The paladin does not back down
Zilenai said calmly and walked past them into the temple. Hyeon-joon followed suit, but the guards suddenly grabbed him and dragged him down.
“The author is something! Not even a priest!”
“He is helping with the work of the temple.”
“That means we’re here to help the temple too!”
“He has Carios-sama’s sword.”
Jillenai pointed at the sword hanging from Hyeon-jun’s waist at the guards who were reluctant. The guards who saw the Karios pattern engraved on the scabbard were dumbfounded like honeydew mutes. Hyeon-jun didn’t know if having a sword was important, but he thought of the children and tried to enter the temple. Seeing the children Hyeon-jun and Zilenai were holding, Idelia nodded slightly.
“They said he was put to sleep by taking medicine. You’ll be fine in a little while.”
“Fortunately, the.”
Then Hyeon-jun and Zilenai passed by Idelia and went inside. It was only then that Hyeon-jun felt the power surrounding the temple. It’s a power you’ve never felt before. As Hyeon-jun looked around, Zilenai said.
“Brothers and sisters are working hard.”
“I and the children came in normally.”
“It blocks the power. Physical force cannot be spread over a wide range because the consumption of force is too great. That is why Idelia is guarding the entrance.”
Hyeonjun nodded and followed Zilenai. The place they arrived at was a place with a huge statue of Karios and chairs in a large space. The temple that looked like a school now really looked like a temple. Zilenai beckoned a priest to move. There were so many children there that it was difficult to talk.
Zilenai explained the situation to the priest, left the child in his care, and went out again.
“Does having a sword mean anything to me?”
Hyeon-joon asked him a question when he had some free time. I forced the guards who were trying to come in to shut up. It won’t be an ordinary thing.
“The weapons for combat priests are all weak, but they contain holy power. Therefore, it is thoroughly managed by the temple and is not taken out at all. Because it can be abused.”
“It was more important than I thought. It would be best not to use it, but I will write it carefully and return it safely.”
“yes.”
Zilenai replied with a somewhat lame smile. Hyeon-joon felt as if his ankle was being held.
…is it an illusion? Are you a priest?
I went to the entrance and saw other combat priests returning. They were all hugging the child dearly. Fortunately, they seem to have found the children well in the sewer.
However, the moment he saw a priest’s face, Hyeon-jun realized that the situation was not so optimistic. He was weeping with tears streaming down his thick, manly face. Blood vessels in the eyes burst and the whites were smeared red.
“Brother.”
He came and stood before Zilenai. Zilenai’s face turned pale at the trembling voice.
“sorry. I, I am too late.”
He was weeping as he held the child in his arms. Zilenai urgently checked on the child. Hyeonjun also looked at the child’s face.
“Dear Karios…”
Zilenai murmured sadly. The child’s face was indescribably cruel. The facial bones were completely crushed and the skin peeled off. There was only emptiness behind the gouged out eyelids. The inside of her mouth, gaping in pain, was muddy with broken teeth and a cut tongue.
The priest carefully gathered the child’s broken arm dangling out of the cloth in front of the child’s chest, held it tightly in his bosom, and with trembling hands endlessly stroked the child’s skinned head, before entering the temple. Another battle priest followed suit. He had two children in his arms. Zilenai hurried over to him and looked over the children. There are traces of violence, but fortunately he survived without any major injuries. However, his face contorted at the whispered words of the battle priest.
“The only surviving children are girls.”
Blood gushed from Zilenai’s lips. Veins rose from his reddened face from unbearable anger, and bloody tears burst from his eyes. A red haze pulsated around his body. It looks like he’ll pull out his sword right now. The surrounding guards also flinched at the vicious figure.
“Brother Zilenai.”
Then a beautiful voice called to Zilenai. this is idelia She said in a sad voice to Zilenai, who looked back.
“Even if I run away now, I can’t do anything.”
Surprisingly, Jillenai lowered her head and covered her face with her hands at her reprimand, who was surprisingly calm. The battle priest holding the child quietly passed them into the temple. Zilenai stood there silently for a moment, then raised her head again. On his rocky face, which was covered in blood, a firm determination fell like light.
“Thank you. Idelia.”
Edelia nodded and remained silent. Soon after, all the combat priests returned. Fortunately, all the other children were unharmed with no serious injuries. The battle priests gathered inside the temple shared information in a calm atmosphere.
“Everyone didn’t know much about the client. All they said was that she was a woman and had a beautiful voice.”
There was not a single witness. It was because the combat priests had killed them all. Still, they didn’t kill everyone out of the blue, but killed them after digging up information. As an exception, the priests who brought the dead child’s body were not given any information. Everyone didn’t reprimand them.
“They were only in charge of kidnapping children. Beyond that, no further information was available.”
“I heard that there are guys who come to pick up the children in the morning. They said it smelled awful and was scary.”
“mmm…”
When the exchange of information was over, everyone let out a silence. This means that children who have been abducted before have already been moved elsewhere. I can’t even imagine what they would have been like. The priests who saw the miserable appearance of the child could not think optimistically.
“I can’t help it. We’ll have to search the northern slums. Hurry up. The sun will set soon, and you never know when they will move.”
From noble mtl dot com
Everyone agreed with one battle priest. But there was one problem. Even including the combat priest and Hyeon-jun, there are six of them. There are four places to search in the northern slums. There is a shortage of personnel.
“I will go by myself.”
Hyeonjun said willingly.
“Are you okay?”
“of course. Is Priest Zilenai all right?”
Hyeon-jun answered the worried words of a combat priest and asked Zilenai. When he acts alone, naturally Zilenai is also alone. You don’t know what situation you’ll be in, but you have to carry a big risk to search alone. Not only Hyeon-jun, but also Jillenai jumped into the threat alone.
