## Chapter 814 – Winter in the Capital

The silence didn’t last long.

“What, what did you say?!”
“Unbelievable!! You caught and killed it?!”
“Don’t joke around, Paladin!!!”

—Thump!!

The knights slammed their desks and jumped to their feet. The unfolded map fluttered, and the chess piece-like figures scattered into the air.

Everyone looked utterly astonished. If Christopher were here, it would have been quite a sight. Well, it’s a natural reaction. It’s an unbelievable and astonishing thing.

Logically, this reaction is perfectly understandable.

After an entire knightly regiment, specifically two battalions including a Master Knight, retreated in disarray, hearing that a young Paladin, albeit a martial arts tournament champion, had captured it is bound to cause disbelief.

“Are you mistaken about something?!”
“Then when did you catch it?! We just retreated yesterday!!”
“After the knights were defeated like that?!”
“No matter how strong the Paladin is, having won the martial arts tournament, that’s just impossible!!”
“Don’t try to fool us!!”

Their eyes wide, they shouted at me. Their gazes were filled with doubt and anger. One of them, perhaps feeling insulted, pointed a red-faced finger at me.

“What…?”

The Holy Knights, still seated, looked at me with puzzled expressions.

“…”

Only the Master Knight remained silent, staring at me with an unreadable expression.

He continued to look at my face.

“Quiet.”

He spoke in a serious tone.

“This is the problem. Everyone makes such a racket at the slightest word. How many times does this Master Knight have to say it? Be quiet, please be quiet.”
“…”
“…”
“Ah, understood.”

The knights who had been ranting and raving a moment ago scratched the back of their heads sheepishly and sat back down. However, even as they did so, disgruntled glances were directed at me. All of them seemed to demand an explanation.

The process of organizing my thoughts was complete.

I would have said everything even without being pressed like this.

“So, Paladin… if I heard correctly, I believe I heard something quite astonishing. You said that you personally captured two high-level spirits. Would you care to elaborate on that?”

He spoke very calmly, staring intently into my eyes as if trying to see through my soul, but that didn’t bother me.

It’s not like this is the first time I’ve done something like this.

“If that were the case, it would be a very good thing. Yes, a good thing indeed.”
“Yes. A very good thing.”

I opened my mouth as well.

“Let me be clear. As you just heard, the two high-level spirits are dead. I mean, those evil spirits are dead.”
“…!”
“…!”

Kelbain stopped the murmuring from starting again.

“Good. I understand perfectly. It was an explanation so clear that it’s hard not to understand. Then, the method? How exactly did you kill them? It’s a little funny for me to say this, but I am a Master Knight and quite confident in my abilities. I was pushed back in that situation. That’s why these knights are so confused.”
“Of course, I didn’t do it alone. Killing something like that alone would be very difficult unless you’re a Sword Master.”
“That’s… true.”

But I don’t know if a Sword Master could take down a Spirit King alone. No matter how strong they are, it’s a bit of an error to assume a human could defeat that single-handedly.

It’s probably impossible.

I just said it to calm people down.

“Then who did you go with? It must be someone more skilled than most knights. Who is it?”
“Do you happen to know Carin Vestart?”

As soon as I mentioned Carin’s name, people reacted.

“The Vestart Marquisate?”
“Ah.”
“Carin Vestart, you say?”
“What?”

Carin’s family, the Vestart family, was said to be a very powerful noble family. Everyone probably knows that, but I wonder if anyone knows about Carin herself?

The fact is, just because someone is in the same army doesn’t mean a soldier memorizes the name of the battalion commander in the next battalion. The Royal Knights are a specialized group, so it might be a little different, but it wouldn’t be strange if no one knew about Carin, who left the Knights decades ago.

“She’s someone who used to be in the Royal Knights, though she’s retired now. I fought with her and we were victorious.”
“Wait, wait. A former Royal Knight?”

Master Knight Kelbain raised his hand to interrupt.

“That means she’s quite skilled… Does anyone know her?”

At that, everyone looked at each other.
Then, the blonde female knight who had given the explanation earlier raised her hand.

“Ah… yes. I know her.”
“Yarna?”
“She quit a long time ago. Her skills were overwhelming, but she was of Mirkesha mixed blood. As you know, back then, that nomadic mixed blood was a bit of a problem…”
“…”
“Hmm… Mixed blood from a different race…”
“Ah…”

The knights’ gazes turned to the top of my head.

They seemed to be subtly checking my hair color.
I don’t care as long as they don’t openly say anything to me.

“Alright… let’s move on from that for now. Anyway. You’re saying you caught them by working with that former Royal Knight from the Vestart family?”
“Exactly!!!!!!!!!”
“What!”

I answered Master Knight’s question in a very loud voice!!

Because this is the main event!!!!!

“Carin Vestart! I caught the high-level spirits with her! She’s incredibly skilled!! But more than that!! This is the most important thing right now!! To all of you who are working tirelessly for the prosperity of the kingdom!!! Listen carefully!! What I’m about to say is more important than anything else!!!”

—Clap clap clap clap!!

I shouted loudly and clapped to gather attention.

“What…!”
“What is it?”
“What on earth are you going to say…”

Let’s gloss over the Spirit King for now. The knights have already judged it to be a high-level spirit. They even gave it the name Elthron.

There’s no need to pour cold water on that.

In fact, the Spirit King is a pretty absurd story, isn’t it? No one knows anyway. So I can make something up.

There’s no need to unnecessarily diminish the credibility of my story.

