Chapter 501
Chapter 501
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 501
Chapter Title: Quasi-Priest Kim Katt
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The lord laughed heartily and gestured with his hand. Maids came slowly walking from the back, carrying trays topped with pouches that looked like money bags.
"To commend your hard work, I shall award each of you 30 silvers!"
30 silvers!
The search party numbered twelve, making a total of 360 silvers—meaning the lord had shelled out a whopping 3 gold and 60 silvers in one go. Wow, fuck, as expected of a lord. He's got some seriously huge pockets.
Next, another maid brought over something like a commendation certificate, which Barkerel, the search party leader, accepted on everyone's behalf.
After that came a long stretch of praise: they'd done well, he always had high hopes for the church, the adventurers had worked hard, and so on. He even directed a few words at me, and since I responded with a booming voice laced with all sorts of flowery flattery, he seemed pleased again.
People in high positions just love that kind of sycophantic banter that keeps the atmosphere lively. It's a classic case of position shaping the man—if they call you in to praise you and you react well, of course they're going to like it.
Anyway, seeing how much he enjoyed the flattery made Lord Isvant seem like a decent sort. There's no such thing as a bad person who treats tail-wagging dogs kindly.
The audience finally wrapped up with one last commendation for Barkerel.
We followed the guidance, bowed politely, and exited the audience chamber.
"Whoa, fuck, I nearly shit myself."
—Thump thump!
My heart was pounding like it was about to explode.
To think I'd pulled that flattery routine in front of a real-deal noble... Looks like I'd blacked out for a second there. My back was soaked with sweat dripping down.
Still, Kim Katt handled it like a pro.
The lord seemed satisfied, and I hadn't committed any blunders.
But man, I was scared I'd have those army flashbacks tonight.
"Darky...!"
While I was calming my noble-shocked heart, Winia suddenly clung right to me. She ground her teeth and whispered angrily, her voice low.
"What's up, Winia? Why?"
"You're insane, Darky! I told you not to pull that shit, but you went full retard again. Again!"
"No, what shit? I was as polite as could be."
No one throughout history had been as polite as I just was. Hell, that speech was worth a 4-night, 5-day reward vacation easy.
"Polite? Bullshit! What are you, some court sycophant?!"
"Heh heh heh. From now on, call me Sycophant Kim Katt."
"Why the hell are you grinning like an idiot! I'm seriously losing my mind here! I thought I was gonna die of anxiety!"
Winia had been seriously worried about me laying on all that flowery flattery for Lord Isvant.
I wouldn't have done it without a plan.
"Did our Winia worry about me? Aww, what for? It all worked out fine."
Her anger born of worry was just plain cute.
"I don't know, you moron! No, more importantly! What's the deal with that young lady?!"
"Oh, that."
I started to give Winia a quick explanation, but the guy guiding us shot me a look, so I said I'd tell her later.
Ah, but hadn't the young lady said she wanted to see me earlier?
"Heh heh heh, Katt. You were cool, though. As expected, Katt's great with words."
Unlike Winia, Claudy smiled purely and praised me.
"Right? Claudy, quick, touch my chin."
"Mhm. Katt good boy. Good."
Claudy's slender fingers tickled my chin.
Can't wait to get home and suck on some tits.
"Ugh... so, what do we do now?"
A noble young lady had personally said she wanted to see me... so I figured I'd have to wait or something. As I mulled it over, a maid approached.
"Please wait a moment, Quasi-Priest."
She was a young woman with a cool, composed air and green hair cascading down.
Was she here to fetch me?
"Ah, is this from the young lady?"
"Yes. I'd be grateful if you'd follow me."
"Of course. Ah, but what about my two companions?"
"The young lady summoned only the Quasi-Priest. If you wish, I can guide them to the waiting room."
From what she said, it was just me, so Claudy and Winia could either head home first or wait in the lounge.
"Hold on a sec. Claudy, Winia. What do you wanna do? Go home first?"
When I asked them, Claudy nodded.
"Yeah. I'll head back first. Heh heh, maybe whip up something with the reward money?"
"Heh heh heh, nice. I'll help when I get back."
"...Seriously, Darky. I just boil inside every time I look at you. Please, no trouble this time, okay? I'm going nuts worrying."
Winia pleaded with me again not to cause any incidents. What am I, her mom?
"No worries."
"You always make me worry."
"Don't trust me?"
"No, I do, but..."
"It's fine, it's fine. You and Claudy go rest up. I'll head straight there after."
I quickly soothed her, and Winia nodded.
"...Do good."
"You got it. I'll fill you in on that young lady later. Or ask Claudy. Y'know, stuff that happened at the arena before I met up with you."
With that, Claudy and Winia followed the search party members out. I'd asked them to pass my regards to Barkerel, so no issues there.
"Then, shall we go?"
"Yes."
I followed right after the maid.
"..."
But seriously, what did she want to talk about?
Thinking back, the only times I'd spoken to the young lady were when I'd taken down that ogre and when I'd clowned around in the arena.
She remembered me as pretty impressive.
And she seemed to have some odd fondness for me. She came off as hearty herself, so maybe she was just hooked on that demon-slaying story like I'd mentioned.
Ah, fuck—a private meeting with the young lady in the lord's castle.
The tension wouldn't quit.
My body felt sweaty and hot. Overall feverish. It was a whole different breed of tension from battle, oppressive enough to crush me. Truth be told, I was the kind of guy who shriveled up pathetically before power.
