"Get up. All of you."
One by one, they rose to their feet...except Dee, who remained kneeling.
Her daughter wiped her tears and shook her anxiously, but Dee didn't respond.
"Get up," I said, looking at her bowed figure.
From her answer earlier, I had already confirmed one thing...she was the same person as in the original. She had tried to become a good mother there too… and failed.
Interesting.
That meant I didn't have to worry about other character backgrounds or personality changing completely.
"Please help me… I don't know what to do. Please…" she cried, still kneeling, her body trembling.
I frowned.
Did she lost her mind?
"Look at me first," I said. "Then tell me what you need."
With hesitation, she raised her head. The moment her eyes met mine, fear flashed across her face, and she quickly lowered it again.
"Please save me from eternal suffering… from myself," she said.
I almost laughed.
Not because it was funny, but because it was predictable.
People commit terrible acts believing no one is watching. But when they finally face something greater than themselves, something that sees everything, they break.
The realization terrifies them.
Even the most unstable minds can't escape that fear.
It is judgment.
And she knows it.
That's why she's afraid of me.
"Who are you for me to save you?" I asked, trying to understand her better.
Her forehead touched the ground as she sobbed. Her daughter clung tightly to her, and slowly, Dee's sobbing quieted.
Dee turned to the girl, gave her a faint smile, then looked back at me.
"Then kill me, Lord," she said softly. "I'm ready to pay for my sins. But please… save my daughter. I beg you."
Her eyes were empty of fear...almost peaceful.
As if she had already accepted her punishment.
"Hahaha…"
My laughter echoed through the forest.
Why are humans so complicated?
Now I didn't know whether to kill her or not.
A few months ago, I would have killed her without hesitation, even her daughter simply because she might become a threat in the future.
But now…
I couldn't.
Why?
I didn't understand.
Maybe it was her struggle to change.
Maybe it was her daughter.
Or maybe… it reminded me of my own mother.
Or the fact that I was about to become a parent.
I didn't know.
Maybe it was all of it.
I looked around at the people surrounding me.
"What should their fate be? I want to hear your opinions."
Then I sat down, watching the mother and daughter in silence. They looked at me pitifully.
I was letting my emotions influence my judgment.
So, I would rely on theirs.
"Lord, according to Blood Angel community law, anyone under thirteen is not to be killed," Jerry said, lowering his head.
"Jerry, you're correct," Chicken replied sternly, looking at his brother. "But only if they don't pose a threat."
"Brother, look at her. She's not a threat. She didn't attack anyone," Jerry argued...something he rarely did.
"You're naïve," Chicken said coldly. "I'm not talking about the current threat. I'm talking about the future. Based on her mother's fate, she could become dangerous...and I won't allow that."
Jerry opened his mouth to respond but found no words.
All eyes turned to Dee.
If she died, her daughter would likely follow.
"Lord," the priest said in a serious tone, still writing in his notebook, "even if she is now a believer, I cannot ignore her actions. She tried to steal our supplies and take you hostage. That alone deserves death."
"But the supplies weren't ours," Andrea said, looking at Father Basil. "They weren't in our possessions. And as for taking the Lord hostage… we all know that wouldn't have been possible without his consent."
"Even so," Basil replied, his gaze sharp, "she intended to harm our Lord. That alone is unforgivable."
"Haven't you forgiven others who threatened us after they became believers?" Andrea asked, crossing her arms.
"Yes," the priest replied calmly. "Because they were ignorant. They didn't know the truth. But once they learned and repented, I forgave them."
"Then the same applies to her," Andrea said. "She didn't know who we were. Now she does. She acted out of ignorance. I say we let her go."
"We still don't know if her faith is genuine," Basil countered. "And even if it is… I cannot forgive her for daring to point a gun at my Lord."
I watched them argue in silence.
"Please… kill me, but don't hurt my daughter for my mistake," Dee begged, clutching my leg. Her tears soaked into my skin.
I ignored her and looked at the others.
"Raise your hand if she deserves death."
Silence.
Then the priest slowly raised his hand.
Chicken followed...with hesitation.
A tie.
Useless.
In the end, the decision was mine.
"Basil, bring me my sword."
Andrea and Jerry's expressions darkened as the priest retrieved it from the Humvee.
Taking the sword, I looked at Dee.
"Stand up."
She rose slowly, trembling.
"Lord, please… have mercy on my daughter," she pleaded.
I ignored her.
"Please don't hurt my mommy!" Lydia cried, clinging tightly to her.
I ignored her too.
My sword fell.
Andrea closed her eyes.
"AAAH!"
Dee's scream echoed through the forest as I severed one of her fingers.
"I will forgive your sins," I said coldly. "But I will not forgive the fact that you pointed a gun at me."
I glanced at the bloodied stump.
"This finger was on the trigger. So, I've taken it."
Her body trembled violently as she clutched her hand.
"If you want salvation… follow me."
I handed the sword back to the priest.
Dee collapsed to her knees again.
"Lord… I will forever be indebted to you for your mercy. I will follow you to the end of the world!" She cried, bowing at my feet.
I looked down at her, expressionless.
I had wanted to kill her.
But she was more useful alive.
That didn't mean I trusted her.
So, I would use what controlled her now...belief.
There are few things people will do anything for.
Belief is one of them.
If I was destined to become a cult leader… then so be it.
If it made me stronger… then so be it.
I wasn't fully committed to becoming a cult leader.
But seeing her kneeling there, I understood something clearly...
If faith could control even someone like her…
Then it might become my greatest strength.