But just because I’m not talking about the Spirit King doesn’t mean I can’t talk about other things. This is a matter of the safety of the kingdom I live in. Of course, as always, I’ll add appropriate embellishments to what I know.

—The threat of the Spirit Realm!!

I must warn them about this danger!!!

“I found something out while killing them!!!!”

Those spirit bastards might invade like demons!! Only a crazy bastard wouldn’t tell everyone!! There’s nothing to gain by hiding it!!

“The Spirit Realm!!!”

I shouted as if roaring. I could clearly feel my voice echoing loudly and filling the conference room.

“They came from the Spirit Realm!!! There was a gate! I witnessed that gate!! Not only did they come from there, but they were even drawing power from it!!! That’s why those high-level spirits were so strong!!”
“Wh-what! The Spirit Realm, you say!!”
“The Spirit Realm!”
“You mean they came from there!!”

The knights, greatly surprised, jumped to their feet again.

“The reason they could summon the army of ice was all because of that!!”
“W-wait a minute!! Does the Spirit Realm really exist? Can you prove it?”

One of the knights asked me.

“I saw it with my own eyes!!! Please, just listen to my story!!!”

I answered loudly, staring into his eyes.

The reason I’m speaking so loudly is because of this kind of situation. Since I came here of my own volition, I can’t just shut up awkwardly. Plus, they shared information with me.

“Don’t be surprised by what I’m about to say!! It’s very dangerous!!”
“…!”
“…!”

Now for the main point!

“In that Spirit Realm!!! The high-level spirits were preparing to invade this land!!! Yes! That’s what I found out!!”

Frankly, just saying this fulfills my duty. The invasion of the Spirit Realm must be formalized. That’s the only way people can prepare. If they’re attacked without knowing anything, a second Ice Palace might be mass-produced haphazardly.

That can’t happen!!!

Kim Gath, the seeker of Fusion Confucianism and Heavenly Demon, can never allow such a thing to happen!!

If demons are already invading, and then suddenly high-level spirits and Spirit Kings come pouring in, everything might be screwed!!!

“Just like the demons!! They were plotting to connect their world to this land and invade!!! Those dangerous and powerful high-level spirits!! It means that things like this Ice Palace could appear randomly!! We found out that fact while killing them!!!!”
“U-uwaaaaa!! They opened a gate like the demons!!”
“Demons!!!! That must not happen!!!!!!!!!”
“Pa, Paladin!! Please tell us more details!! Are you saying that the spirits of the Spirit Realm are invading like the demons of hell…!!! Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!!!!!”

The Holy Knights, who had been listening quietly, also jumped to their feet and started raving. Two of them were already leaning back, tearing at their hair. If they leaned back any further, they could film an exorcist movie.

They were greatly excited by the word “demon.”

These people are always like this.

As the Holy Knights began to rave, the knights sitting next to them were horrified and stood up.

“Heok! What is going on all of a sudden!”
“Wh-what! Holy Knight! Get a grip!”

It’s understandable.

“Th-that’s insane!!”
“I can’t believe it!!!”
“There’s no proof!!”
“No, what do you mean the Spirit Realm is invading!!”

Anyway, the other knights started shouting as well. That added to the confusion. They must be very confused right now. They found out the truth in the middle of a strategy meeting, so it’s natural to react like this.

“Quiet!!!!”

Kelbain shouted, unable to bear it any longer.

“…!”
“…!”
“…!”

That restored silence to the conference room. He managed to calm them down for now, but he also had a very confused look on his face.

I need to properly convince this guy, write a report, and pass it on to the Saintess.

“Paladin. Does that mean that Arquina and Elthron came from the Spirit Realm? Through a gate?”
“Exactly!!”

So believe me!!
Prepare!!!!

“And it’s not over!! They will invade again!!! Arquina and Elthron were just the vanguard!!”

—Thump!

I emphasized, pounding the table.

“…So you’re saying this could keep happening.”

He said, staring at me.

“It’s not that I don’t know, it’s that I’m sure of it! High-level spirits are invading!! The reason I came here today is to report that I killed them yesterday and to warn you of this danger!!”

I looked around the conference room. They were in a state of doubt. But there were also people who seemed to believe my story, and whose mouths were itching to ask questions.

“It’s a very shocking story… The Spirit Realm exists, and high-level spirits are preparing to invade from there… Just like demons.”

Kelbain said, repeating himself. This guy is also in a position to protect the kingdom. At least if a Paladin with a reputation like mine is so passionate, he has no choice but to believe it for now.

“It’s true that a gate to Pandemonium has recently opened. Demons are coming over from there.”

The Holy Knight who had been leaning back and tearing at his hair earlier spoke.

“So I think it’s a credible story. In fact, there are many places called hell. Perhaps the Spirit Realm is a similar place.”
“That’s right.”
“Yes. And it’s the Saintess’s direct Paladin speaking. We can trust him.”

The Holy Knights all looked at me.

“Thank you.”

I bowed.
They’re on our side after all!!!!!

“Good… good. Since the Paladin says so, I have no choice but to believe it. It’s not that strange of a story, anyway.”

Is he convinced?

“But there’s no evidence yet. So we need to confirm it. Everyone, prepare to advance. If the deaths of the high-level spirits are confirmed, the Paladin’s words will have more credibility. It seems certain that we saw the same thing as you… Let’s go and confirm it ourselves.”

Good.

That’s all I need.

“Paladin. It seems like you’ll have to come with us.”
“Of course I will!!”