Chapter 535: The Priority of Justice

A so-called collective is a composition that seeks common ground while reserving differences. However, most intelligent beings tend to prioritize “seeking common ground” far more than tolerating “reserved differences.” This is especially prominent in places with backward ideologies, narrow perspectives, and low average education levels. When an “outsider” who differs from the majority appears in such a group, the collective will often reject that outsider, even collectively oppressing the so-called “outsider” to highlight their own “shared characteristics.”

If no one corrects or restricts this distorted “collective mentality,” a dark desire for persecution will breed and squirm in people’s hearts. Soon enough, minor discrimination will escalate into cold violence and genuine hostility. Then, with the addition of feudal superstitions and people’s tendencies to shift blame and vent frustrations, turning the discriminated into the truly persecuted becomes inevitable.

The Rabbitfolk were now clearly exhibiting this severe, baseless “persecution.” Moreover, due to excessive superstitions and the distorted word-of-mouth transmission of facts, this persecution—originally born of dark desires—would quickly transform into real fear, hatred, and anger. Those unfounded claims and nonsense would become “facts” in the minds of the ignorant.

Compounded by the Rabbitfolk’s twisted racial trait of bullying the weak, an “Evil Girl” hated and persecuted by the entire Rabbitfolk Tribe was born.

Hearing the Rabbitfolk eagerly cursing the so-called Evil Girl, the first one who couldn’t stand it wasn’t the Female Knight Audreylinda, but Claire, who had just finished eating a chicken leg. As the Rabbitfolk’s discussion grew louder, Claire, as an Apprentice-Level professional, could clearly hear their conversation.

Although Claire’s heart was almost constantly filled with rage and hatred due to the death of his most beloved younger sister, even so, when injustice occurred before his eyes, the flames of justice in his heart would inevitably blaze fiercely.

Witnessing these ignorant Rabbitfolk inexplicably persecuting a girl who, by all accounts, had committed no wrong, how could the righteous young man tolerate such a thing happening right in front of him? In fact, shortly after the Rabbitfolk began their discussion, Claire had already stood up in considerable anger.

“Claire, what are you doing?”

Seeing her apprentice suddenly rise with a furious demeanor, Audreylinda, who knew Claire well, naturally understood what he intended to do. Claire’s current state seemed as if he were about to charge out and engage in a grand debate with those illiterate Rabbitfolk. Audreylinda had to quickly use her Battle Aura to restrain the fiery youth.

“Mentor, why are you stopping me? The girl they’re talking about clearly isn’t even a professional, and those so-called crimes are utterly nonsensical. They’re persecuting a child like that—aren’t such people evil?”Well, the rabbitfolk were truly “lucky.” Due to their drunken complaints, they had actually been labeled as evil by a “champion of justice” from the Lawful Good alignment. If it weren’t for the more rational and mature Audreylinda restraining Claire, half of the Rabbitfolk Tribe’s “evil” might have been “purified” today just based on these rabbitfolk’s drunken remarks.

Fortunately, at this moment, Fat Rabbitman hadn’t spoken yet, and Audreylinda’s tolerance limit hadn’t been breached. The Female Knight, pressing her apprentice back into his chair, continued to use her Battle Aura to block the sound while speaking gravely to Claire:

“Child, you are still young and lack accuracy in judging evil! These villagers may not necessarily harbor dark intentions. They might just be exaggerating after drinking, or they might have been misled by rumors, or they might simply be catering to others. Although their actions can hardly be called ‘good,’ immediately labeling them as evil is too rash.”

After a pause, Audreylinda, her expression growing even more serious, gazed into Claire’s pupils and continued:

“Remember, child, justice must always be spread and executed voluntarily—and only voluntarily. Justice imposed upon others is no different from evil. As a knight of justice, it is unquestionable to follow your own path of righteousness forward. However, justice should not forcibly block the paths of other neutrals.”

Even at this moment, Audreylinda didn’t forget to seize the opportunity to educate her apprentice. Of course, the Lawful Good knight had no intention of standing idly by either, as correcting the ignorant thoughts of intelligent beings is also an act of justice. So Audreylinda planned to help these rabbitfolk find true righteousness after dealing with the matter of “revenge.”

Of course, this was on the premise that she survived her revenge.

Thus, the Female Knight with a gentle smile continued to educate Claire:

“Moreover, when facing evil, how to prioritize is also an important judgment. After all, we cannot do many things at once. So, the top priority is to save the innocent, followed by eliminating the most harmful evil, and only then correcting minor evils!”

“I see, I understand, Mentor. Right now, there is a most harmful evil fleeing through this swamp. We should go eliminate that scoundrel first!”

After listening to Audreylinda’s words, Claire nodded heavily. It seemed he had accepted the idea of “prioritizing the greatest evil.” After all, before Fat Rabbitman spoke, both Audreylinda and Claire felt that the matter of the persecuted “Evil Girl” could be dealt with later. Especially in Claire’s view, filled with confidence in eradicating evil, it would be convenient and perfectly reasonable to educate these ignorant rabbitfolk on the way back after eliminating the “great evil.”

However… soon, with Fat Rabbitman’s drunken words, the expressions of Claire and Audreylinda changed.

“The Evil Girl will serve as the ‘Living Dead Offering’ at tomorrow’s ‘Harvest Festival’ to please our ancestors!”

This news made all the rabbitfolk in the tavern cheer with joy, while simultaneously causing the Female Knight drinking in the Corner to instantly darken her expression!

“Living Dead Offering”!Claire didn’t know the meaning of this term. He merely sensed it didn’t sound like anything positive, but… Audreylinda, as a wandering knight, certainly understood its implications!

Throughout her millennium of travels, the Female Knight had only heard of such horrifyingly cruel rituals existing among extremely barbaric half-beast tribes. She had assumed these bizarre, brutal, and meaningless ceremonies had long vanished from tribes interacting with humans. Yet today, not only had the term “Living Sacrifice Ritual” emerged unabashedly, but it was soon to unfold right before the Female Knight’s eyes!

What made Audreylinda’s expression turn most grave was that such cruelty was targeted at a defenseless little girl who had already suffered relentless persecution and humiliation!

(End of Chapter)