## Chapter 929 – How Long Has It Been?

Anyway, I was guided to the tent of the Holy Site Exploration Unit Commander.

“Hmm… A Paladin directly under the Holy Maiden.”

The commander was also an old Holy Knight, seasoned from the Brass Celestial Angel order.

Although the exploration unit was a joint effort by various orders, our order spent the most money to maintain it, so both the commander and vice-commander were our people.

In reality, it was a group formed mainly by our order, with support troops from other orders. It was only natural, as the Brass Celestial Angel order had the largest influence in the Karga Kingdom.

“Welcome. I am Ordos, the commander of the Holy Site Exploration Unit. It’s a shame there’s only one support soldier, but with the appearance of an otherworldly structure, there’s no helping it. Welcome.”

He was a Holy Knight who seemed as experienced as the vice-commander.

He possessed considerable divine power and skill, but the signs of age were still visible. I’d say he looked about 40, but Holy Knights usually look younger, so it was quite noticeable.

“It really couldn’t be helped. But it’s alright. If monsters appear, I’ll be a great help.”
“You’re full of confidence. And you certainly look strong… But why can’t you use divine power?”

There were many reasons for that.
I explained my background and religious views appropriately.

“Is that so… I’m not sure what the Holy Maiden would think.”
“Please don’t worry too much. I’ve served the order and slaughtered countless demons and heretics.”
“Ah, that’s not what I meant. I apologize. I just found it a bit unusual, that’s all.”

The commander seemed suspicious of my inability to use divine power. What could I do, he was an old knight. It was natural for him to think that way.

Come to think of it, even that Pope guy was a bit wary at first, wasn’t he?

I don’t worship the Verdant God.

Of course, I know that my mindset is a bit different from the kind of talent the order wants. I can never live like the Holy Knights. But even if our thoughts are different, I’m showing it through my actions and results.

That should be enough.

Anyway, after greeting the commander, I received a general explanation of the situation. Excavation was currently underway, and they hadn’t yet found a way inside.

That’s why they were conducting a large-scale excavation.
Once they found the entrance, they would go in immediately.

“As you already know, ancient structures buried like this can be very dangerous. Monsters may appear, so we can’t guarantee your safety once the full-scale exploration begins. Please keep that in mind.”
“Rest assured. I’ve had this experience many times.”
“I see… And this is just a cautionary word, but there’s a very small chance that a Demon King or Great Demon might be sealed inside. If one is truly sealed… we’ll have to risk our lives.”
“Of course. Don’t worry.”

After finishing the conversation, I came out of the tent.

“Sir Paladin!”
“Elise!”

When I came out, Elise and several Ascetic Holy Warriors were waiting.

—Shhhheeew.

With red glints in their eyes and white breaths, they were truly sticking to their amazing attire.

—Shhhheeeeeew.

Seriously, what’s with the breathing and the eye glints?
They were still terrifying to look at.

Black leather underwear, scarred muscular bodies. And the greaves, gauntlets, pauldrons, and helmets with jagged, murderous pieces of iron randomly embedded in them were more impressive than anything else.

It was like looking at malicious armor haphazardly made of black iron melted in the fires of hell by demons from hell.

Above all, the bizarre weapons that far exceeded the bounds of normalcy added to their strangeness. The blades weren’t normal swords, but twisted, semi-circular, with sharp thorns protruding from them; they were not something that even good religious people would use, even as a joke.

I had the feeling that these people were extreme masochists and sadists who enjoyed inflicting pain on their enemies as much as they revered asceticism. There was no way someone who breathed out those eye glints could be normal.

And the helmets, they covered their mouths and heads like gas masks. I couldn’t stand that hissing sound…!

Among them, some Ascetic Holy Warriors had cute pointy hats on their heads like decorations, and another one went even further and wore a jester’s hat made of black steel.

I couldn’t understand their sensibilities at all.

Anyway, as I was about to talk to Elise, an Ascetic Holy Warrior with a pointy hat on top of his gas mask-like demon helmet blocked Elise’s path and approached me.

“Yes?”
—Shhhheeew.

Oh, shit.

Were they going to tell me not to get close to Elise…? If so, I would immediately shove my fist into their mouth, sit down, and wail while throwing a tantrum.

“Nice to meet you!!!”

It was at that moment that a cheerful voice flowed out of the mouth of that bizarre helmet.

“Yes?”
“You might not remember, but we met during the Holy War!! I didn’t think you were particularly strong back then, but now you’re amazing!!!”
“Yes?”
“You were Elise’s friend, right?! Thank you for getting along with Elise!! Actually, there weren’t any people of Elise’s age in the order, so she didn’t have anyone to call a friend!! But to think that her friend was a Paladin of the Brass Celestial Angel order! This is really amazing!!”
“Yes?”

—Shhhheeeeeew.

With a cheerful attitude, a strange breath and white vapor were emitted from his mouth, and red glints were still emanating from his eyes.

Perhaps, for this person, this bizarre body was just like a doll’s outfit, and inside was just a friendly person?

That’s what I thought.
But they saw me during the Holy War?

“Then we’re comrades!!! Nice to meet you!!! I’m Katt! Won’t you tell me your name!”

It turned out we were comrades!!!
Then we’re friends!!!

“I’m Ascetic Holy Warrior Kerasus!!! This guy seems like a nice friend!! Would you like to do asceticism together?”
“Sorry! I don’t think it’ll suit me!”

I’m not lying, I would never do that, even if I died and came back to life.

“That’s a shame!!”

He laughed, tapping his head with one hand as if it was funny. Elise, who was watching, hesitated and came forward.

