## Chapter 568 – Nice to Meet You, Friend

“Damn it…!”

I was so frustrated that Elysee had been diligently setting up countermeasures against me recently. This kind of thing shouldn’t be happening, but since I’ve already been seen through, there’s nothing I can do.

I’ll aim for the next opportunity.

Tomorrow’s me will be stronger than today’s me.

Just like how I used the misunderstanding last time to make Elysee shout, let’s come up with another plan.

“Anyway, Elysee. I talked to Saintess Kadia, and she said she’ll organize a scouting party for us.”
“A scouting party!!!”

Elysee’s eyes widened at the mention of the scouting party, and she shouted in surprise before launching into a fervent expression of gratitude.

“Thank you so much, Saint!”
“Hehehe, it’s all about connections. But since they’re providing all the manpower, this is now technically the Brass Celestial Knights’ business. Is that alright?”
“That is only natural. I am simply endlessly grateful and have no other thoughts. This was something I couldn’t have resolved on my own.”

That’s Elysee for you.

“Consulting with you, Saint, was definitely the right choice. Then, Saint! Let’s go crush those heretics together! To establish justice in this world!!”

Completely excited, Elysee shouted as she pulled out her warhammer.

Of course, we’re not leaving right away. Well, it takes time to organize the troops and prepare for departure. It’ll probably take about a week.

“Those bastards should all be massacred!!! Those evil sons of bitches who are eating away at the world!”
“Indeed! To think they were kidnapping innocent people and engaging in human trafficking…! Even imagining it is hateful and disgusting!
“I feel the same way!!!!”

Imagining those bastards who kidnap innocent people and sell them to heretics made my guts twist. Those kinds of guys need to be slaughtered as soon as possible in the name of Fusion Confucianism, following due process.

“Saint, perhaps such villages are not just one or two.”
“Wh-What! What are you even saying!!!!!”

I had been thinking the same thing.

It doesn’t make sense for there to be only one bandit village like that in the Misty Plains. The heretics’ reach must be widespread; perhaps the entire region is in their grasp.

Somehow, I already feel the stench of blood.

Of course, innocent people won’t shed blood. Only the wicked will bleed. That would be truly worthwhile.

“There’s a high probability that the Misty Plains themselves are a den of cursed heretics. I’ve been constantly pondering this throughout the night. Trading innocent people is a clear illegal act that cannot be overlooked, and those who have collaborated with the heretics cannot be tolerated either.”

Elysee nonchalantly declared that she would obliterate any village that had established cooperative relations with the heretics.

The paladins of the Brass Celestial Knights would likely feel the same.

“Of course! Ah, Elysee. But it’ll take some time to organize the troops. Until then, it’s best to rest and conserve your strength.”

Anyway, it’ll take some time before we can set out.
It’s best to rest and prepare leisurely during that time.

“Ugh… I understand. But this boiling blood…! I will suppress this irresistible urge until then!”
“Hehehe, that’s right, Elysee! That’s exactly it! Let’s shout together, DEJAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGH!!!!!”

I stood in front of the excited Elysee and roared.
Elysee was about to follow me and strike a pose.

“De, deja… No! Saint! Don’t subtly try to induce me to roar!! I almost fell for it again!”

Damn, I got caught.

* * *

A few days later, the Misty Plains scouting party was fully formed.

“Oh, if it isn’t our Paladin!”
“Commander Barkerel…!”

Waiting for us in the Brass Celestial Knights’ chapel was none other than Commander Barkerel, my comrade who had fought alongside me to slay Andromalius.

“To be promoted from Sub-Priest to Paladin! I knew you could do it! Come, let’s go subjugate those evil enemies together again today!”

He gave me a good-natured smile, grabbed my hand firmly, and shook it up and down.

“Of course, Commander Barkerel! And welcome to you all as well!”
“Welcome!”
“Greetings.”
“Nice to see you!”

Besides Barkerel, priests and paladins with familiar faces were waiting. Among them was Paladin Dodalkan, who had fought alongside Barkerel.

The size of this scouting party was also exactly 10 people, including the paladins and priests.

With this many, we could inflict significant damage even if Andromalius were to reappear.

Adding me, Claudia, Winia, and Elysee to this would complete a truly deadly dream team; even a heretic grandfather wouldn’t be able to stop us.

“We’re going to search for heretics together!”
“Ooh!!! Oooooooooh!!!!!”
“As expected, our Sub-Priest, no, our Paladin, is a true man!!!”

The paladins seemed to regard going to subjugate heretics as a pleasant picnic. Even elementary school kids going to an amusement park wouldn’t be this happy.

“…To be this joyful is astonishing.”

Saintess Kadia, who had been silently observing the scene, opened her mouth. She was currently wearing her saintess robes, making her seem truly solemn.

If only she didn’t have a cigarette in her hand.

“Anyway, I will issue the orders. I am granting you two weeks for this operation. If there are no significant findings during that period, return immediately. Of course, if you obtain meaningful evidence or catch the heretics’ trail, you may pursue them independently.”

If there are no results, return in two weeks, but if you find something, you can continue the pursuit.

“Paladin Barkerel. I am well aware that you previously subjugated the great demon Andromalius with Paladin Katt, before he became a Sub-Priest. I hope you will achieve similar results this time as well.”
“Of course, Saintess! I will definitely complete the mission!”
“This Saintess trusts you. Finally, are there any shortages in supplies?”

At those words, Barkerel took out a document from his chest.

“After checking everything, there are no shortages!”

From behind, it looked like a supply checklist.

“Very well. Then depart now. And Paladin.”
“Yes!”

Having finished her address, Saintess Kadia called out to me.

“Do your best. I’ll be expecting results again this time.”
“Hehehe, of course!”

