## Chapter 681 – Paladin Kim Kat

Saint Kadia’s desk was piled high with various documents. I went to sit next to her and examined them.

“This matter concerns a city called Melphares, near the capital. As marked, it doesn’t have a church branch.”

Before going to meet the Pope, I was receiving a brief education on my duties. The Saint took out a document, showed it to me, and explained.

“Are there places near the capital without branches?”
“Quite a few. The reason Isthvant and Krasheim have branches is because they’re among the furthest places from the capital. You could say there are more cities without churches near the capital. They’re sparsely located, starting a bit further out.”

Come to think of it, I hadn’t seen many churches on the way to the capital.

Well, with such a large grand cathedral in the capital, there might not be many in the nearby cities.

“I understand. So, what’s the problem with this city of Melphares?”
“There are rough investigation results indicating that a fugitive heretical leader has gone into hiding there.”
“Hmm.”

Of course, heretics aren’t just one type.

There are dozens, even hundreds, of known types, and they independently gather forces and operate all over the world to achieve their own goals.

A city without a church would be a bit more vulnerable.

“They call themselves the ‘Paradise Ascension Order.’ They’ve taken root throughout the kingdom.”
“Are they large in scale?”
“Not entirely large, but it seems quite a few people secretly believe in them, perhaps because of their doctrines. Though the exact numbers haven’t been grasped.”

What kind of doctrines do they have that people are being seduced by heresy?

“What kind of doctrines are they?”
“I’ll educate you on that gradually. But to explain roughly, it’s about a savior who will one day arrive, burn the world, and save only the followers of that religion, taking them to paradise… a very absurd religion.”

The Saint shook her head, speaking with a weary expression.

“…?”

Burning the world isn’t something a savior does, but a mere destroyer, isn’t it?

Just taking the followers and running to another world… this was just a simple demon lord belief. A summoned demon lord burns the world and takes only those who summoned him to another world – a very violent and destructive religion.

“What the hell? Worshipping a destroyer as a savior. Does that make any sense?”
“Those who believe don’t think that far.”

I guess not.

“A unique point is that one’s position in that paradise is determined by the amount of donations.”

Why would anyone believe in such a religion?

I thought they might believe because life in this world is tough, but this is just an ideology of living as a beggar even there. Do they simply hate the world and desire a destroyer?

“Then the poor will still be poor, and only the rich will live well, right? I don’t think people would believe in that.”
“No, the amount of donations is based on the current level of wealth, or so the teachings say. Whether poor or rich, if you sacrifice your current life, you can live well in that world.”

Well, that’s at least fair.

“In fact, it’s unclear whether the god of that religion even exists. Even after searching the records from the Idol War, nothing comes up, so the church has concluded that it’s a completely fictitious deity.”
“Hmm.”
“They seduce people into worshipping an illusion and concentrate wealth.”

If the religious order is large, they might be able to handle some money.

“But my judgment is that these guys are just a source of funds. If we get to the core of them, more threatening heretics will surely emerge.”
“Ah. That seems plausible.”

Is this a plan to deceive people, gather money, and achieve a real purpose?

“As expected, Saint Kadia! Beautiful and brilliant! A being born to lead the world!”
“Hmph, very pleasing words.”

The Saint smiled and took out a cigarette.

“To continue the explanation, the biggest problem is that they think they can be forgiven for any sins in this world. So, they resort to crime to make donations. They believe that if they just make donations, they can go to paradise even if they get beaten with clubs.”
“That’s terrible.”
“Morality becomes lax, and the crime rate goes up. They are beings that must be eradicated.”
“That’s right.”

They cause social chaos to fatten their own bellies.

Since polytheism is the norm in this world, religious people acknowledge other religions, but if something is evil or immoral, they suppress and eradicate it. Above all, they can’t just stand by and watch a destructive god who will burn the existing world be revered. Such absurd beliefs are what erode society.

“In reality, it’s very difficult to ferret them out if they hide in cities without churches. Isthvant also has a branch, but it couldn’t prevent heretics from entering, and incidents happened.”
“Indeed… it happened twice.”

The underground waterways and the slums.

There are churches and paladins working hard, but they couldn’t prevent it. In fact, paladins stand out in the slums, and they have no reason to enter the underground waterways.

“If it’s near the capital, we try to send troops to catch their tails, but it’s still difficult.”

That’s why I’m needed.

“Whether it’s near the capital or near the border, I will send paladins to places where it’s impossible to resolve, or where sending paladins is useless, or where there are suspicions.”

Kadia Saint blew out a puff of smoke and looked at my face.

“Hehehe, isn’t that exactly what you did last time?”
“You could say that.”
“Just leave it to me.”
“Very trustworthy.”

I checked some other documents besides the one about Melphares, putting the details of the work into my head. The work is the same. Just exterminate demons or heretics.

But looking at it, there were also many cases of subjugating and investigating demonic monsters that appeared in distant villages. Lairs of corrupted monsters? Polluted beasts? There were many of those.

What’s the Lamia worship belief?
Arachne? Is this a spider woman?

There were many cases about all sorts of monsters.

“What?”

In the midst of it all, something caught my eye.

“Dungeon? There are things like this too?”

It was a case about a dungeon that had recently been discovered.

“Ah, that one.”
“Is dungeon exploration included in the paladin’s duties?”

She explained.

