## Chapter 720 – Paladin Kim Kat

“My husband is seriously on point, isn’t he? I really thought a paladin had appeared. It’s the first time I’ve seen you like this.”

After sending the residents away, Karin approached with a smile and gently pinched my cheek.

“Noona is satisfied. Good job. Well, if Noona were your age, I would have killed them all, but as a paladin, you need to clean things up properly.”
“That’s right, this is the judgment of Paladin Kim Kat.”

My judgment was for the masterminds.

They contributed the most to killing the paladin and dragged me into it. Therefore, execution.

The rest is for the Brass Celestial Angels to judge. Transporting them to the nearby church is my duty.

“And your head-chopping skills are top-notch, top-notch. Huh? Just keep doing that. You’re just becoming a more and more excellent serial killer.”

Karin was focusing on strange things.

“Hehehe, come on, Noona. Why are you focusing on that?”

I laughed, poking her in the side.

“Isn’t that the most important thing, really?”
“Not important at all.”

As we were doing that, my women, who had been guarding the surroundings in various parts of the village, approached.

“Anyway, it was a really unpleasant village. They were offering outsiders as sacrifices to monsters… When you think about it, so many terrible things happen.”
“Like when Noona burst the manticore’s belly?”
“Th-that! Just skip over that, please!”

Liz Noona waved her hands as if she was embarrassed. Wow, but that thing about bursting the belly was truly an amazing feat.

Almost as amazing as a Rishades Beam.

“How did you do that with these soft hands?”

I examined Liz Noona’s palms.
They were just soft.

“Umm… I, I just do it, just…”

I should ask Risha to do it with her hands when we get back.

“Kat. So, is it all over now?”
“It’s almost over, but the final step is taking these people to the nearby church.”
“Hehehe, yes. That’s right. Good job. As Karin already said, Kat did a very good job. You only picked out the people who deserved to be punished and executed them, right?”

That’s right.

“Kat executed them directly based on his own standards. That’s a very good thing. Mama thinks it’s very good to judge like that.”
“Hehehe, really? If Claudie likes it.”

Since we’re acting under the name of the church, we have to do everything well.

“But, Blackie. Aren’t the kids who went to the manticore’s lair going to run away?”
“They can try to run. Winia. Do you think I’d let that happen?”

They can try to run, but it’s pointless.

“Yeah, that’s true. Anyway, Blackie, you’ve worked hard.”
“You too, Winia.”

We settled down and waited for the residents. Risha had lit a fire, so it wasn’t particularly dark. Hilde and Ari wouldn’t be of much help if they were seen by the residents, so I sent them inside.

ㅡClatter.

As we waited, the residents soon began to bring items.

I controlled the people and sorted everything out.

The paladin’s identification was soaked in blood, and the armor he was wearing was completely crushed. It seemed that he wasn’t wearing Celestial Angel armor because he was investigating, but just generally shaped armor with brass-plated edges.

It seems they provide this kind of equipment for special purposes.

The insignia was also engraved small.

Anyway, besides that… there were a lot of items from other victims. The iron equipment was crushed, torn, and rusted, and it reeked of blood. There were several IDs from adventurer parties and people from merchant guilds, but they weren’t very important.

“Paladin Salbert. Died here.”

After a brief prayer, I sorted out and took only the equipment the paladin had worn. These are the items that must be submitted to the Grand Temple.

“Anyway, it doesn’t look like anyone ran away.”

No residents had run away.

“…”
“…”
“…”

They just silently did what I told them to do.

I thought a few would run away… Well, they’re people who are used to giving in. Since I threatened to kill them, I’m no different from the manticore.

“Bring the ropes.”

I ordered the lifeless residents to bring ropes. Soon they brought several ropes, and I separated the men and women and tied them up in a row.

I will drag them to the nearby church in this state.

Fortunately, the paladin’s report contained the locations of all the nearby churches, so there would be no problem finding the way. What’s bothering me is the unidentified monster he was tracking… but that’s not my job.

“…”
“…”
“…”

Even as I tied them up, the residents just kept their heads down and remained silent. I didn’t bother tying up the children.

Now, when the sun rises, we can take them all down.

But now it’s the tail end of dawn, so the world is starting to brighten.

“Claudie. First, go down with Risha, Hilde, and Ari and get into the carriage. It’s not good to show them to the residents.”

Risha is a black magician, and Hilde and Ari are demons and monsters. There’s no need to cause trouble, so I should send them down first.

“Okay, I will.”
“Are you coming down right away?”
“I’ll go down when the sun rises a little more.”

Since I have to drag the residents tied up in ropes, it’s better to go down after it gets brighter.

So, the four women went down the mountain first.

Not long after that, the sun rose, and I held tightly to the rope that tied dozens of villagers together and began to descend the mountain.

I was in charge of the men, and Winia was in charge of the women.

The children were terrified and quietly followed, taking their places among the residents.

I asked Karin and Liz Noona to take care of the manticore byproducts. I didn’t want them to carry heavy things, but I had no choice. But well, they’re stronger than me.

Anyway, after coming down, Karin drove the carriage. I didn’t ride. I had to drag the residents. After giving Karin the map to the nearby church, I grabbed the rope tied to the residents and followed the carriage.

“I feel like I’ve become a slave trader.”

* * *

It took a total of two days to get to the nearest church.

