Chapter 8: The Godfather’s Last Lesson

“Godfather! Godfather! I successfully passed the Paladin Probationary Assessment!”

The reborn Alice had grown rapidly. Years had passed, and the girl from the slums now showed not a hint of her former timidity. Instead, she radiated a burning, unyielding fighting spirit.

Dressed in a crisp white uniform, her cloak—emblazoned with the crest of the Church of Light—fluttered in the wind as she rushed into the house, dancing with excitement.

“Godfather?”

When Green’s usual warm greeting didn’t follow, Alice pushed open the door, her expression faltering.

Creeeeak—

The somewhat dilapidated gate let out a sharp, piercing sound. Alice instinctively lifted her skirt and tiptoed into the house.

Whinny~

A small, snow-white horse trotted forward, nuzzling Alice affectionately.

“Wait a second, Snow-wind,” Alice said, gently pushing away the foal that was trying to lick her. A sense of confusion welled up in her heart. “Where has Godfather gone?”

The elegant little cottage was shrouded in an eerie silence.

Having passed the Church’s probationary trials to become an honorable Paladin, Alice’s mental state was far beyond what it used to be. Even facing the most vicious cultists, she could remain calm. Yet, for some reason, the moment she was away from her godfather and couldn’t see Green, her mind would race and her emotions would tighten beyond her control.

“Godfather, where… where are you…”

Alice’s breathing grew shallow. Her bright eyes filled with anxiety, and her limbs began to tremble uncontrollably.

Cough, cough, cough!

A violent fit of coughing drifted over.

Godfather!

Alice spun around instantly. At the other end of the alley, a slightly hunched figure was slowly making his way toward the house.

“Godfather! Are you… are you sick?”

Alice’s pupils constricted. She sprinted to Green’s side and threw her arms around him, clinging to him like a puppy finding its mother.

“Ah… I’ve been staying up late investigating a case assigned by the superiors. I probably just caught a bit of a cold.”

Green looked helplessly at Alice, who refused to let go, and sighed. “But Alice, how old are you now? Don’t go crying like a child at every little thing. A dignified Paladin shouldn’t be such a crybaby.”

Though his words carried a hint of instruction, Green’s warm gaze held not a single trace of actual reproach.

“A case?” Alice, now a formal Paladin, was quick to react. “Godfather, are you talking about the sacrificial rituals happening across the kingdom these past few months?”

“You don’t have the clearance for the details yet.” Green closed the door and looked at her with concern. “But when you’re on duty, keep a sharp eye on your surroundings. I heard someone in the neighboring city already fell at the hands of the Withered Cult.”

The Withered Cult?

Having studied at the Temple of Light for years, Alice naturally knew of this notorious heretical group.

“The Withered Cult…” Alice’s gaze turned solemn. “The same one that performed that sacrificial ritual in Abundance City ten years ago?”

“Correct.” Green nodded slowly.

Clang—

He suddenly drew his shimmering longsword.

“Come to think of it, it’s been a long time since we’ve spared. Let Godfather see what you’ve learned at the Temple of Light these past few months.”

Sparring?

Alice looked at her godfather with worry. As she grew older and her own professional level skyrocketed, she had begun to realize that her godfather’s physical strength had passed its peak and was beginning to decline. When he first adopted her, he was Level 47. Yet, after all these years, his level remained unchanged, as if he were stuck at an immovable bottleneck.

Alice didn’t care if Green was powerful, but she worried deeply—was there something wrong with his health?

She nodded, pretending to be casual. “Alright. I’ve been wanting to learn more from you, too.”

The two walked out onto the garden grass, each harboring their own thoughts. The wooden stakes from her childhood training had been removed, but the familiar flowers and plants grew more lush than ever. Returning to the training ground, Alice felt a wave of nostalgia. She inhaled deeply, trying to memorize the scent of this place—the muddy soil, the fragrance of flowers, and…

She snapped her eyes open, staring at Green as he wiped his blade.

Godfather’s aura.

Without realizing it, he truly had grown old. When did it start? Perhaps the day she received the response from the Holy Light and was declared a Probationary Paladin by Archbishop Lawrence.

At the Temple, once the priests learned of her connection to Green and saw Lawrence’s “favor,” they had treated her like a treasure. Alice had devoured every bit of knowledge and skill she could reach. Thus, a rising star was born. In Abundance City—a border town that barely made the kingdom’s cabinet meetings once a year—a national “genius” had emerged.

