The Strongest in the World Doesn’t Want To Do Anything

12 – Purification, Episode 12

The shocking plea to ‘kill himself’ uttered with all his strength left both Gennixt and Haganess frozen like statues.

“What are you talking about?”

As Haganess, still in disbelief, was about to ask again, a bitter and pungent scent lingered in her nose.

“What’s this?”

It was a very familiar scent.

The day she kissed Wolfgang for the last time, the scent emanating from her lips was so intense it made her nauseous.

“Sleeping potion?”

Haganess, sensing something amiss, quickly pulled away the blanket Archbishop Geungho was covering himself with.

“What, what are you doing…”

Taken aback by Haganess’s sudden action, Genedt tried to stop her.

However, Haganess paid no attention and lifted the nearby candle to illuminate the Archbishop’s body.

Red spots covered his exposed body entirely.

“These damn bastards…”

“What is all this? Why are there red spots on the Archbishop’s body?”

“It’s poison made by mixing monkshood with night-blooming cereus… It slowly and gradually poisons people to death…”

“Who on earth would do such a thing…”

It didn’t take Haganess long to think of the mastermind.

Before the war, the Archbishop was a respected figure worldwide, even beyond Rome.

He was considered equal to the kings of nations. Even if he was not a follower of the faith, he welcomed those who wanted to live in Rome and continuously dispatched priests to impoverished nations and cities to guide various charitable activities.

He was truly an unquestionable ‘saint of humanity.’

The Archbishop’s true nature, which Haganess learned directly as she immersed herself in the faith, was not significantly different from the widely known reputation.

If anything, the more she knew, the more she thought that such a sacred person could exist.

That’s why it’s certain that she correctly used the funds she sent to rebuild the faith and Rome, as evidenced by the city walls and the massive iron gate surrounding it.

But now he was wandering in agony, poisoned by someone, and concealing this fact.

Afterwards, someone took over the position of the Archbishop, deceived Haganess with false letters, and indulged themselves with her money.

People who knew about this situation but chose to leave it alone.

This was the result of betraying Wolfgang and choosing the faith.

“What in the world have you done to reach this point?”

“I… I really didn’t know…”

If Genedt had known all these facts, he would surely have taken some action.

At the very least, he wouldn’t have remained in the faith.

He lived differently from other priests, not bothering with new clothes or jewelry, simply shouldering the responsibility of the two disciples entrusted to him according to the will of God.

“…I have to meet the bishop right away.”

“Haganess-nim, what are you planning to do?”

“Please get me some medicinal herbs for a remedy. It’s a serious condition, but there might still be hope.”

Haganess wrote down the necessary herbs on paper and handed it to Gennikt.

“…Understood. I… Haganess-nim, please don’t overstep the boundaries.”

“I’ll simply act according to the will of God.”

It was the faith they had believed in.

It was no different from trading Wolfgang’s life.

The faith they believed in couldn’t collapse like this.

Something had to be done immediately.

If Wolfgang were here?

His image seeped in once more.

Forget it.

Is God truly a presence?

If so, what could be the reason for bringing such trials upon oneself?

Haganess’s mind started buzzing again.

Her heart pounded, body drenched in sweat.

There was work to be done.

Not everything could be fixed right away.

But the faith had to be corrected.

That was all she had left.

As Haganess opened the door to the recovery room, the commander of the knights awaited her outside.

“Haganess-nim. How do you do?”

“Step aside.”

Ignoring him, Haganess tried to pass, but the commander, with his bulky frame, blocked her path.

“If you’ve finished your mission and returned, isn’t it proper to report to the knights first?”

In the irksome tone of the commander, she felt something within her snap for a moment.

“And to meet the archbishop without the knights’ permission… tsk…”

As the arrogant commander blocked Haganess’s path, a blade grazed his neck.

Haganess swung her blood-stained sword through the air, gripping the fallen knight’s throat as he collapsed. Leaving the fallen commander behind, she headed towards the main hall.

Before the imposing main hall, whether by the bishop’s orders or not, many holy knights stood in formation, guarding the entrance.

As Haganess descended the stairs, the gaze of the holy knights focused on her footsteps.

