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If you were to ask Sophia about her job satisfaction as a Nun Knight affiliated with the Paladins, she would probably say she’s quite satisfied.

Considering her past life as Lee Beom-seok, who spent his life restoring forgotten mysteries and martial arts that were otherwise only useful for cultural preservation or combat stages, it’s no wonder she’s content. After all that effort, the result is something that actually contributes to world peace—why wouldn’t she be satisfied?

‘I can’t resist it, that’s for sure.’

Exterminating demons and monsters, or setting misguided bandits on the right path—usually by imprisoning them, turning them into mining slaves, or hanging and parading their bodies—fit her talents perfectly. It was even fulfilling work.

But if you asked her if she regretted becoming a Nun Knight, she’d also say, ‘No!’

It’s not like she never longed for a peaceful and leisurely life. At one point, she even thought it wouldn’t be so bad to become a priest and manage a small church or convent in the countryside.

But then she got roped into traveling the world by Bishop Agnes Lefebvre, the head of the convent where Sophia was staying at the time. So, it’s no wonder she still harbors some discomfort in a corner of her heart.

Thus, the memories of her naive days taking the trials to become a Paladin Knight are nothing but a dark history for Sophia. And Cardinal Andrea, who keeps bringing up those memories, is just a jerk who deserves a good smack.

*Clang!*

Arriving at the training ground, Sophia drew her longsword with a fierce aura, slashing diagonally over her shoulder. But strangely, the moment she took her stance, the violent killing intent surrounding her vanished, replaced by a calm, controlled tension.

“Hoh.”

Cardinal Andrea’s eyes sparkled as he watched, quietly impressed. He then drew his own longsword, extending his arm and pointing the tip toward Sophia, positioning himself to guard against her slashes aimed at his side and upper arm.

Sophia, raising an eyebrow at his stance, began to move. Despite Cardinal Andrea’s swordplay targeting her weak points, she unleashed a diagonal slash from over her shoulder.

The accelerated slash came faster than Andrea had anticipated. Knowing he’d be swept away if he stubbornly tried to counter, he abandoned his thrust and raised his longsword overhead.

As Sophia’s slash aimed to strike the tilted blade, Andrea quickly pulled his sword back over his shoulder, then pressed it downward like plowing the ground, straightening the blade. Naturally, Sophia’s sword was forced down, and Andrea’s blade aimed for her throat.

Normally, this would have been Andrea’s victory. But Sophia was no ordinary swordsman. Her sword, seemingly pressed down, twisted in a bizarre motion, slithering up Andrea’s blade like a snake, aiming for his wrist.

“Impressive technique!”

Andrea exclaimed, swinging his sword to repel Sophia’s attack and stepping back. But Sophia didn’t pursue him, instead pointing her sword at mid-level and calmly steadying her breath. Andrea, having prepared a counter only to be outmaneuvered, clicked his tongue.

“Tsk, you’re not going to fall for it easily, are you?”

“Perhaps Your Eminence is just getting too old. Even a child wouldn’t fall for such tricks these days.”

“Hoh, is that so? I don’t think so.”

“Then I’ll just have to change your mind.”

“Go ahead and try.”

Watching the exchange of banter, Hildegard wore a look of confusion, as if wondering where she was and what she was doing there. But her eyes sparkled as she focused on the duel. Sophia and Andrea’s movements were so precise and clean, they could’ve been straight out of a martial arts manual.

Andrea, lowering his longsword and straightening his back, spoke in a tone of mixed emotions.

“Truth be told, your swordsmanship has surpassed mine for quite some time.”

“That’s not wrong, but bringing it up now is quite something.”

Sophia furrowed her brow at Andrea’s words. Regardless, Andrea adjusted his grip on his sword and continued.

“So, let’s see how much your actual skill has improved.”

The moment he finished speaking, Andrea vanished. Or rather, he accelerated so fast that the eye couldn’t follow. Sophia’s sword swung like a windmill in response.

