Chapter 35: Mercy or Justice

The air around the gates of Rimuru was thick with tension. Korgon lay battered, defeated, and yet his eyes gleamed with defiance as he looked up at Padrino. The northern warlord had brought destruction to Rimuru's doorstep, and his cruelty had claimed the lives of many. Now, the fate of this once-mighty conqueror rested in Padrino's hands.

Padrino stood at the edge of the city walls, watching the broken man before him. His sword was sheathed, but the weight of his decision felt as heavy as the steel by his side. The people of Rimuru had gathered on the battlements, their eyes on their king, waiting to see how he would handle this moment. Mercy or justice? A question that echoed not only in their hearts but in Padrino's own.

Marko stood beside him, his face tense, his mind calculating the potential consequences of either choice. "We should end him now. The northern forces will scatter without a leader. Korgon's death is the only way to ensure they never return."

Hinata, standing on Padrino's other side, was more reserved, her expression unreadable. "Killing him would end one war, but it could ignite another. If word spreads that Rimuru's king executed a defenseless man, even one as cruel as Korgon, it could sow seeds of fear among our own people—and mistrust from potential allies."

Padrino's brow furrowed. Both his advisors were right, in their own way. The bloodthirsty part of him, the side that had been forged in the fires of war and loss, wanted to see Korgon's life end here and now. But there was another part—a deeper part—that understood the weight of mercy. What kind of leader would he be if he killed every enemy that stood before him?

Korgon's Last Stand

Korgon coughed, blood staining his lips, but his voice carried through the tense silence. "What's the matter, Penduko? Afraid to kill me? Afraid of what you'll become?" His laughter was weak, but it stung like a knife. "Do it. Show everyone you're just another tyrant in the making."

The words echoed in Padrino's mind. Korgon was daring him, challenging him to act on rage and vengeance. The man wanted to die in battle, or by execution—anything to be remembered as a defiant warrior, even in death.

Padrino narrowed his eyes, stepping down from the wall to face Korgon more closely. With every step, the soldiers and citizens of Rimuru watched him intently, their breath held. This wasn't just about Korgon—it was about the kind of leader Padrino would be.

Padrino stopped a few feet from the warlord, looking down at him. His voice was calm, but carried the weight of authority. "You've taken lives, destroyed families, and sought to break everything we've built here. You deserve death, Korgon, but not on your terms."

For the first time, a flicker of confusion passed through Korgon's eyes.

"I won't give you the martyrdom you seek. You will live, and you will face the consequences of your actions. You will be tried, not as a hero, but as a criminal." Padrino's words were cold but controlled, his decision final.

A New Precedent

The soldiers around Padrino stirred. Some murmured in agreement, while others exchanged uneasy glances. Mercy for Korgon? This was a man who had brought them to the brink of destruction. But Padrino's decision sent a message beyond the immediate moment—it spoke of justice, law, and order in a world that so often lacked it.

Marko leaned toward Padrino, his voice a whisper. "Are you certain about this? If he lives, his followers might rally behind him, even from a prison cell."

Padrino shook his head slightly. "His followers won't rally to a man who is seen as weak, defeated, and imprisoned. They respect strength, not captivity. Besides, the trial will be public. The world will see Korgon as the criminal he is."

Hinata nodded in silent approval. "This sets a precedent, Padrino. The people will know that Rimuru's justice isn't driven by anger, but by fairness."

Padrino looked out over his city, the people who had fought and bled to defend it. "That's the kingdom we're building. Not one of revenge, but one of justice."

The Aftermath of Battle

With Korgon's forces in disarray and their leader captured, the remnants of the northern army fled the battlefield. Dagmir and Thalos, the warlords who had betrayed Korgon, knelt before Padrino, offering their allegiance in exchange for their lives.

"We made the right choice," Thalos said, his voice low as he bowed. "We saw the truth in your strength and strategy. We will serve you now, and rebuild what we can in the north."

Padrino studied them carefully, knowing their allegiance was likely born from convenience, not loyalty. But alliances were necessary in this new world, and he had already made his decision. "You'll return to the north, but you'll answer to Rimuru. There will be no more warlords, no more kings in the north. Only unity, or you'll face the same fate as Korgon."

Dagmir nodded, though his eyes were calculating. "As you command, my king."

Korgon's Imprisonment

The city of Rimuru was abuzz in the days following Korgon's capture. Rumors swirled about his trial, which was to be held publicly. People from all over the kingdom, and beyond, began to flock to Rimuru to witness the event. Padrino had given Korgon what he did not want—captivity, humiliation, and a trial where his deeds would be laid bare.

Inside his cell, deep in the dungeons of Rimuru, Korgon sat in silence, his mind working tirelessly. He had lost the battle, but his spirit remained unbroken. There was still time, still a way to escape, to turn this defeat into a temporary setback.

But Padrino knew that Korgon's influence could not be allowed to fester. The trial would be swift, and the punishment even swifter. His fate was sealed, and the northern threat was all but extinguished.

Building a Kingdom of Justice

Padrino sat in his chambers, the weight of his decision still heavy on his shoulders. He knew the path he had chosen—mercy over vengeance—would shape the future of his kingdom. It would send a message to his people and to the world: that Rimuru was not a kingdom ruled by fear or cruelty, but by fairness and justice.

He looked out over the city, the sun setting on the horizon, and thought of the challenges that still lay ahead. The battle with Korgon had been won, but the war to build a lasting peace had only just begun.

His thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door. It was Hinata.

"Padrino," she said softly, stepping into the room. "The people are talking. About you, about the decision you made. They respect it. They respect you."

Padrino gave her a small smile. "I hope so. But there's still so much to do. The kingdom is fragile, and the next threat could be just around the corner."

Hinata nodded. "Perhaps. But for now, you've shown them that Rimuru isn't just another kingdom of power. It's something more. And that matters."

Padrino exhaled, the weight of leadership resting on him as it always had, but for the first time in a long while, he felt a sense of clarity. The kingdom he was building was more than just walls and soldiers—it was a place where justice, fairness, and mercy would prevail.

And that was a kingdom worth fighting for.