Chapter 131: Mystery, Faith, Fear

The next battle did not keep them waiting for long.

By noon the following day, on the road to the next village, they encountered a group of over sixty people.

They were heading to support the village that had been breached the previous day.

In an age where all messages were delivered on foot, such things happened frequently.

Although the Rat Path could serve as a wartime communication channel, the Rat Path also relied heavily on reputation in its dealings.

Before departure, Knight Wolf had already paid a large sum of gold coins to the Rat Path. Though it wasn’t enough to completely silence them, it was sufficient to slow the spread of news from the Forth Territory.

For instance, delays of half a day to a full day could occur.

“Looks like it’s a unit under someone’s command.”Knight Wolf looked at the group forming a hollow square formation.

They used short spears to construct a small chevaux-de-frise in front of them, supporting long spears, resembling a curled-up hedgehog.

This formation was enough to restrain cavalry, but it wasn’t unbreakable. At the very least, this hollow square without archers and insufficient in number could not stop the cavalry led by Knight Wolf.

“I will lead them to disrupt the formation. After that, it will be their battle.”Knight Wolf said to Nyx, then called for the knights and cavalry to follow.

Nyx watched their retreating backs, then turned to look at the conscripted militia, whose silence and calmness seemed eerie. His expression was complex.

In the end, he had the monks and Temple Warriors set up the Lord’s Throne. Holding the Holy Scriptures in one hand, he shouted in a hoarse voice.

“Did you see them? Those people dominated by sin, the pain in their hearts.”

“They were just like you, originally mere farmers.”

“But they were forced to take up arms due to the greed of those who committed great sins.”

“Their hearts are filled with agony, yet they must use their lives to satisfy the desires of sinners.”

Nyx pointed towards the square formation.

There, Knight Wolf and the knights and cavalry were throwing short spears. The spears hurled by knights were powerful enough to kill. Though the cavalry’s throws were slightly weaker, the spears still struck bodies and drew painful screams.

After all, they weren’t professional warriors. Faced with such pain, their bodies reacted instinctively, crying out to vent the agony.

“Did you hear it? Their howls—they are cries for help from those dominated by sin.”

“We are the warriors of the merciful Lord. We fight to protect our homeland. We must help them find liberation from sin.”

Nyx took a deep breath, then shouted loudly.

“The Lord of Hosts is with you. You shall fear not death, for the gates of the Heavenly Kingdom open to you!”

He then bestowed blessings.

The conscripted militia felt warmth, like the guidance of the Heavenly Kingdom.

They seemed to see angels cheering them on, watching their courageous stance, ready to receive their heroic souls who might fall in battle.

They seemed to see behind the gates of Heaven, their families living joyfully, always smiling.

They seemed to see one soul after another ascending to the skies, smiling back at them, as if thanking them for helping them gain release.

They felt as though boundless strength surged within their bodies.

They let out fervent roars—an eerie sound, almost like cheers—that made even the elite warriors who were half-overseeing, half-preparing for battle, feel a chill.

Nyx felt his body weaken, his head dizzy, golden flashes dancing before his eyes.

Forcing himself to stay upright, he could see the fervor of the conscripted militia and their surging morale.

Nyx looked towards the battlefield. Knight Wolf’s warhorse had slowed slightly. He too noticed the movement among the conscripted militia. After a moment’s thought, he shouted, “Throw stones! Break a gap!”

Thus, the knights and cavalry picked up the stone-throwing weapons they carried. After rounding them overhead, they followed Knight Wolf in hurling them at one side of the square formation.

The militia, already trembling from the thrown spears, broke formation where the stones struck.

“Retreat, it’s their turn now.”Knight Wolf ordered them to disperse.

Seeing Knight Wolf act, Nyx forced himself to remain upright, pointed at the square formation, and shouted.

“Everyone, now is the time to help them break free from the grip of sin!”

Thus, the conscripted militia, already plunged into fanaticism, roared their battle cries, raised their weapons, and charged forward.

In their eyes, it was as if some kind of flame was burning fiercely.

At this moment, Nyx could no longer hold on. He sat on the steps of the Lord’s Throne, leaning against the cross.

His lips trembled, and at last, he whispered in an almost inaudible voice.

“O Lord, please forgive my sins. When I die, I shall repent in Hell.”

He had heard from Corleon about the previous rebellion in Gobelow Village, a rebellion led by the founder of the Cross Painted in Blood Theocracy.

The other party had taken seven days to plot a rebellion within the manor, persuading villagers to consume human flesh to survive, inciting conflict between both sides. Only after driving those people to madness did he push them to charge the manor, fearless of death.

And himself? He had taken only one day and two rounds of bestowal to raise such a group of people—those who feared no death, who even yearned to die in battle.

In their eyes, killing these enemies was helping them attain liberation. They did not see themselves as butchers wielding blades.

Just the day before, they had been pitiable people who would tremble at killing even one man.

If he were Administrator Nyx, he would be delighted by such behavior, for it would mean the entire York Territory could achieve universal conscription—mad warriors who feared no death.

But now he was Priest Nyx of the Church of the Sanctuary. And what he felt now was nothing but heartfelt fear.

“Mystery. Faith. Terrifying things.”He muttered repeatedly, as if slightly deranged.

Three monks gathered around with concern, asking if Nyx was feeling unwell. Nyx could see it—the fear in the eyes of all three.

They were illegitimate sons of the Newman Family. The Newman Family would not have had the resources to train them as Knight’s Squires from a young age. Later, they had studied within the Church of the Sanctuary, listening to the beauty recorded in the Holy Scriptures.

This was not their first time facing slaughter. On the very first day of the expedition, they had already witnessed a village massacre.

But back then, their discomfort came purely from the act of killing.

Now, seeing these fanatics, seeing them kill others after scattering the square formation, with smiles and compassion on their faces—

It felt not like brutal slaughter, but assistance.

That eerie sight brought terror into their hearts.

“…”Nyx opened his mouth, and finally said, “We are the Servants of the Lord, the extension of the Lord’s Power upon the earth. This is the Lord’s Favor upon us.”

“But we are instructors, guides of the believers. We must not, because of the Lord’s Favor, lose reverence for life.”

“We must remember, the Lord loves all mankind.”

“Therefore, we should spread the Lord’s Teachings with hearts full of love and guide believers toward righteousness.”

“We must revere the Lord’s Power and not invoke it lightly, for that Power belongs to the Lord and is not something we may covet.”

“We must earnestly understand the Lord’s Words, the Lord’s Love, and the Lord’s Mercy.”

As he spoke, his voice seemed to carry power, soothing the fear in their hearts.

The cross he leaned upon stood quietly atop the Lord’s Throne, as if watching from afar the blood-soaked yet strangely tranquil battlefield.

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