A huge crowd of people was gathered in the theocracy’s capital. Today was the day that Miledi Reisen, the greatest sinner in history and the heretical witch who’d led the greatest insurrection against the church in Tortus’s history, would be executed.
“I just hope we don’t get a repeat of what happened seven years ago...”
“Don’t jinx it. The witch’s six comrades are still at large. Who knows what they might try.”
A group of two men looked worriedly around the rebuilt capital plaza. There was another execution platform that had been set up in the center, and like before, the leaders of the various nations were attending the execution.
The only difference from seven years ago was that it was dragonmen that were guarding the skies instead of the Paragons of Light, and the pope, the archbishops, and the respective commanders of the Three Pillars of Radiance were all different people.
“I heard the other six already died, though,” another man said.
“Really? Well, it’s not like anyone’s seen them doing anything in a while, so maybe...”
“Even if they show up, we just have to band together again and we’ll be able to take them!”
“Yeah. That rebellion from seven years ago was awful, but that surge of faith I felt welling up was amazing. I’d like to experience that feeling again someday.”
“Yeah, it was so strong that we even fought alongside demons for a bit. Things looked dicey there after the rebels were taken care of, but the church managed to negotiate a truce and the demon empire’s been quiet ever since.”
The people in the crowd spoke fondly of their memories from seven years ago.
Suddenly, something shoved one of the men in the back. He turned around to see who it was and caught a brief glimpse of a hooded youth vanishing into the crowd. Clicking his tongue, the man put the youth out of his mind and looked back up at the execution platform. He couldn’t wait for this seven-year-long war against the rebels to finally be over.
The youth that had bumped into him scowled, then slipped into a side alley.
“Hey, I saw that. We’re not supposed to stand out, remember?” the hooded youth’s companion said as he stepped into the alley.
The hooded youth—who was none other than a 19-year-old Ruth—looked away bashfully. He had the grizzled features of a hardened craftsman, and he was taller than even Oscar now.
The other hooded youth was Dylan. He had bulging muscles now and carried himself like a true warrior. However, he also had a gentlemanly older-brother demeanor, which he’d clearly inherited from Oscar.
“Will you ever settle down, Ruth? You’re such an idiot,” Katy said with an exasperated shake of her head.
“Don’t treat me like I’m a dog!”
Katy was leaning against a nearby wall, and she too carried herself like a powerful warrior. Though she’d only just turned fifteen, she was quite the muscular beauty.
“Come on, no fighting, you two. We’re trying to lay low, right?” Corrin said in a gentle voice.
“Oh, um, sorry...” Ruth and Katy said, immediately cowed. Corrin, too, was only just fifteen, but she had an extremely motherly aura about her. Moreover, her boobs had grown quite big, which was noticeable even through her baggy cloak.
Sharm—who’d grown into an extremely handsome man—held Corrin’s hand to pacify her and said, “It’s almost time, guys.”
The current generation’s hero looked sadly off into the distance as a series of bells began to toll. Ruth and the others’ expressions stiffened, and the emotions they’d been trying to distract themselves from with small talk rose to the surface.
The pure-white double doors north of the main street swung open to reveal a chained Miledi. Her appearance had changed quite a bit over these past seven years. Her waist-length hair had lost its golden luster and was quite wispy. Her limbs were red and sore at the point where the shackles were digging into them.
Still, the sky-blue eyes that peeked out from behind her bangs were as striking as always. She looked exactly like Belta had when she’d been trapped in the Reisen Manor’s prison.
The executioner yanked on Miledi’s chains, and she staggered forward. Then, after a moment of silence, the crowd started hurling insults at her.
“You witch!”
“Pay for your sins with death!”
“How dare you turn your back on Lord Ehit despite being blessed with his powers!”
They flung garbage, stones, and even shit at her.
“Those bastards,” Ruth said through gritted teeth.
“Ruth-kun,” Sharm mumbled as he placed a hand on Ruth’s shoulder.
Ruth glared at Sharm, but Sharm tightened his grip and the pain brought Ruth back to his senses.
“This is what Nii-san and the others decided to do to preserve our future,” Dylan said in a shaky voice.
Katy squeezed his hand, but she, too, was trembling with anger.
“We came here to see her last moments as a human. Don’t ruin them,” Corrin said in a resolute voice. She definitely had the strongest mental fortitude of the surviving children.
The crowd roared with approval as the executioner affixed Miledi to a cross on the platform. She was going to be burned at the stake, and there was a huge pile of firewood ready beneath the cross.
The priests summoned fireballs into their hands and the new pope, who’d been chosen solely because of his family line, stated, “Heretic Miledi Reisen. This is your last chance to repent. Renounce your sins, and in his infinite mercy, Lord Ehit shall grant you a painless death.”
Miledi looked up at the pope, and the crowd fell silent. They wanted to hear history’s greatest heretic beg for forgiveness.
“I’ll repent...” she said slowly. But then, she grinned and added, “Did you really think I’d say that? Hah, you guys are so stupid! There’s no way I’m ever gonna apologize to that piece of shit god! I’m not a liar, after all!”