Next, the bandaged nun lifted the black-haired girl by the neck and bound her to the cross with thorny vines.The beak-masked knight carried bundles of dry firewood up from below the platform and stacked them beside the cross.
"The sinful bloodline shall end today. But before that, we will execute the human traitors who once aided this evil empire. Their deaths will completely cleanse the sins that the dynasty brought upon this world."
The bandaged nun declared loudly.
Soon, a group of people in tattered, bloodstained clothes were escorted up by white-robed knights.
Unlike everyone else present, their facial features were clear, and even the fine details of their clothing were visible.
"Criminal Lysander Valpurgis, tutor of the Kivilisa Family. You personally cultivated two generations of the sinful bloodline and were closely associated with the Tyrant. Sentence: hanging. Your soul shall be roasted in holy fire for ten thousand years."
"Te… Teacher?"
The black-haired girl struggled to lift her head, staring in disbelief at the white-haired yet upright figure in the distance.
"Didn't you leave the imperial capital long ago and return to your hometown? Why did you come back?"
But before she could get an answer, the bandaged nun began chanting again.
With each name that was announced, the girl's expression grew more desperate.
Until the final name was spoken:
"Psyche, maid of the Kivilisa Family. You repeatedly helped the Final Sinner escape. After we captured the Final Sinner, you even attempted to organize a rescue. Sentence: dismemberment at the waist. Your soul shall be burned into nothingness by holy fire."
"Psyche? Didn't you betray me? Why are you here?"
When the black-haired girl saw the silver-haired girl avoiding her gaze, she instantly understood everything.
So the so-called betrayal… had all been for her sake?
Had she wrongly blamed Psyche all this time?
Guilt swallowed her whole. As each of her loved ones was executed, her heart sank deeper into despair.
Finally, the beak-masked knight personally poured flames imbued with holy power onto the firewood beneath her feet.
A terrifying tongue of fire engulfed her instantly.
This time, the black-haired girl did not make a single sound.
"Every time I recall this scene, it still brings me such joy. This bone-deep despair makes me feel as though I'm still alive in this world."
Suddenly, a figure in a black dress appeared beside Hel.
It was Imshi.
"Do you see it now? This is the scene from three thousand years ago, when the Holy Inquisition Knights personally captured a royal descendant of the Empire and executed her.
It is also the final memory of this avatar before her death.
A mere illegitimate daughter, barely over ten years old. Servants who were just ordinary workers, with no involvement in politics at all.
And yet, as long as they were connected to that family, they were all judged by the Inquisition Knights.
Do you know why?"
Imshi tilted her head and smiled at Hel in an innocent manner. But to Hel, the smile looked completely fake—like a mask hiding her true feelings.
"You already know the answer. Because of witches.
Oh, and perhaps history from three thousand years ago feels too distant to you. You may not know the hidden truths of that era.
But what you need to understand is this: That was a great nation that protected witches for thirty thousand years. The only dynasty that stood alongside the Holy Inquisition and the Church of Supremacy as an equal power.
It was meant to be the sole sanctuary for harmless witches of time, truth, and similar factions. Yet it was destroyed by the Holy Inquisition Church.
Do you think that was right?
Now that you've become a witch, you are naturally the enemy of the Holy Inquisition and human forces. They will never allow a high-authority witch like you to roam free.
You've seen the Church's Holy Grail, haven't you? Is that tragic fate really what you want?
They covet the power of witches, yet insist on keeping that power under their control—even torturing innocent girls into monsters to achieve it.
And yet, they never offer those girls a chance to join them.
But the Church of Supremacy is different. It is already under the control of us witches.
If you're willing, you can join us."
"But your Church of Supremacy tried to kill me earlier."
Hel smiled at the black-haired girl, completely unmoved by her emotional appeal.
Much of what Imshi said was probably true—but Hel instinctively felt that something was being hidden from her.
A schemer who had lived for thousands of years would have countless ways to manipulate her. So the safest choice was to reject everything.
Imshi, however, did not seem surprised by Hel's refusal.
She stepped back gracefully, lifted her skirt, and gave Hel a polite bow. Then she looked up and smiled eerily.
"In that case, I can only let you experience the terror of facing the Inquisition Knights firsthand. Perhaps then, you'll change your mind."
As she finished speaking, Imshi's body began to crumble, turning into countless black petals that drifted into the thorn forest.
The next moment, Hel's vision blurred.
When she could see clearly again, she was standing on the execution platform.
"After three years, the last of the Kivilisa Family…"
As the bandaged nun's chanting echoed, Hel looked around in shock.
Her body had become smaller. She felt no trace of magic within herself.
Pain wracked her entire body, and one of her eyes was bruised, blurring her vision.
When the thorn crown was placed on her head, it felt like her skull was about to split apart—as if every single spike had been enchanted to amplify the pain.
But to Hel, this level of suffering was nothing.
She had seen death countless times. Pain like this was just a small matter.
However, when the bandaged nun began chanting again, the next group of prisoners made Hel's pupils contract sharply.
"Niv…How could it be you?"