The paladin does not back down
As soon as Hyeon-jun arrived at the temple, he found Jilenai and handed over the parchment. After reading Deliana’s writing, Zilenai immediately exploded with divine power. It was clearly weaker than the paladin’s power, but it was clear. And in an instant, about a dozen priests flocked to where they were.
“Sister Deliana made the decision. The children from the facility will be arriving soon. Gather the children together and prepare for battle.”
As soon as Zilenai finished speaking, the priests dispersed. Zilenai said to Hyeon-jun with a serious face.
“Brother, thank you very much. Deliana told you to do as you please, but why don’t you step back now? The request will be considered complete.”
Hyunjoon smiled bitterly. Because Deliana said the same thing.
“I can’t come all the way here and step out. We will do it together.”
“thank you.”
Zilenai said no more, nodded firmly, and moved hastily with her feet. Hyun Joon followed him. The place we arrived at was the arsenal. The other four priests who had come earlier were quickly donning their weapons. Zilenai also threw off his priestly clothes and began wearing armor. It’s a great armament. The parts that fold like joints were blocked with chain armor, but the torso and limbs were all firmly blocked with plate armor. And somehow it seems to emit a soft light. The priests helped each other put on the armor, put on the armor in an instant, gathered large shields and weapons, and gathered in one place.
“As soon as the children at the facility arrive, we will start right away. Brother June, a map.”
When Hyeon-jun handed over the map, Zilenai laid it out on the desk for everyone to see, and tied some marks together.
“We will search these places. According to Brother Jun’s reasoning, there should be a road leading underground. You should also check the surrounding buildings. Please ask the residents for their understanding and confirm. Two people will be divided into three teams in one team. Jun, please stay with me.”
“Brother, it might be dangerous.”
Another priest spoke to Hyeon-jun in a worried tone.
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“it’s okay. It has already been resolved.”
He seemed moved by Hyun-joon’s answer, but he nodded and said with a face that couldn’t erase his worries.
“All right. Please be careful. And if you need anything, take it.”
“Is it okay if you give it to me, a foreigner?”
At that, the priest smiled softly and said,
“If you don’t give it to your brother who fights for the children, who will you give it to?”
At that, the other priests also nodded. It feels like being tortured with a super-powerful lantern because there is only so much light around. I can’t open my eyes, and I feel like my body is burning from the heat.
“All right.”
Hyeonjun nodded his head and looked at the equipment. As secondary weapons, he took a sword the length of his forearm and a heavy dagger, and wore a pair of snake braces that fit his gauntlet on his arm. Unfortunately, the rest of the other armor was only the part that Hyeonjun had already worn. It would have been nice to be able to protect my legs, but being able to protect my arms would be enough.
After Hyeon-jun finished arming himself, the priests moved in an orderly manner and went out. It was noisy with children outside. Because the other priests were gathering the children in one place while they were arming themselves. The young children exclaimed at the sight of the armed priests, but the older children hardened their faces at the sight. A stocky kid about to undress as a boy approached them. There was determination in the hard face.
“Priest, I will accompany you.”
At that, a priest spoke softly but firmly.
“Your heart is grateful. But no. Follow them.”
The child stood there with a resentful face, biting his lip as if he could not accept it. But in the end, he lowered his head and spoke in a low voice.
“Don’t get hurt.”
“yes. Do not worry.”
The priest hugged the child and sent it back. The child looked back to see if he had any regrets, but the priests sent him off with determined eyes. When the child returned, the priests went straight to the entrance of the temple. The streets turned into an uproar as the battle priests appeared, fully armed in armor emblazoned with Karios. One of the startled girls even screamed. It is by no means a light matter for a temple to wield force. Confusion spread in an instant, and people quickly dispersed. Houses shut their doors and bolted them. Even the windows were all closed. There are mothers running around screaming their children’s names.
While waiting for the children to arrive, Hyeon-jun talked to Jillenai to solve the problem he had forgotten about because of the quest.
“Priest, are you okay for a second?”
“yes. Please speak.”
“I’ve seen Karios-sama’s Paladin before.”
At those words, even the other priests turned to Hyeon-jun. It is very rare to encounter a paladin. As priests, they have never met a paladin.
“I received a little help from him, and he said that the light of God was shining on me.”
“Hoho…”
A priest exclaimed in admiration. Zilenai approached Hyeon-jun.
“Are you okay for a moment?”
“yes.”
Zilenai took Hyeon-jun’s hand. A red light flashed on his hand and flowed into Hyeon-jun’s body. Hyeon-joon flinched at the foreign feeling, but was soon relieved. This is because the warm power circulates throughout the body, invigorating and releasing tension. Finally, when the power that gently flowed through his head escaped through Zilenai’s hands again, he felt regretful.
“I did not receive divine power.”
“ah···.”
When Hyeon-jun let out a sound of regret, Zilenai smiled and said,
“But I could feel the power of God.”
he knocked his helmet off. He felt a fragment of intense power fluttering in Hyeon-jun’s head. It was a very kind and warm power to the point of tears.
“I don’t know who you are. But God is watching over you.”
“Are you guarding it?”
“yes. It’s not just about giving you power. I don’t know for sure, but I’m sure it’s protecting me from something.”
Hyeon-joon thought it was all about imbuing him with powers, even though it was written as a blessing in his heart. But Zilenai said God was protecting him. If so, these abilities could be secondary things that were received due to divine protection. What we can tell from this is that the goddess of education and growth has higher expectations from him than expected. You still don’t know what to expect, but it won’t come off easily.
“thank you.”
“no.”
