## Chapter 567 – A Good Friend to Meet

“Katt, this feels really warm.”
“I fucking love it?”

Claudie and Karin, wearing Sasquatch fur coats, clung to me as they spoke. The leather was so large that it was roomy, and with a belt around the waist, the lines were just right, making it a great fit.

“Wow, what’s so pretty about this…!”
“Kyahaha, you little rascal.”

I’m glad they both like it.

There was quite a bit of leather seized from the heretical secret research facility, so there was one for me as well. When I put it on, I felt a warmth like I was wearing a padded jacket.

“Blackie, when you wear that, you look like some kind of barbarian chief.”

When Winia, who said that, put it on, her chest stuck out a lot. It’s a size that always makes me feel comfortable.

“Should I wear a horned helmet with this? And change my weapon to an axe?”
“Hehehe, isn’t that the stereotype of a Mirkesha?”
“Exactly.”

Risha, who came up from the basement, also put on a coat and smiled.

On Karin’s recommendation, we went to a large clothing store, roughly measured our sizes, and gave the remaining two Sasquatch hides in exchange for making coats for six people.

The clothing store owner was happy, saying it was quite expensive leather, and it seems they put a lot of effort into it. I was also satisfied with the decent winter fur coat.

If I wear this, I won’t have any problems going outside in the winter. Sasquatch are literally monsters that live in snowy mountains, so their insulation is excellent.

I made six, so I should give one to Liztina too.

“So, what’s the matter? What happened? Is it going to be long this time?”

Anyway, Karin, who was sitting down, crossed her legs and asked about it. I should tell her the story first.

“Well, a friend of mine came up from Krasheim. You know? Sister Elise.”
“I’ve heard of her a few times. She’s your benefactor, right? Did you investigate the demons together last time?”
“That’s right.”

It was right when I was fighting Hildegard over the Imp incident.

“She’s asking for some help. You know, when I went to find the meteorite last time, I told you the story of how I slaughtered all the heretics and village robbers, right?”

At those words, Karin smiled deeply and stared into my eyes.

“You did. So, are you going to investigate those heretics this time?”
“It’s not decided yet, but I think it’ll probably be that way… Karin, sis?”
“What.”
“Can I go out for a bit?”

I immediately went and sat next to Karin, putting my arm around her waist as I spoke. I don’t really like going far away. But I have a duty as a Paladin to destroy heretics.

“Ugh, you son of a bitch. How can your sister stop our husband? I’ll let you off the hook this time because of this coat. Go. Honestly, you’re getting better, so I won’t stop you.”
“I’m crying.”

Karin told me to go and tickled my chin.

“Really, aren’t you too diligent? I’ll be lonely for a while, but I’m okay with it.”
“Risha…! Thank you!”

Risha also gave her approval.

“Katt. I think I can go with you this time.”
“Hehehe, because of the coat?”
“Yeah.”

Claudie seemed to really like the fur coat. As if she wanted to test its performance already, she opened the window.

* * *

The next morning, I went straight to see Saintess Kadia.

There was no one better than my direct superior to consult with about this matter. If nothing else, if I mention anything about heretics, she will definitely help.

“Oh, this is an unexpected visit.”

The Saintess’s room felt the same as always.

In the neatly organized room, Saintess Kadia, sitting in a luxurious chair with mythical patterns, was currently quite disheveled as she was working.

Her brilliant golden hair was disheveled, and her eyes were sharp, but filled with deep fatigue. She was always suffering from overwork.

This person never had a day off.

“You couldn’t stand not seeing this Saintess’s face already. I’m delighted.”

Saintess Kadia, who was overly confident in her beauty, put down her pen and took out a cigarette, putting it in her mouth. ㅡChizzit. The sacred radiance that blazed from the tip of her finger burned the end of the cigarette.

Soon, a refreshing scent spread throughout the room.

“Hehehe, something like that. You look very beautiful today as well.”
“Flattery always sounds good. I’m very tired today, so throw out a few more words to help this Saintess come to her senses.”

Since she seemed busy, I decided to get straight to the point.

“Yes, it’s about the heretics.”
“What?”
“I’ll explain it right away.”
“Wa, wait a minute…!”

