Holy Idol [EN]: Chapter 798

◈ 798. Never Let Your Guard Down

“What are you talking about!”

The paladin shouted and pulled Rembrary.

“Stop it. Let’s go inside.”

“Just a moment, please.”

Rembrary skillfully slipped his arm out of the paladin’s grasp.

“Why? Let’s hear what he has to say.”

The black magician chuckled mockingly, seemingly curious.

Rembrary resisted as much as he could, but he was still too short compared to the paladin.

As he was almost forcibly dragged out of the room where the black magician was confined, Rembrary protested, feeling displeased.

“Why did you pull me away?”

“Rembrary, curses are dangerous.”

The paladin sighed and bent down to meet his eyes.

“I know.”

“Then why are you asking him to put a curse on you? Why?”

“…….”

Rembrary pondered whether he should tell the paladin about his grand purpose.

‘This paladin was more reasonable than the one who had attacked Ridal without hesitation,’ he thought.

Perhaps he might understand. After much deliberation, Rembrary spoke.

“I think I need to know how the curse spreads to be able to cure it. Right now, it’s too vague, and I don’t know how to treat Ridal.”

The paladin’s mouth dropped open.

“You asked him to put a curse on you for that reason? On yourself?”

“Of course, it would be more convenient to have someone else do it.”

“!”

“But then I wouldn’t be able to get a feel for it.”

Rembrary explained carefully, wondering if this paladin could understand his logic.

The paladin looked perplexed and touched his forehead.

Rembrary quietly applied pressure from the opposite side, allowing him to contemplate.

“First of all…….”

The paladin finally spoke after a long while.

“Let’s ask the higher-ups. I don’t think it’s something I can decide.”

“The higher-ups will definitely oppose it.”

“Even so, I have to ask.”

The paladin said firmly and extended one arm, as if suggesting they go upstairs.

“Let’s go up.”

Rembrary looked back.

‘If I leave this place, will I be able to come again? The security might be even tighter then?’ he worried.

“Rembrary.”

When Rembrary didn’t follow easily, the paladin called his name again.

“…….”

Rembrary sighed and followed the paladin out of the basement.

“How did it go? Was it resolved well?”

The paladin who hadn’t gone inside spoke to Rembrary and his companion upon seeing them.

The paladin who had gone in with them glanced at Rembrary and quickly shook his head.

“Rembrary, who did you say you came with?”

* * *

“What did you ask someone to do, Rembrary?”

After hearing the situation, Gaieger asked, trying hard not to raise his voice.

“I asked the paladin to go to the basement with me.”

“That’s not what I’m asking!”

Gaieger scolded and glared at Rembrary with his piercing eyes.

“Ridal is already a headache; have you even considered what my position would be if you get cursed too?”

“I don’t have the capacity to think that far right now.”

“Rembrary!”

Gaieger scolded again, and Rembrary shut his mouth.

“You’re short-sighted. And very selfish. You have to consider that making such a difficult request puts the person listening in a difficult position!”

‘I guess I’ll have to get the curse through another black magician,’ Rembrary thought.

Rembrary thought, alternating between looking at Gaieger, whose neck veins were bulging, and the paladin behind him, who was nodding as if in agreement.

It wouldn’t be difficult. It was a chaotic time, and black magicians and monsters were popping up here and there.

‘Come to think of it, is that black magician who wanted to get rid of my divine power not coming anymore?’

* * *

“He’s still young.”

Ridal looked at his hand, which had become furry and turned into a real wolf’s paw, then raised his head.

“He’s always lived succeeding. He must think he’s great. And he actually is great.”

The voices whispering from beyond the door were very close. Ridal stealthily approached the door.

“But he doesn’t know satisfaction. His healing abilities alone are enough for him to be great. But to try to undo a curse. It’s laughable.”

The voice became clearer.

‘Two people?’

“That kid probably thinks he has to be the best in the world.”

‘Three people, huh.’

“His abilities are useful, but our Lapsus is actually more outstanding. Our Lapsus is the ‘youngest’ high priest.”

“The Redrin Temple needs to educate their children better.”

‘They’re talking about Rembrary.’ Ridal clenched his fist.

You bad guys. They’re gossiping about Rembrary behind his back. Ridal’s face flushed with anger at their chatter.

“It’s okay. If he keeps acting so recklessly, he’ll probably die in a few years anyway?”

Having heard that far, Ridal momentarily lost consciousness. When he came to, he was biting the shoulder of one of the paladins.

* * *

Rembrary, who was returning after being scolded by Gaieger, saw Ridal biting the shoulder of one of the paladins.

“Let go! Let go!”

The paladin thrashed wildly with Ridal attached to his shoulder.

“Hold still!”

Because of that, the other paladin couldn’t swing his sword even after drawing it. He was afraid of accidentally hitting his comrade.

Then, as the attacked paladin faltered and his movements slowed, the paladin with the sword seized the opportunity and swung his sword widely.

However, before the sword could reach Ridal, a feather that flew in quickly struck the center of his sword, diverting its path.

The blade, swung to the side, narrowly missed the head of the fellow paladin.

“Are you crazy!”

“It wasn’t me.”

The paladin coldly said to his angry comrade and looked to the side. Rembrary himself, the subject of their conversation, was standing blankly in the middle of the hallway.

The hand that hadn’t yet lowered clearly showed who had shot the feather at his sword.

“Did you do that?”

The paladin asked a question he already knew the answer to and pulled the feather from his sword. As soon as the feather was pulled out, it turned into smaller feathers and scattered into the air.

“Why are you trying to cut a child?”