“There are quite a few dungeons, like those where demons have appeared or where evil beings are sealed, on a kingdom-wide scale. They are occasionally newly discovered. That one is on hold for now… but it might be okay to entrust it to a paladin. You’re from an adventurer background, aren’t you? I should consider this.”

In other words, not only ferreting out and annihilating heretics hiding in cities, but also being dispatched to dungeons with legends of demons hiding or ancient beings being sealed.

Isn’t this more like an adventurer than an adventurer?

I read the document again.

“Besides dungeons… Otherworlds? What’s this? Are you talking about places like Hell or the Demon Realm?”

Among the cases, there was one using the term “Otherworld.” Is this referring to Hell, like Pandemonium? When you think about it, Hell also belongs to another world. They are guys who open gates and come from other worlds.

“Hmph, you have a lot of curiosity. Come a little closer.”
“Oh, Saint. Aren’t we touching?”
“It’s not like our bare skin is touching, so what’s the problem? Isn’t it an honor?”
“No, still.”

Instead of sticking right next to her, I moved a little away.

“Well, let’s get back to the explanation. Did you say Hell or the Demon Realm? Of course, those places also belong to other worlds. However, unlike Hell, which is still connected, there hasn’t been an example of the Demon Realm opening since the gates closed near the end of the Idol War.”
“Oh, is that so?”

This was new to me.

The Demon Realm is currently disconnected.

“Until then, there were invasions by demons… but that doesn’t happen anymore.”
“Yes?”

Wait, but Eliza told me about the Demon King. If the Demon Realm is disconnected, then there’s no way for the Demon King to invade, is there?

“The Demon King of the demons and other Demon Kings are different. There are many types of Demon Kings. The world we live in is constantly threatened, you see. And Demon King is like a title attached to each individual, so race doesn’t matter.”
“I see.”

I need to know this well from now on.

“So, what is that Otherworld?”
“It refers to beings invading from the outside world. There hasn’t been much research on this. It’s too mysterious.”

Otherworld (異界).

“For example, a palace suddenly appears in a barren wasteland, or a strange building with ancient architecture, or a tower rises.”
“What the heck?”
“And… they disappear as suddenly as they appeared.”
“What’s that?”

Buildings that suddenly appeared suddenly disappear?
And the building looks strangely shaped?

“Even I don’t know about this. It’s just that such phenomena are happening. However, there is a vast amount of treasure sleeping inside such places. Not only gold and silver treasures, but also magical artifacts are often found.”

Isn’t this like a bonanza dungeon?

“But you can’t just take it. Such buildings tend to have owners.”
“Owners?”
“It’s hard to describe. There are often strange monsters that are hard to understand. So, investigation and conquest of such things are not well done. They disappear on their own if left alone.”

Monsters exist…

“Hmm…”

I’ve been living only on the border, so I didn’t know the world situation well, but it seems like a lot of things are happening. Oh, but isn’t this a bit similar to the haunted house I went to last time?

Well, I’m happy if there’s a lot to do.

“Saint. I have finished the audience request. You can go right away.”
“Good work.”

Around that time, the nun who had gone out returned.
Is it time to go now?

“Then, Paladin, go with her guidance.”
“Yes. I understand.”
“Again, the Pope is a difficult person. He has a cranky feel to him. Of course, he is full of justice, so don’t say anything strange.”
“Hehehe, Saint. I’m amazing at dealing with superiors. You know that, don’t you?”

Having completed my military service, I am a specialist in dealing with superiors.

“Hmph, I didn’t need to worry. Ah, and. When you are waiting in the capital, you must visit me every morning every other day. Unless there is a special reason, be sure to attend and show your face.”
“Hehehe, I understand. Then.”

I immediately greeted her and followed the nun out.

“…”

The nun was quite taciturn. Her attitude was as if she was just guiding the way, so I followed her silently.

In this way, we head to the Pope’s audience chamber, which can be said to be the main part of the Grand Cathedral. There are countless church members everywhere. I walked while bowing my head whenever I made eye contact with them.

“This is the place.”
“Wow, it’s huge.”
“Don’t be frivolous in front of the Pope.”
“I understand.”

The extravagantly decorated building was quite large, and the door itself had mythological patterns intricately engraved on it. Sunlight was coming in from the huge, luxurious windows lined up along the corridor, but it felt somewhat dark.

—Creak.

The nun opened the door, and I went inside alone.

Is this where the Pope of the Brass Celestial Angel Society lives? I was almost looking forward to what kind of crazy old man he would be. The leader of madmen is inevitably more of a psycho. The Saint also has some of those psycho aspects.

“…”

The audience chamber was a little darker than the corridor, and a red carpet was laid on the floor. And in front of me, a sacred altar and a huge bronze statue of Verde stood proudly, shimmering.

—Sparkle, sparkle.

Receiving the light coming down from the ceiling, the statue was so imposing that it seemed like it would come to life at any moment.

And below it, an old man wearing a hat that looked like a pope was standing. The pure white attire looked simple, but it felt luxurious with a large amount of bronze accents and decorations.

His face looks cranky as I heard.
Nevertheless, his eyes were very clear and felt intelligent.

—…

The Pope was staring at me intently, and I slowly walked towards him, knelt on one knee, and greeted him.

“I am Kim Kat, a paladin directly under the Saint of the Brass Celestial Angel Society, Your Holiness.”

After worrying about how to write this greeting, I decided to just go with the ordinary. It didn’t seem like someone to attach unnecessary rhetoric to.

“…So you are the quasi-priest that Saint Kadia spoke of.”