章 149: Encounter Elite Paladin

"Where were you?... Everyone is madly looking for you," the Paladin said as if he knew Rafa; Ryu was cautious even though he was smiling and waiting for the moment his hand was hovering over his dagger,

"I don't know you," Rafa replied with a confused face as she stepped down from the carriage,

"Did you get amnesia again? Silvi you are the last of Wolfkin you should remain at Goddess's Church no matter what," The Paladin said as he began stepping towards Rafa, but Rafa, who felt uncomfortable at the unfamiliar person approaching her, hid behind Ryu,

There was a slight uneasiness in the air as Ryu sensed a hint of malice in Paladin's eyes,

"And who might you be?" Paladin asked Ryu in a heavy authoritative voice, and Ryu replied with a smirk,

"Just an adventurer, who completed Illusory dungeon… there was a demon inside maybe that's why adventurers weren't returning."

"I see, we'll still check it. First step aside from Silvi, I had to secure her for Church," Paladin said in a business voice, but Ryu stood his ground firmly as speak,

"I don't know Sir Paladin, but I can't move when a party member is uncomfortable with someone" Ryu used [Hide & Seek] on him and laughed in his mind,

(Level- 15

Title- [Diabolic Affinity], [Nobel sucker]

Skills- [Basic swordsmanship], [boot licking], [blood lust]…. +5 skills]

'Who does he even think he is? Even Aiena would beat him one on one,' thought Ryu as he waited for Elite Paladin's answer,

The Elite Paladin moved to Ryu taking each step heavily as if he owned the very grounds he walked on and placed his hand on Ryu's shoulder as he spoke, looking straight into Ryu's eyes,

"I appreciate you helping her but don't think you are above the church, she belongs there she is just an amnesiac" The Elite Paladin slyly activated his skill [Noblisitic Intimidation III], but Ryu was unfazed. Elite Paladin kept staring for a second before he suddenly jumped back.

'What was that!?' Elite Paladin was sure that Ryu's eyes changed for a second and that there was something more intimidating within him, but as the other adventurers saw him and felt confused before somebody could judge his authority, he corrected his posture, and Ryu tried holding back his laughter as he thought,

'This guy is so much like Frank….'

"So, are you suggesting that Rafa big sister should be sent with you?" Ryu asked with a calm voice, and Paladin replied,

"Yes, there is no reason for her to be roaming around as the last of her kind. She is the only hope Wolfkin has and we have to protect her" Although what Paladin spoke was noble, his voice tone wasn't, and hence Ryu concluded there was something fishy,

Jue, who stood nearby, took two steps toward Ryu and spoke,

"Brother they don't look like good people."

Ryu nodded to him, and Rafa, who was standing behind him, spoke in a confident, loud voice,

"I don't know him; I never knew someone like that" Although she wasn't sure of her memories, she knew this person was not even familiar a bit,

"What do you say, Sir Elite Paladin? Our Rafa doesn't seem to recognize you at all."

Paladin shrugged as he spoke,

"She had frequent amnesia, that's one of the reasons everyone is panicking at church."

"Rafa big sister, do you want to go to the church of Light Goddess?" Ryu asked calmly as he needed to know what Rafa will and Rafa replied instantaneously,

"No!! I want to remain with Ryu!!"

As Rafa cuddled with Ryu. Elite couldn't take it anymore as he proceeded to walk near the duo and began pulling at Rafa's arm,

"You will…" he was speaking, but his arm didn't move; he took a step back and tried again, but his arm won't move, and suddenly Rafa pulled her arm up, and Elite Paladin fell on the ground embarrassing himself in front of everyone,

"The Elite Paladin… couldn't move a woman's arm."

"Is he the real deal"

"Now I think being Paladin."

"But guild confirmed he is from church."

Such chatter was audible from the adventurers, and the Elite paladin who's been embarrassed stood up with an angry and vile expression on his face as he spoke,

"I won't take this insolence anymore!! If you didn't hand her over right now, I'll consider you and your party enemy of Church!!"

