## Chapter 359 – Debt Collection
I can’t believe it.
Even though the Radiant Cross Society is strict, they actually expect us to tithe from the money we earn on dispatched missions.
Of course, they’ll use it for the public good. That’s the kind of church it is. They’ll use the tithes to buy better killing equipment or invest in the extermination of heretics.
But even so, if Elise is going to tithe, I should at least tell her to use the money for her own personal expenses.
That’s the obvious thing for an adult to do.
If I just accept the money that this young Elise has worked so hard to earn, I’m not a proper adult.
Actually, a proper adult wouldn’t be walking around in just his underwear.
“Elise, you should use all the money you earned this time for yourself.”
“Of course, I would like to, but as I mentioned earlier, personal tithes…”
“Gah!!!!!!!!!!!”
“S, Saint?”
I scolded Elise loudly.
Before the flustered Elise could even react, I reached out my arm. Elise also hesitated before reaching out her arm to me.
“It’s good to tithe. But there’s no need to tithe everything. You need things too, right? You’ll need casual clothes, and there must be something you want to eat.”
If you earn money, you should first use it to satisfy yourself.
“…That’s true.”
Elise nodded slowly after hearing my words.
“You need to get used to spending money too. If you go on a mission alone to another region, your experience with spending money will be helpful. There will be many times when you need to buy supplies locally to carry out your mission.”
“That makes sense when I hear it. As you say, Saint, it seems like I can use the money I earned this time for myself.”
“Right? Then let’s go!”
“Understood!”
I immediately sprinted down the street with Elise.
In many ways, Elise is a little lacking in common sense. I need to properly educate her about consumption today and send her off. She’s going back tomorrow, so if I do some intensive training, today should be enough.
“Alright, Elise! We have plenty of money, so pick out any clothes you like!”
As soon as we entered the clothing store, I started picking out clothes with Elise.
“Hmm, I don’t know what to choose.”
“Just pick whatever catches your eye. Or you can pick something similar to the clothes you thought looked nice while walking around the street. Casual clothes are a necessity anyway. Just pick anything.”
“In that case…”
Perhaps because she still had the exhilaration from spending time at the arena, Elise, looking quite cheerful, picked out various clothes.
I told her to try them on and pushed her into the fitting room.
ㅡRustle.
“Does it suit me?”
“It suits you very well. You look like an ordinary girl.”
“…I see. That’s a relief.”
I made sure to only say nice things to Elise as she came out wearing the clothes. Elise, who had hesitated at first, was completely excited from the middle and picked out everything she liked.
“This reminds me of the Eternal Life incident.”
“We bought disguises back then too.”
“Yes, that’s right. I’m having fun now just like then. It’s been a very beneficial time.”
“Hehe, is that so?”
“By the way, the giant of the heretical cult we faced back then… I still don’t know what it was. I wonder what happened to it.”
“Yeah, I wonder. Well, there’s no need to worry about a guy we already judged. I turned him into half a pile of ashes.”
I don’t care about that giant anymore.
Anyway, we spent about an hour doing that.
In the end, Elise bought about five sets of clothes. She had even taken off her nun’s habit and was wearing a girlish dress.
Looking at her like this, she doesn’t look like a nun at all, but rather a young lady from a wealthy family. Clean skin and short, red hair.
Yeah, she definitely looks like a girl from a well-off family.
“I don’t think I need to worry about casual clothes anymore. Thank you, Saint.”
“Yeah. But you shouldn’t overspend too much. Money disappears quickly the more you use it.”
“Hehe, I already know that. You don’t need to worry. Then now…”
“Let’s buy some shoes too. They’re consumables, so it’s good to buy a few.”
“I understand. That sounds like a good idea.”
I thought it would be good to buy some shoes too, so I grabbed Elise and tried to head to the shoe store. But as I was moving, I realized I was hungry.
It was already lunchtime.
“Ah, damn, I’m hungry.”
It would take a little longer to eat at a restaurant. Elise is going back tomorrow, so I need to save as much time as possible.
I suggested a compromise to Elise.
“Elise, let’s just buy food from a street vendor. We don’t have much time.”
“I don’t mind whatever you want, Saint. But what do you mean by street vendor?”
