Chapter 138: The Holy Guardian’s Unholy Encounter [Part 2]

Chapter 138. The Holy Guardian’s Unholy Encounter [Part 2]

Unfortunately, her moment of weakness had already attracted attention.

"Captain? What are you looking at?" Tessa approached from behind, her armored boots crunching against the gravel.

Vera straightened immediately. "Nothing important."

"Oh?" Tessa followed her line of sight. Then stopped. Her mouth fell open. "Oh, my Goddess. He is so hot. There’s a naked man down there. A really handsome naked man. Why didn’t you call us?"

Vera slowly turned toward her. "Why would I call you?"

But Tessa was already waving toward the others. "Sisters! Come here!"

The remaining four women immediately approached, their expressions shifting from curiosity to confusion as they gathered near the edge of the coastal road.

Rina was the first to look down. Then Nora. Then Maeve and Syl.

For several seconds, all five women stood completely still.

"Oh, my Goddess..." Rina whispered.

Nora leaned forward. "Wait. I thought Lumenford was just a small town."

Tessa looked at her. "What does that have to do with anything?"

"I mean, I wasn’t expecting someone like that to be here."

"Small towns and handsome men are two completely different things, Nora."

"Well, excuse me for being surprised."

Vera rubbed the bridge of her nose. This was becoming ridiculous.

"I wonder if he’s a fisherman," Syl murmured.

"Or a sailor," Rina suggested.

Nora tilted her head. "He doesn’t look like a fisherman."

"How would you know?"

"Look at his hands."

"His hands?"

"Yes. They’re not rough enough."

Tessa stared at her. "Nora, he’s standing halfway across a beach. How the hell can you see his hands?"

"I have excellent eyesight."

"You’re a barrier mage."

"That doesn’t mean I’m blind."

Maeve, who had remained unusually quiet, narrowed her eyes. "He doesn’t move like an ordinary fisherman either."

Vera glanced at her. At least someone was making a useful observation.

Maeve was an experienced archer. Her ability to assess a target’s movements and physical condition was exceptional. Perhaps she’d noticed something important.

"Explain," Vera said.

Maeve studied the stranger. "His shoulders are broad, his muscles are well-developed, and his balance is excellent. He probably has combat training."

Vera nodded. That was a reasonable assessment.

"Also, his waist is ridiculously attractive," Maeve added.

Vera’s expression went blank. Never mind. "Sisters," she said firmly. "We need to focus."

Rina nodded without looking away. "We are focusing, Captain."

"On the mission."

"Right. We’re observing the local population," Tessa said.

"Gathering information about Lumenford," Maeve added.

"Assessing potential threats," Rina continued.

Vera stared at her.

Rina finally glanced sideways. "What? He could be dangerous."

Tessa nodded solemnly. "Extremely dangerous. I can already feel my judgment getting weaker."

Nora covered her mouth, trying to suppress a laugh.

Vera wondered whether it was possible to request an entirely new squad after returning to the Holy City. Preferably one composed of women who remembered their vows. Or at least remembered why they were traveling.

"We rarely get to see handsome men during missions," Nora said. "Come on, Captain. Let us have a little break."

Rina nodded in agreement. "Besides, the Temple is full of old priests and serious-looking knights. It’s not like we have many opportunities to admire someone."

"Sir Darius is handsome," Syl pointed out.

That made the others pause.

"Oh, definitely," Tessa agreed.

"He’s one of the five heroes," Rina added. "Of course he’s handsome."

Nora sighed. "Yeah, but he belongs to the Saintess."

Vera frowned. "Sir Darius doesn’t belong to anyone."

Nora gave her a meaningful look. "Captain, have you ever seen how Saintess Elia looks at him?"

Vera hesitated. She had. And while she wasn’t particularly interested in discussing the Saintess’s personal feelings, she had to admit that Elia’s affection for the Holy Knight was hardly a secret. Still, that wasn’t relevant. "His personal relationships are none of our concern."

"Exactly," Nora replied. "Which is why we’re looking at someone else."

Vera stared at her. Somehow, every attempt to restore discipline was making the situation worse. Below them, the stranger turned toward the sea. Water dripped from his dark hair as he stretched his arms above his head, apparently enjoying the warmth of the afternoon sun. The movement emphasized the lean muscles across his back and shoulders.

Syl sighed. "If he has enough money, I might just leave the Temple and marry him."

Vera turned sharply. "Syl! You’re a battle priestess."

"I can still get married."

"You’re on duty."

"I’m only considering my future."

Tessa folded her arms. "You don’t even know whether he’s husband material."

Syl shrugged. "Look at him. I’m willing to investigate."

"Appearance isn’t everything," Rina said.

"Obviously. That’s why I mentioned money."

Tessa leaned closer to the edge. "Well, money or not, imagine having a man like that waiting for you at home every night."

