I approached the front of the chaotic procession to look at Irene.


    Katie clung to her right side while Grace stuck to her left, making a fuss. Whether they''d noticed the anger in her speech or not, Irene''s face flushed red at their praise about her beautiful holy power and goddess-like presence.


    With her quiet, gentle nature of following from behind, she clearly couldn''t handle direct praise - it was cute. Still, I couldn''t keep watching the scientific debate about whether berserk caused erectile dysfunction forever, so I quickened my pace to join Irene''s side.


    Grace noticed my steel boots deliberately approaching and moved aside with a bright smile.


    "Irene."


    "Yes, Roland."


    Since the procession moved at Irene''s pace at the front, walking side by side to talk was easy. Not riding horses or wagons might be some Goddess Faith tradition. Come to think of it, during the last real holy war, only goods were transported by wagon while priests and nuns walked.


    Thinking this, I walked slowly. Thankfully being at the front meant seeing only open plains instead of naked ogres and blood-painted banners.


    Walking right beside her, our forearms would brush... except I wore solid armor. Worried about bruising her soft skin, I moved half a step away, but Irene stared at me and took one big step to link our arms.


    "You don''t need to be so considerate. I''m part of the hero party too."


    "True."


    Though she tried to act cheerful like nothing was wrong, undeniable anger flickered behind the resolve in her golden eyes.


    The good news was there were no signs of the "Dark Irene" or "Witch instead of Saint" nonsense viewers were freaking out about. I suspected Irene''s character quest trigger was about changing from passive to active mindset.


    While Koreans called her "Mom," Japanese otaku and Japanophile Yankees called her "Yamato Nadeshiko."


    Yamato Nadeshiko - combining the old name "Yamato" with "Nadeshiko," Japanese for carnation meaning beautiful woman. Originally meaning an elegant, beautiful lady, when tainted by otaku culture and Japanophilia it took a strange direction.


    The fantasy of a traditional beauty skilled in housework who shyly devotes herself to men. Of course such devoted woman fantasies weren''t unique to Japan - the translated chat was filled with terms like "English Rose."


    In short, everyone had Irene pegged as the devoted but passive type who meekly followed one step behind.


    "I can''t just pray from behind forever. I came to the tower with adventurers because I hated that, yet here I am trying to stay in the back again."


    "Isn''t it better for priests and nuns to stay behind adventurer parties? Best not to stand out."


    "That would be nice. But the world doesn''t work that way."


    But as Han Se-ah''s character quest window proved, she was no longer passively following our party''s lead.


    After joining us on the beginner plains and staying in the back all the way to floor 60, she''d decided to stand beside us.


    "Roland, do you know why priests leave the temple to go on pilgrimages?"


    Chat flooded with comments about us looking like a married couple, but these were quickly buried under tactical advice for Han Se-ah.


    "What should I tell him?"


    "Since he raised his banner first, we''ll give him the chance to take the vanguard."


    I watched Grace slip away with a nod, then looked back at Irene whose palms were getting sweaty.


    Though resolve hadn''t left her eyes, her quickening heartbeat, rising temperature, and sweat forming beyond her palms showed how nervous she was.


    What relieved her tension - or rather made her grab my hand in surprise - was Olek''s voice booming again from behind, followed by his twenty knights'' chorus:


    "House Sibedev! Takes the vanguard! Of this battlefield!"


    "Like unmelting ice is our conviction!"


    "Our faith shall be clear as ice!"


    Even the usually proper Alisa had given up being Olek''s brake, quietly taking up a banner to shout along. Nineteen knights roared with mana as family and knight order banners fluttered above Olek and Alisa''s heads. They charged forward menacingly, clearly planning to grind down monsters head-on rather than sneaking around.


    As Irene finally released my hand, now damp with sweat, I felt slightly disappointed while putting my gauntlet back on.


    "Goddess, grant us your blessing!"


    As I adjusted my armor after replacing my gauntlet, Sacred Law made of holy power instantly descended on her now-familiar figure charging across the plains. Though weaker than the main barrier that ignored all damage below certain thresholds, this Protection Sacred Law could withstand floor 60''s suicide gimmicks several times over.


    The sight stirred up the (fake) fanatics with their blood-painted banners. The eager eyes of those who cared more for fame and achievements than faith.


    "..."


    Seeing this, I nodded slightly.


    "Advance, advance!"


    "Follow without falling behind! Will you bow before the name of Sibedev!"


    "Show them the South''s flames burn hotter than Northern ice!"


    The stealth centaurs were just scouts anyway. Since we planned to throw the ogres at the main force, we were grateful to have the trainee commanders and mercenaries clear the path.


    Whether bombs or ogres, the main dish had to be saved for the main force.


    Blood-painted banners fluttered across the vast plains.