## Chapter 977 – Ancient Valkyrie

“Paladin. It’s an emergency.”

The Saintess’s face looked extremely serious as she said that.

“Huh?”

Had I ever seen her make such a face before?

Even when I reported very dangerous situations, the Saintess would show some concern before immediately trying to come up with countermeasures. She was a strong woman armed with responsibility, a sense of duty, and conviction in her spirit and mentality.

For the Saintess to look this serious?
What on earth could have happened?

“Stay calm. Tell me what’s going on. You know there’s almost nothing I can’t do, right?”

There aren’t many things I can’t do, but with my women, there’s almost nothing impossible. Most things are screwed the moment they cross our path. Even if a proper Great Demon invaded, our forces could fillet it alive.

“That sounds so sweet, considering how serious this is.”

She looked extremely tired.
But her eyes were quite alluring.

“Is it related to what you’ve been busy with lately?”
“No… I just received a report about this suddenly.”

It seemed like a serious issue had suddenly erupted on top of her already busy schedule. That must be why she skipped the kiss and immediately told me about the emergency as soon as we saw each other after so long.

“It’s like a sudden disaster… It’s extremely difficult.”

A disaster?

“A disaster, you say?”
“Yes, a disaster. A very serious disaster.”
“Just how inhuman is this disaster?”

The Saintess naturally took out a cigarette, lit it, and continued.

“Paladin. Do you know about the term ‘ancient’?”
“Yes. To some extent.”
“Still, let’s briefly review it. As you know, the era we call ‘ancient’ refers to the time of the Idol War and before.”
“Yes.”

It refers to hundreds of years ago.

Most records of the ancient era have been lost. Even records from the Idol War are rare, so finding traces of the era before that is truly difficult.

“The technological prowess of those two eras surpasses that of the modern era. Even though records are scarce, we can still tell. There are remnants of that time all over the world.”

They often remain in the form of dungeons.

“So much so that some mages say it would be more efficient to excavate ancient technology than to research new technology.”
“They say that, but honestly, I don’t really feel it.”
“Anyway. That’s not what’s important.”

—Chiiik.

She stubbed out her cigarette and looked into my eyes.

“During the Idol War, messengers of the gods descended directly on numerous occasions.”
“Yes. Angels, you said.”

Powerful messengers of the gods. They’re so damn strong that most demons or minions of evil don’t even dare to try anything and are turned to dust. But the existence of such beings means there are equally strong enemies.

Many have opposed angels.

“You know that well. But you won’t know this.”
“What are you talking about?”
“That the types of gods are as diverse as the number of gods that exist. We lump them together and call them angels, but there are many names for the messengers of the gods.”
“Ah. I think I roughly understand.”

If there are many types, there will inevitably be many names.

But hearing her say this… Could it be that something huge enough to require angels, the embodiments of religious war, has happened? If so, that’s fucked up. I couldn’t help but feel a bit tense.

A being capable of opposing angels.

Could I kill it?

If I could kill it, I’d like to try.
I felt anticipation at the same time as tension.

“And… among those messengers of the gods, there are beings called Valkyries.”

Huh?

“Valkyries, you say?”

Valkyries?

“They can be described as the vanguard of the gods, possessing immense combat power. Records say they take the form of female figures, wear weapons forged from starlight, and are great beings who fight against the armies of evil gods on the front lines.”

A damn strong destroyer in the form of a woman.
A being who annihilates evil things according to the gods’ commands.

That’s what a Valkyrie is, apparently.

This is like a professional hitman sent by the gods.

“Yes. A sacred hitman boasting murderous power.”
“Hitman? No, why would you use such an expression? Apologize immediately.”

The Saintess said, raising her chin and trying to look down on me.

“Oh dear. Was that an inappropriate expression?”
“I know Paladin likes extreme expressions, but that was inappropriate to say to the Saintess of the Order.”
“Yes. I’m sorry. I misspoke.”
“Hmm, well. I’ll let it slide since you properly apologized. Very good.”

As I apologized, she crossed her legs, smiled, and stroked her chin.

“Then shall I give you a reward? Very well, I grant you the right to violate this Saintess.”
“What the hell. Was that a joke…!”

She surprised me!

“No, that was something that really needed to be reprimanded. But I deliberately showed consideration because I thought Paladin would feel bad if I said it directly. Do you understand this Saintess’s benevolent heart?”

So that’s what it was…!

“I felt it so intensely that tears almost came out!”
“This Saintess is exactly that kind of woman. Know it as an honor.”
“It is an honor and more honor!”

Seeing her so arrogant, I want to make her do a fellatio.

“Anyway, turning back to the story… Of course, not much is known about Valkyries. There are records saying they are incapable of normal communication and simply act according to the gods’ commands, and there are also records saying they are like iron-fisted rulers who make rational judgments and issue coercive orders to lords.”
“Isn’t that because there are many gods?”
“I’m mostly thinking that’s the case.”
“But why are you bringing up Valkyries now?”

When I asked, the Saintess hesitated for a moment.

“…”

She was silent, as if she were about to say something sensitive.

“That…”

She cautiously opened her mouth.

“A Valkyrie… is said to have appeared…”
“What?”
“Honestly. I’m so surprised and shocked that I can’t even make a judgment.”
“No, what are you talking about? I think I’d be surprised and shocked too. What on earth are you saying?”

What on earth?

“Paladin? Why don’t you stop that meaningless aerial continuous rotation and come down? It’s distracting and I can’t concentrate.”
“Huh? What are you talking about… Ooooohhhhh!!!”

I was already spinning madly in the air! No, what the hell! My body reacted before my mind did!!!!!