Nora glanced at her. "What are you thinking about?"

Tessa smiled shamelessly. "Getting railed by him every night? Count me in."

"Tessa!" Vera’s voice cracked through the air. "Watch your mouth!"

"We’re all adults, Captain."

"You’re representing the Light Temple!"

"And I’m appreciating the Goddess’s beautiful creation."

Rina burst into laughter. Even Syl had to turn away.

Vera felt a headache developing behind her eyes. She was beginning to understand why certain senior guardians preferred working alone.

Then Maeve suddenly raised one hand. "Shhh."

Everyone looked at her. The archer had narrowed her eyes, concentrating intently on the beach below.

Vera’s expression sharpened. Finally, perhaps she’d detected a suspicious movement. A concealed weapon. An unusual magical fluctuation. Something that might justify stopping their entire escort mission.

"What is it?" Vera asked.

Maeve didn’t answer immediately. She leaned slightly forward, adjusting her position. Then she muttered, "I’m trying to see how big he is."

Vera slowly turned her head. "What?"

"His size. You know, his below."

Syl blinked. "Wait. You can actually see it from here?"

"No. He’s too far away, and he’s not facing us."

Maeve sounded genuinely disappointed. "I’d need a better angle."

Tessa immediately looked interested. "Can you use your enhanced vision?"

"I already am. But he’s facing the wrong direction."

Vera stared at them. Nothing in her entire career had prepared her for this conversation.

"That’s enough." Her voice came out colder than she’d intended. "We’re going to Lumenford. Now."

Nobody moved.

Instead, Nora looked down again. "Just another minute, Captain."

Rina tilted her head. "He’s going back into the water."

All five women immediately looked toward the beach.

Vera’s eyebrow twitched. The stranger had indeed turned around, slowly walking toward the waves. The water reached his ankles, then his knees.

Maeve leaned forward again. "Wait, if he turns around—"

"MAEVE!"

The archer straightened immediately. "Yes, Captain!"

Vera pressed her fingers against her temples. She needed a solution. Threatening them clearly wasn’t working. Neither was appealing to their professionalism.

Then an idea occurred to her.

Vera lowered her hands. "The sooner we arrive in Lumenford," she said calmly, "the sooner we can meet him up close."

Five heads turned toward her. Almost simultaneously.

Rina’s eyes widened. "You’re right."

"If he’s swimming here, he probably lives nearby," Syl said.

"And if he lives nearby, he might visit the town," Nora added.

Maeve nodded thoughtfully. "We could ask around."

Tessa grinned. "Maybe he’s staying at an inn."

"Or owns a house," Syl suggested.

"Or a ship," Rina added.

Vera didn’t bother correcting them. She’d finally found something more effective than discipline. Hope. "Then what are you waiting for?" she asked. "Mount your horses."

Five elite warriors who had previously refused to move suddenly hurried toward their mounts with renewed determination.

Nora was the first to climb into her saddle. "Let’s go!"

Tessa followed. "Come on! We still have a mission!"

Vera stared at her. A mission. Yes. Apparently, they’d remembered that. Rina adjusted her cloak, while Syl checked the straps.

Maeve cast one final glance toward the beach before reluctantly turning away. "Such a shame..."

"Maeve."

"I’m coming, Captain."

Vera rubbed her temple. She had never felt so exhausted without fighting a single enemy. Still, the women were finally ready. She mounted her horse and took the lead, guiding the squad back onto the coastal road.

Within moments, the six horses resumed their journey toward Lumenford.

Behind her, the conversation continued.

"I wonder what his name is."

"Do you think he’s married?"

"Maybe he has a girlfriend."

"Well, we can always ask."

"Do you think he’d be interested in a Holy Knight?"

Vera tightened her grip on the reins. She refused to participate. She was their captain, not some foolish young woman chasing a handsome stranger. Besides, they were heading toward Lumenford to find Rey Valen. The Mad Magus. A potentially corrupted hero whose knowledge of forbidden magic had alarmed the highest authorities of the Light Temple. That was their priority.

Yet as the coastal road curved around the cliffs, Vera couldn’t resist one final glance toward the secluded beach.

The stranger had disappeared beneath the waves. Only the glittering sea remained.

She looked forward again, her expression returning to its usual stern composure. Still, an uncomfortable question lingered in her mind.

Who was that man? And why had she felt something so strangely unsettling beneath his calm, attractive appearance?

Vera couldn’t explain it. She only knew that she’d spent years training herself to recognize danger. And for some reason, looking at that stranger had stirred the same instinct. Not fear. Something far more difficult to understand.

She pushed the thought aside and urged her horse forward.

Lumenford was waiting. So was their mission.

Vera Solis had absolutely no idea that the man they’d just spent several minutes shamelessly admiring was the very person they had been sent to capture.

Rey Valen.

The Mad Magus himself.

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