Translator: Nox

My Husband Was Clearly a Paladin

Chapter 11

The clock tower in the center of the Fortress let out a loud chime, striking exactly ten times.

10:00 AM.

It was the hour when everyone set out for the Dungeon subjugations.

“Out of the way! We’re entering Dungeon 75 first!”

Among those gathered in the plaza before the Fortress, the more impatient pairs were already mounted on their horses, fidgeting restlessly until they galloped off the moment the bell tolled.

The other pairs watched them, grumbling about their lack of class, but soon followed suit, not wanting to be left behind.

Watching the crowd rush off together, Irene swallowed a sense of pity.

‘That intermediate dungeon isn’t even anything special.’

An intermediate dungeon didn’t necessarily guarantee good rewards. It simply had a slightly higher chance of yielding a rare Artifact than a low-level one, and the basic rewards were a bit more stable.

In exchange, the Monsters there were much stronger and far more numerous than those in low-level dungeons.

Besides, ten teams would be entering that dungeon anyway; being the first to step inside didn’t make a significant difference.

‘That’s why veteran pairs who don’t dream of getting rich quick often prefer to take their time clearing low-level dungeons instead.’

However, people who came all this way specifically to enter dungeons were rarely looking for a stable, modest income.

‘And many die before they even become veterans….’

Of course, purifiers were at a lower risk of death compared to knights. Logically, there should be more purifiers than knights, but reality was different.

It was common for a purifier’s power to strengthen around their coming-of-age ceremony, only to vanish abruptly after about ten years.

Because of this, purifiers devoted themselves fervently to dungeon raids while they still had their strength.

Irene watched the pairs preparing to tackle the low-level dungeons.

Low-level dungeons appeared frequently, and fewer people sought to subjugate them. Consequently, there was no overlap in the dungeons they wanted, leading to a more relaxed and friendly atmosphere compared to those who had just departed.

Normally, they would have exchanged pleasantries before heading to their respective pre-selected dungeons, but today was different.

“It is an honor to meet you, Sir Michael.”

A crowd had gathered around Michael, with everyone trying to squeeze in at least a word with him.

‘Seeing this sight again feels fresh.’

In the past, Irene would have stood far off to the side, waiting for him to finish greeting the others.

He, too, must have found facing Irene awkward, as he used to spend a long time talking to the knights of other pairs.

‘At least this time, the others aren’t glaring as much, so it’s more comfortable.’

Was it because Michael had been the one to request the pair first this time?

Unlike her previous life, the looks of disdain or contempt directed at her had definitely decreased. Instead, a different kind of gaze was fixed on Irene.

Irene reflexively brushed her cheek. Her skin practically prickled under the sharp, jealous stares of the other purifiers.

Irene tried her best to ignore them and looked back toward Michael.

It wasn’t just knights surrounding him. Even the purifiers of those knights were striving to get a chance to speak to Michael.

‘They’re probably hoping for a “just in case” scenario.’

Even if she had gone up a rank, she was still only a 9th-rank purifier. It was only natural for a knight to want a higher-ranked purifier.

‘They likely think that since he’s a Holy Knight who has sought out a pair, if they build a connection this year, there might be an opportunity next year.’

But the opportunity would come much sooner than those purifiers expected.

The moment she announced she was quitting the pair after obtaining the Artifact today, there would be an absolute frenzy over who would take the spot next to Michael.

‘It’s going to be quite a commotion.’

Honestly, she could guess what would happen. Michael had come to the Fortress determined to form a pair. Even if Irene left, he would try to find another purifier.

If that happened, many purifiers would break their current pairings to try and form a new one with Michael. There would likely be an unprecedented uproar in the Fortress.

‘Even so… it’s none of my business.’

Irene was simply happy at the thought that she would soon possess the freedom she had never obtained in the past.

Just then, one of the knights circling Michael approached Irene.

“Hello, Purifier-nim. I am Maxim from the Kingdom of Solvey.”

“…Hello.”

Irene found herself tensing up instinctively as she returned the greeting.

From the past to the present, not a single knight who had approached her first had been decent. Most would look at her with fascination, wondering if a 10th-rank purifier actually existed.

If it had ended there, it would have been fine. There were those who, curious to see how bottom-tier her purification abilities were, would recklessly grab her hand or pull her arm.

‘Back then, even though I was Michael’s pair, he almost never sought me out….’

To the other knights, she must have essentially looked like a purifier without a pair. A masterless dog. That was about it.

Recalling those times, Irene watched Maxim while remaining on guard.

She was wondering why on earth he had spoken to her when he opened his mouth.

“Ah, it’s nothing else…. I was wondering if Sir Michael uses the Fortress training grounds? If he does, do you happen to know around what time?”

“Pardon?”

Irene let out a bewildered sound at the completely unexpected question.

“I wanted to ask Sir Michael directly, but as you can see, everyone is surrounding him and won’t make way….”

As he spoke, he scratched his cheek as if embarrassed.

Unlike the other knights she had seen until now, there was no sinister or mocking look in Maxim’s eyes. There was only the bashfulness of a knight unable to directly approach someone he admired.

Maxim looked like a knight who had only just reached adulthood, still retaining a hint of boyishness.

Every knight on the continent knew Michael’s name and idolized him. Having met the legendary figure in person at the Fortress, he seemed so nervous he didn’t know what to do with himself.

Seeing him like that, Irene’s tension melted away. Finding his behavior somewhat cute, she replied with an unintended smile.

“I’m not sure. I don’t know Sir Michael’s schedule very well myself….”

Since she truly didn’t know how Michael spent his day, she had nothing to tell him.

It was then.

Michael, who had been surrounded by people, turned his head and looked at Irene.

In that instant, he ignored everyone around him and walked straight toward her. He then stood between Irene and Maxim, hiding her behind his back as if shielding her.

“What is going on?”

His voice was icy, a stark contrast to how he had been speaking to the others just moments ago.

Startled by the tone, both Irene and Maxim jumped and looked at him.

“Oh, no, I was just….”

He finally got to speak to the person he admired, but the atmosphere was nothing like he had imagined. Because of that, Maxim stammered, unable to speak properly.

Seeing this, Irene stepped in, feeling a bit sorry for him.

“He was just asking about your schedule, Michael-nim.”

“If that were the case, he could have asked me directly.”

Even after the explanation, Michael’s voice remained cold. Irene couldn’t understand his attitude at all.

‘Why is he acting like this?’

Michael was a man who was polite to everyone. The only times he grew sharp were when someone acted improperly or was on the verge of becoming a demonic beast.

Beyond that, wasn’t he respected precisely because he treated everyone with courtesy? Yet, his current attitude clearly showed he was wary of Maxim.

‘Surely he hasn’t been corrupted by demonic energy already?’

She leaned her head to the side to look at Michael, but she didn’t see the bloodshot red eyes characteristic of someone suffering from demonic corruption.

In the end, Maxim mumbled a few more words before practically fleeing the spot.

Feeling pity for him, Irene was watching his retreating figure when Michael spoke.

“Is he someone you know?”

“No. Today was the first time I met him.”

“Then why did you….”

“Pardon?”

He said something, but it was drowned out by a pair departing on horseback at that exact moment.

Ultimately, Irene had to turn away without hearing what he had wanted to say.