"Excuse me, but where are we headed?"
"I've been ordered to escort you to the young lady's room."
"Ah."
Why the hell was it getting even more awkward?
"I'm short on etiquette knowledge and terrified of offending her. Are there any behaviors I absolutely shouldn't do around the young lady?"
"...You seem awfully fretful for how you look, Quasi-Priest."
The maid turned to me as she spoke.
"Anyone would worry to some degree."
"...She summoned you personally, so as long as you're not outright rude, she won't mind much."
"Thank you."
Right. Just stick to what I'd done before. Exactly like before.
We turned down corridors, climbed stairs, and before I knew it, we'd arrived.
—A red door.
Was this the young lady's room?
"Please wait a moment."
The maid knocked and told me to hold on, then suddenly slipped inside alone, leaving me high and dry like a duck egg on the Nakdong River.
Fuckin' leave me hangin'!
Nothing's more torturous than standing around idly in an awkward, uncomfortable space.
"..."
"..."
"..."
Passing maids stared right at my face while they cleaned.
Like they were gawking at something bizarre or terrifying.
This fuckin' awkward spot!
Kim Katt Zoo!
"Ah, uh."
"Kyaa!"
"Eek!"
"Ahh!"
I thought about greeting them and raised my hand, but the maids screamed and scampered off. Fuckin' bitches.
"...Fuckin' cunts."
Is my face that scary, fuck?
My women all love it.
After that ordeal dragged on, the door finally opened again.
"You may enter now."
The maid who'd come out bowed to me and turned away. Huh? She wasn't coming in?
"Huh? You're not joining?"
"...Pardon?"
"Nothing."
No maid, just a one-on-one with the young lady.
The maid left, and I steadied my thumping heart before stepping into the young lady's room. No avoiding it.
"Brass Celestial Society Quasi-Priest Kim Katt!"
I'd agonized a bit over my entry line, but for a spot like this, standard and formal was the way to go.
"Entering!"
I strode in confidently and shut the door.
"Ho! What a booming voice you have!"
The young lady greeted me with a vigorous tone. I matched her energy.
"Greetings, Young Lady! I am Brass Celestial Society Quasi-Priest Kim Katt!"
"I've already heard!"
The room was almost entirely crimson.
Bedding, bed, sofa, wardrobe—all blood-red. For a split second, I thought no normal person could live in a place like this.
—Isvant Young Lady.
She lounged against the red sofa, eyeing me with intense curiosity. That massive greatsword from before leaned nearby.
She had the skill to wield it at will.
That's why she could entertain a guest like me privately.
This woman was forged in battle and slaughter too. Her senses and prowess outstripped mine. Against Karin, who knows who'd win, but the young lady was no slouch.
From a duke family, no less.
Someone from nobility like that probably endured murderous training and inhuman education from childhood.
"No need to be tense! I don't impose etiquette on my guests! There, pull up a chair and sit!"
"Understood!"
Lustrous, voluminous red hair.
The roll-bun style was a mark of nobility.
Maintaining it took serious effort.
Tons of care and time. Ordinary women couldn't devote that to their hair.
She was tall too... and those breasts were huge. Proof of top-notch nutrition.
Above all, her confident face and high energy screamed noble. Feeling like a lowly soldier, I pulled out a chair and sat opposite her.
"Hmm..."
The young lady toyed with her lips, scanning me intently like she was appraising me. It was pure agony.
"Indeed. Taking a good, leisurely look, I sense an extraordinary aura. Back at the arena, you just struck me as a brave, skilled fighter—no mana vibe at all! What in the world is this?!"
She'd sensed my mana!
"After battle after battle, at some point, I became able to sense mana!"
"Ho? It happens occasionally, but it's rare. See, my eyes never deceive!"
"A gaze that pierces the truths of all creation!"
I bellowed it out like a fervent rant.
"O~ho ho ho ho! Only natural for me!"
She covered her mouth with the back of her hand and let out a lofty laugh.
A truly noble laugh. Her roll-bun hair swayed with each chuckle.
"Fufu, anyway."
She loves flattery too, huh.
"I called you out of fondness, curiosity, and above all, to hear the vivid details of how you slew that demon. Go on, regale me with your heroic tale. I adore the exploits of valiant warriors!"
As expected. I quickly sorted my thoughts and prepped to spill the beans. I'd already boasted it to Karin and Lisha a few times, so no sweat.
"Then, as commanded, allow me to report the events!"
I poured my soul into it, bragging proudly about what went down. If she liked my tale, she might toss me another reward for the entertaining yarn.
Nobles get looser with their purse strings the better their mood. She'd said etiquette wasn't a big deal, and there'd been no issues during the audience, so nothing held back my mouth.
"And so! Seizing the moment while it was powerless, I finished it off in one shot! Evil cannot overcome justice, and darkness is devoured by light! Andromalius met his end, barely fleeing while spitting curses, but I hurled merciless invectives right back!"
She listened raptly, then burst into laughter again.
"O~ho ho ho! Exactly! Demons deserve no mercy!"
"Heh, heh heh heh heh! The principle of zero tolerance! That's the key to triumph over demons! Slaughter them on sight!"
"A final end crushed like a filthy maggot!"
"Mocking their very lives is the pinnacle!"
"Precisely! You get it! As a frontline knight myself, this hits home!"
Pleased as punch. Good.