"Clive, why did you ignore my order and send your men to search?"
She stormed into the eastern sentry post angrily and glared at the Holy Knight in front of her.
She couldn't help but be angry because after she lost contact with the patrol team yesterday afternoon, she had communicated with them and decided to investigate personally.
But what she didn't expect was that the Holy Knight actually went back on his words. He had promised her before, but he changed his mind in the blink of an eye.
How could she not be angry?
She was the representative of the Church of Holy Church in the Elf Forest. If everyone did this to her, then as the Saintess and the commander-in-chief of the frontline, how could she continue to follow orders?
"Your Highness, please forgive my rudeness …"
The bearded Holy Knight hurriedly stood up and bowed respectfully to Aili when he saw her angrily charging towards him.
"I understand your feelings, but Your Highness, you have a noble status and are the commander-in-chief of the Church of Holy Church. I don't think you should take the risk yourself.
This kind of matter should be left to us to complete … "
"But there are some things that must be done by me. I remember that we had discussed this yesterday."
Seeing that the Holy Knight had chosen to take a step back, Alice didn't push him too hard.
But even so, she was furious because two patrol teams had already lost contact with each other.
This meant that normal Holy Knights wouldn't be able to fight against the enemy.
Under such circumstances, the Holy Knight still forcefully sent out a new patrol team. This was a very risky move.
Fortunately, when Alice arrived, the two patrol teams had just left, so she had to forcefully activate the signal to summon them back.
And it was precisely because of this that the two patrol teams managed to escape. Otherwise, the number of people on the missing list might have increased.
But what Alice was most dissatisfied with wasn't the Holy Knight's attitude, but his actions.
"And … I clearly told Irene to stop the operation, why did you refuse to accept the order?"
"I didn't refuse to accept the order!"
However, what Aili didn't expect was that at this moment, the Paladin suddenly jumped up and said angrily.
"If it was your Highness Alice who gave the order, then I would definitely obey.
But I can't accept an order from an unknown person! "
"What do you mean?"
Upon hearing her words, Aili was taken aback. In the next moment, her expression turned gloomy.
"What do you mean by an unknown person? Irene is our partner, and she is also the Son of the Sun God Amonra.
You also know what kind of role her ability played in this battle, how can you say such words? "
"But, isn't she a forsaken one?!!"
The Paladin finally roared as if he had been forced into a corner by Alice.
Then, he turned around abruptly and pointed at Irene, who was standing quietly at the side with no expression on her face.
"There's also that kind of strange spiritual power. Miss Saintess, I really wonder who she is!
I don't think a Saint Son blessed by the gods would be a forsaken person! "
"Shut up!!"
Hearing until here, Allie almost exploded in anger. She almost roared and interrupted the Holy Knight in front of her.
This was the first time the Saintess showed extreme anger. She stared coldly at the Holy Knight and uttered, enunciating every word.
"In the teachings of the Church of the Nine Saints, the most important thing is not to make wild guesses about others without evidence. Malice without reason is the source of corruption.
The forsaken person is a mistake. A historical mistake from the Church of the Holy Church.
And we have corrected this mistake. Do you understand what I mean?
The Church of the Holy Church is not infallible. We consider ourselves to be the representatives of the gods, but we are not omnipotent.
We are also fearful, hesitant, and make mistakes.
But this isn't a reason for us to let our mistakes go unchecked.
If you are blinded by anger and fear, I hope you can calm down and ask yourself.
Remember, we don't look at others based on what they have done. Instead, we look at them with our own eyes.
Seeing is believing. "
This wasn't the first time Aili heard of the Holy Knights' opinions about Irene.
In the beginning, it was still fine. However, as more people arrived and there were more people, Irene's influence began to change.
Many Holy Knights were disgusted by her direct transmission of information into their minds. Not to mention, Irene was often the one who transmitted orders and information on behalf of Alice. This made some Holy Knights suspect that Irene was using the name of the Saintess to issue orders at will.
As the spiritual type was considered a rather mysterious type, even though this method of transmission was convenient, it wouldn't leave behind any evidence.
Therefore, no matter what was said, the other party could refute and deny it.
Moreover, this ability was as though listening in on one's thoughts and words at any time, which made one feel uncomfortable.
