Chapter 80: You’ve Seen Her
With the young woman’s eyes brimming with grievance and anger, I maintained an utterly nonchalant gaze, speaking slowly: “You think the Church is diligently helping to relieve disasters and aid the people? Have you ever been to the most devastated area in Silgaya? Have you truly looked at the southern borders of Silgaya?”
As I said this, a vivid image flashed in my mind—the busiest street of Alectine City, and the refugees huddled in the darkest corners of those streets, surviving on scraps, living like maggots.
“Look at those cities littered with starving corpses, overrun with filth and the stench of decay. Those gaunt, skeletal people who look like they could collapse at any moment and never get up again. What, pray tell, has the Holy Church, the Temple Church, or even the Second Knights Order stationed there done to aid them?”
“Aili.”
Just as the young woman opened her mouth to argue, I waved my hand to cut her off: “Do you know why people resort to cannibalism?”
“I—”
Aili probably had something to say.
But upon hearing my harsh question, the words got stuck in her throat.
“During the war with the Gate of Truth, I witnessed cannibalism firsthand.”
Tilting my head in thought, disregarding her complex expression, I continued: “That place was once praised as the Republican granary, beautiful and filled with tall pine trees. But its beauty couldn’t save it from the ravages of war. When the army advanced there, the farmers from nearby villages and the refugees fleeing from everywhere went mad because there was nothing to eat.”
“They were incited by heretics, collaborating with the traitors inside the city to open the gates. They killed the lord of the city and slaughtered all the elderly and children within. They boiled and ate the corpses.”
As I talked, I observed Aili’s expression.
“They were so hungry that heretics held knives to their throats and forced them. At that moment, they had only two choices: d*e or eat the flesh.”
I saw her display a flicker of disbelief, a reaction that was almost instinctual.
“I’ve seen those cannibals and personally killed quite a few.”
I pondered for a moment, deciding not to share more with the young woman: “It wasn’t just about eating people; they committed unforgivable crimes. Even ten hangings wouldn’t be enough, but we cannot deny that while they committed these heinous acts, they were victims as well.”
“They were victims of floods, victims of war. Their lands, their livestock were ruthlessly snatched away by disasters and heretics. If they didn’t eat people, they would d*e, so they did.”
Pausing for a moment, I added, “But Aili…”
I stared at her unblinkingly: “The war has long since ended.”
“The vicious heretics have been thoroughly defeated by the heroic knights of the Church, pushing them back a thousand miles. Although that cost us dearly, the war is over; the Gate of Truth is completely annihilated. I witnessed it firsthand; they can no longer harm the people of the Western Continent.”
“And the disaster relief you mentioned, the Church should have started implementing its so-called efforts shortly after the war ended two years ago. If that’s true, the manpower, resources, and finances poured into it would be so great they could hardly care about anything else outside the Holy Wall.”
“If that’s how it is, as you think—”
I leaned back, resting against the chair, tapping my index finger on the table twice with a ‘thud-thud’, narrowing my eyes to closely examine the subtle changes in Aili’s expression.
“At that moment, you would unexpectedly discover that in those official documents, the so-called disaster relief priority cities—where merchants come and go and knights traverse the streets—there are still instances of cannibalism occurring.”
Aili’s expression suddenly froze.
“You, you mean…”
She stammered, wanting to say something but unsure whether to believe me.
“Aili, you’re not a little girl anymore. You should have the capacity for independent thought. What do you think the reason is for their cannibalism, if not for hunger?”
I pressed on, my tone becoming a bit more aggressive.
“I…”
“Or let me ask it a different way. Who do you think is exploiting their lands for survival, and who is stealing their food?”
“……”
The girl’s eyes were swollen, her face set in a frown, and she fell silent, no longer looking at me.
She stood there, lowering her head again, hands at her sides, fingers gripping so tightly they turned pale—lost in her thoughts.
Deep down, she knew…
Even if she hadn’t witnessed much with her own eyes, she had a grasp of reality.
Just as I was thinking this, I noticed Aili lift her head again: “I understand what you’re saying now.”
Under the firelight, her face turned so red it seemed to reach her ears, an expression mixed with sadness and pain, as her eyes burned with unprecedented anger: “They haven’t treated you poorly, have they, sister…?”
…What?
My brow furrowed, momentarily unclear on her meaning.
“The Choir of Saints, and the Pope—haven’t they treated you well? Why do you want to tarnish the reputation of the Church…”
“Why?”
Her trembling and suppressed voice pierced through me with a wave of shock.
That surprise lasted less than two seconds before I felt an unexpected sense of amusement rise from within: “So you believe in them.”
I gently nodded at the girl.
“I know what you want.”
Aili’s unwavering gaze, filled with a hint of resolve and sadness, carried an air of obstinacy as she firmly replied, “Don’t think about it! I will never tell you the whereabouts of Archbishop Hogtus.”
But doesn’t that mean you kids have at least some clue where he is?
Hah…
Just a little girl, after all.
“I’m not interested in that Archbishop, Aili.”
I said, my expression emotionless as I stood from the table: “I’m here not to seize the Church’s interests as you think. I’m not interested in those things; I have more important matters to attend to.”
“However, I indeed came looking for what in your eyes are… how should I put it? Hedonistic nobles of the Ethanbel Royal Palace? What they are doing—right or wrong—is far beyond what you can imagine… Forget it, you don’t believe me, and I don’t need to explain any further.”
Perhaps my gaze made the girl feel a twinge of fear; she pressed her lips together, thinking I might do something to her, and she slowly stepped back, trying to conceal her inner terror.
“Ha.”
I let out a light laugh.
She currently held a deep caution against me…
I suppose that’s understandable.
After spending at least three years in the Holy City under the training (brainwashing) of the Choir of Saints, how could she so easily trust me again?
Forget it…
“Think carefully about what I just said.”
Let her calm down here, in this basement.
With that thought, I decided not to waste any more time, lifting my foot and heading toward the exit.
“Where are you going?”
After just a few steps, I heard Aili calling out from behind: “We haven’t finished talking; you can’t leave—”
“Come back; let’s clear this up!”
I still ignored her.
“Why choose to stand with them!”
“Why oppose the Church—”
“Stop!”
Her urgent voice echoed in the empty chamber, crisp and anxious.
“I have more to say to you!”
“Someone told me it was she who gave you the legs to run, who granted you a freedom you wouldn’t have otherwise! Do you think you’re honoring her by doing this!!”
Suddenly, I stopped in my tracks.
I turned my head sharply back: “You’ve seen her.”
