## Chapter 988 – Ancient Valkyrie

“Katteuuuu-niiiiim!!!”
“Aigo.”

As soon as I returned, Hilde shouted my name and leaped at me, practically flying, clinging to me. Her reaction was quite similar to Claudie’s from earlier.

I stroked Hilde’s back, who was trying to act cute, and then set her down.

“You killed the Valkyrie, right!!!”

Hilde, with her hands clasped together, asked me with sparkling eyes.

“Yeah. I got the last hit.”

I simply answered coolly.

“Kyaaaaaaaaak!!!”

Hilde screamed and made a fuss, and the other girls approached.

“You’ve really suffered a lot. To defeat a Valkyrie…”
“Hey, Dumbass, you didn’t get hurt anywhere, did you…?”
“I’m not hurt. Don’t worry.”

My body isn’t made of glass or a cookie.

“And it’s not like I was the only one who suffered. I heard Risha and Hilde helped with the foothold magic, right?”

It was a battle we all fought together.

“It wasn’t just that. We also assisted with the observation magic and coordinate adjustment magic. The magic they used wasn’t familiar, so it took some time to copy… but it was perfect!!”
“Hehehe, yeah. It was perfect. I really worked hard stepping on those footholds while fighting.”

The difference between having that and not having it is huge.

“I got some stuff from killing the Valkyrie… I’ll tell you about it later. I need to organize it in my head first.”
“What is it?”
“It’s a bit difficult to explain right now. Let me sort it out first.”
“Understood.”

If that quasi-divine energy was really absorbed into me, then I should recover. Let’s talk about it after concrete evidence appears.

“Wow. But.”

I looked around.

ㅡ…

All the mages who participated in this operation were sprawled out, their eyes closed. These people also contributed greatly to killing the Valkyrie.

I silently saluted them in gratitude.

It reminds me of Karin carrying a bunch of mages and running around. How scared must these guys have been? They must have suffered the same thing every time the battlefield moved to the sky.

“Father. I too. I worked hard too. Please listen.”

Ari, who came to my side, tugged at my sleeve, appealing to me.

What did our Ari do?

“Hehehe, ah. Right. What did Ari do?”
“I made mana potions with tree sap.”
“You made potions? What did you eat?”

No, has she reached the point where she can make potions with tree sap now?

“Yes. I secretly made them and fed them to the mages who were about to faint. Since everyone was busy anyway, I pretended I had brought them and kept feeding them, so they managed to hold on pretty well. I did well, right?”
“Yes! You did very well!!!”

As expected, Ari is very cautious. She said she secretly made them, pretended she had brought them, and kept feeding them. That must have had a big effect too. The battle was so long.

“Katteu-nim! I assisted with magic with Risha-nim!!”
“Our Hilde did well.”

It was truly a situation where the mages assisted and the warriors fought.

“Dumbass. I didn’t do anything.”

Then, Winia, who had been quiet, spoke.

“No, Winia?”
“I don’t know what to do. There’s nothing to do. So I just cheered.”

She seemed a bit gloomy for some reason.
If so.

“So that’s why my power soared. Thank you, Winia. Your support saved me.”
“I’m so sorry, Dumbass.”
“It’s okay, so stop it. If you make that face, it’s boob-grabbing punishment.”
“What kind of punishment is that…”

Winia, her face flushed, avoided my gaze slightly.

“…If you want to do it, you can…”

Of course, there are days when you can’t do anything.

Anyway, we all gathered and talked about the story of catching the Valkyrie and about Vihal. It’s a very good day. To officially defeat the Valkyrie like this. We’re bound to receive a really big reward.

Everyone knows how strong the Valkyrie is.

“Anyway, let’s go back. Ah, before that. Ari.”
“Yes?”

There’s something to do before going back.

“I dropped Vihal while fighting, can you find it?”
“Leave it to me. There’s nothing I can’t find in the forest. Just a moment…”

Ari immediately placed her palm on the bark of a nearby tree and closed her eyes. After a while, as if she had heard all the plants’ testimonies, Ari came and whispered to me.

“If you go straight in that direction, you should find it. I’ll guide you.”
“Good. I’ll go find Vihal for a bit!!!”

I shouted loudly and immediately grabbed Ari.

“Kyaat!”

I put her on my shoulder.

“Let’s go!!!”

ㅡThud thud thud!!!

I kicked off the ground intensely and sprinted. That bastard Vihal wouldn’t have gone anywhere, but I have to find him as soon as possible. He is my true friend and comrade. I can never leave him alone.

“Ari!! Direction!!”
“Ah…! Yes! Towards the trees that are clearing the way!”

ㅡSwoosh!!

As she said, the trees and plants moved aside on their own, making way. I definitely shouldn’t show this to anyone. While being careful about that, I sprinted and soon found Vihal.

“You son of a bitch.”

ㅡGrab.

I immediately grabbed Vihal.

ㅡ…

As if the overflowing power from before was a lie, Vihal’s condition was very calm. It’s been a while since I threw him. Maybe all the Valkyrie’s power that was stored has dissipated.

“Let’s go back.”

I put Ari back on my shoulder and returned to the scene.

After returning, I carried the fainted mages and headed to where the sanctuary was. To where the Knights and Paladins were waiting.

* * *

“The, the Paladin has returned!!!”

As soon as I returned, knights, paladins, mages, and all sorts of people who participated in the operation rushed over. But these bastards weren’t of much help. Seeing them waiting here, it seems they gave up on the independent subjugation altogether.

“Valkyrie…! What about the Valkyrie!”

ㅡTap tap tap!

