Holy Night: My Husband is Definitely a Paladin - Chapter 319
TL: Elphie / PR: Mikan
In reality, the Hand hadnât disappeared alone.
The silver staff-shaped artifact that Chomp-chomp had used to take Irene to the Monster Realm also vanished with it.
[You thief!]
Chomp-chomp fumed with anger, but Irene only felt a sense of guilt toward the Hand.
âWe still havenât been able to find its body.â
She had heard that long ago, the Hand had provoked a being much more powerful than itself, and as a result, its hand was severed and its body was discarded somewhere in the Monster Realm.
– My body is so vast that most realms wouldnât be able to contain it, after all.
As the Hand reminisced about the past, Chomp-chomp, who had been lingering nearby, piped up.
[But even so, Iâm much bigger, you know?]
Whenever Chomp-chomp said things like that, Irene couldnât help but wonder just how massive Chomp-chompâs true form was.
When she asked Michael, he paused for a moment, then sighed.
âIt’s big enough that you could almost say itâs endless.â
No wonder, Chomp-chomp was always playful around Michael. Even though it didnât seem to possess extreme offensive power, it made sense that it had a high rank in terms of miasma, simply overwhelming other monsters with its size.
âThe Hand also had high magical prowess, so it was capable of traveling through the Monster Realm on its own⌠then if it took the artifact with itâŚâ
According to Chomp-chomp, it seemed that the Hand had gone to a rather dangerous, almost inaccessible space, one that was rarely opened. Since the body that had been promised had not yet been found, perhaps the Hand had grown frustrated and decided to go search for it on its own.
âBut itâs dangerous to go alone.â
While Irene was lost in thought, concerned for the Hand, Michael retrieved a large towel from the drawer and spoke.
âWould you like to go to the beach?â
âYes!â
Irene replied without hesitation, springing to her feet.
She loved everything about this house, but what she cherished most was the beach just down the path beside it. With cliffs rising on either side, the only way anyone could come here was either by using the steep staircase next to the house or by swimming across the sea which was practically impossible.
But neither of those options would matter, because Michael had used an artifact to ensure that no one could approach.
Anyone who tried to approach the house would come close, but they would forget why they had come and turn back to go home.
The same thing happened to those who attempted to approach the beach. Before they could even get near the cliffs, they were pushed back by strong waves, unable to swim past them.
To set up these protective measures, Michael spent several days using his artifacts, experimenting with many different methods. Chomp-chomp and the Hand also pitched in to help.
Despite his over-the-top caution about keeping people away, Irene couldn’t bring herself to stop him.
âThat must have been so much work.â
At first, Michael hadnât planned on taking such drastic steps. But after they moved into the house, the villagers began to show up, wandering near the property. Some even tried to enter the house on their own. Of course, they claimed it was just to greet the new neighbors, but their faces were full of wariness and curiosity.
And among them, those who had fully encountered Michael and Irene’s appearances were the problem.
âOh my, your husband is really handsome. Iâve never seen such a good-looking man in the city. Why are you eating bread? If it were me, just looking at my husbandâs face would be enough to fill my stomach.â
Irene didnât know how to respond to the neighborâs laughter, and after the woman left, saying she looked forward to seeing them again, three other women appeared the next day, baskets full of vegetables, glancing around the property.
Irene sighed and looked at Michael, who was standing there with a troubled expression.
âReminds me of the old days.â
Due to Michaelâs striking good looks, similar situations had happened often when they were together. In one village, a woman had suddenly grabbed him, claiming to have fallen for him at first sight.
âIâm married.â
The woman scoffed at Michaelâs polite refusal.
âWhat does that matter? And no woman could possibly be as good as I am.â
The quite beautiful woman said this without any sense of shame, asking Michael if he would consider being with her.
Fortunately, such situations were usually resolved fairly quickly. No need for much persuasion.
“Michael, what’s going on?”
Usually, whenever Irene sensed something was off and approached, the other party would look back and forth between her and Michael, then retreat on their own.
Every time this happened, both of them would exhale long sighs.
