Holy Night: My Husband is Definitely a Paladin - Chapter 294
TL: Elphie / PR: Marm
Sitting alone in the middle of the dust-filled room was none other than the Hand of Appraisal.
What was even stranger was that it waved at her, as if beckoning her to come closer.
Irene instinctively tightened her grip around the metal fragments in her pocket.
She had been meaning to ask about them anyway. And yet, at the same time, something in her warned that she shouldn’t.
She had debated all morning whether to consult the Hand of Appraisal before or after the dungeon raid.
The Hand was an artifact highly valued within the Fortress, one that was always accompanied by at least one staff member. It was never moved outside its designated location.
And yet, here it was.
No matter how she looked at it, this was suspicious.
As Irene hesitated, the Hand of Appraisal tapped the floor urgently.
It seemed to be telling her there was no time to waste.
‘Is it really the Hand of Appraisal?’
Just then, a distant scream rang out from a Fortress staff member.
“The Hand of Appraisal is missing!”
…So it really was the genuine artifact.
Irene pulled the metal fragments from her pocket and placed them on the floor.
“Here, can you tell me what it is?”
The Hand of Appraisal moved toward the fragments as if it had been waiting for her to ask.
But unlike before, it didn’t touch them right away.
It hesitated, almost as if facing something terrifying and dangerous.
Then, cautiously, it extended a single finger and lightly pressed it against one of the fragments.
A tremor ran through its form.
And then, out of nowhere, it produced a pen and paper—where had those even come from? The Hand of Appraisal moved frantically, scribbling away.
Moments later, it handed the completed paper to Irene.
Irene read it immediately.
“…Impossibility?”
[ The Impossibility ]
What has already occurred is finished.
It is impossible to rewind time and return to the moment of choice.
But miracles do exist.
When it has drunk the blood of all monsters to its satisfaction, the Impossibility will change its face.
This has been activated countless times.
For you and only you.
* * *
“Irene!”
A voice called her name, and hands gripped her shoulders, shaking her back to reality.
She turned around to find Reyna staring at her with concern.
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Yeah…”
“It seemed odd even when we left, but you’ve been acting different all day… Are you sure nothing’s wrong?”
Normally, Reyna would have made a joke by now.
But even Irene knew that she must look strange enough that no one felt like joking.
“Well… actually, I was feeling a bit under the weather, but I didn’t say anything because I didn’t want to worry everyone. I guess it got a little worse. I’m sorry.”
“That’s all it was?”
Reyna let out a relieved sigh at Irene’s answer.
“Let’s hurry and finish the expedition so we can head back! I have some medicine that works really well!”
Then, in a hushed voice, she added,
“Don’t take anything Riosa gives you. How is everything she makes bitter?”
At that, Irene managed to smile a little.
After Reyna returned to Felix, Irene glanced around.
A few hours ago, the group had entered the high-level dungeon.
As planned, they had split into three teams before regrouping at the center.
Of course, the first to arrive at the meeting point were Irene and Michael’s group.
Now, as everyone regrouped and prepared to move forward again, several knights set off ahead to scout the area.
Michael was among them.
Or rather, it was more accurate to say that he was handling most of the scouting himself.
Irene watched as others sat down to rest, then quietly slipped away to a secluded spot, away from everyone’s gaze.
Since all the surrounding monsters had already been cleared, there wasn’t much danger in wandering off alone.
Once she was alone, Irene took out the piece of paper from her pocket—the one the Hand of Appraisal had given her back at the Fortress.
“Rewinding time…”
That alone was unbelievable.
But more than that—
This has been activated countless times.
For you and only you.
Irene read that part over and over again.
This was already the second time the Hand of Appraisal had told her something utterly unbelievable.
This so-called ‘Infinite Healing’.
And now, this metal fragment labeled as the ‘Impossibility’.
Even the supernatural abilities of these artifacts were beyond reason, but the explanations written alongside them were even harder for her to accept.
‘If the explanation is true… that means time was rewound for me.’
But by whom? And for what purpose?
Just as Irene was about to lose herself in thought, she heard the sound of footsteps approaching.
When she turned to see who it was, she found Princess Cecilia standing there.
“Ah, Princess Cecilia…”
In the end, with no one willing to partner with her, Cecilia had joined Irene’s team for the expedition.
However, Reyna had been glaring at her the entire time, and the other pairs had also kept their distance.
One purifier, who had once been part of the same circle as Princess Cecilia, had even gone as far as spitting on the ground right in front of her.
Cecilia had been unable to lift her head, trailing behind the group in silence.
‘She must be feeling humiliated. Is she here to ask for help?’
Just as Irene was about to put the paper back in her pocket and speak to her, Princess Cecilia lifted her head.
And in her arms, something gleamed.
Instinct kicked in. She knew immediately—Cecilia harbored killing intent. She was about to attack.
Irene hastily stepped back.
She was protected by countless artifacts. Michael had given her everything.
But she had no way of knowing what kind of artifact Cecilia was holding.
She was about to call out for help when—
[Your Majestyyyyyyyyy!]
A familiar voice rang out from somewhere.
Not through her ears but inside her head.
The moment she heard it, Irene unconsciously muttered to herself.
“Chomp-chomp…?”
Then, the voice screamed again.
[Close your eyes! You’re going to fall!]
Fall? What? Where?
At that moment, the ground beneath Irene darkened into an abyss.
And before she could react, her body plunged straight into it.
“……!”
As she fell, Irene instinctively looked up.
There, wriggling in delight, was the giant worm.
And in its mouth was an unfamiliar silver rod.
[Monster Transmigration Success!]
The creature’s voice was filled with glee.
Irene barely registered it before the sensation of endless freefall swallowed her whole. She fell unconscious.
