I'd like to say that this story was completely isolated, but it had some resonance with me. The priests had come and saved the day for the people of Chalm too. In fact, Aberis wouldn’t have their loyalty if it hadn’t been for the church stepping in and stopping the spread of the ghosts. Those same ghosts would never have spread out had Lord Karr not been mysteriously murdered, and a book revealing his darkest sins laid bare in front of Astria.
Was that another example? I had never even met someone from the church outside of Carmine. While she did betray me, there were crueler things she could have done. I had no particular beef with the church. In fact, I didn’t know the church at all. I didn’t know how big they were, who they worshipped, or really anything about them. Thus, even putting these events together, the most I could conjure emotionally was to say “That’s interesting.”
If the church really was stirring up trouble only to come in and be the heroes, that was really none of my business. My goal was to just keep Chalm and my girls safe. I was in this world now. I had money, power, and friends. What more did I need? I didn’t need some kind of vendetta against the church. That said, I had made a promise to Terra that we would finish this mechanical monster. I was also curious about this so-called brainwashing. What the Bandit King calls brainwashing, another might just call being raised in another lifestyle.
If the church was good to her, Carmine wouldn’t see any reason to doubt them. However, if we can free her from the dragon’s control, then I was curious if she’d still be able to hold on to that rhetoric. It would be nice if Carmine could be made to see how the church used her, assuming that the Bandit King was speaking honestly and not filling my head up with lies. If I helped destroy a dragon, I don’t think the church would see it as me going against them.
After all, I’m petitioning to be a lord of Aberis and part of that I was told by the mayor to make a rather large donation to the church. In other words, if I defeated the dragon now, to them, it’d look like just an unexpected accident. They might notice my presence more, but that might not be a bad thing. I was okay playing ball. All governments are corrupt, but you still pay taxes. I have no ambitions to battle the church to the death. This particular event is a one-time occurrence because circumstances made things personal.
After that, I’d bow and scrap for the church just like everyone else. It was better than being a rebel or an outcast. Therefore, my mind was settled. I’d help the Bandit King for personal reasons. However, if she wished to continue this war against the church beyond that, she was on her own. Looking down the path I had seen the dragon disappear off to, I considered what the next course of action would be.
“If she’s already heading back to the church, I don’t think there is anything we can do.” I realized out loud.
Salicia shook her head. “I already said, the dragon is controlling her mind. They aren’t heading for the Capitol. Actually, they’re heading to a nearby mountain range, to create a lair. After that, they’ll start pillaging the countryside to build a horde of wealth. This is only a mechanical dragon, but the church used a real dragon’s soul when making it.”
“And what do you need from me?” I asked.
“Your party is strong. You were able to hold the dragon off for the length of time it took for her to take control of it. I need you to do that again, but this time, I’ll be severing her bond!”
“What happens after it is severed?
“I only care about my sister. What the dragon does is none of my concern. The church can deal with a beserking dragon.” She glanced at me and snorted. “What? I am a Bandit King, what do I care about stopping a dragon. If you want to… be my guest.”
I glanced over at Terra. “It’ll be in a cave. Right?”
Terra looked up at me, her eyes slightly fearful but growing in confidence. “Mm!”
“Then, we’ll try our best to kill it, and if push comes to shove, will just bury it in the cave, for good this time!”
Terra’s eyes flashed with determination. “Yes, Master!”
"I only care about my sister. What the dragon does is none of my concern. The church can deal with a beserking dragon." She glanced at me and snorted. "What? I am a Bandit King, what do I care about stopping a dragon. If you want to… be my guest."
Either Salicia is a hypocrite or something does not add up. In the previous chapter, she claimed that the reason she became the Bandit King was to avenge her village. She also claimed that, for the last 1000 years, the Church's policy is to cause disasters and then swoop in to the rescue to gain more followers. But here she says that stopping the dragon is "none of my concern".
If she literally has no interest in stopping the dragon, then she clearly has no interest in stopping the scheming of the Church. And it follows that, if this is the case, Salicia either has little interest in avenging what was done to her village or she would only be satisfied in attacking the Church directly instead of merely interfering in one of there schemes. Because stopping the dragon would do just that: Interfere in one of the Church's major schemes to gain followers, wealth and power.
Like I said: Something does not add up. Moreover, I'd goes so far to say that Salicia is full of it: If avenging her village was original motivation, she must have since moved on to be motivated more by other things (like, perhaps, power and money). If she was traumatized by what was done to her village, then shouldn't she have at least a little desire to prevent similar disasters to other villages?
What a pathetic person. I absolutely do not sympathize with Salicia. At least Carmine was brainwashed - if what her sister said to the MC can be believed.
It just doesn't add up!
It's called sloppy writing and unrealistic characters. Quit trying to rationalize it, its just plain bad story telling.
I dont see an issue with this. Yeah she became the bandit king to get revenge but why do you NOT consider this revenge 'good enough'? Causing the church to lose a trained paladin AND a dragon construct ruins a lot of the churches potential plans. The fact having them lose a paladin is due to her getting her sister back is a HUGE bonus, enough of a bonus that revenge would be less important now as compared to when she first wanted that revenge.
Thats not being a hypocrite. That is just life causing some plans to change in priority.
@Seronis Did you read carefully? I said, "Either Salicia is a hypocrite or something does not add up." I also said that, "If avenging her village was original motivation, she must have since moved on to be motivated more by other things (like, perhaps, power and money)."
Seems like sloppy writing. Are readers really supposed to sympathize with Salicia after giving her sad story like that, supposedly starting her bandit gang for a good cause and pursuing her sister out of concern and because of the brainwashing of the Church... And YET, her actions and current motivations couldn't possibly be further from this.
Despite her words, stopping the Church or getting her revenge against the Church must no longer be her motivation - if it ever really was. By Salicia's own words, QUOTE: "I only care about my sister. What the dragon does is none of my concern." Having the Church lose a trained paladin is also NOT a motivation. Rather, she just wants her sister for herself - for SELFISH reasons.
If you haven't already figured it out: Salicia is extremely greedy, selfish and the real reason she wants to capture her sister is mostly to do perverted things to her. She's a heartless backstabber who doesn't think twice about breaking her word and betraying the MC. Also, she uses her bandits as tools and then leaves them to die. I can't even think of a single good thing to say about this cold bi*ch.
Aside from the ridiculousness of her character and the contradictions in her backstory, Salicia would make a decent villain. But I think the author wants readers to somehow sympathize with her to prepare us for her being added to the MC's harem. Virtually every young and beautiful female character of any importance will eventually be added to MC's growing harem. This disgusts me because I find the character of Salicia to be loathsome.
Admit it: We all figured out that the "Bandit King" would eventually be added to MC's harem as soon as it was revealed that it was actually a beautiful girl. The fact that Salicia and the fallen Paladin are sisters just cinches it, especially since the Bandit King is a sis-con who is totally obsessed with her sister. Of course, the Paladin sister will get added to his harem, too. Obviously.
of course she's a bandit, how do u think bandit raise their level lols
Don't forget her bandits, and presumably her from rumors, are known for raping and murdering ppl so theyre not good guys as much as naive MC wants to believe so