## Chapter 805 – Winter in the Capital

Returning to the city, rumors were rife that the paladins had come to provide support.

Finally, the Holy Maiden had finished organizing her forces and sent them out. They arrived only a few days later than us, who had traveled at high speed, so they were still pretty quick.

They would definitely be a great help.

I thought about going to greet them right away, but I couldn’t meet them because everyone in the city was already deployed. Those guys really can’t stand the sight of anything unholy.

For some reason, I kept thinking about Commander Vakerel’s face. I’ll never forget the sight of him running on all fours through the snow, tearing at his hair, until the day I die.

Anyway, since the dispatched paladin order had already entered the ice maze, it should be easier to go back in.

“Katt, which do you think is stronger, the royal knights or the paladins? From a demon’s point of view, the paladins would obviously be more deadly, but what about in general, not just against demons?”
“What’s this? You’re curious about that?”
“Just wondering.”

It was a perfectly reasonable question.

Royal Knights vs. Paladin Order.

This “who would win” game is as popular as imagining a fight between a lion and a tiger.

To get straight to the point, the royal knights have more numbers.

The Brass Celestial Society, which boasts the largest following, has a considerable number of paladins, but they still have fewer than the knights serving in the Kingdom of Karga.

It is, after all, a kingdom.
That’s only natural.

The Kingdom of Karga is one of the most prosperous kingdoms.

Still, if you add up the number of paladins and crusaders in all the churches in the kingdom, the churches would probably have more. The Brass Celestial Society isn’t the only church, after all. There’s also the Radiant Holy Cross Society, where Eliza is, and the Salvation Paradise Society, which made the Greaves that are responsible for my shins and feet.

“In terms of manpower, the royal knights have more,”

Karin said as I was about to answer. She can never resist getting involved in these kinds of topics.

“Ah, Karin.”
“And the knights probably have more professional combat experience too. They might not seem like they do much, but they’re constantly doing all sorts of missions behind the scenes. The kingdom is so vast. They’re always gaining practical experience.”

The Royal Knights = Special Forces, so going on various missions is their daily routine. Some units supposedly guard or protect the capital, but most units are out on missions.

Mainly guarding the border regions or infiltrating other countries for espionage. They seem to handle most special operations. I don’t know the details because I’m not involved, and Karin only knows roughly about things outside her own position.

Anyway, Hilde nodded.

“So the royal knights are stronger? More numbers and more practical experience.”
“But that’s something to think about,”

Karin said, looking at me.

“Yeah. Like this Unni says, it’s something to think about. Even so, the paladins are constantly fighting in real battles, arresting heretics and hunting demons. Plus, they can use all sorts of holy spells.”

Paladins can’t use sword energy, but they can use a technique called “Holy Enchant.” It’s like wrapping God’s blessing around their sword.

It has a similar effect to sword energy.

It’s undeniable that it’s a little weaker than real sword aura. But it has the absolute advantage of not needing any attention during its duration once it’s cast, like a buff. They can also cast it on others.

In fact, there aren’t many masters among the royal knights who can use sword energy. Even if they do use it, they need to maintain a high level of concentration throughout.

But paladins just cast a buff once and don’t have to worry about it. Plus, most paladins can use this Holy Enchant. And there’s the added bonus of being able to easily inflict fatal wounds on demons.

On top of that, they can use various long-range holy spells or healing spells to treat people’s injuries. Even if they suffer injuries that hinder their movement, they can quickly recover and rejoin the fight with self-healing or the help of their comrades.

The paladins have far superior combat endurance.

This is what sets them apart from ordinary knights.

“In conclusion, they both have their strengths and weaknesses. You can’t really say for sure who would win. They’re used for different purposes, after all.”
“I see.”

How can you measure who’s stronger?
They both have their pros and cons.

Still, when it comes to the strongest, the royal knights seem to have the edge.

Because the Sword Master is among them.

Paladins are fundamentally kind and good people, so they can’t be unnecessarily cruel or violent. But that’s often not the case with royal knights. You can’t imagine a paladin killing someone without a reason, but you can easily imagine a royal knight killing someone without a reason. That’s the difference.

“Yeah.”

When I was a nobody, the paladins seemed like super strong people. Of course, they are actually super strong human weapons. But what about me now? I can say with certainty that I’m stronger than most paladins.

I’m among the top paladins in terms of skill. The same would be true by royal knight standards. I, too, am a human weapon, Kim Katt.

I’m deeply moved.

“Okay, I understand. But Katt, if I run into the paladins again in the maze, it might be a little awkward. I may have shed my succubus form, but that’s still my origin.”
“You don’t have to worry about that, do you? Risha made that for you. The necklace.”

Hilde is currently wearing the necklace that Risha made for her. As long as she’s wearing it, she’ll never be discovered unless she reverts to her succubus form.

“Ah, if that is what you are worried about, then you have no need to be.”

Then Risha approached.

“As long as you wear that necklace, they will not be able to discern your true nature, even if you were to enter a church. Surely you do not doubt me?”
“No, no! It’s not that! I’m just a little nervous, that’s all. Of course, if it’s a necklace that Risha-nim made herself, it can completely hide my identity.”
“Hmm… in that case…”

Even if it’s safe, people are still anxious. Bungee jumping is safe, but people are still scared, aren’t they?

