician behind him panicked, "Lord Marshal, I've told you countless times, don't get angry, don't get angry! If it opens again, it really won't be able to be sewn back! This will really rot!"

Marshal exploded in rage,

"Shut up! I paid you to sew, not to lecture me! Use thicker thread, or even wire if necessary, sew every possible place! If you say another word, I'll take your life!!!"

The physician, humiliated, said, "Then I really will sew everything!"

Marshal roared, "Sew!!!"

He took a deep breath, turning back to glare at Alex, his voice low and menacing,

"Alex, I know you're a kind person, but since you've joined the Order Church, you should understand that obedience is a knight's duty, and a superior's orders are a knight's law!"

Alex bit his lip, lifting his head with complex emotions,

"But what if the order is wrong?"

Marshal pointed at his own rear end, roaring at him, "I'm torn to shreds here, and you're talking to me about right and wrong?! Do you know the humiliation I've endured? Do you know how many pieces I'm split into!"

"I'll tell you! Eighteen pieces!!!" he bellowed, his eyes wide with fury.

The physician timidly said, "Lord Marshal, that was the initial count. Since you've torn open several more times, it's now a hundred and eight pieces..."

"..."

Marshal: "Did I tell you to speak?"

The physician timidly said, "No... no..."

Marshal roared, "Then why aren't you sewing!!"

Taking a deep breath, he turned back, looking at Alex with complexity, "Child, you're one I personally promoted, so I'm telling you all this!"

"I won't send you to the Hall of Judgment, but you'd better think clearly about why you became a knight."

Alex was silent for a moment, then said, "Humility, integrity, compassion, valor, justice, sacrifice, honor... These are the codes of a knight."

Marshal smiled, "Is that why you became a knight?"

Alex lifted his head, lost in thought for a long time, then lowered it again.

"No... not..."

Marshal's face showed a look of satisfaction as he patted Alex on the shoulder,

"Good, as long as you understand this, you'll surely rise to prominence and hold a high position."

"Do you know why you've never been promoted all these years? Because you're not ruthless enough, not wicked enough."

"Because what's in the books... is all a lie."

Alex trembled all over, his hands unconsciously clenching. He didn't dare to argue, because he knew, these words were true.

At least in this era, they were true.

"Alright," Marshal patted his shoulder, comforting him,

"Go back and rest well. Tonight, I'll personally lead a team to deal with those mages."

A cold smile flashed in his eyes.

No matter how strong you are, once night falls, you'll inevitably be affected by that thing.

He had already learned a few things from Saint Anna, the High Priest.

Everything would be settled tonight.

...

Time: 11:30 PM.

At the inn.

In the room, Nanako had already changed into her brand-new blue mage robe, her blue eyes shining with determination.

She gripped her thick staff, saying seriously,

"Everyone, it's almost midnight. The cause of the curse will be revealed tonight. In half an hour, we'll set off. I believe we'll find many clues this time!"