The current capital city of the holy country is currently in the middle of reconstruction. However, the citizen's mood is better than ever despite their current terrible state. A group suddenly appears at the gate of the city. The presence in the middle of it made all surrounding people stop their actions and turn to that person.

-S-Saint!

-Saint Higa is here!

-We offer our greeting to our mighty saint.

Higa waves her hand with a shy face and replies to them.

-You guys don't have to greet me with formality like that. I'm not that important... (Higa)

-How could you say that?

-You have saved all of us here...

-Yes, we can now escape from the tyrant's hand thanks to the church.

-And the mysterious little girl too...

-Did you see her in that fight?

-Yeah! I never thought she could defeat that evil thing and free our minds from being controlled.

-Is she the new paladin who belongs to the church, saint Higa?

Somehow, the topic suddenly takes a turn to Farah. It's familiar to see the saint's appearance since she is a public figure. But what makes them curious even more is the little girl who defeated the devil.

Higa also seizes this chance to escape from the crowd and her escorts. She chooses a spot near the gate with fewer people and stays with her attendants.

-Hmmm! I think she will be here soon. (Higa)

It doesn't take long for Higa to see a carriage approaching the gate.

-She is here! (Higa)

Higa immediately runs in the carriage's direction.

-Saint Higa!

-Saint!

Higa's attendants have no choice but to follow behind her. Higa's group takes some time to catch up with the carriage. Once the carriage stop, a figure comes down from it and walks toward Higa.

-Ahma! You are finally here! (Higa)

Higa runs toward Ahma and hugs her body.

-Moh! It takes so much effort just to call you here. Since you decline my offer every time... (Higa)

Ahma shyly pushes Higa away and tells her.

-I'm only here because I have something to do... (Ahma)

Higa giggled as she heard Ahma's answers.

-Right...right! (Higa)

-Sainttt!

-Saint Higa...!

-Your attendant seems to be here. (Ahma)

-Ahahaha! (Higa)

Higa turns around and shouts at them.

-You guys can go back now... (Higa)

-But saint! Your safety...

-That's right...

Higa points at Ahma and tells them.

-Why do you talk about safety when I have her by my side? Did you forget this one beat 30 of you on her own? (Higa)

-Well...

-I...

-Shooo~shooo go back for now. (Higa)

All the paladins look at each other and sigh out loud.

-Captain will scold us for sure...

-Yeaaa...

The paladin reluctantly but decide to leave in the end.

-It's just us now, Ahma! Let's go!! (Higa)

Ahma replies to Higa with an unmotivated voice.

-Alright... (Ahma)

Higa pulls Ahma's hand and heads toward the capital city. On their way, many people greet them mainly because of Higa.

-They look pretty cheerful despite the fall of the royal family and many nobles... (Ahma)

However, Higa ignores Ahma's statement and changes the topic.

-Ahahah! That uncle is selling meat skewers! Let's go there! (Higa)

-But... (Ahma)

Ahma looks unwillingly, but she has no choice but to follow Higa in the end.

-It is surprisingly delicious... (Ahma)

Higa smiles and asks Ahma.

-Is that so? Do you want some more? (Higa)

-No...I! (Ahma)

-You want more? Alright! Uncle gives us 5 more! (Higa)

-Ohhh, I will serve the cute miss and saint right away...

After that, Ahma's stomach is stuffed full of meat skewers.

-Urgh... (Ahma)

-Is that too much for you, after all? (Higa)

-Yeah... (Ahma)

-Hehehe~ Anyway, how long would you stay here? I thought you would try to catch up with your lover as soon as possible. (Higa)

-I am not her lover! (Ahma)

-"Yet", right? (Higa)

Ahma shyly looks away from Higa.

-Youth~ (Higa)

-You are still young, Higa... (Ahma)

Higa puts both of her hands on the cheeks.

-I am forever 18, you know~ (Higa)

-Ha...Anyway, I will stay here until the execution day. (Ahma)

-... (Higa)

-I want to witness the end of that tyrant. Those people did more harm than good for this country. (Ahma)

For a few seconds, Ahma's eyes turn scarily cold enough to make Higa frown.

-But... (Ahma)

The coldness in Ahma's suddenly disappears, as if there is nothing there in the first place.

-Thanks to the church's support for the citizen mentally and physically, our citizens can live in peace. The church even fully provides the entire reconstruction fee for the people here. (Ahma)

Higa shakes her head and tells Ahma.

-We just followed our teaching... (Higa)
 
-Right... (Ahma)

The atmosphere between the two of them suddenly become awkward because of the previous conversation.

-Where will you stay, Ahma? Let me take you there. (Higa)

-I stay at... (Ahma)

Higa takes Ahma to the inn and leaves her there. After saying goodbye to Ahma, she came to the nearby alley and sighed alone.

-Hah, that girl...And how long do you want to hide? (Higa)

A shadow appears from behind Higa and approaches her. Higa turns around and hits the shadow's face.

-Ayyaaa! That hurts, Higa! (???)

-Huh! How could I be able to hurt the strongest paladin of the church? And since when the strongest paladin changes his job to a stalker, Karz. (Higa)

-What!? If not for you left your escorts behind again, I wouldn't have to follow you like this. (Karz)

-An acceptable reason for a stalker...Huh? (Higa)

Karz reaches out and pinches Higa's cheeks.

-Should you stop calling your childhood friend a stalker? (Karz)

-Uwwuuu! Stalker! Release my cheeks. (Higa)

-Hmmm, only when you stopped calling me by that nickname. Huh, Have you gained weight recently? I feel you... (Karz)

Higa angrily raises her leg and kick at Karz's crouch.

-Urghhhh! That hurts so much, you know! (Karz)

-Never make a joke out of a maiden's weight! (Higa)

-Maiden...You are... (Karz)

Higa kicks Karz's crouch again and stomps on it rapidly.

-I am always 18! (Higa)

-Stop! Stop! Stoppppp! (Karz)

After satisfying with beating Karz, Higa stops and tells him to go back with her.

-Anyway, you cared so much about that little girl, Higa. (Karz)

-Well...It's just a mother's instinct. (Higa)

-But you are still single now, though... (Karz)

-You really want others to hit you, Karz. (Higa)

-Eh? (Karz)

-This is one is a blockhead. Do you know why I remain single until now? (Higa)

Karz tilts his head and asks Higa back.

-Why? (Karz)

-Hah...I give up. I think I must accept being single until dead. (Higa)

-??? (Karz)

-Ahma just give her a feeling that I can't leave her alone. Otherwise... (Higa)

Higa looks at the sorrowful eyes.

-She may be the stray from her way at any time without my leading. (Higa)

-How can you be so sure about that, Higa? (Karz)

-You knew that girl occasionally had some kind of weird eyes, right? (Higa)

Karz shakes as he tries to remember it.

-Those eyes...I never thought it would belong to a person who kills no one. But it's not the first time I saw those kinds of stares... (Karz)

-... (Higa)

-Those stares remind me of those crazy cold-blood murderers. (Karz)

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Arc 5: Fragile Happiness-END~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Name: Karz

Sex: Male

Age: 27

Description: The strongest paladin in this generation.