Chapter 80: The Knight of Justice
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 80: The Knight of Justice
Baek Ahyeon was active in the small city of Legius as a formal member of the Sky Dragon Guild. A mere glance around revealed a lavish room. It was incredibly spacious, the furniture looked expensive, and the bed was enormous.
It was a world away from where she used to live—so much so that making a comparison felt insulting. No, the place she used to live couldn't even be called a room, making any comparison impossible. It was the glamorous life she had always dreamed of. And now, Baek Ahyeon was living it. Though it was just a small city, she was a formal member of its largest guild. Her future was bright, and the power she currently held was by no means insignificant.
Simply by possessing the Sky Dragon Guild's insignia, members of lesser clans would bow their heads to her. The influence she could wield within the city was nearly limitless.
And yet, despite living the life she had once so desperately craved, an overwhelming emptiness washed over her, and Baek Ahyeon lay down on her bed.
She knew the reason, of course.
‘My Savior…’
Because what she truly desired was far, far away.
Baek Ahyeon knelt on the bed and slowly clasped her hands together to pray. She did this because she feared she would stray into forbidden thoughts, as she often did.
It was then.
“Ahyeon-ssi, are you there?”
A knock came from outside her door.
‘Such a persistent man.’
Her precious time interrupted, Baek Ahyeon’s face twisted into a merciless scowl. She had already mentioned him to her Savior, but this man, Jeong Uichang, who kept seeking her out, had been grating on her nerves lately. She had made her intentions clear—that he should not approach her—but his continued visits had gone beyond discomfort and were bordering on infuriating.
The Guild Master of the Sky Dragon Guild was also a burden, constantly trying to pair her with Jeong Uichang. He had told her it would be good for her and that they should try to get along, but frankly, she didn't even want to make eye contact with the man.
However, she could not ignore her Savior’s command.
This man is a sacrifice. A sacrifice for my Savior. The words echoed in her mind—the order to report his every move and his future actions. Remembering this, Baek Ahyeon cautiously opened the door.
“What is it today?”
Despite her decision, the chill in her voice remained. As the door opened, she slowly began to observe the man who stood before her.
He was tall with a handsome face—one that would have been considered attractive even by Earth's standards. But looking at that face was incredibly uncomfortable for Baek Ahyeon. His eyes, which seemed to hold both concern and a desire to cherish her—it all reminded her of the ‘Unni’ who had died that day.
‘How dare you…’
Those eyes stirred a strange emotion within her. She couldn't identify what it was, but the feeling that surged up did not sit well with her.
“I was wondering if you’d like to have a meal together. Do you have time?”
“......................”
As she stared at him in silence, the lost look on his face was enough to make her blood boil. But Baek Ahyeon suppressed the anger rising within her. She couldn't lash out like she usually did. Her Savior's command was absolute. She decided that putting up with him for a short while was unavoidable. Today’s efforts would surely be rewarded later.
“That would be fine.”
When she nodded, the man’s face broke into a foolish grin. Stupid man, Baek Ahyeon thought, fighting back a wave of nausea as she stepped forward.
“The sun must be rising in the west today. I had a good feeling, so I thought I’d stop by just in case… I’m so glad I did.”
“Yes. I was just getting hungry myself.”
“I’ve found a decent restaurant nearby.”
“I see. I look forward to it.”
The place Jeong Uichang took her to was the largest restaurant in the city, a place that catered to the city's powerful and elite. In the past, she wouldn't have been able to enter even if she had the money. But now, Baek Ahyeon walked in without a second thought. It was no longer grand or surprising to her.
As they moved inside, the restaurant manager appeared and began to guide them. Soon, Baek Ahyeon was seated at a table that Jeong Uichang had reserved in advance.
So much for stopping by ‘just in case.’ The fact that he had already made a reservation was absurd, but Baek Ahyeon maintained a placid expression as she began to drink her water.
“So… Ahyeon-ssi, what do you usually do in your free time?”
His voice sounded remarkably unconfident. For a rising star from a major city, he cut a rather pathetic figure. Baek Ahyeon looked at him and replied.
“I spend my time in prayer.”
“Ah, yes, of course. For a priestess, prayer is paramount. If… if I may ask, which god do you serve?”
“The Goddess of Abundance.”
Naturally, many gods existed on the continent. It was common knowledge that different priests served different deities. Whenever this question came up, Baek Ahyeon always answered with the Goddess of Abundance. The one she truly served was, of course, someone else entirely, but she couldn't risk bringing any trouble to her Savior. As a result, she had little patience for people who asked such questions.
“So you’re a follower of the Goddess of Abundance. I heard there aren’t many of her followers on the continent. That’s truly impressive. You’ve been gaining quite a reputation in the Sky Dragon Guild recently. It makes one wonder where a gem like you has been hiding all this time.”
“Haha. Thank you for the compliment.”
She smiled slightly as she spoke, but throughout his speech, she had to resist the urge to get up and leave. He had no way of knowing about someone like her, since she had been in hell all that time.
‘Hypocritical man.’
