## Chapter 1159 – Confrontation

After finishing the story.

I picked up the still-unconscious Claudia and went up to the room. Even her face while passed out is angelic. It was as if happiness had exploded within her, a smile plastered all over her face.

Though now she’s a bit more relaxed, so she’s expressionless.

Anyway, I never dreamed Claudia would be so happy that she’d faint. Right. To make her happiness a reality, I will obtain that extreme strength.

—슥.

I gently placed Claudia on the bed.

After laying her down, I calmly removed her top and bra, then began to fondle her exposed breasts.

A handful of half-dark elf breasts.
A very satisfying sensation.

Her soft breasts, held gently in my hands, changed shape freely with each caress, but their elasticity allowed them to return to their original form. I never tire of touching them.

I was caressing her breasts and looking at Claudia’s face when…

“…”

Claudia’s eyes slowly opened.
I made eye contact with her as I moved my hands.

“Katt…?”
“You’re awake?”
“Ah…”

Claudia seemed to realize she had lost consciousness. She smiled shyly as she looked at my face.

“Hehehe, how good must it have been to faint?”
“I was so moved that I momentarily lost my mind.”
“How moved were you, exactly?”
“Um… to the point where I couldn’t think? When I thought about Katt being able to obtain divine power… it was like a pure white light exploded in my head.”

That’s a very specific statement.

“Climax?”
“It’s different. Really. Would you say that?”
“Just kidding, just kidding. But it hasn’t even started yet. I haven’t gained anything new.”

It’s a task that hasn’t even begun.

“But. Katt can do it, right?”

Claudia reached out and began to touch my face.

“Um… Mama has watched Katt from when he was powerless until now. Katt can definitely do it. I believe that. It’s practically a done deal, isn’t it? Congratulations, Katt. You’re finally going to obtain the power of a god.”

Claudia’s calculations are truly amazing.

Her calculation that it’s already a done deal because I can do it anyway must stem from her infinite love for me. Right. This is a conclusion derived from the logic of love. Love logic.

“I guess I need to go find it as soon as possible.”
“Hehehe, Katt. There’s no need to be impatient. You’ll be able to do it all anyway.”

There’s a strange magic in her words, giving me the certainty that it will definitely come true exactly as she says.

The power of infinite positivity.

Claudia’s positivity created the power within me.

“I’m really… so happy. To think it would end up like this. But obtaining divine power… does that mean you’ll become similar to a god like Hel-Kan?”

Hel-Kan, huh.

“I don’t know exactly what kind of god he is, but I think I’ll probably transcend him.”
“Hehe, I’m sure you will.”

But I’ll become even stronger than a god. I don’t really know what that feels like specifically. If I really obtain divine power, what will happen to me? Will I be able to strut around and say, “I’m a god, so worship me from now on”?

That sounds pretty good, actually.

That’s just who Kim Katt is.

“Haa… I can’t think about anything else now. My mind is filled only with the thought of Katt becoming that way.”

Claudia had an almost ecstatic look on her face as she hugged my neck. Is she picturing my overwhelmingly powerful self in her mind right now?

“Hehehe, are you just going to think about that from now on?”
“Yeah… thinking about Katt has become the meaning of my life.”

Infinite love.

Just as Claudia’s love is infinite, so is my power. That’s why I’m a Love Cheonma. An Infinity Love Cheonma with infinite power. Wow, damn. Just hearing the name makes me sound incredibly strong. It’s the epitome of coolness.

“The more time I spend with Katt, the deeper my feelings become… I can’t think about anything else. Watching Katt grow is the most enjoyable thing.”
“Mama.”

I immediately buried my face in her cleavage.

Face-burial.

“…Claudia. Just trust me, as you always have. Everything will turn out the way you think it will… hehehe.”
“Hehehe, okay. Then Katt. Now work hard and become a god, okay?”
“Yes!”

Work hard and become a god, Kim Katt…!

