Chapter 113 (1/2)

Chapter 113 Convincing

The new church was really a sole to show off the power of the territory, it was adorned with luxurious decorations…or was that explanation a bit too forced? Thinking these self-deprecating thoughts, I smiled at myself

It was my first visit to this place The reason I hadn’t visited before was the reason for this building’s construction To protest the substitute territory leader’s activities against the church, I had abandoned ues

If I were to put e Iris abandoned the church This showed us the correct way to proceed…I believed that justice was on h I knew that a new church had been built, I viewed this as Iris’s way of covering up her mistakes and refused to visit the church

…Even after it was declared that she was innocent

No, precisely because it was declared That caused an even deeper sense of denial-“We’ve already come so far!”

At the time, I abandoned her in the role of substitute leader That h I wasn’t exactly on the side of the people from the church who victimized her directly, I stood on the side that spurned her

No…it was because although I stood by her, I had still abandoned her that ht, at least-when everything had gone to chaos, if I were to really condemn her, I shouldn’t have holed up in h it e of the substitute leader, I should have usedeverything in the very beginning because I felt that my words couldn’t express what I had to say…

But with how things had turned out, it was already too late

That’s why I n from my position Even if I didn’t, I would be fired anyways…

That hen the invitation arrived, from that same substitute territory leader…Iris Lana Ar; the moment I saw it, I smiled bitterly

This was probably related to whether I would stay or leave Although it wasn’t spelled out, it was easy enough to guess The only question still re place in the church?

It was tis to a head

Yes I pue to co around, I saw that the church filled sloith people who had abandoned their positions like me

I knew some of them But because of the heavy at to chat each other up,

“Thank you for co today”

As if to rip apart this atmosphere, she…Iris, appeared

With a warh some have not yet arrived, the tiin”

Her voice echoed through the church, ringing in my mind

“Everyone here abandoned their work as an officialwhen I was being threatened with expulsion Today, although I came here to co to say toEven so, I wondered whether I should speak up, announce that I was quitting But her heavy tone of voice shut me up

“Then let me ask everyone What is an official?”

Her expression didn’t change It was still a smile But somehow, this put even more pressure on everyone

“You, over there”

Perhaps feeling a bit impatient toward all of us who remained silent, she started to call on people

“Yes Officials are essential as hand and feet to the ruler of a territory, in helping the had a s for so long” and made a model answer

“Is that so…then, what about you?”

She pointed to so because of that answer

The one as pointed at started to shudder

“I…I think so too”

“If that’s the case, then in this riot, none of you are officials anymore”

Just like other noble wole

“Because, isn’t that what you did? You betrayed me, the brain, theto the commands of the mind is your job, then I don’t need any of you disobedient liht?”

The color drained from both of their faces

“Then let me ask you a different question Why is it that in this riot, you abandoned your job and stayed home in protest? You over there, can you answer me?”

Finally she pointed at h I knew that, I couldn’t help but want to avoid her gaze because of the pressure her ies for whatever offense I may cause, but may I ask you a question instead? What is a territory leader?”

Just as I had gathered upto answer in a way that wouldn’t enrage her, but I ended up speaking up in accusation Even I was shocked at how brazen it was

“I don’t like it when people answer questions with questions”

“But for my answer, your response is i idea, rooted too deeply into do with pride or anything else Just as she said, when I abandoned my job as an official, we had already lost that All we could do was act out like this in an attee

“The job of a leader is to stay prideful, protect citizens, be kind and rowth, guarantee a certain quality of life for their people, have a sense of belonging for their territory, lead but also be led…this is what I think that a leader’s duties should be”

“Exactly Exactly because that hat makes a leader a leader, I abandoned ood explanation”