## Chapter 566 – A Good Friend to Meet

I did encounter the heretics when I went to find the meteorite last time.

They were colluding with a clandestine human trafficking village hidden in the mist, trading human lives as if they were mere commodities.

I don’t know their purpose.

But as always, it was clear they would use those lives in some evil and terrible place.

Naturally, I unilaterally slaughtered the residents of that village, and I also annihilated all three heretics who had visited the village.

Thinking about it now, it was a very good thing.

Fucking excellent.

“So, you want to investigate the heretics of the Misty Plains.”

It seems that Elise wants to investigate the origin of the evidence I collected after killing the heretics back then.

Someone like Elise wouldn’t just let something like that pass.

“Yes.”

But it will be almost impossible.

There was so much fog back then, and now that it’s winter, it’s even worse. It will definitely be twice as hard to find them. The moment you get lost, you’re really screwed. That place was worse than a snowy mountain.

Above all, if I act with Elise, I can’t call Hildegard. So, finding the heretics is impossible.

Ah, shit.

Being in front of Elise made me feel heavy-hearted about the fact that Hildegard and I had formed some kind of cooperative relationship.

Damn it…!
That bitch Hildegard…!

Of course, even friends have secrets.

“But did you come alone? What about the Penitent Crusader Archiona and the others? If the operation is over because of winter, a few of them could come and help. We have material evidence, too.”

Did they tell Elise to investigate alone again?

Even though there is material evidence, they seem to be putting too much strain on Elise when they could have launched an expedition like they did with the Crusader Corps. This is definitely not something that can be done alone. It’s a problem that requires an appropriate number of people, regardless of ability.

“That is also a valid point. However, even though the operation is over, the higher-ups have decided that we cannot recklessly withdraw troops as long as the threat of demons clearly exists.”
“Oh, is that so?”

Even though the full-scale winter has begun and the large-scale search operation has ended, the threat of demons and heretics is still real. So, they can’t withdraw troops.

“First, I will investigate, and if meaningful evidence is found, then we will establish a specific search and extermination plan.”
“I see.”

In the end, as always, they ordered Elise to investigate first.

She really lives a hard life.

But surprisingly, Elise was the type of religious person who really enjoyed doing this kind of thing. Elise looked that much happier when she was talking.

“Above all… if this goes well, they said they would promote me to Intermediate Sister.”
“In, Intermediate Sister…!”

Intermediate Sister!

Elise is currently being cultivated as a professional paladin in the Radiant Cross Society. She is much younger than me, but she is so talented that she is on an elite course, having already been completed in many ways.

After passing through Lower – Intermediate – Upper, she will be promoted to Paladin in the end. That was the righteous path laid out before Elise.

“Then you’ll be a Paladin soon!”
“That’s still a long way off.”

Elise said shyly.

“When that time comes, we’ll be more than Divine Friends, we’ll be Paladin Friends!!!”
“Hehe, you could say that. Paladin Friend… but somehow Divine Friend feels more familiar.”
“Hehehe, me too.”

It goes without saying, but the meaning of the position of Paladin differs from church to church, and even within the same religion, specialties vary depending on the type.

Not all Paladins are the same.

There are lieutenant colonels who are battalion commanders, and there are lieutenant colonels who are staff officers. That’s how I can explain it.

I am a `Paladin directly under the Saintess of Kadia`, not a `Brass Celestial Society Paladin`. The two are distinct types of soldiers. Even if Elise becomes a Paladin, she will be a different kind from me.

“Then it’s like a promotion test.”

This is nothing more than a promotion test for Elise.

Originally, the principle was not to interfere with a friend’s promotion test, but this time it’s different.

The fact that Elise was hanging around in front of the Adventurer’s Guild means that she was looking for me. That means she’s asking me for help.

“But do you have a plan? The Misty Plains are not an easy place.”

A Divine Friend’s help is not something you can easily refuse.

“It’s really wide and it’s hard to secure visibility. Even people who are familiar with the area get lost because of the snow in winter. Can we really find the heretics who have been hiding there for so long?”

It is impossible for us to cover that vast area by ourselves. I can say with certainty that it is only barely possible with a large-scale search operation.

That place is their base… or maybe not, but at least they are more familiar with it than we are, and since it exists in a secret place, there are many places to escape to.

In the first place, the natives there are not trustworthy.

An entire village was full of human traffickers. And it was kept secret for years until I eventually massacred them all.

“That’s why I came to ask for your help, Saint.”
“Hehehe, of course I’ll help with anything I can. But if we just go in without any preparation, we won’t get anything. Elise, we need to make a plan before we go.”
“That’s a valid point.”

Elise nodded at my words.

“Indeed… you seem to have gained more experience than before.”
“Well, it’s obvious.”

Unlike other places, the Misty Plains require that much preparation. It’s a different dimension from playing near the village.

“Actually, I was very worried about that. When I consulted with the higher-ups, I assumed that they would immediately establish a large-scale operation…”

According to the explanation, Elise initially judged that it was not something she could do alone and requested a large-scale operation.

However, that was put on hold, and because Elise was ordered to investigate, she was in a situation where she had to conduct the investigation alone before the end of winter.

“I’m used to carrying out missions alone, but I don’t know what to do this time.”
“Oh my. So that’s what it was.”