Rembrary approached quickly and pulled Ridal, who was still clinging to the paladin, away.

Ridal became docile when Rembrary came and obediently followed.

“Damn it!”

The attacked paladin grabbed his shoulder and sat down on the floor.

Rembrary tapped the area around that person’s shoulder. As it healed in an instant, the paladin awkwardly stood up again.

“Is it okay now?”

Rembrary asked nonchalantly and pulled Ridal’s arm.

“Let’s go.”

“Wait a moment.”

However, the paladin with the sword closed the door, blocking the two from entering.

Rembrary looked at that paladin.

“Why?”

“You said Ridal wasn’t dangerous.”

“That’s right.”

“But that child suddenly ran out of the room and attacked my comrade. We didn’t ambush or attack him, he did it on his own. That’s dangerous enough.”

Hearing those words, Ridal, who had been spacing out at what he had done, was enraged and shouted.

[You guys were insulting Rembrary! A bunch of grown adults gathered together to ridicule and mock Rembrary! And in front of the room where Rembrary is staying! Weren’t you doing it on purpose for me to hear?!]

Ridal’s voice was only heard as barking sounds, but strangely, Rembrary could sense what Ridal wanted to say.

Gaieger, who had followed Rembrary, not knowing where he would go, widened his eyes. Ridal was a gentle boy like a lamb who liked to help people.

Gaieger had never seen a child as kind as Ridal. It was the first time he had seen Ridal so excited and shouting.

“Look at that! He’s losing his temper and getting excited again!”

The attacked paladin shouted in an angry voice.

The moment he heard that sound, Rembrary’s eyes caught something strange about the shoulder area of the paladin he had just healed.

Rembrary felt that he could undo the treatment he had done earlier if he wanted to. He hadn’t tested it, but he could feel it.

However, instead of undoing the treatment, Rembrary held Ridal tightly and looked at Gaieger.

“High Priest. I think those people are lying right now. Ridal got angry as soon as he heard those words.”

“Sir Gaieger. That apprentice priest is too rude. Slandering people for the sake of a monster.”

As the Lumena paladin shouted angrily, Gaieger replied nonchalantly.

“That child doesn’t lie, even though he says things he shouldn’t.”

The Lumena paladins’ mouths dropped open.

“You’re unconditionally siding with the child. We have nothing to say.”

The Lumena paladin who had drawn his sword put the sword back into its scabbard and muttered in a tightly suppressed voice.

“The Redrin priests are letting their emotions get the better of them, putting people in danger.”

Gaieger opened the door and pushed Rembrary and Ridal inside.

“Now, don’t worry about it and go in.”

As Rembrary and Ridal entered the room, the Lumena paladin grabbed Gaieger.

“We’ll wait a month.”

Rembrary grabbed Ridal’s paw and looked back. The Lumena paladin was staring coldly at Gaieger, as if he was about to hit him.

The priest Gaieger looked like a straw in front of the burly paladin.

“A month?”

“If that child’s curse isn’t lifted within a month, we will deal with him, whether the Redrin Temple protects him or not.”

The Lumena paladin pointed to the paladin who had been attacked by Ridal earlier.

“Attacking someone who didn’t attack first, someone who didn’t even bleed, seems dangerous enough already.”

* * *

Ridal became dejected and locked himself in his room without eating properly.

“Ridal. Eat something.”

Even when Rembrary brought a steak he had obtained and offered it, Ridal shook his head. Each time, his whiskers fluttered back and forth.

Rembrary pulled Ridal’s whiskers a few times. Ridal, who had lowered his head, was surprised and raised his head, casting a blank gaze.

[Keeng?]

Rembrary put the meat in Ridal’s mouth.

Perhaps he was hungry, Ridal ate the meat while crying. Rembrary gave him a few more pieces and then stood up.

“I’ve made a decision.”

When Ridal finished eating, Rembrary went to find Gaieger together.

Gaieger was having a second round with the Lumena paladins but stopped the fight for now and approached.

“Oh. Why? Does Ridal want to eat something else?”

“Ridal wants to eat cream puffs, strawberry cake, and savory noodles.”

Ridal’s eyes widened. ‘So that’s where Rembrary kept getting all those different menus from; he was selling my name!’

“It would be more plausible to say it more vaguely, Rembrary.”

“Ridal wants to eat bread, cake, and noodles.”

“Okay. Is that what you came to say?”

Gaieger sighed and looked back and forth between the two children.

Rembrary grabbed Ridal’s wolf paw and handed it to Gaieger.

“No. I’m here to ask you to take care of Ridal.”

“Take care of Ridal?”

“From now on, I’m going to focus on finding a way to cure Ridal. I need to concentrate very hard, so please take care of him for the time being.”

“Alright.”

Gaieger readily agreed, having seen the Lumena paladins declare a one-month deadline right in front of him.

If they tried to harm Ridal, he would naturally stop them, but it seemed like a good idea for Rembrary to do his best for now.

He didn’t expect much, but he had to try so that he wouldn’t have any regrets.

“Then, please take care of him.”

Rembrary shook hands with Ridal and returned alone.

“That kid is annoying but kind.”

Gaieger clicked his tongue as he watched his retreating figure, then cleared his throat when Ridal stared at him blankly.

“I was complimenting you.”

Then, around dinner time, Gaieger packed some savory noodles and juice to give to Rembrary and went to his room.

“Rembrary. I’m coming in.”

Gaieger knocked and opened the door without waiting for an answer. But Rembrary wasn’t there.

‘Where did he go?’

His heart sank, but Gaieger thought that Rembrary might have gone out for a walk.

The relief he barely felt crumbled as he saw the note on the table.