“Over there, like that.”
I pointed to the street vendor area over there. Street vendors selling skewers of miscellaneous meat are common everywhere.
“Wait here for a moment. I’ll go buy some.”
“I can’t let you go alone, Saint. I should go with you.”
“It’s okay. You have luggage. Wait here.”
There’s no need to move around with luggage.
I grabbed Elise’s shoulders and stood her upright, blocking her movement.
“Ah, a-ah. S, Saint’s hands…”
Elise, suddenly avoiding my gaze, said.
“What? Hands?”
“…Your hands are quite large. They completely cover my shoulders.”
“It’s the result of training. But more than that, you’re just small.”
Elise’s physique is quite small compared to her combat power. She’s about the same size as Winia. Anyway, when I released her shoulders, Elise cleared her throat and said.
“A, ahem. I’m receiving consideration in many ways. You’re very thoughtful, Saint. You’re a truly kind person.”
“That’s right. Then wait here.”
After telling Elise to wait for a moment, I quickly walked towards the street vendor in the distance. Since it was lunchtime, the smell of food was wafting from everywhere, stimulating my appetite.
I approached a place that was selling skewers.
“Hey, what kind of meat is this?”
“I think it’s the meat of a subspecies of wild Cockatrice.”
That means it’s the meat of a bird that can’t fly.
In this neighborhood, birds that run around on two legs like ostriches are generally called Cockatrices. Of course, there are many species, and since no one knows the details, they are all commonly referred to as subspecies.
“Give me four.”
“That’ll be 4 coppers.”
The skewers were quite thick, so I thought it was a reasonable price and handed over the money. The vendor put the skewers on a small brazier to heat them up.
“Wait a moment.”
They were already cooked, so they heated up quickly. They weren’t seasoned, but this kind of meat is eaten more for the cheap price than the taste.
“Here you go.”
“Yes. Thank you.”
Alright, now let’s eat this with Elise.
With a happy heart, I took the skewers and turned around to go back to where Elise was, but Elise was gone.
Elise is gone?
“El… Elise?”
I was careless in buying the skewers,
And I took my eyes off Elise.
Elise had disappeared like smoke.
“Divaaaaine!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
I roared and ended up scattering the skewers I had bought into the air.
ㅡCha-ra-rak!!
Then the chunks of meat started to fall like rain. I shouted Divine while taking it on my shoulders.
“Uwaaaaack!!!!”
As I was making such a fuss, I heard something like a scream from a man next to me. When I listened carefully, it seemed like there was a commotion. Wondering what it was, I went over there andㅡ
“S, Saint!”
“Elise?!”
ㅡElise was twisting the arm of a bald man who looked like a murderer, knocking him down and subduing him.
Around them were three burly men who seemed to be the murderer’s companions, and passersby were watching.
What the hell is going on?
No, more than that, where are my skewers?
As I was about to ask about my skewers, Elise, who was subduing the man, shouted like lightning.
“This evil man tried to kidnap me!”
“W-what, you bitch!!!!!!!!!”
ㅡPaat.
There’s no need to hear any more.
I immediately sprinted through the space with all my might.
Kidnapping. Kidnapping? It’s obvious what happened. He must have made a pass at Elise, who was alone. It’s just my guess, but he must have tried to drag Elise into a secluded alley and was subdued.
ㅡKkieeeeeeeeeeeek!!!!
“W-what the hell is this!”
“Stop that bastard!”
“Shit! She had a companion!”
The trio who were trying to attack Elise suddenly took a stance and tried to confront me as I screamed and sprinted.
Of course, that kind of half-assed resolve.
“Kim Khatt Drop Kiiiiick!!!!!!!”
Doesn’t work on me.
ㅡBbeoeok!
“Keuhak!!!!”
“Kkeuheok!!”
“Uwaaaack!!!”
A dropkick performed by a warrior trained to the extreme is by no means ordinary. As the dropkick with such murderous power was launched, the trio who were directly hit flew away at once and crashed into the wall.
ㅡKwaang!
These weak bastards!
“Who the hell are you kidnapping! Elise! What the hell happened!”
