Chapter 40: Intervention

In the bustling square where the distribution was in full swing, a fanatic was raising his voice.

“You don’t even believe in the Goddess Nikerba! And yet you seek her grace!”

He despised those who only relied on the goddess’s grace when it suited them.

“W-what are you talking about?”

The target of his anger was a group of young beggars.

Their shabby appearances, with dirt streaking down their faces, looked pitiful.

But none of that mattered to this fervent believer.

“Have any of you ever prayed to the Goddess even once, you filthy brats?”

“S-sorry…”

Though his words were natural, not everyone gathered in the square was favorable toward the Order.

Some looked unfavorably upon this fanatic berating innocent children.

“Hey—old man, enough already.”

“Why pick on these kids for no reason?”

“Looks like a crazy old fool, pfft.”

Of course, the distribution itself was well-intentioned.

With skyrocketing grain prices causing widespread food shortages in Niran, ordinary citizens had no choice but to accept this free meal.

However, aside from that, many held negative views of the Order.

Firstly, because of its origin in the Empire.

Arian had maintained its independence for generations, but it had always been oppressed by the Empire.

Naturally, such views were inevitable.

Secondly, the Order of Nikerba’s forceful proselytizing methods.

These noisy fanatics shouted day and night in the streets, grabbing anyone and spewing nonsensical words.

It was hardly endearing.

Lastly, rumors about the Order circulated.

Coincidentally, after the high-ranking Nikerba priest arrived in Niran, the grain price issue began to escalate.

Moreover, the Order’s expenses increased day by day, making the suspicions quite reasonable.

Of course, without evidence, these remained mere rumors.

Nonetheless, there was a considerable faction dissatisfied with them.

“What did you say! You scoundrels dare to speak against the Goddess’s will—”

“Enough with the Goddess already! Be quiet!”

“Pfft, always blabbering about that goddess.”

“Who’s to blame for the grain prices? You’re heartless bastards, pfft.”

As a few voices joined in, foam began to froth at the fanatic’s mouth.

“You accursed heretics! How dare you blaspheme the Goddess!”

Unable to hold back any longer, the old man shouted “heretics” and picked up a stone.

People nearby tried to stop him, but it was too late.

Thud—!

“Ugh!”

The stone struck a man.

His eyes were devoid of awareness now.

“Y-you crazy old man, do you really want to die?!”

“Die, you damn heretic—ku-hyuk!”

Blood dripped from the man’s mouth as he swung a punch at the old man.

“What’s going on?”

“He’s a heretic who insulted the Goddess! Arrest him at once!”

“The king’s dogs are attacking!”

More people from the old man’s group jumped into the brawl.

Not only believers but, surprisingly, some from the protestors had also joined.

“Those damn fanatics are really—”

“Get lost, damn Empire scum!”

In an instant, it turned into a full-blown fight.

The priests distributing food hurriedly began to leave their posts.

“Cleanse! Purge all heretics!”

“Damn sons of Stauffen!”

“Fine, let’s see you die today, Empire dogs!”

The square descended into chaos in the blink of an eye.

***

Waaaah—

The noisy uproar echoed through the square.

Glenn narrowed his eyes, watching the turmoil unfold.

“It seems a brawl broke out in the square.”

“Quite intense.”

From a glance, he could see people brandishing weapons.

Mercenaries and thugs of poor reputation among the protestors.

They appeared to be backing the Order’s fanatics.

Princess Isabelle’s claim that Francis’s faction was manipulating the protestors seemed to be true.

Opposing them were city merchants and capable guards.

Most of the protestors and those against the Order made up the rest.

And finally, ordinary citizens trying to stay out of it all.

The square was a veritable battlefield.

This was no fire that would be easily extinguished.

…Could Francis’s faction be behind this?

As Glenn quietly observed the scene, Krork, wearing a frustrated expression, approached.

“My lord! Shouldn’t we go in and break it up immediately?”

“…Be quiet, Krork.”

Though Nedian gave a warning, he too was staring toward the square.

They all sensed the incident would spiral out of control.

Yet, they calmly awaited Glenn’s decision.

Right now, the decision-maker of this group was not himself.

“No.”

After a brief moment of thought, Glenn shook his head.

“This is not Lepent’s affair but Arian’s. Our involvement may only complicate things.”

“But my lord, this is—”

“Quiet and return to your posts!”

The stern voice of the battalion commander echoed.

In the Order of Paladins, such defiance was unthinkable.

