Chapter 19
Chapter 19
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: Chapter 7: Zenith Church (2)
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Ras had been out in the training grounds swinging his sword since the early dawn. As both a priest and a knight, he never skipped his daily training.
"Hoo."
He wiped his sweat and looked out at the sky, which had already brightened.
The grounds had been pitch black when he started, but several hours must have passed.
As he stepped outside, a servant waiting on the Count's orders handed him a towel.
Such service was unfamiliar to Ras as a priest, but he had incurred too great a debt to ignore the Count's consideration.
"Thank you."
"Not at all."
Ras made a quick holy sign and took the towel to wipe his sweat.
"What time is it?"
"You're not late for breakfast yet. You can wash up and head straight there."
Ras gave an awkward smile at the servant's cheerful words.
He cleared his throat a few times and headed to the bathhouse.
As expected of the Welton Count's household, renowned even among Selden Kingdom's elite, the bath was extraordinary.
He had thought the church's baths were impressive enough, but a high noble's private facilities were on another level.
When else would he have such a luxurious experience? Though guilt tugged at him as a priest amid this abundance, he decided to savor it just this once.
"Was your seat comfortable?"
"The beds at the church felt like slabs of stone, but this one's like lying on a cloud. I passed out the moment I lay down."
"You always know how to say the right thing. Haha!"
The Count laughed heartily, clearly pleased with Ras's cheeky response.
"Have some more."
As Sears offered food with a smile, Ras finished his meal in high spirits.
After breakfast, the Count's family and Ras enjoyed a brief tea time.
"So, what are your plans for today?"
"I was thinking of wandering around the city."
"I've given orders for your protection, but there's more to it than just a priest's intuition, I suppose."
"That's what I'm hoping for. Which is why... I could use a guide."
Ras didn't know Hais's layout.
He could wander aimlessly, but a guide would be far more efficient for achieving his goals.
The Count shared the sentiment. He pondered briefly, then tilted his head slightly to the side.
Ras followed the Count's gaze. There sat a young boy clutching a teacup larger than his own hands.
Noticing the eyes on him, the boy tilted his head.
"Why?"
"Jamie. Could you help your uncle out?"
"Count!"
"It's fine."
"But it could be dangerous...!"
"I said it's fine."
Ras jumped in alarm to dissuade him at the Count's words, but fell silent at the man's firm expression.
"Just show him around the city."
"Hm..."
Jamie looked at Ras.
He gazed back with a flustered face and an awkward smile.
'Dangerous.'
Ras had tried to warn the Count it might be risky.
It wasn't just about a child guiding being unsafe. An Expert-level Paladin would be with him, after all.
Yet the Count said it anyway, implying even an Expert Paladin might face peril.
It could be an overstatement, but his instincts rarely failed in such matters.
'And the Count and Paladin talked late into the night yesterday.'
He'd heard it directly from a servant. They weren't close enough for idle chat.
Unless the Count was unusually sociable—which he wasn't, from what Ras knew, as the man stuck to necessities.
Ras, in the subordinate position here, wouldn't have prolonged small talk either.
He felt uneasy about touring with the Paladin, but wanted to uncover his secrets. They might tie to the Zenith Church.
"Sure!"
Jamie nodded with a bright face.
The Welton Count stroked his son's head and said to Ras,
"He'll make a fine guide."
"Our son will show you around splendidly."
Sears too.
Ras looked at Jamie with a complicated expression.
He couldn't refuse with both the Count and his wife insisting. Besides, with him there, nothing major should happen.
"Alright then. I leave myself in the hands of our fine young master?"
Ras extended a hand with an overly playful wink.
"...Likewise."
Jamie gripped it, swallowing the nausea rising in his throat.
"This is Bellbat Street. Think of it as the biggest street in Hais."
"I remember this place. Wandered through here starving in the dead of night once."
Jamie gave him a pitiful look.
Come to think of it, where he'd first spotted this man wasn't far from Bellbat Street. He'd been lying there like a corpse.
Sensing Jamie's gaze, Ras cleared his throat with an embarrassed face.
"Show me the other spots."
"Follow me."
Jamie didn't roam Hais often, but his overwhelming memory ensured he never forgot a path once seen.
"This way to the fountain plaza. Dilante Square—Hais's central hub. Where most people gather."
"That's the Violet commercial district. No need to explain, right?"
"This leads to the Pion administrative district. Won't bore you with details here either."
"From here on, it's all farmlands. They handle Hais's annual yield. One of the kingdom's top granary regions, vital for imports and exports alike."
Ras was amazed at Jamie navigating without hesitation. Could this seven-year-old really have such stamina?
And that was just the start.
His explanations flowed smoothly, with expert-level grasp of every district.
Ras now understood why the Welton Count recommended him. Sharper than most bureaucrats.
Of course, that wasn't Jamie's true depth, unknown to Ras.
"Thanks to you, I've seen all of Hais. I remember most paths now, so I can get around alone. Truly grateful."
Ras crouched to meet Jamie's eyes as he spoke.
Jamie found it more irritating but smiled without showing it.
"I had fun too."
"Shall we head back then?"
Ras reached out as if to hold him.
Jamie didn't take his hand. He'd tagged along not just for guiding. He needed to know what they'd discussed yesterday.
