## Chapter 798 – The Capital’s Winter

“So, my husband read the newspaper and suddenly wants to go catch a high-level spirit?”

Karin said with a smirk while reading the document I handed her.

“It’s not that intense of an urge. I’m just interested. But it looks like the knight order and the lord are going to crush it together? The whole thing’s already over.”

It’s not that I don’t want to see it. If possible, I’d like to go, but since those human weapon bastards are being deployed, it’s already over.

“Still, if those guys can’t catch it, wouldn’t they ask the church for support?”

Karin put down the document and sat cross-legged on the sofa, tilting her head. She’s wearing dolphin shorts and a tank top, which naturally draws my eyes.

“Of course, there’s a chance they won’t catch it, but isn’t it unlikely that they won’t be able to handle it? They’ve been doing well so far. Knights and the lord’s army are super strong.”
“Even so, those royal knight order guys are dumber than you think, so they make a lot of mistakes. They’re good at killing people, but they’re not so good at other things.”
“No, aren’t there a lot of noble children enlisting? How can there be so many idiots?”

Even if they’re lacking, noble children all receive basic education. Stupid people can’t rise above others. That’s why there’s an academy in the capital for noble children, but I don’t know much about it.

“Even if smart guys come in, there’s no hope if the guys above them are stupid.”
“Oh.”

Surprisingly, the military is the same in this world and on Earth.

“Well… if they fail, they might ask the church for support, like you said. Why? Are you interested too?”
“It’s not that intense of an urge. I’m just interested. Wouldn’t it be a good experience to see it if I could?”
“That’s true.”

Karin nodded, repeating my words from earlier.
I agree as well.

“This lady seems to be quite interested.”
“Risha?”

Risha said, touching her lips.

“I’ve never obtained the essence of a high-level spirit. I’m quite greedy for it.”

Risha’s eyes seemed to sparkle as she said that.
What is she planning to do with such desire?

“No, what are you going to do with it, our witch?”
“I can probably do many things.”

Many things.

“Isn’t a high-level spirit a monster with immense power? The energy it possesses must be extraordinary.”
“That’s true.”

The energy possessed by such a magical monster will surely be explosive. Risha would be able to reassemble such things to her liking.

“Moreover, the essence of a high-level spirit is something that never circulates in the market. It would be nice to get my hands on one… I’d be disappointed if it’s subjugated.”
“There’s nothing we can do about that.”

It’s too late to go now.

Unless something unexpected happens, it will be subjugated smoothly. Now that it’s in the newspaper, it can’t be otherwise. Ah, but does the kingdom care much about the media?

I’m not sure about that.

ㅡRustle.

I immediately checked the name of the newspaper, and it was Delcast. Is it directly run by the kingdom? Or by a noble? Or is it a private media company? I couldn’t tell just by the name.

Anyway, now that there’s an article saying that the royal knight order is going to subjugate the high-level spirit! It would be embarrassing if they came back defeated. Knights like those value their reputation.

I’m sure they’ll do well on their own.

“Still, let’s go if we have the chance. I want to too.”

I’m getting hungry.

Then let’s start preparing lunch. I was about to saunter towards the kitchen when Winia came down.

“Ah… Blackie.”

She looks tired, with her hair disheveled, as if she just woke up. I naturally changed direction and assisted Winia as she came down the stairs.

“My back hurts so much. What am I going to do, really.”
“Did we overdo it yesterday?”
“It wasn’t too much, but it lasted too long…”

She can’t control herself because it’s mating season.
Ah, but I had something to say to Winia.

“Ah, but Winia. A letter came from the Bellatude family.”
“What?”

Winia’s eyes sharpened instantly.

“Show it to me.”
“I got so pissed off as soon as I saw it that I blew it up.”
“What? Why? You should have shown it to me before blowing it up.”
“It’s okay. There were only two lines.”

It was just two lines, like a pregnancy test.

“Zenia wants to see me alone.”
“Alone?”

Doubt arose in her sharpened eyes.

“Yeah. She wants to see me alone soon. But there’s no schedule or anything written. It seems like she’s just telling me to come to the family on my own, but it’s so unfriendly that I’m just going to ignore it.”

If the guy who wants to meet me acts like this, I won’t go. It’s not like I’m in a position to beg. Who would dare to mess with the dancing celestial maiden? I am the winner of an authoritative martial arts tournament.

“…”

Winia was silent for a moment.

“Why did she say she wants to see you alone?”

Then she tilted her head and asked me.
Why is she telling me about her mom?

“Isn’t she trying to ambush you? No, Winia. She’s your mom. Don’t you have any expectations?”
“If I lived knowing all my mom’s thoughts… No. I don’t know. I have no idea. Did she suddenly change her mind because I won the martial arts tournament? But it doesn’t seem like that’s the case…”
“It doesn’t seem like it? I think it could be. Anyway, I’m going to ignore it for now, so don’t worry about it. If it’s urgent, she’ll send a more polite message.”

Winia nodded at my words.

“Yeah, do that. But always go with me when you go.”
“What if she ambushes us? Wouldn’t it be better for me to go alone?”
“It’s better to deal with it together.”
“Even if we deal with it, it’s hard to smash through if she’s planning an ambush. In that case, it’s better to run away. I’m really good at running away.”
“That’s true, but.”
“Anyway, let’s think about this later.”
“…Okay.”
“Then it’s almost lunchtime. Shall we peel potatoes together?”
“Ah… right. Wait a minute. I’ll wash up and come out.”

