## Chapter 499 – Associate Priest Kim Kat

My body stiffens.

The hallway lined with red carpet reminded me of the haunted house where I suffered so much last time, but compared to that dilapidated house, this castle was practically a palace.

I couldn’t help but be captivated by the rather luxurious interior.

“Ooh.”

It’s an impressive space.

I wonder how many gold coins it cost to build this castle. It must have cost a fortune.

And what about the workers who manage the castle?

ㅡRustle, rustle.

Quite a few beautiful maids are diligently cleaning. I quite like the outfit. The black and white combination seems like it would suit Karin, so maybe I should ask her to wear it sometime.

As I walked along with the group in silence, a neatly dressed man stood in front of us.

“The guests may follow me.”
“Understood.”

As Barkerel answered, the guards who had been guiding us left. We followed the man and entered a room.

It felt like a guest room or waiting room.

“Please wait here for a moment. Before you are granted an audience with the lord, there will be essential etiquette training and a physical examination. Then…”

He bowed and left.

As the door closed, the group’s tension eased slightly.

“Nice castle. Well-built.”
“I agree. What do you think is the most impressive part?”

Claudie seemed impressed.

“Hmm… the scale, or the number of servants? The style is different from the castles in the desert, which is also fascinating.”
“Desert castle? Have you been there?”
“I haven’t been there. Just a quick look.”

I’d like to see that desert place sometime.

Claudie talks about the desert as if it’s nothing, but it’s a hellish place, nothing short of an inferno.

“It’s a really nice castle. But Blackie, I’m really worried, so don’t do anything weird in front of the lord, okay?”
“Hehe, what do you take me for?”
“No uncontrollable impulses or anything. Got it?”
“Of course.”

If I can’t control my impulses here, I’m really screwed.
And there’s no room to unleash any impulses in the first place.

Anyway, as we waited, the door opened and servants and maids entered. They gave us very detailed instructions on etiquette and rules of conduct when entering the audience chamber.

It seems that seeing the lord is quite a difficult task.

Why are there so many procedures?

I concentrated so I wouldn’t forget and memorized the actions they demonstrated. It wasn’t too difficult. I just had to receive the reward and leave.

Practicing is just like being in the military.

After that, we were briefly checked for hidden weapons. We were separated by gender, with the men searched by male servants and the women searched by maids behind a partition.

“Please hand over all weapons you are carrying. No blades of any kind are allowed.”

We had to hand over all the weapons we brought. I took everything out and handed it over. After that chaotic time, it was finally time to begin.

“Please follow me.”

The man from before led us again.

“Brother Barkerel? Are we going now?”
“It seems so. Stay alert from now on.”
“I will.”

Maximum tension on.

“Claudie, Winia. Let’s get tense.”
“Hehe, Kat. You’re too stiff. You can relax.”
“You’ll make a mistake. Blackie, are you really okay?”
“I told you I’m okay.”

ㅡGlare.

The man guiding us gave us a look for talking, so I shut my mouth.

Is this a monastery? Why is it so quiet?

After walking for about five minutes,

We arrived at a large door. It was a gate worthy of the lord’s castle.

“This is the audience chamber.”

As the man said briefly and opened the door, the atmosphere of the group changed.

ㅡStiff.

The members of the search party stood stiffly and began to walk carefully. We followed suit.

The audience chamber was quite large.

Beyond the red carpet was a low staircase, and on top of it was a luxurious chair. On either side of the chair, guards stood motionless, staring at us.

They were clearly experts.

We stood in a line in the middle of the carpet in an attention stance, waiting for the lord. ㅡThump, thump. Ah, I’m so nervous. The division commander is entering!

“The lord is entering!”

That voice echoed from the front, and soon a man who appeared to be the lord appeared.

ㅡStep, step.

He looked like an ordinary neighborhood uncle, but his demeanor exuded the aura of a ruler.

Above all, his clothes were already luxurious ceremonial robes. Good clothes represent status and intimidate the other person.

His hair was red… well, he looked like a typical lord. Anyway, I raised my tension to the highest level and tried not to make any mistakes.

Behind the lord, a woman with red pigtails walked with a demure gait, and I knew immediately that she was Lady Isvant.

The lord looks like an uncle, but the lady is beautiful, so her beauty must be from her mother’s genes.

As I was thinking that and rolling my eyes, ㅡTsupat.

I made eye contact with the lady.

“…?”

The lady widened her eyes and looked surprised, and that made my body tense up. Surely she doesn’t think it’s rude to make eye contact?

We’ve met beforeㅡ

“ㅡAh! You’re! That barbarian warrior from then!”

Suddenly, the lady not only widened her eyes but also pointed and shouted loudly.

What, what?

What was the etiquette for this situation?

I’m screwed, Kim Kat!
This wasn’t in the plan!

ㅡStride, stride.

As I was quickly racking my brain, the lady, who had left the lord’s side, strode towards me.

Oh, oh shit!

Why! Why?!

The lady, who had come right up to me, grabbed my hands and shook them vigorously up and down.

ㅡShake, shake!

“I thought for a moment when I heard about the black-haired warrior, but to see you again like this! That arena match was quite impressive!”

She expressed her delight with a voice as powerful as her large chest. What kind of etiquette is this, damn it! Flustered, I could only smile awkwardly and answer with my stiff body.

“I-It’s an honor to meet you…!”
“An honor? Nonsense! To have defeated that ogre and even that demon! You’re still the same warrior I saw!”

