After the long journey, Bow escorted Altleno to an inn. As they reached the door, she handed him a pouch containing five pieces of gold. "These should last you ten years if you're careful," she said, her tone both stern and kind.

With a nod, she left for the church, leaving Altleno to find his way inside. As he stepped through the inn's door, the lively chatter and clinking of mugs came to a halt. Adventurers lounging around the common room turned to stare, their expressions ranging from curiosity to hostility.

Despite their scrutiny, Altleno walked confidently to the counter, ignoring the tension in the air. The innkeeper, a wiry man with shifty eyes, leaned forward with a sly grin.

"New face, eh? That'll be two gold for a room," he said, his tone oozing deceit. Before Altleno could respond, a gruff voice from across the room cut in.

"Two gold for a single room? You trying to scam the kid, or do you want the church to come knocking?" The innkeeper paled, stammering an apology as he quickly corrected the price.

Altleno handed over the appropriate coin and turned to thank the man who intervened. The adventurer, a burly man with a jovial demeanor, gestured to a nearby table.

"No problem, kid. Why don't you join us for a bite? You look like you could use a good meal." Altleno hesitated but then accepted the invitation, sitting among the group of adventurers.

As they ate and laughed, the tension in the room eased. However, the peace didn't last. A towering man with a scarred face and a threatening scowl approached their table.

"Hey, rat. I don't want to see you near my woman again. If you don't listen, you'll regret ever being born." Altleno froze for a moment, the man's words dragging him back to his past life.

Memories of being bullied by Henry flashed before his eyes, but this time, something was different. He wasn't the helpless boy he once was. Rising to his feet, Altleno locked eyes with the man, his voice calm but laced with defiance.

"You're the one who should be scared of me. Besides, you're too ugly to have a girl like Bow." The adventurer's face twisted with rage as he swung a fist at Altleno's chest.

The impact was immediate—and disastrous. A sickening crack echoed through the room as the man's hand shattered against Altleno's unyielding body. Clutching his broken hand, the man howled in pain, but Altleno wasn't done.

He grabbed the man by the collar and delivered a swift, open-handed slap that sent him sprawling to the ground, unconscious. The room fell silent for a moment before erupting into applause.

The adventurers cheered and raised their mugs in admiration. Altleno, unbothered, simply returned to his seat and continued his meal as if nothing had happened.

"Kid, you've got guts," one of the adventurers said, clapping him on the back. Altleno offered a small smile, his confidence growing.

For the first time in this world, he didn't feel despised. That night, Altleno finally found a moment of peace in his small, rented room. The soft mattress was a luxury compared to the harsh lands he'd traversed.

As he closed his eyes, an image of Bow's face flashed in his mind. Her determined smile and kind eyes lingered, and with a faint smirk, he drifted into sleep.

"Knock, knock!" The sudden noise jolted Altleno awake. Groggy and disoriented, he sat up, realizing his situation: his body had responded naturally during sleep, and his erection was plainly obvious.

Embarrassed but still half-asleep, he staggered to the door and opened it without a second thought. On the other side stood one of the adventurers from the party he'd eaten with earlier—a young, energetic man with a wide grin and an ever-present spark of enthusiasm.

The man blinked, then smirked. "Uh, buddy… you might wanna deal with that before stepping out." Altleno's face flushed crimson as the realization hit him.

Mortified, he slammed the door shut and scrambled to fix himself, muttering curses under his breath. A muffled chuckle echoed from the other side of the door.

A few moments later, Altleno opened the door again, fully dressed and composed. The man clapped him on the shoulder.

"Relax, I've seen worse. Anyway, I've got an idea! Let's go on an adventure. Trust me, it's gonna be great!" Before Altleno could protest, the man was already leading him through the bustling streets of the town.

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As they walked, the adventurer...introducing himself as Garret, pointed out landmarks, gave tips about surviving in the world, and shared tales of his own exploits. Altleno listened quietly, absorbing the information while remaining wary of Garret's boundless enthusiasm.

Meanwhile, back in Sawo, the quiet village was no longer peaceful. A squad of armed church officials stormed through its streets, their torches lighting up the night as they hunted for sinners and traitors. Bow led the charge, her presence commanding respect and fear among the villagers.

Cries of terror filled the air as houses were set ablaze, their wooden frames collapsing in fiery heaps. Those who resisted were struck down without mercy, and even those who surrendered weren't spared the harsh punishment of the church.

At first, Bow remained steadfast, her mind focused on the mission. Her face was a mask of indifference, the same expression she'd worn during countless operations. But as the chaos unfolded, memories from her past began to resurface.

Images of her own village, burning under the assault of the demon king's army, flashed in her mind. She saw herself as a young girl, hiding among the ruins while her family was torn from her. The same screams, the same fire, the same destruction.

Her chest tightened as guilt and anger swirled within her. Bow raised her hand, signaling her subordinates to stop. "That's enough," she ordered, her voice firm yet heavy with emotion. "No more killing. Arrest the rest."

The soldiers hesitated but eventually complied, dragging the remaining villagers into a line. Bow walked through the charred remains of the village, her steely demeanor masking the storm brewing inside her.

She entered one of the intact buildings under the pretense of investigating but shut the door behind her and collapsed to her knees. The dam broke. Tears streamed down her face as the memories of her past overwhelmed her.

"Why does it have to be like this?" she whispered to herself, her voice trembling. "Why do we always destroy the ones we're supposed to protect?"

Her sobs echoed through the empty room, a rare moment of vulnerability for the hardened paladin. Outside, the soldiers continued their work, oblivious to the turmoil within their leader.

