Chapter 569
Chapter 569
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 569
Chapter Title: Good Friends to Meet
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"Argh...!"
Elise had been steadily preparing countermeasures against me lately, and the thought filled me with utter indignation. Such a thing was unacceptable, but since she'd already seen through my tricks, there was nothing I could do about it.
I'll bide my time for the next opportunity.
Tomorrow's me will be stronger than today's.
Just like last time when I used that misunderstanding to make her scream, I'll have to come up with some other plan.
"Anyway, Elise. I talked to Saintess Cardia, and she's agreed to put together a reconnaissance team for us."
"A reconnaissance team!!!"
The moment I mentioned the reconnaissance team, Elise's eyes widened in shock, and she unleashed an explosive expression of gratitude.
"Thank you so much, Saint!!!"
"Heh heh heh, it's all about connections. But since they're providing all the manpower, this basically makes it Brass Celestial Society business now. You okay with that?"
"Of course! I'm infinitely grateful and have no other thoughts on the matter. It was something I couldn't handle alone, after all."
That was Elise for you.
"Consulting you truly was the right decision, Saint! Now, let's go crush those heretics together! For the sake of justice in this world!!"
Elise was completely fired up as she drew her mace and shouted.
Of course, we weren't leaving right away. Forming up the troops and preparing for departure would take some time. Probably about a week, I'd guess.
"We should massacre every last one of those bastards!!! Filthy scum poisoning the world!"
"Exactly! Kidnapping innocent people and trafficking them...! It's so vile and disgusting I can barely stand thinking about it!"
"I know, right!!!!"
Imagining the scum who kidnapped innocent people and sold them to heretics made my guts twist in rage. Those bastards needed to be slaughtered through proper procedures under the name of Fusion Confucianism, and the sooner the better.
"Saint, there might be more than just one or two such villages."
"Wh-what?! What do you mean by that!!!!!"
I'd had that thought myself.
It didn't make sense for there to be only one bandit village in the Fog Plains. The heretics' network was surely widespread, and the entire region might even be under their control.
This was already starting to smell like blood.
Of course, the innocent wouldn't spill a drop. Only the wicked would bleed. And that would be a truly worthwhile endeavor.
"The Fog Plains themselves might be a den of those cursed heretics. I've been agonizing over it nonstop since last night. Trafficking innocents is blatant illegal activity that we cannot ignore, and collaborating with heretics is equally unforgivable."
Elise casually declared that villages cooperating with heretics should be wiped off the map.
The Brass Celestial Society's holy knights would feel the same way, no doubt.
"Damn right! Oh, Elise. Forming up the troops will take some time. You should rest and build up your strength until then."
In any case, departure was still days away.
It'd be best to relax and prepare during that time.
"Urgh... I see. But this boiling blood...! I'll suppress this unstoppable urge until then!"
"Heh heh heh, that's the spirit! Elise! That's exactly it! Let's roar together!!!"
I stepped in front of the excited Elise and let out a mighty bellow.
Elise was about to follow my lead and strike a pose.
"R-roar... No! Saint! Don't subtly trick me into roaring!! I almost fell for it again!"
Shit, caught.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ A few days later, the Fog Plains reconnaissance team was fully assembled.
"Oho, if it isn't our paladin!"
"Captain Barkarel...!"
Waiting at the Brass Celestial Society chapel was none other than Captain Barkarel, my comrade-in-arms from the Andromalius extermination.
"Promoted from junior priest to paladin! I knew you had it in you! Come on, let's go purge some evil villains together today!"
He flashed a warm, jovial smile and grabbed my hand, shaking it vigorously up and down.
"You bet, Captain Barkarel! And it's great to see all of you too!"
"Good to see you!"
"Likewise."
"Great to see you!"
In addition to Barkarel, there were familiar faces among the priests and holy knights. Dodalkan, the holy knight I'd fought alongside before, was there too.
The reconnaissance team's size was exactly ten, including holy knights and priests.
This elite squad could deal significant damage even if Andromalius showed up again.
With me, Claudy, Winia, and Elise added in, it was a murderous dream team. Not even a heretic patriarch could stand against us.
"We're off to scout out those heretics!"
"Ooooh!!! Ooooooh!!!!!"
"Our junior priest—no, our paladin is a true man!!!"
The holy knights treated purging heretics like a fun picnic. Even elementary school kids heading to an amusement park wouldn't be this hyped.
"...It's astonishing how thrilled they are."
Saintess Cardia, who had been watching quietly, spoke up. Dressed in her saintess robes, she exuded an air of solemnity.
If not for the cigarette in her hand.
"Anyway, here are your orders. You have one week for the operation. If there's no gain by then, return immediately. Of course, if you find meaningful evidence or the heretics' trail, pursue at your discretion."
Back in two weeks if nothing turns up, but keep going if you find something.
"Holy Knight Barkarel, I'm well aware you took down the great demon Andromalius with Paladin Katt before he became a junior priest. I expect the same results this time."
"Of course, Saintess! We'll complete the mission!"
