ALL NOVEL Chapter 40 - Violence Increases Persuasiveness (5)
I Raise With In-app Purchases – 40
EP.40 Violence Increases Persuasiveness (5)
Among the nobles who were supposed to use their power for humanity, unfortunately, there were those who used it for their own benefit instead of fulfilling their duties. The state did not leave such criminals alone. Showing even a little mercy to those who abandoned their noble duties could lead to uncontrollable consequences.
When nobles disobeyed orders, refused to enter the academy, or fled instead of enlisting in the military, the state would issue a wanted notice for the fleeing noble. If caught, they would be imprisoned. Since ordinary prisons couldn’t contain them, special prisons were established for thorough management, where they would be forced to labor for the state for the rest of their lives. No matter how prestigious the noble family, there were no exceptions in such cases.
Therefore, nobles never avoided military enlistment. Living and dying by honor, avoiding such duties meant being prepared to be disowned by their family.
“Lock me up somewhere else. Why should I be here!! I’m not a noble!”
The church had a special prison for criminals who had refused the state’s call and fled. It was a space created by replicating the special prison operated by the state. Once, the church leader had given me teachings here.
“How could I treat the church leader the same as others?”
“Do you think you can take over the church by locking me up here?! My followers won’t leave you alone!!”
I knew well that the sudden disappearance of the church leader would seem strange to the followers. Measures had already been taken for that.
“You don’t need to worry. I told them that the church leader is very ill and has gone into seclusion.”
“Who would believe that!!! Who would believe it!!!”
“The followers didn’t doubt my words. They just extended their prayer time, wishing for the church leader’s recovery.”
“Such foolish girls!!”
Sometimes, the church leader would beg me to let him out of here, and sometimes he would threaten to kill me. Watching the once compassionate church leader fall apart was painful and difficult, but I had to endure it. The church leader’s condition was much worse than I had anticipated.
He must have experienced such hardships when he was still in his right mind.
I could vaguely guess the weight of the burden the church leader had been carrying for the sake of the followers after experiencing it myself.
“Why has someone as devout as you become like this? No one gives me an answer. You always provided the right answers.”
“Listening to your nonsense makes me sick. Just disappear from my sight! Stop coming to me and spouting your crazy talk!!”
As I watched the church leader scream, a thought suddenly occurred to me.
“A demon…”
“Get out!! Just get out!!!”
“Could it be that you’re possessed by a demon?”
His hair was disheveled, his voice hoarse from screaming, and his bloodshot eyes made his look like someone who had lost his mind. The familiar image of the church leader was nowhere to be found.
Gritting teeth could be heard.
And then, with all his malice, the church leader spoke.
“The demon is you. Repaying kindness with enmity is exactly what a demon would do, isn’t it? I regret not killing you back then. I raised a demon’s spawn and now suffer this wretched fate. It must be divine punishment. You should have died and become fertilizer for this land. That would have been a beneficial choice for the world!”
Every word from the church leader’s mouth was a curse. Despite the harsh words, I calmly organized my thoughts. Seeing her like this helped me reach a conclusion more quickly.
“Yes, if a demon had possessed the church leader’s body, it all makes sense.”
It’s difficult to distinguish a demon possessing a human body. And it’s equally challenging to exorcise the demon. A demon would not easily give up a body it has claimed. Therefore, to reclaim the church leader’s body from the demon, significant effort was required, such as inflicting enough pain to make the demon abandon the body.
“I’ve made up my mind. I will exorcise the demon from the church leader’s body. I’ll make it so painful that the demon can’t endure and has to leave. Then, the demon will have no choice but to abandon the body.”
How fortunate it was that, thanks to the sacred relic, my abilities had become much stronger than before, allowing me to heal the church leader from any severe injuries without any lasting effects.
Honestly, the process of exorcising a demon from a body was so extreme that anyone would consider it abnormal.
“Wait a minute! You don’t really think a demon has possessed me, do you? Are you completely out of your mind? Fran! It’s me, your mother!”
A person possessed by a demon always claims their innocence. Sometimes, they appeal to emotions like this. They will cough up blood, writhe in pain, and scratch the floor with their nails, all while pleading for their lives, claiming their innocence and begging for mercy. They aim to evoke sympathy and create an opening to reveal their true nature, mocking those who were deceived.
“A demon, out of nowhere!! Don’t fit your delusions to your narrative! I’ve never been possessed by a demon. I’ve never changed from my childhood until now!!”
