Specialty Change: Jena

In that sense...

I would appreciate it if those involved in this incident would help me.

Please find out if there is anyone who has been unfairly victimized in the past. And keep your eyes out to make sure such a thing never happens again.

Unfortunately, we may not be able to change what already happened. No matter how much I give, I cannot entirely heal the wounds of the past.

But I can change the future.

I want to do everything I can to change the future. I think that's the best I can do right now.

So you're just going to...let this all go?

If I simply punish those involved and pretend like that resolves the past, the same things will just keep happening.

I would prefer to look forward and make a decision for the sake of Ezera's future instead.

I want as many people as possible to be able to stake their claim in this hard-fought peace we've finally found.

...

Since then, I've given my all to following through with what His Majesty tasked me.

I truly wanted to prevent anyone else from being victimized as I had been.

So this is the cult headquarters?

Yes, all the leads we found led us here.

A cult of religious fanatics that settled in Ezera.

"The Holy Order of the Crimson Cross..."

Under the guise of being the Holy Order of the Blue Cross, they preach that they are the sole path to salvation.

Several reports have stated that the inductees are being sent to do forced labor for the cult.

The roooots of all your hardships are the sins you haven't atooooned for.

Sister Angeliga impersonating Sister Angelica.

Worry not, for we will guide you on the path of penance.

And Sister Montmontrancy impersonating Sister Montmorancy

They've been systematic in their efforts to convert devotees into their flock.

The sweat and tears of labor, will wash away your sins.

What trifling word play...

Repeating the words of the Blue Cross is one thing, but to slyly twist those words to mislead your followers.

I must lead the way.

It's getting late, and you're still here working.

I'm about to finish up.

Hmm, I heard you released all the followers we captured.

Yes, I sent them home. I also dispatched guards to make sure that they wouldn't regroup again.

But I still have the nuns in custody for more questioning.

Hmm...

Is there something you'd like to say?

I was just curious about your reasoning behind letting them go.

So you had no choice but to follow them?

If we had known that it was a cult, we would've never gone with those nuns.

They offered to help us and treated us well...at first.

When we finally learned the truth about that place...

We were already too deep in trouble to back out.

Oh, what insolence! Your eyes brim with doubt and evil!

After everything we've done for you! How could you be so ungrateful!?

Keep quiet!

You see...? Their true colors!

*sighing* I admit that they devised an elaborate deceit.

Especially for those who probably have never had a chance to properly study religion.

I didn't know...how to escape.

Please show mercy... We swear we'll never get involved with a false religion again.

Please forgive us... We had no idea what we were getting ourselves into.

It was their ignorance that drove them to make such choices.

They were merely living and acting as the nuns commanded.

I couldn't find any other charges against them, so I decided to release them.

If there's anyone who deserves punishment, it's the nuns for taking advantage of them.

I'm not so sure letting them go like that will actually be good for them.

Huh?

Based on what you've said, to make the choices they did it sounds like those people were in pretty desperate situations beforehand.

...I beg your pardon?

Oh, it's not the place for an old-timer like me to butt in. I'm sure you made the right decision.

The older I get the more I find myself going off on tangents, hahaha.

I'm going to take off now. You had a long day, so I suggest you get some rest.

Very well, Sir Corvus.

...

...Is it because I didn't try to covert them to the Church of the Goddess?

As someone who's passionate about spreading the word of the Goddess, he must not approve of my decision.

But shoving the ideals of the Church of Goddess down their throats isn't the right thing to do either.

They should be given the choice determine what's good for them on their own.

I'm sure Sir Corvus would understand that.

The number of cult victims was growing like crazy.

Then we began hearing rumors about the Ilryos Church, that after its long dormancy, it had begun spreading again.

Apparently they are luring people in to create dark magic stones, then trying to use those stones.

You seem really busy these days.

You know, people changing drastically is never a good sign... But you don't really fit the profile...

He hasn't even finished his sentence, but I don't think I need to hear more.

So the rumor is true? Are you really trying to climb the ladder?

...