Master Knight Kelbain rushed over urgently. This person was also knocked out while fighting the Valkyrie earlier. He fought quite hard, but couldn’t withstand the divine spells and was bounced back, right?

I looked at his face again.

“…”

At this moment, am I stronger than the kingdom’s Master Knight?

There were several reasons why I was able to kill the Valkyrie this time. The flying penis and the mages’ assistance. And Vihal’s energy absorption. Those situations combined to bring down the Valkyrie.

Still.

It seems I’m stronger now.

Realizing that anew, I said.

“The Valkyrie is dead.”
“No way!!!”
“I cut off her last breath.”

A moment of silence fell.

“I, the Dancing Paladin Kim Katteu, have brought down the Valkyrie!!!!!!”

I shouted very loudly.

“But I didn’t do it alone!! The Knights here! And the mages and my companions caught her together!!! I cut off her last breath, but it was all of you who allowed me to cut off that last breath!!!”

Then.

“Oh. Ohhhhh!!!”
“That strong Valkyrie, finally!!!”
“We won!!!!”
“Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaak!!!”

Cheers erupted from all directions.

These were the ones who had witnessed the Valkyrie’s strength. They knew how strong she was, so they really felt it.

My strength.

“…I see.”

Kelbain nodded.

“Haa… It’s really fortunate. To properly subjugate her without a major accident. Now that I think about it, I’m late with the greetings, Paladin. It’s been a while. Isn’t this the first time since the upper-level spirit appeared last time?”
“It’s a pleasure, Sir Kelbain.”
“The atmosphere has changed a lot.”
“A man changes quickly.”

He seemed a bit complicated. He must be thinking that he lost the credit. Or maybe he felt my strength. So in the end, I didn’t really have anything to say to him.

“Oh, oh oh…!!”
“The Valkyrie!!”
“Kuhk…!”

The Paladins were almost crying.

These bastards didn’t help much except for making a human pyramid and putting up a banner.

“You did very well!!”
“I hope the Valkyrie closed her eyes peacefully…!!”
“I’m sorry for not being able to help, Paladin…”

Still, they were sincerely grateful to me. It was the same as preventing the Valkyrie from causing any more destruction.

“The Paladins healed the injured. That alone is a good thing.”

That’s enough.

The Knights fought hard at first, didn’t they? They were truly heroes. They tried to keep fighting even after seeing the Valkyrie’s strength. It’s just that we flew so far away from the middle that they stopped.

“Killing the Valkyrie was something that had to be done… but at the same time, it was a very unfortunate thing.”
“I’m so sad… I feel like crying.”
“Paladin. What was the Valkyrie’s identity…?”

Standing in front of the Paladins, I received such a question.

“Hmm.”

I thought for a moment.
Should I reveal that she was a bitch?

“While fighting, I had some conversations with the Valkyrie.”

No.

“But for the sake of that Valkyrie and the honor of God, I don’t think I can reveal it right now. As you know… the Valkyrie was not in a normal state.”

There’s no need to tell the Paladins. They might be shocked if I say this. I plan to organize this accurately and tell the Saintess first. That the Valkyrie was a bitch. That her God is already dead.

“Certainly… that was the case.”
“…I understand.”

The Paladins, convinced, nodded.

“Anyway, the Valkyrie has disappeared. I made sure to finish her off, so it’s certain.”

After that, high-ranking mages came to me and asked me various things. I tried to give them proper answers and accepted their words. The mages who used the foothold magic were the attendants that these high-ranking mages brought.

After spending some time like that, I decided to return.

“Let’s go back soon.”

Even if other people don’t, we can just leave. Everyone knows that we caught her anyway.

There were no immediate spoils.

But… something like the Valkyrie’s spirit entered my chest. Let’s check it properly while recovering my body.

* * *

A cold basement where darkness has fallen.

I sit cross-legged there and close my eyes.

“…”

I’ve returned home, so now I need to properly understand the changes that have occurred in my body. I may not be in perfect condition because I drove the carriage non-stop and rushed back, but by now there should have been some kind of change.

ㅡLehu.

While chanting the starting words to calm my mind, slowly.

I concentrate my mind as if meditating.

This work requires a high degree of concentration. So I can’t do it easily unless it’s in my most comfortable and safe home. I can check my body condition at any time, but preparing for such deep meditation is necessary.

And what I’m trying to do is.

It’s something that requires this kind of meditation.

ㅡThe changes in my body after killing the Valkyrie.

I have to find out.

I couldn’t find out exactly with ordinary methods, so I was really frustrated while driving the carriage.

ㅡ…

Eventually, when I entered a state of complete meditation.

I could accurately feel the state of my body.

My whole body. The mana melted into my bones, muscles, blood, and flesh was very pure and blue without any impurities. Those sources of my power flow and circulate according to reason, making my body superhuman.

The amount of mana had increased a lot.

To an extent that cannot be compared to the past.

It’s the result of living fiercely. An undeniably clean power is circulating in my body. The overflowing vitality and power come from here… but I’m not trying to confirm this.

Deeper.

I sink my mind even deeper.

ㅡThe Valkyrie’s power.

That power healed my body. And maybe beyond being healed… that power was absorbed into my body. In fact, something like the Valkyrie’s spirit shot a beam into my solar plexus, didn’t it?

I went even deeper to confirm that.

ㅡ…!

In the meantime.

At the deepest bottom.

ㅡShine!

I could find something shining brilliantly. It was burning so brilliantly that even I, who don’t have much faith, felt it was truly sacred… It was clearly different from any other kind of divine power I had seen.

ㅡFlash!

At that moment, I opened my eyes.

“…”

Something that didn’t exist before.

Such a brilliantly burning power.

“This power is…”

It was located in my inner self.