Episode 605
The Paladin.

They possessed no special powers like magic, but their souls were pure and steadfast, chosen to uphold order.

Most of them resided in temples, guarding those sacred places. To ordinary people, they were puzzling figures—not as skilled in combat as magic swordsmen, nor as devoted to prayer as priests.

Yet those who served the gods understood the paladins’ true purpose. If anyone within the divine order rebelled, only a paladin could bring them to justice.

“Ahhh! Over there!”

“It’s appeared! I don’t know what it is, but it’s back again!”

“Is that a stag? The protector of Purpato?”

“Damn it, don’t push! Hold the line!”

When the massive violet stag emerged, Eirin’s heart pounded wildly. It was a resonance she had never felt before—a joyous cry rising from deep within her soul.

While the Bariel soldiers retreated in fear, Eirin stepped forward as if entranced, pushing through the crowd like she was cutting through water.

—Eirin.

A warm voice whispered in her ear.

Unconsciously, she grasped her left shoulder. The cross-shaped scar from the great demon’s attack burned fiercely, as if aflame.

Without realizing it, she broke formation and crossed the square. Though sudden, no one stopped her given the chaos.

—Eirin.

Who was calling her? The voice was so familiar.

She ran toward it and soon spotted a man she knew well—the silver-haired figure who had followed her through Bariel’s back alleys.

For a moment, she wondered why he was here. Then instinctively, she knew.

‘It’s the Emperor.’

And the one who betrayed the gods was trying to kill him.

Without hesitation, Eirin drew her sword. Soldiers guarding the Emperor tried to block her, but the sacred aura she radiated stopped them in their tracks.

She brushed past them and leapt before the Emperor.

Swish!

Her sword was an ordinary blade issued to Bariel’s soldiers. Yet as she faced the threat to the Emperor, a chill ran down her spine.

This was what it meant to cut through light. To slice through the wind. To answer the call of the divine.

“…You are—”

Jin muttered, and Eirin turned.

The cross she had carved into her shoulder glowed, and her thick brown hair whipped wildly in the wind. She didn’t realize it, but in that moment, she looked like a lion reigning over the plains.

“…Forgive me.”

Eirin bowed to the Emperor but did not lower her sword. Her heart burned fiercely—a glorious pain that would not end until the enemy was vanquished.

“Eirin, you shall guard His Majesty the Emperor!”

Everyone except Ian was stunned by Eirin’s sudden appearance. Who was she, to appear out of nowhere and fend off the protector’s attack? And how did Ian know her?

Questions piled up, but the next assault from the stag forced them to hold their tongues.

Swish!

“It’s coming!”

“Raise the shields!”

“Ahh! They’re breaking already, damn it!”

“Keep them up, no matter what!”

Though temporary, the mages’ shields slowed the stag’s assault just enough.

While Ian charged at the stag, Eirin stood before the Emperor, parrying blow after blow. Each swing of her sword sent her brown hair flying with fierce energy.

Whoosh.

Jin watched her silently, mesmerized. Though small and slender, her movements were those of a swift warrior. She radiated a warmth far greater than the figure he had seen in his dreams.

Ziiing! Ziiing!

“Huolu.”

Ian’s magic, which had paused briefly, flared again. Flames engulfed him, burning away the leaves that had entangled him.

His target: the stag’s golden eyes.

Ian lunged forward, punching through the beast’s head as fire erupted.

Swish!

—!

A single strike. The stag staggered without a cry and collapsed.

The earth trembled with a mighty roar. Like the legends inscribed on the stone tablets, violet fur began to fall—a sign of death.

Crackle! Crackle!

The burning trees turned to ash, scattering into the air. The sky cleared to blue once more, but the city was filled with choking smoke.

The Purpato people rushed out, eyes wide with disbelief. Everything… was burning.

“My god, the city…”

“Is that really Purpato’s protector?”

“The protector is dead. It’s dead…”

“Don’t just stand there—fetch water!”

“No, no…”

“Focus! It’s okay! We have to protect what’s left!”

They hurried to douse the flames, while Bariel soldiers watched awkwardly. Though they wanted to help, they couldn’t act without orders.

“…Organize the situation.”

Jin’s quiet command was not just for the stag. The chaos demanded order first.

First—

“Where are you going?”

Eirin, about to return to formation, paused. Mages and magic swordsmen alike watched her with curious eyes.

‘…This is bad.’

Embarrassment washed over her as the heat of battle faded. She had broken formation without permission—a grave offense.

“…Yes?”

“Eirin?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Jin frowned, running a hand through his hair.

She had appeared in his dreams countless times in place of Roberside, and now she stood before him with sword drawn, fending off attacks even the mages couldn’t withstand. How was this possible? Who was she, really?