I immediately explained in as much detail as possible what happened when I went to find the meteorite and how Elise came to come up, before Saintess Kadia, who seemed surprised, could open her mouth.

She listened to my story, her eyes closed, constantly massaging her brow.

“Hmm… Heretics in the Misty Plains… This Paladin has brought quite a troublesome matter.”

Somehow, I felt like I had placed a new burden on Saintess Kadia’s shoulders, but I couldn’t help it, so I tried to ignore it.

“Really, I was just about to finish up some busy work and take a break, but a new matter has come up… I feel like my eyes are closing.”
“Hehehe, doesn’t it wake you right up?”

I jokingly said, wanting to get revenge on Saintess Kadia, who always sexually harasses me.

“So this is how those who are teased feel. It’s very difficult… So, are you requesting the dispatch of troops, Paladin?”

Soon, she took out a blank piece of paper from the drawer, grabbed her pen, and dipped it into the inkwell. It seems she was thinking of writing some kind of document.

But the dispatch of troops.

“Yes… Well, honestly, I don’t really know what to do about this matter.”

I don’t really have a good sense of how to start this matter.

“As I said, the Misty Plains are very wide, and it’s very difficult to secure visibility. I think I can handle some general matters on my own, but this is a different dimension from searching the snowy mountains.”

First of all, I think I need to operate a large number of troops, but the only experience I have commanding anyone is when I simply assigned roles to a few people in an adventurer party.

Oh, and I guess I can add my experience as a squad leader when I was a corporal, but that’s nothing.

“What should I do in this case?”
“Hmm…”

When I asked for advice, Saintess Kadia put down her pen and crossed her arms.

“And just in case, I’m telling you this, but the discovery of the heretics is not a lie. They were trafficking people. And they had been doing it for quite some time. They even had a carriage and had a long-term contract with the robber village.”
“I don’t doubt the Paladin’s words. This Saintess’s trust in the Paladin is unwavering, so there’s no need to worry about that.”
“Thank you.”

Fortunately, she believes everything I say.
She is truly a great person.

“It’s true that it’s quite a difficult matter, as the Paladin said. To think that the most suspicious forces are in the most difficult place to search.”

That’s exactly what it is. I don’t even have a sense of how many troops I need, and tracking them down in the first place is a challenge. The last clue was only that village that I destroyed when I went to find the meteorite.

“But, there are no reinforcements from the Radiant Star Cross Society… If that’s the case, then the credit for solving the matter will completely belong to our church. Does that sister also know this fact?”

Saintess Kadia seemed to be thinking about her relationship with other churches as well. As far as I know, the Radiant Star Cross Society are not people who covet such credit.

Not to mention Elise.

“Yes. In the first place, my close friend, the Radiant Star Cross Society’s lower-ranking Sister Elise, is not someone who cares about such things. She just wants to solve the matter of the heretics, and she doesn’t care about the credit or anything else.”

Since she sent Elise alone in the first place, the Radiant Star Cross Society probably doesn’t care much about helpers.

“She is a pure volunteer full of faith. She is the kind of person who willingly walks a thorny path to achieve the paradise that the Radiant Star Cross Society speaks of.”
“…Katt Paladin, did you also know about that doctrine?”
“I heard about it from my friend.”

Saintess Kadia nodded at my words and crossed her legs to the other side.

“Well, it’s quite a good thing to have such connections with other churches. It will definitely be helpful someday… I’ll give you a compliment for this. But it’s such a sudden matter that it seems it will take some time to organize the troops.”
“Oh, oh! Are you dispatching troops!”
“If there are heretics, then it is our duty to investigate them. But the Brass Sky Angels Society will be leading this matter. Let that sister know that.”

Of course, if they are providing most of the troops, then it is right for the Brass Sky Angels Society to lead the matter.

Elise won’t particularly care, and will rather be extremely grateful.

“That is absolutely correct! As expected of Saintess Kadia! A rational and enlightened ideology! Truly innovative and progressive!”
“Hmph, those are compliments that I like. Be more specific.”
“You are so innovative that you created the position of direct Paladin to improve the conservative aspects of the church in a more efficient and correct direction! You are definitely the most suitable talent for the changing era!”

Saintess Kadia is an innovative person.

