The Extra Wants To Live

If Carl had heard anything about the Church of Universal Equality, he would have killed every single one of them on the spot. But leaving it like this and going back still left him feeling uneasy.

"Isolate the young men separately."

"Yes."

The men who remained to guard the village under Carl's orders were captured and dragged away.

Since they were actively involved in the rebellion, they might have heard about the Church of Universal Equality.

Carl would interrogate them and get confirmation.

And if they confessed, they must be killed.

The old woman tried to save them, but there was no reason to spare a man who admitted with his own mouth that he had joined the rebellion.

"Wait, Nari!"

The old woman screamed as she saw her grandson being dragged away, but Carl was not interested in the old woman who had already outlived her usefulness.

"Check thoroughly."

"Yes."

At the end of Carl's order, the soldiers dragged away those who participated in the rebellion.

After a grueling interrogation that lasted until night, it was confirmed that the town was unaware of the existence of the Church of Universal Equality.

Carl executed all those who had participated in the rebellion. All of the captured men were killed in the battle, and many villagers were executed for rebellion.

The town was gripped by panic, and everything was paralyzed while Carl and his men rested.

The old woman's grandson was returned safely.

But after Carl left, no one knew what would happen to the old woman and her grandson who accused those involved in the rebellion.

"Billford, are you feeling uneasy?"

While gathering supplies from the village and loading them onto the wagon, Carl asked the sunken-faced Billford.

"No, it's okay," Billford shook his head.

But Carl was not so dull as to not know that Billford's mind was in turmoil. Billford was the only commoner among Carl's troops currently present.

The imperial soldiers were not purely commoners either; they were all from noble families or families that had produced imperial soldiers for generations.

"Don't lie. I already know that you are feeling uneasy."

"I... that is... I'm sorry." Billford hesitated but eventually apologized to Carl.

"I know that they participated in the rebellion and that Lord Carl took the best possible measures to prevent the killing of innocent people."

Rebellion was punishable by summary execution, and there was no reason for Carl to waste his precious time and energy leaving the village with dangerous elements. Just kill them all and burn them.

It was easy and quick.

Carl, who was like that, took the initiative to go out and handle the situation himself.

Carl's best bet was to reduce the killings.

"It's just that I had some old memories. When I was still a commoner..."

Billford spoke somberly.

"Billford, I won't say that I understand. But remember that you are my most loyal sword along with lady Catherine. And that you will soon be my knight."

"... Yes, Lord Carl."

Billford steeled himself and spoke with determination.

Carl smiled and patted Billford on the shoulder.

In fact, it wasn't because he felt pity for them that Carl stopped the unnecessary killing.

It wasn't for Billford either.

As they cried out for justice and armed their minds with faith, they must clearly divide what should be killed and what should not be killed by clear standards and yardsticks.

If even one person had heard of the Church of Universal Equality, Carl would have drawn his sword on the spot and slaughtered the townspeople.

After killing everyone without leaving a single person alive, they would have burned the village down.

Faith and madness are two sides of the same coin.

They cannot be separated, no matter how hard you try. Because faith is based on firm belief, and firm belief takes away the ability to discern right from wrong.

So they must be on guard against faith and madness becoming so completely one that they become indistinguishable.

Do not consider faith as madness, and do not consider madness as faith.

Carl held the standards clear, prevented unnecessary killings, and took the guilt away from the soldiers who carried out executions.

And they have proven once and for all that they are on the side of justice. From now on, if Carl orders them to kill, they will kill without question.

Because Carl made them into an army of light that enforces justice.

"It's late at night. Let's go in and get some rest. We have to leave early tomorrow morning."

"Yes, Lord Carl, you too can rest comfortably."

Carl left Billford behind and went inside. They would have to get moving in earnest starting tomorrow, so it would be a good idea to get some rest.

***

There was a commotion during the night. An old woman who reported those involved in the rebellion was almost beaten to death.

The townspeople knew that the old woman was the reason their village was saved from burning, but they needed someone to vent their resentment about the executions of their families, friends, and neighbors.

"Attacking those who reported the rebels? Aren't they the ones who are truly in collusion with the rebels?"

Carl dragged out those who had lynched the old woman with those cruel words and executed them all.

"There may be remnants of the rebels left. We must kill them all."

"Umm..."

The town was gripped by fear as Catherine spoke for all to hear.

Carl did not answer right away but slowly rode his horse around the villagers who had been dragged out.

"No, it seems there are no more rebels. What do you think?"

Carl asked the old woman who had been treated by Milton.

The old woman knew that she could kill the villagers with a single snap of her finger, but she dealt with it wisely, having survived for so long.

"There are no rebels left."

"I guess so."

Carl made it clear that he had only spared them out of mercy.

And the old woman also showed that thanks to her, the villagers were not annihilated.

"We've been delayed for nothing. Let's get going."

Carl leisurely left the village, leading a wagon loaded with the conscripted supplies.

This would be the first and last mercy he would show.

From now on, he might have to move while killing everything he saw.

But he didn't think there would be any backlash.

That's what they did this show for.