Later that night, Altleno wandered back to the inn, enjoying the rare calm of the evening. He had just stepped into the common area when he saw Bow approaching. Her face was pale, her eyes puffy and red.

Before Altleno could speak, she collapsed into his arms, her body trembling as she sobbed uncontrollably. "I'm so sorry," she choked out between tears. "I... I killed them. I killed the people closest to you."

Altleno's brows furrowed in confusion. "What do you mean by 'killing my family'?" he asked, his voice cautious but calm.

Bow pulled back slightly to look at him, guilt flooding her features. "Your village... The people there. I thought I was doing my job, stopping them from committing heinous acts. But now I see... it doesn't make it right. I didn't realize..."

Her voice cracked, and she buried her face in his chest again. Altleno hesitated for a moment, then gently wrapped his arms around her.

"Don't worry about it," he said softly, surprising even himself with his nonchalance. "I don't care about any of them. I'm just glad to be here."

Bow froze, her sobs halting as she tilted her head to look up at him. Her tear-streaked face showed confusion, maybe even disbelief. Slowly, she stepped out of his embrace, giving him a long, unreadable look.

"I... I need some air," she murmured, then turned and walked away, leaving Altleno standing there, scratching his head.

Still pondering Bow's strange reaction, Altleno decided to grab something to eat. He remembered a kebab stand Garret had raved about earlier and made his way there.

The stand was bustling with people, its rich, smoky aroma wafting through the air. As Altleno handed over a coin and received a freshly grilled kebab, the vendor, a stout man with a wide grin, leaned over the counter.

"So, what's going on with your wife, buddy?" the man asked casually, nodding toward Altleno with an amused look.

Altleno nearly dropped his kebab, his face turning a deep shade of red. "W-wife?!" he stammered. "What are you talking about? She's not my wife!"

The vendor chuckled knowingly, wiping his hands on his apron. "Sure, sure. That's what they all say. But I saw the way she clung to you earlier. Looked like a wife needing...her husband to listen." Flustered, Altleno struggled to respond, his mind suddenly conjuring an image of him and Bow as a married couple. The thought made his stomach flip, and he quickly shook his head to banish it.

"She's just... sad," Altleno mumbled, not sure why he was even explaining himself. "I think she just needs some time to breathe, you know?" The vendor grinned again and handed Altleno an extra napkin.

"Whatever you say, friend. Just make sure you're there when she's ready. Women like her don't wait forever." Altleno groaned, biting into his kebab to avoid further conversation. But as he ate, his mind wandered back to Bow—her tears, her guilt, and that strange moment when she left.

"Wife," he muttered to himself, shaking his head again. As Altleno returned to the inn after grabbing his kebab, a strange feeling prickled the back of his neck. Something wasn’t right.

Before he could react, a cloth was pressed over his face, and everything went dark. When he awoke, his head was groggy, and his vision was obscured by a thick blindfold.

Altleno struggled against his bindings, but it was no use. He heard faint giggles and murmurs around him. "Remove the blindfold," one voice commanded, firm yet sly.

As the cloth fell away, Altleno's eyes adjusted to the dimly lit room. Before him stood several of the women from the church, their faces a mix of curiosity and determination.

"We've heard the stories," one of them said, stepping forward. Her voice was sweet yet unsettling. "The villagers spoke of your strength, your endurance... and your gift."

Altleno's heart racing, he realized what they wanted. "What... what do you mean by 'gift'?" he asked, trying to stall.

Another woman smirked, leaning closer. "Your seed, of course. A man like you could bless generations with unmatched power." Altleno's confusion turned to shock as they began undoing his bindings, their intentions becoming painfully clear.

Before he could protest, his pants were being removed, the chill of the room snapping him out of his stupor. "W-wait a minute!" Altleno stammered, struggling against them. But his body, betraying his mind, began to respond to their touch.

Despite the absurdity of the situation, Altleno couldn't deny a strange mix of emotions. Embarrassment warred with an odd sense of pride.

Just as the women leaned in closer, the room shook violently. Dust and debris rained down as the wall to his left exploded inward, and a familiar, furious figure stormed through the rubble.

"WHAT are you doing?!" Bow's voice thundered, her aura blazing with righteous fury. The women froze in terror, their faces draining of color.

Before anyone could explain, Bow launched into action, her fists flying with precision. One by one, she dispatched the women, sending them careening through the broken wall.

Their terrified screams echoed as they were flung all the way back to the church. Altleno, still half-bound and half-dressed, scrambled to cover himself.

"B-Bow! Wait! This isn't what it looks like!" he stammered, pulling on his pants as quickly as possible.

Bow, breathing heavily, turned to him with a glare that could pierce steel. "Not what it looks like? Altleno, are you serious?!" "I-I was kidnapped!" he stammered, still trying to process the situation. "I didn't ask for this! I didn't—"

Bow raised a hand, cutting him off. "Save it," she said coldly. Her expression softened for a moment, but she quickly turned away. "You're lucky I got here in time."

Altleno's heart sank as she walked toward the exit without another word. A mix of shame and frustration weighed heavily on him. He stood in silence for a moment before breaking free of the last of his bindings.

Adjusting his clothes, he muttered to himself, "Guess that's another thing I'll never live down..." Without looking back, he left the destroyed room, heading into the night to clear his mind.

As he walked, the cool night air helped calm his thoughts. He couldn't shake the feeling that Bow's words had left him with. Lucky? Was he really lucky to have been rescued by Bow?

The question lingered in his mind as he disappeared into the darkness, the events of the night leaving him with more questions than answers.