He had slowly come to comprehend this concept right from the start of his journey. Enduring the abuse from his family in the noble estate, he brushed off gazes of disappointment and mockery at the orphanage. Despite the scorching summer days, he persisted in swinging his sword, and through biting winter nights, he meditated. These experiences taught him the true meaning of being as 'enduring' as a mountain.

He forged ahead by confronting his subconscious belief head-on, that he'd never achieve greatness as a holy knight due to his perceived lack of talent; clinging to life in even the most perilous situations; he continued to pursue Clarice despite doubts about his abilities. Through all of these he grasped what it meant to be as 'unmoving' as a mountain.

Firming his resolve to save the orphanage kids despite the danger, he merged all his understandings into one concept: to be 'indomitable'. He became the mountain, and the mountain became him.

With his newfound power, he was astonished. Once resigned to sacrificing himself to save the children, now he found he no longer needed to. Clenching and unclenching his fists, he reached for the pendant of the sun, the symbol of the church's religion, questioning inwardly, 'God, do you truly exist?'

But he wasted no time pondering, swiftly preparing for action. He contacted the wizards he had saved previously, seeking their help in transporting the kids outside the Holy Empire during his operation.

Over the next week, he meticulously investigated the other four key orphanages to confirm his suspicions. As anticipated, they were all complicit in the same heinous actions. Amidst this, he devoted much of his time to uncovering Clarice's whereabouts. Discovering she had left the orphanage only added to his frustration, compounded by the absence of any trace. Was she reassigned to another branch or met a darker fate? The uncertainty gnawed at him, threatening his sanity. Yet, he forcibly pushed aside these thoughts, prioritizing the rescue of the children, convinced Clarice would share his resolve.

In a single day, he launched a relentless assault on all five orphanages. None of the Church's combatants could withstand his onslaught, especially as he infused his strikes with the power of law. Each swing of his sword was like a mountain hurtling towards them, leaving adversaries with no choice but to evade or be crushed. Even direct assaults proved futile, akin to throwing eggs at a mountain; he remained steadfast.

The Church, in a desperate bid, called upon level 2 powerhouses, including paladins and the grand priestess, yet they too fell before him like ants. The most formidable among them were nothing more but larger ants in comparison.

Finally, the Church summoned a level 3 powerhouse: the saintess who had ascended three decades prior. Her true visage remained veiled, shrouded in mystery even during the grand prayer gatherings of the holy festival which are the only time the public, including him, could see her..

Moreover, throughout all those years of rigorous training, he had scarcely found the opportunity to revel in festivities or visit the capital city. It wasn't until his recent appointment as a paladin that he finally set foot in the capital. Consequently, he had never laid eyes on the saintess, having missed the chance during the grand prayer gatherings.

Yet, when he gazed upon the eyes peering through the veil, he knew without a doubt: it was Clarice. Despite her hair now silver and her eyes transformed to a golden hue from wielding divine power, her identity remained unmistakable. He stood rooted to the spot, nearly obliterated by the [Ray of Purification] she unleashed upon him.

Disbelief washed over him. Relief flooded his heart at the sight of her well-being, but the revelation that she had ascended to a level 3 powerhouse three decades prior stunned him. Furthermore, He was bewildered by Clarice's opposition to his efforts to free the children from the clutches of the malevolent orphanages. How could she, having endured the same torment herself, stand in the way of their liberation?

He had meticulously researched the history of the orphanages, discovering a long-standing pattern of abuse spanning over a century. These atrocities weren't recent occurrences; they had plagued innocent lives for generations. With this knowledge, he struggled to comprehend Clarice's stance, questioning whether she truly understood the depths of depravity within those walls, especially considering her own firsthand experience of their cruelty.

Yet, there was an unsettling chill in her eyes, devoid of the warmth he remembered. Her demeanor seemed alien, raising doubts within him. Despite his inner turmoil, he swiftly pivoted and fled.

Aware of his inability to confront her, his power hovering between level 2 and 3, he knew he stood no chance. Even if he possessed the strength of a level 3 powerhouse, he couldn't bring harm to the one he sought to protect. And so, he chose flight over confrontation.

In any case, he achieved his primary goal of liberating the children, allowing him to escape without incident. The revelation of Clarice's ascension to saintess provided an unexpected boon, and he had no concerns about his identity being exposed, having refrained from utilizing his divine power during the confrontation, relying instead on the resonance between his law and the ambient mana to empower his attacks.

After a week of evading pursuit, he successfully eluded the saintess. While he acknowledged his inability to engage her directly, he remained confident in his endurance as a holy knight compared to that of a priestess or wizard.

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In the ensuing years, he kept a low profile until the furor surrounding the orphanage incident subsided. Despite the lack of rebuilding efforts by the Holy Empire, he harbored suspicions about whether the nefarious practices had truly ceased or merely gone underground, given the involvement of high-ranking individuals. However, lacking the authority to investigate further, he resolved to address the matter in due time.

Meanwhile, he remained in hiding as a normal paladin as the Empire relentlessly hunted him, only ceasing their pursuit in recent years. During this period, he focused on honing his skills, striving to attain the pinnacle of a level 8 holy knight and preparing to breach the threshold into level 9.

