## Chapter 812 – Winter in the Capital

“By the way, a heart containing the power of a Spirit King… it looks amazing just by looking at it. Like the Great Demons, those kinds of beings usually possess power beyond imagination.”

Hilde raised her upper body and said that.

“Yeah. Honestly, it seems amazing… I can’t really imagine it either. Maybe if we refine the power of that heart and make it into a medicine, we could increase our mana?”
“Oh, that would be great. Increasing mana lasts a lifetime. Strength and youth come along with it. If we’re going to use it, it might be best to use it for something like that?”

Liz-noona took Winia’s words.

“If we’re not going to sell it, that’s probably the best, right?”

Winia nodded in agreement.

“Of course. Mana lasts a lifetime, you know?”
“That’s definitely true. Liz-unni is right.”

Making some kind of elixir and absorbing it?

If we could increase the amount of mana in our bodies with that, there would be nothing better. Not only would our strength increase permanently, but our health would also be guaranteed. And since it’s also effective for youth, it’s something that everyone, beyond mages and warriors, would covet.

“Hmm…”

As Risha said, its uses are endless. Making an elixir is also tempting. Even so, since it’s the essence containing the power of the Spirit King, the effect will be certain.

“Hehehe, I got something really good.”

Claudie, who was listening to those words, laughed.

“Could we make weapons or artifacts with it? If we made an artifact with that material, maybe we could create something that completely defends against ice magic. That alone would be worth all the trouble we went through, right?”

Oh. Claudie’s words are pretty good too.
An artifact with ice magic immunity.

“Conversely, it might become resistant to fire magic… I think. Because it’s the opposite attribute.”
“Ah, there’s that too.”

Ari also offered that opinion.

Even after thinking about it for a short time, there are so many uses. For the time being, I won’t have enough time just worrying about these happy things. Risha was satisfied listening to our stories. Let’s decide on its uses again when we get back home.

Anyway, this is the essence of the Spirit King.

We roughly talked about that kind of thing and then washed up. First, we’re going to eat something and then go outside to find out how things are going.

I immediately put on some appropriate clothes and went down to the first floor of the inn alone and ordered meals for eight people. It was a bit of an inflated price, but I paid it lightly and went back up to wait. Soon, the employee brought a decent breakfast to our room.

The menu was just stew and bread. Grilled bacon and various egg dishes. We still have some dried fruits and nuts that we brought, so it seems like it will be enough to fill our stomachs.

I immediately gave the employee a tip and we started eating. Even while we were doing that, the employee went back and forth a few more times to bring in the food. Because it’s for eight people.

“Does everyone properly remember what happened yesterday?”
“Yeah. Of course.”
“Of course I remember.”
“It’s an unforgettable memory!!”

While eating, we tried to organize what we experienced yesterday in as much detail as possible. First of all, there are only eight people who were in the same space. If we each organize what we felt, we can acquire proper information.

We learned a lot from fighting the Spirit King yesterday.

“Risha. That Spirit King bastard definitely said the boundary was weakening right before he died, right?”
“This lady heard it too.”
“He definitely said that.”

Karin also nodded.

Okay, let’s organize it.

1. Currently, what is called the `boundary` is in a weakened state.

The Spirit King said it himself.

That’s why they were able to open a gate from the Spirit Realm to this side, and the Spirit King, who had no record until then, invaded. And the demons were also opening gates and invading.

This was also possible because the `boundary` was weakening.

That has now been clearly revealed.

Anyway, what is a boundary? A dimension? A barrier with another world? I don’t know exactly, but that’s how we can explain it. There are various other worlds near this world. The boundary is what separates those worlds.

“That boundary is now weakening. So it seems that beings from other worlds are coming over more easily.”
“That’s right… It’s a bit strange for me, who’s from Pandemonium, to say this, but that’s definitely the state. It’s easier to open gates, that’s exactly what it means.”

Hilde answered Risha’s words.

It has become very easy for invaders from other worlds to invade. This is a very serious and dangerous thing. Great Demons too. And the Spirit Kings are also aiming for this land. Those bastards, who hate humans, are burning with rage.

But is it really just them?

“Absolutely not. It’s not just Pandemonium and the Spirit Realm. In this situation, beings living in other places can’t help but notice. In the first place, the place humans call hell isn’t just Pandemonium… Ah, but I don’t know these hells well, so let’s exclude them all, and just pick one at random… There’s a place called the Demon Realm, right?”
“Demon Realm.”

It is known to be completely disconnected from the Demon Realm, but perhaps with the weakening of the boundary this time… will it be connected again?

So, will they send a Demon King from the Demon Realm?

“Risha. Do you know anything specific about the Demon Realm? If the boundary has weakened, can those bastards come over?”
“…Well, I don’t really know.”

Risha shook her head.

“Well, we can’t know for sure yet.”
“That’s right. We can’t really know yet.”

Karin said while putting bacon on bread, and Liz-noona answered. Anyway, let’s organize it further.

2. The Spirit Kings are supplied with power through the gate connected to the Spirit Realm.

The reason why their MP was limited as soon as they closed the gate is exactly that. If a proper gate is opened, that limitation may disappear. We must not let the Spirit Kings open that gate and invade.

If that happens, it will definitely cause great chaos.

But if we know this, we can somehow deal with it. Ignoring everything else, if we just close the gate, their power will be cut off. If we put a limit on their MP pool, we can suppress them enough.

I should write this in a report for the public good.

“A gate connected to the Spirit Realm…”

As the topic shifted to the gate, Claudie said while wiping her mouth with a handkerchief.

“The other Spirit Kings will also know the importance of the gate very well.”
“That’s right.”
“So, they would have noticed the death of the Ice Spirit King as soon as the gate was cut off.”