She wondered if he would treat her this way if she were still a mere ‘squire.’ The answer that came to her was overwhelmingly negative. He was probably no different from those trash, those beasts.
It was all hypocrisy, all a facade. Everyone here wore a mask. Baek Ahyeon once again felt a wave of nausea rise in her throat. She unconsciously gripped the ring hidden beneath her glove and prayed ceaselessly.
‘My Savior… My Savior…’
“Are you feeling unwell?”
His voice cut through her thoughts again, and Baek Ahyeon gave a slight shake of her head.
“No. More importantly, what have you been up to lately, Uichang-ssi?”
“Me? I haven’t been doing much of anything… Hmm… But since you’re a formal member of the Sky Dragon Guild, you’re not an outsider. I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to tell you. The truth is, I’ve been searching for Murderers recently.”
“Pardon?”
“I heard that a rather large group of Murderers has been active near this city lately. With that Orc bastard, the one they call the Weapon Merchant or Blood Dagger, being quiet these days, I figured now is the perfect time to root them out.”
When the name ‘Blood Dagger’ left Jeong Uichang’s lips, Baek Ahyeon momentarily bit down hard on her lip before composing herself and refocusing on the conversation. She realized this information could be quite useful to her Savior.
“How interesting. I’d like to hear more… if you don’t mind?”
“Umm…”
“If it’s alright, I’d like to participate in the expedition as well.”
“I knew it. I heard you never miss an expedition when you hear about Murderers. The rumors were true.”
“The Goddess of Abundance will surely be pleased by your burning sense of justice.”
For Baek Ahyeon, it was an act to recall the pleasure of that day and suppress her surging bloodlust, but it seemed others saw it differently. Of course, it was understandable. Most of the Murderers near Legius were thugs who preyed on beginners. There was even a joke that the best way to avoid Murderers was to fly the flag of a powerful guild or clan. Sadly, that joke was the absolute truth.
They knew how to think, too. Unless it was something special, they wouldn't dare touch the powerful. Their targets were the beginners the city didn't care about. Baek Ahyeon’s eccentric behavior—joining small clans to hunt Murderers despite being a formal member of the Sky Dragon Guild—was a well-known story in the city.
Baek Ahyeon didn't bother responding to Jeong Uichang’s comment. The only thing that mattered was whether she could join the expedition or not. That was the only fact of importance.
“Would it be alright for me to join?”
“Of course, we would welcome you, but personally, I wouldn’t recommend it. Haa… I’m sure you can guess why our guild is getting involved this time, but these guys are not your average thugs.”
“In fact, the reason I came here wasn’t to help manage the city, but because we finally picked up the trail of a Murderer clan we’ve been tracking all the way from Aia. It’s going to be… a little dangerous.”
Baek Ahyeon smiled faintly at his words and replied.
“What do I have to worry about when the Saint Knights Order is here? And besides, you’ll be there too.”
After she spoke, Baek Ahyeon subtly studied Jeong Uichang’s face. He wasn't obvious about it, but his expression was one of pure delight. Finally, Jeong Uichang slowly began to speak.
“Yes. We were just about to ask for help from other clans anyway. There’s nothing more welcome than having a skilled priestess join us. I’ll go out of my way to ensure your safety, Ahyeon-ssi.”
“Thank you. I truly appreciate it.”
This was wonderful news. This news would surely please her Savior. The thought that he might be listening somewhere right now made Baek Ahyeon smile for no reason.
“I think that’s the first time.”
“Pardon?”
“I think this is the first time I’ve seen you smile while you’re with me.”
Unsure how to respond to his comment, Baek Ahyeon’s expression subtly hardened, prompting Jeong Uichang to quickly continue.
“You really seem to enjoy helping others, Ahyeon-ssi. The way you always volunteer for Murderer hunts… and all the charity you do for the poor… Some people scoff and say there’s no point in helping others in a world like this, but I support what you do.”
“Yes. Thank you.”
“If… if it’s alright with you… I’d like to join you in your volunteer work.”
“................”
Baek Ahyeon paused for a moment, considering his words. Her work with the poor was solely for the purpose of spreading the will of the Savior who would redeem this world. Naturally, she had no desire to let this man set foot in her sacred domain.
“That is something I can handle on my own.”
“I see… It makes you uncomfortable.”
His face fell with disappointment. Baek Ahyeon began to study his expression closely. A man with the power to hold a city in the palm of his hand was crestfallen by a single word from her. What rose within her, unexpectedly, was a sense of pleasure. To be precise, it wasn't the pleasure of controlling him. Rather, it was the look on his face—the look of someone who knew he'd made a mistake. The way he fidgeted, seemingly regretting his words. That expression stirred a strange feeling in Baek Ahyeon.
She wasn't certain, but she couldn't help but think that at the end of this, she would be able to taste a very sweet fruit.
“However…”
“Yes?”
“I think having a meal together from time to time would be fine.”
“Th-that is.”
“Yes. Rather than working together, I’d prefer if you supported me in other ways… I don’t want to take up your time, and… more importantly, you are doing far greater things than helping the poor, Uichang-ssi.”
“Ah… Yes! If I can be of help even in that way… Thank you.”