* * *

The next day.

I steeled my resolve and headed to the Great Temple.

Kadia is a strong woman.

She’s not the type to crumble even if her god is shattered. It would be better to accurately inform her of the situation.

I deeply considered whether it was right to tell her that the Verdant God was shattered and floating around. The conclusion was to tell her. No… Kadia, of all people, needed to know.

Kadia is a woman who believes in my words.

“You’ve arrived.”

As I opened the door, Kadia, who was smoking a cigarette and working on documents in her usual pose, looked at me and said.

“You came earlier than I expected. Good work, Paladin. I didn’t think you’d finish and come back in just over two weeks.”

—슥.

She stubbed out her cigarette in the ashtray and stood up from her seat.

—똑각똑각.

She started walking towards me slowly, the sound of her high heels echoing. Her face was filled with unconcealed joy. See? Her mood improved as soon as she saw me. She’s even swaying her hips as she walks, but I just chuckled and opened my arms.

“I’ve been waiting… Paladin.”

And then.

“와락.”

Kadia, who had come closer, hugged my back and began to rub her face against my neck.

“Embracing Kadia.”
“What are you saying?”
“No, nothing.”

She must have been holding back a lot, because her arms were wrapped tightly around me. This cute woman.

“I missed our Kadia, so I came quickly. But you’re being a bit affectionate today?”
“Haa… didn’t you do a great job? An early return, and you completed the mission admirably. The Paladin deserves the Saintess’s affection.”

I haven’t even said that the mission was successful, but she already firmly believes that it was. That’s the kind of man Kim Katt is to Kadia.

“Then should I receive a little more affection?”
“What kind of affection do you want?”
“I’d like you to slam your butt down on me while declaring your love for me.”
“Hmph, I’d love to do that right now. I want to head to the bedroom, but… it’s a shame I can’t.”
“Me too.”

It would be a little better if we could talk while having sex.

My heart is quite heavy right now.

“Anyway, Kadia. I missed you.”
“The Saintess feels the same. Then, where is it?”
“Here. This is the document that their queen sent back through the World Tree.”

I handed over the document, which was tightly wrapped in leaves and tree bark.

A leaf letter envelope.

What should I say? Anyway, instead of a wax-sealed stamp, a small flower was blooming in the center of it. It seems to be a unique elven style.

“A very unique letter.”
“It seems to be a unique elven style. Their queen made it and gave it to me.”
“I see. Did the discussion go well? Well, the Saintess can’t check the contents right now.”

This will go to the royal palace through Kadia.

“She understands the need for an alliance very well. Anyway, Kadia. Do you have some time now? I have a lot to tell you.”
“Of course. Sit down.”

She immediately pulled up a chair, and Kadia poured me some tea.

“Where. Let’s leisurely hear what achievements you’ve made.”

She said that with a face that seemed very expectant.

* * *

“…”

And her expectant face shattered into pieces.

I explained to Kadia what had happened in the Elven Forest. Dueling with the Guardian Warriors and everything else. I even told her the story of the elven queen proposing to me, and she’s in that state as soon as she heard that story.

“…Hoo.”

Kadia silently started smoking. She crossed her legs, leaned back against the backrest, and puffed away at cigarettes while looking at the ceiling for a long time.

How long has it been?

“…Is that all you have to say that would make the Saintess.”
“Yes.”
“Think that she needs to smoke?”
“Hey, hey. Kadia. Calm down.”
“Do you think the Saintess can calm down right now?”
“No. Well, you see. It’s because I’m such a perfect hero that I can’t help it. But I rejected her well, didn’t I?”

Kadia sighs.

“I always feel this way, but you’re really a man of confidence. But that’s strangely… no. How could that happen? I never expected you to receive a proposal from the queen.”
“Hehehe, that’s what I’m saying.”
“Is that funny?”
“No. Well. You’re prettier than the elven queen. What are you worried about?”
“U, uh…? Hmm, hmm. Anyway. My head is starting to hurt, so let’s move on from that story. You said you had another story, so tell me that.”

