Chapter 690

【 PAST AND PUNISHMENT 】

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Maple Leaf Territory, Zelouan City.

Sophia walked along the familiar streets as cheers from the local townsfolk rose on both sides of the road.

In various parts of the city, faint traces of white smoke could still be seen drifting into the air. These were the natural remnants left after the fires from the siege had been extinguished.

The weather today was somewhat cool. A brief rain had fallen in the morning, washing away the stench of blood from the battle and the scorched odor left by burned buildings, leaving behind only the rich scent of damp earth in early spring.

There was no helping it.

Even here in the jewel city of Zelouan, which is considered the most prosperous city in Maple Leaf Territory, only the noble districts and main roads received regular maintenance. As for the more remote and outlying areas, the governing nobles were ultimately unwilling to trouble themselves over their upkeep, viewing such concerns as beneath their notice.

Hence, whenever heavy rain fell, it would be already fortunate if the streets did not turn into vast pools of murky water. After all, the city’s drainage system had not been properly maintained for more than a century. While conditions in the inner city remained barely tolerable, in many parts of the later expanded outer city, proper drainage channels had scarcely been dug at all.

These were things Sophia had never known in the past since she rarely left the castle. Now, however, noticing such details only deepened her resolve.

The Empire was already decayed thoroughly from within, and the nobles who rule the lands had long since fallen into decadence and corruption.

And the common sentiment among the populace was that one should never expect those lofty figures to harbor genuine concern for ordinary people.

Even if a few nobles did show such concern, it was ultimately merely for the sake of preserving their own authority.

In the eyes of many nobles, treating civilians well was far less worthwhile than cultivating or recruiting a few more powerful experts.

After all, in this world wherein extraordinary power reigned supreme, as long as one possessed sufficient strength, no matter how tyrannical one became, ordinary powerless folks could stir up no meaningful resistance.

The emergence of the so-called “Red Maple Kingdom” was a prime example of this.

Relying on the pre-existing governing system made it impossible to truly improve productivity or to make efficient use of extraordinary power, thereby rendering it practically impossible to create a world where everyone could live happily and face the future with hope.

But now, things were different.

The resurgence of mana across the world of Seigües was an opportunity, serving as the prelude that enabled the Rebel King Otto to purge the nobles within the Maple Leaf Territory. Following this upheaval came the emergence of the Church of Life, which rose like a beacon in the darkness.

Having personally witnessed the prosperity of the Elven Forest and experienced its beauty, Sophia firmly believed that only by placing their faith in the great Goddess of Life and spreading the principle of equality amongst all beings to every corner of the territory could the common people be truly freed from long established noble rule, awaken their minds, and bring about genuine change.

At this thought, the young girl let out a soft sigh.

She raised her head and looked toward the deep blue sky overhead.

The heavens were as clear and bright as if freshly washed.

The sun after the recent rain felt gentler than ever, its warm light slanting down upon the land, which faintly outlined a curved rainbow in the sky, seemingly celebrating the city’s liberation.

Yes, “liberation.”

This was a term used by the elves.

They had explained to Sophia that it meant “the removal of shackles, the attainment of freedom or development.”

With them being the army sent by the Goddess to liberate Maple Leaf Territory, Sophia felt that the word was indeed particularly fitting.

As she passed by the city’s main temple, she saw that it had already been occupied by the elves who had arrived ahead of her.

They were removing the statue of the God of Twilight and Dusk and, amid the citizens’ cheers, replacing it with the statue of Her Grace, the Goddess of Life.

Looking around the temple, she noticed that many believers had already gathered, kneeling and praying of their own accord, their voices rising in quiet devotion as they expressed their gratitude.

Sophia smiled.

It was only yesterday that these people had been faithless or were forcibly converted to worship that evil god, yet look at them now…

Sophia understood very well why they had willingly converted their faith.

It was because of the divine miracle they had witnessed during the siege the day before.

The terror of the Evil God’s palm attack had been deeply etched into people’s hearts following the complete annihilation of the 3rd Imperial Corps. Without the Goddess’s intervention, this city, Zelouan would likely have been destroyed by that Evil God yesterday.

That horrifying attack cast down by that grotesque evil god had even made herself tremble at the time.

Of course, Sophia believed that these people’s rapid change of faith was only temporary, as their current motivation was merely gratitude and fear of that evil god. However, she was convinced that if all the people within Maple Leaf Territory were allowed to study the Goddess’s teachings and truly comprehend the doctrines of the Codex of Life, they would become devout believers of the Goddess from the depths of their hearts.

After all, she firmly believed that the common folk were not foolish.

They had simply lacked proper education and a powerful faith that could truly enter their hearts and resonate with them sincerely.

And now, that faith had arrived.

Amid the cheers of the citizens, the statue of the God of Twilight and Dusk was pushed to the ground.

As she looked at the statue, which was now shattered into pieces, a faint glimmer passed through Sophia’s eyes.

