## Chapter 673 – This

“It doesn’t seem to be that big of a problem.”
“Didn’t you say that if the investigation turned out to be a big deal, you might have to go yourself?”
“After receiving the report, I judged that a paladin alone would be able to handle it sufficiently.”

That’s a relief then.

I immediately asked what had happened.

“As you saw last time, it was about beasts with demonic energy appearing on the outskirts of Isvant, causing harm.”

Indeed, the report Saintess Kadia showed me last time had something similar written in it.

“It was a case where a paladin was dispatched after receiving a report, and initially, it was judged to be an intentional attack by demons rather than a disaster caused by monsters. However, according to the report, the beasts were contaminated for some reason, lost their cognitive abilities, and were in a frenzy, seeking blood. It’s a simple matter.”

In other words, beast-type monsters that had gained demonic power were running wild. A paladin had been sent to investigate after receiving a report.

“Still, isn’t it a big deal?”
“It’s a big deal, but a paladin alone can handle this much. The paladin who went to investigate the scene can wrap things up on their own without needing the Saintess’s command.”
“Ah.”

That’s true.

It’s just a matter of exterminating the contaminated beasts, so a paladin alone is enough. Those gangster-like holy warriors are experts at breaking, destroying, and annihilating things.

In fact, even an adventurer party could handle this kind of task. If it were just ordinary monsters instead of contaminated beasts, an adventurer would have gone.

Like this, the Church’s paladins don’t just stay cooped up in the Church. They patrol their areas of responsibility, investigate reports, or conduct their own searches to check for and deal with heretics and demons.

That’s why there are Church branches and paladins in every city.

“So, I can just think of this as one of those things. Are there any other matters?”
“There are a few more, but those can be resolved immediately if paladins or priests are dispatched. The frequency of incidents has increased since the appearance of the Demon Gate, but nothing too serious has happened.”

It sounds like there are no problems.

“It was thanks to the paladins and holy warriors using their strength that we were able to resolve things early. Take pride in that.”
“Hehehe, I always do. But, are there any cases of demons hiding in other cities right now?”
“Not particularly at the moment. We’re just being vigilant.”

That’s a relief then.

Dealing with demons hiding in cities with brute force is difficult. I was able to resolve it quickly thanks to Hilde’s help.

Still, the fact that demons are rampant in various parts of the city is something that cannot be overlooked. Even the lizardman incident last time involved demons.

Well, if problems arise, the Church will solve them as they have done so far. They can always do it. If there’s a Church in the city, there’s nothing to worry about.

The Saintess lit a cigarette and continued.

“…Paladins are very good at going out and destroying things after receiving reports, but they are very weak when it comes to investigating or uncovering the truth themselves.”
“That’s true.”
“That’s why I have high expectations for the Paladin. You’ll be able to go up when the Pope’s letter arrives soon. Rest well until then.”
“Hehehe, I understand.”
“Are you wearing the Paladin’s emblem that the Saintess bestowed upon you?”

That necklace I received last time.

“I’m wearing it very well.”

I immediately rummaged around my neck and pulled it out to show her. I wear this more diligently than I wore my military ID tag during my days as a private.

“Satisfactory. Keep it safe.”
“Isn’t there a penalty if I lose this?”

This precious emblem is like a gun to a soldier. Something that must never be lost. I always wear this necklace except when I’m in bed.

“You’ll receive a severe punishment. And… I’ve already informed the Pope about the Paladin. If you go up, you’ll probably have a private audience and talk with him.”
“Huh?”

The Pope of the Brass Celestial Angel Society?

“He’s a very principled person… Well, if you’re a Paladin, there’s nothing to worry about. Just say what you told the Saintess, and there won’t be any problems. Don’t be too nervous when you meet him.”
“Is he… a strong person? In a paladin-like way?”

If the Pope lives in a huge church, in the capital, then he’s at least on par with the Lord of Isvant, right?

No.

Perhaps even higher. He’s the leader of these psycho religious thugs, and the person who serves the real god in the closest proximity.

If the Lord of Isvant is roughly a division commander, then the Pope might be a corps commander. Ah, shit, I’m getting nervous again. But I’ve built up my courage by meeting various high-ranking people so far.

No problem.

“If you’re talking about martial prowess, he was originally a priest, so he wouldn’t be extremely strong.”
“Then there won’t be any problems.”

I’m glad he’s not a muscle-bound boss.

Then I don’t have to feel too pressured. If he’s from a priestly background… shit, even the priests here are thugs in their own way, but they’re better than paladins, right?

I feel a little relieved.

“Still, in terms of the total amount of divine power, he could be said to be the highest in the order. He’s a very principled and ascetic person. He likes righteous people and hates wicked ones. He’s the Pope himself, serving God in the closest proximity.”

Could he be called a true religious person?

In fact, logically speaking, the leader of an order overflowing with pure madmen like this can’t be a bad person. Would a paladin under him just overlook a corrupted member of the Church?

Absolutely not.

The moment it’s revealed that someone is corrupted, they’ll not only tear their hair out, wondering if everything they knew about that person was a lie, but they’ll also roll their eyes back, foam at the mouth, and do a late 90s techno dance. There would be not just one, two, three, or ten truckloads of paladins, but enough to circle the Earth in a single line.

—Hoo.

The Saintess exhaled smoke and continued.

“…Well, he’s conservative and strict, so the Saintess doesn’t particularly like him.”
“Is that so? Just how conservative is he?”
“He probably won’t like the Paladin very much either. Even though you’re the Saintess’s direct Paladin, you’re still an external force.”
“That’s true… Hehehe, even so, I’m sure he’ll recognize my righteous heart.”
“Recognizing and liking are different things, Paladin. The Pope is just a human being, so he can’t be completely free from emotions. Still, it’s a good thing you won’t have many opportunities to meet him.”

