Ch. 14 - Destiny is smiling at me

"By the way, a long time has passed but I never introduced myself. My name is Paladin Flamel. What's your name?"

Thump!

Paladin came to a complete halt. He turned his head to look at the idiotic priest, his face filled with disbelief. He couldn’t help but ask, "Father, can you repeat your name?"

"Paladin Flamel."

The moment the priest uttered these words, Paladin crumbled as if he had been hit on the head with a hammer. ‘So there is such a coincidence in the world?! Doesn't that mean…. I can become Paladin Flamel?!’

"What's wrong? Why did you fall silent?" The priest, whose name was also Paladin, looked at Paladin with suspicion.

The latter quietly put down the bag. He lowered his head and said, "Father, who is that person behind you?" The priest immediately turned his head to see who was behind him, but all he saw were grass and bushes that blocked the sunlight.

"There’s no one..."

Just as the priest turned his head back, he caught a glimpse of the ferocious and ecstatic Paladin pouncing on him. Paladin grabbed the priest's chin with one hand and the priest's forehead with the other. He quickly turned the priest around and stuck to his back with his strong and skilled hands!

"You... What are you doing?! Let go or I'll be very angry!"

The captured priest was enraged and terrified. He had no idea what the man, whom he had known for only an hour, was up to. But then, Paladin told him exactly what he was trying to do.

With his evilly curled lips, Paladin lowered his head slightly and whispered to his ear, "Paladin Flamel, don't you want to know my name? Let me tell you. My name is Paladin too."

The priest's pupils shrank as soon as he said that. Even the stupidest person would feel they are in danger right now. Paladin, of course, wouldn’t pass up this opportunity. He suddenly raised his head, looked at the gaps in the leaves where the sunlight passed through, and murmured happily, "Fate is smiling at me!"

The hand holding the priest's chin twisted decisively to the side before he finished speaking. A crisp crunch was heard. As soon as Paladin let go, the priest’s body fell to the ground, his neck crooked. There was still a mixed expression of doubt and fear etched on the priest’s face. Until the end of his life, he still couldn't figure out what benefit Paladin would gain from killing him.

Paladin breathed a sigh of relief. He stripped and changed into the clothes of the priest with the same name as him. Paladin, who was currently dressed in a black priest's robe with a hemp rope tied around his waist, nodded in satisfaction. He then squatted and started collecting the priest's belongings.

After putting the small bag filled with fifty three gold coins into his arms with a smile on his face, Paladin spotted a letter lying inside the big bag alongside two intersecting keys and a strange crown in the middle. Paladin, who took it out immediately, saw that the paint had been peeled off in some areas.

The letter appeared to be addressed to the priest. In order to live as this priest for a long time in the future, Paladin must know as much as possible about this person's life. He needed to do this so that he didn't accidentally reveal that he wasn't the real Paladin Flamel.

It was tragic.

Paladin carefully took out the letter. The faint smell of books wafting from it made Paladin happy. He took it out of the envelope and meticulously read it. The content was as follows:

Flamel, the pious and kind priest,

During his three years of study in the monastery, he not only won the title of priest, but also the respect and love of others. Through the recommendation of his godfather, Priest Fr. Sicilian, Vicar of Fenrir, the priest Paladin Flamel is officially assigned to serve as the rector of the town of Nurba. To educate the congregation and focus on The Almighty and Great Enos.

In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The Duchy of Kasmi【The Hierarchical Priests of the Archdiocese of Kasmi】 July 2, 7266 AD

Paladin's hands trembled with excitement. This letter turned out to be that stupid priest’s appointment letter! This was a very important proof. If Paladin wanted to use the priest’s identity, this letter was the best cover!

After excitedly tucking the letter away, Paladin began to dig for two hours. Then, he buried the priest's body in the ground. After carefully covering it up to ensure it couldn’t be noticed, Paladin didn't even think about resting. He instantly let go of his past identity and left the forest. Right at this moment, the uneasy feeling that had accompanied him gradually subsided. Because, the one who left the forest was Paladin Flamel. An insignificant noble who became a priest. The foolish Paladin, who was looked down upon in one of the branches of the Freemasons’ Association, had died when he obtained the Ripley Scroll.

At the same time when Paladin was applauding himself because he had acquired a new identity, Nasura, the great magician who recently learned that the Ripley Scroll was stored here—at one of the branches of the Freemasons’ Association—was shocked for a while. He then strode past Adele, who was still dazed, and went downstairs.

"Hey! What are you doing?!"

Nasura removed Adele's hand with a flick of his hand. With a serious expression, he said, "Does it need to be said? The adjudicators will come soon. The Ripley Scroll has nothing to do with me! I just want to get out of this ghostly place as soon as possible. Those lunatics don't treat mages well!"

Adele shook her hand helplessly and joked, "Poor Nasura. You’ve been dazzled by the potential danger. It won't be long before the members from other forces squeeze in. Will the Freemasons’ Association remain silent? No. When they watch the lunatic adjudicators come to kill, there will definitely be a lot of action! Isn’t it too cowardly to run away now? And, while it's unclear whether you’ll be able to see the legendary scroll with your own eyes, as a mage, you really don’t want to see what’s written on it?”

These words moved Nasura's heart and caused him to question himself. Although the adjudicators despised mages, they were nothing to the blasphemous Freemasons’ Association. When there was a conflict between the Freemasons’ Association and the adjudicators, there’d be some chance to get some clues. As long as there was a glimmer of hope, he might be able to see that legendary scroll.

With such thoughts in mind, Nasura's frown gradually eased. He folded his arms and said domineeringly, "You are an assassin, so you should have some idea. Don't be difficult; just say it."

That was a sign of willingness to cooperate. Naturally, Adele would not break the mage's pride. While covering her smile, she said, "Come with me. Change your clothes first. You’re still too eye-catching in this mentor's robe."

After she finished speaking, she grabbed Nasura's hand and ran downstairs. Although Nasura was taken aback at first, the greasy touch of her hand caused his heart, which had been silent all this time, to begin pounding wildly. However, he didn’t say anything. He simply stared deeply at Adele in front of him, letting her hold his hand while running downstairs together. After a while, they disappeared from sight.

Inside the empty room, the quaint piece of parchment that was taken from the golden compartment fell to the floor. Suddenly, a green flame was lit, consuming the parchment. It only took a moment to burn the parchment to ashes. As a result, the things written on that parchment would never be known.

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