novelzi Chapter 148: The Inquisition
Chapter 148: The Inquisition
Chapter 148: The Inquisition
-When burned, it’ll be revealed if one is demon or human.
What the hell is this?
The UN staff, including Louise, were horrified.
Burning at the stake! You’re going to burn us!
“You’re a piece of junk!”
But the mechanical spider didn’t even look at them, just barked orders.
-Fetch the fire.
“Yes!”
The villagers rushed to the village and brought back torches. The madness of the roaring flames illuminates everyone.
“Now, wait, wait, wait!”
One of the employees shouts in desperation. In response, Yappy stops with his torch.
-The counterargument?
“Of course there is! What kind of law is this, burning people because they look like they’re possessed by demons!”
Exactly!
It was the irony of the UN inspectors that so few shared this obvious voice of reason.
-That’s the law.
“There’s a fucking law?!”
-The Holy Knights, under the authority of the Tatar, God of the Sun and Judgment, had established the proper “demon hunting laws.”
“Oh, demon hunting laws?”
This was the knowledge Yappy had acquired after entering the Lionheart Gate and stored countless Lionheart books.
-Suspected Demon Followers caught with more than three people will be burned first, regardless of the reason.
What the hell!
Isn’t that the way of the fanatics, straight out of the barbaric Middle Ages!
It’s no coincidence that all the other cruel punishments of the witch hunt era were conjured up in similar fashion.
-This is the correct procedure for testing suspected demon followers. This has been proven by data.
It’s been done, so of course it’s right!
This is what happens when ruthless, inflexible killing machines rule the law! Isn’t the coming law of AI judges actually the wrong choice for humanity?
“What about the believers!”
-Hmm?
Yappy camera eye turned toward them at the sound of someone’s voice.
Her name was Dana, and she was the youngest and most recent member of the Inspectorate staff.
“I, uh, I’m a worshiper of Arianna, Goddess of Light and Justice!”
“You’re bullshitting!”
“Shut up, demon!”
“You’re backed into a corner, you liar!”
“Gee, it’s real!”
-Silence.
Yappy quickly searched his downloaded Lionheart Kingdom Code of Laws to find a case he could apply.
-A believer must be tried according to due process.
“It’s blasphemy!”
-Quietly. It’s not for you to decide.
At that, the UN staffers all came up with the same stunt.
“Well, I’m a believer, too, as of yesterday!”
“Me too!”
“I’ll believe it from now on!”
The townspeople abhorred their false faith with every fiber of their being, but the mechanical Holy Knight was careful to point out that the burden of proof was on the plaintiff.
-I will conduct the trial according to the law. I will be objective and impartial in accordance with established precedent.
Oooh!
Finally, some sense! He could see hope in the faces of the UN staff.
-Light it up.
“What the hell are you asking for?”
-What else are you complaining about?
“No, no, no, the conclusion hasn’t changed! It’s the same thing with the light!”
-Different.
What’s different!
At Louise’s gaze, Yappy crossed it with his cold camera eyes and said again.
-Lack of faith will burn, faithfulness will not. The data proves it.
Ah.
Louise realized that these crazed fanatics... had no intention of sparing them.
-Light it.
“Yes!”
“Heed the words of the Holy Knight!”
“Burn the demons to purify them!”
“No, keep an eye on those who say such things, Officer Louise. Humans abhor evil in any world. Those who are tolerant of evil are usually evil people.”
Leon handed her a necklace drenched in water from an auspicious looking goblet.
“I, as a United Nations official, do not accept bribes.......”
“Heaven forbid that you should refuse the king’s gift. Take it, and keep it, for it will serve you well for some time to come.”
Leon gave her not only that, but also many blessed crops, and said to her,
“I know you are a wise woman and know how to use them.”
“......!!”
Louise was dumbfounded as she realized Leon’s intentions.
“Lord Spinner.”
-Hmm?
“My guest is returning home. Would you be willing to escort her?”
-No problem.
Back at the UN headquarters Louise clutched her necklace with trembling hands.
* * * *
Four people had died during the UN Human Rights Commission’s visit to TTG Temple.
The news had outraged not only the South Korean government but also the UN headquarters.
“These barbarians...!”
From the UN Secretary-General to the heads of agencies, to the commander of the UN peacekeeping force.
Each of them, in their own state of emergency, denounced the atrocities of the TTG.
“The ones who died were all demon followers.”
“That doesn’t even make sense! Officer Louise, don’t spread such baseless rumors!”
“We need to rescue the serfs in the TTG Temple right now!”
After being summoned to the top, Louise was reprimanded and made to testify in detail about what had happened.
After a long day of meetings and hearings, it was time to eat.
“Everyone, eat.”
Simple sandwiches were prepared for the long hearing.
When they were distributed to the staff, Louise watched as several employees broke out in a cold sweat and refused to eat.
“I have my own packed lunch.......”
“I don’t have an appetite, so I’ll eat later.”
The refusal gave Louise a sense of déjà vu; that sandwich was made with the “crops” she had brought with her.
“I... I’m, uh, Officer Harrison.”
“Why... Why would you do that, Officer Louise?”
Louise was in agony but then she remembered Leon’s words. If it was true that the United Nations had been overrun by demons, then.......
“Rain, let there be light!”
It was then that Louise’s necklace suddenly emitted a flash of light that enveloped the entire hearing room.
“A flashbang?!”
“Officer Louise, what did you do──!”
The staff covered their eyes, frightened by Louise’s sudden behavior but at that moment, an unbelievable sight appeared before their eyes.
“Aaah!”
“Keeeeeeeeeeee!”
The employees who refused the sandwiches, including Mr. Harrison, screamed in agony as their entire bodies burned.
“Officer Harrison?”
The transformation was swift.
With the blessing of Arianna, the Goddess of Light and Justice, and the light from the necklace immersed in holy water, the hidden evil was revealed.
-Chirp!
-Sizzle!
The creature’s flesh peeled away and bloody wings unfurled.
The vicious teeth, nails, and piercing eyes were not human.
“Ah, a demon?!”
“Kick!”
The demon swung its sharp nails at the first person to react but the demon failed to reach him.
-Whick!
A steel wire swung with the sound of a whip cut through the demon’s body in an instant.
Demon blood splattered everywhere, and their gazes turned to one place in unison.
-Bam!
A minimalist steel knight emerged from Louise’s bag. The Yakt Spinner’s mechanical arm stretched out, steel wires whipping like a whip.
“You bastard!”
“Kill him...!”
It took less than two seconds for the demonic beasts in the hearing room to be slaughtered.
The souls of the dead demons screamed as they were extinguished by the holy power wire.
Demons appeared out of nowhere in the hearing room, and the Knight of Steel slaughtered them. As everyone stood dumbfounded, the Yakt Spinner declared in an inorganic, mechanical voice.
-Operation Demon Slayer has begun.
What began with the Human Rights Violations Inspectorate at the TTG Temple has turned into a full-scale extermination of the demons at the United Nations Headquarters.
The UN Headquarters Demon Outbreak was quickly subdued by Holy Knight Yakt Spinner as 337 demons and their followers were slain.
-The world is coming to an end.