Chapter 562
Chapter 562
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 562
Chapter Title: The Match Girl
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"Oh, ooooooh!!!!!! Ooooooh!!!!!!!"
A fierce battle had unfolded, and in the end, victory was ours.
But the secret heretic research facility, where the crucial evidence lay dormant, had burned completely to the ground. As I wailed in grief over it, Hildegard came flying in, shouting in a frantic tone.
"Katt! Are you okay? What in the world happened?!"
"Oh, Hildegard?"
"Katt?"
It was a shame, but we'd won in the end. Once the fire died down, I'd go back in and rummage through whatever was left.
"Are you really okay?"
"Yeah. I'm fine. We won."
"Thank goodness!"
"Fucking lucky, huh. Oh, there was a demon bastard inside. But that fucker escaped through a gate with some woman."
"What? A human used a demon's gate?"
What, humans can't use demon gates or something?
"Yeah."
"Hmm... That's strange. Normally, it's impossible... Humans can't use demon gates."
"..."
This was bizarre.
For now, I'd file it away in my mind.
"Anyway, Katt. While keeping watch, I caught and killed two of them."
"Ooh, really?! Good job!"
"Hehe! I did great, right? Pet my head quick!"
Hildegard beamed and thrust her head toward me. She'd killed two, so I'd have to check that out later.
"Haa, don't do anything weird."
"Ack."
Winia sighed and stepped in front of me, blocking Hildegard's head.
"Winia!!!"
Seeing Winia's face filled me with immense joy.
"You did fucking amazing!!! We won because of you!!!"
"...Well, I thought we were really done for, but we won."
—Whoosh!
I immediately pulled Winia into a tight hug and lifted her up.
"Ugh, uuu...!"
"Yay, Winia! You're the best! My little angel!"
"B-Blacky, put me down first..."
Winia, her face flushing deep red, grabbed my face and tried weakly to push me away.
What...? Winia was rejecting me!
"W-What?! Why!"
"I haven't bathed in days... I stink..."
Oh.
True, I hadn't bathed in a few days myself.
But I didn't smell that bad.
"Nah, you don't."
"Still..."
Anyway, I set Winia down.
Still, fuck yeah, we won. Thinking about taking down such a tough opponent brought a surge of intense euphoria.
I'd smashed a strong swordsman 1-on-1.
Today's experience makes tomorrow's me stronger.
"Blacky. I'm glad we won, but it was fucking dangerous. What if we'd lost? Why'd you charge in like that?"
It had been dangerous, sure.
But I'd fought because I believed in myself and Winia.
"I went in because I trusted my skills and you. If it got too risky, I was gonna bail right away."
"...Yeah, that sounds like you. Hehe. Well, good job anyway, Blacky."
"Hehehe."
A laugh bubbled up. We'd gained more than expected. If I reported this cleanly, I'd earn Saintess Cardia's full trust.
I'd see her every day in the capital anyway.
For the future, I'd pushed my wives a bit. Since we'd succeeded, I could return with my head held high.
After a short wait, we headed back into the cave. There was a ventilation hole, so most of the smoke had cleared.
"Hey, Hilde. Look for anything useful."
"Yes!"
The heretics' bodies were charred and scattered.
The numbers matched up. I grabbed whatever I could. Most things had burned, but metal stuff was relatively intact.
—Rummage rummage.
I found a few metal plates etched with heretic symbols. Unfortunately, any logs or books with key info were ash piles.
"...Sorry, Blacky. Burned it all up."
Winia sidled up while I poked through bookshelf remnants, her face a bit downcast.
This wasn't her fault.
"Nah, why apologize? We won because of you. Without your magic, we wouldn't have. It's all your credit."
"Really? Okay, good."
Winia smiled again and crouched to search the floor.
We conducted our search like that.
"Katt! Down here!"
"Down?!"
Suddenly, Hildegard opened some kind of door in the floor. I screamed and dashed over.
"Waaaah!! What is this?!"
"Looks like a small storage room!"
It was a little basement storage. Inside, Sasquatch horns, hides, tools, all neatly stacked and barely burned!
"Grab it all!"
So we looted everything and got out. Not much heretic evidence, but we got all the weapons and Sasquatch parts.
This was plenty for our efforts.
We grabbed our hidden luggage outside too. Checked the other heretics Hildegard killed—nothing worth taking but their black robes.
"Let's head back! Hilde, help with the luggage—it's heavy!"
"Yes! Give it here!"
We divided the load and headed to the city. It'd take days, but with all the Sasquatch hides, sleeping wouldn't be an issue.
