Published at 2nd of December 2023 8:19 am

Chapter 352

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Paladin.

The moment the word "paladin" reached Yareli's ears, a visible shock registered across her features.

This reaction was entirely expected.

While wizards and warlocks stood at opposing ends of the spectrum, the disparity between paladins and warlocks was even more profound.

Hence, it came as quite a surprise to learn that Oliver was acquainted with a paladin and intended to pay a visit to the orphanage where this paladin had spent their formative years.

"Please don't misunderstand. I have no ill intentions for visiting."

"Oh… I'm sorry."

Sensing that her emotions had been discerned, Yareli responded awkwardly, a tinge of shame coloring her expression. For a moment, she had harbored doubts about Oliver's intentions.

Surprisingly, instead of taking offense, Oliver offered an apology. "I'm sorry for seeing your emotions. It's been a habit since my time at the orphanage, I look into it unconsciously."

This was true. Young Oliver, back when he was weaker and less socially adept than he was now, had no choice but to constantly gauge people's emotions as a means of survival, either to steer clear of perilous situations or to seek forgiveness.

"In any case," Oliver continued, "I plan to visit Ark Orphanage because it's where the Paladin grew up. I want to see the place where the Paladin was raised with my own eyes."

"Oh, I see… If it's not too rude to ask, how did you come to know the Paladin?" Yareli inquired cautiously, her curiosity apparent.

The notion of a warlock and a Paladin forming a friendship was almost inconceivable.

Oliver guided the car gently as he answered, "The story will get long if I explain, but I first met the Paladin when the Paladin came to subjugate the family I was affiliated with."

"Is this before you met Archiver?" Yareli probed.

"Yes," Oliver replied, recalling the narrative he had prepared in collaboration with Merlin.

"Anyway, the organization I was a part of fought against the Paladin and the Paladin’s team, and eventually, we subdued them."

"That's incredible… Paladins and warlocks are a terrible match."

Yareli's assessment was accurate. The matchup between Paladins and warlocks was so unfavorable that a slight difference in skill level was usually insufficient to tip the scales. Oliver knew this from personal experience.

He had only emerged victorious on that occasion because he happened to possess a Pilgaret infused with beautiful light.

"I was lucky. Really… After subduing the Paladin and the Paladin’s companions, I didn't kill them but took them prisoner. We negotiated with the Parter church England branch upon the advice of our client."

"So, the negotiations were successful."

"Yes. Our client was very skilled. While the negotiations were going on, I had a chance to talk to the Paladin."

Yareli fixed her gaze on Oliver, intrigued by the prospect of a warlock conversing with a Paladin. It was a peculiar and captivating scenario.

"… What did you talk about?" she inquired.

"I asked why the Paladin hates warlocks, and why the Paladin chose to become a Paladin."

Oliver spoke with an innocence reminiscent of a child questioning why the sky was blue or why the ocean was vast—a question both pure and perplexing.

Yareli's emotions took on a peculiar hue as she inquired, "What answer did you get?"

Oliver replied, "Nothing memorable, but I heard some interesting things."

"Like what?"

"The Paladin said I was broken."

"Broken?"

"Yes. The Paladin abruptly asked if I ever felt sad or angry… It was a pretty interesting question. I had never seriously considered whether I had been sad or angry."

"Have you never been sad or angry?"

"Not really. The orphanage, the mines, the family, everything was reasonably fine. I didn’t know any other world… Of course, later I mentioned a time I was sad, and the Paladin said that I was broken. And the Paladin advised me to stop what I'm doing, seek forgiveness, atone for my sins, and learn how to live as a person. The Paladin said they would help."

"What help?"

"I don't know, I refused. It was indeed an attractive offer, but I had made a prior commitment. Isn't it right to keep your first promise?"

Oliver spoke with a disarming plainness and politeness, leaving Yareli feeling an even more inscrutable sense of peculiarity.

It was an oddity that diverged from the norm. Strangely, it wasn't just strange; there was also a tinge of pity in the mix.

A paradoxical blend of wanting to distance oneself from the strangeness while also being drawn closer out of sympathy.

"The conversation ended there. After that, the negotiation went well and we parted ways. Time passed, and then I met Elder."

Oliver shared a truth with certain omissions.

"So, didn't you meet the Paladin after that?"

"No. After being taken in by Elder, I met the Paladin again while working as a solver on a mission in Landa."

Oliver deftly wove a tale, ensuring it aligned with Merlin's narrative. He did it so skillfully that he couldn't help but be proud of himself.

"What was the occasion?"

"We met during the clean-up of a contaminated zone. There was a bit of a commotion… The Paladin recognized me."

"You must have been surprised."

"Yes, I was surprised. But on the other hand, I was also pleased. The Paladin gave me good advice. The Paladin told me to go out into the world and meet people."

"… And how have you been since?"

"We occasionally met and talked in a secluded church. We'd ask how each other is doing, talk about this and that… Ah, I also received a scripture as a gift."

"A scripture?"

"Yes. The Paladin told me to read it. I don't know what the intention was, but I read it out of curiosity."