And so, we left the chapel.

“Commander Barkerel. Unlike last time, we don’t know the exact location this time. We’ll just have to search for the heretics on our own in the misty snowfields.”

I said to Barkerel as we walked down the hallway.

“I am well aware, Paladin. Then we must show off our tracking abilities this time. Paladin, be sure to learn well!”
“Thank you! Commander Barkerel!”
“Hahaha, we are more grateful! But, to think such a thing happened in the Misty Plains…!”

Barkerel, who had been laughing good-naturedly, suddenly changed his expression completely, bit his upper lip, and trembled while making a “Krrr…!” sound.

This is crazy.

“Human traffickers… who colluded with heretics…! Even an entire village…!!! Kk, kkeuheueuk…!! Krrrk…!”

His emotions were so intense that his eyes almost rolled back. He seemed to be out of his mind, but that was the greatest strength of the paladins.

“Hoo! Anyway, Paladin, you said you went there before. Do you remember the approximate location?”

Barkerel, having changed his expression again, asked with a good-natured face.

This person seems to have a very quick emotional turnaround.

ㅡMentality honed to the extreme.

Therefore, he can instantly control his emotions. Truly, he is a perfect example of a warrior.

“Unfortunately, I don’t know because I got lost and was found.”
“I see. That’s a shame. Then I’ll be counting on you again this time!”

And so, we went outside the church.

When we went outside, there were already three Brass Celestial Knights carriages waiting.

They were carriages pulled by two horses, with the driver’s seat connected to the inside of the carriage. The roof and walls were covered with white cloth, which seemed to block the snow and wind to some extent.

Since there were three, the scouting party must be dividing into groups of five, and we’re taking one. This is a big church after all. To provide support like this.

“Katt, over here!”
“Come here, Darkie!”

Claudia and Winia, who were leaning out from inside the carriage at the very back, waved their hands. They must have gone in and sat down earlier.

“Just a moment! I’ll introduce Elysee first and then get on!”

Elysee was standing outside, waiting. Of course, she had to greet Commander Barkerel and his troops.

Elysee was waiting to greet them.

“Elysee. Come here.”
“Yes, Saint!”

When I called her name, Elysee approached. I immediately introduced Elysee to Barkerel.

“Commander Barkerel! This nun is Elysee of the Radiant Star Crusaders!”
“Oh, a short nun! Did you come alone to investigate this matter?”
“That is correct. Brass Celestial Knight… Commander Barkerel? Is that how I should address you?”
“You may call me that, Nun Elysee.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Commander Barkerel.”

There was no atmosphere of exclusion just because it was a different church. There was no way these good people would reject someone just because they believed in a slightly different god.

“Although we worship different gods, our goal of destroying heretics and evil beings is the same. We are comrades, so don’t think of it as difficult.”
“Thank you for your consideration.”

Elysee greeted the other troops of the Brass Celestial Knights as well. The atmosphere was very good. At this moment, just like during the Holy War, the Radiant Star Crusaders and the Brass Celestial Knights were united.

“Hehehe, Elysee. How is it?”
“They are very good people. If you are with such people, Saint, you will have nothing to worry about.”
“They really are good people. Elysee, get in first. I’ll talk for a bit and then get on.”

And so, Elysee boarded the carriage first.
Commander Barkerel, who was watching him, said to me.

“Paladin. The horses are very well trained, so if you’re at the front, you don’t really need a driver. They’re smart enough to follow on their own. Just sit in your seat and prepare for emergencies.”
“Oh, is that so?”

They were clearly good horses. They were strong, had long fur, and seemed resistant to the cold. Above all, their hind legs were damn thick.

They probably eat a lot too, though.

“First, let’s prioritize finding the village that’s somewhere in the Misty Plains. That way, we can find the location of the other villages. That’s how I plan to track them, so if you have any questions, ask me during the rest stops.”

Barkerel gave instructions skillfully.

“Yes. I understand, Commander Barkerel!”

After answering energetically, I also boarded the carriage.

“Katt, where’s the driver?”

When I went inside, Claudia, Winia, and Elysee were sitting and talking. They didn’t seem cold, probably because they were wearing Sasquatch fur coats.

Elysee was also wearing a thick coat.

“They said the horses are smart, so we don’t really need one. It seems like we just have to sit in the front.”

I moved the luggage to the side a bit and went to sit in the driver’s seat. The driver’s seat was connected to the inside of the carriage, so it was easy to move around.

“Then we can take turns sitting there. Darkie, here’s a lamp.”

Winia took out a small heating lamp from her backpack and handed it to me. I put it down near my legs and secured it, and I could feel some warmth.

“Hehehe, thanks.”

Soon, the carriage at the front started moving, and the horses started moving on their own, following it. As we passed through the gate naturally, a pure white landscape came into view.

Fortunately, it wasn’t snowing much, so there were no traffic problems. The carriage was moving very smoothly.

It was my first time sitting in the driver’s seat, so it felt quite refreshing.

ㅡPuru-reung.
ㅡHi-hing.

“Damn it, these horse bastards.”

It’ll probably move like this until the break time comes.

“Darkie, aren’t you cold sitting there?”
“It’s the same there or here. I’m not really cold.”
“Still. Wear this.”

Winia took out a blanket from her backpack and put it on my shoulders.

“Ugh! Winiaaa!!”
“Hehehe. I’ll switch with you later.”

After saying that, Winia sat back down.
Then, Elysee’s voice came from behind.

“You seem to have a really good marital relationship.”
“Of course.”

With that feeling, the carriage moved.

The temperature was low, but my body has been strengthened recently, so it wasn’t terribly cold. Above all, this Sasquatch fur coat is so warm.

I should have made earmuffs if I had known it would be like this.