“Brother Kerasus. Too much rudeness…”
“Ah, sorry! Then you two talk!”

—Shhhheeeeeeew.

With those words, Kerasus dragged the other Ascetic Holy Warriors away.

They’re really crazy…!

“Elise! That friend seems like a really nice guy!”
“Despite his strange appearance, he’s actually a good person. But… haa. Finally, I have time to talk leisurely.”
“Hehehe, you said it.”

I finally had time to talk to Elise.

I wasn’t immediately used to Elise’s changed appearance, but as expected of Elise, it suited her well. Above all, she had grown a bit taller, which made her feel even better.

“Nice to see you, Elise. It’s been a year.”
“Yes.”
“What have you been up to?”
“I’ve been happily exterminating undead and demons. It’s not good that such beings are rampant, but to be honest, I can say that I enjoyed it.”

Elise, smiling, began to explain those things. It seemed that undead and demons were rampant in the outskirts. Even humans who had sold their souls to demons were being arrested several times.

It was a serious matter, but Elise described it as enjoyable.

Extremely Elise-like.

“That’s why my skills are improving day by day. I’m diligently working hard. Look. I’ve also replaced my mace with a good one.”

Elise showed off her morning star as if she was bragging. Honestly, I couldn’t tell the difference, but the impression that it was a luxurious mace optimized for killing and destruction was properly conveyed.

“Very good!!! You’ve been living very healthily!!!”
“If this continues, I might be promoted to Senior Nun soon!”
“And then you said you’d become a Paladin?”
“Yes. That’s what I’m scheduled to do. I’m aiming for that.”

She was a true Paladin in every sense of the word.

“You’ll definitely become one. But don’t get hurt and always be careful.”
“I know. Defeating evil beings is only possible if I’m alive.”

A very good mindset.

“But… the energy I feel from you is unusual. I can’t even grasp how strong you’ve become.”
“Well, that’s how it is. A lot has happened.”
“That’s a story I really want to hear. What happened?”

Elise, putting away her mace, clasped her hands together and asked me with sparkling eyes. She was purely curious about my exploits.

I simply told her the story of defeating the Monster King that appeared in the otherworld dungeon this time. While listening to the story, Elise tried to scream while grabbing her head, trying to express extreme emotions, but she managed to hold back, perhaps because she had gained self-control.

“Hoo…! Such a monster! Sir Paladin!!! You are truly devout!!!!”
“That’s how I always am. Hey, Elise, it’s pretty obvious that you’ve gotten taller, isn’t it?”
“I, is that so?”

Elise immediately regained her composure when I brought up the topic of height.

“Yeah, and your hair has gotten a lot longer too.”
“That’s…”

Elise, blushing, began to touch her hair. Still, being a girl in the monastery, she seemed a bit embarrassed about grooming her appearance.

“How is it? Does it suit me?”

Then she asked me as if trying to get confirmation.

“How could it not suit you? Everything suits Elise.”
“I, I’m glad to hear that.”

As expected, praising her appearance worked wonders, and Elise smiled again.

“But did you have a change of heart or something? You always had short hair.”
“That’s… it’s just that. There’s no big reason. I just thought I should grow my hair out since I’ve gotten taller.”
“Okay, okay.”

I wanted to go somewhere and eat, but it seemed like they were in the middle of work right now.

“Elise. Did you come here to support?”
“Yes. That’s right. You probably know the current situation. There’s talk of a Holy Alliance. Of course, we have no choice but to send support troops.”

I knew all about it.

“It would be a disaster if an ancient Demon King were to be resurrected like in the old days. Of course, he’s weakened, but the Demon King is still a terrifying existence. If we don’t prepare, we can be defeated in reverse.”

Even with a severe cold, just waking up from a drowsy state, with a terribly dry throat, a desperate need to pee, feeling dizzy, tired, sleepy, and incredibly hungry, a Demon King is still a Demon King.

The horror of the Idol War era, when such beings were active, seemed to be conveyed indirectly.

“Of course, we have to prepare. But Elise. Have you found out anything about the heretics?”
“Unfortunately, no.”
“I’ve found out a few things.”
“…!”

I immediately told Elise about the Death Knight and the Lich. These things must be shared.

“Th, that can’t be…! This is a very big deal!”

Elise, widening her eyes, grabbed her head and literally jumped up. I calmed Elise down and told her several other stories.

Elise laughed and agreed with me, as if she enjoyed my stories.

“Still, it seems you’ve been doing well.”
“I’m always ordinary. I just crush heretics and do whatever the Holy Maiden tells me to do.”

I decided not to mention that I had eight wives. Last time, Elise had scolded me with great vigor when she heard the number of my wives.

I know she’s worried, but it’s not a problem for me.

If the topic flows in that direction, the emotionless-eyed Elise in sermon mode might descend again, so let’s change the subject a bit.

“Well, anyway, now that I’m here, I can’t just keep loafing around. Let’s go to the site! I have to help with something since I came!!!”

Claudia and Risha couldn’t enter the commander’s tent, so they went to the nuns’ barracks for a while. There’s nothing they can do right now, so let’s go there and help with the work.

“Th, that’s right! As expected of you, Sir Paladin! You’re trying to work for the public good without resting for even a moment!!!”

Elise clenched her fist.

“That righteous mindset must be what makes you strong!!!”
“That’s right!!! Elise! The most important thing in becoming stronger is your mindset! Then let’s go to the excavation site!”
“I understand!!!”

With that, I headed to the excavation site with Elise, who answered energetically. If they’re digging in the ground right now, then leave it all to me!!! I’m a master of trench construction, a master!!