## Chapter 998 – Aristocrat Kim Kat

“The reward discussions are finally wrapping up.”

Time really flies.

It’s already come to this.
It seems the matter of rewards has finally been settled.

“The rewards will be distributed to those who participated this time. It was truly a massive event. Many people worked hard, but the main player was, of course, our Paladin.”

She smiled brightly and nodded. Her smile is quite captivating, perhaps because she usually has a cold demeanor.

“Hehehe, of course. It’s only natural.”
“The Paladin can be proud. A royal reward is a great honor.”

But it’s not like I was the only one who suffered.

“Just me?”

She shook her head at my question.

“No.”

Then she handed me a document.

“We also need to conduct our own investigation.”

Investigation.

“According to the reports, the Paladin, along with… a certain swordswoman and martial artist, displayed a very high level of combat.”

Karin and Liztina.

The high-level mages’ destruction magic was rendered useless, and the kingdom knights’ attacks were also ineffective, but they fought Valkyrie alongside me.

Everyone witnessed that much.

“They say they assisted the Paladin’s aerial combat while moving the mages. And two other mages supported those mages.”

Those two are Lisha and Hilde. Ari and Winia didn’t really do anything noticeable. Ari made potions, but that’s not something we can talk about.

“Is anything missing?”
“A little.”

It seems people didn’t see Claudie because she showed up at the very end. The battlefield had already been moved.

“Write it down.”
“Okay.”

So, they want to hear my testimony to organize that.

“Submit it by tomorrow, as quickly as possible.”
“Understood.”
“But…”

She wiggled her foot on the desk and suddenly looked at me with a serious face.

“Those who helped the Paladin…”
“Are undoubtedly my women.”
“…”

When I said that proudly, Kadia’s eyes narrowed. Then she stared at me as if trying to read something.

“…Womanizer.”

She said that in a small voice.

How adorable.

But, to this Heavenly Demon, polygamy is perfectly natural.

“Oh, human Kadia. Do you want to be seduced by this demigod Kim Kat?”
“…You’re even creating ridiculous words now, Paladin. How good must you feel to keep making those jokes about humans and demigods? Is it that funny?”
“It’s transcendent joy. It’s truly…”
“I would be greatly disappointed if you said ‘demigod-joy.'”

Ah.

“Then, roughly ‘demigod-elation.'”
“Paladin.”
“Okay. I won’t do it anymore.”
“…”

Even though I answered immediately, Kadia still looked very displeased. Sensing the danger, I immediately went to her, put my arm around her shoulder, and apologized.

“Ah. I really won’t do it. Sorry. Sorry. Ah, I really won’t!”
“…”
“Oh, Kadia! I really won’t! It’s a joke! A joke!”
“You should call me ‘Saintess.'”
“Saintess! I won’t do it again! I won’t joke anymore!”
“Good.”

Only after I apologized as if begging did she seem satisfied and say “good.” Anyway, after stepping back a bit, she continued.

“Come to think of it, I haven’t met the Paladin’s other wives… except for two.”
“Claudie and Karin, you mean.”
“Really, this is… well… if the opportunity arises, it would be good to meet them at least once.”
“Would you like to meet them when you have some free time?”
“That might be good.”

Well, then, let’s meet up sometime when we have time.

I took the document and returned home.

“So, they want me to write my personal information here. They need it when giving out the rewards.”
“Oh, is it finally happening?”

When I handed her the document, Karin wrote her name.

Karin Vestart.

Her skills must have made a significant impact on the kingdom knights as well. Some people already know that Karin used to be a kingdom knight, but this opportunity will likely elevate her reputation again.

“Give it to me when you’re done. I have to write it too, right?”
“Liz-noona has to write it too.”

When Karin handed over the document, Liztina also wrote her name.

“Hmm… I wonder what kind of reward the royal family will give? My family will like this.”
“Family, huh.”

Unlike Karin, who abandoned everything, Liztina simply became independent from her family.

“Ah, shit. I don’t want to do anything good for my family.”

As expected, Karin reacted as expected when she heard about her family.

“Then just write your name?”
“But the royal family is giving the reward, so I can’t hide my surname.”
“Well, I guess not. But what can we do? We have to take what we can get. Just don’t worry about it, Karin.”
“I will.”

Then now.

“Claudie?”

I called Claudie. Claudie’s support from behind was very important. But there aren’t really any witnesses.

“Mama doesn’t need it.”
“No, why?”
“I don’t really want to, or should I say I’m not interested?”

Claudie, sitting on the sofa, answered languidly and lay down on her side. Not interested? Well, Claudie tends to act based on her interests, but this is a royal reward.

“Mama wants to give all the credit to Kat.”
“Such a warm heart…!”

I don’t think this is giving all the credit.

“It would be good if you received it, though.”
“It’s okay. Those kinds of positions are annoying.”

Claudie was adamant.

“Then there’s nothing I can do. What about Lisha? They say Lisha and Hilde have already been reported to the royal family.”
“This one is also fine. I don’t want to stand out in an official setting. Besides, am I not a disguised elf? It’s better not to go to places that might become complicated in many ways.”
“That’s a shame too.”

It seems she thinks she can’t help it because of her race.

“Kat-nim! I’m fine too!! I don’t need any rewards like that at all!!! Instead, I want to receive Kat-nim’s reward!!!!”
“Hehehe, what kind of reward?”
“You know.”

Hilde, who came closer, rubbed her cheek against my torso like a cat.