—Spinning around!

After spinning strongly once more, I landed gracefully like an angel who had lost its wings.

—Paaat.

“Rehu.”

It was an insane shock.

“Okay… then I’ll start explaining. First, I received this report for the first time two days ago.”
“Yes.”
“It happened on the westernmost side of the Merkudia Kingdom. A previously unknown dungeon was discovered there, and during a large-scale exploration, they found that Valkyrie in the deep underground.”

So.
A Valkyrie was sealed in an underground dungeon.

“I don’t know what they did, but the sealed Valkyrie was released and escaped the dungeon.”

It was released and escaped.

“The escaped Valkyrie soon soared high into the sky, and it is said that she chased and destroyed monsters and demons with immense power.”
“Yes?”

What. Then.

Isn’t this a good thing?

Instead of being serious, shouldn’t we be celebrating? A very sacred messenger of the gods has awakened from her seal and is trying to benefit the human world. This is similar to the arrival of a savior.

“No, then isn’t that a good thing?”

I asked, feeling puzzled.
Why did she say it was a serious matter?

“A vanguard of the gods has personally descended, so isn’t that great? Won’t she act to destroy all the demons and evil gods from now on?”
“Paladin.”

But the Saintess’s expression was still serious.

“If it were a good thing, this Saintess wouldn’t be so shocked.”
“Ah. That’s true.”

Something must be wrong.

“According to the report, the Valkyrie is flying at high speed and wiping out monsters and demons. It seems there were demons in the Merkudia Kingdom as well. Yes, up to this point, it’s a positive thing.”

Too positive.

“But at the same time… the Valkyrie is destroying all kinds of religious facilities in her path. It seems the churches located in the Merkudia Kingdom have already suffered great damage.”
“Huh?”
“And now… that Valkyrie is heading towards the Karga Kingdom. That means she’s heading east.”

What.

“That.”

This is a bit.

“Seems like a pretty big deal.”
“It’s a very serious matter. Just looking at the damage situation in the Merkudia Kingdom… many churches have been destroyed, and the damage to religious people is very great. If that Valkyrie comes to the Karga Kingdom, the obvious will happen.”

Judging from the situation, she’s so powerful that religious people and the army are helplessly suffering, so it’s clear that this side will also suffer great damage.

“No, but why is the Valkyrie, a messenger of the gods, doing that?”
“How would I know the reason?”

She sighed and took out a cigarette.

“It seems communication is completely impossible. She’s just silently gliding with her pure white wings spread, pouring violence onto the ground. The only fortunate thing is that she ignores attacks from the army.”

Wow.

“That’s the scariest part. To be able to ignore attacks from the army.”
“Paladin is really sharp.”

A transcendent being who can ignore attacks from the army is flying around and scattering destruction. This was a kind of terror.

“Of course, the Merkudia Kingdom side also assumed suppression and attacked, but it seems difficult in many ways. The analysis is that she has tremendous magic resistance, as befits a Valkyrie.”
“Goodness.”
“There’s another problem… religious people are reluctant to participate in this subjugation.”
“No, even though they’ve been directly harmed? What, are they going to just let it go? Even though they’re the only ones being harmed?”
“If you think rationally, that’s right.”
“Crazy.”

I roughly understand.

They must be reluctant, wondering how they can attack a Valkyrie.

But then conflicts arise. The royal army is working hard to prevent your churches from being destroyed, so why are you just standing still?

Division is dangerous in the current situation.

“The analysis is that the Valkyrie will soon reach the Karga Kingdom. We must stop it.”
“Is Merkudia providing support? After all, they’re the ones who caused this.”
“That also requires negotiation. But the Karga Kingdom has a good reason for this, so we can receive a lot of material support.”

This is also becoming a diplomatic issue.

But this is a damn serious matter.
How many Brass Celestial Angel Society churches are there in this country?

If they’re all destroyed, my foundation as the Saintess’s direct Paladin of the Brass Celestial Angel Society will disappear. My power comes from the Saintess’s authority, and the Saintess’s authority comes from the churches spread throughout the kingdom.

Valkyrie or whatever, this must be stopped.

“No, but what god’s Valkyrie is she? If that religion takes responsibility…”
“Unknown.”
“Unknown?”

This is also unknown?

“So there’s also speculation that she might be a messenger of an evil god. The judgment that she’s a Valkyrie is based only on the style of the discovered dungeon and her appearance.”

Appearance, huh.

“Pure white wings and sacred weapons. And the free use of powerful divine spells and the fact that she can’t communicate… in terms of appearance, she’s definitely a Valkyrie. The power she uses is also similar to divine power.”

I vaguely imagined the appearance of the Valkyrie in my head.

Professional divine hitmen who carry out destruction at the request of the gods. Is there anyone who can stop them?

“The idea that she’s an evil god is speculation, but there’s a high probability that she’s a Valkyrie of a forgotten ancient god or an extinct god. Just as evil gods perished in the era of the Idol War, other gods were also harmed.”
“Hmm… if a god dies. No. Can we use the expression ‘a god dies’?”
“Of course.”
“Anyway, you’re saying that even if a god dies, the messenger that god created remains.”
“Well… there’s probably no one in this era who knows that for sure.”
“That’s also true.”

It’s literally unknown.

“Anyway, I’ve become even busier because of that. I have to persuade the religious people, and I have to prepare countermeasures and subjugation. It’s obvious, but we can’t leave out the powerful warrior, Paladin.”

And my other wives, too.

“This will probably be a great achievement.”
“If we succeed in subjugation. With that premise attached.”
“Yes… that’s very worrying.”