A characteristic of a person possessed by a demon is a sudden change in personality. A calm person may suddenly become aggressive towards others or exhibit suspicious behavior late at night. If livestock around them die or go missing without reason, and eventually people start disappearing, then it’s time to consider whether there’s a demon nearby. Once a suspect is identified, they are confined, and all the men in the village are called to beat the suspect until they are on the verge of death. Only when they are about to take their last breath does the demon leave the body.
“All that is from hundreds of years ago!! There’s no such thing as demons in this world!!”
“That can’t be true. Church leader, you have saved followers possessed by demons multiple times.”
The church leader had firmly ordered exorcisms for those possessed by demons. When the person was in a terrible state, on the brink of death, the demon would finally leave the body, and through the church leader’s holy prayers, it would turn to ashes and disappear. The church leader, having successfully exorcised the demon, never blamed the follower who had been possessed. Instead, she warmly embraced them. Remembering that touching moment brought tears to my eyes.
“That was all staged to gather followers!!!”
The idea that the church leader was possessed by a demon seemed increasingly credible. Otherwise, how could he dismiss his own miraculous achievements as lies? Despite my shortcomings, I vowed to save the church leader.
“First… it’s best to start lightly.”
I wanted to get the church leader out of here as soon as possible.
I pondered for a moment which club to use, filled with love for him. Since there were clubs that the church leader frequently used, I didn’t need to spend time choosing a weapon. Moreover, I had already been hit by each of these at least once. Thus, I knew well which one would cause the most pain.
“This one seems good for a start.”
Holding the broad club in my hand, I felt it would strike well.
“No, don’t… please. No. I’m really innocent!!!”
“Don’t worry. It will hurt a lot, but I’ll heal you.”
There would be no aftereffects.
“Once the demon leaves your body, everything will be over. I’m not sure if I can summon the demon quickly because I’m still inexperienced. But I’ll do my best! For the church leader.”
In the church leader’s weakened state, I had to lead the church. Even if I was lacking, I had to manage somehow.
“Stop it. No. Don’t. This isn’t right. Why are you doing this to me? What did I do so wrong to you!!!”
“You’ll be able to return to your old self.”
– Swoosh. –
The tightly closed prison door opened, and I stepped inside. Was it fear of what was to come? The church leader attempted to escape through the open door. Of course, that attempt was—
– Thwack, –
“Aaah!”
Easily thwarted by the club I swung with all my might. The broad surface area made a loud noise upon impact. But hitting with a broad surface area was necessary to inflict prolonged pain. Using an ordinary club could easily break bones or tear flesh, but with this club, it would take much more striking to tear flesh. If done skillfully, it could also prevent breaking bones.
– Thwack— Thwack— Thwack. –
“Aaah! Aaaah!!”
“Stay still… don’t try to escape. Struggling like that could break your bones. It’s fortunate that my abilities have strengthened; otherwise, it would have taken a long time for you to heal.”
– Thwack— Thwack. –
“Save me!!! Aaaah! Ahh! It hurts… it hurts so much!! Aaaah!!!”
A desperate scream erupted. Initially, he tried to escape to save himself, causing me trouble, but after a certain amount of violence, he seemed to lose the strength to run away and lay quietly on the floor. When he appeared to lose consciousness, I used my abilities to heal him completely and then poured cold water to wake him up. If he wasn’t conscious, the pain wouldn’t be transmitted to the demon. …When he was conscious, it meant that hitting him anywhere would cause the demon pain.
“Ah… this is hard.”
– Swoosh. –
As I swung the club diligently, my stamina began to wane. I wiped the sweat off my forehead and took a brief rest.
“I’ll let you use the bathroom after we’re done. I’ll also bring you clean clothes.”
His clothes were a mess, stained with blood. his body, bruised blue and black from being hit here and there, looked pitiful. But I had to muster strength for the church leader. Thinking that even a brief rest was a waste, I gritted my teeth and grabbed the club with both hands again. Seeing this, the church leader began to cry and beg.
“I, I was wrong…! It’s all, all my fault… sob… please… save me… ugh!”
– Thwack. –
“Yes. You’re enduring well! I’ll do my best too. Church leader! Hiya!”
– Thwack— Thwack— Thwack. –
Even if my whole body was drenched in sweat, I wouldn’t give up. For the church leader…! I didn’t stop swinging the club until the muscles in my arms were tightly knotted.
Translator Note: OK….. WTF HAPPENED?