They are all characters I control.

Knight Commander Fernando's sword drew an arc in the dim light, simultaneously parrying the two short swords that were closing in on him, leaving them no time to adjust.

Having forced his opponent back, Knight Commander Fernando pressed forward, his sword tip aimed at the gray-cloaked leader.

The man didn't retreat; instead, he raised his hand and used the outside of his forearm to block Fernando's blade. A metallic clanging sound came from beneath his clothing; he was wearing arm guards.

He took a step to the side, deviating from the trajectory of the sword, and at the same time drew another short blade from his waist, thus becoming dual-wielding.

Fernando did not stop. He used the moment he forced his opponent back to press forward, delivering three consecutive sword strikes with the tip of his sword, forcing his opponent to retreat continuously.

With each step back, the gray cloak left an additional mark on the soil beneath its feet, a mark left by the soles of its shoes.

But the man maintained his original rhythm, his two short swords alternating horizontally in front of him, and after each block he immediately switched hands to cover, leaving no obvious gaps.

Seeing the opponent's reaction and fighting style, both Knight Commander Fernando and Eleanor were secretly surprised and astonished.

This is because these are not simply heretics, nor are they the mass-produced "armed heretics" we encountered before, who only boosted their combat power with the effects of the 'Philosopher's Stone' but didn't really understand combat techniques.

The gray-robed men in front of them had undergone complete combat training and were highly skilled.

This was unlike any infidel they had ever encountered before.

Meanwhile, more footsteps and the clanging of metal could be heard from the bushes on both sides of the woodland.

New figures are appearing from different directions. They are more decisive than the previous ones, attacking vital points without holding back.

Eleanor faced three men simultaneously on the flank. The broken blade of her sword drew a short arc in her hand, blocking the first knife, dodging the second, and the third knife sliced ​​through her sleeve, leaving a thin cut.

She used the momentum of her backward movement to create some distance, but her opponent didn't give her a chance to readjust and pressed forward relentlessly.

Just then, a sharp whistle came from the direction of the valley. The sound was not loud, but it was very penetrating.

The figures in dark cloaks paused briefly, as if their rhythm had been disrupted by the shriek.

Knight Commander Fernando did not miss the opportunity. He took a step forward, forcing the dual-wielder in front of him back a greater distance until his back slammed into a tree trunk with a dull thud.

The man's short blade slipped from his hand during the impact, but instead of bending down to pick it up, he turned his head and looked towards the valley.

A moment later, he slowly straightened up and withdrew his gaze. He made a gesture, and the figures who were fighting with Eleanor stopped one after another and retreated to a position about two steps behind him.

"Let's end it here this time," the man in the gray cloak said, turning and walking away.

The figures in dark cloaks followed him as he turned, gathering together in the direction they had come from, and quickly disappeared into the shadows of the forest.

Fernando did not pursue them. He stood there and watched the figures completely disappear into the shadows before sheathing his sword.

Eleanor lowered her broken sword, feeling somewhat relieved.

Their gaze fell on a light that had been lit up in the direction of the highest wooden cabin in the valley, as if someone had just deliberately led them the way.

She turned her head and looked at the injured boy.

The boy was accompanied by several older girls and boys. One of the girls was kneeling on the ground, blood still seeping from the wound on her arm, her fingers stained dark red, and her lips were tightly pursed, as if she was trying not to make a sound.

"How are you?" Eleanor walked over quickly and knelt down in front of the girl. "Let me see."

"It's okay." The girl, who looked quite young, said through gritted teeth, but the hand supporting her arm was trembling slightly.

Another child squatted down next to him, still clutching the sharpened stick in his hand, but his arm was trembling.

He saw Eleanor approaching, and at first he took a half step back warily. Then, seeing that the tip of her sword was not pointed at them, he relaxed his shoulders slightly.

"Let me treat you." Without waiting for the girl's reply, Eleanor reached out and gently supported his injured arm.