* * *
Back in Isvant, my wives gave me a hero's welcome, and I spent days lost in carnal bliss.
Claudia, Winia, Karin, Lisha, Liztina.
Spending time with all five wives was pure joy, irreplaceable happiness. They did get mad about how late I was, but it was just cute.
Only after filling their wombs with my endless seed did I write the report, then headed to the church.
"...The seminarian is more impressive the more I see."
Saintess Cardia stared at me oddly as she reviewed my report and evidence.
"Hehehe, pretty fucking amazing, right?"
"Amazing enough to leave me stunned."
I'd written a perfect report.
It had taken time since she assigned the mission. I fudged it: scoured the snow mountains like mad, tracked a Sasquatch, found heretics, raided and wiped their research site.
Unfortunately, the battle got fierce and burned the place down.
But I'd snagged one solid piece of evidence.
"Saintess. What does that book say? Couldn't read it—unknown language."
The creepy log I'd snatched from two heretics at the tavern. Filled with unreadable script.
Saintess Cardia skimmed it, then said gravely,
"...Even I can't read it. But I've seen this script before."
"You've seen it?!"
Where?!
"The church warehouse overflows with evil artifacts from everywhere. As second-in-command, I have access."
True, a saintess would've seen tons of evil evidence. This script too.
"So you know what it is?"
"No. Nothing on these heretics' sect, god, goals—all unknown."
That secretive, huh.
"Anyway, your evidence will be invaluable for church research. Good work, seminarian."
"Hehehe, glad to hear it."
She seemed satisfied—good.
Time for my hard-earned reward? She'd promised cash upfront verbally.
"Honestly, I expected little. Maybe just a tail or something. But this... a secret heretic lab. And a demon. Fascinating."
Saintess Cardia fiddled with a heretic-marked metal shard, cig in mouth, continuing.
"A key figure allied with a demon, fled via gate carrying a blue-skinned Sasquatch youngling..."
She closed her eyes, deep in thought.
I couldn't interrupt. Sat quietly, waiting. Religiously, this was serious.
"...I'll send holy knights to the marked site immediately."
"I grabbed everything worth taking. And it's been days. They're long gone."
Took time playing and writing the report.
"Still, we check."
"Hehehe, of course. But Saintess, I've done everything asked. Exactly as reported... so."
"Heh, want your reward?"
I hinted, and she smirked, mentioning it.
"That's it!"
"Who knew a few coins would smash heretics and yield clues. So efficient."
She filed my report in her drawer.
"After sending knights and confirming, you'll get paid."
"What?! Don't you trust me?!"
"You know it's not that. Just procedure—relax."
Of course she wouldn't stiff me.
She eyed me, then said,
"Seminarian. Switch seats."
"Huh? Seats?"
"Up."
Suddenly?
She rose and approached.
"Yes. If you say switch, we switch."
"So chatty."
I stood and went to her seat—back to window, door visible. Cushy and warm.
—Swish.
She sat in mine, pulled a document from her bosom, and handed it over.
"You can't leave until you sign that."
"Huh?"
What?
I took it: [Brass Celestial Society Saintess Cardia Direct Paladin Enlistment Contract].
...Paladin contract.
Glancing up, she explained, arms crossed.
"Has to happen eventually. Read and sign."
"Wait, Saintess?"
"Better lock you down now. If spring comes and you change your mind, I'm in trouble. No more talk. Sign. That's an order."
Utter authority in her command.
I planned to, but suddenly? I wanted leisure for decisions.
"...Saintess, wait."
"If you don't sign."
As I protested, she yanked her chest emblem, exposing deep cleavage, and said,
"I'll strip and scream right here."
"What?! What?!"
What nonsense!
"Saintess! What the—!"
"Starting now."
She actually started undressing.
"The kingdom's fairest saintess's strip show. Worth dying for, maybe."
Crazy!
That's why the seat switch—door blocked!
She casually tossed her cig and slowly stripped.
"Frozen seeing my bare skin? Cute, but sign before I'm nude. I'll scream the second I am."
Saintess Cardia eyed me, crossing legs, unbuttoning her blouse. Bra glimpsed: sexy black... Not the point!
"W-Wait!!! I'll read the contract!! Stop a sec! Read then sign!!!"
I snatched the pen, yelling desperately.
My plea worked; she smiled satisfied, pausing.
"Heh, good. Read."
"This...!"
I dove into the contract.
"I really like you, seminarian. Looks, mind, skills. Where else such talent? Honest truth: want you under me forever. So... sign there. Quick."
She teased sensually the whole time.
"Still reading...! Don't interrupt!"
"Chest feels tight. Better strip..."
"Nooooooo!!!"