"And how was it, reading the scripture?"

Yareli's curiosity now held a different quality, shining brightly in her eyes.

Until this point, her questions had carried a certain purpose, but now, it was pure curiosity and wonder.

It had transitioned from a task to a personal fascination.

In any case, Oliver responded earnestly, "At first, I thought it was a strange book. It interpreted stories of figures to present some guidelines. The problem was that it felt a bit unnatural."

"In what way?"

"Well, interpretations can vary from person to person, but this book prescribes them as the right answers. That felt strange."

"That's strange?"

"Personally, yes. A book should broaden one's thinking and provide knowledge, but this text didn't fully serve that function. What's more, when it did give answers, it felt inconsistent. But I still read the entire text."

"Why? It seemed hard to read."

"I had the time, and although it was difficult, there were interesting stories. More importantly, reading it felt like a way to keep the conversation going with the Paladin."

"You seemed to like the Paladin."

"Yes, she gave me good advice, and I wanted to talk more with her. She was also quite beautiful."

Oliver reminisced about the exquisite beautiful light that she had exuded during their initial confrontation. It was undeniably beautiful.

"…Was the Paladin a woman?" Yareli inquired.

Oliver contemplated this for a moment. "Uh… Yes, she is a woman. Why do you ask?"

"Oh, nothing… Just wondering." Yareli replied, her emotions betraying her confusion.

It appeared that Joanna being a woman had come as a surprise to her.

‘Is a female Paladin rare?'

Fortunately, Yareli swiftly regained her composure and continued the conversation, asking how he had spent his time with the Paladin.

"We shared ice cream in the park and talked. About how we're doing and about the scripture. I found out then that she was an orphan. It was quite interesting. An orphan becoming a Paladin."

"… It seems like the Paladin took a liking to you."

"Is that so?"

"Yes, since she revealed her past to you… that's not something one would do with someone they dislike."

"Oh… I guess you have a point?"

Yareli tilted her head in response to Oliver's suddenly reserved tone.

"Do you still meet each other?"

"No, we can't meet now. She's been transferred to another place."

"Transferred?"

"Yes, to First Step on the new continent."

"That's quite surprising. It's not common for Paladins to be transferred like that."

"Probably… because of me."

"Because of you? … Did the church find out that you were meeting her?" Yareli asked, her suspicion evident.

If word had reached the Order about a personal meeting between a Paladin and a warlock, the consequences could be more severe than just a change in assignment… Oliver would also find himself in a precarious situation.

Oliver shook his head. "No. It's a bit long to explain, but that person proposed something to the higher-ups because of me, and that's why she was transferred."

At that moment, Yareli sensed something amiss. "Is it related to the conversation you had with Carl, involving boy named Colin?"

"Yes."

As Oliver responded, he proceeded to recount the story of how he had been involved in the Mattel incident, sought Joanna's assistance, and was subsequently turned down.

***

Oliver continued his narrative, recounting the events surrounding Rosbane's abduction and how he had consulted with others before seeking Joanna's assistance.

"…although I was rejected," he added.

After his plea for help had been declined, Oliver went on to describe his unsuccessful attempt to sleep, his impromptu solo mission to rescue Rosbane, and the unplanned confession he had received from a boy named Colin. His storytelling struck a balance, not too long yet not too brief.

Having absorbed the entire explanation, Yareli lapsed into silence. Her emotions were a complex blend of shock, doubt, admiration, sadness, empathy, and regret.

Oliver had sensed some of this before, but Yareli seemed to have limited knowledge about this aspect of Wizards. Maybe he had assumed that all wizards were involved in human experimentation, perhaps harboring a prejudice.

Finally, Yareli found her voice, "I… don't really know what to say."

Yareli conveyed a sense of guilt, even though she had not been directly involved. It seemed as though she was tied to the fence called Magic Tower.

"No, you don't have to feel uncomfortable. I didn't say all this to blame you or make you uncomfortable. Thanks to your intervention, things have somewhat resolved themselves."

"…"

"Anyway, I haven't met with the Paladin since that incident. I guess… I lost interest."

"Then why have you regained interest now?"

"After the incident at Mattel, I came into contact with the Church again. The partner of the Paladin told me a story about her… saying she proposed an investigation into human experimentation to the higher-ups and was reassigned to the new continent. It seems to be because of me."

Oliver recalled the moment he had met Paladin Elton and heard that story.

At that time, he had felt something indescribable.

It was after hearing about Joanna's efforts, even if belated.

The only clear thought that crossed his mind was a craving for ice cream.

"So that's why I am visiting the orphanage. Once I visit… I don't know what will happen, but I want to go and see."

Oliver rambled, and Yareli nodded silently, appearing hesitant, as if she had something to say.

Observing her emotions, Oliver inquired, "Is there something you'd like to say?"

"…May I?"

"Yes, you may speak."

"Why did you take a confession from the boy named Collin?" Yareli asked with caution, her curiosity shining through devoid of malice or hidden motives.

After a moment of contemplation, Oliver replied, "I just felt it was the right thing to do."

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