I put my hand on Hilde’s shoulder and said,

“Then if we run into any paladins, I’ll go deal with them. Even if they ask us to move together, we’ll always go separately. Hilde, you stay in the back with Risha.”
“Ah, okay!”
“Let’s rest a bit today. Ugh, look how cold your skin is.”

Now that the paladin order has been dispatched, we should be able to advance more easily. That Arquina bastard better be waiting for me in his palace…! The moment I see him, I’m going to chop him into pieces!!!!!

I’m going to chop him into thirty-one pieces and put them in an ice cream container…!

“Dejaaah…!!”

* * *

At the edge of the ice maze, a camp had been set up for soldiers, knights, and adventurers.

It was quite lively. And as if to prove that the entrance area had become quite safe, various workers were pulling carts into the maze.

There were escort troops, but not many. They were probably supplying the combatants inside. That way, they could continue their operations inside.

As always, we moved to a deserted area and entered through that entrance. We picked up speed after entering. Ice monsters hardly appeared. They used to regenerate so well, but now they hardly appear on the outskirts.

So this isn’t an infinite power? Or maybe they changed their strategy due to the constant intrusions. They may have concentrated their forces at the palace.

In any case, we were able to get deep inside very quickly.

“Hmm… that’s far enough.”

I climbed onto the ice wall with Cloudi, Karin, and Liz.

“It’s not that far.”

A huge palace could be seen in the distance. But it didn’t seem that far away. Maybe we could get to the entrance today. Of course, that’s only if the ice monsters don’t appear.

“Katt. Look up.”
“Holy crap.”

A black, ominous cloud was forming above the palace. Strange birds were flying around chaotically. Some were huge and some were small, and they were spreading out in all directions as if they were scouting.

But they didn’t come down to attack the ground.

“Anyway, let’s go.”

I didn’t know how far the knights had broken through, but they must still be advancing diligently. Two whole battalions had come. With an outpost set up inside and supply lines properly maintained, it wouldn’t be surprising if they had already reached the palace, led by the Master Knight.

We climbed back down the ice wall and headed towards the palace.

* * *

How much further had we come, fighting small skirmishes and occasionally encountering knights? The sky was getting darker and darker, but now we could see the palace without having to climb onto the wall.

“Looks like we’re almost there.”

We were very close.

ㅡKwakang!
ㅡPuh-uh-uhng!
ㅡKugugugung!!

Explosions were heard all around.

I immediately climbed onto the ice wall to check the surroundings, and I could see people and ice monsters fighting everywhere. Magic was exploding all over the place.

Karin exclaimed as she watched.

“Wow, they’re really fighting? Looks like quite a few mages came too. Those bastards are actually doing their jobs for the money.”
“Thanks to them, we had a really easy time. If I’d known, I could have rested for a few days before coming?”

We had a very easy time getting in today thanks to the knights clearing the way. Was it because the paladin order had joined them? Certainly, with the help of the paladin order in the field, combat endurance would be more than doubled.

The concept of “injured” disappears.

If you fight while getting healed, you can fight until you break through without having to fall back. At this rate, we might end up fighting together inside the palace.

“No, Katt. Risha caught the Ice Dragon, right? I’m sure that’s why it was shortened.”
“Hehehe, that’s right.”

I immediately climbed back down the wall.

“Let’s fall back a bit now. Let’s get some sleep there and go when the sun comes up.”

It was dark now, so we could sleep for one night and go in tomorrow. The knights would be fighting hard in the meantime anyway. Once they’ve seasoned everything, we can go storm the palace tomorrow and take it all for ourselves.

Ah, but we have to do this depending on the situation. If they’re still fighting when we see them tomorrow, we’ll have to cooperate instead of taking it all for ourselves.

Well… it’s not impossible that it’ll be captured overnight, but the strange birds are still flying around in the sky, so it’s impossible to fight the tireless ice knights all night, even if the paladins are healing them.

They definitely won’t be able to capture it today.

We were about to retreat when it happened.

ㅡKukung!
ㅡKugugugung!!

Five ice knights about 3 meters tall and about twenty ordinary ice knights appeared on the road ahead.

Liz turned her head and said,

“It seems they noticed our approach. To think they’d send troops right away.”
“Those quick-witted bastards. Did those flying strange birds snitch on us?”
“Maybe.”

But weren’t they concentrating their forces on the palace side to defend it? To see that they have reserves to send this way… yeah. They definitely won’t be able to capture it today. If it was urgent, they wouldn’t have been able to send troops this way.

“Let’s finish this quickly.”

ㅡSreung.

Karin drew her sword and walked in, and I stuck next to her. From then on, it was a series of all-too-familiar tasks. They were defense forces, but they were no match for us.

The ice knights were quickly crushed and began to retreat.

“That’s the first time I’ve seen those bastards run away.”
“Don’t they want to preserve their forces?”

Winia answered my question.

“Well… probably. They can’t afford to waste them fighting in the front yard. Then let’s go back and rest a bit.”

The sound of fighting continued to be heard from over there. We ignored it and retreated for about an hour, set up a simple camp on one side of the maze, and took turns sleeping. It wasn’t particularly cold, thanks to Hilde.

Now let’s go to the palace side tomorrow and finish it.

It’s to recover our strength for that.

It’s… a high-level spirit that may have some kind of power. Praying that the knights would wear down that power a bit, I closed my eyes.