Chapter 41: The Villain
Amidst a burst of cheers, Bishop Mov of the Holy Church United in Pato City strode onto the makeshift altar, held high the monster's head Dave had brought back, and smiled, saying, "Praise the Gods!"
After a brief silence, overwhelming cheers erupted from all directions. The people were all uncontrollably excited at this moment, as rumors of a murderous monster outside the city had kept them terrified for several nights. Now, one of the monsters that had cruelly killed four young academy students was reduced to just a head, held aloft by the revered Bishop!
This was undoubtedly a huge encouragement to the citizens.
Moreover, Dave had personally confirmed that there were no other threats outside the city besides the two Red Ridge Beasts that had already been decapitated. This was simply the best news possible!
"Praise the Gods!"
"Praise the Gods!"
...
The influence of the Holy Church United in this small city was undoubtedly immense. Not to mention the popularity of the holy figures who had long been dedicated to healing the sick and wounded, even the Knight Academy, which everyone was proud of, was established with the help of the Holy Church United. Therefore, almost one hundred percent of the people here were believers in the Gods of the Holy Church, and praising the glory of the Gods at this moment was naturally to be expected.
No one noticed the sheer mockery contained within the smile of Lord Lang En, who stood quietly behind the City Lord. Nor did anyone notice the puddle of water slowly seeping into the ground at his feet.
Of course, even if they had seen it, everyone would probably have thought that a certain Chief of Internal Affairs had peed himself on the spot due to excessive excitement, and would have treated it as a topic to pass the time in the coming days.
At least no one would have guessed that it was the Gods' Water originally intended for the 'hero's' baptism...
"There's a young man..." Bishop Mov said to everyone as if he were chatting casually, "He lost his happy family at a young age and grew up alone in the church. Although he had the company of many devout people, for a child, this could not be described as a particularly happy childhood."
The crowd slowly quieted down.
"Praise the Gods, past tragedies did not leave an indelible shadow on this child." Mov smiled and glanced at Dave, "He still grew up healthy and strong."
Some people in the crowd quietly shed a few tears, whether from the heart or not.
"His name is Dave, Dave Sager." The Bishop extended his hand towards Dave below the altar, "Previously, he was a second-year student at Pading Knight Academy, and also a devout follower of the God of Courage and Justice. Yesterday, he was granted the title of Provisional Holy Church Knight, and went alone outside the city to face the brutal murderer. Come here, child, let everyone have a good look at you."
Dave walked to Bishop Mov's side with a shy smile on his face.
"And today!" The Bishop grabbed Dave's right hand, "He is a God-blessed one. His character and faith have been recognized by everyone. He should be rewarded!"
"He is our hero!!" City Lord Naji roared, then scratched his neck in confusion and grinned foolishly at the citizens who enthusiastically responded to him.
The Bishop's expression turned serious, and he softly said to Dave, "Your God is watching you. Kneel, child."
Dave obediently knelt on one knee.
"Your actions are worthy of your heart, worthy of your God, and worthy of those companions who went before you." Mov smiled, "So I think you should be able to bear some heavier glory. Are you willing?"
"I am willing." Dave nodded firmly, "To prevent more tragedies from happening, for all the innocent, and for my own faith."
A burly junior priest walked over with a clatter, respectfully presenting a crystal bottle to Bishop Mov, murmuring softly, "Gods above, I'm so damn envious."
Almost half the people in the square heard it...
However, the Bishop pretended to be deaf, accepted the bottle of 'Gods' Water with a smile, and declared loudly, "Then... I shall bestow upon you..."
Clang!! Clang!! Clang!!
Deafening bells rang out, accompanied by a burst of laughter filled with sarcasm and mockery.
"You shall bestow upon him the glory of a Holy Church Knight!" The voice came from not-so-distant mid-air, "And let this beast, suspected of premeditated murder, madly mock the blind Gods in his heart~~~"
Boom!
The scene erupted in an uproar. Everyone was stunned, and a huge clamor immediately rose. Everyone wanted to know who had the audacity to so slander their newly appointed 'hero' and the Gods in heaven!
"Who!" Bishop Mov's face turned ashen as he roared, "Who dares to blaspheme in public!"
"There! On the bell tower!"
A sharp-eyed person in the crowd had already spotted the figure in white.
Everyone looked up at the same time.
