Good and Evil (5)
“Execute the sinner!”
“The sinner who mocked the Saintess——!”
“Kill her! Kill her!”
Adelaide struggled to grasp her hazy mind. Her vision was red. Blood trickling from her forehead must have coated her eyelids.
Ah……
She blankly recognized her situation. In the center of the village square, tied to a massive tree. The rough sensation digging into her wrists and ankles. She could feel the damp chafing of her skin. But more horrific than the pain in her flesh was the scene unfolding before her eyes.
Dozens, hundreds of villagers surrounding her. Men, women, elderly, children—everyone clutched whatever they could find.
Just days ago, these were simple folk with honest faces, tilling fields and chatting with neighbors. Now, they glared at her like demons.
Is this…… the true face of the people I swore to protect?
Adelaide bit her lip. She had lived her life by the sword, her creed the knightly code of shielding the weak and vanquishing evil.
Through monster threats and battlefield barrages, what sustained her was the pride of safeguarding the innocent.
But now, those she protected sought to kill her. While the real devil—the one who deceived and defiled her—lounged comfortably in the manor.
Why must she alone endure this agony?
“Light the fire!”
With someone's shout, a figure approached bearing a torch.
Am I dying like this?
It felt empty. Not an honorable death on the battlefield, but in some rural village. Burned at the stake by fanatics—no fitting end for a Swordmaster.
I want to live.
Suddenly, a primal cry echoed from deep within. She wanted to live. Even out of injustice, out of rage—she couldn't die like this. Not before vengeance on that devilish woman.
Yet reality remained cruel. Her bound body wouldn't budge, and death crept ever closer.
“Long live the Saintess! Long live the Saintess!”
The villagers' cheers buzzed in her ears. Their faces twisted grotesquely. Kind mothers, honest youths, innocent children—all looked like demons. Good folk reduced to fiends.
Who is good, and who is evil?
Confusion reigned.
These killers were her innocent people. Her tormentor was hailed as a saint. The world had flipped. Or had justice ever meant anything? Faith? All felt meaningless.
The torch flew. Flames now devoured the dry wood, soon to consume her.
Crack. A tearing sound ripped through the square.
“……?”
The villagers' voices cut off. All eyes turned to the square's entrance, shrouded in shadow. Clack, clack—footsteps echoed.
Distant as they were, everyone heard them clearly.
“Ha.”
“S-Saintess?”
“Who said you could break my toy?”
“S-Saintess? What do you…… We only wished to punish the sinner and repay your grace……”
“Shut up.”
Ailin flicked her hand lightly. Shadows surged from the ground like living serpents—
Instantly coiling around the village chief's throat.
“Gurk! Ack!”
“S-Saintess! Why?!”
“For your sake!”
“For my sake? Who the hell do you think you're kidding, you clueless fucks.”
With that, shadows engulfed the entire village.
“Aaaah! Spare me!”
“What is this madness! Argh!”
“Gaaaaah!”
Hell unleashed. Ailin's eyes gleamed red. Shadows wrenched and tore bodies apart.
The air thickened with blood's metallic tang. Crimson soaked the village.
“I was having such a nice dream, and what the fuck is this shit.”
“……”
“You look like hell, knight.”
“……Ngh!”
“By the way, this wasn't my plan. I didn't expect it to go this far either.”
Adelaide stared blankly at the carnage. It felt unreal. Her would-be killers slaughtered by her demonic savior.
How to process this contradiction?
That woman…… is evil.
Undeniable truth.
A savior…… who is a demon.
Adelaide let out a hollow laugh. Ailin stopped before her.
Tsking, she snapped her fingers. Snap. The ropes snapped, and Adelaide pitched forward. But a shadow caught her before she hit the ground.
Ailin grabbed her hair, yanking her up.
“Ugh!”
“Snap out of it. The show's not over.”
Forced upright, Adelaide's gaze fell on surviving villagers. Limbs severed, guts spilled, they writhed.
Locking eyes with her, they reached out, vomiting blood.
“S-Spare…… me……”
“Saintess…… please……”
Still begging their saint. Blind to their killer.
Adelaide's eyes quivered.
“……Enough.”
“Huh?”
“Stop…… it.”
“Why? Those NPCs tried to kill you. Burn you alive. And you want mercy? Chivalry's touching.”
“They're…… civilians. Just…… bewitched by you……”
“Bewitched? Nah. I did jack shit. That's their true nature. How they were coded. Essence of an NPC.”
“……”
“Hmm, fair point…… You're not so different. Clinging to chivalry even now.”
Ailin gripped her chin, forcing eye contact. Those red eyes seemed to pierce her soul.
“Be honest, Adelaide. Seeing them die…… you weren't just sad, were you?”
“……What?”
“Didn't a part of you feel relieved? They tormented, humiliated, tried to murder you. Their suffering…… didn't it feel good?”
“N-No. I——!”
“You?”
Adelaide's eyes shook violently.
What…… was I thinking……
“Whoa, didn't see that coming.”
“Shut…… up!”
“An NPC…… A real NPC? First time I've seen one like this.”
“Shut up——!”
“You felt good, didn't you.”
“SHUT UUUUP——!!!”
Bloodshot, Adelaide screamed. Ailin smirked, released her.
She crumpled. Before her, the last villager's neck snapped in shadow.
Crack. Eerie silence fell.
“Get up.”
Ailin extended a hand. Pale, flawless. Unbelievable it had just massacred the village.
Adelaide stared. She shouldn't take it. Grasping it meant no return.
But.
I have to get up.
To survive. To escape this hell now, she needed the demon's hand.
Trembling, Adelaide reached out.
It was warm. Sickeningly repulsive, yet reassuring.
“Good girl.”
“……”
“Let's go. Nothing left here.”
Led by Ailin, Adelaide staggered forward.
Corpses squelched underfoot. She tried averting her eyes, but the horrors invaded her vision.
The entire village lay in mutilated ruin.
They…… died well.
The thought flashed. She flinched, shoulders jerking.
What am I thinking?! Insane? They're my people. I had to protect……!
But emotions betrayed reason. Relief outweighed guilt, solace eclipsed sorrow. She slapped her cheek hard.
Slap——! The sharp sound shattered the silence. Ailin glanced back, but Adelaide clutched her stinging face, repeating inwardly.
This…… is what that witch wants. I won't submit……!
She was a knight. Kingdom's Swordmaster. She wouldn't sell her soul to that demon.
Adelaide's eyes trembled.