If you treat someone too well, they'll inevitably overstep boundaries. Siri seemed slightly dissatisfied that I focused more on harsh punishments than the teachings of the Great Celestial Church. The right thing to do would've been to scold her for overstepping the lord's instructions, but since I needed to manage Siri's favorability, I had to hold my tongue.
To be fair, Siri had a point. I was the Southern High Priest of the Great Celestial Church, and just days ago, I'd reformed Ira through the March of Atonement. I'd even explained to Siri why people must repent and change.
But now, without examining the thieves' backgrounds or crimes, I was ordering their executions. From Siri's perspective, it must've felt inconsistent. Clearly, many others would question why the thieves were treated differently from Ira. I patted Siri's head, thinking of an excuse.
Honestly, I could've marched them in atonement, but in this game, thieves—unless they were high-ranking—weren't worth the effort. Newbie thieves were just nameless extras, and I didn't want to strip them and let them roam the streets.
That'd be a crime—a deadly, horrific one.
"You're right, Siri. I let my hatred for the thieves cloud my judgment. Let's hold a trial first. I need you by my side."
But I didn't use that excuse with Siri. To seduce a religious fanatic, I had to act like one. To win over a devout follower of the Great Celestial Church, I had to pretend to be a lifelong believer. In this case, agreeing with Siri was best.
Siri seemed pleased by my touch, making a soft, dog-like sound and giggling. Usually, touching a woman's hair is taboo, but since Siri was a religious devotee in a world without styling tools, she didn't seem to mind if I messed it up.
Still, I couldn't spend all day petting Siri and creating static electricity. If I was going to do something with her, I wanted to make a baby. For that, I needed to view the thieves as positively as possible.
"Robin, wait. We should at least hold a trial."
I walked with Siri to the courtyard where the thieves were bound. Legally, thieves faced punishments like limb amputation or beheading, depending on their crimes. Of course, no one cared if they died during execution, so most thieves' cause of death was listed as "died during punishment."
The thieves sat in a row in the center of the courtyard. I felt an urge to kick the last one's head, sending them tumbling. They kept glancing at each other, as if competing to see who'd betray the others first.
The eldest, upon seeing me, bowed his head and cried out,
"My lord! I'm sorry! I've committed a grave sin! I'm uneducated and didn't know how to earn money, so I turned to theft! If you spare me, I'll never do it again!"
"I see. That's truly unfortunate. But are you genuinely repenting?"
"Yes, my lord! I truly am! I'll accept any punishment!"
"Very well, Robin. Cut off his hand."
Robin eagerly dragged the eldest away. He screamed and struggled, but Robin, the estate's knight commander, was no pushover. The eldest wailed like a pig being led to slaughter.
"My lord! My looord!"
"Uh…"
As Siri grabbed my collar, I held her hand and said,
"Siri, Ira's attempt failed, but these thieves have committed repeated crimes as a group. Unconditional forgiveness breeds recidivism. Just because we approach the world as religious people doesn't mean the world becomes religious. Understand?"
"My lord! I'm sorry! Please forgive me! I'll never do it again!"
The eldest's screams echoed from the back. I turned to the remaining four. I singled out the second-in-command and asked,
"Are you repenting?"
"Even if I am, cutting off my hand means I can't earn a living. What's the point?"
He talked back—such arrogance. I told the nearby guard,
"He's not repenting, so amputate his limbs. Make sure he stays alive until he does. I'll heal him afterward."
"What?"
"What are you waiting for? Go get the saw."
"Yes, yes! Right away!"
The second thief's face turned pale, but he tried to act tough. Siri's face was equally pale as she stared at me.
"Listen, Siri. Those who sin must understand the weight of their actions. That's why laws exist. Since God can't forgive everyone, the king makes laws, and we care for them under those laws. This thief just lost his last chance to repent, so we're following the law."
The soldier returned with a massive saw. Siri turned away, unable to watch. The second thief realized his resistance was futile. He trembled as he looked at me. I asked,
"Are you repenting now?"
"…Yes."
He barely nodded.
"Then we'll amputate his limbs."
The second thief looked up, and the soldier stared at me in shock. I continued,
"Since you're repenting, you must accept your punishment. We'll gag him—no need for screams in the estate."
Siri turned away, eyes closed in prayer. Her sensitive nature made this hard to bear. I glanced at her and added,
"Well, today, I'll spare him the saw."
Robin approached from behind, wiping blood from his armor. He whispered,
"He died while we were cutting off his arm."
"God took him, then."
The remaining thieves trembled in fear. I surveyed Siri and the soldiers, then said,
"Since the ringleader is dead, let's say he took all your sins with him. One sinner died miserably, so I trust you've realized your crimes."
Siri looked up, slightly relieved by my decision. This was the side of me she'd known as her childhood friend. But I wasn't acting out of irresponsible kindness.
Since thieves had never invaded before, Robin and the soldiers seemed relieved by my mercy. I addressed the thieves,
"We'll provide you with land and support to farm quietly. Every person in the estate is valuable."
The thieves, moved, bowed and thanked me repeatedly. Leaving them behind, I whispered to Siri,
"Watch closely, Siri. This is the result of irresponsible kindness."
Siri looked confused. I ignored her gaze and ordered someone to find vacant land.
Every estate resident is valuable, but not more than seducing Siri. I was sure this would be a turning point in our relationship—shifting from mutual friendship to a one-sided, coercive dynamic.
I could see it in their eyes—greed, as I offered them land and support.
The thieves were given new homes, deeds, and vast fields. This was an unprecedented move under Lucius's rule. Siri felt slightly guilty, thinking Lucius had gone too far for her sake.
She still didn't understand the consequences of "irresponsible kindness."
The four thieves couldn't believe their new homes, deeds, and fields were real. The third thief marveled,
"Bro, this is amazing!"
They could use the house as a hideout or sell it to return to thievery. The second thief, still shaken from nearly losing his limbs, nervously bit his nails.
The fourth thief inspected the fields outside. The document in his hand confirmed the vast farmland belonged to the four brothers. He couldn't hide his joy.
The fifth thief dealt with curious onlookers. The villagers were openly hostile, wondering how yesterday's thieves had become reformed residents.
"What's the lord thinking…"
The village chief muttered openly. The fifth thief glared at him, but guards intervened before a fight broke out.
The fifth thief accepted the supplies, slamming the door in frustration. The second thief still bit his nails, conflicted.
He was grateful for the chance to reform, but returning to the thief gang would label him a traitor. But if he rejected this opportunity, the lord would kill him. He feared both the boss and the lord, especially after seeing the lord's cold eyes when ordering limb amputation—not the eyes of the saintly Lucius people spoke of.
"What do we do now?"
The third thief asked, pressuring the second for a decision. The five weren't friends or volunteers; the boss had grouped them arbitrarily. Days ago, they hadn't even spoken to each other.
The eldest's immediate betrayal upon seeing Lucius was rooted in this dynamic.
"I don't know, damn it… What should we do?"
"Maybe the boss won't even look for us?"
The thief boss might be kind enough to let them go, expecting them to reform. But the second thief knew the boss—who exploited religion for evil—would never let them go. He was likely waiting for them to sell the land and return with the profits.
Selling the land could get them killed by the lord. Ignoring it could get them killed by the boss. The second thief raised his head, a bitten nail snapping off.
"Let's just betray him."