Come on, you can trust me. Who knows? Maybe I can scratch your back if you scratch mine.

Not in a million years.

I wouldn't be so decisive if I were you. Remember the time you stabbed me in the back?

...

Come on! It was obviously a joke!

I'm just saying no matter how much you dedicate your life to something, no one's going to notice or appreciate your hard work.

What's more stupid than spending your time and energy on something that won't be rewarded?

So I suggest you find a man who tolerates you and live a...

Is that what you tell yourself when you're on a mission?

What?

Considering the fact that your only concern is for how others view you, you'll never sit down and take a long, hard look at yourself.

You're seriously mistaken if you think other people's life goals are also as muddled as yours.

H-How dare you?!

I see you two haven't gotten over your bad blood.

Just because we work together doesn't mean we have shared values.

It's not just values, you two don't share anything at all, HAHAHA!

...Sir Corvus, I think you should lower your voice a bit.

Ahem, I forgot that it echoes underground.

...It's hidden away in such a deep place. I guess it was a safety measure to make sure only their followers could find this place.

Or it's a sign that anyone who steps foot here should abandon all hope.

According to the map, it should be around here somewhere...

I'm sure by now you've realized the Goddess has never heeded our prayers.

Over there.

...There are so many people gathered.

All of them in one place so it's easier to turn them into dark magic stones.

*loud chanting*

Something as diminutive as a grain of sand may someday feed hundreds of people.

Do not despair even if the fruit hasn't yet budded. Ilryos knows! Your sacrifices will not be in vain!

*chanting*

All right, let the ritual begin.

...Very well.

Let's put our hearts together and offer an earnest prayer.

...Those people...!

Please show mercy... We swear we'll never get involved with a false religion again.

Please forgive us... We had no idea what we were getting ourselves into.

You've met them before.

...

You need to stay focused now.

...

Very well, Sir Corvus.

Can you explain to me how we find ourselves again in the same situation?

I thought you were better than this. I trusted what you said to me.

...

Were all the things you said to me just empty promises to get out of trouble?

Or were you one of them from the beginning?

We had no other way but through them...

Way to what?

No other way to survive.

I don't follow.

Joining the Holy Order of Crimson Cross before and now the Church of Ilryos, they were all choices I HAD to make.

I knew they were up to no good, but who am I to argue when I'm on the brink of starvation?

If forced, I'll choose a bowl of rice to keep going for one more day over things as far-removed from reality as the ideals or theory of religion in a heartbeat.

We all have little ones to feed at home.

That's all the more reason why you shouldn't have chosen this path!

Have you even thought of the stigma your children would have to bear for having parents who are cult followers?

Parents in a cult are better than dead parents.

...

Reward and punishment lose all meaning when you're in the grave.

What are you...!

Jena, stop.

But sir, all they're doing is making excuses and refusing to take responsibility for their actions.

They just had no other options.

No other options?

People who get the short end of the stick in life tend to be the most easily manipulated and controlled.

No matter what pittance they are offered in return.

I know you're against the idea of converting everyone to the Church of the Goddess, and I respect that.

Like you said, following the words of the Goddess isn't the only way to lead a pious life.

But I want you to keep in mind one thing.

Choice is a luxury that not everyone can afford.

...

They never had a chance to begin with, and the "choices" they made were merely a series of desperate gambits to survive another day.

The darkest corners of the world where all hopes and dreams seem to be lost, that's where the Goddess shines the most.

...

I'm not so sure letting them go like that will actually be good for them.

Huh?

Based on what you've said, to make the choices they did it sounds like those people were in pretty desperate situations beforehand.

Now I understand why he said those things to me back then.

I should've considered the situation from another perspective.

I hadn't considered their day-to-day struggles or offered a place they could go to ask for help...

Our indifference practically pushed them over the edge.

Please find out if there is anyone who has been unfairly victimized in the past. And keep your eyes out to make sure such a thing never happens again.

Unfortunately, we may not be able to change what already happened. No matter how much I give, I cannot entirely heal the wounds of the past.

But I can change the future.

Just like His Majesty said, I need to step up and do something that makes a difference for their futures.