I walked for two days while managing the people, but it wasn’t very difficult. It was the residents who were dragged along who had a hard time. I only provided them with simple meals and water, and I didn’t particularly care for them. There was no reason to, and I couldn’t delay. The prisoners had to endure a forced march while tied up in a row.

Anyway, the city we arrived at wasn’t very big, and as small as the city was, the church was also quite small.

It was a peaceful place run by one paladin and a few priests and nuns. When I revealed that I was a paladin, a guard told me the location, so I was able to find it right away.

As soon as we arrived, I asked Karin to find a place to stay, and then I immediately dragged the prisoners to the church.

Well, the paladin’s ID was omnipotent.

With the help of the priest, I made the people I had dragged kneel in the churchyard and met the paladin in charge.

“Welcome, Paladin directly under the Saintess. I am Paladin Hubelint, in charge of this Edelans branch.”
“Nice to meet you, Paladin.”

After a brief greeting, I got straight to the point.

“So… you said you brought prisoners. I would like to hear the full story.”

I showed him the report I had written from time to time on the way and explained everything about this incident. Soon, the paladin, who had been listening intently, began to clench his fist.

“Such a terrible thing happened…!”

It seemed that the paladin who was chasing the monster had not come this way.

I had only received one official letter about the monster a few months ago.

“I executed five of the masterminds on the spot and brought the villagers.”
“Hmm…”
“If I inform the Grand Temple of this incident, church members will come soon. Until then, I would like you to detain these prisoners, but can you do that?”
“Hoo… of course I will.”

His face turned red as he gulped down the tea in his cup.

“I think I’ll have to cooperate with the City Guard to borrow a prison, but I’ll do that myself.”
“Thank you very much, Paladin.”
“It’s not a difficult task. And it’s something I have to do.”

I’m glad he said he would help.

“To dare to sell our paladin to a monster…! It’s a truly hateful thing!!!”
“I… feel the same way. It was a truly terrible thing.”
“The paladin must have suffered a lot… Hoo, don’t worry about the prisoners. I’ll keep them locked up securely.”
“I’m really relieved.”

I finished talking to the paladin and came outside.

“…”

The prisoners were just kneeling in the corner of the yard.

A priest and a nun with iron maces stood in front of them.

Now those residents will be imprisoned. When I inform the Grand Temple of this situation, church members will come and take them away, and a proper judgment will be made there.

I beheaded five of the masterminds myself, but half of them will be filtered out there. The remaining half will pay for their sins by doing labor.

“Ah, Paladin. Are you going back?”

The priest with the iron mace approached me and asked.

“Yes. Priest. I have to go to the Grand Temple quickly. I’m really sorry to ask you this favor.”
“You don’t have to thank me, it’s something I have to do. Then please be careful on your way.”

I have a feeling this priest is going to conduct his own interrogation, but whatever. It doesn’t matter anymore.

“Goodbye.”

I’ve already written the report, so now I just have to hand it over to the Saintess. It seems that my second task has been completed.

Let’s rest for today and go back tomorrow.

* * *

After returning home, I unpacked my luggage first.

The spoils of this mission can be said to be this manticore set. Surprisingly, thanks to Risha’s black magic, the internal organs, head, limbs, and tail were all kept fresh and safe.

ㅡSteaming.

As warm as if it had just been taken out, it seemed that even if I opened a Rishakatt Manticore Yukhoe specialty restaurant that delivered directly from the source, there would be no problems under the Food Sanitation Act.

“But what are you going to do with this?”
“I’m going to decide on its use while touching it first. It’s a very rare magic material, so it might be good to process it separately and store it.”

Risha said, rummaging through the manticore’s liver with her bare hands. A real witch is a witch. I still can’t forget the Rishades Beam.

What kind of destructive power is that?
It was even instant and without incantation.

“Hehehe, are you curious about the exact power?”
“Yep.”
“As I said, I am a witch who has reached a certain level. It’s nothing special to me, but I can’t deny that it’s quite powerful.”

It’s nothing special to Risha.

“But if I had to say, I’m more of a researcher than a professional warrior, right? It can be said that only the power is strong.”
“Is that so?”
“That’s right. Of course, I am a woman who deserves to be worshiped, but as always, I hope you will recognize my weakness.”

Risha smiled and rubbed her head against my shoulder.

It seems that my women misunderstand the meaning of the word weakness.

After finishing the cleanup and washing up, I roughly picked up a dress shirt and leather pants, put on my shoes, and grabbed the report. I placed the backpack containing the paladin’s equipment in front of the door.

Let’s finish work today and rest from tomorrow.

I have to report to the Saintess and get equipment income.

“Winia. I’m going to the church for a bit.”
“Are you going right away?”
“It’ll be more annoying if I go tomorrow.”
“Okay… then I’ll have to play with Risha unnie.”
“While touching manticore innards?”
“That’s what wizards do.”
“Hehehe, that’s true.”

I went straight to the church.

I passed through the familiar road, naturally passed through the main gate of the Grand Temple, and went to find the Saintess’s room. I greeted as soon as I opened the door.

“Saintess! I’m here!”
“Oh, you’ve returned quite quickly this time. What happened to the paladin?”
“He died.”
“…Died?”

The Saintess, who was about to light a cigarette, stopped.

“Yes. Paladin Salbert died in the line of duty. Here, this is the report detailing the progress. And this backpack contains his ID and destroyed equipment.”
“…”

The Saintess remained silent even as I was taking out the items.

“…I’ve heard bad news.”
“I was also heartbroken.”
“The death of a paladin…”