## Chapter 817 – Winter in the Capital

“Yes. As I mentioned, we did subjugate them together. As a former Royal Knight, she possesses considerable martial prowess. Without her, it would have been impossible to annihilate the two Greater Spirits.”

Is he asking because I acted with the former Royal Knight?

Of course, that fact was written in the report as is.

“I understand that.”

The Saintess, narrowing her eyes, nodded slowly.

“This Saintess is well aware that Greater Spirits are powerful beings. Naturally, it would have been impossible for a Paladin alone to annihilate two of them. No matter how skilled a Paladin is, the scale is simply different. So, you must have subjugated them together.”
“Exactly.”

There are hardly any people in this world who can take down a Greater Spirit alone. Humans are a weaker race than you think. The individual differences are huge. But humans have an ant-like number. Those people moving in unison according to orders. That is why the human race is strong.

“But this Saintess has one question here…”

ㅡRustle.

The Saintess, taking out a cigarette case from between her breasts, crossed her legs and used her fingertip to create a sacred radiance to light it. It was a very relaxed motion.

ㅡWhoosh.

After taking a leisurely drag and exhaling the smoke, she finally opened her mouth.

“…What is your relationship?”
“Relationship, you say?”

Ah, she was asking about the relationship.

“Yes, I am asking about the relationship between her and the Paladin. Are they comrades? Or lovers? It may be a question about your personal life, but I must ask. As a superior, I need to know about my direct subordinate’s collaborator… something like that.”
“Ah, yes.”

I answered immediately.

“She’s my wife.”
“What?”

Saying she’s my third wife might be a bit of an error, so is this how I should say it? Frankly, revealing that I’m a harem man would be too damaging to the Paladin image.

Whether it’s polygamy or polyandry, everyone naturally does it if they have a lot of money and power, but humans are inherently hypocritical, so there will always be talk.

“I heard the Paladin of the Brass Celestial Knights has so many women?”

If such rumors spread, it wouldn’t be good for me. Now that my reputation has risen, there’s no need to go around talking about it. A licentious Paladin. A very easy word to tear apart. Actually, I don’t care about that kind of reputation at all. If I were alone, I wouldn’t care at all.

But now my reputation is directly linked to the reputation of the Brass Celestial Knights. I can’t let my actions tarnish the image of the Order.

But if the Saintess asks, I can reveal it.

Aren’t we connected?

Since we are bound by trust, she won’t go around talking about me. Just as I trust the Saintess, she trusts me.

“That’s why she went with me. She’s a Mirkesha hybrid, which is why she quit the Royal Knights in the past. Now she’s my wife.”
“…”

ㅡThud.

At that moment, the Saintess dropped the cigarette she was holding. She seemed quite surprised. It’s the first time I’m saying this, but is it that surprising?

“Saintess?”
“…Did you just say wife?”
“Yes.”
“Not a comrade or a lover, but a wife…”

With those words, the Saintess reached for the cigarette case on her desk. Her hand slipped as she tried to take out a cigarette, and she dropped the case on the floor.

ㅡThump.

“…”

Then, without a word, she bent down to pick it up, took out a cigarette, lit it again, and started smoking.

ㅡ…

What is it?

This silence.

With me standing in front of her, a period of smoking time passed. After smoking three cigarettes in a row, the Saintess looked at me again and opened her mouth.

“Yes… It’s only natural for a man like the Paladin to have such a woman. Wife, wife… Ah, now that I think about it, you mentioned it before. You said the reason you work so hard is because of a woman.”

I did say that.

ㅡTap. Tap. Tap. Tap.
ㅡTap. Tap. Tap. Tap.
ㅡTap. Tap. Tap. Tap.

After finishing her cigarette, the Saintess started talking while tapping the desk with her finger.

“…”

Wait a minute. What is this atmosphere like an interrogation? The Brass Celestial Knights clearly allow freedom in marriage and romance. Besides, I’m not even a formal member.

Is there something wrong?

“Saintess? Is there a problem?”
“Hmm?”
“It just feels like something’s up.”

When I asked that, the Saintess tilted her head.

ㅡTap. Tap. Tap. Tap.
ㅡTap. Tap. Tap. Tap.

Still tapping the desk.

“That, you’re tapping the desk with your finger.”
“Ah, this?”

ㅡTap.

The finger stopped.

“It’s just that I’ve become sensitive because of the words ‘Spirit Realm’ and ‘Spirit King.’ Isn’t that right? The demons of Pandemonium are on the move, and to make matters worse, such beings are also targeting this land.”

The Saintess spoke in her usual calm tone.

“As a Saintess, I have no choice but to take this matter very seriously. Didn’t you say that the gate to the Spirit Realm has opened? Also, the Greater Spirit mentioned the existence of the Spirit King? That means it’s not an exaggeration to interpret that the Spirit King is preparing to send an army to invade.”
“Exactly!!!!”

I shouted for a moment!
I’m glad I told the Saintess!!!

“It’s a serious matter.”

I believed that the Saintess would recognize this danger and take action!! That’s why I spoke.

“It’s a very serious matter.”

It’s extremely serious.

“No matter how much of a Saintess I am, I can’t help but get stressed when I hear such words. Should I call it anxiety? It seems to have been revealed on the outside. I apologize for showing an inappropriate appearance.”

ㅡTap.

With those words, the Saintess tapped the desk once with her finger, as if resolving to tap it one last time.

