Anger

The Holy Light cleric handed over his duties to a companion, then led Nagato and the others toward the station.

Unlike the buildings in the Land of Rain, brick-and-tile houses stood in neat rows on either side of the broad streets. Though there were plenty of pedestrians, the streets were clean and tidy, nothing like those big cities where a faint stench of rot always lingered outside the wealthy districts. All sorts of plants and flowers grew down the middle of the roads, greeting them with the fresh scent of nature wherever they went.

"What a beautiful city! It must be wonderful to live somewhere like this!" Konan said enviously as she looked around.

The other members of the team nodded along. The journey had truly opened their eyes. This was only a small town, yet walking through it felt even livelier than their village, let alone the larger cities.

"All right, we're here. I'll buy your tickets!" The cleric joined the line behind a group of people. When the man ahead turned around and saw that he was a Holy Light cleric, he immediately offered to give up his place.

The cleric promptly placed a hand on the man's shoulder. "No need, sir. I'm not in a hurry. I'll wait in line like everyone else."

Once he had bought the tickets, the cleric said, "Come inside the station with me and wait a little while. The main force won't arrive just yet."

They entered the spacious station and began looking around curiously again. "Don't wander off, you lot. We'll have to board once they announce our train," the cleric reminded them helplessly.

"Right! Sorry for the trouble!" Yahiko immediately apologized, looking embarrassed.

"Train A1 has arrived at the station. This is a military service. All soldiers boarding, please prepare to have your tickets checked and enter the platform!"

"It's here. Let's go!" The cleric quickly led Yahiko and the others to the platform. With a long whistle, the train slowly came to a stop in front of them.

A cloud of white steam billowed from the iron doors before they abruptly swung open. Yahiko and the others saw a group of Holy Light clerics seated in orderly rows, each holding a framed photograph in his arms, with a tiny glowing figure sitting on his shoulder.

"Commander, these are the ninja heading to Corona City for negotiations!" the cleric said, giving a Holy Light Salute.

"Understood! You can head back. We'll take over from here!"

"Yes, sir!"

"Hello, everyone. I'm Crolil, commander of the Second Regiment of the Second Army! Please take any available seat. We have about two hours before we reach Corona City!" Cro said with a smile.

"Right!" Yahiko and the others each found an empty seat and sat down.

The journey passed in silence. Watching the scenery race past the windows, Yahiko couldn't help thinking about their mission, wondering whether they could save any of the nobles.

With a whistle, the announcement rang out. "Train A1 has arrived. This is the final stop, Corona City. Passengers, please gather your belongings and disembark in order!"

Having received word in advance, Axel waited in the station hall with his troops lined up in neat ranks. Among them were relatives who had been notified of their loved ones' deaths, most looking utterly grief-stricken.

"All Holy Light clerics, carry your comrades' glory with you and disembark in order for inspection," Cro said solemnly.

"Yes, sir!"

The Holy Light clerics aboard the train then disembarked one after another, solemn and dignified.

"Welcome home, glorious troops!" Axel said solemnly.

All the Holy Light clerics drew the Knight Swords at their waists in unison and held them upright before their chests. "Welcome home, comrades!"

Meanwhile, the civilians on either side of the ranks cried out through their stifled sobs. "My son! My child!"

"Little brother, you promised you'd come home so we could eat together!"

"Why? Why? Didn't they say it was only a rat plague? Why are you gone?"

"Everyone, please don't cry! Don't grieve. I know how much it hurts to lose your loved ones in battle, but the holy light is merciful and great. Their deaths were glorious. Here today, we of the Holy Church have a gift for you. It may not undo the pain of losing your loved ones, but it certainly won't disappoint you!" Axel said, comforting the weeping civilians.

"All Light Spirits, you may return to your families now."

"Mom! Mom, look at me!" A woman who had been weeping bitterly seemed to hear a familiar voice. She suddenly raised her head. "You are...?"

"I'm A-Zhu!"

Looking at the tiny figure, a Light Spirit who resembled her child when he was young, the woman could no longer contain her excitement. She cupped the Light Spirit in her hands. "My son!"

Seeing that the appearance of the Light Spirits had eased most of the civilians' grief, Axel continued, "This is the new life the holy light has granted our glorious warriors. So please don't be too sad. The great holy light will never disappoint you. You must take good care of these newborn children, the Light Spirits!"

"So those little ones are the Holy Light clerics who died on the battlefield last time!" Konan said, realization dawning as she watched.

"Is the holy light really that miraculous? It can even bring the dead back to life!" Nagato said in astonishment.

"That's right. We saw those warriors blow themselves up with our own eyes!"

While the three were still marveling at this, Axel handed over command of his troops and approached them. "Yahiko, it's been a long time!"

Looking at the taller, more mature Axel, Yahiko suddenly recalled what he had been like when they met two years ago. Those days truly brought back memories. "Axel, it's been a long time!" The two embraced.

"How have things been going in Amegakure lately?" Axel asked warmly.

"Not bad, not bad!" Yahiko scratched his head modestly. "But look at you! We haven't seen each other for a few years, and you're already an army commander, leading ten thousand troops!"

"Why bring that up? We're both just following our own paths. Come on, I'm treating you to barbecue today!" Axel said with a laugh, patting Yahiko's shoulder.

"All right! We're going to make your wallet hurt today!"

That evening, at the same barbecue restaurant as before, Axel, Yahiko, and the others sat around a table, eating hearty mouthfuls of meat and sipping their drinks. "Axel, we came here to ask why you're arresting nobles on such a large scale!" Yahiko finally asked the question that had been weighing on his mind.

"You didn't know? Those nobles were carrying out cult sacrifices all over the east. More than a thousand children were killed, with not even their remains left behind. And that rat plague was summoned from another world through their sacrifices to an evil god!" At that point, Axel could no longer restrain himself and slammed his hand heavily on the table.

"So that's what happened!" Yahiko said with a slight frown.

"Yes. Those nobles have hurt others and brought ruin upon themselves. Rich's Second Army was sent over this time. Heh, most of the Holy Light clerics in the Second Army serve in the Judgment Hall. I'm sure those nobles are in for it now!" Axel said with relish.

"Axel, couldn't you just arrest the ringleaders? I heard you've arrested almost every noble in the east this time!" Yahiko asked, puzzled.

"Heh, the ringleaders? Let me put it this way, Yahiko. The Holy Church doesn't arrest people indiscriminately. If those nobles weren't involved, naturally nothing would happen to them. But they were all arrested. Yahiko, do you know what that means?" Axel looked at Yahiko solemnly.

Yahiko and the others looked back at Axel in confusion.

"It means every noble in the east is rotten to the core. They've never treated ordinary people as human beings! Think about it! A thousand children—how many families treasured them? And they were sacrificed to an evil god, just like that. When I heard the news, I felt angrier than I ever had in my life." By then, Axel's face had turned red with rage.