The atmosphere was tense, and I could tell that Fenrir was getting tired. He was giving me a look that told me to run.

But I held my ground and looked back at Fenrir with a calm and reassuring face.

"Fenrir, get ready. I am now going to bestow you with a new power."

I told Fenrir, and he only had a second to feel surprised before I pressed the button to unlock his potential.

[Please select a skill – close combat or ranged]

I picked ranged because there was no telling how many enemies we might face in the future.

[Please select – single target or AoE]

I picked AoE just to be safe, even if it was weaker.

[Select the attribute]

I pressed the first one I saw – lightning.

[Chief Follower Fenrir has gained a new skill. Remaining Balance: 162 Faith Points]

"W-What… Master, what is this?"

Fenrir asked as he felt energy course through his body. His fur was starting to stand up due to the effect of the lightning powers he now possessed.

"I gave you some new powers. Use them to get us out of this situation, Fenrir."

I told the puppy as the assassin tried to take advantage of Fenrir's shock to get past the pup and head toward me.

"Die—"

The assassin whispered softly enough for me to hear, but Fenrir had other plans for him.

Before the assassin came too close to me, I felt Fenrir use his lightning powers to hit the assassin. But because the powers were new, Fenrir was not able to use them to their full potential, and the attack was a little weak.

The assassin staggered, getting back to his feet for a second. But I acted before he could regain his senses and attacked with my staff.

Fenrir's lightning had not knocked the man out, but somehow my sting gun staff did the trick.

I was not sure why or how that happened, but I was not willing to ask either. It was just… best if I kept things under wraps for now.

As soon as the man collapsed, Fenrir came over to me and looked at the potentially dead body at my feet.

"Master, he's not dead. Should I finish the job—"

Fenrir asked in a suspicious voice, and I quickly shook my head.

"No. Let's let him be. I doubt he would be able to come after us again. Just to be sure, I'll tell the duchess about this, and she will take responsibility."

All logic in the world told me that I should end that man right then and there. That would be the safest thing for me to do.

But I had always been somewhat of a coward. I was afraid to end a life with my own hands. That was why I had never been able to become a doctor—because it required one to make tough decisions at times.

"Alright, if that's what you want."

Fenrir did not sound happy with my decision, and I knew that he was disappointed in me. Who would not be, after they spent their life saving someone, only for that person to then ask to spare their would-be assassin?

The pup turned toward the unconscious body and decided to bite the second ankle just for safety reasons.

Now that both ankles were potentially broken, the assassin wouldn't be able to come after us anymore. That was the best I could offer Fenrir.

Somehow, I had a feeling that the more I lived in this world, the more I would get used to seeing people get hurt and killed in front of my eyes. It was also a certainty that I would have to kill someone with my own hands as well.

Heck, I had already killed some people indirectly with my actions, like that rat follower and the humanoid rat.

I wondered if I would get numb over time or panic and chicken out every time.

'Fuck—! Now is not the time to be thinking about all this. I need to find a way to get to that chamber and have an audience with Goddess Helia. She is the only one who can clear this situation.'

I moved toward the corridor where I vaguely remembered walking last night. But the dome looked completely different compared to last time.

Still, I was able to recall where I needed to go based on my memory and found myself in a familiar corridor.

One more corner, and I would be in range to make that call—

"Excuse me, sir. But that area is off-limits to everyone. If you try and head there, then we will have to arrest you."

A guard told me as he placed a hand on my shoulder. I stopped as soon as that hand touched me, and Fenrir growled in anger.

"Master—"

"No, it's fine. Let's try not to make an enemy of the temple. We can come back later to try our luck."

I told Fenrir, and he finally calmed down. He did not look happy about it, but he did not try to fight me either.

The guard gave me a weird look for trying to talk to the pup at my side, but he did not comment on it any further.

Instead, he waited for me to follow him, and I felt like I had no choice this time.

"You might be an esteemed guest, but you still went near the forbidden section of the temple as ordained by the Cardinals. I will have to take you to them so that you can get your due punishment."

The guard told me as he signaled for me to follow him. Now this was a meeting I wanted to avoid but was not able to.

Even Fenrir had gone tense by my side, and he growled as he followed me.

The guard led me back to the garden, and there he was—Cardinal Joshua, standing right in the middle of the garden. He looked beautiful but also had a tense air around him.

As I and the guard approached him, he turned to face us. The guard immediately turned to give him a small bow.

"Sir, I have brought an intruder to face you. He was found near the forbidden section and refuses to tell us what he was doing. What would you like us to do to him?"

The guard asked, his head bowed in front of the Cardinal.

Cardinal Joshua looked at me with an almost amused look on his face before he turned to look at the guard.

"You may leave us for now. This person here is our guest, and as such, I would like to talk to him alone."

The Cardinal told the guard, and the guard looked hesitant.

"B-But, Cardinal—!"

The guard started to stutter, only for the Cardinal to place a flower against his lips.

"Do not speak. I know your fears, and I am here to assure you that they are unfounded. Now, head back to your post so that I can talk to our guest here alone."

The Cardinal told the guard, and though he still hesitated, he eventually decided to follow the Cardinal's will and leave us both alone.

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