I Became a Ruined Character in a Dark Fantasy-Chapter 644

Every one of their white surcoats bore a golden circle. They didn’t look like Purifiers, but they were clearly paladins or crusaders belonging to the Church.

"They're from the Great Church," the middle-aged priest whispered, confirming the guess.

Looking up at Ian, who was mounted on Moro, he quickly added, "Don’t worry. We will assist you."

Instead of answering, Ian hopped down from the saddle. Reins in one hand, he patted Moro's flank and started walking.

Clank— Clank—

His gaze remained fixed on the approaching knights. They were all fully armored and accompanied by hooded figures who appeared to be squires.

I figured news of me would have reached the capital by now, but to think they were waiting here.

Ian walked at an unhurried pace.

It wasn’t difficult to guess how they had known to wait. The Great Church surely knew Lucia had gone missing with him. Whether she was dead or alive, they must have assumed Ian would eventually stop by the temple.

Or perhaps they had dispatched people like this to every point Ian was expected to pass through. In fact, that seemed the more reasonable assumption.

As Ian approached, Mev, who was watching the knights with a mix of tension and wariness, whispered, "Ian."

Ian smiled slightly to reassure her and handed her the reins. "Stay back."

Frowning slightly, Mev took the reins without argument. Ian nodded to the priest beside her and walked past them.

Clank...

Just then, the lead knight stopped. The other knights spread out to block the road, and the squires lined up diagonally behind them to cover any gaps. There were ten in total.

"Greetings. Agent of the Saint."

Ian halted before the gate as the knight in the center stepped forward. The knights and squires on either side bowed sharply.

The knight, meeting Ian’s gaze, continued in a formal but imposing tone, "I am Anton Kremer, paladin of the Great Church that serves the Radiant Goddess."

"A pleasure, Sir Anton." Staring at the long eye slit in the middle of his visor, Ian curled his lip slightly. "Since you seem to know who I am, I'll skip the introduction."

"Understood, Agent of the Saint," Anton replied in a humorless voice and immediately added, "We have been waiting for you by order of the Great Church."

"On what business?"

"We are ordered to escort the Agent of the Saint to the Papal Territory. Here is the order, stamped with His Holiness's seal." He lifted his right hand slightly to the side.

Ian shifted his gaze to the knight standing just behind Anton’s right shoulder. The man held a neatly pressed parchment in both hands, its red wax seal stamped with the Church’s emblem.

"I'll confirm the Imperial order first," Ian said immediately.

The knight, who had been about to step forward, froze.

"I’ll look at the Great Church’s document afterward," added Ian.

"You would refuse to review a decree bearing His Holiness’s seal?" Anton lowered his raised arm and questioned him, his voice edged with displeasure.

"I am currently carrying out His Majesty the Emperor’s orders. You should know nothing takes precedence over an Imperial command," Ian replied without even blinking.

Ian stared into the eyes beyond the visor for a moment before adding, "Judging by your reaction, I suppose you received nothing from the royal family."

"That is correct," Anton replied in a much more subdued voice.

Ian tilted his head to the side. "Then leave the decree and return. I'll read it after I fulfill the Imperial command. Of course, after arriving at the capital, I will stop by the Imperial Palace first."

Anton stayed silent for a moment. His expression was hidden, but it was clear he’d been caught off guard. He had no grounds to argue back, and he probably hadn’t expected Ian to be this uncooperative.

Unfortunately for them, I’m only the Agent of the Saint, not the Saint.

Ian waited leisurely for an answer, thinking of a point they wouldn't have even considered. Even if he was right, they didn't seem likely to back down easily.

"If that is the case... we will accompany you, Agent of the Saint," Anton finally said, seemingly having recovered from his surprise.

He didn't take his eyes off Ian. "It is our duty to return with the Agent of the Saint."

"Well, I don't think that will work either. I plan to go to the snowfields beyond the Northern Wall soon. You may not know, but unauthorized outsiders cannot set foot in the land of the barbarians."

"I am aware that the Agent of the Saint rules over the barbarians of the snowfields," Anton said with a frown.

The knights lined up on either side were also frowning. It was clear they had no intention of serving Ian.

"That is true. But I have no authority to overturn the rules Karha established. That would be no different from blasphemy."

It was technically possible for guests to accompany him, but he certainly couldn't call them guests. Ian finished his words in the same unhurried tone and gave another small tilt of his head.

"So leave the decree and return, Sir Anton."

Of course, Anton and the other knights still didn't move.

"Please provide an alternative, Agent of the Saint," Anton said in a tone that was stubborn beyond measure.

"This is getting... unpleasant."

Ian finally wiped the smile off his face.

