The Lord Demon King is Unfathomable!

Chapter 1679 - 473: The Distance Between Faith and Legend (Part 2)

"But... But the Earl hasn't said anything!"

Upon hearing this, the Judge's lips, shrouded in shadows, curled into a playful smile.

"Oh? How do you know he hasn't said anything? He stated his loyalty to the King, and we have the King's edict. Are you suggesting... you want to rebel against your Lord?"

These words were like a stone shattering the barn's roof, causing a sudden uproar and commotion among the surrounding farmers.

They couldn't believe that the Lord they had welcomed back to the castle was so spineless!

Yet, faced with those gleaming swords and the black muzzles of firearms, they were not much braver than that Lord, as not a single person dared to resist.

Actually, not all villagers were inclined to rebel.

While many were indignant, the majority preferred to keep the peace.

Many consoled themselves, believing that after the Church took the grain, they would surely redistribute some back, at least they had praised Sparrow Wood Territory, calling them devout.

And it wasn't wrong.

Even if the citizens of Twilight City came first, they surely ranked ahead of the villagers from Griffin Cliff Territory, and hunger wouldn't lead them to starvation.

The land here was unexpectedly fertile, and the Judicial Court relied on them to continue their efforts, sowing for next year's harvest.

At this moment, a young voice rang out from behind, its tone filled with uncontainable anger.

"This is our land! The Earl has no right to do this!"

All eyes focused on him; it was a lad not yet twenty, evidently unscathed by the blows of feudal authority.

He was too young.

The Judge had been waiting for this statement; a smile indeed crossed his tense lips.

He slowly turned to the young man, his eyes under his hood filled with mockery, resembling a cat playing with a mouse caught in its claws.

"Oh? Evidence?"

The young man was stumped by this question; just as he was about to speak, someone beside him pulled him suddenly, alerting him that it was a trap.

Yet, under the gaze of the Judicial Court, silence was even more terrifying than speaking.

His face turned red, eventually stammering in an attempt to muddle through.

"...it was said by Saint Sis, He... He gave us these lands."

This statement was acceptable in the past.

However, uttering it on the land once ravaged by Chaos, facing a Judicial Court resolved to zero tolerance, was greatly taboo.

The Judge said no more, merely waved gently.

"A follower of the 'witch,' take him away."

Two executor-like wolves promptly stepped forward, forcibly dragging the young man from the crowd, heedless of the pleas and wails from his family.

Cavalry loyal to the King watched this unfold, lips moving as if wanting to speak, but under the cold gaze of the Judge, chose silence in the end.

The others remained silent as well.

Including Old Hank, with his eyes wide open.

Fear is the best persuasion.

The young man was thrown onto a cart, along with the livestock the villagers had recently bought from the Dwarf brothers.

Villagers could only watch helplessly as their half-year's harvest was loaded onto wagons, carted off to unknown distant lands.

Until the forces of the Church and Kingdom completely receded, disappearing beyond the horizon, the oppressed village was punctuated by sporadic sobbing and curses.

"They are not servants of Saint Sis! Saint Sis would never give such absurd orders!"

"Didn't the Holy Daughter say... everyone is fighting in His name, but not one truly has Him in their heart. I didn't understand before, but now I do, she's talking about the Judicial Court people!"

"These folks... they're even less reasonable than the Undead!" muttered someone quietly, the sentiment resonating with everyone.

All missed the already "vanished" figure deeply in their hearts.

Including Hank.

It wasn't like this when Princess Kalen was here...

It's not only the villagers of Wheat Field Village feeling lost in faith; a man sitting at the entrance of Rock Inn bore a faint trace of bewilderment on his rugged face.

He supported the Holy Daughter's choice to lay down arms.

Moreover, he believed that part of the reason the pure young lady gave up her power was due to his persuasion.

But now—

He began to doubt whether he had done the right thing.

All the once-present beauty and the approaching peace vanished the moment the Judicial Court arrived...

"Master..." Julian walked behind him, watching the distant dust rolling, softly murmuring his name.

He had many questions to ask but didn't know where to start.

Back in Grey Stone Town, watching the marauders, he had but one thought: to pray for the Church to intervene.

But the Church came differently than he envisioned.

Gunter shook his head.

"Julian, my child... I can teach you how to wield a sword, but some things I can't comprehend; perhaps you need to find the answers yourself."

Although victorious countless times on the battlefield, he never felt as powerless as today. That spiritual weakness tortured him more than the decline of Strength.

Back at Brass Pass, when wounded by Calmandes's Divine Chosen, he never doubted like he did now...

Not far off, the Judge glanced at the man sitting at the inn's entrance, a cold smirk forming... until the man lifted his gaze to meet his.