Change

By the time Ria had purged the poison from the Holy Light Clerics, evening had arrived. She assigned them to clean up the battlefield, then gazed at the clouds blazing red in the sunset and found herself thinking:

The ninja would eventually fade like this setting sun, while the Holy Light Clerics would shine like tomorrow's rising dawn!

When she returned to the church, Yui had already awakened and was sobbing uncontrollably in Axel's arms. Her tears soaked the clothes on his shoulder. No matter how tenderly he comforted her, nothing could soothe the turmoil of losing a loved one only to have him returned to her. Just as Axel was at a loss for what to do, he spotted their boss coming back and hurriedly tried to divert Yui's attention. "Boss, did you wipe out the enemy?"

Only after hearing Axel call out did Yui realize Ria had returned. She barely managed to suppress her anguish and reduced her sobs to quiet sniffles, but her arms remained locked around Axel, as though he would turn into a cold corpse again the moment she let go.

Ria approached them and gently stroked Yui's still-trembling back. "It's all right, Yui. Axel is fine now!"

Hearing her sister's gentle voice, Yui turned toward her with red, swollen eyes and asked in a hoarse, uncertain voice, "Ria, nothing else will happen to Axel, will it?"

Looking at her sister's tear-streaked face, Ria gently wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes and nodded. "Don't worry, Yui! Nothing else will happen to him. From now on, Axel will always be with us!"

Only after hearing her sister's firm answer did Yui seem to find the reassurance she needed. She covered her mouth tightly with her small hands and wept with joy. "You know, Ria, I was so afraid this was just a dream I hadn't woken up from! I thought that when I really woke up, I'd have to face the terrible reality of losing Axel all over again!"

Feeling his sister's emotions swing between despair and joy, Axel pulled her into his arms. "Don't worry, Yui! I'll always, always protect you both!"

Watching her younger brother and sister cling to each other, Ria stepped forward and gathered them both into her arms. A loved one lost and regained was all the more precious.

The sun sank completely below the horizon, and night fell. The villagers returned to their homes. After witnessing the Holy Light Clerics risk their lives to protect them in that day's battle, they were deeply moved, and their faith in the Holy Light grew even stronger.

By moonlight, Ria, Yui, and Axel shared a cozy dinner in the church's little courtyard.

"Boss! Were today's enemies strong?" Axel asked curiously.

"Yes. If they'd known more about the Holy Light Clerics, I don't think we could have won so easily today," Ria said calmly.

"Don't worry, boss! We'll keep getting stronger too!"

"Yes. Once we return, I plan to reorganize the entire Church of the Holy Light into the Holy Church and speed up the growth of the Holy Light's power," Ria said without hesitation.

"Ria, aren't we already doing well?" Yui asked in confusion.

"Because of the war, the lords have all fled to the larger towns and cities, so we haven't met much resistance. But our expansion here on the frontier has already reached its limit, and we're still focused on faith alone. That won't do. Faith is only faith, after all."

Ria paused, then continued, "If we want to change a country, we need political power of our own. We need to collect taxes and manage people's livelihoods!"

"As long as we follow what the Holy Light Knowledge Base teaches, one day we'll build a perfect heaven on earth! People will be able to live freely as long as they obey the law. They'll no longer be driven from their homes by war or work hard for an entire year only to go hungry. Under the radiance of the Holy Light, injustice will have nowhere to hide!"

Listening to his boss describe that beautiful future, Axel felt his heart surge. "I believe you can do it, boss! I'm willing to spend my whole life fighting for the will of the Holy Light!"

"Me too!" Yui hurriedly added.

"Then let's keep working hard! Axel, Yui, things may get even harder from here on. Ninja won't be our only enemies anymore. We'll also have to face those Carnivores who live off their positions without doing anything!"

"Yes!" Both nodded firmly.

The next day, Ria returned to Huayu Town with Yui and Axel. All the Holy Light Clerics were recalled, and after several major meetings and discussions, the Church of the Holy Light began a comprehensive transformation from a purely missionary organization into a political power combining religious and secular authority.

Before people had even grasped what was happening, large units of Holy Knights marched in orderly ranks through the town the following day, launching a crackdown on thugs and hoodlums and rooting out the remaining local factions.

Construction began in every district, while suitable existing houses were converted into schools. Priests went door to door, informing residents that all underage children had to attend school for education and instruction. At first, some complained that the Holy Light Clerics were meddling in their affairs. Not everyone had foresight, after all.

Later, when they heard from the children attending school that meals were provided and students could even become powerful Holy Light Clerics, they all rushed to enroll their own children.

Meanwhile, in the villages connected to Huayu Town, the Holy Light Clerics forcefully suppressed the troublesome local factions and introduced various measures benefiting the people, winning widespread support.

The various technologies in the Holy Light Knowledge Base, which they had previously been too weak to dare reveal, were rapidly studied by the Holy Armored Ones and developed into light and heavy industries. This also provided work for the displaced people and townsfolk left unemployed by the war.

Everyone's lives improved at a visible pace. Smiles gradually returned to once-numb faces, and all their misfortunes seemed to be swept away like dark clouds from the sky.