I immediately picked up Winia and moved her to the bathroom, then went up to the second floor and opened the bedroom door. Claudia, Liz, Aria, and Hilde were still lying down.

“Katt… what time is it?”
“What? Were you awake?”
“I just woke up…”
“It’s almost lunchtime. Can you get up?”
“I can’t get up because of Katt.”

Claudia said, stretching out her arms.

“What did I do? Ah, but Claudia. Have you ever seen a high-level spirit in the desert?”
“High-level spirit?”
“Yeah. Something like a really strong spirit.”
“Hmm… Katt. What kind of stories did you hear outside?”

She got up.

I couldn’t continue the conversation with everyone sleeping next to her, so I immediately picked her up and came out of the bedroom. I guess I can just put her down next to Winia.

“I went out and saw a newspaper article that said some high-level spirits were killing people in the breadbasket area. So I was looking into it.”
“Is that so?”
“Anyway, don’t you know anything, Claudia?”
“Hmm, spirits. Spirits… There’s a difference between the Great Desert and here. The criteria for defining spirits might be very different, but I have seen them.”
“You’ve seen them?”
“Yeah. I’ve seen them. But I’ve never fought them.”

I asked Claudia for a general explanation.

“The beings called spirits in the desert take on a different appearance than the spirits here. For example, there’s a great spirit that causes endless large-scale sandstorms. Perhaps it has no form, and it’s closer to calling the storm itself the great spirit.”

Claudia explained about the spirits that live in the desert.

“As for beings with concrete forms… there are giant monsters made of rock and sand, or strange beings said to be in sand pits. Or perhaps the beasts that live in the tomb where the greatest king is buried?”

They’re not like people, but literally monsters. It seems closer to calling unknown beings spirits.

Is that really a spirit?

In fact, there’s almost no nature in the desert, so that might be why they became like that.

“Those ancient beings of unknown origin are still wandering the desolate desert. They’re all called Ahradin. Hmm, and because they’re wandering around, I’ve encountered them a few times.”
“No, what happens when you encounter them?”
“There’s no need to fight. We have to avoid them.”
“I see.”

I’m glad to hear that.

Anyway, I heard that story from Claudia. Of course, it’s just a story from the desert, so it’s just knowledge for me now.

* * *

One day, while living leisurely like that.

「Breaking News!!」
「Lord’s Army Annihilated!!」
「Royal Knight Order Defeated!!」

As I picked up the newspaper, which I had gotten into the habit of buying one copy of every few days, those phrases caught my eye.

“…These bastards?”

Annihilated?

It said that the kids who went to deal with the ice high-level spirit Arquina were all screwed and retreating. The words written below that were all doomsday prophecies about the bleak future of humanity.

「Above all, a cold ice palace is being built!!!」

An ice palace has begun to be built in the breadbasket area, and if it is not suppressed immediately, it will become completely frozen, making it impossible to farm from next year.

Arquina is defeating the army and creating her own sphere of influence. If that happens, it will be even more difficult to subjugate her, and the vicinity will become the land of spirits, making it even more difficult to reclaim.

Above all, this is a very important land because it is a breadbasket area. If we lose this to the spirits? The damage will be enormous.

「The Royal Knight Order has decided to send reinforcements, and the lords in the vicinity have been summoned. In addition to this situation, mages are being dispatched from magic towers located in various places…」

「An ice palace was also observed in the Tateraon region of the Merqudia Kingdom, where Arquina appeared 35 years ago. According to the documents recording the damage at that time…」

As if to emphasize that it was a serious matter, various information was written in detail. The Royal Knight Order said that some Master Knight had decided to send reinforcements.

“T-This inhuman thing can’t be happening!!!!!!”

Hilde, a succubus from Pandemonium who heard this news, was outraged. Her sprouted wings fluttered as she was so angry, and her tail lashed the living room floor like a whip.

“Those evil monster bastards are capturing and slaughtering innocent humans!! I can’t forgive them! Spirits are the enemy of humanity! For the sake of humanity’s brilliant future, we must exterminate them immediately!!”

ㅡThwack!

The newspaper is thrown away.

Hilde, who is truly angry, has already escaped from the demon a long time ago. Based on the doctrine of Fusion Confucianism, she has been an angel for a long time.

Anyway, as soon as I brought the newspaper home, I headed straight to the Great Temple.

“Paladin. The story we shared last time has become a reality.”

As soon as I entered, the Saintess said that.

“Do you already know? I just found out after reading the newspaper.”
“This Saintess also just received a report yesterday. The Royal Knight Order has requested cooperation. As it is a crisis situation, I don’t think we can ignore it.”

Judging from the fact that the Saintess received the report yesterday, these reporters are working really hard. They are delivering the news almost as fast as the Order’s informants.

So the Saintess heard it yesterday, and this newspaper was published today. But this was also a few days ago. It takes some time to go back and forth.

But seeing that the newspaper company even knows about the Royal Knight Order’s reinforcements, is this newspaper company owned by the kingdom after all? That’s what I think.

“So, I think the Paladin will have to go. Isn’t it good that you were interested in it?”
“That’s true, but am I going alone?”
“No. We will soon form a Holy Knight unit. But the Paladin doesn’t need to be bound by such procedures.”
“Yes. Then I’ll prepare and go right away.”
“Your answer is so refreshing.”

So it’s going to end up like this after all.

I should go home today and prepare to leave.