The air went cold; none uttered a word. This was one of the worst things that could happen to any adventurer, Aiena who was sitting inside the carriage, felt scared as she knew the terror and pain the Church could inflict, but Ryu only thought,

'Isn't your Church more like a cult?' he thought as he caressed the holy orb at his side, irritating Light Goddess whom he knew was connected to it, and then after some thinking, spoke with a bright smile that seemed filled with acceptance and feeling of getting along,

"How about this, Sir Elite Paladin? I'll take Rafa big sister back to where we are staying. She lives with us for one night. I'll explain to her, her situation and that she will be better in Church then you can take her…"

The Elite Paladin was about to speak something, but Ryu stepped forward, leaving a confused Rafa behind as he said in a low voice only audible to Paladin,

"Otherwise you already know, how chaotic she could get" It wasn't a threat. Elite Paladin had just experienced the threat firsthand and knew there was not much he could do if she rebelled, and hence he gave in as he nodded,

"You can keep her for the night, but tomorrow morning she'll leave for Church of Light Goddess with me," said Elite Paladin, and Ryu thought,

'There were thousand other ways to phrase it without making it sound this sus!!' but he just sighed as he returned to the carriage; Rafa was confused with what Ryu had. She didn't want to feel betrayed, but she believed in Ryu. She had heard him stating his will before and followed him back to the carriage,

"Ryu…" Rafa was going to ask something but noticed that Ryu made a finger-on-lip expression, and he showed the same expression to everyone,

Everyone became quiet as they made their way to the town, going straight for the Inn as there was no merit in going to adventurer's guild anymore,

"Everyone let's sleep," Ryu said as he turned off the light leaving only a mana night lamp open; everyone was confused by the strange behavior of Ryu, and finally, after counting to 5 in mind. Ryu began drawing a big glyph on the floor. Only after finishing it and channeling mana in it, did Ryu sigh in relief,

'Whomever the fck that was he was above Jue's hearing. If not for [Instantaneous detection] I wouldn't have detected it either,' thought Ryu as the winds began circulating around the room from the glyph,

"Now we can speak," Ryu said, and as if waiting for the cue, everyone began speaking,

"Big brother, what's this glyph for?"

"Ryu, we can't hand over Rafa sister to Light Goddess Church!!"

"Ryu you won't give me away right?"

Ryu was a bit overwhelmed, but one by one, answered each of them,

"Jue this glyph is so that a person following us couldn't hear us."

"Is someone following us!? I didn't even notice?" Jue was shocked as, due to Grandpa Chief's training, he was adept at hearing even the tiniest of sounds,

"Yes, he is still here out of sight, but that means he can't see us either…. And for voice, this glyph won't even let the buzzing of a bee escape."

"Amazing big brother!! After all, you are better than me in detection," Jue said, and Ryu, who cheated, kept it a secret for his pride as a big brother.

"Ryu won't give me away right?" Rafa asked with a low sad voice, and Jue and Aiena also asked,

"Yes big brother, are we really going to give away Rafa big sister!?"

"We can't do that, Ryu, right, Ryu won't do that of course!!"

Ryu looked at them and patted Rafa, who seemed as if she was holding back a lot of emotions and spoke in a cheerful voice,

"Of course not, whoever they are, I don't care unless Rafa big sister wants to leave us. I won't let anyone take her away" At this, Rafa finally broke down, sniffling and crying as she hugged Ryu,

"I was so scared!! I didn't want the world to turn red again!! Ryu is my precious brother" Ryu didn't say anything as he patted her back gently. He knew she was feeling heavy with emotion, but he couldn't help but think,

'If this bear hugging broke my spine… all plan is dead!!' still he smiled gently and bore it, Jue who stood nearby, asked with a curios voice,

"What is the plan, big brother?" Aiena also wanted to hear it, and Ryu smirked as he explained the plan,

"It isn't something very fancy, after this son of a bi…. I mean spy get off our back we'll escape at night through the window."

"So that's why you insisted on keeping Geld and Arion in the backyard to Inn owner Ryu" Aiena spoke, and as Ryu nodded, she understood Ryu was already planning as she remembered that he requested the Inn keeper whom he helped earlier to keep Arion and Geld in the backyard so they can watch over them from the window,

'It wasn't for Geld and Arion's loneliness…. Ryu is too smart' Aiena was shocked as she resolved to get wiser as his big sister,

"Everyone now pretends as if we are asleep; I'll give a signal when it's time!!" Ryu said, and everyone went to bed. Rafa was resistant to stop hugging, but she knew it was necessary, and finally, the stage was set for the plan

-to be continued