"Good afternoon, everyone." Standing on the bell tower, which was right next to the grand square and built in the very center of Pato City, Mo Tan bowed to everyone below, doffing an imaginary hat, even though he wasn't wearing one, "I'm delighted to entertain you all here~"
Mov looked at him coldly, "In the name of the Gods, do you know what you are saying?"
"Of course~" Mo Tan propped his chin with his right hand. A magic pattern, amplified by Lei Duo's amplification spell, was on his white glove. He replied with keen interest, "Those Gods, whom you constantly flatter under various pretexts, will thank me, after all, I'm about to destroy a heretic with a bright future~"
Dave suddenly looked up and angrily shouted, "Who are you calling a heretic!?"
"Uh, it seems you like to chat while kneeling." Mo Tan spread his hands, his eyes full of malice and coldness, "Of course I'm talking about you, Student Sager. After all, personally killing a companion from the same academy is somewhat contrary to your identity as a follower of the God of Courage and Justice, isn't it?"
Everyone was stunned. What was this seemingly crazy guy saying?
Killed a companion from the same academy?
Dave Sager?
What the hell!?
"Nonsense!" Dave stood up, his face ashen, and roared, "You are questioning the noble faith of someone who has dedicated his all to God!"
"No, no, no~" Mo Tan shook his head, "I'm just questioning whether your head has ever suffered a severe blow from a hard object. As for your faith, I don't question it, but that's a topic for later. Now..."
He stood on the tall bell tower, his white robe fluttering in the breeze, and said with an evil smile, "Let's talk about how you commanded those two adorable pets to kill Luo Na Yuehui, personally pierced La Da Duo Na's heart, and thought you killed Cole Shulen and Ai Fan Ye, a holy figure who also belonged to the Holy Church United~"
These four recently well-known names undoubtedly caused a huge stir in the crowd. Everyone knew they were members of the Warm Sun Squad, and also the driving force behind Student Dave's solo quest to avenge them against those two monsters!
What was that person saying?
Was it Dave... who killed them!?
"Utter nonsense!" Bishop Mov's beard bristled with anger, "Holy Church Warrior! Get him for me..."
"Wait!" Unexpectedly, the person who was being 'maliciously slandered' suddenly spoke, "I am willing to confront him!"
【It really is him!!】
However, Dave, who had spoken these righteous words, still looked a bit pale. He was almost certain now that this guy was the same person he had met in the forest last time. He had naturally told Lang En about this immediately after returning. However, after a detailed interrogation about the conversation between the two, the Chief of Internal Affairs, who was far more astute than Student Dave, had already prepared several backup plans for him. He hadn't expected them to actually be put to use!
"I want to know, if you slander me like this, do you have any evidence?" Dave looked up at Mo Tan and said in a deep voice, "If this is just a prank, I am willing to forgive you in my personal capacity now, but you still have to bear the consequences of disrespecting the deities, and duel me one-on-one!"
Well done! A true man!
The onlookers were immediately impressed, and the Bishop also showed a relieved smile.
After all, unlike Dave, they didn't know the extent of Mo Tan's strength.
However...
"Evidence?" Mo Tan nodded, "Yes, I didn't I say before that two of the four people you intended to kill are still alive, and I happened to rescue them. As for pranks..."
He turned his back to Dave, his hands clasped behind his back.
With a 'bang', he let out a loud fart!
The explosive sound from the crushed small air bag in his sleeve echoed throughout the entire square due to the amplification magic pattern.
"That's a prank~" Mo Tan turned around and grinned, shaking his finger, "What I just did wasn't."
An eerie silence lasted for several seconds...
"You fellow!" Dave finally managed to catch his breath, "If my companions were truly saved by you, then where are they?"
If Lang En's judgment was correct, this guy had said that those two were as good as dead, and probably wouldn't be able to come out to testify for a while. As long as today passed, everything would be settled, and dealing with subsequent matters would be easy!
Indeed...
"They're not in a good state to come out right now." Mo Tan chuckled, "So you plan to deny it to the end, then?"
This remark immediately caused an uproar, and many people had already started shouting things like 'kill him'...
Unexpectedly, Dave shook his head, "I have nothing to deny. It doesn't take this much trouble to expose your malice and lies."
He took a step forward and said in a deep voice to Bishop Mov, "Please allow me to request an early baptism for myself. This way, this person's lies will immediately fall apart!"
The Bishop immediately understood, stroked his beard, and chuckled, "Very well, then let everyone witness it with the Gods."