“I was waiting for you, Saint, when these evil men tried to drag me away! At first, I wondered what was going on and tried to resolve it peacefully, but suddenly they grabbed my arm and tried to kidnap me!”
“That such an unbelievable thing happened in broad daylight! I won’t forgive you! Elise! The beginning of judgment!”
“Understood!”
The guy Elise was subduing was making dying noises, and the remaining trio were grabbing their waists and heads, writhing on the ground.
“Evil ones! You’ve picked the wrong opponent! I will give you guidance on the spot!”
“You fucking bastards dare to touch my skewers!!!!! Elise! Leave that guy to me!”
I immediately slammed a murderous knuckle into the head of the man Elise was subduing. ㅡPeoeok! Even though I was barehanded, it felt amazing because he was bald.
“K, Keuhaaack!! What the hell is…! What the hell are you guys doing!”
“I want to ask you that, kidnapper!”
“Kidnapping my ass…! You son of a bitch, you’re dead!”
“Who’s dying, you fucking bastard!”
I kicked the face of the kidnapper who was trying to roar fiercely.
ㅡBbaak!
“Keuk!”
There’s no need to be lenient with this kind of bastard. He’s obviously a lowlife. Anyway, when the kick landed, the guy foamed at the mouth and rolled his eyes.
Truly perfect suppression.
“Criminals who disturb the peace of the city! It is more beneficial for you to disappear from this world! Even your mother’s womb abandoned you!”
Elise rebuked the trio who were lying down like a violent pope. The trio were just writhing in pain.
By the way, such a diss… Are friends becoming similar after all?
“Elise! Beat them up! Divine LYNCH!”
“Understood!”
I joined forces with Elise and beat them up.
ㅡKkeuaaaack!
ㅡEuaaaack!!!
It didn’t take long to completely destroy the guys who were lying down. After doing the sacred work of kicking and punching for about 5 minutes, the guys who had become completely tattered were calling out their mother’s names.
“You rude bastards!!!! How dare you touch my skewers!!!”
Looking at them calling for their mother, it seemed like they still hadn’t come to their senses, so I additionally beat up all four of them and stole their money.
This was more profitable than I thought, and even after splitting it in half with Elise, 30 coppers came into my pocket.
After all, nothing is as profitable as justice.
“The security is so bad… Saint.”
After throwing the half-dead guys into the alley, Elise, with a face that had become endlessly serious, said.
“I appreciate you taking the time for my break, but it seems like we have something to do.”
ㅡResolution.
“Yeah.”
That was conveyed to me.
“From now on, we will form a one-day Divine Vigilante Corps! For today, I will punish the thugs rampant in the city with you, Saint!”
“Good, Elise! Very well thought out!”
I shouted a frenzied Divine Friend with Elise.
Such an attempted kidnapping happened in broad daylight, if it wasn’t Elise but an ordinary girl, she would have been reduced to a meal for those guys.
Good.
From now on, the break time is forfeited.
I will not forgive these guys in the name of the Heavenly Demon.
ㅡThump, thump.
I arrogantly patrolled the streets, spreading my shoulders as wide as a mountain. Elise imitated me and looked the same. Still, I’m glad she didn’t lose her luggage.
“Ah! A pickpocket!”
ㅡPaat!
In the meantime, a scene was captured where a skinny guy pushed an old woman with a shoulder bump and ran like crazy.
“Elise!”
“Execution of justice!!”
ㅡTudatadatadada!!!
I immediately sprinted with all my might and caught up with the skinny pickpocket man.
“O, eok?! Who are you guys!”
How dare you pickpocket in the city!
As a victim of pickpocketing myself, I couldn’t just let it go. So much so that I’m still suffering from pickpocketing PTSD.
In this case, I have no choice but to receive alimony from this pickpocket.
“Stop, pickpocket!”
“You bitch!!”
The pickpocket increased his speed, but we easily caught up with him.
“What the hell are you guys! Who are you!”
Ha, who we are.
“Divineㅡ! Kim Khatt!”
“Friend! It’s Elise! This is the last warning! Stop! If you return the item now, we will take it into consideration!”
If you ignore Elise’s warning, you have no choice but to get fucked up.
The determined guy cursed and changed direction.