They had long vowed to protect their family and house, even if it meant going to hell.

Back then, returning home to his mother’s embrace, he had made that decision.

Yes, that resolve remained unshaken—if anything, it had only strengthened.

Then what of the situation unfolding before his eyes?

Was it his family’s matter?

Lepent’s matter?

Did it involve people related to him?

None of the above.

Interfering could worsen the situation.

Yes, logically speaking, there was no reason to hesitate.

[Coward.]

A familiar hallucination.

There it was again, that damned voice.

An apparition of Riclang flickered.

[I didn’t come here. You called me, didn’t you, Glenn?]

Just go away.

Glenn swiped his hand through the air, trying to dispel the phantom.

At that moment—

“Waaah—! Sister, wake up, huuuk…”

His eyes met those of a child in the square.

Upon closer inspection, it was one of the children who had recently shared dried meat with him.

For a moment, the melancholy in the child’s eyes deepened, but soon returned to normal.

…So what?

He was no hero.

He had no intention of becoming one, nor could he.

In his previous life, he was a vile human despised by all.

Not a saint.

Just seeing a young life placed at risk confirmed that much.

He was a loser.

Therefore, he could afford to be ruthless.

He had already come to terms with that.

But—

Above the crying child’s face, someone else came to mind.

“Captain!”

Ian.

The younger brother who had willingly sacrificed himself for Glenn’s sake.

“Go ahead, brother!”

“W-what? What are you saying?”

“If we keep standing here, everyone will die. I’ll be the bait, so hurry and escape!”

“Don’t be ridiculous! I’ll be the bait, Ian—stop right there—”

“You are the heir of House Lepent. If you die, what will become of the family’s future?”

“…That doesn’t mean you have to step forward.”

“Don’t worry. I don’t want to die either. I’ll live for sure!”

“Enough!”

Why now—?

“Damn it.”

Glenn gritted his teeth, trying to push away his worries.

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

[Is this really the right choice?]

He forced the irritating hallucination aside.

Drawing the sword sheathed at his saddle—

Swoosh—

“Knights—”

He turned around to face his men, who awaited his command.

Expectations, tension, excitement—they all looked to him.

A smile unknowingly spread on his lips, easing the tension.

“We enter the square.”

Nedian responded as if relieved.

“Move in teams of three. Everyone, mount up and gather at the front!”

“Uoooh!”

The lions roared.

***

Before Glenn made his formal entrance into the square, he sent some members ahead.

After confirming the rescue of the children who had met his eyes, he headed toward the carriage where Monica waited.

“We are planning to enter the square. It could be dangerous, so Lady, please wait here.”

Monica inside the carriage stared quietly at Glenn.

…Did she want to say something?

“Is that so?”

“Do you have a reason for your decision?”

“What do you mean?”

“Unintentionally, I overheard your earlier conversation. You seemed to find direct intervention burdensome at first, yet you ultimately chose to get involved. Was there a reason for this change of heart?”

Their eyes met, locking in unspoken understanding.

Glenn briefly touched his temple, lost in thought.

A reason? There was no grand reason.

“It’s nothing remarkable. I just happened to see the children and thought of my younger brother.”

“…I see.”

“How to put it… I’m simply acting on what I believe to be right. I don’t want to regret this later.”

Monica, who had been silently listening, made the sign of the cross toward Glenn.

A faint tear glistened in her eyes.

…Why is she like this?

“Great beliefs and justice do not solely pursue good. Most of us are neither saints nor heroes. Simply by protecting the conscience given to us, humans can pursue good. Just like you, my lord. O spring that overcame winter, please watch over this little saint.”

“…Thank you.”

Little saint? How embarrassing.

Glenn hurriedly closed the carriage door and moved toward the square.

Fortunately, the commotion had quieted by then.

***

“Don’t touch me! I’m just distributing—yaah!”

A female resident was surrounded by a few shady-looking men.

By their expressions and behavior, they looked like back-alley thugs.

“If you want to leave nicely, you better cooperate. Got it?”

“Hehe, I like it when a girl acts like a bitch. I’m feeling real good—”

“Then I’ll feel even better.”

Glenn suddenly jumped out from behind the thugs.

Pow! Small but firm!

“Kuh-huhk!”

With a single punch and kick, two of them were instantly crushed.

Glenn gave a cold glare and gestured toward the resident.

“T-thank you!”

As the resident disappeared, he looked down at the fallen thugs.

They were of poor quality.

Those causing trouble on the protestor side were mostly like this.

