The setting sun is the key that unlocks the night.
Everyone will find a piece of their own unique starry sky at the bottom of their chest.
Returning to the Paladin Hall, Joen quickly realized he had been isolated.
The knights who had previously gotten along with him fairly well now deliberately ignored him, as if he were some kind of indescribable monster.
He could faintly hear their whispers.
“See that guy? It’s him. He injured a dozen of our brothers for a few pretty demon collaborators, including Jieluo, who always treats us to fried fish cakes.”
“Oh, damn, no wonder there’s no fried fish cake tonight. How could he bring himself to hurt Jieluo, such a kind and good person?”
“He must have seen those demon collaborators were pretty and got his brain clouded by lust!”
“May the Turtle God bless him.”
Joen chose to act as if he didn’t hear them.
He had no other choice.
Arguing was pointless; confrontation was even more pointless.
Even if he could defeat nineteen Inquisition Knights, he could never defeat the prejudice in people’s hearts.
He crossed the tavern, which was always packed in the evenings, and approached the bartender, his face full of anxiety.
“Friend, please help me. I’m looking for a girl named Lily. Have you seen an elf girl about this tall and this thin?”
The bartender was about to answer, but when he saw the hostile glances from the people around, he immediately shook his head and put on a cold demeanor.
“I don’t know. If you’re not buying a drink, please leave immediately.”
Joen wanted to say something, but in the end, he could only leave in disappointment.
On the way, he ran into Lebron in the corridor.
Lebron didn’t greet him.
Instead, he immediately averted his gaze, pretending not to see him.
On one hand, he was very angry about Joen’s clash with Bishop Icot; on the other hand, he was afraid that being too close to Joen would affect his own future prospects.
However, the ever-friendly Scottie cheerfully said hello.
He was the kind of “outsider” who kept a tepid relationship with all his colleagues—offending no one, but not getting close to anyone either.
“Hey, Joen, what are you looking for so urgently?”
He asked curiously.
“My… elemental sprite.”
Joen immediately pressed on.
“Scottie, did you see her?”
Scottie thought carefully for a few seconds, then shrugged apologetically.
“Sorry, I really don’t remember. It seems she never came out after entering the Inquisition.”
“Alright…”
Joen’s expression fell.
“You could try asking Commander Haran for help,” Scottie suggested.
“Commander Haran?”
Joen was quite surprised, but he hesitated.
“I haven’t spoken more than a few words with Commander Haran. He doesn’t seem to like me very much either…”
Scottie comforted him.
“It’s okay. Most things will be solved if you just tell the Commander. He always helps. Besides divine arts, he’s also studied many survey and detection spells. He can find people very fast.”
“Thank you.”
Joen suddenly felt a little guilty, because until just now, his impression of Commander Haran had not been good.
Of course, that bad impression came more from the office that reeked of strong alcohol.
But judging someone by that alone was indeed very one-sided.
He soon arrived at the Commander’s Office.
“Enter.”
“Commander Haran, I’m the novice paladin who came yesterday, Joen.”
Joen called out as clearly as he could.
“I have a favor to ask of you.”
After hesitating for a moment, Joen pushed open the door.
The smell of alcohol hit his nose.
Standing outside the door, he found Haran drinking alone in the office again, his head deeply lowered.
This was actually somewhat unusual—not the act of drinking itself.
Although they were clergy, the Church of Light did not have many precepts regarding food, drink, and romantic love.
In fact, the church encouraged young people to engage in romantic love, procreation, and marriage, which were important divine duties under the Goddess faction.
Based on his observations over the past day, Joen had noticed that paladins mostly drank in two ways.
One was like Lebron, or the Inquisition Knights at dusk, finding some pleasure women or pretty female prisoners, using beauty to heighten their spirits, reaching the peak of ecstasy in intoxication and pleasure.
The other way was many brothers gathering together, preparing some good dishes, chatting about everything, sharing gossip, boasting about each other, and spending a lively and fulfilling evening.
Very few were like Haran, who locked himself in a small, lonely room, drinking by himself, like an old wolf chewing on a poppy flower, slowly licking his wounds.
Joen suddenly found this life pitiful and tragic.
After a moment, he thought in confusion—since he was so frustrated and pained, why didn’t he resist, or at least make himself happy?
There was no answer.
It was a question he couldn’t ask.
“Joen.”
Haran repeated the pseudonym Joen was using here and then looked up.
His face was full of drunkenness, but his eyes were still clear.
“I remember you. You were arranged to come in by Icot after donating money.”
“Yes.”
Joen nodded.
“If that’s the case, why did you clash with Icot today?”
Haran asked again.
“Because on this matter, he was wrong.”
Joen answered honestly.
“Wrong?”
Haran chuckled.
He seemed to suddenly become interested, sitting up a little straighter, raising his head, and staring intently at Joen.
“Does right and wrong even matter? If you oppose him, he’ll kick you out of the church; if you obey him, you’ll rise quickly. Your future prospects have nothing to do with right and wrong.”
“But it has everything to do with my heart. If the price of climbing to a high position is that I must become someone who can’t tell right from wrong, then I’d rather not climb.”
Joen replied calmly.
“Nonsense.”
Haran lowered his head and smiled, then suddenly changed the subject.
“Go on, what is it?”
“Please do me a favor. My friend Lily has gone missing.”
“Your elemental sprite?”
“I remember.”
“Small matter.”
“I couldn’t find her anywhere. I thought—”
Haran casually agreed, then whistled.
A black cat suddenly slid through the window lattice and leaped in front of Haran.
Haran stroked the cat’s head, fed it two pieces of sauced meat, then muttered a strange sound to it that was neither cat-like nor human-like.
The black cat seemed to understand.
It slipped back out through the window lattice.
“Sit down. Wait a while.”
Haran pointed to the seat in front of him and explained to Joen.
“That cat just now is the boss of this area. All the stray animals in the Old City District obey it. It has my magic arts and can communicate with all animals. If it can’t find her… then you’ll just have to pray for the Goddess’s mercy.”
Joen felt a little relieved.
He sat down as instructed, facing Haran, and suddenly didn’t know what to say, feeling somewhat awkward.
Fortunately, Haran was a talkative person when he drank.
He didn’t let the atmosphere grow cold.
Instead, he continued on his own.
“You beat up the Inquisition Knights. Tonight must have been pretty rough for you, huh?”
“Yes.”
Joen’s eyes drooped, dark.
“Normal. Inquisition Knights have high treatment and are easy to offend, so ordinary knights try hard to get along with everyone, lest one day they find themselves alienated and not even know who framed them.”
Haran suddenly gave a cold laugh, his voice full of resentment.
In front of Joen, there happened to be a silver cup.
It was unclear who it was prepared for.
Maybe for a guest who never came, or maybe just placed there to raise a cup to the moon, toasting with his shadow as the third person.
Haran grabbed the intricately carved pure silver wine bottle and poured a full cup for Joen.
He rambled on.
“Congratulations. Now you’re an unpopular freak too. Do you need me to teach you a few tips on being a freak?”
“What’s that look on your face?”
“Heh, let me tell you, kid. These tips are very practical.”
“For example, when eating alone in the cafeteria, how to find a seat that won’t make you or the people around you feel awkward…”
“And another example, when training alone, how to use the walls to complete complex two-person moves…”