A Pledge?

A dark, sealed room.

Four men seated around a circular table, one opened his mouth.

His skin was entirely purple.

“Darus. According to reports, your troops inflicted no damage on the Southern Corps. How did this happen?”

The purple man’s gaze turned to Partisan Commander-in-Chief, Darus.

Immediately after, a silver-haired man interjected with a crooked posture.

“No matter how packed with fanaticism. They’re merely rebels. What could they possibly accomplish~”

‘That bastard..’

Darus’s eyebrow twitched. Suppressing his anger with effort, he respectfully answered the purple man.

“The corps’ strength far exceeded expectations… But please don’t worry too much. The next move is prepared without issue.”

A man in imperial officer uniform who had been listening asked sharply.

“What’s the specific plan?”

Darus nodded as if he’d been waiting.

“Create civil unrest in the city to cause confusion, then assassinate the lord in the midst of it.”

“Hmm, assassination…”

The purple-skinned man murmured with interest.

“Planning to frame her, I see.”

“Yes.”

“If the assassination fails?”

“That absolutely won’t happen. This time it’s certain.”

“I’ll believe you.”

He turned, glancing at the other two men and asked.

“How are your plans proceeding?”

“Everything’s flowing smoothly, so rest assured~”

The silver-haired priest answered with extremely frivolous attitude unbefitting clergy.

But no one questioned this.

A church saint behaving so frivolously!

Of course, Darus cursed inwardly.

Then the imperial officer too.

“The Western Corps internal division operation is also proceeding smoothly.”

“Good.”

The purple-skinned man nodded with satisfaction.

He issued a warning to the three men.

“Be careful not to underestimate her or let unnecessary emotions interfere with plans. Understood?”

The three men’s heads bowed simultaneously.

“This concludes our meeting. And Darus.”

The purple man’s gaze returned to Darus.

“I expect good news soon.”

The lord’s castle reception room.

The knight commander asked with worried face.

“Miss Loen. Do you really intend to execute the bishop?”

“Of course.”

“Hmm…”

Loen turned to him.

“Is there a problem?”

“As typical with religions, Solar Church people greatly value their authority. If… we execute a bishop based only on testimony and circumstances without material evidence…”

He continued.

“Using the bishop’s execution as justification, a punishment squad led by the Holy Maiden might come.”

“They’re just a religious organization~ What can they possibly do to us?”

Psyche interjected. He replied.

“That’s true, but isn’t the Western situation chaotic? In such times, there’s no need to provoke the Solar Church. Rather, what about concluding this by exiling the bishop to the South?”

“I agree with that. They might incite people claiming we’re persecuting innocent priests using this situation.”

As even Seraphine supported his words, Loen fell into contemplation.

Their argument has some merit.

Executing the bishop might provide justification for Solar Church intervention.

Regardless of truth.

Nevertheless, Loen’s thoughts remained unchanged. She shook her head.

“No. Whether we exile or execute the bishop, the result will be the same.”

She had secured decisive testimonies through interrogation.

Testimonies that the church cooperated with traitors and Partisans.

Meaning regardless how the bishop was handled, the church would find fault somehow.

Just because we remain still doesn’t mean the other side will.

Therefore, when opportunity arose, steadily reducing their forces was right.

“Instead.”

Loen continued.

“I’ll obtain a public confession. If the bishop confesses his crimes in detail before crowds, neither Solar Church nor Partisans can easily intervene.”

Will someone of bishop rank willingly confess?

Their fanatical faith was renowned.

“Good idea, but… is that possible?”

To the knight commander’s question, Loen smirked.

“Of course.”

The lord’s castle dungeon.

Despite lengthy interrogation, the bishop didn’t yield.

His will was commendable.

Psyche, standing behind Loen with folded arms, shook her head.

“Wow~ truly stubborn.”

The bishop didn’t flinch at Psyche’s mockery.

He only prayed desperately inside.

Oh, great Sun, please protect me from this ordeal.

Grant your faithful servant strength to overcome this hardship and adversity.

Loen spoke again.

“Bishop Marcus. You have absolutely no intention of confessing your crimes?”

“Ha ha… I don’t understand what you mean. How can I confess when there’s no crime?”

Loen exhaled deeply.

As if tired.

Marcus watched this closely.

“Others have already confessed everything. Including your crimes.”

“I swear by the sun! Everything I did was solely according to sacred doctrine, in the great name of His Imperial Majesty—”

The bishop raised his voice. Just then.

CRACK!

A cold dagger struck the table center. The bishop’s mouth shut tight.

Loen’s red eyes pierced him, emanating killing intent.

“One more time, if you mention His Imperial Majesty with that filthy mouth… I’ll behead you right here. Understood?”

“…”

The bishop involuntarily gulped. Her gaze was sincere.

Her loyalty to the Emperor exceeded imagination.

No wonder she’s called the Emperor’s sword…

The interrogation continued, but the bishop’s attitude remained firm.

Finally.

Loen opened her mouth with a resigned expression.

With a soft sigh.

“Bishop. One final offer.”

The bishop subtly adjusted his posture.

Negotiation time has finally come.

Marcus had been waiting for this.

“If at tomorrow’s execution, you acknowledge and confess your wrongdoings.”

Loen paused.

The bishop’s heart pounded. If I confess?

“Just your life… will be spared.”

“Eh?”

Psyche standing behind widened her eyes in surprise.

The word “spare” from Miss Loen’s mouth!?

The bishop didn’t miss Psyche’s reaction.

That wasn’t acting.

He quickly weighed options.

Endure to the end and suffer terribly?

Or endure momentary humiliation and save his life?

The answer was crystal clear.

“…Very well. I accept your proposal.”

As long as he lived.

Later he could claim he made false confessions under coercion.