Right.

“I saw the World Tree.”
“The elves’ god, you mean.”
“There was a giant tree. Thicker than a building and tall enough to reach the sky.”
“That is the god that the elves worship. Right. What did you feel? Did it seem like this world originated from the World Tree, as the elves claim?”

Kadia tilted her head slightly and said that with a triumphant face. It was the expression of a woman who was certain that it could never be true.

Of course.

The world did not originate from the World Tree.

The World Tree is just a divine being similar to other gods.

“No. That wasn’t the case.”
“Hmph, I knew it. The idea that this world originated from the World Tree is absurd.”

But, Kadia…

That’s the most normal god.

Compared to the shattered gods, the World Tree was in the most intact state.

“Kadia. The story I’m about to tell you… is very shocking. So brace yourself and listen, okay?”
“Shocking? Hmph, you’re saying something interesting. What kind of story would make the Saintess have to brace herself?”

Kadia said that in an arrogant tone.

“I’m not kidding. Kadia. Think carefully before you listen to me.”

I said seriously.
Then Kadia’s face also became serious.

“…Something must have happened.”

Serious, but full of confidence.

“Speak without worry.”

Kadia said in that manner.

“If it’s something that would shock the Saintess, it must be a pretty big deal. Of course, I may be shocked depending on the content, but the Saintess will always fulfill her duty. So there’s no need to worry.”

Right.

I received that resolve well.

“I met the World Tree directly.”
“What?”
“I confronted it directly.”
“What does that…?”

I told her that I went inside the gap in the World Tree, met the elves’ god, and had a direct conversation.

“S, so… that. No. Are you saying that the World Tree was an actual god?”
“Yes. Just like there’s the Verdant God, the Aizermart God, and the Serto God. There was the World Tree, the elves’ god.”

Confusion settled on Kadia’s face.

“T, that’s a shocking story. T, to confront a divine being directly… Right. It’s a shocking thing, but the Saintess is actually curious. So. What did you talk about?”

Kadia, who took out a cigarette, tried to regain her composure.

“This is something that needs to be heard properly. To confront a god… a god directly. This requires re-analyzing the elves’ religious system…”

But I could feel that she was becoming more and more agitated. She was pretending to be okay, but her heart rate was rapidly increasing.

“Kadia. That’s not it.”
“What…?”
“The shocking story isn’t that.”
“…Is there anything more shocking than that here?”
“Yes.”

It felt like telling a child that their house had gone bankrupt.

“And it’s a very serious matter. Terribly serious. That’s why I said it.”
“…”

Kadia hesitated for a moment.

“How terrible is it?”
“As much as you think, Kadia.”
“Are you saying that the World Tree told you that evil gods are rampant… or something like that?”

I guess that’s what she thinks.

I knew what Kadia thought was a ‘terrible thing’.

“The direction is a bit different. Tell me when you’re ready to hear it.”
“…Tell me.”

Kadia answered in a voice that was small but filled with firm will.

“Right. You’re a strong woman, so you’ll be okay, probably. Actually, I thought deeply about whether to tell you this or not. But you’ll be okay, Kadia.”
“…”
“Kadia. Listen carefully. I saw the heavenly realm through the World Tree. That heavenly realm was the space where the gods are.”
“Wh, what…?”
“In that heavenly realm, I saw the Verdant God.”

—콰앙!

“What on earth does that mean…! You saw the Verdant God!”

Kadia slammed the desk and jumped up.

“Seeing it isn’t a big deal. Kadia. In that heavenly realm. I saw the Verdant God. But it wasn’t in a normal state.”
“N, no way!”

Perhaps to a priest, this news is…

The same shock as hearing that their father was shattered in a traffic accident…

“The Verdant God was shattered.”