That Little Mess Between the Vampire and the Paladin

Chapter 13

Chapter 13. Holy Light

While Dean was being lectured by Caitlin, Kyle had already sealed Adrian’s corpse in a hidden location outside the city.

“Done. Time to take the little guy to meet the Paladin mentor he’s been longing for.”

……

‘Pay attention to their family crests. That sailing ship emblem—most likely a maritime trade family. And the thorn patterns along the edge of this one’s insignia—probably connected to some woodland iron guild…’

While chatting with others, Caitlin transmitted guidance to Dean through mental power, teaching him how to observe and deal with different kinds of people.

‘Sis, it’s settled. Bring the kid out. We’re going to meet his future mentor now.’

A familiar strand of mental energy linked into Caitlin’s mind.

‘So fast?! Didn’t you say it would take some time to arrange?’ Caitlin was startled inwardly.

‘What, is fast not good? Want me to cancel it?’

Kyle’s habitual teasing tone rang out.‘Don’t! I’ll bring him out right away!’

With that, Caitlin rose gracefully, slightly bowing to the diners she had been conversing with. With a faint smile, she said to Wenna and the others, “Everyone, my apologies. There is an urgent matter at home that requires our attention. We must take our leave.”

She turned to Dean with a meaningful look. He froze briefly, then quickly reacted, imitating his sister as he bade Wenna and the others farewell with a bow.

The moment they stepped out of the bamboo building, the alchemical puppet carriage that had been parked earlier was already waiting at the entrance. The two swiftly boarded. The vehicle started smoothly and merged into the street. Several prying gazes hidden in the shadows quietly withdrew.

“Little Dean, what are you thinking about?” Caitlin noticed that he did not seem particularly excited about meeting a Paladin. Instead, he was silent, lost in thought.

“Do you even need to ask? He’s definitely thinking about all the dishes you ordered—barely touched before being left behind.” Kyle saw through Dean at a glance.

Dean opened his mouth, embarrassed. He truly did feel heartache over the wasted food, yet facing the two of them, he did not know how to express it.

“Relax,” Kyle said calmly. “Those high-end dishes won’t simply be thrown away. They’ll likely end up with the attendants or in the kitchen.”

“As for the money, that’s even less your concern. Caitlin should have taught you already—here, social interaction comes first. Money and food are secondary. As long as you gain enough social knowledge, the meal is worth it.”

The puppet carriage drove into a nearby branch of the Silver Moon Chamber of Commerce. Dean finally changed out of the restrictive formal attire and into comfortable new casual clothes, letting out a long breath of relief.

“The other party is outside the city. The puppet carriage isn’t convenient there—I’ll take you directly.” Kyle then turned to Caitlin. “Coming along?”

“Of course!”

Caitlin naturally would not refuse. How could she miss such an important moment? Besides, with her super-powered little brother present, would the other party really dare to cut her down?

“Then let’s go.”

Dense darkness enveloped the three of them, and they vanished from the spot.

Sitting cross-legged beneath a tree in meditation, O’Brien suddenly opened his eyes and looked toward the forest ahead.

Three figures emerged from the shadows of the trees, one in front and two behind.

“Slower than I expected.”

O’Brien rose slowly, his gaze sharp as he examined the newcomers.

“Something small delayed us,” Kyle replied calmly, stepping aside to gesture for Dean to go forward on his own. He and Caitlin would watch from a distance.

Dean took a deep breath and walked toward O’Brien. The mere hundred meters felt incomparably long with every step.

O’Brien’s gray-blue eyes carefully assessed the boy before him—green, young, without the slightest trace of cultivation, simple to the extreme. It was difficult to imagine this was a child raised by vampires.

Dean stopped two meters before O’Brien, looking at him with a mixture of nervousness and resolve. He gave a solemn bow.

“Respected Paladin, I am Dean. I… am willing to accept any trial, as long as I may follow in your footsteps and become a true Paladin.”

“And if I say that to follow my footsteps, you must distance yourself from vampires—how would you choose?”

Caitlin could not help clenching her fists.

Dean merely furrowed his brow slightly. His gaze did not waver in the slightest.

“Sir, you should have seen my past experiences. The purpose of my pursuit of justice is to protect. And the one I most wish to protect is my sister! If I betray my original intention, then… I will no longer be myself.”

Looking at his calm gaze, O’Brien finally revealed the first smile since they had met, faint though it was.

“Very good. Remember what you said today. When your future self is lost, these words will be the beacon that leads you back to yourself.”

He drew his longsword and planted it into the ground between them. The blade gleamed coldly in the sunlight. “Grip it.”

Dean froze for a moment, then obediently reached out and grasped the hilt—

“Buzz!!!”

A circle of gentle white light enveloped Dean. A holy aura surged continuously from the sword’s hilt, washing over his body and soul like waves of the sea.

Dean was completely immersed in a dreamlike yet real illusion—or rather, he was reliving his life once more. This time, under the witness of Holy Light, he would walk his life’s path again.

While Dean underwent his initiation trial, O’Brien observed Kyle and Caitlin. A Paladin’s initiation baptism was essentially a higher-level soul detection. A person’s good and evil, and their personal will, would be laid bare beneath the Holy Light.

“How astonishing! I never expected to see a Blood race not aligned with evil!” O’Brien looked at the faint blue glow emanating from Caitlin.

Yet what shocked him even more was the pure white glow around Kyle—untainted, like that of a newborn infant. But… how could that be?

“Hah, what about now?” Sensing what O’Brien was thinking, Kyle cooperated by controlling his will. The white glow around him shifted—now turning blue, symbolizing order, then red, symbolizing chaos.

O’Brien’s eyes widened. His composure shattered once more. What had he just witnessed? Someone who could deceive soul detection?!

“You can manipulate the feedback of soul detection?!”

Kyle did not answer. Beneath the silver mask, his eyes gazed at the Holy Light surrounding Dean. With a curl of his finger, a strand of Holy Light was drawn into his palm.

“Holy Light never rejects one who truly understands it.”

“You—! Th-this…” O’Brien’s worldview was utterly overturned.

Kyle looked at the warm Holy Light in his palm, as if glimpsing his former self within it. But he merely waved his hand lightly, allowing the strand of Holy Light to slowly dissipate. He was someone who looked forward—why would he indulge in the past?

“The essence of Holy Light is far more inclusive than you imagine. It’s just that the sacred power forged by Paladins—combining their faith with light energy—resonates more closely with Holy Light and more easily earns its favor. That has given you Paladins the illusion that only Paladins can gain Holy Light’s recognition~”

“You have never truly understood Holy Light!”