In the Monastery’s courtyard, several bonfires had been lit. Soldiers sat around them in small groups, polishing their weapons and talking in low voices.
Raylo and Lillian sat by one of the bonfires.
The flas licked at the firewood with a soft CRACKLE, stretching their two shadows long behind them.
Lillian was holding a sharpened branch, on which was skewered a large, plump slab of Magical Beast steak. She was carefully turning it over the fire to roast.
The steak SIZZLED as it cooked. Golden fat dripped into the fire, kicking up a small cluster of sparks as a rich aroma filled the air.
"Awooo!"
A lazy cry sounded out.
Moonlight had snuck over at so point and was now staring unblinkingly at the roasted at in Lillian’s hand, its pale golden eyes fixed on the prize. A low purr rumbled in its throat.
It sat bolt upright, but its occasionally twitching tail betrayed its inner desire.
Coal Ball, on the other hand, was much more direct.
The pitch-black Space Young Dragon had simply flopped down at Lillian’s feet. It stared up at her, drool nearly puddling on the ground. The words "Feed !" were practically written all over its face.
"Don’t be impatient, it’s almost ready."
Lillian giggled at their antics, her voice crisp and clear.
She used a small knife to cut off a perfectly roasted piece of at, blew on it to cool it down, and offered it to Moonlight first.
Moonlight sniffed it demurely before gulping it down and starting to chew. But its narrowed eyes and the slight wobble of its head showed nothing but pure satisfaction.
Seeing this, Coal Ball grew anxious and started rubbing its head against Lillian’s leg.
Lillian laughed, cut off another large piece, and tossed it directly to the little dragon.
Coal Ball swallowed it in one gulp. It was hard to tell if it was because the at was hot or because it was just so happy, but it actually did a sorsault on the spot.
"You’re spoiling them rotten."
Raylo watched the scene, a faint smile on his lips.
’These two have completely surrendered to Lillian’s culinary offensive.’
"Brother, to get them to like , I actually learned how to barbecue from a bunch of master chefs!"
Lillian cut another piece of at and handed it to Raylo.
"Besides, Coal Ball perford a great service today."
Raylo took the roasted at and bit into it. It was crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and bursting with flavor.
"A great service indeed,"
he said.
"I never expected that a tiny Monastery, one without even a Bishop, could have hoarded a fortune comparable to several years of a Lord’s inco."
"Those people... they talk about divinity and humility, but in secret, they’re greedier than anyone."
Lillian pouted.
Raylo swallowed the at in his mouth.
"They don’t just plunder Gold Coins; they plunder faith. The Gold Coins are just a byproduct of that plunder,"
he said.
"When people place their hopes in ethereal Divine Spirits, they willingly offer up everything—their wealth, their land, even their lives."
"The Divine Spirits plunder the faith of Mortals, and these ’Divine Servants’ plunder the wealth of Mortals."
Lillian nodded as if she half-understood. She wasn’t very interested in such complex philosophies, so she changed the subject.
"So where are we going next? Are we going to go raid another Monastery?"
Raylo chuckled and ruffled her hair.
"Don’t get too greedy. This haul is more than enough for us to digest for a while."
As they were talking, a sudden commotion erupted from the distant edge of the camp. The faint sounds of shouting and scolding carried through the night air.
Raylo’s brow furrowed slightly.
Before long, Ed strode out of the darkness, a grim expression on his face.
"Lord."
"What happened?"
"There’s a large crowd gathered outside, about a thousand people. They’re all villagers from the nearby hamlets."
Ed reported in a low, serious voice.
"They’re ard with pitchforks, hoes, and clubs. They’re very agitated, shouting for us to get out and return the Monastery to the ’Lord’s good servants’."
An expression of disbelief crossed Lillian’s face.
"Are they insane? Those Monks exploited them like Vampires day in and day out! We drove the Monks away, and instead of thanking us, they’re standing up for them?"
"The Monks we expelled didn’t go far. They’ve been spreading rumors among the villagers, telling them we are Demons who blasphe the divine, here to destroy their hos."
There was a hint of anger in Ed’s voice.
"These ignorant villagers were incited by just a few lies. Our n have set up a defensive line and are holding them back for now, but there are too many of them, and they keep trying to break through."
Raylo stood up and brushed the crumbs from his hands. His gaze went past the bonfire, toward the darkness from where the noise was coming.
’Pathetic, and yet detestable.’
’Numb and indifferent when they were being exploited, but now, for the sake of their exploiters, they dare to face the dangers of a trained army.’
’Their faith has long since been twisted into a shackle to enslave themselves.’
"Misplaced compassion will only lead to more trouble and casualties,"
Raylo said.
"Ed, if you try to disperse them using conventional thods, the only outco will be our soldiers getting injured in the shoving matches. anwhile, under the Monks’ influence, they will charge again and again until a bloody conflict becos inevitable."
He turned to Lillian.
"Lillian, light up the night sky for ."
Lillian imdiately understood her brother’s aning and began to chant a short Spell.
A massive ball of light rose from her hands, soaring high into the air and instantly illuminating the entire sky as if it were day.
The sudden, intense light threw the clamoring villagers outside into a panic. They stared in terror at the "man-made Sun" above their heads.
"Storm Griffin Knights, take flight,"
Raylo commanded.
"Don’t get too close. Circle above their heads and use your wings to whip up a gale. Scatter them."
"Yes, my Lord!"
The Griffin Knight Personal Guard, who were already on standby, acted imdiately. Several magnificent, tawny Storm Griffins carrying their Knights soared into the sky, their massive Iron Feathers glinting like tal under the glow of the light sphere.
They flew over the gathered villagers, gathered wind-aspected Magic Power, and began to beat their wings forcefully.
"WHOOSH!"
A violent gale materialized from thin air, smashing down toward the ground like an invisible giant’s hand.
The crowded mob was instantly blown about, stumbling and unable to keep their footing.
Bits of grass, dust, and the villagers’ screams mingled together, forming a chaotic vortex.
The villagers, who had drawn courage from their numbers, saw their formation instantly collapse as they were scattered in all directions.
Raylo continued his orders.
"Pegasus Knight Squad, take flight."
A dozen or so Pegasus Knights acknowledged the command and quickly ascended.
"Find the ones hiding in the crowd, fanning the flas. Don’t bother confirming their identities. Anyone making suspicious movents or trying to organize resistance—right or wrong—is to be shot and killed with Bow and Arrow on sight."
At the sa ti, he said to Ed.
"Ed, you take so n and shout the warning. Tell them to get the hell ho imdiately, or die."
Raylo’s gaze swept over the figures struggling in the gale, finally settling on a few individuals in the crowd who were still trying to rally the others, shouting at the top of their lungs.
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