With Elise’s personality, she would have tried to do anything, so she wouldn’t have refused the order. Is that why she was worried and came to find me?

“If it doesn’t seem possible, you should wait and see or say that it seems impossible for now… no, you can’t do that. Because you’re Elise.”

Elise nodded.

“I can’t give up. Not with those evil heretics involved…”
“We can’t just stand by and watch.”
“…That’s right.”

Damn it, even if Elise is working this hard, shouldn’t they give her at least one crusader?

No matter how strongly they want to raise Elise, it’s too much to make her do something she can’t do alone.

Or are they deliberately doing this to develop her ability to ask for help from others or demand cooperation?

I don’t know who is trying to raise Elise as a paladin, but it’s too harsh.

“Hmm… I’m worried about how to help. Elise, do you have a set schedule? How much time can you spend?”
“The goal is to finish the investigation and return as soon as possible, but I haven’t made a specific time plan.”
“Is that so?”

How should I help her with this?

Should I talk to the Saintess of Kadia?

Ah, now that I think about it, I didn’t tell the Saintess about the Misty Plains. If I tell her, she will show interest, but this is a tricky problem.

“This is a really ambiguous problem. Elise, the Misty Plains are not a place where you and I can search diligently and find what we want.”
“…I also think so. But you were the only person I could ask for help. Please share your strength and wisdom.”

Elise was sending me eyes of faith and trust, as always.

“Well, I’m a quasi-priest, so I’ll talk to the Saintess of Kadia. If we’re lucky, she might help.”
“Thank you so much, Saint!”

Elise smiled brightly and thanked me.

I need to talk to the Saintess of Kadia about this. I couldn’t see any other way.

Anyway, Elise and I continued to eat and talked about various things. Most of the stories were about what demons had appeared there and how she had caught heretics.

I also gave her a detailed explanation of what I had been doing.

“By the way, Saint. I received an official letter from the Isvant Brass Celestial Society saying that they had defeated a Great Demon called Andromalius. Do you know anything about that?”

As I was doing that, she asked me in a very innocent way.

“Andromalius?”
“Yes. I heard that it’s such a powerful demon that it’s recorded in our church’s demon dictionary. I heard that the Brass Celestial Society defeated the Great Demon who had incompletely materialized.”

I caught half of that.

“Oh, right. Me and other holy knights went and caught it.”
“Wh, whwhat! What did you say!”
“I was the one who reported it.”
“!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

Elise was shocked again.

I happily told Elise about the situation. Throughout the story, Elise reacted by widening her eyes or clenching her fists tightly.

Elise was indeed a good friend to meet.

We finished our meal and went outside.

“Well, Elise, even if I become a paladin and go to the capital, we’re connected by the bond of Divine Friends, so don’t worry. I’m a traveling worker, so I’ll have many opportunities to come here.”
“That’s…”

To be honest, I was very disappointed. Well, I didn’t see her often anyway, but if I went to the capital, the frequency would decrease even more.

“The Saint is going to the capital… Of course, it’s definitely good that you’ve become a paladin and are fighting against evil in earnest. At the same time, it’s something to celebrate that you’ve received such a good position.”

Elise also looked sad.
Me too.

“But I’m very disappointed… I don’t know how to express this feeling. But still, I think it’s right to bless you. I believe you will definitely do well. Until the day we meet again, please serve diligently.”

A smile appeared on her face, which had been filled with sadness.

This was Elise’s honest heart.
I feel like tears are about to flow.

“Hehehe… sob. It’s not like we can’t see each other, so don’t be like that. Thank you, Elise. I’m really going to work hard. Ah, but if you’re a paladin, can’t you communicate well with other churches?”

I don’t know, but it wouldn’t be difficult to send letters to other churches. Even though religions are separated, they share a fundamental purpose.

Of course, various means of communication would be provided.

“…I guess so.”
“So don’t worry. Then, Elise, I have something to do, so let’s part ways here today. You’re going to stay where you usually stay, right?”
“Yes. That’s what I’m thinking.”
“I’ll talk to the Saintess of Kadia. If she says she’ll help, I’ll come find you right away, so wait for me.”

When I told her that, Elise smiled brightly again and greeted me energetically.

“Thank you so much, Saint! Then I’ll be waiting for you, Saint!”
“Okay, okay. I’ll come find you soon. You’ve come a long way, so get some rest.”

Elise waved her hand and disappeared into the distance, and I immediately headed home.

* * *

“The nun came?”
“Yeah. Remember the heretics when we went to the Misty Plains? She came to investigate that, and she asked me to help her.”

I went back home and told my wives about the situation. Winia looked at me with a look that said, “Are you going out again?” and rested her chin on her hand.

“Hmm, the Misty Plains… is it okay there? Won’t it be hard because it’s winter?”
“I think so too. So I’m going to talk to the Saintess of Kadia. She might help.”
“If Blackie says there are heretics, she’ll help… so do you want to help that nun, Blackie?”
“I want to help her. She’s my benefactor who helped me when I was having the hardest time.”

Winia stared into my eyes.

“Well, then we have to help her. It’s not like we only see her once or twice.”
“Hehehe, thank you. But where’s Claudia?”
“She went out with Karin to pick up the clothes.”
“Clothes? Ah.”

I had left the Sasquatch fur that I had obtained last time at the clothing store. It seems that they went to pick it up. I was going to go out later and get it myself.