And strangely, there were many such men here today.

The sudden increase in fanatics shouting heretic chants was likewise suspicious.

No doubt Francis was behind it.

Glenn’s orders to his men were simple:

Disarm them but do not kill.

The order was simple but far from easy.

“Purge these heretics!”

“Calm down, damn it!”

One man who looked like a fanatic swung a club.

Krork dodged while trying desperately to calm him down.

“Purge them!”

But it was only empty words from the start.

His eyes were completely wild; reasoning was impossible.

Krork’s gaze flickered.

Yes, that was enough to try.

Like feeding a dog a bone, he struck the man’s teeth with a punch.

Whack!

“Calm! Down! You brat!”

“Ugh!”

After a few more strikes, the man collapsed to the ground, convulsing.

“People listen when spoken to nicely… huh? He’s not dead, right? Damn! Breathe, breathe!”

Glenn frowned watching the scene.

Nedian avoided his gaze.

Well, the men hadn’t been trained in crowd control.

Glenn sighed briefly and moved quickly.

“Over there! Use that as the boundary to split the square in two. Follow me!”

“Knights, assemble! Follow the commander and divide the square!”

Glenn and his men pushed through the crowd without hesitation.

Of course, the process was far from pleasant.

Grrk—pow!

“This is the knights! Everyone drop your weapons now!”

“If you don’t want to die, get lost!”

“Put your weapons down immediately!”

Those who didn’t comply were quickly met with punches and kicks.

They might not die, but their behavior was no better than the thugs.

“H-h-hiik!”

“W-what!”

“They’re knights, disperse!”

The two groups, who had been shouting insults at each other, began to regain their senses under overwhelming force.

It was obvious; no one here could stand against the Order of Paladins.

Eventually, Glenn succeeded in dividing the crowd and shouted with a fierce glare.

“Drop your weapons! Anyone resisting will be summarily executed!”

Most of the mercenaries and thugs quickly broke apart as an example.

Gradually, the citizens calmed down and lowered their weapons.

Yet, some remained noisy.

“Y-you! Who do you think you are?”

“Why are you barbarians interfering in Lepent’s matters?”

“Are you crazy? Do you know who this man is?”

Of course, once Krork and the others pushed them back, they quickly quieted.

Just as the noise seemed to settle—

“Paladins!”

“The Goddess’s knights have come! Please save us!”

“Knights, those barbarians are beating us up for no reason!”

Several knights of the Order of Nikerba appeared.

As Nedian subdued his men again, a strange standoff unfolded.

“I am Tyrian, captain of the Ryuten Knights. I have come by the order of Priest Francis.”

A goat-bearded man stepped forward.

Glenn spoke as well.

Judging by the figure, he was not a paladin—

Ryuten Knights? What were these guys, and why were they here with the paladins?

“Ron Glenn Lepent, what business do you have here?”

An unmistakably disrespectful tone.

Considering rank, it wasn’t strange.

But the condescending gaze cast down at Glenn was unpleasant.

“…I came because the Order’s followers were being attacked. Why is the Order of Paladins here?”

“A brawl broke out in the square, so we’re sorting it out.”

“Sorting it out? It looks like you’re beating up innocent children of the Goddess!”

“What?”

Glenn’s brows furrowed.

“You, who should be in Lepent, what right do you have to assault Empire believers—”

“Then what, are we supposed to reason with those foaming-at-the-mouth maniacs? They know well enough to listen.”

Without waiting for more, Glenn cut off Tyrian.

His eyes held clear hostility.

“…Your attitude has been rude since the start. I am the Empire’s Captain of Paladins. Behave like that, and you will face the Goddess’s wrath!”

The goat beard quivered.

That was why the others made no sense.

“Ridiculous nonsense. We’ll settle this before it becomes a bigger issue. Are your eyes just decorations?”

“What did you say!”

His face turned red, twisting as his hand reflexively moved to his waist.

Glenn’s expression stiffened.

“After all the trouble of cleaning this up, these guys come and start making a fuss? Or are they just picking a fight?”

Chaang—!

He drew the sword he had put away.

His men readied themselves.

Growls of threat and rising hostility filled the air.

“Lepent doesn’t avoid a fight it provokes. You know that, right?”

“Eeeek—!”

As the tension between the two groups thickened—

A priest from the Paladins stepped forward.

“Please stop, Prince Glenn.”

A familiar flushed blonde man.

Glenn’s expression stiffened.

“…Sir Clemens.”