Accompanied by a holy light, the girl's wounds gradually healed and disappeared.

Looking at Eleanor, who was helping the girl with her treatment, the children exchanged surprised glances.

When he looked up at Eleanor again, his gaze was much friendlier.

Chapter 170 Hidden Village

The holy light slowly receded in Eleanor's palm, and the wound on the girl's arm had healed, leaving only a faint mark.

She looked down at her arm in surprise, then looked up at Eleanor, opened her mouth as if to say something, but in the end just nodded vigorously.

These children have never been healed by divine magic.

Being able to have their wounds healed by divine magic was something the children had never imagined before.

"Thank you." The little girl's voice was a bit steadyer than before.

Eleanor shook her head: "You're welcome. Are any of you injured?"

The children looked at each other, and the older boy hesitated for a moment before speaking, "No one else on our team is hurt. But..."

The other children shook their scraped hands and signaled to Eleanor that they were fine.

They had been hiding in the bushes or in the trees, and were simply thrown down by the gray-robed men who were chasing them.

The grey-robed men didn't kill them all at first, so they weren't seriously injured. The older boy paused, looked at his companions, and then continued.

“But there are people in our village who need help. Would you… be willing to come and take a look?”

Knight Commander Fernando stood a few steps away, his gaze sweeping over the children before lingering briefly.

He didn't speak, but he didn't object either.

Although they were returning to the 'Holy Lance Knights', they weren't in a hurry. After all, they had anticipated an ambush by the 'Church of Life' ahead, and now they had encountered those gray-robed men with superb combat skills.

Those grey-robed men were different from the children; they were clearly heretics.

Since the gray-robed man had clashed with these children, he was naturally on the same side as them. He should try to learn more about these children's existence.

Perhaps we can get extra help then.

Eleanor looked at Knight Commander Fernando, feeling somewhat unsure of what to do.

[Claire: It's rare to see someone as saintly as you hesitate at a time like this?]

Eleanor was startled by the sudden appearance of the barrage of comments.

But mostly it's because their inner thoughts were seen through, rather than because the comments popped up.

[Eleanor: Our biggest task right now is to rescue Knight Commander Will as soon as possible. Also, both the east and west sides of the Northern Kingdom are being targeted by the heretics of the Church of Life.]

[Eleanor: Time is running out. Many people are already in crisis, or about to be in crisis.]

[Eleanor: These children probably didn't want us to go in because they were worried about our safety. But now we have heretics with us. Those grey-robed men from earlier were probably heretics. If we go to the village with them...]

Eleanor: I'm worried this might cause them trouble.

That's Eleanor for you, always babbling and thinking about a whole bunch of things.

Fortunately, he has matured a lot compared to before, when he would blindly rush to help others and would eagerly run over whenever someone asked for help.

That's how Mel met him in the first place, and after being rescued by Eleanor, he became a leader in the Church of Life.

Claire might have said before that it would have been better for her not to go.

With time running out and the mission pressing, Knight Commander Fernando specifically ordered his men to hold off Karl and his men.

Even Dorothy, Megan, and William, who had been turned into a monster by the Philosopher's Stone, were still in the back, with the others.

But Claire was interested in the village of these children.

[Claire: Knight Commander Fernando hasn't spoken yet; he's waiting for your decision. He's clearly not as anxious or overthinking things as you are.]

Claire: If you want to go, then go. Don't worry so much. We don't know if your choice is right or wrong, so just be bold and do it.

Claire: I'm also quite interested in the village these people are talking about. Logically speaking, in a place controlled by either the Church of Goddess or heretics, there shouldn't be any third-party forces...

Claire found it hard to believe that anyone could maintain their composure under such circumstances.

They neither associate with heretics nor with the Church of Goddess.

This is a situation where neither side is relied upon, nor is the other pleased. It's quite intriguing to think that such a place still exists in the Northern Kingdom.

[Eleanor: Going to this village? I understand.]

At this point, Eleanor still chose to listen to Claire's advice.