A warm atmosphere passed for a while. However, when the children were seen in the distance, the atmosphere sharpened again. An armed combat priest leads the children in the lead. In the back, you can see the small-sized armor that looks like Idelia. Hyeonjun carefully inspected Idelia’s armor. Unlike the armor of other priests, there is no feeling of light. However, it is much thicker and heavier armor. It’s full plate armor. He is short, but wearing such thick armor spreads to the side and looks absurdly heavy. In addition, the shield was large enough to cover the whole body, and the sword at the waist was much wider and thicker.
‘It is similar to the paladin’s armor.’
It’s different in minor details and doesn’t have a red cape, but it’s definitely similar to the Paladin of Karios he’s seen. She really looked like an apprentice paladin. Looking at the armament, I could understand why her swordsmanship was poor. Dalian is over when the sword touches, but if you wear armor like that, you can just smile and greet. Considering her physical abilities, even if you hit her on the head with a hammer, she won’t budge and will be able to smash everything with that tremendous power. Depending on the situation, breaking through with honesty might be more powerful than skillful swordsmanship.
The battle priest led the children into the temple, and only Idelia remained standing at the entrance of the temple. She hesitated for a moment, then hugged Zilenai.
“Careful.”
“Do not worry.”
Zilenai smiled softly and hugged her. Idelia hugged the other combat priests and talked. It was felt that all the battle priests loved her like a daughter or a younger brother. After greeting the priests, Idelia stood in front of Hyeon-jun, turned her head slightly, and spoke softly.
“… don’t get hurt.”
“Is it over? Won’t I hug you?”
“That’s it!”
Then he stomped his feet. It makes the floor vibrate. Seeing that, the priests laughed lightly. Hyeon-jun shrugged and said to Zilenai.
“Let’s go.”
“yes.”
Hyeon-joon passed by Idelia and knocked her helmet with his gauntlet.
“Cee…”
Leaving behind the sound of Bolmen echoing inside the helmet, Hyeon-jun moved quickly with the priests. Upon entering the slums, the priests quickly dispersed, praying for each other’s safety. Hyeon-jun ran frantically through the winding and stinking alleys of the slums with Zilenai. All the priests were in a hurry, so when one started running, all the other priests started running along.
“You seem to have become quite friendly with the apprentice paladin of our temple.”
“I scolded you for being too arrogant. Priest Zilenai taught you, right?”
said Zilenai with a bitter smile.
“yes. I said it was immature, but actually… well, it was a mess, right?”
“yes. However, as time went on, I learned a lot. After that, he looked pretty good.”
“I’m glad. I can’t be strict with that child…”
“I apologize to the priest. I said a little gossip to provoke him.”
“no. It must have been a good experience for Edelia. Rather, I should express my gratitude.”
Hyeon-jun said as he ran away from the garbage and people scattered in the alley.
“Anyway, I knew he would insist on following.”
“Idelia is a little… a special child. And he knows that too.”
“Are you special?”
“sorry. I cannot tell you the details.”
Zilenai refused with a firmness he had never shown before. Hyunjoon just nodded and walked away.
“Here.”
Zilenai stopped abruptly and said. It’s not a square, but it’s a fairly large space. Are you saying that the abduction took place in the vicinity of an open space like this rather than a dark alley?
“I don’t think there’s a space that can be connected to the basement.”
“I need to check the building.”
They looked around the surrounding buildings, but couldn’t find any traces, so they decided to knock on the door and ask people.
“There is a basement, but there is no other passage. Would you like to see it?”
“yes. thank you.”
A man willingly escorted them into the basement, but there was no sign of anything else, just dirty trash and dust flying. It was the same elsewhere. People let the priest Zilenai into the house without hesitation, but they couldn’t find any trace. Then an old man cautiously asked Zilenai.
“What are you checking the basement for?”
“Recently, children are disappearing. The temple believes that children are being kidnapped through the underground and is being searched.”
At that, the old man lowered his voice and muttered very quietly. It was almost inaudible.
“Check the sewers.”
Then he pushed them out and slammed the door. Hyeonjun and Zilenai looked at each other’s faces.
“sewer. I never thought of it.”
In modern times, sewers are rarely seen. All they see is a small hole on the side of the road that people can’t possibly enter, blocked by iron bars. The circular sewer hole is so common that even looking at it now, you wouldn’t know it existed. There was no sewage system in Bimarn and other cities. I didn’t even think to check the sewer. Zilenai was also overlooked by everyone because her head was not spinning with nervousness and worry.
“I hope other people will also think of the sewers.”
They searched around and quickly found the sewer entrance. There was an entrance blocked by iron bars at the bottom of the stairs in a maze-like complex alley. Inside came the sound of water and a stinking stench. Zilenai carefully checked the floor and the bars.
“There have been a lot of people coming in and out lately. It seems right.”
Zilenai said after confirming that the pieces that had fallen from the iron cage, which was full of rust from moisture, and the dust under the iron cage were leading inside. Hyeonjun checked the lock. It’s pretty neat. If you don’t use it for a long time, rust will form on the inside of the lock, so the key won’t go in, and even if you open it with a key, the metal will not come off. But this lock alone is neat.
“I am sure.”
“for a moment.”
Zilenai bit Hyeon-jun, who was checking the lock, and took out the mace from his waist. And at the moment when his body turned a faint red light, he swung it with a full swing.
bang! bang! bang! bang!
Zilenai even possessed divine power and swung it four times in one breath. The lock was twisted a lot and then fell off. He hit so hard that even the thick iron bars were distorted.
‘He must have been more ignorant than I thought.’
Hyeonjun muttered to himself and kicked the barbed wire hard. It was distorted and I thought it wouldn’t open well.
bang!
“Oh.”
The hinges that couldn’t overcome the shock fell off and the whole door fell over. After destroying the city’s property in less than 10 seconds, the two looked at each other and went inside without incident.
‘The temple will take care of it.’