## Chapter 1102 – Krasheim

The Order of the Radiant Cross in Krasheim seemed to have been gathering various information while scouring this remote land. Hearing it could be helpful in its own way. Anyway, I decided to put it on hold until after receiving the invitation and finished the conversation.

“Ah, Elise. Do you have some time now?”
“Ah… I’m terribly sorry, but I’m on duty right now…”

Elise said, looking dejected. Her mood plummeted in an instant. The change was so noticeable that I felt quite sorry myself.

“Oh, what a shame.”

Well, she can’t leave if she’s on duty.

“I was thinking of going out for a meal if you had time.”
“I am heartbroken. I might have some time in the evening… but that would be late.”
“That’s true. But I’m not planning on leaving yet. Let’s make time next time. I’ll let you know when I’m leaving.”
“Yes! I understand!”

Now, I should go back and tell them about this invitation… No. There was something else to do first. The people from the Order of the Radiant Cross wanted to see me.

“Elise. Could you call those people here? I mentioned it when I came in.”
“Understood.”

Elise left, and soon all sorts of clergy from the Order of the Radiant Cross swarmed into the room. I sat next to Elise, greeted them as they praised me, and spent some time telling them a similar story to the one I had just told Elise.

* * *

Since I had already received the invitation, the conversation didn’t last long.

I came outside, seeing Elise and the others off.

“Oh.”

They said they would prepare well, but really.

There’s no need to go that far.

Anyway, it was still quite early. It was the time when the girls, who usually wake up around noon, were still asleep. If that’s the case, I should take care of everything I had planned while I was out.

—The Adventurer’s Guild.

I thought of the Adventurer’s Guild in Krasheim.

Many memories remained there. No, to be precise, they weren’t just remaining, but rather, unfortunate memories that had been etched into my mind. Even if I didn’t think about it, I could never forget them. Just thinking about that place brought those memories to the surface, giving me a shitty feeling.

“…”

A lot of shitty things happened there.

When I was an F-rank adventurer, every day was precarious. I was backstabbed a lot, and I almost died a lot too. I even had an experience in that goddamn Kobold Dungeon where all my companions died.

I don’t even remember their names or faces anymore.

But well, that’s where I first met Kopson.

And saw Winia.

And Elise too.

And the Adventurer’s Guild.

The guild had guild staff. The lady there was a bit foul-mouthed, but she gave me good jobs. I’m thinking of going to say hello right now while the iron is hot.

But then I’d need a gift.

I headed straight for the Brass Celestial Angels.
I planned to say hello and get some holy water while I was there.

“Oh! Aren’t you the famous direct Paladin of the Holy Maiden!”

I was greeted warmly as soon as I entered.

“Hehe, to be welcomed so enthusiastically. I’m touched. Yes, that’s right. I’m Kim Kat, the Paladin directly under the Holy Maiden.”
“Please, come in!”

I went inside, receiving the warm welcome of the family who greeted me enthusiastically.

I told them that I had come to Krasheim for investigation purposes and to say hello, and they were very happy, handing me various reports.

“My goodness. It seems the demon situation has caused extreme damage to civilians as well.”

I said, looking through the reports on the civilian damage situation.

“That’s right. There have been quite a few cases of escaped high demons occupying villages where farmers live, enslaving them, and then massacring them.”

Even if the farmers living in rural villages formed a militia, they couldn’t stand against the demons from Pandemonium.

Apparently, some crazy demons had herded the villagers into pits and massacred them all.

Those bastards.

I’ll have to ask Hilde to find all the demons hiding nearby and slaughter them before I leave.

“We need to stabilize the area quickly.”
“We’re working on it.”

I had a simple tea time with these people and told them similar stories to the ones I had told Elise earlier. They were very interested and continued to praise me.

It seems that actually killing a Great Demon is a big deal.

Anyway, when I finished talking like that, I brought up my main purpose.

“Ah, do you have any holy water to spare?”
“Of course! Do you need some?”
“Yes. Some mid-grade holy water.”
“Are you planning to hunt demons with it? If so, we have high-grade holy water as well…”

I’m being treated very well.

“Hehe, I’m already killing demons whenever I see them, so I don’t need such good holy water.”
“Then?”
“Ah, I’m just going to give it as a gift to some acquaintances. I’d like to buy some.”
“Ah, there’s no need for that. We’ll give you as much as we have.”

I told him that I only needed three bottles, as he was showing excessive kindness. Holy water is classified as a strategic material for clergymen, so civilians can’t get it easily.

Most people consider this holy water to be very precious because it is almost impossible to get unless there is a festival or event.

In fact, even if you consume mid-to-high-grade holy water, it has no effect unless your body is possessed by an evil spirit, but people still like these things.

It’s perfect for a gift.

“Hehe, thank you. You will be blessed.”
“Verde’s blessing will be with you, Paladin-nim. Long live Verde.”
“Long live Verde! I will repay this by slaughtering more demons!”
“Nothing could be better!”

With that, I acquired three bottles of mid-grade holy water and came outside.

Next place to go is…

Of course, the Adventurer’s Guild.
Today is a weekday, so she should be there unless something special happened.

Being an Adventurer’s Guild employee is a decent job, so once you get hired, you usually don’t quit.

“Hmm.”

I feel like I’m going to meet an old acquaintance.

That’s exactly right.

Arriving in front of the Adventurer’s Guild, I pushed open the swing door and went inside.

“Oh.”
“That build…”
“What? Is that Mirkesha?”

As soon as I entered, attention was focused on me.

This is a familiar feeling.