“yes. it’s okay.”
Zilenai accepted it calmly. He spoke with a serious face to the other concerned battle priests.
“Brother June is an excellent fighter. I trust him and leave it to him.”
At his words, the other combat priests also nodded. And again, he hurriedly moved out of the temple. Now everyone was running with full force without hesitation. Idelia moved out of the way and the combat priests and Hyeon-joon jumped out at once at breakneck speed.
“Ugh!”
The guards retreated in a panic. There were also those who fell while pushing each other.
“You fools! Don’t stand up straight!”
After a man who seemed to be in a high position kicked them up and lifted them up, they ran with all their might. As the combat priest and Hyeon-jun, fully armed, ran through the streets, people were startled and hurriedly retreated. In an instant, the streets were filled with chaos. But they didn’t slow down at all. Even going to the slums in the north is a waste of time. Muscles were visible in their eyes, and the child’s crushed face shimmered. I cannot delay even one second longer.
“There it is!”
Hyeonjun ran to the place pointed out by a combat priest. Because he does not know the geography of this place, a team with overlapping routes decided to guide him. As soon as Hyun-jun arrived at the designated location, he grabbed a passer-by and immediately asked.
“I am from the temple. Where is the entrance to the sewer?”
The middle-aged woman, who was caught by the question, showing the pattern of Karios engraved on the scabbard, pointed to the alley with her hand while embarrassed.
“Um, in that alley…”
“thank you.”
Hyeonjun didn’t even listen and ran into the alley. I don’t know the exact way, but I was able to find the entrance without getting lost thanks to the terrible stench coming from the sewer. Again, there are clear signs of people entering and leaving. Hyeon-jun backed away, then rushed toward the door and kicked the hinge.
bang! bang! bang!
The hinges came off in three turns. Thanks to the experience of breaking down the door with Zilenai. The lock has been replaced with a new one, but the hinge is rusted and corroded. It’s faster to aim for the hinge.
Hyeon-joon lit the lantern he had brought with him and followed the trail, moving quickly. This time I had to go in quite deep. It was like a labyrinth inside the winding sewer, so I couldn’t figure out how far I had come or where it would lead. I was walking only by following the footprints. At that moment, Hyunjoon suddenly stopped walking.
‘It’s a trap.’
There was a very thin thread about the height of his neck. Growing up in modern times, Hyeon-jun is much taller than the people here because he ate a more balanced diet. For a normal person, it’s right near the eyes. It is so high that the person walking after seeing the footprints will not be able to see it.
Hyeonjun took a step back and examined the thread carefully. It is connected to the wall and the thread goes through the bricks. I don’t know where it leads No other devices are visible nearby. Hyeon-jun silently moved forward to avoid the thread. As I kept my head up and moved, my speed slowed down, but thanks to that, I was able to avoid the other two traps. The trap made it clear that they were here.
Hyunjoon moved calmly. And I found a light leaking from afar. Hyeonjun turned off the lantern, put it down, and carefully drew out his sword. I was very careful because I wasn’t talking as loudly as they had been before. And these guys certainly won’t be easygoing guys. Those threads that are not connected to any device. Probably to identify the intruder. Even if they were caught, they would have passed by without knowing that they were caught. And you must have been ambushed by an enemy hiding in the dark.
But unfortunately, nothing changed. Hyeonjun rolled on the floor and dodged the flying arrow. On the other side of the corner where the light leaked out, a guy hiding in the darkness stood guard.
‘They’re not ordinary guys.’
Hyeonjun ran at once, not paying attention to the noise anymore. I was caught anyway, and the sound of the arrow hitting the wall resonated loudly. The more time it takes, the worse it gets.
Ting! Ting!
Two arrows flew in the short moment Hyeon-joon rushed at him. He was able to avoid it because he could see a new type in his eyes.
“It is a monster.”
I could clearly hear his murmur. It’s a male voice that’s a bit high and rough. As Hyeon-jun got closer, he backed away and tried to hide himself in the darkness. And Hyeon-jun turned in an instant and rushed toward the entrance where the light was leaking.
“What!”
Hyeon-joon ran down the aisle at once, leaving his panicked voice behind. Assuming this kind of situation, I don’t know what kind of trap he set. You don’t have to adjust to the rhythm of the guy. And in Hyeon-jun’s eyes, he saw people armed with armor. four. Two men are holding shields, swords and maces, and a woman is holding a spear. And the man standing behind is running with an arrow on the string of the bow. Hyeon-joon lowered his stance and ran at it with a silence. The speed slowed down a little, but the loud sound suddenly diminished, giving an effect as if the sound had stopped for a moment.
“be careful! He is a dangerous man!”
The one who shot the first bow from behind Hyeon-jun shouted loudly. But it’s already too late.
“ぅ!”
In their eyes, they couldn’t see Hyeon-jun, who jumped into the darkness. When they saw Hyeon-jun, the guy with the shield was already falling over.
He didn’t even know how he got hit. The darkness in front of my eyes shook and all I could see was something passing by. I tried to swing my shield to catch it, but my body was drained of strength. Only then did I know that I had been hit. Throat cut!
“Kreak.”
He waved his arms even after his throat was cut, but Hyeon-jun had already dug into the formation.
“Stop!”
The woman with the spear shouted, but there was nothing she could do. Of the two guards holding the shield, one of them had his throat cut deeply, and the other hadn’t quite grasped what had happened. But even if it was late, I turned around and ran. First of all, it’s because you have to protect the rearguard.
‘It’s elite.’