Chapter 59 - A Different World

If there was an exact moment when I realized that the laws of my previous world didn’t apply to the world I was in now, this was it. How could they just watch as a kid was being beaten to death? 

“…Paladin Claud greets the First Light of the World,” Claud began reciting the greeting on his knees. His teeth were gritted in anger, and I could tell he hadn’t reflected on his actions at all. 

Maybe that’s why I was still unsatisfied, even though he was kneeling. “Get up, Kais,” I looked at Ludwig, who helped the boy up. 

I didn’t know if they were used to seeing people get beat up, but no one said anything. My heart ached and I felt angry. As soon as they made eye contact with me, they got down on their knees and bowed, even though none of them had helped Kais. ‘I guess they didn’t want to get tangled up in this mess. Nothing good will happen if they mess with a paladin.’ 

I understood how they felt and why they didn’t do anything, but my heart still ached. I clenched my fists and bit my lips. I looked down at the paladin kneeling before me. And then I smiled. 

“Ludwig, are all paladins like this? Are they all so rude?” 

“…I don’t believe so.”

“So what’s wrong with this one?” 

“Um…” Ludwig glanced at Claud. He gestured for Claud to speak, and the latter suppressed his emotions as he opened his mouth, “I apologize, Saintess. I made a mistake.”  

“I’m glad you realize that. So why did you hit him?” 

Claud gazed from me to Kais. He didn’t seem to be reflecting at all. He was glaring at Kais as if he would kill him the next time they met, “That bastard didn’t know his place and ignored me. So I went for him without thinking.” 

“Ah,” I was smiling, but my blood ran cold. “So he dared to cross you?” Did he beat up a child for such a minor reason? And because he wouldn’t get into trouble for it? ‘Oh, that’s right. We’re in Rahel.’ But that didn’t mean I was going to let this slide.

Unable to hold myself back any longer, I hit Claud in the head with Ludwig’s sword, “Oh no, my hand did that automatically. I was wondering what was going on in your head.” 

Claud looked at me in shock. “Are you going to hit me now?” I asked, looking straight into his eyes.

“Excuse me?” He looked up at me, clutching his head. Then he reddened when he realized what I was getting at. “How could you look at me like that?” 

‘What do you mean? I’m looking at you like the child abuser that you are.’ I was so stunned that I hit him again. Then I felt like it wasn’t enough, so I hit him again. He stared at me in astonishment as I kept hitting him.

“What?” I asked innocently. If he was so upset, he could simply hit me back.

“Saintess, why are you doing this to me?” 

“Are you really asking me this right now? You really don’t know?” 

“You’re being mean.”

“I’m being mean?” I widened my eyes and Claud fell silent in response. 

I knew these kinds of people well: they bowed their heads only because I was in a higher position, but if I showed even a moment of weakness, they would try to take me down. ‘Priscilla had that happen to her.’ Priscilla believed in everyone, so she was betrayed and hurt by the villain. 

If I was in her position, I wouldn’t have trusted anyone. But like a fool, she kept giving people chances again and again. 

“You committed a great sin,” I berated him coldly.

“What sin have I committed by punishing a commoner?” he asked. A commoner—I knew he would be thinking that. I grinned widely while suppressing my anger. 

“Have you forgotten where we are? Or do you paladins of Vios simply not care?” 

At last, realizing that he was in a different empire, Claud gritted his teeth. “Thanks to your actions, the reputation of Vios has been ruined. What will you do if the citizens of Rahel believe that all paladins are like you?” I asked him.

I walked over and put my hand on Claud’s shoulder. I saw the holy blessing flow into my fingertips. It was easy enough to take back the blessing of a paladin. 

“…!” Claud finally realized the consequences of his actions. He looked at me in shock. 

“Go back. I don’t need a paladin like you.” 

“Saint… Saintess, you…” In a moment of panic, Claud grabbed my foot. I shook him off and made sure he understood, “Get lost.” Claud fell, looking like he had lost everything. 

After getting rid of Claud, I glanced around. There were many spectators, although I didn’t know if they were watching the fight or watching me. They were all the same. 

“In a week, all the survivors here will be interviewed. Decide on what you’re good at and how you can survive here,” I announced. I had saved them, but I didn’t plan on being responsible for all of them. 

“If you want to leave, you may go ahead. But if you want to stay, you have to remember one thing,”—I looked down at Kais—“Remember why I saved you.” 

It was a selfish thing to say, but I honestly didn’t care if they died by Miltiades’s hand. I only needed to care for Kais and Harel. The reason I saved them… was because it was the right thing to do.  

I saved ‘people’ that day. It was their choice to either become human or lose out. 

“Let’s go, Ludwig.”

“Yes, Saintess.” 

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