I Pioneered Scientific Magic

Chapter 437: The Punishment Knight, Ivina!

In the northern regions of the Empire, within a remote village, the townsfolk mechanically moved about their distorted bodies, beginning their day's work as usual.

Tilling the fields, feeding livestock, hauling goods...

The village bustled with activity, yet everyone's movements seemed somewhat stiff.

A middle-aged man, appearing as a blacksmith, mechanically swung his iron hammer, striking down onto the glowing red sword blade.

His stooped figure suddenly trembled, yet he remained unaware as the round head fell, severed, onto the searing blade. Nonetheless, the blacksmith continued hammering away, pounding flesh and brain matter into the crimson iron sword.

By midday, this tranquil village welcomed an unwelcome group.

Ivina led a squadron of Punishment Knights into the village, but even at the moment of entry, the young girl sensed something amiss.

The village appeared desolate, dilapidated, with many houses collapsed, roads muddy and unkempt. From numerous signs, it was evident that this place had recently undergone the ravages of war.

Yet the villagers had made no effort to repair these dilapidated areas, nor did they avoid the newcomers like common paupers, continuing their work as usual.

A Punishment Knight suddenly grabbed a passing man, and upon seeing the man's blank expression, lifeless eyes, and the evident stab wound on his chest, a chill ran through their hearts.

"They've been dead for at least five days!" a Punishment Knight remarked gravely.

"It's been half a month!" Ivina corrected, judging from the signs of war.

As she spoke, Ivina solemnly produced a magical sensing device, the pointer spinning around before finally pointing towards a residence in the village.

More than twenty knights entering the village drew their blades from their belts.

"More Church lapdogs? They just won't disappear!"

The icy curse quickly emanated from within the mansion, full of disdain.

Then, an elderly and withered face appeared before the crowd, a man cloaked in black robes, his hair white, skin dry like bark, resembling a skeleton.

"The Corpse Thief, Wally!" Ivina's thoughts shifted, recognizing him from the wanted poster in the Sinners' Scriptures!

...

After half an hour of fierce battle, more than half of the thirty Punishment Knights had perished, and Ivina had acquired several injuries, oozing black mists.

Meanwhile, the Corpse Thief Wally's head had been impaled on a slender blade.

With the death of the practitioner, all the revenants in the village lost their anchor and collapsed to the ground. Ivina, exhausted, sighed in relief.

"Thanks to you, Ivina," one of the Punishment Knights expressed horror. If not for the reckless tactics of the girl that threw the Corpse Thief off balance, giving them an opportunity for close combat, they would all have died here, becoming mere revenants.

"It's a pity, though..." Ivina glanced at the bodies of her fallen comrades, sighing.

"Dealing with these wizards, casualties are inevitable!" The Punishment Knight spoke with both anger and resignation.

Indeed, sacrificing fewer than twenty Punishment Knights to kill a Grand Wizard was already extremely fortunate.

At least they protected more Imperial subjects from the enemy's harm!

Ivina nodded, mustering her strength alongside the remaining comrades, gathering the bodies and burning them all to prevent the spread of potential plagues.

Soon, the melodious hymns resonated throughout the village.

"May your souls avoid purgatory, may you ascend to the kingdom of heaven and eternal joy..."

Ivina murmured softly in prayer, watching the flames rise, involuntarily reminiscing about the past.

More than two years ago, in the harbor town, it was such flames that awakened her, leading to her estrangement from her family, and to her realization of a broader world.

As someone once said, the world is vast, far beyond imagination. A mere baron's title meant nothing.

That lofty position, like a dome, once obscured her entire vision. But now, with just a word, she could decide the life or death of a baron...

The aspirations, obsessions, and hatred of the past seemed utterly ridiculous now.

But... why did you choose to become a wizard?