Before Benjamin had even finished speaking, before anyone present could react, the tavern door was kicked open with a crash.
The two-meter-tall brute blocking the door was caught off guard and staggered several steps from the force. Before he could steady himself, however, a longsword gleaming with Holy Light pierced through his chest from behind.
With a swish, the sword was pulled back out. The giant brute stared blankly at the bloody hole in his chest, then crumpled to the floor.
The smell of blood spread through the tavern.
"Ti—Tiger... He's dead!" Someone cried out in shock.
Jeremy's legs gave way, and he dropped to the floor, unable to stop himself from vomiting.
Behind the giant brute's corpse, a young man dressed like a merchant walked into the little tavern with the light at his back.
"My deepest apologies, Lord Riser. I was derelict in my duty and allowed you to remain in such a dangerous environment for so long. But rest assured, these people will never harm you," he said coldly.
Benjamin was startled as well. He knew the Paladin sent by The Church would save him, but he had not expected this Paladin to make such a bloody entrance.
No matter what, this was Benjamin's first time seeing someone killed with his own eyes. He did not sympathize with the brute who had been reduced to cannon fodder, but he still could not help feeling uncomfortable.
Clearly, The Church had considered the previous two Paladins inadequate in protecting him, so they had replaced them with an even more "ferocious" Paladin.
Benjamin wondered how those two Paladins were doing. He had thought they seemed like decent people.
At that thought, Benjamin glanced around again. The people nearby stared at the brute's corpse and the sword-wielding Paladin, their eyes filled