Chapter 12: Colin’s Role, and the Founding of the Holy Light Town

“I—I’ll go with Sister Liz!”

Colin finally spoke with difficulty.

He turned toward the four companions who insisted on leaving.

“If you wish to go to the Williams Camp, then go. Please take care along the way!”

The four were overjoyed, as if granted amnesty, and hurriedly voiced their thanks.

They quickly changed direction and ran toward the rumored Porridge Camp.

Liz, of course, did not try to stop them.

She simply said to Colin and the remaining three, “Follow me, our camp isn’t far.”

Colin and the others quickly set off.

Their hearts were heavy, unsure whether the road ahead would bring fortune or disaster.

When the four followed Liz and reached their destination—

The sight before them made them hold their breath.

Under the sunset glow,

Lynn Church still stood tall, but the surroundings were no longer barren.

Brand-new wooden houses were scattered neatly about, their roofs covered thickly with moss and pine needles.

A large stretch of dark brown land had been freshly tilled, exuding the damp fragrance of soil.

Wisps of smoke curled up from an earthen stove.

The aroma of food mixed with the scent of fresh timber, drifting through the air.

What shocked them even more—were the people!

A group of neatly dressed folk in worn clothes were busily working with lively vigor.

Men carried heavy logs, shouting in rhythm.

Women sawed planks and mended garments.

Children ran about, delivering small tools, helping however they could.

Gone were the numbness, despair, and hopelessness Colin knew so well.

Instead, there was focus—there was… life?

“How… how is this possible?”

One of Colin’s companions muttered in disbelief.

In this age ravaged by the Undead Scourge, the Violet Empire they once belonged to had long collapsed, its rule growing weaker by the day.

For when faced with the terrifying undead legions, the cowardly king’s strategy had not been to fight—

but to surrender land and seek peace!

From that point on, the royal family and high nobles retreated into the capital, Holy Saint Anna, where, protected by vast numbers of magicians, knights, and costly magic arrays, they indulged in decadence and pleasure.

The lesser nobles, meanwhile, hid in small towns and cities with their subjects, using what little power they had to barely cling to survival.

They lived each day in fear of an undead assault—just like in Florence before.

It had been a joyous day, the lord baron’s birthday feast.

Yet within a single night, it became a hell on earth.

That was the despair born from the Empire’s front lines collapsing entirely, the enemy advancing unchecked!

Though no one knew why, the higher undead creatures—demons, burning legions, frost bone dragons, and the like rarely attacked human settlements anymore.

But ghouls, those lesser undead, could still grow terrifying from devouring enough flesh and blood!

Like that Second-tier Mutated Ghoul—

Ghouls could even evolve into Lickers, Zombie Kings, Abominations, Tyrants…

Enough to bring down any territory below a marquis’ rank with ease!

The people were forever displaced, unable to find peace anywhere.

Hope, to them, was long gone.

But the people at Lynn Church their eyes held light!

……

Ulf was swinging his hammer, reinforcing the frame of a wooden house.

Seeing Liz return, he immediately set down his tools and strode over.

“Lady Liz, you’re back!”

Ulf’s eyes swept over Colin and the others with a hint of curiosity, but more than that, there was warmth at the sight of new faces.

“And these are?”

“My old acquaintance, Colin Gilbert, and his companions.”

Liz introduced them briefly. “From now on, they’ll live with us.”

Ulf nodded.

He trusted Liz’s judgment of people.

If she brought Colin into the camp, that meant he could be trusted.

And as Colin looked at Ulf’s spirited face, he couldn’t help but ask softly, “Excuse me… is there really an angel here?”

Ulf grinned.

He slapped the crude wooden cross hanging on his chest. “Of course!”

“The Angel resides right inside the church!”

“Without His Holy Light’s protection, the creatures in those woods would’ve gnawed us to the bone by now!”

“Look at these houses,” he said, pointing at the newly built huts.

“Stronger than the piss pots in a nobleman’s castle!”

“Look at that land,” he pointed to the dark soil.

“Come spring, it’ll grow enough food to feed us all! It’s all the Angel’s blessing!”

Witnessing the pure pride in Ulf’s eyes,

Colin slowly looked around.

The people’s gazes were warm and curious, the children innocent and laughing.

The air carried the scent of honest labor…

All of it—clashed so starkly with the world of despair he had fled.

“Praise the Angel…”

Colin murmured, a little awkwardly.

But within his heart, a long-lost sense of ease began to spread.

……

Colin’s arrival brought new vigor to the camp.

His scholarly mind and organized way of thinking soon became apparent.

He first carefully inspected the camp’s layout, water source, and stored supplies.

Then he gave suggestions to Liz and Ulf.

“The next row of wooden houses can be arranged more tightly,” he said.

“The open space in the middle can serve as a public area—for meetings and emergency gatherings.”

Colin drew on the ground with a branch.

“As for the new reservoir, it’s best to use it for raising fish for now.”

“Then we can dig a proper well near the church.”

“Though the work will take time, it’ll make drinking water safer and less prone to contamination in the long run.”

Ulf nodded repeatedly. “Makes sense!”

“Brother Colin, your scholar’s brain really is something!”

Liz also showed approval. “Good. We’ll follow Colin’s plan.”

“Ulf, take charge of repositioning the houses and clearing the square.”

“Colin, you and Marianne lead a team to work on the well.”

Liz knew she was a fighter—good at combat and tactics, but not at organizing living quarters or managing life.

With Colin’s planning, the camp’s construction became more efficient and orderly.

In just three days, a small settlement had taken shape.

When the final wooden plaque bearing its name was hung above the largest hut’s doorway,

Liz wiped the sweat from her brow and announced loudly—

“From today onward, this place shall be called—Holy Light Town!”

“May the Angel forever bless us!”

“Yeah! Holy Light Town!” The crowd erupted into joyous cheers.

Every face was lit with hope for the future.

And at that warm, vibrant moment—

Deep within Lynn’s consciousness, a faint, clear hum quietly resounded.

【Holy Radiance accumulation has reached the critical point…】

【Ascend to next tier?】

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