“Father. There’s nothing I can do. Actually, from a racial perspective, I think it’s best for a human to receive it as the representative.”
“Is that so?”
“There are too many races… We have to be careful about standing in an official setting.”
“That’s true. Our Ari is always so cautious.”
“I’m an alraune living in the human world. Of course, I’m wary of that kind of thing.”
“Yes, yes. Very good, Ari.”

Ari is very smart.

“Blackie. I don’t think I have anything to say.”
“Oh, Winia, come here. You must be very disappointed.”
“Yeah, it’s kind of like that.”
“Don’t worry too much about it. You can always gain more strength.”
“But…”

Winia seemed a bit down. I don’t care at all that Winia didn’t play an active role, but what can I do if she thinks that way?

I have no choice but to comfort her.

I stroked the belly of Winia, who was sitting on my lap.

“So, are the three of us going to receive it as representatives?”

Karin said with her arms crossed.

“That’s how it turned out. Then let’s have the three of us receive it.”

The royal reward.

In my opinion, I’m the number one contributor, and Karin and Liztina are the number two contributors. The number three contributors are the mages, and honestly, the kingdom knights were just extras. Not to mention the holy knights who only made a human pyramid.

“Actually, it’s the most reasonable from a public perspective. A half-elf, a disguised demon, a succubus… even an alraune. If we’re not careful, it might not be the human world anymore.”
“Hehe, that’s true.”

Claudie laughed at Liztina’s words.

“Race is not important.”
“What’s important is our feelings for Kat-nim!”
“That’s right.”

I’m so lucky.

Anyway, we happily discussed what kind of rewards we would receive while writing down Karin and Liztina’s achievements in detail on the document.

* * *

The date for the event has been set.

It was soon, as Kadia said.

Numerous nobles and religious figures will participate in this official event, and the venue is the capital’s palace. It’s amazing that King Karga himself will bestow the rewards to commend the achievements of the heroes who defeated the rampaging Valkyrie.

“That’s how seriously the royal family is taking this situation.”
“Is it because of the fear of the Valkyrie?”
“No. It’s not just that.”

ㅡTss.

As she lit a cigarette familiarly, she said.

“This Saintess has been constantly discussing countermeasures with the royal family regarding the recent unusual events. In the past few years, around the time this Saintess went on a business trip to Isvant, many abnormal things have been happening.”

I’ve heard this before.

“The Valkyrie is just an excuse. The royal family is finally feeling a proper sense of crisis. They will now use their power to come up with countermeasures. King Karga’s direct involvement this time is that kind of gesture.”

Roughly, it’s a place where nobles and mages gather, and they’re thinking of having some kind of discussion or meeting.

The powerful have their own things to do.

“I roughly understand. Only roughly.”
“That’s all the Paladin needs to know.”

Because I’m not powerful.

ㅡWhoosh.

Spreading smoke.
Kadia continued.

“More than anything… the limits of the kingdom knights, who used to have tremendous fame, are becoming apparent.”
“Is that so?”

The kingdom knights these days have become almost like punching bags. In the past, there was nothing these professionally trained superhuman serial killers couldn’t solve.

But recently, as I’ve experienced firsthand, they are still incredibly strong and capable, but it’s becoming increasingly clear that the enemies humanity will face in the future are often stronger than them.

Look at the Valkyrie battle.

The high-level mages were reduced to scaffolding shuttles, and even the strong Master Knights were knocked down by the Valkyrie’s attacks.

More than anything, from what I felt directly, if I fought a Master Knight, I thought I could win.

Definitely.

“They’re going to prepare properly before something big happens. Perhaps the Paladin and his two wives, who showed great power this time, will attract attention.”
“That’s possible.”
“Anyway, King Karga himself will be commending you in the palace. Stricter etiquette and manners will be required than ever before.”

It’s a different level than the Duke of Isvant.

“So prepare. You must memorize all of this etiquette and manners by the day of the event. You won’t be punished even if you make a mistake, but your image will be damaged. Even though the Paladin has the image of a martial artist, the ‘Dancing Paladin,’ you must show a proper appearance at the official event attended by King Karga.”

Because he’s the king of a nation.

I took the etiquette book that Kadia gave me.

“What? A book?”

No, seriously, a book?

Do I have to memorize this whole book just because I’m receiving a reward from the royal family?

Are you crazy, these etiquette-loving bastards? The country will develop only if we simplify these things.

As Fusion Confucianism says, if you waste your mind on these useless things, you can’t do other important things.

Of course, visible etiquette is important, but there’s a limit.

“It’s a book.”
“But I’m just receiving a reward?”
“It’s in front of King Karga, and it’s an event in his palace. This Saintess has folded all the necessary parts. If you memorize only those, there won’t be any problems.”
“Shit, this is bad.”

It’s a completely different level than seeing the Duke of Isvant.

I’m screwed.

Claudie was wise.

“Hmph, I don’t think the Paladin’s brain can’t memorize it. This Saintess believes you can do it.”

She smiled deeply and stroked my cheek.

“Of course. There’s nothing I can’t do. This is a piece of cake.”

There’s nothing a Heavenly Demon can’t do.

“You’re so easy to handle.”
“Oh.”

Anyway.

“But to have a direct audience with King Karga… I’m very moved.”
“There’s almost no chance for ordinary people to see him.”
“What kind of person is he?”
“He’s literally the Great King. The apex of this great kingdom.”

Whatever it is, I have to prepare for the etiquette seriously.

Because the event is just a few days away.