Former General Is Undead Knight - Act 4-33 - Judgment②

「…To see if we’re truly needed? We’re needed, of course! Do you really think that those peace-loving fools of the kingdom can fight against the sorcerers who have broken taboos without the inquisition squad and me?」

Cardinal Zebedai screamed with a flushed face upon hearing Lambert’s question.

The people clad in black overcoats knew very well that the situation might change depending on Lambert’s action. Thus, they didn’t let their guards down.

「Those treacherous sorcerers have been haunting this kingdom since I was but a mere child! That’s why I have to get rid of them! The sorcerers from the church led by me have already proven to be much more efficient when it comes to gathering information or subjugating『Devil’s Piper』!」

Cardinal Zebedai kept yelling on and on.

Alas, Lambert only stood still.

Cardinal Zebedai’s flushed face started to turn blue.

「T-to begin with, you can make sure of that after you save me from this place, right? This is not a situation where we can talk about something like this! If there’s something that you don’t agree with, I’ll hear about it later! Not a bad offer, right?!」

「Naturally, I originally planned to do that. But from the moment I saw you, I had already found the answer I was seeking.」

Lambert shook his head as he spoke.

「I’ve been worrying about this matter for a long time. I’ve been wondering if the inquisition squad is truly necessary to combat 『Devil’s Piper』.」

As an experienced general, Lambert was already aware that not everything was clean and beautiful.

That was why he kept hearing dark rumors about the inquisition squad when he was running around to save the day in another area.

「But…I finally understand. Your inhuman acts toward the citizens have only created a new enemy. And you guys are too powerless to do something about that.」

Lambert gave his judgment with a forlorn voice.

「W-what?」

Cardinal Zebedai glared at Lambert as if he thought that his ears were tricking him.

He was filled with anger and fear inside.

「Let’s say that you managed to get out of this predicament and subjugated 『Devil’s Piper』. At that moment, you guys will become the source of another conflict.」

Despite having been embroiled in the chaotic era of the Eight Countries Unification War, Lambert was someone with upright morality. He was the kind of person who would even kill his own countrymen if they committed an injustice.

Though most of it was simply because he was that kind of person, it was his lord, Aurelia, who respected his personality and ordered him to do so that won his loyalty.

The winning country had to rule the citizens of the countries it conquered. Incurring their enmity would only result in them revolting against the Regios kingdom.

So, even if he invaded a country, Lambert had always prepared a just, legitimate, and neat reason to do so.

「D-don’t screw with me! How can you say something like that so easily!」

「Isn’t that obvious from seeing your current situation? Haven’t you noticed already that these people aren’t the sorcerers of 『Devil’s Piper』?」

Cardinal Zebedai’s bloodshot eyes darted to the people with black overcoats who surrounded them.

Indeed, Cardinal Zebedai had noticed that fact already.

Simon had also said the same thing.

Although their physical abilities were enhanced by some sort of method, they were too inexperienced as fighters, meaning that they were not the core combat power of 『Devil’s Piper』.

…Not to mention that some of them were obviously believers of the Heins faith.

「Y-you’re mistaken! They’re being manipulated! Someone in 『Devil’s Piper』 is an expert in brainwashing!」

「Brainwashing? You think something so convenient can alter someone’s will and only leave behind their purpose to exist?」

Lambert replied with a sneer to Cardinal Zebedai.

「If we add the scattered presences and the number of corpses I’ve seen so far, there’s more than a hundred of them. If there’s a sorcery that can control that many people, the owner should’ve already conquered Worimia without even raising an army.」

「B-but they really a—」

「As far as I know, the Yutelbe tribe’s ability to control sound with their mana is the most similar to brainwashing. Their tone can shake anyone who hears it. They can use the sound of their guqin to manipulate emotions. Thus, they can put their target in an excited state. They can use that to turn an ordinary soldier into a mad berserker who will fight till they die.」

「Something like that exists?! Then, I have to use that method at all costs!」

「But then, music is nothing more than music. As long as we know what we’re going to face beforehand, we can prepare countermeasures against that.」

Long ago, the Aunz kingdom was defeated. Every single member of the Etelbe tribe, who nested in the royal family, was executed for brainwashing the country.

But Lambert knew that was a false accusation.

The top-brass of the Aunz kingdom pushed their sins onto the Etelbe tribe to avoid the responsibility of causing the war.

