## Chapter 835 – Winter in the Capital

But then, something suddenly occurred to me.

“Ah, that’s right, Saintess. I think I need to get my armor repaired.”
“Your armor?”
“Yes. It’s a bit dented. I haven’t been wearing it lately, have I? It got a bit crumpled while fighting those spirits. I think it needs to be repaired.”
“Oh dear. Why are you only mentioning this now?”

The Saintess tilted her head, looking momentarily concerned.

“I couldn’t quite find the right timing… Yes, that’s it.”

I originally intended to mention it sooner, but the opportunity never arose. There were just too many other things happening.

“You must mention such things immediately. A Paladin has a duty to maintain their combat readiness. What good is a warrior who neglects their equipment?”
“It was my mistake.”

I immediately lowered my head.
I was indeed at fault.

“I’m not blaming you harshly. The Paladin has always performed well. This is likely just a simple oversight. But please, in the future, inform me immediately. Such matters are also very important to this Saintess.”
“Yes, I understand.”

She’s right.

Since I’m doing what the Saintess asks, maintaining my combat power is practically my duty. I should always be working at full capacity, so if my equipment is damaged, I should have it repaired immediately.

In any case, I should get it repaired as soon as possible.

“There is a smithy under the jurisdiction of the Order. You can go there and request a repair. As a Paladin, the repair costs will be free, so it would be best to go and leave it with them right away.”
“A smithy under the jurisdiction of the Order?”
“Yes. They create the weapons and equipment used by the Order’s warriors. You know the Holy Angel Armor worn by the Holy Knights? All of that is made there.”

So they even operate their own smithy.

Truly a large Order.

With various businesses, estates, and even a few mines, it feels like a nation in itself. It’s on par with a great lord or noble. More than anything, combat is the foundation of this group.

I asked for directions to the smithy, and the Saintess handed me a rough map.

“In that case, you won’t be able to be deployed on any missions until your equipment is repaired.”
“It probably won’t take too long. It’s not that badly damaged. Once the equipment is in good condition, I can go to work at any time, so please assign me then.”
“The Paladin is always reliable… Still, I plan to deploy you when more detailed information comes in. They are currently investigating the matter themselves, so we can hope they resolve it on their own.”
“Yes.”

Simply capturing and killing such evil beings is the specialty of the Holy Knights. I don’t necessarily have to go. The Holy Knights there might be able to handle it themselves. I just need to be aware of it because it’s an unusual situation.

If they can’t handle it, then I’ll go.

“That aside… Black Knights and Undead. I can’t understand what those heretics are plotting.”
“It must be something evil. Those kinds of people are obsessed with evil deeds… There are many problems in various ways. And we haven’t even figured out who is behind them.”

Demons and heretics are collaborating, and the boundaries between dimensions are weakening. If they just wanted chaos, there’s already plenty of that.

They probably have a greater purpose.

Controlling monsters… and conducting human experiments and raising the undead. There must be a very strong, high-ranking necromancer involved.

A madman filled with terribly evil madness.

“By any chance, are there any records of necromancers being arrested recently?”
“Not in the last few years. There used to be quite a few of them a decade or two ago, but they’ve almost all disappeared due to continuous subjugation. Like many heretics, they are declining.”

Since they’re being captured and killed as soon as they’re seen, their numbers have decreased, but conversely, that means the ones who haven’t been caught have gone deeper underground.

“I see… Anyway, this incident is very suspicious. Well, I’ll know more when I go. I’ll go get my equipment repaired for now.”
“Ah, please keep thinking about that matter. If more data is gathered and the on-site forces can’t handle it, I will deploy the Paladin immediately.”
“Yes.”

I said my goodbyes and went outside.

* * *

I stopped by the house to gather all my equipment and then went outside. The capital was vast, and there was, of course, a district densely packed with smithies.

The capital’s industrial district was huge and felt very professional, like a factory. I heard there were smithies that only supplied the Royal Knights, and workshops that custom-made items as requested by the Magic Tower.

It was truly the mecca of the smithing industry.

The place marked on the map was the Order’s smithy located there. It wasn’t difficult to find, and as soon as I arrived in front of the building, I was slightly impressed by its overwhelming grandeur.

“Wow.”

This is what a smithy supported by the Order looks like.

Decorations and weapons gleaming with brass were displayed here and there. Brass, also known as yellow bronze, is a metal that symbolizes the god Verde. The smithy was filled with that kind of atmosphere.

The actual work area seemed to be over there. This place seemed to be for welcoming guests. Inside, muscular blacksmiths would be tirelessly creating equipment for the Order’s warriors.

They apparently do everything from making equipment, to praying, to performing blessing rituals. Since they’re making equipment for those who fight demons and heretics, it’s a natural procedure.

“You must be the renowned Dancing Paladin. Welcome.”

A blacksmith came out from inside and greeted me.
They know who I am just by looking at my face.

“Greetings. I am the Dancing Paladin, Kim Kat.
“You’ve brought… the Combat Priest equipment set. Is it for repair?”
“Oh, you knew right away.”
“Of course, I know. I’ve been doing this my whole life. Let me see.”

I immediately placed the equipment I had brought on the counter.

Everything was dented and crumpled here and there. What was the name of that spirit king bastard? Elthron? Anyway, that bastard was really strong.

Even in an incomplete state, he endured the combined attacks of me and my wives for a long time. He was definitely stronger than me. Every time he hit me, the equipment turned into this mess. If it had been in the old days, just one hit would have damaged all my internal organs.

