Holy Knight Perry stepped out of the house before Shel. He was the first to feel Ipoli locals' "warm hospitality."

Trash, rotten fruit, and stones flew straight at his head.

Then Hilna aimed at him again, casting a Soul Shock spell.

Like his partner, Perry couldn’t draw his weapon in time. Agony overwhelmed him, stripping his defenses. Objects battered his head until he was dazed.

Impulsive residents surged forward, dragging him down. Brooms, sticks, and pitchforks rained on him.

Only his light armor and covering his head saved his life.

Shel finally emerged, shouting to the crowd. The noisy mob calmed slightly.

They cheered like a victorious army, thinking they’d rescued threatened Mr. Shel.

But Perry and Talia lay unconscious, injured worse than yesterday, too pained to speak.

Prince Noren, leading them, knew better than to rush. He signaled the crowd to scatter.

He examined the fallen Holy Knights. Their torn cleric robes revealed fine light armor beneath. His heart sank.

Oh no—they were real Holy Knights.

Just as he turned to question Shel, the panting priest arrived. Seeing hundreds surrounding the cottage, he pushed through frantically. His old body nearly collapsed.

"Stop! Stop! These are real Holy Knights!" he yelled desperately. "A misunderstanding! Mr. Shel and they have reconciled!"

"What’s happening? Why are Holy Knights here?" Prince Noren was baffled.

Before he could speak, his daughters bounced to Teacher Charles. They boasted to the awkward Shel.

"Teacher Charles! We called everyone! No one will let them take you!"

"Uh..." Shel stared at their determined faces, the unconscious knights, and Prince Noren’s confused expression. He had no reply.

Meanwhile, Prince Noren learned yesterday’s conflict from the priest. His face darkened.

As Ipoli’s lord, he’d led ignorant citizens to beat Holy Knights. Legally, this equaled attacking the Pope’s envoys—near heresy.

This was serious trouble.

In a restless nightmare, Perry dreamt of frenzied Ipoli residents hanging him on a flagpole, drying him like jerky.

Groaning in pain, he sat up, escaping the vivid dream.

"Hello, Mr. Perry, awake?" Shel asked gently. "I applied medicine myself. Are you alright?"

Perry’s head spun. His last memory: stepping out to shouting crowds surrounding the cottage. Stones hit him, knocking him out.

"What... happened?" he rasped.

Shel chose his words, taking blame. "My fault. I thought you’d arrest me. I had my students mobilize townsfolk to handle you. I’m well-known here—they sided with me."

Perry stayed silent.

Shel continued, "I overstepped. I apologize deeply. Don’t blame the locals—they’re kind-hearted, swayed by me. Arrest me if you must."

"Uh..."

Perry truly had no words.

Then he recalled falling. "Before I collapsed... was that a Soul Shock spell?"

"Yes. My student Hilna cast it on my orders. You and your friend each took one hit."

This spell was extremely hard. Shel himself couldn’t master it—backlash gave him crippling headaches.

But Hilna’s talent was astonishing. She succeeded on her first try.

She could lock onto anyone in sight, unleashing this near-perfect magic. It churned consciousness into painful mush.

"She’s only fifteen!" Perry’s suspicion confirmed. Resentment faded—he’d never seen such mage talent at that age.

Recommending her to the HolySee would be a huge achievement.

If Hilna studied theology and joined the Eternal Church, she might even become a Cardinal Bishop!

This beating wasn’t a loss—it could be his stepping stone upward.

Shel watched the Holy Knight’s joyful smile, worried he’d been beaten senseless.

"Mr. Shel... may I meet Hilna’s parents? I wish to discuss with them—and you—in detail."

"You still care about this?" Shel had hesitated earlier. Seeing Perry’s persistence despite the beating, he was impressed. "Do you truly believe the Eternal Church will nurture Hilna?"

"Absolutely! She might become a Saintess! For the Eternal Church’s cause, my injuries mean nothing!" Perry declared firmly.

"Alright."

Hilna didn’t grasp what happened, but felt calling backup was wrong. Teacher Charles hadn’t praised them—he’d summoned her parents.

She worried, "Will I be jailed for attacking Holy Knights with magic?"

"Unlikely," Lofna said. "Even if our parents hand you over, Teacher Charles will protect us."

"Uh, Lofna, our dad is the same person."

"Oh, right." Lofna slapped her forehead. "Anyway—nothing to fear."

The girls calmed after talking. Townsfolk cared even less.

They thought the priest and Prince Noren overreacted. Beating was done—no regrets.

Most Ipoli residents lived with fearless, ignorant joy.

But Shel, Hilna’s parents, and Perry talked too long. Even the fearless grew puzzled.

Curious, Hilna peeked through the window. Inside, her devout mother chatted eagerly with bedridden Perry.

Prince Noren and Shel wore worried frowns, unhappy.

"What are Teacher and my parents discussing?" Hilna wondered anxiously.

Inside, thoughtful Shel spotted the peeking girl. He decided to let her choose.

He waved, signaling her to enter.