“Bullshit, you bitch!”
There is no forgiveness now.
“Elise…! There’s no choice but to use ‘that’ now!”
“Saint…! Are you talking about ‘that’!”
There’s no need for long words with Divine Friend.
We simultaneously threw ourselves at the pickpocket.
“Divine Drop Kiiiiick!!!!”
“D, D, Divine…! D, Dropkick!”
ㅡBbeoeok!
In the first place, there was no way a pickpocket could avoid our attack.
“Euaaaaaaaack!!!!
A direct hit landed, and the guy flew more than 10 meters as if he had been in a traffic accident. The sharp scream that burst out moved away, causing the Doppler effect.
“Elise! The success of Divine Dropkick!!”
“T, that’s right. It’s the success of Divine Dropkick!”
“Hehehe, what are you embarrassed about? Anyway, let’s take care of this guy.”
“Understood. Hehe, I’ll show you that justice is alive!”
Elise was already smiling happily. She was looking down at the pickpocket with a smiling face. I also took a stance with a similar mind.
It’s fun.
“Keuk… Keueuk! H, don’t do it! Why are you doing this…!”
“Shut up!!!”
ㅡKkeuaaaaaaaaaaack!!!
And so, a righteous time passed.
All that remained was a completely fucked up naked pickpocket. Around that time, the old woman who had been pickpocketed earlier ran over.
She retrieved her belongings and thanked us.
“T, thank you, warriors!!!”
“Hehe, you’re welcome. Goodbye.”
The old woman who disappeared as if running away waved her hand.
“Saint. As expected, doing good deeds fills my heart.”
“Yeah. But this isn’t the end. There’s still some time left before the day ends.”
“That’s right! Saint! Let’s run again! For the sake of security!”
“Oh! Murderous security!!”
In that way, we stirred up the city until sunset, punishing all kinds of criminal acts. We subdued a drunken man who was causing a riot, subdued a murderer who was somehow stabbing people, and even stormed into the slums and fucked up the groups of beggars who were fighting.
Elise, who was doing such good deeds, was smiling brightly.
ㅡEuseuk.
It was already sunset.
“Haa, Saint. I’m quite tired, but I think I’ve dramatically improved the security of the city by volunteering all day.”
“Hehehe, that’s right.”
Elise and I stood in front of the fountain and looked at the setting sun. We looked at the sun, then looked at each other’s faces and smiled.
“Hehe. I ended up forfeiting my break. It was fun, but it’s quite a shame.”
Elise, smiling quite brightly.
She looks very happy.
“A shame?”
At that time, I realized.
“That’s not true, Elise.”
I was going to tell Elise about break time today.
“We’ve already enjoyed our break time enough. It was fun. It was happy. We volunteered, we executed justice. So it was fun… That’s all that matters. That’s what break time is.”
There’s nothing special about break time.
Doing what you enjoy and like is break time.
“…I see.”
Elise’s face, reflected in the sunset, was red.
It goes well with her red hair.
“That’s what it was.”
Elise also said as if she had realized.
“Fun… That’s it. This was my break time. The time I spent with you, Saint, and the time I spent volunteering and executing justice together. That was the answer.”
“Yeah. That’s it.”
The sun is gradually setting.
The sunset that had colored half of the sky is gradually disappearing. However, even if the sun sets. Justice is alive and breathing.
“Saint. Thank you so much for today. Thanks to you, I think I properly enjoyed my break time. I learned a lot and realized a lot today. There’s nothing I can do but express my gratitude.”
“No, there’s nothing to be thankful for.”
Who’s going to tell who about break time?
“It’s natural. We’re Divine Friends, right?”
“Hehe, is that so?”
“That’s right.”
It was a warm night.
Perhaps thanks to that heartwarming time, even my heart became warm.
I was going to escort Elise to her accommodation. However, Elise said that she couldn’t bother me anymore and went back alone.
I also trudged back to my accommodation.
I made quite a bit of money today by causing a series of assaults. Already a whopping 1 silver and 20 coppers have been added to my pocket.
This was all thanks to beating up the villains and stealing their wallets.
Yeah, this is what break time is.
It was a heartwarming day.
