Chapter 27: I have no say in this wave

The Paladin’s voice echoed through the alley, stirring a sense of familiarity in Ina.

“Are you the Paladin from the city gate yesterday?”

If she recalled correctly, this voice belonged to the one who’d stopped them at Bazerolle’s entrance.

“It’s me.”

The confirmation made Ina step back, her eyes narrowing with suspicion.
“If you recognize me… did the Borus Empire’s branch church send you to drag me back? I’m not going!”

“Capture… huh?”

“Huh?”

Ina had assumed the Borus church tracked her down and enlisted Barlia’s branch to retrieve her.

But the doubt in the Paladin’s voice made her realize they might not know she’d slipped out.

Oh no, did I just expose myself?

Silence fell again.

“You snuck out?!”

“No, no, no! I’m here on a commission to investigate Bazerolle’s sewers!”

Panicking, Ina blurted out the Adventurer’s Guild mission as a cover.

Tiani had commissioned them to probe the underground waterways, and they were in Bazerolle.
The order—arriving first, then taking the job—was a minor detail.

No issue there, right?

“…You’re really here for the sewers?”

“Uh, yeah?”

The Paladin, still hidden in armor, grew animated, stepping closer.
“Then you must be from the main Church, right? How else would Borus’s branch, so far away, know what’s happening here?”

“Uh… yeah, the main Church sent me.”

Ina nodded, but a strange feeling crept up.

This Paladin, towering over her, seemed oddly familiar in voice and mannerisms.

“Wait, who are you?”

Ina was certain they meant no harm, but their identity remained a mystery.

“Oh, my apologies.”

Her wariness prompted the Paladin to remove their helmet.

Golden curls spilled out, cascading over their shoulders.
Clear blue eyes met Ina’s with a bright, noble gaze, like a highborn lady.

Even without makeup, her beauty rivaled dolled-up aristocrats.
No one would peg her as a Paladin at first glance.

“Uh…?”

Ina blinked, surprised.
Female Paladins were rare—most women in the Church were nuns or healers.

This face felt familiar, like someone she’d met years ago during her Barlia visit.
Back then, the girl was younger, less refined.

“You’re… Lorena?”

“You remember me?”

Lorena’s eyes widened.
A lofty Saint like Ina recalling someone she’d met once?

“Yeah, you were an apprentice Paladin when I visited, right?”

Ina stepped closer, inspecting Lorena with a nod.
“You’ve grown into quite a beauty.”

“Ahem, don’t tease me, Lady Ina…”
Lorena cleared her throat, flustered.
“I came to ask for your help.”

“Just call me Ina.”

Ina waved off the formality—it made her squirm.
“What do you need?”

“I want to investigate the sewers with you.”

Lorena’s request didn’t surprise Ina; she’d half-expected it.

“The branch church is hiding something, isn’t it? Even you Paladins are in the dark?”

“You catch on quick.”

Lorena nodded, clearing her throat to explain.
“A few days ago, several priests vanished from our branch. Rumor was they went to check the sewers’ monsters.”

“Then Bishop Barov sealed all sewer entrances near the church, claiming it was to protect locals.”

“But during a patrol, I saw people dressed as believers. They spoke to Paladins guarding an entrance and went inside.”

“Days later, passing an open drain, I found clothing scraps—white fabric, like our believers’ robes.”

“I asked around, but everyone dodged my questions. They even reassigned me to the city gate to screen for non-humans—especially vampires.”

Without her helmet, Lorena’s voice was clear, feminine, but heavy with unease.
“And Bishop Barov’s been off lately. If I had to describe it… he seems…”

“Crazed?”

Ina finished when Lorena hesitated.

“Yes, exactly… Wait, how’d you know?”

“Guess.”

Ina kept it vague.

Years ago, meeting Barov, she’d seen ambition burning in his eyes.
To most, he was a mild-mannered young bishop, but she saw more.

He reminded her of Damus—same vibe.

“Speaking of… do you know Damus?”

“Who?”

Lorena shook her head, genuinely clueless.

“Never mind, just a random thought.”

Ina brushed it off.
“Anyway, I’m investigating the sewers with a companion. I’m more her assistant.”

“A companion? The girl with you?”

Lorena vaguely recalled Cynthia but frowned.
“She seems ordinary. You’re assisting her?”

“Ordinary…”

Ina’s mouth twitched.
This “ordinary” girl had just torn off a near-A-rank adventurer’s arm like it was nothing.

If that was ordinary, no one was exceptional.

She sighed, unsure how to explain.
“If you want to join, you need her okay. If she says no, I can’t bring you.”

“Let’s go meet her then.”