As their lives improved day by day, more and more people joined the Holy Church, and the number of Holy Light Clerics grew explosively. Their ranks swelled from a few hundred to several thousand. Although their levels were still low, their sheer numbers meant that a surge in intermediate-level Holy Light Clerics would surely follow before long.

Looking at the figures in her hands, Ria felt satisfied, then turned her attention toward other cities.

After just over a year, the Holy Light had accumulated enough strength. Huayu Town and its surrounding villages had a combined population of only thirty to forty thousand, yet they already had over a thousand level-20 combat clerics. With such formidable strength, even if every ninja in Amegakure attacked at once, the Holy Light Clerics would have enough power to hold them off, perhaps even crush them. Barring any surprises, they would have no rivals left in the Land of Rain!

While Ria quietly considered which direction to expand in, Reilly brought back news that the Land of Wind and the Land of Fire had gone to war.

The sudden news left Ria somewhat puzzled. The Sand shinobi had suffered heavy losses in the Land of Rain, so logically, if they wanted trouble, they should have come after her first. Still, she paid it little mind. Wasn't this an excellent opportunity to expand?

The lords of the Land of Rain, however, were ecstatic when they heard the news. At last, they could return to their territories and resume lording it over everyone.

The bald lord Bob sat comfortably in his palanquin as his bearers carried him toward his territory, followed by seven or eight samurai escorts. He noticed that the weather had become a little strange ever since they crossed into Corona City's territory, but gave it no further thought.

When he finally returned to his own lands at a leisurely pace, he discovered several lowborn peasants making a mess of his fields. Furious, he immediately ordered the samurai beside him to drive them away.

Before they could act, however, a group of seven or eight riders came charging toward them from the distance, wearing sleek, fitted Silver-White Armor and riding enormous white wolves!

Looking at the tall, imposing knights who stopped before him, Bob swallowed. "Who... who are you?"

"We are the Holy Light Clerics stationed in this village. Why are you trying to harm the people?" a stern voice demanded from inside the leading cleric's enclosed helmet.

The frightened villagers nearby hurried behind the Holy Light Clerics and called loudly to the leading Holy Knight, "Kumata! He's our lord! He was trying to drive us away just now and called us lowborn peasants!"

Because the Holy Light Clerics were always particularly close to the people, almost all the local residents knew them and were on good terms with them. Whenever something happened, the clerics were usually the first people they turned to.

"So a Carnivore has returned. Let me inform you that this place is now under the Holy Church's control. You have two choices: either we deal with you by force, or you lay down your weapons and come with me to the Holy Church for Evil Detection!" Kumata stared contemptuously at the bald lord and waited for his response.

"Damn you! I'm the lord here! What gives you the right to seize my land whenever you please?" Bob demanded furiously.

"What gives us the right?" Kumata echoed with a hint of mockery.

He gestured to the clerics behind him, and every Holy Knight drew the greatsword from his back in unison. "The fact that we're stronger!" Kumata abruptly pointed his sword at Bob. The gust from his blade sent the lord's few remaining hairs fluttering wildly!

Bob glanced back at the samurai behind him, then looked again at the Holy Light Clerics astride their enormous white wolves. His voice became timid and ingratiating. "Sir, could you give me another option?"

"No. Now come with us. If you haven't killed anyone or committed any particularly heinous deeds, all you need to do is surrender your territory and disband your armed followers. The Holy Church will compensate you and give you your rightful allotment of land so you can live a decent life. You simply won't be allowed to lord it over the people anymore," Kumata said calmly.

"And what happens if someone has killed people?" the bald lord asked pitifully.

Kumata's gaze turned cold. "Then we'll investigate to the very end! There will be no leniency!"

Hearing Kumata's icy voice, Bob shuddered. He clenched his fists, then finally took a deep breath. "Sir, we're willing to lay down our weapons and go with you for that Evil Detection!"

As the villagers watched the once-arrogant lord being escorted to the Holy Church by the clerics, they burst into cheers.

Yet, to everyone's surprise, this unremarkable-looking lord turned out to be a good man-or rather, someone who wasn't particularly bad.

Evil Detection revealed him to be neutral, which left Kumata a little surprised.

Only after Bob explained did they learn that he normally acted arrogant and overbearing because he didn't want his subjects to think he was easy to bully. He felt compelled to behave that way to preserve his authority as a lord. His father had even taught him to do so!

In the end, Kumata had to follow standard procedure and pay him a large sum in compensation. When asked whether he wanted to remain there, Bob shook his head without a second thought. Giving up his superior status to farm like a lowborn peasant? Impossible! He quietly gathered his samurai followers and left the village as quickly as he could.

Of course, he was only one of the few reasonably decent lords.

Most lords believed they had strength in numbers and well-trained samurai under their command. Refusing to surrender their interests, they confronted the Holy Light Clerics head-on, only to be captured alive in front of everyone.

The Holy Light Clerics showed no mercy to the lords identified as evil. They immediately held them accountable and executed them publicly before the people. The local residents who had once suffered under their oppression wept freely, overwhelmed with satisfaction!