Chapter 137: The Holy Guardian’s Unholy Encounter [Part 1]

Chapter 137. The Holy Guardian’s Unholy Encounter [Part 1]

The six horses galloped along the coastal road, their hooves striking the pale stone in a steady rhythm as the afternoon sunlight spilled across the cliffs.

Six women. Six elite warriors of the Light Temple. And one mission that should have been simple enough to complete without drawing their swords.

At the front rode Vera Solis, an S-Rank Holy Guardian and one of the Temple’s most trusted protectors. Her silver armor gleamed beneath the sunlight, its surface engraved with delicate golden runes that strengthened her resistance against curses and dark magic. A white cloak flowed behind her, bearing the golden insignia of the Light Temple.

Her long ash-blonde hair was tied into a high ponytail, revealing a beautiful but stern face. Sharp blue eyes watched the road ahead, occasionally shifting toward the distant coastline. She’d fought corrupted beasts, hunted necromancers, and personally executed several dangerous heretics who’d attempted to spread forbidden rituals throughout the kingdom.

She was not someone easily frightened. Nor was she someone who enjoyed unnecessary violence. Her duty was to protect the innocent, uphold the Temple’s teachings, and eliminate threats before they could harm the kingdom.

Unfortunately, her current assignment involved someone whose very existence seemed to contradict everything she’d been taught.

Rey Valen.

One of the five heroes who had defeated the Dark Lord.

And, according to the rumors circulating throughout the Holy City, a man who had become dangerously interested in the very darkness he’d helped destroy.

The Mad Magus.

The Corrupted Hero.

The man who had supposedly begun walking down the same path as the monster he’d once fought.

Vera tightened her grip on the reins. Their orders were clear. They were to travel to Lumenford, assist with the investigation into the missing brides, and escort Rey Valen back to the Holy City.

Officially, the Light Temple had dispatched them because twelve innocent women had disappeared, and the possibility of dark magic being involved required immediate intervention.

Unofficially, their mission was considerably more complicated. They needed Rey Valen. The Temple intended to examine him using its most sacred artifact, the Holy Relic.

If the rumors were true, the relic would expose the corruption hidden within his body. And if they were false... the Temple would simply claim that the examination had been necessary to ensure the kingdom’s safety.

Vera understood the reasoning. The problem was that no one had presented any actual evidence against Rey Valen. There were accusations. Whispers. Stories from frightened soldiers and nobles who claimed the Royal Magus had changed after the final battle. But nothing substantial. Even Saintess Elia Seren, who had personally fought alongside him, had only confirmed that his behavior had become increasingly concerning.

According to the Saintess, Rey had developed an unusual fascination with forbidden magic after defeating the Dark Lord. He’d isolated himself, avoided public appearances, and spent most of his time conducting research inside his estate. The Temple considered those developments suspicious.

"Captain Vera!" A voice interrupted her thoughts.

Vera glanced sideways.

Tessa, a dark-haired Holy Knight riding beside her, gestured toward the distant cliffs. "We should reach Lumenford soon, shouldn’t we?"

"Before evening," Vera answered. "Assuming we don’t encounter any problems."

"Good. My horse’s going to collapse if we keep this pace."

"Then perhaps you should stop feeding her twice as much as the others."

Tessa frowned but said nothing.

Behind them, the remaining four women continued riding in formation. Nora, a powerful light mage specializing in barriers and purification. Rina, an experienced swordswoman whose speed had earned her a reputation among the Temple’s knights. Maeve, a holy archer capable of striking corrupted creatures from extraordinary distances. And Syl, a battle priestess whose healing magic was strong enough to restore even severely wounded soldiers.

None of them were ordinary Temple attendants.

Every woman had survived dangerous missions, and every one of them possessed enough strength to command a squad of lesser knights.

The Temple hadn’t sent six women because it underestimated Rey Valen. It had sent six women because it didn’t.

"I wonder what the Mad Magus actually looks like," Rina suddenly said.

Vera’s eyes narrowed slightly. "Why?"

"Because I’ve heard so many different stories about him that I don’t know which one to believe."

Nora gave a small nod. "Same here. Someone told me he looks like a demon."

"A demon?" Tessa repeated.

"That’s ridiculous. If he looked like a demon, there’s no way the Saintess would want to bring him back with her."

"Maybe he didn’t look like that before," Maeve suggested from behind them.

The others turned toward her.

She continued, "I heard he looked completely human during the war. But after he started studying forbidden magic, his appearance changed."