The lady seemed to remember what happened back then. How am I supposed to answer here without being rude? My head felt dizzy.

I glanced to the left and right, and everyone was standing stiffly, turning their heads slightly to look at me. Damn it! Still, I was taught to answer politely when a noble asks a question, so I quickly replied.

“I was just doing what was natural.”
“Doing what was natural? Such a humble attitude! I like it, barbarian warrior!”
“I’m grateful that you say so!”

No, Lord…! Your daughter is doing this here, aren’t you going to stop her! The lady kept asking me questions. She seemed curious about the story of when I defeated the demon.

“Ooh, ho ho ho ho! The demon must have died like a trampled maggot! Just imagining it is exhilarating! It reminds me of the sight of you slaughtering the ogre!”

The lady’s tension was extremely high.

Her voice was so loud that it felt like an exclamation point was added to every word she said. Is this woman’s staple food a steam whistle?

She even brought the back of her hand to her mouth when she laughed, truly a noble.

“The demon’s end was like a burst lump of meat!”
“A burst lump of meat! A very good expression! You seem to know your stuff!”

ㅡSoaked.

My back was already soaked with sweat.

It might even drip down if I’m unlucky.

Please, someone save me…!

“…That’s enough…”
“Father! This is the barbarian warrior who showed his bravery in the ogre subjugation! He was a great help!”
“I understand, so calm down and come here.”

Only then did the lord, who was sitting in his chair, gesture and say.

“Oh dear. I seem to be too excited. I, this lady, will call you separately after the audience is over. Then.”

…Call me separately?

If I did that, I’d become sous vide Kim Kat due to the sweat pouring out. The lady left those words and went to stand next to the lord.

“Ahem.”

As the lord cleared his throat, Barkerel walked two steps forward, knelt on one knee, and bowed his head.

ㅡNow begins the commendation.

We followed suit and waited for the lord’s words.

“First, I would like to express my gratitude for stopping the threat to the city early. Seeing that hideous and enormous arm, it must have been no ordinary demon. You have suffered greatly. As expected of the paladins of the Bronze Celestial Angel Order.”

His voice was quite dignified. Receiving praise for my achievements in such a voice made my shoulders want to rise.

I wonder what kind of reward he’ll give me.

“The adventurers have also suffered greatly. I heard that an adventurer, no, the barbarian warrior who became an associate priest this time, felt something suspicious while investigating the demon and reported it? Adventurers are useful after all, hahaha!”

…Is he singling me out?

Then should I answer?

“Raise your head and stand up, Associate Priest.”

As I was pondering that for a moment, the lord said that.

“I will raise my head and stand up!”

Instantly becoming a private, I shouted loudly and raised my head and stood up. No, damn it, am I so nervous that the report just came out?

“There’s no need to give such a rigid answer… Indeed. A ferocious-looking warrior. He’s a barbarian through and through. He must have naturally strong strength.”
“That’s right, Father! He’s a very skilled warrior! You should have seen the match!”
“Please calm down.”

The Isvant father and daughter gave me such an appraisal in front of me. They began to ask me all sorts of questions. I was screwed. It felt like my tension was going to explode.

But if you get extremely nervous in a situation like this, you’ll make mistakes. I forced myself to calm down and regain my composure. Stuttering in an unfamiliar situation is enough for once.

“The weather is getting colder, but you did a really good job. Your body must be shivering, but you’ve achieved a great feat… Isn’t that right, Associate Priest?”
“That’s right! It was very cold! However, now that you, Lord, have directly commended me, my heart has already become as warm as if a warm spring breeze has blown in! Thank you!”

Calming down, my ass.

The motor attached to my mouth started spinning more than usual.

“Hmm? Hahaha! You speak very eloquently. I’m glad that you’re so happy! I, this lord, am also happy!”

Fortunately, the lord burst out laughing, as if he liked my answer.

As a signal, at some point, the lord started talking to me a lot.

Looking at his attitude, it seems he’s just a bit curious about me, a barbarian. In fact, there are quite a few barbarians in the city. Most of them live the lives of the lower class, though.

He’s probably just curious that I, a barbarian, received the church’s recognition and even became an associate priest. In the first place, ordinary people don’t have a very good view of black hair.

The lord wouldn’t be any different.

The religious people were kind because they don’t discriminate.

So I was careful with my words so as not to offend him as much as possible.

“Speaking of which, you came from the land of the barbarians far away. Isn’t the city uncomfortable? The environment must be very different from your barren homeland.”
“It’s such a perfect and beautiful city that I couldn’t feel any discomfort at all! When I look at the scenery of the city, I feel like my knowledge is expanding! Our tribe was just a closed well! To think there was such a city in the world! It was a series of surprises!”

The lady’s way of speaking was quite addictive. Originally, when answering superiors, you have to speak loudly and pronounce clearly. That’s how it was in the military, at least.

“Yes, yes! The city is beautiful! You have an eye for it! People have to live while experiencing things! You have to see such a big city like this for people to grow!”

Anyway, the lord was laughing, so it didn’t seem to be a big faux pas. Beyond that, he even seemed to be in a good mood… Is this a green light?

“I had a prejudice that barbarians are violent, but it seems that’s not the case. You, Associate Priest, have corrected this lord’s perception. Consider it an honor.”
“It’s such an honor! Thank you, Lord!”
“Hahaha! Your answer is loud, I like it! Well, then I should give you a reward for your achievements!”