Paladin Fran
Paladin Fran—Fran had temporarily joined as a companion. And the first thing she did was extort something from Neb.
“Hand it over.”
“?”
Neb stared at Fran's outstretched hand, a question mark practically floating above her head. Did she notice the silver coins I stashed away? Neb swallowed a groan and feigned ignorance.
“Hand over what?”
In response to Neb's question, Fran replied, “You should give me the evil god's relic that you're carrying. That's separate from us heading to your church.”
Thank goodness she wasn't after the silver coins. Neb let out a secret sigh of relief and casually raised both hands, turning the question back on her. “What relic are you talking about?”
“...Planning to lie again?”
As she spoke, Fran glanced at Eden. Their eyes met on the dented inner side of her visor, where his fist had struck. The expression etched into the metal looked twisted up like someone who'd just bitten into a sour lemon. The memory of that surprise attack still lingered like a scar on her mind.
“Lies? There are no falsehoods in a goddess's words. Behold—this goddess's body hides nothing.”
“......A goddess?”
It was a word that didn't suit Neb at all. Fran wore a puzzled expression, as if she'd just met a madwoman claiming to be a goddess in front of a paladin of the Sun God.
Eden watched the exchange, pondering for a moment. Convincing a paladin to believe in another god would be incredibly difficult. So, rather than revealing Neb's true identity outright, it seemed better to mix in a little white lie.
He beckoned Fran over. Oblivious to being treated like a dog, she naturally walked toward him.
“What do you want?”
“Can't you tell just by looking?”
“...Tell what?”
Eden answered in a low voice. “Don't you look a bit like a fool?”
“...Yeah, fair enough.”
Thanks to that, the goddess's dignity hit rock bottom, but Eden didn't care much. It wasn't his problem anyway.
Fran looked at Neb, who stood there clueless. Though her face was hidden by the visor, her gaze seemed somehow pitying.
“Tch.”
Fran clicked her tongue softly, nodded to herself a few times, then said to Eden, “Still, we need to recover the evil god's relic. It's an object that brings misfortune to people.”
Evil god's relic. Eden recalled the “Neb's relic” he'd picked up from the sewer. And the massively bulked-up goblin. Circumstantially, it fit.
The problem was that Neb had absorbed something from that relic to regain her power. Fran clearly wanted to nail that down.
“If you truly don't have the evil god's relic, I'll search your body myself and prove your innocence.”
“......”
Eden was at a loss for words. It wasn't a wrong approach, but he felt his fist clenching.
“You dare lay hands on a goddess's body?”
Neb recoiled with a horrified expression. But Fran's demeanor was utterly confident, without a hint of ulterior motives.
“...Hm?”
Seeming to notice the weird vibe in the air, Fran quickly waved her hands in defense. “N-No, misunderstanding. I have no such weird intentions.”
Fran swiftly removed her helmet. Normally, she'd just open the faceplate, but since it was dented, she took the whole thing off.
“Phew... This okay now?”
Red hair cascaded down. Eden realized his earlier impression of her voice being thin hadn't been wrong. Paladin Fran was a fairly attractive woman—aside from the nosebleed.
021. Paladin Fran
Eden wasn't surprised by her gender. This world was based on the “game” he'd been playing, after all. Female paladins were entirely possible. Even in real medieval history, women knights had existed.
—Kill...!
Eden recalled scenes from some stories where a female knight fell to goblins, then waited for Fran to finish searching for the evil god's relic.
“...It's really not there.”
Fran muttered as she put her dented helmet back on. Even with her face covered, she radiated gloom. Her gaze shifted to the compass in her hand—the relic of the Sun God. The needle still pointed straight at Neb.
“...I'll believe you don't have the evil god's relic on you right now. But the evil god's aura is still detectable, so you'll have to come with me to the church anyway.”
He'd planned to head there regardless, but Eden shot Fran a reproachful look. “Must be broken.”
“...No way. This is a holy relic bestowed by the Sun God himself.”
As if you received it directly. Eden was starting to feel skeptical about the existence of “gods.” Both the one next to him and the paladin in front of him.
But Fran tenderly tucked the worn-out compass into her bosom and muttered, “W-Well, it's a bit old, sure.”
Eden scratched his head at that. Not his concern.
“Anyway, let's move.”
As Eden suddenly stood, Fran flinched in surprise, seemingly intimidated by his massive frame.