"Changed how?" Rina asked.

"Black veins. Skin covered in strange markings. Something similar to the Dark Lord."

Syl frowned. "Those sound like symptoms of severe corruption."

"Exactly."

Vera listened without joining the conversation. She’d heard those stories too. Some claimed Rey Valen had grown horns. Others insisted his shadow moved independently of his body. There were even rumors that he drank monster blood to strengthen his magic. Most of those claims were absurd. But the sheer number of them had gradually created an image of someone monstrous.

"I bet he defeated the Dark Lord because he wanted his power," Rina muttered.

"Or his knowledge," Nora added.

"That would explain why he became obsessed with forbidden magic afterward."

Tessa shook her head. "Still, he fought alongside the other heroes. Surely they would’ve noticed if he was planning something like that."

"Maybe he was hiding it."

"Or maybe he changed after the battle."

The discussion continued.

Vera finally raised one hand. "Enough."

The women immediately fell silent.

"Rey Valen is still one of the five heroes," she reminded them. "Whatever rumors you’ve heard, don’t forget that he helped save this kingdom."

Rina lowered her head. "Yes, Captain."

"We’re going to Lumenford to investigate a serious case. Our first responsibility is to the missing women. Understood?"

"Understood!"

Vera returned her attention to the road. She didn’t particularly like Rey Valen. In truth, she’d never met him. The horses continued along the winding coastal road.

Below them, the sea stretched toward the horizon, its brilliant turquoise surface sparkling beneath the afternoon sun. The scenery gradually changed as they approached Lumenford. White cliffs rose above secluded beaches, while narrow paths wound between rocky outcrops and patches of coastal grass.

Vera glanced toward the distant harbor. They were close. Perhaps another hour of riding. Then something caught her attention.

Movement.

Far below the road, beyond a rocky outcrop, someone was swimming in a secluded cove.

Vera instinctively tightened the reins. Her horse slowed. The others followed.

"Captain?" Tessa asked.

Vera didn’t answer immediately. Her eyes remained fixed on the beach. There was only one person in the water.

A man.

He appeared to be swimming leisurely, completely unconcerned with his surroundings.

Vera frowned. That was unusual. The beach was isolated, surrounded by cliffs, and located far enough from the main road that ordinary travelers would have difficulty reaching it.

"Hm?" Rina leaned forward. "What’s that guy doing down there?"

"Swimming, apparently," Nora answered.

"Here? There’s nobody around."

"Perhaps that’s why he chose it."

Vera dismounted.

"Captain?"

"I’m going to take a closer look."

She handed her reins to Tessa and approached the edge of the road, where the ground sloped toward the beach. Her boots crunched against the gravel.

From this position, she had a much clearer view.

The man was floating on his back, allowing the gentle waves to carry him across the water. His dark hair was wet, several strands falling across his forehead. Sunlight illuminated his face whenever he turned toward the shore.

Vera narrowed her eyes. He was young. Or at least, he looked young. Perhaps somewhere in his twenties. His features were strikingly handsome, with a sharp jawline, straight nose, and a calm expression that suggested he had absolutely nothing troubling his mind. There was something unusual about that expression. Someone who didn’t believe anything nearby could threaten him.

Vera had seen similar expressions before. Usually on extremely powerful warriors. Or extremely arrogant ones. She couldn’t decide which category this stranger belonged to. Then he began swimming toward the shore. His movements were smooth and unhurried, his arms cutting through the water.

Vera watched him approach the shallows.

The man placed his feet on the sandy seabed and slowly stood.

Water streamed down his shoulders.

His chest emerged first, revealing a lean, muscular physique shaped by years of physical conditioning rather than excessive bulk. His shoulders were broad, his waist narrow, and his abdomen marked by well-defined muscles.

Vera blinked. He was certainly well-built. That much was obvious. But something else became apparent as he continued walking toward the beach.

The water slipped lower. Past his abdomen. Past the sharply defined V-shaped lines disappearing beneath his hips. And there was no fabric of any kind.

Vera’s eyes widened slightly.

He wasn’t wearing anything.

She should have looked away. As a Holy Guardian, she was expected to maintain discipline and dignity at all times. Staring at a naked stranger was hardly appropriate behavior. Especially when the stranger appeared completely unaware that six armed women were watching him from the road above.

The man swept his wet hair away from his forehead, exposing a pair of red eyes that seemed almost unnaturally calm. There was no embarrassment in his posture.

He simply stood beneath the sunlight, allowing the sea breeze to brush against his bare skin.

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