"This saintess trusts you. Finally, any shortages in supplies?"
Barkarel pulled a document from his robes.
"We've checked everything, and nothing's missing!"
It looked like a supply checklist from behind.
"Very well. You're dismissed. And, Paladin."
"Yes!"
After her briefing, Saintess Cardia called me over.
"Do your best. I'm expecting great things again."
"Heh heh heh, you got it!"
With that, we left the chapel.
"Captain Barkarel, unlike last time, we don't know the exact location. We'll have to track through the foggy snowfields and find the heretics ourselves."
I said as we walked the corridor.
"I know, Paladin. Which means we'll show off our tracking skills this time. Make sure you learn well!"
"Thank you! Captain Barkarel!"
"Keh heh heh, we're the grateful ones! But... such things happening in the Fog Plains...!"
Barkarel burst into hearty laughter, then suddenly darkened, biting his upper lip and growling "Grrr...!" as his body trembled.
This guy was nuts.
"Colluding with heretics...! Human traffickers, all of them...! Villages full of them...!!! Grgh...!! Grrr...!"
His emotions boiled over, eyes nearly rolling back. He wasn't in his right mind, but that was the holy knights' greatest strength.
"Hoo! Anyway, Paladin, you said you were there before. Remember the rough location?"
He composed himself instantly, asking with his usual friendly face.
This guy's emotional switches were lightning-fast.
—A mind honed to the extreme.
That's how he could adjust his feelings in an instant. A perfect model for any warrior.
"Sadly, I got lost and stumbled upon it, so no."
"Too bad. Well, let's make this one count!"
We stepped outside the church.
Three Brass Celestial Society carriages were already waiting.
They were two-horse-drawn models with connected driver's seats and interiors. Roofs and walls covered in white cloth to block snow and wind.
Three carriages meant five per team, with us taking one. What a big church—providing all this.
"Katt, over here!"
"Come on, darky!"
From the rear carriage, Claudy and Winia poked their heads out, waving. They'd already climbed in.
"Wait a sec! Let me introduce Elise first!"
Elise was waiting outside. She naturally had to greet Captain Barkarel and his men.
"Elise, come here."
"Yes, Saint!"
At her name, Elise approached. I introduced her to Barkarel right away.
"Captain Barkarel! This nun is Elise from the Radiant Cross Society!"
"Oho, a petite nun! You're the one who came alone to investigate?"
"That's right. Holy Knight of the Brass Celestial Society... Captain Barkarel? Is that how I address you?"
"Spot on, Sister Elise."
"Pleased to meet you, Captain Barkarel."
There was no sense of rejection despite different churches. Good people like these wouldn't care about differing faiths.
"Though we serve different gods, our goal of exterminating heretics and evil is the same. We're comrades, so no need to feel awkward."
"Thank you for your kindness."
Elise greeted the other troops too. The atmosphere was great. Right now, it felt like the old crusade days, with Radiant Cross and Brass Celestial united.
"Heh heh heh, Elise. What do you think?"
"They're wonderful people. With allies like these, you have nothing to worry about, Saint."
"They really are good folks. Elise, hop in first. I'll chat a bit more then join."
Elise boarded the carriage.
Barkarel, watching her, spoke to me.
"Paladin, the horses are well-trained, so no driver needed at the rear. They're smart enough to follow. Just sit and stay vigilant."
"Oho, really?"
They looked like fine horses. Strong, long fur for the cold, and those powerful hindquarters.
They'd eat a ton, though.
"We'll prioritize finding that village somewhere in the Fog Plains first. That'll lead us to others. That's the tracking plan—ask me questions during breaks if curious."
Barkarel issued orders smoothly.
"Got it, Captain Barkarel!"
I replied energetically and boarded.
"Katt, what about the driver?"
Inside, Claudy, Winia, and Elise were chatting. The sasquatch fur kept them from looking cold.
Elise had a thick coat on too.
"Horses are smart, no need. Just sit up front."
I shoved my gear aside and took the driver's seat. The connected design made it easy.
"We'll rotate then. Darky, lamp here."
Winia handed me a small heating lamp. Placed by my feet and secured, it gave decent warmth.
"Heh heh heh, thanks."
The lead carriage started, horses following suit. We passed the gates smoothly into a white landscape.
Luckily, not much snow, so no traffic issues. The ride was buttery smooth.
First time at the driver's seat—pretty novel.
—Prrrrng.
—Hiiing.
"Fuck, these horses."
Probably like this until break time.
"Darky, not cold up there?"
"Same here or there. Not too bad."
"Still, wrap this."
Winia pulled a blanket from her pack and draped it over my shoulders.
"Whoa! Winia!!"
"Heh heh heh. I'll switch soon."
She sat back down.
Then Elise's voice from behind.
"You two seem like a happily married couple."
"Naturally."
And so the carriage rolled on.
The temperature was low, but my reinforced body handled it fine. Plus, this sasquatch fur coat was insanely warm.
Should've made ear muffs too, knowing it'd be like this.