Chapter 684

Chapter 69: Through the Fire – Part One

“I don’t think… they would…”

The thin man with a black hood on his head beside him said. Upon hearing this, the burly Montd glared at him with bloodshot eyes, “Why wouldn’t they!?”

He roared furiously, “Those knights! Why did they choose to appear here and now, silently and in such numbers? They want none of us to escape! They see us all as remnants of the Gate of Truth, and they want us all dead here!”

“But we… we are innocent…”

The thin man tried to argue, but his words were hesitant, and he probably didn’t even believe himself, “We have no guilt. Those clerics… even if they act unreasonable, they won’t really slaughter innocents…”

“Who said you were innocent? Who can prove your innocence!?”

Montd tightened his grip on the knife unconsciously. He sneered and ignored the thin man, turning to look at the old man Robert with an unpleasant expression, “Mayor! Don’t forget how Elma’s mother died more than twenty years ago! Who killed her? How many people living in Mossander Basin back then were like her—ordinary people, defenseless and powerless, just like stray dogs in the eyes of the false believers!”

“Are those people innocent? What did they do wrong? But what was the result? Whether they submitted or begged for mercy, didn’t they all die there!?”

“But—”

“They are heretics… different…”

“How do you know they are all heretics? Have you seen them yourself? Have those false believers confirmed each one of them?”

“What’s wrong with you, still holding onto some hope at a time like this!”

“Timid—”

“Who are you calling timid!”

The men nearby started arguing with each other. The old mayor Robert remained silent. Seeing this, Montd shouted, “Stop shouting!”

His roar drew the attention of many people further away. The children in the women’s arms cried louder, but apart from their cries, everyone fell silent.

“This is where we are! This is our homeland!” Montd stepped onto the steps of the earthen building, his face full of anger, “This is where we have lived and worked for generations! I am from Meser, and so are most of you. Your parents, wives, and children! They are all from Meser, from Meser Town!”

“Our ancestors were humiliated and enslaved, and we were forced to flee here! We were driven here by them. How many years have passed, how many generations? We have never dared to leave, to see the outside world! Is this life what we deserve? No! It shouldn’t be this way hundreds of years ago! We shouldn’t have run, because the more we run, the more those false believers think we are weak, and the more they will bully us!”

“Shut up, Montd! Say less!”

Hearing his words, the old mayor could no longer hold back his anger. His face turned red as he ran over and pointed at Montd, scolding him, “What are you trying to do! You bastard, what are you trying to do! Those knights may not be here to take our lives; there might still be a chance! Are you trying to lead everyone to their deaths with you, you brute! Cough, cough—”

“There’s no chance left!”

Facing the mayor’s anger, Montd did not back down, glaring back, “Mayor! They are getting closer, with so many knights! If they’re not here to kill us, then why are they here? Are they coming to visit? You’re senile!!”

“What did you say, you—, cough, cough, cough…”

The word ‘senile’ made the mayor choke, clutching his chest and bending over to cough violently. He waved his hands repeatedly, trying to say something more, but realized no one was listening anymore.

“We have been oppressed and exploited for centuries, retreating step by step, with nowhere else to go. Now, they want to force us again!”

Montd held his knife with one hand and struck it twice against his chest, making a “clang, clang” sound, drawing everyone’s attention, “This is our homeland, our land! My wife, my children, your parents, wives, and daughters! Those knights are here

They can’t escape anywhere, they are all here! Do you want to put down your knives and gamble your family’s lives on the mercy of those false believers!?

“I could never do that—”

The man looked like a wolf, with more and more people gathering this way. He raised his knife above his head and roared, “I will rebel! Even if I die, I want to tell them, to tell those false believers, that we are not easy to bully! The people of Messer are not lambs for anyone to slaughter! When the blades roll over us, we will resist!”

He descended the steps, holding his knife as he wove through the crowd: “Is there anyone brave enough to join me? Follow me! Let’s meet those noble guests from the West—”

“Roar!!!!”

Familiar shouts echoed in the town, filled with a murderous aura. Long knives were raised on the dirt road, torches were re-lit, and men started surging towards the west. In the dim light, children cried out fearlessly, and women sobbed softly in the wind.

“Don’t go, don’t be rash! All of you, come back! Come back…”

The old mayor was frantic, rushing forward to stop them but was pushed, nearly falling. Little Betty clung to his leg, crying loudly.

That cry was so distressing.

Should I…

Stop them…

“Miss!”

“Miss—”

In the chaos, people also gathered around me. Shadows flickered in the fluctuating light, making it hard to see their faces. I only heard a buzzing sound, like flies, a mix of excited or humble murmurs.

“Please go with the warriors… help them fend off those false believers…”

“Save us…”

“We have nothing left, we have nothing to give those knights…”

“Mayor, please try to persuade them again! They are walking straight to their deaths—”

A few veiled women ran over, crying, and knelt beside the disheartened old Robert, begging him. The old man seemed at a loss, then someone pulled him aside, glanced at me, and whispered something.

“The knights might be looking for this successor…”

I heard every word of their whispers clearly.

“Or we could think of a way… think of a way… look, there’s still marshwort in the warehouse… we could use that… make her lose consciousness, then hand her over…”

“Nonsense…”

The old mayor immediately reprimanded in a low voice.

But his face showed a moment of hesitation.

I took it all in.

Then, lowering my head, I laughed coldly.

“Hmph.”

Humans…

“Sister! Sister—”

Betty, with red eyes from crying, somehow ran over. She shook my hand: “Sister, Betty is scared, very scared… let’s go… Mom said to hide, you, you come with us, those knights… they seem to be many… you and Betty should go together…”

“No.”

I broke free from the little girl’s hand, looking down at her with a gentle gaze: “Sister will… be right back.”

With that, I stepped toward the west side of the town.

Just then, commotion erupted from the front of the road.

“Huh…”

“Are you…”

“Elna…”

“Miss Elna…”

The chaotic voices instantly fell silent. Someone’s exclamation seemed amplified countless times: “You are Miss Elna!”

…What?!

I suddenly lifted my head.

In the dust-filled road ahead, under the thick night sky, the flickering firelight revealed a slender figure wrapped tightly in a cloak.

She approached from afar, her cloak tattered and bloody. Silver hair flowed out from her hood, and it seemed she wore nothing underneath. Dirty yet radiant, long legs were exposed halfway as she walked through the crowd that parted for her, step by step, slowly coming this way.

“…Elna.”

I recognized her immediately.