Chapter 390: Necessary Slaughter

“Milord!” “Lady Nina!” “Captain!”

As soon as Wu Qingsong stepped into the camp, the beastgirls rushed up to him. Some, like Anna and Liuli, were exhilarated by their unprecedented victory, while others, experiencing such brutality for the first time, looked pale with shock.

“You all did very well,” Wu Qingsong told them.

Daring to venture deep into uncertain territory with just over two hundred soldiers—aside from his and Nina’s capabilities—their greatest reliance was, of course, the firearms that had already been put into production and repeatedly tested with live rounds by the elite guard.

To compensate for the limited power caused by the purity of the gunpowder, the finalized firearms had an exceptionally large caliber—so large, in Wu Qingsong’s view, that they were practically small cannons. The immense recoil meant these weapons required a sturdy brace for proper firing.

But after this battle, no one would ever question their effectiveness again.

During training, they had managed two shots per minute. In this battle, the rate had only reached three shots every two minutes—no faster than a crossbow—but their sheer power was something neither bows nor crossbows could compare to. Many beastmen could continue fighting even after being struck by several arrows, and some, clad in multiple layers of heavy armor, had even survived more than a dozen arrows while still charging and swinging their weapons.

Yet in this short, bloody battle, not a single beastman had remained standing after taking a single shot.

“At thirty meters, a coordinated volley is practically unbeatable,” Wu Qingsong remarked, unable to suppress a hint of satisfaction.

“The iron wire barriers were also highly effective,” Nina said, glancing at the corpses hanging from them with a trace of reluctance.

This was another of Wu Qingsong’s “inventions”—simple to produce but highly labor-intensive, requiring the manufacturing of countless short iron wires, which were then woven together in a specific pattern. Though bulky to transport, these barriers were an absolute nightmare for ordinary beastmen and even most wild animals, given their flexibility and durability.

Destroying them with conventional weapons was nearly impossible. And since Wu Qingsong had yet to introduce bolt cutters or wire clippers, this obstacle was practically insurmountable for a standard attacker.

Had it not been for the iron wire barriers and caltrops slowing their advance, the musketeers might never have had the opportunity to maintain their formation, execute five coordinated volleys, and utterly shatter the enemy’s resolve.

“We must have killed at least seventy or eighty of them,” Joanna, who had just officially shed the “acting” title and become the first squad captain of the Divine Knights, reported excitedly. “And at least three times as many were wounded.”

Around the camp, a few beastmen had finally mustered the courage to return to the battlefield to tend to the wounded. Their agonized screams nearly drowned out all other sounds.

“Make sure the field chaplains provide psychological support,” Wu Qingsong noted, seeing the pale faces of many of their own, especially the beastkin girls.

During the heat of battle, loading, aiming, and firing as trained was simple. But after the initial rush of adrenaline faded, they were forced to face the consequences of their actions. That was an entirely different matter.

Wu Qingsong did not want his army to become a cold, unfeeling band of killers. Nor did he want these young beastkin girls to turn into bloodthirsty monsters. After ensuring that the defenses were reinforced, he gathered them separately.

“Did I disappoint you, Milord?” a mousegirl asked tearfully. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I just…”

“No, you haven’t disappointed me at all. Not even once.” Wu Qingsong gently patted her head and smiled. “Kindness and compassion are never flaws. They are virtues. However, they should not be misplaced, nor should they be exercised without principle, regardless of time and circumstance.”

The beastkin girls looked confused.

“Can anyone tell me what the code of a knight is?” Wu Qingsong asked.

“Loyalty, faith, honor, courage, justice, honesty, mercy, and sacrifice! To guard the faith and aid those in suffering!” they quickly responded.

“You see, then? Your sympathy for the dead and wounded does not violate your code,” Wu Qingsong said.

“But we…” The beastkin girls were bewildered. If they weren’t wrong, then who was?

“You must understand that the real reason these people were harmed is not because of you. It’s because of those who deceived them and sent them into battle,” Wu Qingsong continued. “You take up arms to bring hope to this world, to ensure that those around you and many others have the chance to live better lives. You were chosen by Xuanyuan to fulfill this sacred duty.

“And them? They picked up their weapons purely for greed, for plunder, and simply for the sake of killing. They are unfortunate because they do not even realize there is something greater in this world worth fighting for. Their souls are lost. But we are fortunate because we know. We do not kill for the sake of killing. Our existence does not bring more suffering into the world like they do. It is meant to end that suffering.

“When they are wounded or die, of course, we should feel sympathy for them. But what we must understand is that by doing this, we prevent even more needless deaths. We have a clear conscience!”

“Milord…” The beastkin girls’ tears began to dry.

“Why did we come here?” Wu Qingsong asked.

“To show the beastfolk of Stampede Plateau our strength,” one of them answered.

“That’s right. And why do we need to show them our strength?”

“Because only by making them understand this will they stop coveting Nagrand’s wealth.” Their voices grew steadier. Nina had already drilled this into them before their departure. “Only when they realize this will the priests be able to travel safely throughout Stampede Plateau in the future.”

“Exactly! Just like when we executed those bandits and displayed their corpses,” Wu Qingsong said. “It may seem cruel, but it deters those who would seek to take without earning, those who would harm others for their own gain. By doing so, the number of robberies decreases, and the people of Nagrand no longer have to live in constant fear for their lives and property.

“And these beastmen? They, too, now have the opportunity to turn away from such paths. We do not kill or act with cruelty for the sake of it. But if doing so can save more people, if it can prevent others from going astray, then we must do it. And we must do it well, so thoroughly that their deaths serve a purpose, ensuring that others think twice before following in their footsteps.

“This world is rife with violence. That is why we must use the same means to put an end to it. This is not Xuanyuan’s true will, but in this phase, it is a necessary step. As long as we do not abuse this power, as long as we always remember our beliefs and purpose, we will not lose ourselves.

“Kindness is a precious trait. I hope you all hold onto it. But I also hope you learn to distinguish who deserves your compassion and who does not. Understand that unprincipled, indiscriminate kindness, kindness wielded for personal gain at the expense of others, is its own form of cruelty.”

The expressions of the beastkin girls had clearly changed. Wu Qingsong let out a quiet sigh of relief.

“Rest here for a while. If you wish, pray for the fallen. Then, I want you to return to your posts and fulfill your duties.”