But Mo Tan took half a step back, raised his hand to point at the crystal bottle in Mov's hand, and stammered, "This... this is..."
"Gods' Water." Dave said in a deep voice, "I am a follower of the God of Courage and Justice. If I truly committed such a vile act as you described, not to mention that I should have been struck by divine punishment long ago, at the very least during the baptism, I would inevitably be punished as a blasphemer. But if you are lying..."
He gently knelt before Bishop Mov, closed his eyes, "Then when I become a true Holy Church Knight, I will surely punish you!"
"Wait!" Mo Tan exclaimed, his face pale, "Wait! I... I haven't finished speaking yet!!"
But no one was willing to wait for him...
Dave, seemingly as steady as Mount Tai, but panicking internally, lowered his head, signaling to Mov that he could begin.
The holy Gods' Water sprinkled from the crystal bottle, wetting Dave's hair and dripping from his forehead...
"God will bless me..."
The next instant, a sacred hymn seemed to sound, and a halo of white with several streaks of red light shone from Dave's body. This was the unique divine light of the God of Courage and Justice, Heimdall!
At the same time, a crimson divine emblem, composed of a long sword and Tianping, lit up behind him, then merged into Dave's body within a few seconds.
The bandage on his hand fell off. Dave's severely injured arm had completely recovered, and even a few unhealed scars on his face were slowly disappearing...
A God-blessed one!!!
A God-blessed one, seen once in a century!
Instantly, cheers erupted from countless corners of the square. The crowd was in an uproar; they felt as if they were witnessing history. No one had expected Dave to actually manifest all the characteristics of a God-blessed one during this baptism...
This was something that should only happen in stories!
"Praise the Gods!" Bishop Mov exclaimed, "Praise the Gods!"
Dave also smiled, a very happy smile.
Lang En also smiled, an even happier smile, and while smiling, he stared like a viper at the man in white on the bell tower, who seemed like a clown.
"No!" Mo Tan, distraught, covered his face and roared, "It shouldn't be like this! I... I haven't finished speaking! Right... right... I haven't finished speaking!"
"You scoundrel!" The Chief of Internal Affairs roared, "You have no more chances!"
Lang En walked onto the altar and loudly addressed the countless people in the square, "Please forgive my overstep, but, my dear citizens, what did you just witness?!"
"A God-blessed one!!!"
"Yes, a God-blessed one!" Lang En nodded, "Not only that, he also eliminated the threat outside the city for us! He safeguarded our safety! Am I right?"
"Right!"
"Indeed, Lord Lang En!"
"Exactly!"
The crowd responded with a thunderous roar.
"Even while severely injured and not yet fully recovered, he was wholeheartedly determined to avenge his companions with his own hands!" Lang En said with great emotion, "And he succeeded, and even received the recognition of the Gods!"
Dave and he exchanged smiles.
"He is our hero! The hero of our Pato City, the hero and role model for countless students of Pading Knight Academy!" Lang En shouted, "Am I right!?"
"Right!!!!"
The citizens responded frantically.
In most cases, they were so easily swayed, so easily changed their stance, so adorable, so... foolish...
"And our hero..." Lang En said with a heavy heart, "is currently being slandered and attacked by a blasphemous villain! Can we forgive that person!?"
"No!!!!"
Mo Tan's face grew even paler...
"Soldiers!" Lang En waved his hand, "Take him down!!"
"Holy Church Warrior!" Bishop Mov also appropriately sought to assert his presence, "Go!!"
Immediately, seven or eight city guards and three Holy Church Warriors, amidst the roars of the populace, drew their weapons and rushed towards the bell tower, determined to ensure that the villain, who had already lost everything, received his due punishment.
Unexpectedly...
Clang! Boom!
Two loud bangs erupted below the bell tower. The first few people were sent flying backward like broken kites, falling heavily to the ground.
"What's the rush..." A middle-aged man in blood-red heavy armor, with messy hair, sauntered out from under the bell tower, "Didn't he say he still had something to say~"
Two massive hammers crashed to the ground, creating two pits in the thick salt crystal pavement.
"That's right..."
Mo Tan, whose face had been pale on the bell tower, suddenly showed a mischievous smile, "I haven't finished speaking yet~~"
He lightly snapped his fingers...
"Little Ai! Give our 'hero' another wash~"
Chapter 39: End