"Unless you suspect I won't follow His Holiness's orders, there's no reason to act like this," Ian said flatly.

Anton said nothing, meeting Ian’s gaze in tense silence, his eyes narrowing within the visor’s opening.

Is it pride?

Perhaps there was a reward waiting for Anton for bringing Ian back. Or maybe he was working for the Round Table. Whatever the case, it was obvious he wasn’t willing to step aside.

"Of course, we do not think that. But if we return alone like this, it will become far more difficult for you to quell the suspicions spreading within the Great Church." Anton finally said in an even lower voice.

"Suspicions?" Ian asked, one eye twitching.

Anton replied without hesitation. "Was it not the great Platinum Dragon that destroyed the Black Wall alone? If you don’t clarify quickly that it wasn’t an act driven by personal sentiment, the Great One’s honor will be stained."

It was clear they didn’t know the Platinum Dragon had summoned Ian. Understandable; Lucia wouldn’t have breathed a word of it.

"To dare speak of the Platinum Dragon’s honor in front of me."

Ian didn’t bother to hide his displeasure. Staring at Anton with deep, dark eyes, he spat out, "No judgment has been passed on it yet. To insult the Saint of the Church, you must not value your life."

The words alone were enough to chill the air around them.

Anton’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Clank...

A low metallic sound came from behind Ian. Even without looking back, Ian knew it was the sound of Mev lowering her visor.

Anton’s eyes flickered with a faint golden sheen as Ian said, "Say one more word and I will regard it as blasphemy. This is your final warning. Leave the document and go."

Behind the visor, Anton's eyes narrowed. The knights on either side of him also clenched their fists.

A frozen silence spread across the area.

Ian rather hoped they would draw their swords. It wasn't just because they had shown hostility toward the Platinum Dragon. This was the Temple of the Brazier, and even paladins from the Great Church wouldn’t be spared if they dared to draw a weapon in the Blazing Goddess’s domain.

"I can no longer stand by and watch."

However, before that could happen, a woman's voice rang out from behind the knights. As Anton's eyes twitched, the squires standing behind stepped aside.

"There is nothing unreasonable in the Agent of the Saint's words. To think you continue to block the path and act so stubbornly."

As the knights turned to look back, several figures emerged from the temple.

A woman with long golden hair cascading over her priestly robes walked at their front, her red eyes sharp and unwavering. It was Cherwyn Astrea, the current Saintess of the Brazier and the high priestess of the temple.

Lucia followed right behind her, wearing the Mask of the Forest Sentinel pressed firmly over her face. Her exposed gaze was icy. The priests who walked out behind her also lined up on either side with grim faces.

Is all this really necessary?

Cherwyn stopped and said, "Answer me. Were you planning to use force in front of the Blazing Goddess's sacred fire, Sir?"

"Of course... not," Anton replied. His voice was tight and restrained, as if he were gritting his teeth. "We only wished to fulfill our duty to the fullest. Surely you do not expect us to withdraw without even opening a decree bearing His Holiness’s seal."

Cherwyn glanced at Ian past them, then turned her gaze back nonchalantly and said, "Very well. I will guarantee it. The temple’s next Saintess will keep the Great Church’s document. When the appropriate time comes, it will be delivered to the Agent of the Saint in the presence of witnesses. With that, you may consider your duty fulfilled."

Instead of answering, Anton clenched his fist as if to crush it.

Watching him, Cherwyn added in a cold, flat tone, "You won't say my promise is insufficient, will you?"

"Everything you’ve said will be reported to the Great Church, High Priestess. You understand that, I assume?"

"I should be asking you. Every word that leaves your mouth right now may be taken as the Great Church’s official stance."

Anton let out a low, suppressed sound. His gauntleted fist trembled faintly.

Cherwyn ignored him entirely and turned to look at Lucia. "Have the document handed over."

Lucia stepped forward at once. When Anton looked back, the knight holding the parchment walked forward to meet her. Lucia politely received the parchment with both hands.

"Prepare to leave immediately. You caused a disturbance in the temple courtyard and showed discourtesy to a great Saint and benefactor of the Church."

Cherwyn looked over the assembled knights, then toward one of the priests standing behind her.

"You and your men will be exiled from the temple grounds, and you will be forbidden from visiting for the next ten years. Of course, every word exchanged here today will be recorded and reported to the royal family and the Great Church."

The priest who received her gaze strode forward, looking back at the knights with a grim face.

Anton turned his gaze back to Ian. His cold eyes lingered for only a moment before he spoke. "... I will wait for the day we meet again at the Great Church, Agent of the Saint."

His voice was low, almost like a warning.

Ian only smiled. "I’ll be counting the days."

After all, he had a debt to repay as well.