His sigh deepened, and the others fell silent, exchanging glances.

‘Why the sigh? Did we fail to protect the Emperor?’

‘What can we do if it’s impossible?’

‘I don’t know. But it’s our job to make the impossible possible.’

Thud.

At that moment, Ian landed lightly, drawing everyone’s attention. They brightened at his arrival.

“Your Majesty, my apologies. I will order the mages to extinguish the fires and handle the bodies. Akorella.”

“Yes! Ian! Akorella is standing by!”

“Go and clear the stag’s remains—”

“Awesome! Thanks! I’ll take care of it!”

“Akorella! Me too! Let’s get some meat!”

“Is your sword stuck in its head? Beric, eat something else. That’s for research.”

“Ugh, why the tone?”

“Other mages, focus on fire suppression.”

“Got it! Leave it to us!”

With that, the mages hurried off.

Meanwhile, Jin, watching Eirin closely, asked Ian.

“Sir Ian, did you know her name?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. She was one of the soldiers who survived the great demon’s battle. I remember her.”

“She was among the elite troops from the northern region?”

Jin repeated, incredulous. All survivors had met him personally and been commended. If he had met her, he would have recognized her.

‘Ah.’

So that was it.

The woman who had treated her wounds hidden beyond the veil was Eirin. The coincidence was almost laughable, and Jin chuckled softly.

Ian studied Jin’s reaction before speaking carefully.

“My apologies, Your Majesty. I wasn’t certain enough to say anything.”

“No, no. You have no reason to apologize. I wouldn’t have spoken either. Especially during wartime.”

What were the Emperor and the Minister of Magic saying about her? “Speaking”? About what? Eirin lowered her head, listening intently.

“Raise your head.”

Ian’s command made her straighten up quickly.

The brave warrior she had been moments ago was gone, replaced by a soldier who looked uneasy. Then again, who could be comfortable before the Emperor and the Minister of Magic?

“As a paladin, I imagine you faced opposition at the temple. Yet you enlisted as a regular soldier. What does that mean?”

Ian asked, assuming she knew her own identity. But she smiled awkwardly and shook her head.

“I’m sorry. I cannot explain what happened earlier. The scar on my shoulder burned fiercely, and someone called my name kindly in my ear. I had no purpose other than to punish the betrayer of the gods. I will not excuse breaking formation.”

Ian and Jin exchanged glances at her unexpected answer. It seemed she didn’t even know what a paladin was.

“……”

The three fell silent, stealing glances at one another.

From Jin’s perspective, she had appeared in his dreams in place of Roberside, met him in the capital, and was someone he had sought for a long time. But he couldn’t bring himself to say that outright.

Eirin, on the other hand, had nothing to say because she simply didn’t know. She could only guess.

‘…Paladin? Could it be she’s trying to slip away to the rear?’

Being called by the gods is considered an honor, but he didn’t want to be reassigned to the rear lines because of it. He wanted to be at the forefront, fighting for Bariel.

“This is awkward,” Ian thought.

He, too, couldn’t easily intervene in the matter between Jin and Eirin. What could a third party do when it came to matters of fate?

After a long silence, Ian cleared his throat and gave Jin a subtle nod.

“Your Majesty, I don’t believe deserting the formation is a problem here. The discovery of a paladin will surely boost the morale of the troops. More importantly, this is the very person who protected Your Majesty’s front. It would be fitting to grant a generous reward.”

“Ah, yes. That’s right. Is there anything you desire?”

“Anything, Your Majesty?”

“Whatever it may be.”

Eirin hesitated for a moment, then shook her head.

“Nothing.”

“Nothing at all?”

“Yes. Protecting Your Majesty as a soldier of Bariel is my duty, and honestly, I don’t wish for anything. If I must say, I would only ask that you reconsider any reassignment. I want to keep fighting with my current unit.”

Jin’s lips parted slightly, but no words came out. After a moment, he gestured as if granting permission.

“…Very well. Do as you wish.”

“Thank you. Then, I’ll take my leave.”

“May I go now?” Eirin glanced around nervously, then, upon Tweller’s nod, bowed respectfully and withdrew.

Watching her hurried, innocent retreat, Jin felt a strange mix of emptiness and disbelief. Had he somehow built a connection with her in his dreams, alone?

“Ian, the fire’s been put out. But the deer’s corpse completely melted away—there’s nothing left to recover. What happens to the contract now?”

The mages landed nearby and reported. Ian shrugged.

“It’s probably void.”

The contract was only valid while the deer lived. Those who prayed for him might have been blessed with luck, but now that the deer was gone, it was all over.

He could only hope that, in that brief time, Filia had truly grasped some measure of fortune.