The clashing of steel echoed countless times in an instant, and footprints appeared and disappeared repeatedly on the ground. Then, as Andrea reappeared, Sophia’s figure vanished.

In the next moment, flashes of sword light erupted simultaneously across the training ground. The afterimages from their rapid movements and clashes hadn’t even faded before the next collision occurred.

Bishop Giovanni, watching this, exclaimed in admiration.

“All I see are blurry afterimages. Could someone explain what’s happening?”

“It’s because their movements are too fast. Even we, as spectators, can barely keep up. The two of them probably can’t even see each other clearly.”

“Then how are they fighting?”

“What else? By experience and instinct. Most of our fights are like this.”

Hildegard’s casual remark struck the young bishop as a shock. Is this what battles at the pinnacle of humanity look like? And is this how they fight against non-human entities?

But even Hildegard was sweating internally. It was clear that Sophia had grown stronger since the last dragon-slaying mission. Previously, she could sense Sophia’s ethereal muscles and predict her movements, but now, that was no longer possible.

This meant Sophia’s ethereal muscles had become more refined and controlled. This change came after Sophia gained insight into the Heart Sword. By learning to control the sword with her mind, her movements while wielding it began to transcend physical limits.

So, for Andrea to keep up with Sophia’s unpredictable movements using only experience, intuition, physical prowess, and honed skills, he truly was a monstrously skilled fighter.

But even Andrea couldn’t avoid the pain of his muscles tearing and his breath catching in his throat during this clash. Finally, after deflecting Sophia’s attack with a large motion, Andrea threw his sword to the ground, raised both arms, and surrendered.

“Enough! I lose! I lose! Let’s stop now! You’re going to kill this old man!”

The usually composed Andrea looked genuinely panicked, a sight that would’ve shocked anyone who knew him. Sophia, appearing with a dissatisfied expression, spoke up.

“Don’t you think it’s a bit problematic to only seek out the old man when it’s convenient? You were holding up just fine, so why the sudden theatrics?”

“Sophia, you’ll understand when you reach my age! Nothing stays the same when you get old!”

Sophia, speechless at Andrea’s words, closed her mouth. Considering her past life, where she lived to 160 and dealt with underworld bureaucrats, Andrea’s complaints seemed like mere whining.

Of course,

‘You little brat! I lived to 160 in my past life, beating up underworld bureaucrats all the way! Compared to that, you’re still a youngster, a youngster!’

She couldn’t exactly say that, so she just quietly closed her mouth and ignored him.

Anyway, they’d had a good workout. Feeling refreshed, Sophia, along with Hildegard, who was now fired up for training after the spectacle, decided to leave the Bishop’s Keep. The strategy meeting Andrea had ordered for the upcoming council could wait until tomorrow.

As the two Nun Knights walked away side by side, Bishop Giovanni watched their retreating figures with a determined expression. Andrea, brushing off the dust from his body, approached him.

“What are you thinking about?”

“I was thinking that the battles fought on the frontlines of humanity are far more terrifying than I imagined.”

“Hmph, of course. Those who haven’t experienced fighting supernatural beings are bound by fixed perspectives and can’t easily imagine it. But in our world, that’ll get you killed.”

That’s why the qualities required of a Paladin Knight aren’t just about strength, but also the mental readiness to surpass limits at any moment, Andrea added.

“So, we need to prepare thoroughly. The tasks ahead of us are grave.”

Giovanni nodded solemnly at Andrea’s words.

++++

“So, you’re planning to keep dressing like that?”

“Of course, I am.”

Hildegard’s veins bulged on her forehead as she spoke calmly, her jaw tightening.

In her hands were the cloak and robe she’d prepared for Priest Esiocles, who had just been released from detention and had refused to wear either.

Hildegard, recalling the apologetic look Sophia had given her before leaving with Conra to wait at the inn, clenched her trembling fists.

 

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