Time-Limited Saintess, You’ve Been Caught by the Tyrant Once Again - Chapter 76

Chapter 38.2

“I’ll give you all the money I have. Just let me go.”

Her calm words were a command.

“What if we don’t want to?”

Saying so, the man’s leering eyes scanned her face and slender body. As she realized the meaning behind that gaze, Ellin frowned.

The capital was truly a scary place.

It was when Ellin, with a frightened expression, took a step back.

“Let’s make this easy. I won’t sell you off into slavery.”

“….”

“We said we won’t hurt you, right? So come on.”

Even though the man spoke as gently as possible, who would go to him after hearing those words? Just as a strange tension tightened, it was Ellin who broke it and ran away. When she ran, the men must’ve thought it was time to rush in.

“Kyaaak!”

Her steps were slow, and the men were quick because they were used to this. Since her attempt to scream was thwarted, Ellin thrashed about wildly, though their strengths overwhelmed her.

‘Is this kidnapping?’

Even when she was being kidnapped, not even Arkan would do such a thing to her.

“Tie her up!”

“D*mn it, this weak woman has some strength!”

With a thud, it felt like stars appeared before her eyes. Ellin shut her eyes tightly due to the immense pain. Feeling like a helpless animal being hunted, tears flowed from her eyes.

“What are you doing?!”

At that moment, a man in white armor emerged from the alleyway. His warm-colored blond hair sparkled in the sunlight. Ellin looked up in surprise at the man in armor.

It was Maynard.

The knight in white armor wore a cloak with a green and white clover embroidered on it, the symbol of the temple. Among the paladins, only those directly under the center could wear cloaks embroidered with a clover.

While impressive in itself, these men were unfazed. It was because, unlike ordinary knights, paladins couldn’t kill people with their swords indiscriminately. Those they could wield the sword against were only the heretics or those openly opposed to the temple. Still, those openly opposed to the temple required the approval of the high priests.

In other words, Maynard couldn’t intervene. And the fact that he was alone boosted their confidence.

As they exchanged glances with each other before raising their swords and rushing towards him, Maynard pulled out a gauntlet. The suddenness of the action caused the men to all attack parts where there was no armor.

The scuffle had begun, but Ellin didn’t even have time to look at it.

“Kyaak!”

It was because two men tried to drag her away.

Ellin struggled with all her might, but soon, she was lifted and carried on one of the man’s shoulders. They intended to take her away like this.

“Sir Maynard!”

She found herself shouting desperately without even realizing it. Maynard, who was fighting with his sword, immediately turned to look in her direction. As they locked eyes, he fended off the charging men and drew his sword.

The knight of lightning.

A man born from the verdure*.
[ T/N: The author used the word ‘녹음.’ Metaphorically, it could imply qualities associated with the natural world, such as freshness, vitality, or a sense of being grounded. It might suggest someone who is down-to-earth, with a close affinity to nature, or who possesses qualities reminiscent of the lushness and vitality of greenery. ]

The sword bestowed by the gods.

That was what people used to call him.

The name of Maynard, who lived as an ascetic and paladin, was unknown at the time, but as a paladin protecting Ellin, he made his name in gladiatorial competitions for Elena, a saint of little status.

A pure white sword appeared.

He drew his sword and traced the trail of light. Then, in a flash, as if lightning struck, the men’s throats were cut off in an instant.

“Uuaakkk!”

“Aaaaakkk!”

“Euughhh!”

Despite being splattered with the blood they spilled, his expression remained stoic. The footsteps of the men carrying her hastened even more.

Maynard frowned as he looked at Ellin and threw his sword at the man carrying her.

Puuk!

“Eeuuuuuk!”

The man’s body was pierced.

Just when Ellin, who had been carried on his shoulders, was about to fall to the ground, Maynard swiftly approached and caught her in his arms. For a brief moment, their eyes met. While he chased after the remaining person trying to escape and killed him after setting her down, Ellin quickly scanned the situation.

Everyone was bleeding and dead.

Soon, Maynard approached her.

“How…”

Where should she start? Should she start by asking why he was here? Should she ask if it was okay for a paladin to kill people like this? Or should she just thank him?

“First of all, thank you.”

Ellin calmly expressed her gratitude as she sorted out her emotions. In response, Maynard glanced around and furrowed his eyebrows.

“Thanks is unnecessary.”

“….”

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

“No.”

“Your cheek seems bruised. Did they hit you?”

“Yes.”

As she answered, Ellin noticed a gash on Maynard’s arm as if it had been cut by a blade. Blood was dripping steadily, and there was no gauntlet on his left arm.

“What happened…”

“It doesn’t matter. It was intentional.”

“Ah…”

The last condition for the paladin to use force was when someone attacked them and caused them harm. Despite sustaining such a grievous wound, Maynard killed them easily.

“You need to get treated.”

“That’s something I’ll take care of.”

Upon hearing his words, Ellin thought he was right. She didn’t want to pay any attention to it at all.

…But blood and Maynard.

She hated that combination of words so much. She hated it to the point that it made her feel nauseated as tears fell from Ellin’s eyes.

The sight of him, soaked in blood, was her nightmare.

“Ellin?”

Maynard looked at her face as tears were falling from her unfocused eyes.

―I humbly beseech you.

I became a sword and lived as a protector of the Saintess. However, I’m not worthy of being a sword since I can’t fulfill my duty because I don’t have the ability to protect the Saintess.

I just hope that the gods will look upon me with mercy and that when I’m reborn in my next life, I may be able to protect you.

For failing to protect you, I pay for my sins with this paltry life.

A few days before Ellin’s death in her last life, Maynard was covered in blood as he killed himself by piercing his own heart.

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