A trace of surprise appeared on her face, mixed with understanding and joy, and faintly tinged with fervent devotion.

A statue enshrined within a temple was never an ordinary object, for it contained the power of faith itself.

Thus, a statue toppled merely by a group of ordinary people, without the intervention of extraordinary beings, would never have shattered so completely.

Yet the statue of that evil god had easily cracked apart, lost its luster, and remained inert even when someone spat upon it.

It meant only one thing—the mythical being it represented had truly fallen…

“Praise be to you, Your Divine Grace.”

“You are the light in the darkness. You are justice that sweeps away evil from the world. You are the champion and guardian of all that is unjust.”

“May your radiance forever shine upon us. May your faith spread throughout the entire world.”

With her hands placed over her chest, the young girl respectfully traced the symbol of the Scepter of Life and offered her prayer with deep reverence.

Passing beyond the temple where the crowd had gathered, Sophia continued forward.

She entered the noble district, passed through the familiar city lord’s castle, and finally arrived in the equally familiar castle hall.

The furnishings within the castle were little different from when she had left several months earlier.

As she looked at the city lord’s chair draped with white bear fur, Sophia’s gaze grew distant.

Everything felt as though it were only yesterday…

She seemed to see her father seated there once more, telling her stories of the realms beyond their own. She also seemed to see herself accidentally shattering her father’s most beloved magic lamp in this very place, only to be scolded by her mother.

Her mother…

At the thought of that word, a beautiful figure suddenly flashed through Sophia’s mind.

“Mother…”

The young girl let out a soft sigh.

How long had it been since she last spoke that word?

Perhaps since the day her mother had passed away…

If that person were still alive, would everything that had happened could have been avoided?

If her mother were still alive, would she no longer need to live so humbly, and could she have attained happiness of her own?

Alas, there were no ifs in life…

Just as Sophia’s thoughts were drifting, a familiar voice broke the silence of the hall.

“—What are you thinking about?”

The girl did not turn around as her expression instinctively shifted to indifference before sighing lightly.

“Sir Demacia, did you know that knocking before entering a room is the most basic form of courtesy? Please do not lower the average standards of elven civility.”

Demacia: “…”

The red-haired warrior looked somewhat dispirited.

However, just as he thought the half elven girl would continue to chide him, he heard her let out another quiet sigh.

“…I was thinking about my mother.”

“Your mother?”

Demacia’s heart stirred.

Sophia nodded gently, reaching out to stroke the soft fur on the city lord’s seat as she spoke.

“She was an elf whom my father rescued from slave traders and the two of them seemed to fell in love at first sight.”

“In the end, despite opposition from most of my family members and resistance from the Noble Council, my father still decided to marry her…”

“However, despite my father’s status at the time as the primary heir to the Viscount of Zelouan, marrying an elf still subjected him to immense pressure. After all, in the eyes of the nobility, elves were only suitable as playthings, or as tools to improve one’s bloodlines.”

“And it was precisely for this reason that, while my mother was pregnant with me, the rest of the members of my Household schemed against my father. They caused him to violate a collateral baron’s daughter while drunk, thus resulting in the birth of my useless elder brother…”

“Thinking about it now, after my father’s death, the members of my household’s insistence on supporting Karl as the reigning lord despite my father’s will was likely also due to my elven bloodline.”

“ True, Elves can indeed improve the bloodlines of collateral branches, and marriage between collateral and main branches can further enhance the quality of the main line’s descendants. But allowing an elf’s offspring to become the legitimate heir directly… those arrogant and decrepit members of my household would never accept it.”

“It was only after meeting Duke Lawson that I fully understood this.”

The girl let out a self mocking laugh.

However, upon hearing her words, Demacia’s focus shifted elsewhere.

“Wait… what? Your brother was actually born while your mother was pregnant with you?”

The red haired warrior looked utterly confused.

Sophia glanced at him and frowned slightly.

“Sir Demacia.”

“Yes.”

“Are you truly an elf?”

“Yeah? I’m pretty sure I’m a pure blooded elf even.”

“Then do you not even know that an elf’s gestation period is three to five times longer than a human’s?”

“Uh… what? Really? You mean…”

Demacia stood there in a daze.

Sophia did not pursue the topic further and continued instead.

“Alas, my mother did not live happily after she married my father.”

“She was too timid and kind. Even until the day of her death, she endured the hostility of the people around her. She even stopped and persuaded my father whenever he tried to stand up for her, all for the sake of his image and authority…”

“So from the day she passed away, I swore that I would never become someone like her. I would become a strong person, in spirit as well as in power.”

“But now it seems that I still have a very long road ahead of me.”

The girl took out the necklace gifted by her mentor Dōngdōng and gently rubbed it between her fingers as she sighed.

Yet her eyes had never been brighter or more resolute.

Looking at the girl’s devout gaze, Demacia smiled.

“Don’t worry. You will definitely succeed.”

“Thank you for your kind words.”

For once, Sophia did not offer a sarcastic remark.

