Read Novel Full Chapter 505- Purge (2)
Chapter 505: Chapter 505- Purge (2)
With the demonstration of Earl Malmond earlier, panic spread across the noble ranks like a disease. None of them wanted to be the next victim of that fire.
Some stumbled backward. Some clutched their robes, looking pale as paper.
It needs to be stressed that none of the people here were innocent. They had all performed some level of corruption or benefitted through it.
Be that as it may, the ones to show the most profound emotions of fear were the ones who had been accused of collaborating with demons earlier. They even started pointing trembling fingers at Reinhardt as if he were the monster in the room.
"This is blatant abuse of power."
"This is tyranny. You have no right to force this upon us!"
"Wrong!" Reinhardt cut in coldly. "I am not abusing my powers. You demanded proof; this is proof." He lifted the torch towards them.
Seeing them reel back in fear, a playful glint appeared in his eyes.
"What’s wrong? I had proven earlier that it does not affect the innocent. Look, the Saintess and the royal guards are the prime example. Don’t worry; as long as your crimes are not heinous enough to the point of being absolutely incorrigible, the flames will not burn you."
He halted his words here and then slowly placed his hands on his sword.
"However, if you refuse the fire even after that, then you declare yourselves guilty. At that point... I will act on behalf of the kingdom."
This was not a threat, not a boast, but simply a statement of fact, unassailable and absolute.
As soon as those words left his lips, the temperature in the hall plunged sharply, so much so that one could even see their breath coming out as vapour.
Nobody doubted his words; they were all familiar with the Divine Paladin’s valour to know that he would stand true to what he said.
The nobles panicked; despair seeped into their eyes. In this moment of crisis, they could only turn towards the person who held the most authority in this court... the King.
"Your Majesty, please, stop him. The Divine Paladin has gone rogue. Restrain him!"
However, cried as they much, there was no help coming. The King... sat on his throne, his gaze hollow, dazed, and staring at nothing. The other party was still reeling from the dream they experienced last night.
And so, they turned towards the next greatest force... the Six Commanders.
"Commanders! This is tyranny! Say something!"
The commanders, each one of them, remained rooted in place, unmoving. Their eyes focused on Reinhardt, their expressions unreadable. Nevertheless, none of them lifted a finger to stop him.
The Queen’s comment earlier was a part of it; however, a major part of it was because they knew that the Divine Paladin would not act rashly. He must have some plans.
Seeing that everyone was still hesitant, Reinhardt offered them another option.
"If you fear the fire..." He walked towards the buckets and dipped the opposite end of the branch into the water.
It was a simple action, yet at that moment, the surface of the water began to ripple. Waves began to churn, and an ethereal silver-green glow dissolved into the water.
The changes were just for an instant, and the water reverted back to its usual colour, normal and unassuming. However, it was this water that now gave off a cool, pure aura.
Reinhardt repeated his actions and dipped the branch into all of the buckets.
"...then prove your innocence another way." He lifted the bucket for all to see.
"Water of the Fairy Lake. It holds the same corruption purging power as the fire. If you fear flame, then touch this water instead."
This was the second item he requested from the Fairy King Asterius: the Water of the Fairy Lake.
Imbued inside the branch of the Divine Tree was the true essence of the lake, and as long as he dipped the branch into it, any water could be tuned into a weapon against the demons.
Reinhardt laid out all of his options; now it was time for judgment.
Silence swallowed the hall. Time stretched still, and tension wound tighter and tighter, like a bowstring about to snap. It was then, someone stepped forward.
A hulking man with a conspicuous aura, donning an armour that seemed like it was made of molten magma. The man was none other than the commander of the Order of the Blazing Sun, Brutus Sparta.
He stepped forward and growled in front of the audience.
"Since the Divine Paladin has gone through such painstaking efforts to set up all this, then I, Brutus of the North, will be the first to be tested."
Saying that, he reached out and poured the entire bucket onto himself.
SPLASH... Even though the water was cold, warm vapour wafted out of him. However, other than that, nothing happened.
"See! There is nothing to fear." Brutus declared loudly.
"You just had to sprinkle some water on you, not bathe with the whole bucket." From the side, Reinhardt retorted, the corner of his eyes twitching.
Pfft... A few knights muffled their laughs. Even in this oppressive atmosphere, Brutus’s straightforwardness cracked the tension for a heartbeat.
With him taking the lead, the other commanders also stepped forward to take the trial one after another.
Conrad and Herman each took a torch and extended their hands, letting the fire lick across their fingers. Nothing happened except a gentle warmth and a faint pulse.
Leona and Zargues chose the Fairy Water and sprinkled themselves with it.
A warm mist rose from their bodies, but there was no heat or pain. As for the Saintess, her trial was already complete. The demonstration earlier was proof enough of her innocence. The flame had kissed her hand, yet refused to burn her.
Silence returned to the hall, heavier than before.
With the commanders, all seven of them undergoing the trial, there was no longer any shield left to hide behind. Every noble in the hall felt their excuses crumble.