"By the way. I've got a question."
"A question?"
"What did you talk about with Dad yesterday?"
Jamie asked with the most innocent eyes he could muster.
Ras's eyes widened at the sudden query.
He knew kids were curious. His church ran an orphanage; he'd dealt with plenty.
But their curiosities were usually trivial.
'Figured it'd be something like "What's a Paladin?"'
Not about his talk with the Count.
He knew Jamie was mature for his age, but this went beyond that.
He didn't know how to respond.
"The Count and I were saying how handsome you are and how you'll grow into an incredible beauty."
"Don't lie."
Jamie retorted coldly.
Ras felt wounded. He hadn't expected such contempt from a child. How mature was this kid?
Jamie inwardly tsked at him. Who did he think he was fooling with such childish lies?
"It's true! We talked about you the whole time!"
"If you don't wanna say, just say so. Even kids these days wouldn't buy that."
'And you're a kid too' nearly slipped out.
Ras scratched his cheek awkwardly.
"Sorry for lying. It's adult circumstances—I can't tell you."
Adult circumstances.
Lightning struck Jamie's mind at those words.
He'd toured all of Hais under his guidance.
To learn the city's layout.
No need to ask why.
'Something's here.'
As he pondered what, one unvisited spot came to mind.
"We missed a place."
"Huh? We did?"
"Zenith Church Hais branch. Haven't been there yet."
At "Zenith Church," light flashed in Ras's eyes.
Jamie didn't miss it.
'Not sure if it's Zenith Church-related, but this could get interesting.'
Nothing certain, but...
Jamie guided Ras to the Zenith Church.
"Big market."
"It connects from Bellbat Street. I hear even our household ingredients come from here."
It dealt in foods fit for a lord's table.
All top-quality goods.
The more he saw, the more Hais seemed unmatched.
"That's it."
Ras looked where Jamie pointed.
A pristine white building stood prominently in the distance, crafted with evident care.
Zenith's emblem adorned the most visible spot.
"Hm. Been a while for Zenith Church."
"You've been to Zenith Church before?"
"We serve different gods, but there's exchange. I had ties with them once, but not on good terms now."
Not on good terms?
The 12 Gods were powerful individually, but their unbreakable bonds were their true strength.
Even the mighty black sorcerer Diablo Volpir had fallen for failing to breach that unity.
Yet Pyro Church and Zenith Church weren't close now? To Jamie, who'd lost to them before, it made no sense.
"Why?"
"Mm... It's complicated. Just call it adult circumstances."
Damn. Stingy with words.
Jamie cursed inwardly and resolved to investigate later.
They crossed a wide boulevard.
Just past here was the Zenith Church.
Never thought he'd walk here on his own feet. Jamie shot an irritated glare at the church.
"Hey! You!"
Then, from the opposite side, a boy with a broom pointed at Jamie.
"It's been forever, huh?"
The boy approached with a beaming face.
Jamie frowned at the abruptness.
"Know him?"
"No idea."
Jamie shook his head at Ras's question.
A kid he'd never seen. Yet he acted like old friends.
Had they met before?
He rarely forgot faces, but ignored the unimportant.
Digging through memories. Scenes flashed by, halting at one.
Very late night.
'Right. The brat from the alley after making Azad and Raiza. That insolent one.'
"Hey!"
The boy, Riki, waved brightly as he approached.
And—
Clunk!
"Wha! N-No!"
A carriage wheel hit a cobblestone, tilting sharply.
Horses reared. The harness snapped, sending both crashing down.
"Whoa!"
The driver, gripping the reins, was flung onto the road as the horses fell.
The unmanned carriage veered wildly in an instant. Leaving the road, it curved at terrifying speed.
Eerie jolts echoed.
"Huh?"
Riki halted mid-run.
A black shadow loomed overhead.
The runaway carriage headed straight for where young Riki stood.
"Damn!"
Ras unleashed holy power and leaped toward Riki.
An Expert Paladin was near-superhuman.
The wide boulevard was just over 100 meters. He could cross in 3 seconds if he pushed.
But the carriage would hit Riki in under 1.
A razor-edge moment!
Space. Speed. Evasion. Binding. Alignment. Defense. Elasticity.
Chain Area
Mana chains emerge from ground, air, and sky to bind and restrain.
From the ground, midair, and sky.
Mana-forged chains burst forth everywhere.
Like living things, they wrapped the collapsing carriage at blinding speed.
Krunch—!!
The carriage shattered, debris flying everywhere.
Even so, its momentum drove it forward, straining to snap the chains.
The taut chains, imbued with elasticity, refused to break.
But halting the forward push looked tough.
Jamie gritted his teeth.
It had slowed, but Riki would still be crushed.
'Black.'
A black shadow surged overhead.
But something moved first—
"Extreme Slash!"
Extreme Slash
A precise, devastating sword strike that cleaves through obstacles.
Shwick—!
A sharp slicing sound rang in Riki's ears.
Simultaneously, a broad back shielded him.
Split!
The carriage parted in two.
Dying sunset rays leaked through the gap.
Riki felt salvation in that light.
"You okay?"
At the Paladin's question, Riki...
"Waaah!"
Burst into the tears he'd held back.