He was confident in restoring tarnished honor later.

Still, one more confirmation needed.

The bishop added, feigning caution.

“But the world is so troubled these days. If it’s not disrespectful, could I have a firm pledge that you won’t kill me…”

Loen interrupted the bishop.

“I pledge in the name of His Imperial Majesty.”

“Ha ha…. In that case.”

A pledge in the Emperor’s name!

And from this inspector showing fanatical loyalty to the Emperor.

A relieved smile spread across the bishop’s face.

Now I can trust this.

“I believe you, Inspector.”

“I never break promises to people. So don’t worry.”

“Ha ha, very reassuring.”

Loen and the bishop shook hands.

Even amid this, Psyche’s tail was wagging vigorously.

The next day.

Haven central square.

Crowds gathered like clouds at news of an execution ceremony.

They came to witness the end of Bishop Marcus and his group who terrorized the city with merciless heresy judgments.

“Will they really execute the bishop?”

“I wonder… Provoking Solar Church in such troubled times would face severe backlash. Would they really?”

Murmuring voices exchanged among crowds.

The Saint, Holy Maiden, and seven bishops below them.

Solar Church’s core power structure.

Unless the bishop chose betrayal, executing him was no easy matter.

People skeptically watched the execution platform.

Many knelt on the execution platform.

Behind them stood Loen, Seraphine, Psyche in black uniforms, and the knight commander in black armor – imposing figures.

Finally Loen stepped forward.

Her eyes swept across the square-filling crowd.

“The execution ceremony will now commence.”

The square instantly fell silent as a dead mouse.

Thousands of gazes mixed with expectation and fear focused on Loen.

Loen first walked to the left side of the platform.

Standing behind ragged-looking men, she said.

“The crime of inciting people, manipulating public opinion, and leading citizens toward chaos.”

Ominous mana swords materialized in the inspectors’ hands.

“Also, for receiving Partisan orders to plunge the city into chaos, they shall all pay with their lives in execution.”

No sooner had the declaration ended than mana swords flashed, beheading the men.

Thud-thud-thud. Thump. Thu-thump.

Severed heads rolled down the execution platform.

Gushing blood stained the floor red.

The crowd gasped.

Loen walked to the opposite side.

There, Jane and several others trembled.

“These people caused deaths by falsely accusing competitors as heretics for their greed. Therefore, they too all—!”

Just then, Jane screamed.

“I-I had no choice because priests threatened me!! I’m a victim too!”

Loen’s words stopped abruptly.

Walking forward, Loen spun to face Jane. Jane still looked wronged.

“That may have been true initially.”

Loen bent down to face Jane closely.

“But from some point, you became more active, accusing everyone who was a thorn in your side as heretics? Am I wrong?”

“T-that…”

Jane’s pupils shook uncontrollably.

Everything had already been revealed through cross-testimonies.

Loen’s voice sank colder.

“When some girls felt conscience-stricken and tried revealing truth, you even reported them to the bishop to silence them. Yet you still excuse yourself saying you had no choice?”

Jane bit her lips repeatedly.

The thought that she might truly die dominated her mind.

Finally Jane chose to appeal emotionally.

“Sob I-I’m truly wronged, gack.”

Of course it was futile.

Before her tearful performance began, Loen’s mana sword unhesitatingly severed Jane’s neck.

The remaining girls weren’t designated for execution.

Considering they were threatened by priests.

But she couldn’t spare Jane.

“…”

“…”

The square was once again wrapped in cold silence.

The crowd whispered quietly.

“Truly merciless…”

“Well, she shouldn’t have committed crimes.”

The crowd showed various reactions to Loen’s ruthlessness.

Meanwhile, several people exchanged anxious glances.

Loen walked to the center.

Slash—!

Similarly, priests’ heads were severed.

Now only one person remained on the execution platform.

Bishop Marcus.

He remained motionless with eyes closed.

Loen placed her hand on his shoulder.

“Bishop Marcus. As promised, now confess your crimes before the crowd.”

Murmurs arose from the crowd.

Confession? The bishop himself?

Eventually Bishop Marcus rose and said.

“I have something to confess to you all.”

Marcus opened his eyes.

“I, Marcus, used the church’s authority to falsely accuse innocent people as heretics and drove them to death, all to expand the church’s influence and elevate my own vain power.”

Marcus continued.

“Not just in Haven. The terrible heresy judgments in nearby villages too. Everything was due to my greed and twisted beliefs!”

The bishop’s shocking declaration shook the square.

But now came the main point.

The stage of atonement and forgiveness remained.

“But everyone!”

“That’s enough.”

“…?”

Suddenly Loen interrupted, causing Marcus to look with confused expression.

Why interrupt?

The next process was confession’s core.

The bishop would seek atonement and forgiveness with excellent rhetoric, then Loen would command him to replace death with endless service.

Thus ending the execution ceremony.

This was what they had agreed upon.

However, the situation flowed completely differently from Marcus’s expectation.

Loen declared to the crowd.

“As Bishop Marcus has confessed his crimes with his own mouth, I shall summarily execute him, the mastermind behind this incident, right here.”

What? Summary execution? Didn’t she promise to spare his life if he confessed? Didn’t she pledge in His Imperial Majesty’s name?

The bishop desperately cried out.

“T-the pledge, keep—”

SLASH! Thud.

His cry went unfinished.

The bishop’s head with bulging eyes rolled down the execution platform.

A futile end for the bishop who caused the heresy judgment storm.

Watching this, Psyche nodded.

As expected.

Partisan spies who were about to protest upon the bishop’s death lost words and merely exchanged glances.

Their plans were derailed by his confession.

They quietly disappeared into the crowd. Loen watched this carefully.

The execution ceremony thus concluded.

And.

Night fell.