The enemy of my enemy is my friend.

Since those grey-robed men attacked these children, these children must not be heretics.

Since they are targets of attacks by heretics, I should help them regardless of whether these children trust the Goddess Church.

“Sir Fernando, let’s go to the village with these children.”

Eleanor still looked up and asked Knight Commander Fernando for his opinion.

The other children didn't really trust Knight Commander Fernando, but they didn't object when Eleanor said that.

After all, Knight Commander Fernando had just helped protect them and repel those heretics.

Knight Commander Fernando glanced at the children, then turned his head to confirm the direction from which the gradually dimming light was shining through the gaps in the trees: "It's getting late. Let's go over there first."

Although the attitude wasn't very good, nor was it very gentle.

However, the knight commander clearly also intended to go to the village where these children lived.

"Let's go then, it's really not good to be in the dark."

"Those guys might still be around, we need to hurry!"

"It's too late to go back."

"Stay behind us, don't get left behind!"

The children didn't linger any longer. The girl who had received treatment led the way, and the others followed behind.

They crossed a low slope covered by dense bushes, then rounded a stone wall almost entirely covered by vines, and the view ahead suddenly opened up.

What appeared before us was a valley, deeper and more secluded than we had expected. The surrounding mountain walls were almost vertical, like natural depressions formed by years of water erosion.

Dozens of wooden and stone houses are scattered in the valley, their roofs covered with thick hay or bark. Clothes and dried herbs are drying in the open space in front of the houses, and wisps of smoke are slowly rising in the twilight.

Eleanor slowed her pace, her gaze sweeping over the layout of the houses.

The arrangement is not arbitrary; the spacing between them is roughly equal, and they maintain a similar angle of inclination, as if the direction of light and wind was determined during the planning stage.

The path in front of the house is paved with gravel, and there are obvious signs of cleaning along the edges, indicating that it is regularly maintained.

This must be the village of these children.

Chapter 171 Secluded Village

Both Eleanor and Knight Commander Fernando were somewhat surprised to see the meticulously maintained village before them.

After all, it would be relatively easy to hide such a place from the heretics of the Goddess Church and the 'Church of Life'.

No one would have imagined that such a place could exist in this valley.

An older boy turned and looked back at them, saying, "We're here. This is our village."

He spoke with a subtle pride, as if he was used to the silence others felt when they first saw this.

The other children proudly led the way, guiding Eleanor and Knight Commander Fernando through the bushes and deer. A closer look around the roadside revealed markings; clearly, these entrances to the village were also traps.

As the village drew closer, Eleanor's gaze continued to sweep over the small place before her.

She noticed that most of the people moving between the houses were women and children. Several older women were bending over picking vegetables in the vegetable garden in front of their houses, while several young children were squatting by a sink washing something.

Older men are almost nowhere to be seen in this valley.

"Aren't there any men in your village?" Eleanor asked.

The boy who had led the way was silent for a moment. "Yes. But not many."

His tone remained unchanged, but his wording was more cautious and carried a hint of defiance. "Most of them are gone, but we'll grow up quickly and be able to help then."

He didn't elaborate, nor did he look back at her.

There's a reason why the adult men aren't here. Judging from what the little boy said earlier, they were probably either killed or brainwashed by the cultists of the 'Church of Life,' or captured and interrogated by the Church of the Goddess.

After all, adult men are more suspicious and more dangerous than children or women.

Eleanor didn't press the matter further, but glanced at Knight Commander Fernando beside her. This knight commander was the kind who would arrest and interrogate anyone suspected of being a heretic.

The fathers or other relatives of these children may have also been punished by Knight Commander Fernando.

However, Knight Commander Fernando paid no attention to what the boys were saying, nor did he care about Eleanor's gaze. He simply continued to grip his knight's sword and seemingly aimlessly scanned his surroundings.

They entered the village and found a young woman in a dark gray robe squatting on a low stone platform in front of the door, sorting through a basket of herbs.