The Path to Lordship Begins in the North

Just as the capital of the Kingdom of Cape was celebrating and everyone was indulging in a dream of peace, the demons had already completed their control over the territory north of Broken Snow Territory. The important mineral and resource areas in the north were thus handed over to the demons.

Countless refugees flocked to Broken Snow Territory, hoping to return to human territory, but Duke Lars, who guarded Broken Snow Territory, turned a blind eye to these refugees.

Of course, the checkpoint will open occasionally, either because someone has money or because the demons let people in.

"Open the city gates. Remember, have the priests of the Holy See set up a purification barrier. Knights, keep a close eye on them and don't allow anyone to have any contact with these refugees who have been let in!"

As Duke Lars gave the order, the gates of Broken Snow Territory slowly opened, and a group of nuns in tattered robes led even more scantily clad refugees into the city.

A carpet made of woven cloth was erected in the city for people leaving the city, and all those entering the city were only allowed to walk on this carpet.

If any refugees attempt to step out of the blanket, they will be instantly killed by the knights who are watching them closely.

Several priests were casting purification spells around the blanket to prevent any strange germs or curses from entering the city.

Many priests didn't really understand the meaning of this command, and some even wanted to go up and greet the leading nun when they saw that her habit bore the symbol of the Basilica of Our Lady of Salvation.

After all, the Cathedral of Our Lady of Salvation is the most influential church in the North, and the nuns there are known throughout the kingdom for their fidelity.

However, when the priest saw the face of the leading nun clearly, he unconsciously took a step back and increased the power of the purification barrier in his hand.

The lead nun's face was covered with foul-smelling pustules, with green fluid even oozing from several of the ruptured sores. Her tattered nun's clothes could not conceal the scars covering her body, including many lingering purplish-blue marks and numerous curse marks.

It was obvious that this nun had suffered inhuman abuse. Just looking at the number of curse marks on her body, the priests found it incredible that she had survived.

"Flora! It's the Scarlet Saintess Flora!"

A pastor seemed to recognize the leading red-haired nun and shouted in shock.

All the priests and knights turned their gazes toward the nun known as Flora.

Some people felt sorry, some lamented, and some didn't understand.

Thanks to the Scarlet Nun's influence, Mingming is treated as an honored guest wherever she goes, and the people who have received the Scarlet Saintess's help can stretch from the Royal Academy to the city gate.

Even the title of saintess is just a spontaneous honorific title given by the people, while the church had already prepared the official title, waiting for Flora to return to the capital so that she could truly become a saintess appointed by the papacy.

However, before being officially granted a title by the Papacy, Flora chose to remain at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Salvation in the North to help and heal the people there.

Now, facing Flora, who was covered in sores and curses, everyone unconsciously took two steps back, fearing that they would be infected by the plague and curses on her body.

After a closer look, the priests discovered that everyone in the refugee group seemed to have varying degrees of disease and curses, especially the nuns, who were almost unbearable to look at.

No wonder the lord was so serious when he entered the city this time; this is practically a walking biological army.

When the leading Scarlet Saintess realized she had been recognized, she couldn't help but try to cover her face with her nun's headscarf, only to find that the tattered headscarf was completely ineffective at concealing the pustules on her face.

"Lady Flora, how did things turn out like this?"

A church pastor, while working at full power to purify the barrier, asked his colleague next to him a question.

"I heard that she was infected with plague and curse by the demons. Anyway, it's not the first time. I had seen quite a few before I escaped back, but this is the first time I've seen Lady Flora with so many curses."

"But holy water should be able to cure it completely, right? If it's to save Lady Flora, the Holy See should be willing to use holy water, right?"

Clearly, the pastor still held onto hope, but his colleague said, "Holy water isn't like milk from a ranch. Someone like Lady Flora would probably need to wash with holy water for a long time. Does the Vatican really have that much holy water left? Besides..."

My colleague said mysteriously to the priest, "Because Lady Flora has been fighting against the demons at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Salvation, she has been labeled a sinner who disrupts peace by the officials in the capital. Not only will they not use holy water to heal her, but I heard that they have also revoked her title of saintess."

"How could this be?"

The priest's brow was furrowed so deeply it looked like a fly was trapped between his eyebrows, but his colleague continued, "If you ask me, this Flora isn't a good person either. Otherwise, why didn't she just commit suicide? And why did she come back with a curse and plague? She probably already sided with the demons and came back just to spread the plague!"

A nun walking on the carpet overheard the whispers between the two priests and retorted angrily in a hoarse voice, "What do you know? Do you know what these demons are using to blackmail us? If it weren't for Lady Flora, who knows how many more people would be dead outside!"

Meanwhile, a demon cavalryman who had followed the group of refugees into the city struck the nun in the back with a wind blade, tearing her back to shreds and spilling yellowish-green liquid onto the carpet.

"That's right, so what? You lowly races are spared a worthless life, you should be thanking the Demon King."

The green-skinned demon on horseback not only did not deny it, but also looked at the priests present with a brutal gaze.

Flora turned around and helped the nun who had been knocked to the ground up, supporting her like an emotionless machine.

"I'm sorry, Lady Flora."

Tears welled up in the nun's eyes. She wanted to die right now, but with these demon cavalrymen watching her, she couldn't even commit suicide.

They could only follow the demons' orders and wander around the North after returning there, constantly watched by a group of specially authorized demon cavalrymen. These demon cavalrymen were even allowed to obtain supplies from the lords of the North.

When did this world become so surreal? A group of demon cavalry are able to spread plague freely within enemy territory and still obtain supplies?

"It's okay, let's go."

Flora's eyes had long lost their sparkle, and she no longer knew the meaning of living. The goddess had long since abandoned her devout followers.

Flora's only option now is to lead this infected group as close as possible to the sparsely populated western North, where they can die on the way due to the curse and the plague. At least this way, the number of people affected will be minimized.

"I hope Isabella and the others are alright."

Flora prayed fervently in her heart, even though she already believed that the goddess would never answer her prayers again, just like her increasingly faint holy light. But she still habitually hoped that Isa, who had led some refugees to escape, could survive.