His progress was hindered by the need to fill his aura core, a task he diligently pursued in the subsequent years. Additionally, he dedicated himself to unraveling the method of transcending into a level 9 holy knight, a knowledge not heavily guarded once he attained level 8. With access to the church's contract, he delved into the intricacies of the process, determined to achieve his newfound aspiration.

The terms of the contract struck Reginald as peculiar yet agreeable. It primarily emphasized the importance of confidentiality regarding church matters and forbade betrayal to enemies, without any mention of the church's authority to issue orders. With no reservations, he accepted the contract.

Unbeknownst to him, the church couldn't enforce contracts that enslaved priests or paladins due to the protection of their souls by divine power. However, agreements pertaining to nondisclosure and loyalty were permissible.

To maintain control over its members, particularly since their teenage years, the church, or rather the Holy Empire, employed brainwashing techniques, ensuring compliance as they ascended in power. While some priests remained unaffected, they were seldom granted significant positions.

Reginald's case was unique; achieving level 2 or nearing level 3 without having the church-induced brainwashing was unprecedented. Typically, only those subjected to such manipulation reached such heights. The church meticulously selected the most promising talents, indoctrinated them, and provided ample resources for their development.

Unlike other branches with limited resources, Reginald's exceptional progress posed a dilemma for the church. Appointing him as a paladin was necessary to avoid arousing suspicion, though they intended to restrict his authority and possibly exploit his capabilities for labor.

However, no one anticipated his eventual ascent to level 9, the esteemed rank of Grand Paladin, a feat unparalleled in the last 1000 years. Many individuals ascend to positions such as pope or saintess, but the rank of Grand Paladin is a rarity. Becoming a magic knight or a holy knight is relatively straightforward, with a low barrier to entry that allows almost anyone to pursue these paths. However, advancing to the later stages of the knight's journey poses considerable challenges.

Achieving level 3 powerhouse status, equivalent to a level 9 magic knight, in the knight path requires a profound comprehension of one's knightly path—a concept that delves deep into one's way of life or life in general. This abstract notion contrasts starkly with the relatively concrete understanding of elemental facets in the priest or wizard paths.

Despite these daunting hurdles, Reginald accomplished this remarkable feat. His first action as a Grand Paladin was to seek an audience with the saintess—a privilege he had been denied in previous years due to his limited authority. Upon seeing her, his excitement was palpable. While he had found solace in knowing of her well-being before, it was no longer sufficient; he yearned for a genuine conversation, reminiscent of their past encounters in the orphanage.

However, as their eyes met, any hope of rekindling their former connection evaporated. The saintess regarded him with the same cold detachment he had witnessed during the raid on the nefarious orphanage—a robotic gaze devoid of emotion. Though momentarily disheartened, Reginald forced a smile, reassuring himself that people change over time. After all, it had been 80 years since their shared experiences in the orphanage.

However, Reginald couldn't shake the sense of incongruity from his mind,from an obvious fact: even level 1 powerhouses possessed reinforced brains capable of recalling distant memories with clarity, regardless of their desires.

So, with his newfound authority, Reginald delved into the history of the saintess, leading him to a startling revelation: the church's closely guarded secret of brainwashing. He immediately recognized that Clarice had been subjected to this manipulation. Confirming his suspicions, he confronted her once more, inquiring about their shared past in the orphanage, only to receive a dispassionate denial. Observing her eyes closely, he discerned not deceit but an emotionless, mechanical response.

A fiery rage ignited within him at the church's deception, yet he concealed it from Clarice as he sought an audience with the pope. Upon confronting the pontiff and demanding the reversal of Clarice's brainwashing, the pope's facade crumbled, revealing a sinister, malevolent nature.

Refusing Reginald's plea, the pope issued a chilling ultimatum: comply with the church's commands, or risk Clarice's self-harm or exploitation akin to her ordeal in the orphanage. The mere mention of Clarice's past atrocities tore open Reginald's emotional wounds, nearly driving him to violence. However, he restrained himself, mindful of Clarice's well-being. Without another word, he silently departed from the chamber, his resolve unshaken.

In accordance with ancient rules dating back thousands of years, the emergence of a Grand Paladin mandated the subordination of the Paladin Order to their leadership. Reginald, now holding the esteemed title of Grand Paladin, seized control of the Order from the pope, effectively severing the pontiff's authority. Previously, under the veil of ignorance, Reginald had obediently followed the pope's directives, allowing him significant influence over the Order's operations.

However, with newfound awareness, Reginald assumed full command, meticulously scrutinizing suspicious commands—such as those advocating for executions or seizures—before taking action. He conducted thorough investigations to ensure the innocence of targets, refusing to execute unjust orders.

Thus, a delicate power struggle ensued between Reginald and the pope. Reginald understood the consequences of outright defiance, as it could potentially provoke the pope to manipulate Clarice into committing atrocities once more. Similarly, the pope recognized that excessive coercion could drive Reginald to rebellion, jeopardizing his control.

This precarious tug-of-war persisted until tragedy struck with the untimely demise of the saintess, Clarice…