## Chapter 1288 – Capital

I sat down in a suitable spot, and the Swordmaster sat across from me.

But a moment of awkward silence descended. She seemed worried that I might bring up something strange again.

“What did you call me here for today?”

So, I spoke first.

I don’t know why this lady summoned me. Actually, there’s no need to think too deeply about it. I just need to listen to what she has to say and then share my thoughts.

“…”

She looked at me for a moment, then put on a relaxed expression and replied, “I called you to have a chat about this and that. Actually, there’s so much I want to talk about…”
“Talk!!! I love talking!!!”

I shouted explosively and clapped my hands.

—Kwaang!
—Kwaang!
—Kwaang!
—Tukwakakakakakang!!!
—Ppeogeogeogeogeogeong!!!

The sonic booms from my clapping filled the room. I am someone who extremely enjoys talking…! If you want to talk, come find this Kim Kat!

“If that’s the case, I’m all for it!!!”
“H, hold on.”
“Yes!”
“Calm down a bit… you seem very happy.”
“Hehehe, I, Kim Kat, am always happy.”
“Why is that?”
“Well.”

I immediately wiped the smile off my face and held out my palm.

“It’s because I possess this kind of power.”

The destructive power emanating from my body.

Those who possess such power are inevitably happy. It’s like having a large bank balance. Those with a lot of money in their account are always beaming.

Power is the same.

“Wouldn’t you always be happy too, Swordmaster-nim? Didn’t you used to be?”
“Hmm, that’s true. I used to always be happy in the old days.”
“Exactly.”
“Alright. I’m glad you’re happy, but… I’d appreciate it if you could calm down a bit.”
“I’ve calmed down.”
“Really?”
“Of course.”

I calmed down.

“Then let’s start talking. Honestly, there’s something I want to ask.”
“Ask me anything. I’ll answer you.”

—Twitch, twitch.

I wiggled my eyebrows wildly as I stared at her face.

This was a kind of revenge. Back during the martial arts tournament, she provoked me by giving me the prize while saying I had slaughtered all the Mirkesha guys or something.

I was intimidated back then because I was a nobody, but not anymore.

“I’ll tell you anything. I’m Kim Kat the Paladin, who tells you everything. Go ahead. Please ask me…!”
“Y, you really showed overwhelming power!”

She spoke quickly as I showed signs of erupting.

“Overwhelming power, you say?”
“You split the sky.”

Right.

That must be what she wanted to ask about.

“That’s right. I split the sky. My level reached that point.”
“It’s truly amazing. Even I didn’t think something like that was possible. I’ve truly come to understand what a new generation hero is like.”

She praised me with a face that seemed genuinely impressed.

What I felt from her gaze was interest. Was it just interest? Of course, it would be easy for someone many times my age to hide their emotions.

But seeing as someone of this strength lives quietly, maybe she’s just the type who’s indifferent to worldly affairs.

“Honestly, I was a bit shaken. Even if Paladins are strong. I never imagined it would be to that extent. I’m starting to think I misjudged you back then.”
“Actually, I’m even stronger than I was then.”
“Even more?”
“Young people grow quickly. One moment they’re tiny kids, and the next moment they’re hairy and calling you ‘Uncle’ while bowing… no, they just show up calling you ‘Uncle.’ That’s what time is like.”

Time flows quickly.

“I see. You have an interesting perspective on time. Anyway. How did you cut the sky? I’d like you to tell me. I’m very curious.”
“The power of infinite faith. And the power of exploding love. That’s all.”
“Hmm… I feel like we’re suddenly going to move on to a strange topic.”
“Don’t worry. I’m not joking.”

The Swordmaster seemed worried that I might suddenly erupt, but I could feel it clearly.

Right now, she was constantly trying to read my power, level, and standards while talking to me. Of course, it wasn’t something I needed to worry about. She could check as much as she wanted.

“You became stronger through faith, huh… I’m a little interested in your faith.”
“Are you curious?”
“Can you tell me?”
“It’s justice.”
“Justice?”
“I use my sword for justice. You could say that’s what made me like this.”
“Justice, huh…”
“My own justice. It would be sufficient to explain it as becoming stronger after pursuing that.”
“…I see.”

She nodded.

“Anyway, I understand. Congratulations again. To achieve such a level. As a martial artist, I have no choice but to congratulate you.”
“Hehehe, thank you.”
“So, Paladin, what do you think about the Karga Kingdom?”

So, that’s what she wanted to ask about?

Well, since I belong to the kingdom, it’s natural to think that way. If she’s trying to sound me out, she doesn’t need to worry.

The Karga Kingdom isn’t some kingdom of evil human trash like Belgium, so what would I do? I always think that I never wield power recklessly.

“I think about it as much as other people do, I suppose. Is there something you’re worried about?”
“I don’t know if you can call it a worry, but I’m curious about what will happen to the kingdom in the future.”

Her eyes began to turn serious.

As a Swordmaster, she must also know. If a superhuman appears who surpasses the nation’s military power. That any country would be at the mercy of that superhuman.

“Just because I have power.”

So, I said while looking at her face.

“It’s not in line with my justice to wield it recklessly. Therefore, I won’t do it. Swordmaster-nim. What do you think is the most important thing for powerful superhumans like us?”
“That would be.”

She answered without a moment’s hesitation.

“One’s own thoughts.”

I agree.