Alice had a limitless future. In contrast, Green—the man who once held up the sky for her—seemed to be growing frail.

I will prove it to you, Godfather, Alice thought as she drew her sword. I will make you proud of me. I will make you understand that from this day on, I am the one who will protect you.

Alice didn’t want to see her godfather executing missions at his age, waking up in the dead of night to slip into the slums. She knew he was practicing the Way of the Light, but the grown-up Alice had realized that the scriptures didn’t always match reality. Seeing the “colleagues” from the capital who flattered her, she had learned that the Way of the Light wasn’t as pure as Green had described.

The world revered Paladins not for their character, but for their power—their authority.

So why did her godfather work so hard for almost no reward, risking his life again and again? Looking at their home—warm, yet humble compared to the mansions of the city elite—and Green’s threadbare clothes and frequent coughs… Alice felt it wasn’t worth it.

She wanted to use this spar to show him that she could provide him with a good life without him having to labor so hard!

The moment the spar began, Alice lunged forward. Her speed was incredible. The power of a Level 50 professional combined with her dense Holy Light meant that even peers would be forced to retreat.

But Green did not retreat.

“Cross Strike!”

Whoosh—

Massive mana gathered into her sword. As she swung, the entire garden felt as if it were being pressed down by an invisible hand. Everything froze—the flowers, the birds, even the air.

Except for one thing.

Green.

He leisurely set down the cloth he had been using to wipe his sword. He watched her perfect, flawless strike with a gratified smile.

“Alice, you really have grown up. As your godfather, it seems I can only give you one last lesson.”

What? Why isn’t he suppressed by my aura?! Alice, her mana nearly spent from the strike, froze.

Tap—

A crisp sound. Green had ghosted behind her and lightly tapped the back of her head with his palm.

“The lesson is: never, ever underestimate anyone, even if they seem like an ant you could easily crush.”

Knock, knock, knock.

A frantic pounding came from the front gate. “Commander! We’ve found a lead on the Withered Cult!”

Green looked at the dazed Alice, who looked like she couldn’t believe she had lost. He waved a casual farewell. “See you later, little dummy. Go ahead and eat dinner without me. Your godfather has to go to work.”

In the orange glow of the sunset, Green’s solitary figure vanished from Alice’s sight.

Raven Town, Life Tavern.

“Hey, you a foreigner?” a drunkard barked at a traveler riding a snow-white horse, their body hidden under a black cloak. “Rules say outsiders don’t get the stables for free.”

Clink.

The cloaked figure leapt from the horse and tossed a pouch of coins. The drunkard opened it, and the glint of gold instantly sobered him up. “Uh… Excellency?”

He wasn’t stupid. As a local “snake,” he had an eye for quality. Anyone who tossed a pouch of pure gold so casually was not someone to mess with.

“What’s the news in town lately?” The traveler’s voice was ethereal, almost delicate enough to be a girl’s.

“News? Why, the great Hero is coming to town to select their party for the Demon King subjugation!” the man said proudly. “Many top-tier teams, like the famous Star-Moon, have come here just for the chance!”

Good. The traveler seemed satisfied.

“Godfather,” she whispered. “You should be among them, right?”

Stroking the white horse, the cloaked figure walked straight into the tavern. The drunkard let out a breath of relief and hurried to stable the noble steed.

Push.

Inside the tavern, the traveler kept her hood up. Even though she was certain no one in the room was her match, she chose to remain hidden, sitting in a quiet corner.

“Never underestimate anyone,” she murmured, picking up a mug of ale. “I will remember your teaching, Godfather.”

“Hey, Lucy, don’t you think that Green guy is just too much!?”

A loud voice nearby caught her attention.

“Oh, Freya, don’t worry. I bet tomorrow morning he’ll come crawling back to you for forgiveness because he has nowhere else to go.”

Green?

The traveler’s hand shook, nearly spilling her beer. She sharpened her ears to listen. The more she heard, the more her heart grew cold.

No, it’s probably just someone with the same name. Green is a common name, she thought. But these ladies… aren’t they being a bit too much?

She looked with displeasure at the arrogant girl surrounded by flatterers. For some reason, hearing a man named Green being belittled by this woman made her incredibly angry.

No matter how she looked at it, the unreasonable one here was this “Young Lady.”