As Saintess Kadia always says, I’m an external force. Our Saintess has a somewhat reformist personality, so she reaches out to the outside of the Church to solve problems.

A conservative religious person would try to solve things among themselves no matter what, and wouldn’t try to get help from outsiders.

It seems like the Pope and the Saintess have slightly different ideas.

“If I just do my job well, he’ll still see me as useful even if he doesn’t like me very much. Then the Church might become a little more flexible, just like you want it to be.”
“Hmph, is that what you think? You really are a good person, Paladin.”

Saintess Kadia chuckled.

“I wouldn’t have become a Paladin if I wasn’t a good person, even though I’m not a member of the Church.”
“That’s true.”

—Chiiik.

The Saintess took out another cigarette and lit it.

“If the Saintess becomes the Pope, I think I could run the order a little better.”
“You really are an ambitious Saintess. But does that kind of opportunity ever come around?”
“If I’m lucky.”

Saintess Kadia is trying to break away from tradition in order to solve the world’s overflowing problems more efficiently. From what I’ve heard, the Pope doesn’t particularly like that method.

In other words, there’s the Saintess’s line and the Pope’s line, but since the Pope’s line isn’t something I can get on in the first place, I just need to do my job well under the Saintess. If I naturally become her confidant, then my success will be guaranteed.

Who would get rid of someone who does their job well?

And if I’m building up my skills like that, there are many things I can do even if I get kicked out.

“I think it would be great if you became the Pope, Saintess. Wouldn’t my position rise dramatically in an instant?”
“Hmph, that’s true. Anyway, Paladin. Keep in mind that you’ll be meeting the Pope. It would be good to think about it in advance when you have time.”
“I will do that.”

I finished talking with Saintess Kadia and came outside.

Anyway, the Pope… It seems like I’ll be very busy when I go to the capital. I’ll have to settle in, greet the people of the order, build a foundation, and then start working in earnest.

It’ll be the busiest time of my life.

“Ah.”

But I really don’t have a good sense of what kind of person the Pope is. I’m a righteous person who believes in fusion Confucianism, and I’m also a man of character and a Cheonma, but in the end, I’m a worldly person. That’s an undeniable truth.

I don’t think he particularly dislikes worldly people… Should I self-hypnotize myself to respect Verde?

It’s good to make a good impression when you’re greeting someone anyway.

I’m not an order Paladin, but the Saintess’s direct Paladin, so it wouldn’t hurt to get in the Pope’s good graces. But besides the Pope, there are probably many people like cardinals and whatnot. What about those people… I’ll have to think about that when the time comes.

I should tell my wives about today’s events.

* * *

The house is mostly cleaned up.

Looking at the clean house and the full backpacks and boxes, I feel quite at ease. All I have to do is move those things when I move.

Of course, I hadn’t organized things like clothes, daily necessities, and food. Since the moving date hasn’t been set yet, it would be impossible to live if I took those out.

Still, I can do that in a day, so it’s better to just organize the clothes I don’t wear. Anyway, if I just buy a really big and sturdy carriage, there shouldn’t be any problems going to the capital.

I really need a car.

“Hey, your sister’s become a fucking rich person too.”

—Clang.

Karin, who approached with a cool attitude, put a money pouch on the table.

“Sister?”

This looks more like a sack than a pouch. Could it be that she put all the money in here? Karin wore a confident expression and pulled on my cheek.

“Open it.”
“Okay.”

I immediately untied the sack and looked inside. Holy shit, silver and gold coins were mixed up inside in a chaotic state. I almost dropped my jaw at the overwhelming amount.

“Oh my god.”

How much is all this?

“I got this much after liquidating all my assets. Hehehe, I’ve made a lot of money over the years.”
“Sister? I thought you said you didn’t have any money before?”
“My assets are all tied up, so there are days when I don’t have any cash. Originally, not many people have all their money in cash. It’s all tied up.”
“No… that’s true, but this is… such a shockingly large amount of money. How much is it?”

Karin, who was sitting next to me, put her arm around my shoulder and crossed her legs. She leaned on me in that state, thought for a moment, and then said.

“Hmm… I think it comes out to about 90 gold.”

Oh my god.

“I’m going crazy. Sister, you’re totally rich.”
“Hehehe, well, I’m a guild leader, so this much is basic. Your sister’s been doing this for a long time… no. Yeah. I just made a lot of money in various ways. Ah, but I’ve spent so much over the years. It’s a big deal that I haven’t saved up.”

I decided not to bother asking how many years she had been running it. Karin kept fiddling with my ear and then crossed her legs in the opposite direction.

“Well, should your sister manage this? Or do you want to manage it, husband? Honestly, money doesn’t really mean much to your sister anymore. Just think of it as bringing a belated dowry.”

Such a groundbreaking…!

“Hehehe, oh sister. I’m so grateful that I’m about to cry, but I don’t know the cost of living in the capital very well. Just manage it, sister. It’s your money in the first place, so I feel bad about taking it all.”
“Don’t be like that, you little rascal. Your sister’s money is your money. Still, I guess we’ll have to do that until you get used to the cost of living.”

The value of liquidating all of Karin’s assets was 90 gold.

More than the value of swallowing that giant Deathworm whole…! It was a truly unimaginable amount, but my heart didn’t explode because I had also made money.

“Then sister, have you finished packing?”
“I’ve moved everything I use to the house. Clothes, swords, and my belongings. I sold all the useless stuff.”
“So, how do you feel about going to the capital with that stuff now?”
“Well… it’s a place I left once, but it’s a good place. I have my man, so I’m not particularly worried.”

I’m glad to hear that.