Of course, up until this moment, Aili didn't think that Irene would do this.
But many Holy Knights apparently didn't think so.
They were very guarded against Irene and often even delayed her actions on purpose.
However, this was the first time that this Holy Knight expressed his opinion directly.
"… Yes, Your Highness."
Hearing Aili's words, the Holy Knight pondered in silence for a few moments before replying dejectedly.
Upon hearing his answer, Aili nodded with a solemn expression before turning to Irene beside her.
"Alright, now go and apologize to Miss Iristine, then go and reflect on yourself for three hours. If it was in the White Tower, it would take at least three days.
But now that the situation is urgent, I will punish you for now. "
"Yes …"
Hearing Aili's command, the Holy Knight came to Irene dejectedly and gazed at her with a complicated expression. Then, he lowered his head deeply.
"I'm sorry, Miss Irene. I was confused and offended you. Please forgive me."
Irene shook her head expressionlessly.
(It's nothing. I didn't take it to heart.)
"Thank you for your magnanimity."
Hearing Irene's response, the Holy Knight revealed a bitter smile and turned around to leave.
Gazing at his back, Aili let out a long sigh. Then, she approached Irene and bowed to her solemnly.
"I'm really sorry, Miss Irene. I apologize for my subordinate's inappropriate words."
(I didn't take it to heart, Sister Aili.)
In response to Aili's words, Iristine shook her head with a calm expression.
There wasn't even the slightest bit of emotion in her eyes.
(Alright then, it's time for me to prepare.)
"Ah. Okay …"
Looking at Irene's departing figure, Aili seemed to be at a loss.
She let out a helpless sigh and put on a solemn expression.
Looking at her expression, the Clergyman beside her asked dubiously.
"Your Highness, why are you so worried?
Didn't Miss Irene say that she doesn't mind?
Besides, her expression doesn't seem like she's lying, which means that she didn't take it to heart.
Why do you have to worry about this? "
"Yes …"
Listening to the Clergyman's curious question, Aili let out another sigh. Then, she lowered her head and muttered to herself.
"She really didn't take it to heart … That's why I feel so uneasy."
There was something that Aili didn't tell anyone. In fact, she was very worried about Irene.
As a Saintess, Aili was clear about the role that the nine saints would play in the upcoming battle. She hoped that the nine saints would put aside their prejudice and work together to defeat the enemy.
However, Irene was the only exception.
This didn't mean that she didn't fit in with the group. In fact, on the surface, Irene seemed to get along well with the others.
However, Aili was clear that Irene didn't truly blend in with them.
She was a forsaken person and they were ordinary people.
Aili felt that from the start, Irene had created a glass wall between the 'forsaken people' and the 'ordinary people'. At the same time, through this wall, she carefully observed and evaluated the 'ordinary people' on the other side of the glass wall.
Although it wasn't nice to say this, if Irene revealed a slightly sad and worried expression when she was doubted by the Holy Knights, perhaps Aili wouldn't be this worried.
However, it was precisely because she was too indifferent that Aili felt worried.
Because this meant that Irene had never seen herself as the same as others, and she had never had any expectations for others.
As the saying went, 'Don't wait, don't get hurt'.
If Irene intended to do something for the others, she would definitely feel sad and disappointed when she was doubted.
However, if she didn't expect to communicate with these people and didn't have any expectations for them, then whatever they said wouldn't affect her at all.
In fact, Aili was also clear that the reason why Irene came here wasn't to protect these people or to fight against evil.
The reason why she came here was because it was the Overlord's order.
This wasn't a form of blind obedience and blind loyalty. Instead, it was simply a different view of different races.
In Irene's eyes, they were never her compatriots and the lives of the civilians had nothing to do with her.
In fact, Aili hoped that in the process of fighting and living together, Irene could communicate with the others. This way, she would have a greater sense of belonging to this world.
Only then would she be willing to fight wholeheartedly for the things that she valued.
Unlike now, where she simply treated it as a job to complete.
But now, Aili was disappointed to realize that this was only her wishful thinking.
In the eyes of the little girl, the distance between the others and the 'forsaken people' had never shortened.
Was the pain caused by the accumulation of time and mistakes really impossible to get rid of?
Aili didn't have an answer to this question.