The Etelbe tribe’s sorcery was by no means a convenient tool.

「The one that made them aware of their anger and sadness might be due to a member of 『Devil’s Piper』. However, these guys have the freedom to accept that or to abandon it.」

Lambert looked at the black-hooded people around him.

They didn’t say anything, but the sad profiles peeking out from their hoods were enough for Lambert to confirm that he was right.

They were prepared to die. They decided to sell their souls to the devil just to destroy the church. Thus, they accepted the music of the Etelbe tribe.

「Zebedai, you abandoned the people that you should have protected.」

「EVEN SO, CASUALTIES ARE A PART OF WAR! WHO ELSE WILL DO THIS EXCEPT FOR ME! THIS IS MY CREED! THIS KINGDOM NEEDS ME! I’VE SHOWN THE KINGDOM THAT I’M THE BEST ONE WHEN IT COMES TO DEALING WITH THEM! MY ACTIONS MIGHT CREATE A THOUSAND ENEMIES, BUT I KILLED TEN THOUSAND IN RETURN! HOW CAN THE LIKES OF YOU UNDERSTAND THAT?! THAT’S A FEAT OF GOD!」

「No…this kingdom doesn’t need someone like you.」

「WHA—」

「…Your actions aren’t based on a sense of justice; it’s your grudge. In fact, you don’t even care a single bit about this kingdom, right? There’s no need for a god to see whether your actions are right or wrong based on your current situation.」

Cardinal Zebedai’s face paled, his lips flapping silently.

Lambert’s remark had hit the bull’s eyes. Cardinal Zebedai himself knew that everything was for his own vendetta.

Even so, to have someone say that aloud shook him.

「I…I…」

Cardinal Zebedai fell to his knees, punching the ground beneath him with an enraged face.

「I-I CANNOT DIE IN THIS PLACE! NOT UNTIL I EXTERMINATE ALL TABOO SORCERERS! I HAVE TO MAKE THEM SUFFER SO THOROUGHLY TO SET AN EXAMPLE! SO WHAT WITH VICTIMS OR FALSE CHARGES?! THEIR VICTIMS ALONE CAN BUILD AN ENTIRE MOUNTAIN OF CORPSES! ALL OF YOU JUST NEED TO CLOSE YOUR EYES AND PLUG YOUR EARS! WE CAN’T DESTROY THOSE B*STARDS UNLESS WE DO SOMETHING ON THAT LEVEL! WHO CAN DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT?! I ASK YOU, WHO CAN DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT EXCEPT FOR ME?! I’M NOT WRONG! I’M INEVITABLE!」

The cardinal suddenly screamed meaningless remarks.

Even if the inquisition squad continued on without caring about their victims, the citizens would never come to support them.

That, in return, would become the reason for the collapse of Regios kingdom.

And even if Cardinal Zebedai wished for the extermination of taboo sorcerers, his wish wouldn’t come true.

After all, the inquisition squad itself had already delved into the research of taboo sorcery to combat taboo sorcery.

They wouldn’t be able to oppress the citizens forever with their small organization.

「…I heard a trivial rumor during my investigation about Heinstia. I heard that during your youth, your wife and daughter were victims of taboo sorcerers who sought revenge against the church.」

Lambert put his greatsword on his shoulder.

This was his declaration, meaning that he had nothing to do with this matter anymore.

「Your personal revenge has involved this kingdom. You already ignored the safety of the citizens by the time you involved your personal vendetta. You took the wrong path.」

Lambert then turned around and left after he finished speaking.

He stopped a few moments later and looked over his shoulder.

He saw Cardinal Zebedai crouching on the floor, drenched in his own blood.

His last two bodyguards had already perished.

With this, the inquisition squad was fully destroyed.

The judge, Lambert, didn’t do anything. He just gave his judgment and left the stage in silence.

He wasn’t delighted at all seeing the black-robed people’s situation.

From their last conversation, Lambert realized that even Cardinal Zebedai, with a terrifying reputation himself, was nothing more than a victim in the chain of hatred.

The black-robed people joined 『Devil’s Piper』, becoming sinners who turned their blade to the church.

But Lambert couldn’t bring himself to kill those black-robed people.

Thus, he turned around again and walked forward into the seemingly never-ending dark passage.