“No, why would the Saintess apologize?”

She’s already overloaded with work, and if she has to worry about this, she’ll definitely be repeating exhausting overtime without holidays.

I knew it too.

The Saintess is saying that she’s on edge because of that right now.

“I know you’re already having a hard time. Honestly, I was quite worried about how seriously the Saintess would take this report.”

However, this is unavoidable. There’s no one else who can do this except the Saintess.

“…So you were thinking of this Saintess.”
“Hehe, as a Paladin, I’m always thinking of the Saintess.”
“…Yes, as the Paladin said, it seems like it’s going to be very difficult from now on.”
“You’re really going through a lot. There’s probably no one in the kingdom who’s suffering as much as the Saintess. I guess I have no choice but to help you diligently.”

I was relieved.

From now on, the threat of the Spirit Realm will be formalized. If the Church and the kingdom make a proper announcement, people will be more careful, and they will pour all their power to go and deal with Greater Spirits as soon as they appear.

Now I don’t have to worry about this matter separately.

I did a very good thing.

Paladin Kim Kat… is a man full of emotion.

“After all, no matter how I think about it, it seems like the Paladin is the only one in this world who understands this Saintess’s difficulties… No one has ever said such things to this Saintess before.”

The Saintess stared into my eyes, her head still tilted, and spoke slowly.

“Actually, everyone wanted to, but they couldn’t bring it up because the Saintess is in such a high position, right? Everyone knows that the Saintess is suffering.”
“…”

She’s a person with many difficulties. Nevertheless, she doesn’t abandon her work. She’s a person who can be respected enough. Thorough responsibility and ability. She’s a perfect older sister.

After all, that’s what it takes to be a ‘Saintess.’

“Ah, but you might think of the Saintess as a superhuman. So you just assume that the Saintess is okay. Of course, she can do everything. You might be thinking with such reckless expectations. These are completely foolish humans.”
“A superhuman…”

At those words, the Saintess smiled faintly.

“Hmph, yes. There’s that too. It’s not like this Saintess can do everything, but everyone has expectations, so there’s nothing I can do about it. This can also be called a kind of bondage. I’m always grateful to the Paladin for understanding this.”

This was the difficulty of a renowned Saintess.

“But… wife.”
“Yes.”

Is she curious about Karin?

“Wife…”

After repeating the word for a moment, the Saintess continued.

“I learned today for the first time that the Paladin was a married man. Ah, of course, I didn’t intend to ask about the Paladin’s personal life. I simply needed further explanation. I apologize for this.”
“Is that so? No, there’s no need to apologize for this either.”

What’s the problem?

“But she must be a very talented person. To succeed in subjugation with the Paladin alone. The Order should also express its gratitude.”

Was she thinking of thanking Karin for this? Well, naturally, she might think that not only me but also Karin, who went with me, should be rewarded for such a thing.

It’s something the Church should definitely consider.

“…No, wait a minute.”

The Saintess, who was speaking, paused for a moment.

“Did the two of you subjugate them together? Are there any other collaborators?”
“Ah… yes.”

After all, it’s a bit much to say that two people did it. I went with my seven wives and succeeded in subjugation. In fact, they weren’t the kind of guys that two people could handle together.

“There are other collaborators.”
“Who are they? Comrades?”

Ah, shit.

I really don’t know how to answer when asked like this. Should I just reveal that Kim Kat is a harem king?

“…”

If I say this, won’t I lose trust because the Paladin is too promiscuous?

This is directly related to my reputation… No.

I’ve already worked with the Saintess several times.

It’s okay to tell the Saintess. Would she kick me out for being promiscuous and immoral? Even if I get criticized for it, our trust won’t be broken.

I trust the Saintess…!

After deciding for a moment, I opened my mouth.

“Saintess. This is actually my secret. Please listen without being surprised. You have to listen carefully.”
“W-wait a minute.”

As I was about to speak, the Saintess stopped me with her palm.

“Wait. This Saintess is… hmm, no. Haa…”
“Saintess?”
“I’m in a state of great shock, unlike what you see on the outside. In fact, there hasn’t been a day as shocking as today. If I hear the Paladin’s secret now…”
“…”

This is a pretty serious secret.

More than that, if I reveal this at this timing when she’s received a huge shock because of the Spirit Realm, won’t I get scolded a lot? Still, since I have the opportunity, it would be good to say it. After all, it was something that would be revealed someday that I’m a harem king.

If my reputation rises, there will be gossip.

I have to tell the Saintess in advance.

“Then I’ll wait for a moment.”
“…”

The Saintess stared into my eyes.
Then she opened her mouth.

“Haa… Yes. It’s truly a disturbing day. I was quite happy that the Paladin had returned.”

ㅡChaak.

She took off the Saintess-veil she was wearing and shook her head once. With that, all of her golden blonde hair was revealed. As expected, it’s hair worthy of a Saintess.

ㅡHaa.

She takes a deep breath in that state.

“Good. I feel like I’m calming down. I think it’s okay to hear anything now. Now, let’s reveal that… Paladin’s secret. Even if the Paladin already has a child, I don’t think I’ll be surprised…”

No, I don’t have any children yet.

“That, Saintess. I…”

Having finished preparing, I opened my mouth.

“Actually, I don’t have just one wife.”
“What?”
“I have a lot.”
“What?”

The Saintess widened her eyes.

“That… I have quite a few wives. I have seven.”