In terms of doctrine, using demons is almost always rejected.

But she is trying to improve those aspects in order to more efficiently destroy evil beings.

“Oh, you knew that.”
“Why wouldn’t I know, when it’s what I do?”
“I like you more and more. Anyway, this Saintess will handle the matter of the troops directly. But it will probably take some time, so prepare in the meantime.”
“I understand! Thank you!”

In the end, it was a good thing to consult with Saintess Kadia. She readily confirmed that she would form a reconnaissance party. Well, she is someone who knows that I reported about Andromalius in the first place.

Since trust has been formed, it is a natural thing.

“Really, seeing you create work even when I don’t give it to you makes my trust in you even stronger. To volunteer for difficult work for the sake of friendship… That’s a good virtue.”
“Hehehe, thank you for the evaluation.”

After finishing the conversation, I came outside.

I was able to receive support from Saintess Kadia.

Since the Brass Sky Angels Society is the main body, Elise and I can just go along with it.

Well, it’s good to beat up the heretics, and it’s good to simply find evidence. If it’s the former, then it’s a good thing to beat up the heretics, and if it’s the latter, then the Radiant Star Cross Society will move.

Elise will be very happy if I tell her this fact. I should go and tell her quickly. But first, I need to go to the Martial Artist Guild first.

I need to give her the Sasquatch fur coat as a gift.

“…Cheonma? You’ve been coming a lot lately. What are you up to?”

When I went to the Martial Artist Guild, Mariel, with her usual unpleasant expression, stood in front of me with a dignified posture. I usually only come in the evening, but I also have many things to do during the day, so I often run into her like this.

“No, I’m here to deliver our Guild Master’s message. She’s been working hard to improve relations lately.”

I reassured her with a familiar lie.

“Hmm…”
“Hey, hey. The Guild Master is waiting. I’m going up.”
“What, what are you going up on your own!”

Still, since she was trying to stop me, I immediately took a murderous stance in the Siljang Kwonbeop’s preparation stance.

“You little shit! Do you want to taste the Siljang Kwonbeop!”
“A, no! That’s not it at all! Go up!”

I pushed aside Mariel, who was completely terrified by my murderous aura, and went up to Liztina’s room and opened the door without knocking.

“Liz, sis. I’m here.”
“Wh, what is it, you! Without knocking!”
“I’m here to give you a surprise gift.”
“Gi, gift…?”

I immediately threw off my bag and took out the Sasquatch fur coat that I had put inside.

“This is a present. Take it.”
“Wh, what is this? Is it a coat?”
“Sasquatch fur coat. This is rare. I got it when I went to work last time.”

Then, I approached Liztina and handed it to her, and her face immediately turned red as she took the coat.

“Sa, Sasquatch fur coat… This is really rare… Why are you suddenly giving me something like this…”
“I got a lot this time. So, of course, I had to make one for you.”
“You… Well, you’re a decent man after all!”
“Of course. Try it on.”

Liztina immediately put on the coat. As expected, she has a good figure, so she looks good in anything. Well, even if that wasn’t the case, Sasquatch leather is quite a high-end product.

“Hmm… It fits my body perfectly, no, more than that, Katt, you. How did you know my body shape and make something like this?”
“Because I’ve touched your body countless times.”

There is no part of Liztina’s body that my hands haven’t touched. In the first place, she has a similar body shape to Karin, so I ordered it appropriately.

“H, haah?”
“Hehehe, your face is red.”
“I, I don’t know you!”

Liztina seemed quite satisfied.

“Th, thank you… I didn’t expect to receive a gift so suddenly…”
“I’ll bring you one each time something like this comes up. Then, I’m going because of work.”
“Why are you leaving already… Th, then, are you coming tonight…?”
“Hehehe, yeah.”

I immediately left the Martial Artist Guild and headed to the inn where Elise was staying. Of course, I know where it is, but I don’t know which room she’s staying in, so I used a primitive method to call her.

“ELISEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

When I shouted, Elise came running out of the inn entrance like an arrow. Wh, what the hell! Her response is fast!

“Saint! I was already prepared!”
“Wh, what…! Don’t tell me you were waiting for me at the inn entrance!”
“That’s right!”