“Exactly. National laws, interests, and other political things. Superhumans don’t need to care about any of that. Only their own thoughts. And the standards they set are the most important. Isn’t that right?”
“Hmm.”

The Swordmaster’s eyes narrowed.

“Something like that happened before.”
“Something?”
“Yes. Something. I went abroad once. As I was walking down the street in that country, I witnessed a crime scene.”
“A crime scene, huh.”

I decided to tell her about what happened then.

“It was a common occurrence. A knife-wielding robber appeared and threatened a woman and her child, gently stabbing them in the stomach with a knife and telling them to hand over everything they had. The victim was wailing, and blood was spreading on her clothes.”
“Oh dear.”
“So, I immediately used a hand blade to the guy’s head like this.”

I spread out my palm and made a hand blade.

—Chwahak.

I swung it and continued speaking.

“I split him in half. From the skull to the spine. I neatly bisected him all the way down to the pelvic bone.”
“With your bare hands?”
“Yes.”
“Amazing.”

Neatly splitting a person in half with bare hands is something that even skilled knights can’t do.

“But… that was a crime in that country.”
“A crime?”
“Even if he was a robber, judging him without going through the law is a major crime.”
“What’s the name of the country? Wasn’t it a crime in progress?”
“The country’s name was Innsmouth or something like that. It was a crime in progress, but they said a crime is a crime. The constables came right away to arrest me.”
“Hmm.”

She listened to me quietly.

“Would arrest have been possible?”
“No.”
“That’s right. Even if that was the law of that country, it had nothing to do with me. In the first place, it didn’t align with my justice. And they didn’t have the power to restrain me.”
“That’s true.”
“They did put me on trial, but that was only because I voluntarily appeared.”
“Appearing is unexpected.”
“It was because I respected their laws in my own way. I couldn’t understand their laws, but still.”
“Respect, huh…”

The Swordmaster stroked her chin at those words.

“Rational and reasonable. A hero should show that much respect.”
“Hehehe, that’s right. Ah, just a quick question. What would Swordmaster-nim have done?”
“I think I would have acted the same way as Paladin.”

That would be typical.

“Anyway, the incident ended there. If I didn’t have power, I would have been caught without a doubt.”
“That’s what law is like.”

But we are beings who transcend the law.

“Now, let’s change the subject. It’s about us superhumans, who are virtually beyond the laws agreed upon by the collective that is the nation, like in the story I just told.”
“…”

The Swordmaster was listening intently to my story.

“What do you think is the enemy of such beings like us?”
“Things that are displeasing.”

As expected, it was an immediate answer without a moment’s hesitation.

“To be specific, things that go against one’s own justice.”

Who I beat up and who I destroy is purely determined by my mood. And what determines my mood is the justice and morality that I have built up so far.

The laws agreed upon by tens of thousands, millions, or hundreds of millions of weak humans are all useless in the face of my mood. No matter how much a nation agrees, it’s just a concept below me.

That is what a superhuman is.

And because I am a superhuman. I must not abuse that power. No. I cannot abuse it. The very desire to build my own justice led me to become a superhuman. Would I abuse power when I am like that?

“Hehehe, you know very well, Swordmaster-nim.”
“Heh heh. Was that the right answer? Well, I’ve gone through a similar process, so I guess we have some common ground.”

I laughed with her.

“It’s just a thought that anyone strong would naturally reach.”
“Good words.”

She didn’t erase her smile as she picked up her teacup and drank the black tea. Then she put the cup down as if satisfied.

“I feel like I’ve learned a little about Paladin.”

I felt like I knew what kind of person the Swordmaster was too.

She was someone who had grown up with a similar way of thinking as me. The reason she had lived in close relationship with the royal family even with such power was simply because that was her nature. And because she has her own justice.

“I think I’ve learned a little about Swordmaster-nim too.”

I smiled and held out my hand.

“I hope Paladin’s heart doesn’t change.”

She responded to the handshake, shaking my hand as she said, “There’s nothing to worry about. Well then, I’ll be going now. It seems like the allotted time is over. Let’s see… right. Next is our princess’s turn. You should go talk to her.”
“Princess Einphel, you mean.”

That would be the order.

Then let’s go talk to the princess.

“And what exactly is the reason you’re trying to mischievously tease this Swordmaster?”
“Mischievously tease? What are you talking about?”
“By constantly bringing up strange topics…”
“You mean!!!! The story about love!!!!”
“Th, that’s right. That.”

Strange topics!!!!
I can’t stand that!!!!!!!

“To express that as teasing!!!! I can’t!!! Stand it!!!!”
“My bad.”
“I’m just kidding.”
“Oh dear.”

With that, I chuckled and left the reception room.

She was worried about whether I would do something to this Karga Kingdom. She may be like a crazy serial killer, but it seemed she could still think normally.

When you think about it, all those she had killed were nomadic people who were trying to invade the Karga Kingdom’s territory. She was just a war hero who liked fighting and killing.

Anyway, as I came out and looked around, the servants and knights who were standing over there rushed towards me as a group.

“Ah! Is your conversation with the Swordmaster over!”
“Yes. It was a good time.”
“Then we will guide you again!”
“Alright.”

I immediately followed them and moved. The next person I would meet was Princess Einphel. She was clearly shocked when I flew in the sky last time and proceeded with the story on her own, so I wonder what I’ll hear today.