The witch thought I am a Demon God
Chapter 378 - 234: Monastery Law, Exorcism Failure, and an Extra Demon Following_1

Chapter 378: Chapter 234: Monastery Law, Exorcism Failure, and an Extra Demon Following_1

When Ivita and company arrived downstream of the Lombardy Duchy via the Bohr River, they discovered that the south of the Lombardy Duchy was even more barbaric.

They were shocked to witness heavy ploughs being pulled by humans on both sides of the river.

These serfs, lacking any cattle or horses to do the work, had willingly resigned themselves to this plight, primarily toiling the lands of the feudal lords.

The fertile soils lining the river were generally occupied by estate lords, while the lands belonging to the roving herdsmen often lay in the secluded corners of mountainous terrains.

Whenever these peasants managed a break to raise their heads and meet eyes with Ivita and his crew on the boat, their expressions betrayed a longing yearning mixed with fear of the unknown.

On board the boat,

the female ranger felt an acute sense of injustice about their predicament. "To use humans as ploughing tools, this is a rare sight even in the feudal states of the north."

The warriors and hunters chose not to comment, content with only worrying about where to drink and sleep the next day.

Vampire Wilson said, "The Lombardy Duchy doesn’t represent the most brutal serfdom state. The peasants here own nothing."

"But they at least retain their freedom."

"Further South on the peninsula, after the republics and the city-states under the Pope, lie the Western Syrian Kingdoms. There are two kingdoms there, one is the Naples Kingdom, and the other is the Norman Kingdom. The conditions of the serfs there are even more harsh. Overseers, armed with iron whips, continuously watch over the serfs like animals, giving them no room to breathe."

"The kingdom alternates between benign and malevolent laws, governing the land."

"I have heard that in those two most brutal serfdom kingdoms, even the mill’s wheel and waterwheel are operated by the serfs. When their lords venture out, they would have the servants carry a chair adorned with pearls, gems, and silk, then they themselves sit on the chair and let the servants carry them along. The king there is so autocratic that he would even demand people to kneel when he goes out."

The female ranger, accustomed to the freedom of living in the woods, imagined such a life and felt an intrinsic shiver running down her spine - she could not accept living such a life.

Ivita said to the female ranger, named Cecilia Walker, "We can only help those around us."

"Because as long as you handle your own affairs well, you can help everyone."

What Ivita hinted at was that if their power were to reach an unprecedented height one day, they could easily change the lives of others.

When that day comes, they could then contemplate the fate of the Lombardy Duchy serfs and evaluate whether the lives of the people living in the Western Syrian Kingdoms are fair. That would not be too late, and would be more efficient than worrying about it now.

However, Cecilia Walker apparently did not understand Ivita’s intention. She thought Ivita was just telling her to mind her own business and not stir up trouble. Of course, she had no choice but to listen to her employer’s advice, lowering her head and ignoring the situations along the riverbank.

Soon, Ivita and crew arrived at the end of the Lombardy Duchy.

What greeted Ivita’s crew was the lush green land lining both sides of the river, wine-red clouds, a clear blue sky, and rows of two-story red wooden houses that seemed right out of a fairy tale. The town’s roads were impeccably paved with bricks.

Although each of them had to pay 12 pennies of head tax at the border of the Lombardy Duchy, Ivita was surprised to find no taxes were collected at the border of this kingdom.

An everlasting peace seemed to permeate the very air, providing an inner tranquility.

It felt as though they had abruptly transitioned from a stormy day cloaked in dark clouds to a sunny day filled with tranquil and harmonious weather. Everyone couldn’t help but praise the quality of the air.

The eyes of the female ranger sparkled as she exclaimed, "Is this the land of the Church and the people of Ravenna? My goodness, it’s so beautiful. Even the small wildflowers by the shore are more beautiful than those in other regions."

She picked a small wildflower and tucked it into her hair.

Tartax commented, "Many people suffering from respiratory ailments come here for recuperation. The majority are revitalized by the air in Ravenna and their health recovers."

"Although the Church has committed countless mistakes throughout history, this indeed is the most splendid terrain of the Church."

Ivita saw satisfied citizens living on either side of the river. The farmers all adhered to their tradition of cultivating for their sustenance.

He spotted children playing freely on both sides of the river, flocks of ducks and geese racing to cross the river, and even a young man sitting on the riverbank and reading a book.

Ivita was lost for words. He had not expected the discrepancy between these two neighboring countries to be this immense.

Soon, Ivita learned that the boatman was not averse to delivering them to Ravenna, so a change of boats was not necessary.

Everybody in Ravenna was elated, except for the Hearthstone Witch.

When Ivita turned to look for the Hearthstone Witch, he found her clutching her chest as if she was about to vomit.

Ivita noticed her peculiar condition. "What’s wrong?"

The Hearthstone Witch looked at the farmers’ houses along the riverbank with disgust. "This place is simply poisonous. I’m being poisoned to death. The air here is toxic. Look at Wilson, he is in a similar state. And Davina too."