“I don’t know what you fought. Did you withstand attacks from large monsters?”
“I fought a high-level spirit. He was really strong.”
“A high-level spirit… But it wasn’t destroyed. As expected.”

He seemed to feel pride in the fact that it wasn’t destroyed. Certainly, the Combat Priest equipment set is something special.

“Come back to pick it up in a week. It will take that long because of the queue. Aside from the dents, it seems to be well-maintained. You must take good care of your equipment.”
“Armor is like a spare life, so of course, I have to take care of it.”
“That’s a good attitude.”
“Then, goodbye.”

I immediately left the equipment and went outside. As expected, I didn’t pay. They’ll probably bill the Order.

A week isn’t that long.

* * *

After leaving my equipment, I spent my time at home training and reading. Then one day…

“It is complete!”

Risha shouted as she jumped up from the basement. Aria, Hilde, and Winia followed behind. Complete, she said!!!

—Fwoosh!

“Kieeeeeeeek!!!”

Upon hearing the news, I slammed the book I was reading shut, jumped up like a missile, grabbed my hair, spun five times in the air, and landed safely.

“Complete!!!!!”

Such insane excitement!!!

I had finally succeeded in making an elixir from the heart I obtained after killing that spirit king bastard! It took a while, but it’s finally complete!

“That darkie is at it again. Who in the world gets so surprised like that?”

At Winia’s harsh words, I immediately spread my arms and crossed my legs, shouting.

“Here!!!!!!”
“You’re such a drama queen, a drama queen.”
“Gal! How dare you say such things to your husband!”
“Anyway, Risha unnie. Hurry.”

How dare she ignore me so impudently…!

“Hehehe, I understand.”

At Risha’s gesture, a giant claw made of dark energy grabbed a box from behind, approached me, placed the box on the table, and disappeared. Judging from the situation, the elixir must be inside.

“Darkie, quickly call the other unnies.”
“Okay!”

It was almost lunchtime, so everyone was waking up and washing up in the bathroom. So I immediately opened the bathroom door and shouted.

“Risha says the elixir is complete!!”
“What!”
“Finally!”

Unlike Claudia, who showed a relaxed reaction while leaning her chin and arms on the edge of the tub, Karin and Liz noona jumped up from the tub. They were clenching their fists, looking very determined.

They must have been expecting it quite a bit.

“Aah! Don’t look!!”

Liz noona, who had stood up, suddenly squeezed her thighs together and used her hands and arms to cover her nipples and vagina. Wait, that noona? Is there anything to be embarrassed about?

“Hey, why is this girl suddenly acting up?”
“Close the door!”
“Hehehe, okay, okay. Hurry up and wash up.”

Since she said she was embarrassed, I immediately closed the door and returned to where Risha was.

“Kat-nim! It’s finally complete! The elixir made by squeezing the heart of the spirit king!! I’m so excited! It’s the moment when what we caught together sees the light!”

Hilde also jumped up and down, cheering.

“Yeah! I’m excited too!”
“Father, I too… feel uplifted. When I look at this, my heart beats fast…!”
“Is it an instinct to absorb power?”
“I think so… I want to drink it quickly.”
“Hehehe, yeah. Ah, but is Risha okay?”
“Yes.”

I immediately opened the lid of the box.

“What the. There’s a lot of it?”

There was a whole bunch.

Dozens of palm-sized crystal bottles were neatly arranged. The liquid inside was blue, like mana potions, and just looking at it made me feel a chill.

“Risha. You made this much?”
“I made several by adjusting the concentration. Isn’t it the same whether you eat one strong one or several weak ones? I deliberately dispersed it to prepare for possible side effects.”
“I see.”

Certainly, it would be safer to make it a little weaker and consume it several times rather than eating a strong one straight away.

I immediately took out the crystal bottles one by one and placed them on the table. This is the elixir made by squeezing the heart of the ice spirit king.

“Damn…!”

I’m excited…!

My chest was so itchy that my body felt like it was twisting.
This is the real deal.

—Squish squish!
—Kkeueot!
—Body! Twisting!!!
—Squeeze!!!

As I was twisting my body like a pretzel, Winia poked my side with her finger.

“Darkie, stop acting up. It’s distracting.”
“How can I stand it when I see this!!!”
“That’s right, Winia-nim! This is an irresistible impulse!”
“Sigh.”

Winia shook her head as Hilde joined in.

Anyway.

My heart felt like it was going to burst.

I calmed myself down for a moment while listening to Risha’s explanation. Soon, Claudia, Karin, and Liz noona came out with large towels wrapped around their bodies and approached.

“Risha? Is it all done already?”
“Hehehe, look at this. I’ve finished everything.”

Claudia, who had approached, picked up a bottle and examined it as if she were savoring it.

“…It’s cold.”
“It contains cold energy. It will be very good for improving the constitution of a half-elf.”

Improving Claudia’s constitution, which is weak against the cold… Just imagining it makes me excited. Claudia put down the bottle and came to sit next to me.

“Wow, this is it, huh?”
“I’m so nervous…!”

Karin and Liz noona also picked up the bottles and looked at them with interest.

“Now, everyone, sit down. I will try it first.”

We sat around on the sofa and watched Risha, who was holding a bottle.

“Oh…”

The clinical trials were already over, so there was nothing to worry about.