“What.”
“...N-Nothing.”
Eden was increasingly realizing this paladin wasn't all that reliable. Clumsy, prone to mistakes—far from the typical image.
“No other gear to grab?”
“Of course not. A paladin of the Sun must always be ready to move under His light...”
“Shut it.”
Eden grabbed his bag and axes. Neb had even less—just a cloak to throw on.
“The goddess is ready too.”
“Mm.”
Now it was time to leave the village.
From afar, villagers waved goodbye.
“Safe travels!”
“Thank you!”
Eden didn't bother turning around, just quietly waving back. Fran seemed curious about whatever had gone down between him and the villagers.
“What happened in the village?”
To her, this brute barbarian didn't deserve such warm farewells.
“What happened.”
“No way nothing happened and they're waving like that.”
Eden was too lazy to explain last night's events, so he spouted nonsense. “They're just glad the filthy barbarian lump is leaving.”
“Yeah, that tracks.”
“......”
...This bitch. Eden soured when she accepted it without pushback.
He almost smacked her helmet but held back. Fran, oblivious to how close her helmet came to another dent, kept walking along the path. Her full plate armor clanged heavily with every step.
Eden grimaced at the noise. Normally, armor that heavy was only for battle, not casual wear—especially not in the middle of nowhere. It bordered on eccentric.
“Doesn't feel heavy, huh.”
“It's a trial from the Sun. I endure.”
“What's that supposed to mean.”
Eden roughly got the gist.
“Church told you to wear it everywhere?”
“...We fight evil god worshippers often, so it's understandable.”
Eden let out a dry chuckle. Doubt it. A paladin collecting evil god relics solo was suspicious too. Sure, too many people could be inconvenient, but solo missions?
Whatever—as long as she guides me to Mordelan.
He didn't point it out. Instead, another question. “Sleep in it at night too?”
“Naturally. Battles can happen anywhere, anytime.”
This world isn't that dark fantasy. Eden eyed her armor. Without a squire, donning and doffing it was a hassle. How did she even handle the privy...?
“......”
She's got her ways. Eden shook off the thought and stepped a bit farther from her.
Noticing, Fran muttered softly, “...Why're you distancing yourself?”
“Nah, just imagining a weird smell that wasn't there before.”
“...?”
The barbarian who bathed daily scorned the paladin who probably couldn't remember her last wash. Yet medieval folk thought paladins cleaner than barbarians. Dirty racists.
Then, Fran—who'd been walking straight—suddenly veered into the brush.
Eden yelled to stop her. “That's not the path. Where you going?”
He got lost often enough, but not to ignore an actual road.
But Fran was nonchalant. “Villager mentioned a huge beast by the pond earlier.”
“So.”
“As a servant of the Sun, I can't ignore their plight.”
“...So.”
“It's on the way anyway, so might as well handle it.”
Eden was speechless. He glared at her back in annoyance, but Fran marched ahead without looking back.
In the end, Eden yielded this time. He wasn't against helping people (quests) anyway.
Sensing him follow, Fran smirked in surprise.
Eden pondered deeply.
Five bears. Goblins—too many to count. One troll. Beggars camping in the woods (chased off).
By foot, it should've been a few days' trip at most. Yet he and Neb hadn't even glimpsed Mordelan.
He called out to the walking Fran. “Hey.”
She ignored him, heading toward yet another village ahead. She'd figured out he'd complain but follow anyway.
“Hey.”
This time, Eden wouldn't let it slide. It had been days of solving every village's problems in the area.
At this rate, rumors of the devout paladin, her barbarian squire (+beautiful woman), would spread. Or already had.
Fran responded to his voice with her own excuse. “This is the last village anyway. Nowhere else to go even if we wanted.”
...Already? Eden was dumbfounded.
'We've solved every village issue—how ya gonna dismount now?' He could almost hear a cheeky voice.
“This is really the last one.”
“Got it.”
“I swear on the Sun God's name.”
“...I-I'll try.”
“......”
“...Swear on my name.”
If we were actual 'evil god followers,' what then? How's she even alive? Eden couldn't fathom her behavior.
He sighed at the sight of yet another village through the trees. For real. This was the last one.
“Heard there's ruins nearby.”
“B-But.”
“Oh, what a dire situation. Guess we'll have to step in and help.”
Eden swiftly switched to sarcasm mode.