Pausing on the stairs, Haganess surveyed them.

Perhaps the funds had not been allocated to the knights, as their armor and helmets were worn and battered, bearing the unmistakable marks of time.

Seeing the pitiful and rusted state of the holy knights, she let out a bitter smile.

Drawing her sword, she pointed it at the assembly of holy knights and shouted, “Discard your weapons and surrender. It is the will of the divine.”

The rusted holy knights began to murmur upon witnessing her.

Laughter echoed from various corners.

“From now on, we will purify the clergy. Sweep away the greedy hypocrites and guide them onto the righteous path.”

Haganess’s voice was more resolute than ever.

Her stern demeanor began to stir the hearts of the holy knights.

“Our true leader, the archbishop, was poisoned and betrayed by filthy traitors.”

Suddenly, the rumbling of the disorganized holy knights grew louder.

“Blinded by that meager gold, the bishop and priests have corrupted the clergy. Knights, defenders of the clergy, look at yourselves.”

Her voice became increasingly impassioned.

“Look at yourselves! The money I earned by shedding blood, offering it to rebuild the city, defend it, and make the clergy great again! See how they are using it! See it clearly!”

Haganess did not hide her exploding anger.

Even in that moment, thoughts of Wolfgang crossed her mind.

Trying to suppress those thoughts, she shouted louder as she descended the stairs.

“Step aside! You are not the targets of purification! Lay down your swords and make way. I won’t ask you to join me in what I have to do. Don’t obstruct me.”

Descending the stairs and standing in front of the holy knights blocking her path, she gripped her sword.

One of the holy knights at the forefront of the crowd drew his sword.

It was a rusted, unimpressive sword with a blade worn thin.

Then, he soon dropped the sword to the ground.

And stepping aside, he cleared the way.

Sounds of swords falling and armor shifting could be heard from all around.

Haganess followed the path opened by the holy knights towards the entrance of the main hall.

He opened the heavy door with both hands and entered the hall, looking at the knights through the gap in the open door.

“Go back to your families right now… so that you won’t be consumed by the flames of purification…”

Haganess warned the silent knights and closed the door with all her might.

With a “thud,” the priests and bishop gathered in the main hall turned to look at Haganess.

“W-What… the Knights!!! What are you doing!!”

Haganess’s unfocused eyes were fixed on the bewildered face of the bishop.

‘What would you do in this situation? Wolfgang.’

Leaving the question deep in her heart, she ran towards the bishop.

As the bishop turned and fled, Haganess leaped onto his back.

“Lord, forgive me.”

With a short prayer, she stabbed the sword into the bishop’s chest.

“Lord, forgive me.”

She pulled out the sword deeply embedded in his heart and stabbed it into the bishop’s abdomen again.

“Cough… cough…”

“Lord, forgive me.”

She repeated the act of stabbing the bishop with the sword many times.

Her armor became soaked in the bishop’s blood.

Seeing the bishop being mercilessly attacked by Haganess, the frightened priests panicked and tried to escape outside.

They tumbled over each other, each trying to be the first to get out.

Haganess pulled out the last sword she had stabbed and began to cut off the bishop’s head.

The blade cut through the bishop’s flesh and bones, spewing blood.

She placed the severed head of the bishop on the altar.

“Lord, guide me on the path of light.”

Haganess recited a prayer and started to walk towards the confused priests.

Upon seeing her approaching, the terrified priests began to scream.

Please, spare us!!!

Lord, please!!

I’ll give you everything!!! They’re all valuable… I’ll give you everything!!

No!!! Spare our lives at least…

Those people did not appear human in Haganes’ eyes.

They looked like offerings to the gods.

They looked like pigs.

The pigs were squealing and running away from the slaughterer, digging into each other.

She swung her sword and mercilessly cut them down.

“Oh God, please forgive me.”

“Oh God, please forgive me.”

“Oh God, please forgive me.”

“Oh God, please forgive me.”

“Oh God, please forgive me.”

“Oh God, please forgive me.”

…

“Oh God, please forgive me.”

How much time had passed?

A knight holding a rusty sword approached Haganes, who was standing dumbfounded inside the main hall filled with the bodies of the priests.