I successfully raided the headquarters of the Ilryos Church and arrested everyone there, including their executives and congregation.

The entire congregation is estimated to be around four hundred people, and they all came from highly impoverished neighborhoods.

Before discussing their punishment, there's something I'd like to say, Your Majesty.

I'd like to come up with a way to rehabilitate them.

A way to rehabilitate them?

...

Many of the followers of the Ilryos Church I arrested happened to be people who were involved with the Holy Order of Crimson Cross case.

All they did was turn to the only place that would accept them when their lives were hanging on by a thread after they lost their family or homes.

I believe giving them a chance to make the right choice should take priority over dealing punishment.

Otherwise, they'll just end up in another cult, being led to commit crimes after serving their time.

It's important to see those people in need and help them stand on their own so that they can rejoin society later.

Not to mention, enlightening them about the evils of cults.

I'd like to offer them a chance to live their lives by offering them proper education and guidance.

...

She almost sounds like she feels sorry for them or something. She does understand that this is more work for us, right?!

I couldn't agree more, Jena. We can shut down one cult group, but it's impossible to eradicate the whole concept of being misled.

So, it's important we educate the masses so that they can make the right choices in the future rather than just sweeping all this under the rug.

I'd like to entrust you with any follow-up matters regarding this cult incident.

I look forward to seeing the results, Jena.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

Dear Lidica...

Sorry it took me so long to write back. I've been swamped with work lately. But you sounded like you were still doing well in your letter, so I'm happy for you.

I've been doing a lot of thinking these days.

I never realized it, but I was somehow looking down on people who fell into those cults.

But, I had it all wrong.

There are many occasions in life where one is forced to resort to a certain path even when they know whole-heartedly it's not the right one.

I learned that recently while interacting with the victims of this cult.

So I was contemplating what I could possibly do to help them better their situations.

What they really need other than just trying to convert them into the Church of Goddess.

And I decided I want to provide them with some solid ground to stand on.

So I'm working on various ways to help them out.

For example, I'm developing a project to give them opportunities and places for them to work until they can be financially independent.

It's kind of like a halfway house, but they're the ones who are building it.

I think everyone's so passionate about this project because it gives them hope that they will become self-sufficient.

Of course, I couldn't have made it happen all by myself. Luckily, many people offered a helping hand.

By the way, how are things with that silently annoying teammate of yours? I'm always worried that you will have gotten into some brawl.

Knowing that we're so far away from each other makes me miss you even more, Lidica.

I know you're up to your eyeballs in work, but you look happier somehow.

Sir Corvus.

It must be tough for you to get things done when you don't even have a proper place to use as a base.

I already asked for His Majesty's help with building a brand new education center for the children.

Until then, this place isn't so bad for temporary use.

I rarely see you in the castle these days. Do you regret making this decision?

I think working as a field agent fits me more than sitting at a desk all day.

I did hear that Enott is having a field day in your absence.

Then I shall assign him to a proper job that involves some physical work.

That's a great idea.

I don't want to be a nuisance by getting in the way of all you hard-working youngsters, so I'm going to go now.

Thank you, Sir Corvus.

For making myself scarce? Haha!

No...not that...

...Thanks to you, I was able to see these people from a whole new perspective.

...

As a matter of fact, I once thought you only had your eye on the growing number of congregants...

...So I'd like to apologize for that.

I've always admired your unyielding eyes.

Huh?

When those eyes are set out to the right path, you become inexorable.

Especially when that path leads to helping others.

I wish you all the best in your future endeavors.

...Thank you.

Ah, and...

Yes?

Maya asked me to deliver this to you when I told her I was on my way to see you.

She did?

...Why would she send me a letter out of the blue?

It turned out that the letter Maya gave me was actually from Sir Crozet.

I think she gave it to me by mistake... but I'm not going to say anything to him.

Let's just keep this between us, all right?

I wish I could write some more, but I really have to go. Like I said, I have a lot on my plate right now. I hope you understand.

I look forward to hearing from you soon. Take care.

Your best friend, Jena.