Read Novel Full Chapter 514- Great Holy Cleansing
Chapter 514: Chapter 514- Great Holy Cleansing
Some cheered shakily, and others dropped to their knees, thanking the gods.
Just as the crowd was getting overly excited, the Queen lifted a hand.
"Do not mistake this momentary victory for safety. If the demons could infiltrate this deep into the heart of the kingdom, it means that they have already spread their tendrils all around the kingdom. Who knows what kind of evil scheme they are plotting? Today, we finally managed to gain an edge over them, something that hasn’t happened even once over the long years of the kingdom’s history. Which is why we cannot let this edge go."
At this moment, her gaze swept towards Reinhardt and the other commanders. Immediately, they all straightened their backs and pressed their fist towards their chest in salute.
"Hear me, knights of the realm. As Queen of Solaris, I issue a royal decree. Every knight order shall mobilize. From the smallest village to the largest stronghold, you will cleanse our lands of all demons."
Saying that, she turned towards Reinhardt, her expression softening only for a heartbeat.
"My knight. In this battle against the demons, the flames of Yggdrasil and the waters of the Fairy Lake you provided played an irreplaceable part. We will need to rely on you in the future."
"By your command, Your Majesty. I will provide them to all orders." The Divine Paladin responded without any delay.
The Queen nodded and continued sharply. "You have one month... one month to purge Solaris of demonkind."
Her words, spoken with absolute clarity, rang across the plaza, causing a stir so great that it refused to fade away from everyone’s hearts. The Queen was serious; she was planning to eradicate all demons from within the borders of Solaris.
Such an order clearly bordered on the impossible, yet even under such an unreasonable command, the knights did not utter a word of complaint. Every knight, from the highest of commanders to the lowest of squires, knelt on one knee and placed their fist on their heart in salute.
"Understood!" They uttered only one word... a word of affirmation.
At this moment, under the illumination of the fires of Yggdrasil, the loyalty and bravery of the knights were carved into the memories of all the citizens. Their heroic figures burned brighter than even the flames.
Watching them, the audience even forgot to breathe.
Up on the platform, the Queen glanced at the battered appearance of her loyal knights and relaxed her shoulders.
"For today... rest. All of you have fought with valour. You have defended your kingdom and saved your people. Tonight, Solaris breathes because of you. Eat, sleep, and hold your loved ones close. You have earned it. From tomorrow... we begin the cleansing of the kingdom."
With that, the battle for the day was over. The crowd sighed, their breaths heavy and emotional.
After the Queen’s decree faded into the night air, it was replaced by a weighty silence. That said, the silence did not last long and was broken by sudden motion.
Knights from the Temple of Light, Divine Radiance, and other orders surged into action. Royal guards pulled supply wagons into the plaza, and crates were pried open to reveal warm blankets, fresh clothes, healing salves, bottled potions, bandages, food, and water.
Even though the knights had eliminated the demons swiftly, the chaos had been real. People had lost homes, seen their loved ones getting injured, or had been taken hostage.
For almost all of them, this was their first real encounter with demons. Many still trembled, haunted by the memories of demonic laughter or the screams of neighbours.
On the orders of the Queen, the royal guards moved in order. Children were wrapped in thick cloaks; elderly citizens were given soft bedding, and wounded civilians received healing.
The Queen moved with them, helping wherever she could.
Reinhardt observed that side of her as she placed coats over shivering shoulders, spoke calmly to crying children, and wiped soot from a young girl’s cheek. Her warm presence alone steadied the trembling hearts of many.
He once again realised how indispensable she was.
Reinhardt stood at the edge of the plaza, his armour still stained with pale demon ash, watching the people slowly recover piece by piece. After a while, his attention shifted to a group of knights and squires sitting under a makeshift canopy.
Kevin and the squad sat around a campfire. While knights like Vanguard, Silvia, and Delicia who was a former squire, were fine, the events of today still weighed heavily on the minds of the squires.
Some stared blankly into their hands; others tried to smile but couldn’t hide the tremor in their heart.
They had passed through the trial of the flames with no problem... but the true trial had come after. Seeing the people they carelessly took mercy on turn into demons, witnessing citizens used as hostages, hearing screams they couldn’t reach in time, and feeling powerless... it was enough to make anyone doubt themselves.
What’s more, these people were still young, and their mentality wasn’t tempered to the point where they wouldn’t feel anything even after going through such an experience.
Looking at them, Reinhardt sighed.
Today’s events made the squires realise that a knight’s life was not just glory and glitter. Sometimes they had to get their hands dirty too and do work that weighed on their mind. However, even against all odds stacked upon them, a knight’s sword must never dull.
Today’s experience just so happened to shed a layer of their naivety.
He walked toward them. When the squad noticed, they instantly tried to stand, but he gestured for them to sit back down.
"Sit and eat." Saying that, he set his own plate down. A simple meal of warm bread, meat broth, and fresh fruit. Then he sat down right beside them.
Their commander... eating with them? That alone stunned the squires more than anything tonight. After all, who was Reinhardt? He was the commander of one of the Seven Great Orders, the Temple of Light, a high noble, and a level 10.