That’s probably true.

“If so, they will prepare even more thoroughly, and if they reappear next time, won’t they be a more difficult opponent than yesterday?”

That’s a sharp point.

“Yeah. You’re right, unni. Those guys aren’t complete idiots… They definitely will.”

Winia nodded with a serious expression. A stronger opponent than yesterday’s Spirit King… We will be able to win. It will just be more difficult.

“But we can’t find an answer even if we worry about this now.”

Karin shook her head.

“Yeah, that’s right. Let’s skip this for now. It’s not like we’re the only ones clinging to this anyway.”

It’s not like we’re going to solve everything. Based on today’s experience, the other guys will also be more careful. The Royal Knights will also establish more solid countermeasures against spirits, now that they have lost knights.

“But Risha-unni. Is this kind of thing only happening around here? Is this not happening in other countries?”
“Indeed… this phenomenon may be happening all over the world. But we can’t know the information from foreign countries, can we?”

If the boundary has weakened, problems will definitely arise in foreign countries as well.

“Even if they know, only the Royal Knights or merchants who trade will know well. Let’s skip that for now too. We don’t need to think about foreign problems right now.”
“Yes. Karin is right. We don’t need to think about foreign problems.”

So, let’s skip this.

Unless some evil being with amazing power descends and destroys other countries and marches towards the Karga Kingdom, it’s not a big problem to worry about.

Anyway, we leisurely ate and gathered information and organized it a bit. For now, this is enough.

“Ah, I’m done eating. I’ll stop by the Knights for a bit. Everyone, take a rest.”
“Okay. Be careful.”
“Our husband is working hard.”
“Katt-nim, good luck!”

As soon as I put on my equipment, I heard “Be careful” seven times. After finishing my preparations, I went outside. I asked them to take care of the rest of the story. Risha will help them organize everything.

They’ll have it all done by the time I get back.

First, I need to go to where the Knights are and get a proper grasp of the situation. If we say that we killed the Spirit King, we will probably be interrogated… What should we do about this? Should I just ask for information first?

I’ll have to go there and look at the faces of the knights and decide.

While walking down the street, I asked the passersby where the Royal Knights’ base was. It would be certain to go to the camp and ask, but I’m too lazy to go that far.

“Ah, there’s a hall in the center of the village. I heard that the knights have set up their headquarters there.”
“Oh, thank you very much.”

As the passerby told me, I headed towards the hall, and indeed. Just by looking at it, knights were coming and going. I immediately approached them. First, let’s try to contact the person on guard duty.

“Hmm? Who are you?”
“Ah, excuse me. I am Brass Saint…”
“No way! You are from the Martial Arts Tournament!! The Dancing Paladin! The Celestial Dancer!!!”

Oh no.

ㅡSuddenly.

The knight, who shouted loudly, suddenly reached out his hand. It seems like he wants to shake hands, but that just drew aggro to the surroundings.

“What, what?! Dancing Paladin?!!!”
“The Saint who walks backwards!!!!!”
“The Paladin who defeated Elder Knight Harun Gosbelt!!!!!”
“The Inhuman Paladin!!!”

I could hear the voices of the knights… My reputation is too great. It’s fortunate that I’m wearing a cape to cover the emblem, otherwise this would have happened every step I took.

“Hehehe, that’s right.”

I immediately grabbed his hand and shook it up and down.

“I am the Dancing Paladin. It’s a great honor to be recognized by a Royal Knight.”
“There’s no way I couldn’t recognize you! You showed such overwhelming power!!! I watched the match very impressed!!”

He shouted excitedly.
He looks young, does he worship martial arts?

I can understand.

“Ah, I got too excited. Anyway, I already heard the rumors that a Paladin had arrived. Didn’t you run into the knights a few times in the maze? They were talking about it. I really wanted to meet you.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. But… why did you come here like this?”
“Ah. I was about to say that. I came to ask how the situation is going. As far as I know, you were defeated once…”
“Don’t even mention it. Because of that, the superiors are just having meetings all the time. They’re even having a meeting right now.”
“Oh, is that so?”

As expected, that’s the state they’re in. The corpses are still left in front of the palace. The aftercare hasn’t been done yet because they’re still having a meeting.

“Ah, I’ve been holding you up too much. If that’s the purpose of your visit… please wait a moment. I’ll go inside and let them know.”
“Hehehe, thank you.”

He went inside the hall, and I was surrounded by the knights around me. They rushed at me like beasts, asking to shake my hand and pouring out words.

“It was amazing power!! To defeat that Harun Gosbelt!!”
“May I ask who you learned swordsmanship from!!”
“Shake my hand quickly too!!”

I was dealing with them appropriately, and the knight who went inside returned.

“I just informed them… the Master Knight asked the Paladin to come to the conference room. Excuse me, but can you come with me?”

What?

“The Master Knight called me?”

That person designated me and called me?

“It seems there were some instructions. Instructions to report to the higher-ups immediately if the Paladin comes. As soon as I went inside to inform them, my superior went to the conference room to inform them. It seems like they gave the instructions because they thought they could get help by seeing the Paladin’s power.”

I roughly understood.

“Okay. Please guide me.”

So, I went inside the hall.

The hall was quite large, and the conference room is said to be on the second floor. I followed the knight and went up there. Standing in front of the door of the conference room, I could hear voices from inside.

Is there a division commander-level Master Knight in here?

There are only three Master Knights in the kingdom, and the most superior of them is selected as the Sword Master. In other words, they are incredibly strong guys. Karin said that she could take on all three of them alone… It would be helpful to see what kind of person he is this time.