“Anyway, we lost the bet, so let’s just give him the money,” the young knight pressed down on his companion and whispered to him, while continuously gesturing towards Mirexia’s direction.

“Enough, enough, haven’t you noticed the way the princess is looking at us? We’ve already made enough of a fool of ourselves today, and in front of the princess no less. Do we still want to keep our jobs in the future?”

“But that’s forty gold coins…”

“Alright, alright, we’ll give as much as we can. If we don’t have enough, we’ll go home and get it. As for going back on our word, wouldn’t that make us look cheap?”

The knight patted his companion’s shoulder, jumped off the viewing platform, and approached Winnie, handing over the money bag he carried with him.

Since they never expected Winnie to win, they didn’t bring enough money.

“This is a small portion of the money, there should be eight gold coins in it. We didn’t bring enough money today, so I’ll give you the remaining thirty-two later, how about that?” As he got closer to Winnie, the young knight couldn’t help but take a second look.

Because Winnie appeared too calm, they subconsciously thought that he wasn’t seriously injured.

But just thinking about it, it’s a miracle that a normal person’s flesh and blood could withstand a small fireball without being burned to a crisp.

Honestly, Winnie’s outlaw demeanor even scared the knight a bit.

Is this really the same bully who only picks on the weak?

Thinking of this, the knight felt a bit of fear.

After all, Winnie is a noble of the kingdom.

If he were seriously injured or even died because of their private fight, they might be expelled from the knight order.

The knight didn’t expect things to turn out this way.

They were just following the orders of Charon, the son of the Commander of the Wrathful Dragon Knights, to humiliate and teach this good-for-nothing brat a lesson, not to harm him.

Recalling how his companion got carried away and directly jumped up to instruct the apprentice to use magic to bomb Winnie, the knight felt a headache coming on.

It’s over. Whether this matter gets out or not is already irrelevant.

The princess is clearly dissatisfied with this incident, and that’s enough.

They’re definitely in for a tough time when they return.

Even if the other party is Winnie, and many people would support punishing him, the fact remains that they, as royal Wrathful Dragon Knights, injured a fellow noble in a private fight.

Winnie took the money bag, put it away, and without saying a word, turned to leave.

It’s not that he was willing to wait.

In the past, he would have definitely held on to his advantage and not let go.

But now, he didn’t have the energy for that.

He was badly injured. It was a miracle that he could hold on until now.

It wasn’t because of an indomitable spirit as others might think, but because…

That’s forty gold coins, after all?!

He was so close to making these bastards pay dearly, how could he just fall down?

Wouldn’t all his previous efforts be in vain??

He remained silent in front of the stunned apprentice not because he wanted to play the cool, silent expert, but because he couldn’t speak anymore.

He didn’t even have the strength to curse, but he still remembered to ask for the money.

Since the other party agreed to pay, let’s not make a fuss today.

After all, Mirexia is watching, and they can’t renege.

“Winnie, wait.” Just as Winnie turned to leave, a soft voice called out to him.

Realizing who it was, Winnie stopped, turned around with difficulty, and looked at the golden-haired girl who had somehow already left the viewing stand and was walking towards him.

Her twin ponytails, like flowing gold, fell to the roots of her calves, swaying like two beautiful flames with her movements.

Her sapphire-like eyes were as usual, paired with a butterfly hair ornament of the same icy blue color, making Winnie, who was at the end of his rope, feel a surge of sweet spring in his heart.

“Princess, is there something you need?” Winnie didn’t bow. Even such a simple action was difficult for him now.

“Priest Won from Church of Radiance is coming soon, don’t leave.” Mirexia didn’t pay attention to the two knights and the stunned apprentice.

Her tone was still as emotionless, serious, and commanding as usual.

“Church, priest?” Winnie’s consciousness was a bit blurry, but hearing about things related to the church, he instinctively felt repelled.

“Who’s coming? What’s he here for? No…”

“I told you to wait.” Before Winnie could move, Mirexia grabbed his hand, not letting him leave, her tone carrying a hint of command.

“Don’t move, your injuries are severe.”

At this moment, Aesphyra also walked up to the two, her lips slightly curved as she watched them.

“Princess! Priest Won is here!”

Winnie’s hazy consciousness faintly heard a voice shouting towards them.

With difficulty, he shifted his gaze and saw Kalin running towards them, holding up her skirt, followed by a hurriedly approaching holy man in white robes and a white hat.

“Won from Church of Radiance, at your service, Princess.” Arriving in front of Mirexia, the priest, holding a cane, knelt on one knee and solemnly saluted Mirexia.

“Priest Won, I’m sorry to trouble you to come all this way,”

“Not at all, it’s my honor to serve you, Your Highness,” Won said, standing up and looking at the scorched iron-clad man beside Mirexia.

“Is this the gentleman who’s injured? No wonder I smelled something burning from afar.”

“Winnie, release the Soul Armament,” Mirexia urged. “Priest Won is here to heal your injuries.”

“…No need.” Hearing it was someone from the church, the somewhat disoriented Winnie instinctively refused.

“Winnie, this is an order,” Mirexia repeated, staring at Winnie.

“Don’t gamble with your life.”

“…”

Winnie tilted his head, remained silent for a while, but eventually released the Soul Armament.

After releasing the armor, the clothes on Winnie’s upper chest were burned away, and his skin was severely charred, a pitiful sight.

Seeing this, Mirexia frowned.

“Oh dear, this burn,” Won shook his head.

“Is it serious?” Mirexia asked.

“No, not too serious, and it won’t leave a scar. This young man’s injuries might seem severe to ordinary people, but compared to the wounds of the knights who’ve returned from the front lines, it’s nothing.”

“Moreover, it could have been much harder to treat, but…” Won pointed to the intact glass pendant on Winnie’s chest.

“Young man, this flame resistance enchanted pendant saved your life.”

“…Really?” Good thing he had the foresight to wear this confiscated pendant before leaving.

Then, Won waved his cane, closed his eyes, chanted an incantation, and a white glow emanated from his hand, enveloping Winnie.

Winnie immediately felt as if he was bathed in a warm breeze.

Under this soothing healing light, his charred skin quickly regenerated, growing new flesh as fast as bamboo shoots after a spring rain.

His spirit, like a dried-up spring, instantly revived.

How miraculous.

Regaining his senses, Winnie slightly widened his eyes.

Is this the power of the [Saint Envoy] Soul Armament??

About five minutes later, Won stopped chanting, and the warm white light disappeared.

Winnie suddenly felt a wave of exhaustion wash over him, nearly causing him to collapse, but a strong hand steadied him.

“Young man, are you alright?”

Winnie looked up to see the priest’s sunny smile and his strikingly white teeth against his dark skin.

Uh…

For some reason, Winnie felt a chill run down his spine and quickly stepped back.

“…Thank you for saving me.”

“You should thank the princess,” Won said with a hearty laugh.

“”I never expected that the one in need of healing would be you, Lord Winnie, when I arrived.”

“I heard you recently visited the church to pay respects to the Goddess, very good, very good.”

“Hmm,” Winnie responded curtly.

The other party had saved his life, and he should be grateful, but his aversion to the church made him reluctant to engage in further conversation with its members.