"I don't know what you've been doing here, but the lord will judge that himself." Grandmother glanced at the believers outside who were handing out rice porridge, and her expression softened somewhat. "The ship back to Castel is about to depart. This is your last chance to leave. Come with me."
The people in the room looked at one another, unable to process it for a moment. They had just been making preparations, and now they were being told they could evacuate?
"I can protect you as you leave. Many of you are students from the advanced class, aren't you? Castel is far more open-minded now than you imagine. Tell the lord everything exactly as it happened, and he will make a fair judgment."
Josh had wanted to say something, but then he closed his mouth again.
He... seemed to have no standing to say anything more.
The Mystic Society, this evil cult, had been his doing from the start. The others had merely helped out at most. Even if the lord truly meant to assign blame, it would not fall on their heads.
All the others needed to do was shift the blame onto Josh. Besides, it was the truth to begin with. They would not even need to lie.
Even Josh had once thought, Even if I'm banished, I want to return to Castel and see it one more time.
Who would reject their own homeland?
Yet the people in the room looked at one another, then began speaking hesitantly.
"Um... Grandmother, well, I'd like to go back a little later. I-I still have lessons to finish teaching. Those children are almost done learning mechanical principles."
"Right, they can't do without me here. The porridge I make... the holy water I make is the best. If I leave,