She put away the necklace shaped like the Scepter and once again looked at the red haired elf.

“Alright, tell me. What did you come to see me for?”

“I thought you were not even going to ask.”

Demacia looked a little surprised.

Then he put away his casual smile and spoke seriously.

“Miss Sophia, the rebellious nobles of Zelouan have all been captured. How would you want to deal with them?”

It had to be said that with a proper hairstyle, a normal expression, and a serious tone, Demacia did look like a handsome man, especially given his decent elven features.

“Same as usual.”

Sophia replied without hesitation.

“So you trust me that much?”

Demacia could not help but smile.

Unfortunately, once this guy smiles, he always ends up appearing a bit unsavory.

His face was definitely handsome.

But disposition was a curious thing.

Some people looked refreshing and natural when they smiled, while others, even when smiling happily, gave the impression of something unpleasant forming in one’s imagination.

Looking at Demacia’s radiant grin, he clearly was the latter.

At that, Sophia frowned slightly.

“My mentor Dōngdōng once told me that the elves have an old saying that goes like: villains should be dealt with by other villains.”

Demacia: “…”

He opened his mouth, then reminded himself not to get angry, since arguing with women rarely ended well and usually only made matters worse.

“…Is there anything else?”

Seeing that the red haired elf was still standing there, the noble girl asked again.

Demacia scratched his head.

“Well… yes. A noble named Karl, if I’m not mistaken, is your brother, has been captured. He was just sent to the temple. In addition, King Otto has also been captured and sent there as well. Oh, and it seems he has already lost all his power for some reason.”

༺⟐༻

Inside the main temple of Zelouan

After receiving the news, Sophia quickly arrived at the temple accompanied by Demacia and met her half brother.

“Sophia!? It was truly you Sophia! For the sake of us being siblings, spare my life! I am willing to give up the viscount’s title, as well as all rights of inheritance and claim to our House! I am innocent! This is all that evil god’s and Otto’s fault! Everything was forced upon me by them!”

Karl cried out desperately, bound in anti-magic chains.

Seeing his disheveled and utterly spineless appearance, Sophia instinctively wanted to mock him. The sight of the once arrogant noble reduced to this pitiful state stirred memories she would rather forget. In the end, however, she restrained herself, refraining from speaking the sharp words she once might have used to ridicule his lack of noble dignity or his pathetic demeanor.

“I have no interest in the position of Viscount of Zelouan,” she said calmly, her voice steady and measured. “After this war, such titles will no longer hold any value, as there will be no more nobles here in Maple Leaf Territory.”

Karl froze, his eyes widening in disbelief.

“Y-You… why? D-Do you intend to execute all the nobles?”

He asked in terror, his voice trembling.

Seeing his confused and fearful gaze, the girl did not bother to explain further.

“Tell me about Father’s death,” she said patiently. “Did it have anything to do with you?”

“N-No, no… I never had any intention of harming Father! Even if he disliked me, how could I possibly plot against him!? Sophia, my good sister… please do not kill me. Please, I beg you, do not kill me!”

Karl pleaded in panic, his words spilling out in a frantic rush.

Then he suddenly pointed at the silent Otto standing beside him.

“I-It was him! It was him who placed a curse on our father! He needed Zelouan’s wealth, so he used a curse to kill Father. I was forced to submit to him after the deed was done!”

Sophia did not respond immediately. Instead, she turned her gaze toward the elf standing nearby.

“Miss Sophia, my [Lie Detection] spell indicates that this man is telling the truth,” the elven mage guarding the prisoners said respectfully. “There may be some embellishment, but overall, what he said is not false.”

Sophia: “…”

After letting out a soft sigh, she turned to Demacia.

“Take him away and deal with him together with the other nobles.”

Demacia nodded, then let out a small chuckle as he gestured to the two elven guards standing beside Karl.

They nodded in response and quickly lifted Karl up, dragging him toward the exit.

Karl’s expression changed drastically as he screamed at the top of his lungs.

“N-No! Sophia! Lady Sophia! Please! Please spare me! I was wrong! I was truly wrong!”

His voice echoed through the temple halls before gradually fading into the distance.

After Karl was taken away, Sophia shifted her gaze to Otto, her expression growing increasingly cold.

“Rebel King Otto of the so-called Red Maple Kingdom,” she said slowly, “as the principal instigator of this war, and as the true mastermind behind my father’s death, your sins make me wish to personally kill you this very moment.”

Otto glanced at her, his eyes dull and vacant, showing neither fear nor remorse.

Seeing his indifference, Sophia took a deep breath, forcibly calming the anger rising in her heart, and continued.

“However, while that might bring me momentary relief, such a simple punishment would be far too light for the many crimes you have committed.”

“Because of you, how many families have been torn apart in this war? Because of you, how many innocent lives have been lost?”

Her voice grew firmer with each word, carrying the weight of countless grievances.

“As such, let it be known. Your fate will be decided not by me alone, but by the people of Maple Leaf Territory.”

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