I looked around the hall for a moment, and everyone started doing their own thing, avoiding my gaze. Being exposed to the unique atmosphere of the Adventurer’s Guild makes me feel strange. I spent a long time here too.

I was an E-rank adventurer here.

—Step, step.

I pushed through the crowd and went to the counter.

“Oh.”

As I walked forward and looked at the counter, a familiar face came into view. It was the Adventurer’s Guild employee lady I was looking for.

—Thump.

I walked up to her and put my hand on the desk.

“Oh my.”

She took a step back and looked up at me.

A short woman with brown bobbed hair.
Her face seems to be the same as I remember.

“Hello.”
“Yes?”

As soon as I greeted her, she asked back, bewildered.

“Long time no see.”
“Yes, yes? Um, Warrior-nim…? Have we met somewhere…? Oh?”
“…”
“Is it a familiar face? But I can’t remember the name…”

It’s been a few years since I left, so she might have forgotten?

“I’m Kim Kat, who used to be an E-rank adventurer.”
“Kim… Ah! That’s right! I can tell by the scar on your face! It’s Mirkesha Kat, who always messed up the jobs!”

She remembers that, huh.

“Hehe, do you remember me?”

Old memories came to mind, and I couldn’t help but smile.

Yeah. Back then, I lived every day messing up jobs because of those damn party members. This overflowing hatred for adventurers…!

I met Elise just when I was about to be demoted to F-rank.

How many years ago was that?

I don’t even remember.

“Wow! It’s been a long time! But you’ve changed a lot…? Your impression and build… It’s not what I remember.”
“I’ve changed a lot.”

I thought about it and continued.

“I left Krasheim and got promoted.”
“Ah… Promotion. You got promoted.”
“Turns out I had a talent for playing in big leagues.”
“That’s good. Well, at first, I kept not seeing you, so I thought you messed up another job and died somewhere… No. I was thinking you might have died. That’s usually what happens to adventurers who disappear.”
“That’s a reasonable thought. That’s usually the case.”

It’s not new for adventurers to die meaninglessly.

“Anyway, I got promoted and came to Krasheim on business. So, I took the opportunity to visit you since you’re an acquaintance.”
“Wow. I’ll take back what I said about messing up the job. You’re a really good person after all. I was kind of thinking that back then.”
“Hehe, is that why you treated me so well?”
“I didn’t really?”

From my point of view, she treated me well.

“You treated me relatively well compared to others. You kept giving me jobs even though I messed them up all the time. So, I considered that a favor.”

I would have starved to death if I didn’t have a job, but she gave me jobs.

If that’s not a favor, what is it?

“Oh my goodness.”

The employee lady covered her mouth as if she was surprised.

“There are no adventurers in this world who know gratitude.”
“I’m not an adventurer anymore.”

I immediately took out the holy water I had brought and put it on the desk.

“Please accept this.”
“What is this…?”
“It’s a gift for an old acquaintance.”
“T, this is holy water?”
“Yes. I heard that mid-grade holy water is good for gifts.”

Her eyes widened.

“T, to give three bottles of this good mid-grade holy water…! You must have been promoted a lot!”
“Hehe, more than you can imagine. It’s pretty good, so use it well. It has the effect of chasing away evil spirits.”
“Thank you!”

Then should I go back now?

“Anyway, it was nice to see you after a long time.”
“Ah, are you leaving already?”
“I’m very busy.”

I have to go back.

“Ah, okay. Well, thank you for the gift. It was nice to see you after a long time too. It’s like someone I thought was dead came back to life, anyway, it’s a good thing! Congratulations on your promotion!”
“Stay healthy.”
“You too, Kat-ssi!”

After a simple greeting, I left the guild.

“Lehehe.”

I felt strangely refreshed.

Yeah. There’s no need to hate Krasheim.
I’m super strong now.

* * *

It was around noon when I returned home. After returning, I told the girls, who had just woken up and washed up, that I had been invited by the Order of the Radiant Cross.

“They said that they want to treat us as heroes who killed the Great Demon. They’re not bad people, so it wouldn’t be bad to go.”

Karin said with her arms crossed.

“Hmm… An invitation.”
“Why? Are you worried?”
“No, not really.”

Hmm?

“It’s just that it’s a bit much for just the four of us to go. It would be fine if we all went together. But there are four people left at home then.”
“I’m a bit worried about that too.”

It’s a bit much for just the four of us to go.

“That’s right. It’s fine if we all go to be treated, but… In the first place, Hilde and Ari would be in big trouble if they went into the church.”

Liztina chimed in.

“It’s okay! Risha-nim! With this, I won’t get caught, right?”
“Of course.”

Hilde said, pointing to her choker, and Risha nodded. The problem was that Elise was there. There’s no way Elise would have forgotten Hilde’s face.

“And wouldn’t bad rumors spread if we went in with this gender ratio? That the Brass Celestial Angels Paladin is a womanizer.”
“I can’t argue because it’s true.”

Then what should we do?

“Karin unnie. I don’t really care.”
“Yes! I’m fine too! I’m not welcome in the church in the first place!”
“This one doesn’t mind either. Since they invited us to such a place, wouldn’t it be okay to go this time? I’ll be waiting at home.”

I feel quite sorry.

“Sorry. Let’s go somewhere nice together next time. They said it’s okay if we do that, so let’s go.”
“If Kat wants to go, I don’t mind.”
“Then that’s that.”

Karin nodded.

“Well, if everyone’s okay with it… then everyone can take care of the house, right?”
“We’re not kids.”
“Then go and come back safely, Father.”

We can go somewhere nice together next time.