## Chapter 520 – Quasi-Priest Kim Katz
“It doesn’t matter. Are you interested? Of course, the fundamental principle of this church is to provide appropriate compensation to those who act for reward.”
Saintess Kadia, having promised compensation, spoke as if suggesting I listen to the details first.
As always, manpower is lacking.
That’s why mercenaries and adventurers are used, but to outsource such tasks, trust and reliability are essential. She had been testing me all day to gauge that.
Even though I’m a quasi-priest recognized by the church, it’s our first meeting. It’s necessary to assess me. After spending the day together and gaining her trust, she seems willing to entrust me with a task.
Naturally, finding someone more capable than me from outside would be quite difficult. If she can use me, it’s better to do so. Well, I am a quasi-priest, after all.
But the fact that she’s going to such lengths suggests that the task the Saintess wants to assign is something difficult to entrust to just anyone.
Is it a matter of skill? Or a matter of trust?
Either way, it seems like a tough job, but if there’s compensation, it’s not a loss. That’s my job, after all.
But if she tries to get away with just a date again, that’s a real bitch move.
“Hehehe, then I’ll listen and decide. But I trust you’re not planning to compensate me with something like a date, like today.”
“Hmm? Didn’t you enjoy your date with this Saintess? You seemed to be having quite a good time. Was I mistaken?”
Seriously, lady?
“There aren’t many women more beautiful than this Saintess even in the capital. As a man, you should consider this honor sufficient compensation.”
The Saintess, staring at my face with sharp eyes, pulled at the front of her robe, revealing a rather deep cleavage. But if she wants to seduce me with her breasts, she’ll need to have at least Winia-level assets.
Hey, even if you’re pretty, does that fill my stomach?
My wives actually do.
If nothing else, I could tell that the Saintess was a woman who blatantly used her beauty as a weapon. There must be plenty of guys who fall for it. But I’m immune to charm.
“Hehehe, Saintess, you’re overdoing it…! How can you say that! How can a date be enough to satisfy me!!!”
I protested, clutching my head.
Maybe this woman is genuinely trying to pull off some kind of passion pay scheme…!
Daring to try and exploit this high-quality labor, Kim Katz, for free!
Even the Saintess of Verde wouldn’t be forgiven!
“A date isn’t enough to satisfy you? Then do you desire a deeper relationship? Hmph, to receive such a direct advance from a man, it was worth coming all the way to the frontier.”
“What are you talking about!”
“To answer, that would be a little difficult. As a woman devoted to faith, I’ve never even considered being embraced by a man, or so I thought. Well, I’ll consider it this time.”
“Oh my! Saintess! Why are you doing this to me! I live hand to mouth!!!”
I dropped to my knees below the bench and wailed. Even a my-pace attitude has its limits! Trying to freeload on Vugal’s corpse like this!
Even Vugal in hell wouldn’t want that.
That bastard considered my profit the highest value in this life. This is no different from desecrating his cruel death. As I cried out, the Saintess chuckled.
“Hmph, just kidding.”
Saintess Kadia, rummaging through her cleavage again, pulled out a cigarette case.
“An demon’s corpse has many uses in many ways. Especially if it’s intact. I have no intention of taking something so valuable for free. Of course, I’ll pay the price. Quasi-priests are more fun to tease than holy knights.”
Damn it, you scared me half to death.
The Saintess is indeed an icon of benevolence and love.
“Indeed! The benevolent and righteous Saintess of the Bronze Celestial Angels! Truly a peerless beauty who lives by benevolence and love! Your golden hair is so beautiful, and your figure resonates with my heart!”
“I’m glad to hear it.”
—Rummage, rummage.
Saintess Kadia, listening to my flattery, once again reached into her cleavage and began rummaging around. Does she keep her pockets there?
“Well, it’s not like that’s a pocket…”
“If you consider it a boob pocket, it’s not wrong.”
“…”
…This woman likes sex jokes a bit.
Anyway, Saintess Kadia took out a small glass bottle, about the size of a little finger, from between her breasts. Inside the bottle was a sky-blue liquid that shimmered.
—Whoosh.
After looking at my eyes, she suddenly threw the glass bottle.
Of course, I caught it without difficulty.
But why is it so warm?
Was it warmed between her breasts?
I feel a little excited for some reason.
I should ask Winia to give me a handjob when I get back.
“That demon, except for being chopped up, is in its original form, so it’s valued quite highly. That should be a satisfactory reward.”
“…I’m glad to hear that, but what is this?”
The small glass bottle had a luxurious design. The brass-colored lid also had geometric patterns. It’s holy water… but I’ve never seen such a shimmering sky-blue liquid before.
“This is holy water that this Saintess personally manufactured. It’s very deadly to impure beings.”
Ho, holy water!
Kim Katz, who receives only holy water every day!
“Holy shit!”
But if it’s holy water personally manufactured by the Saintess, that’s a different story. I immediately took out a piece of cloth and carefully wrapped the glass bottle. If the Saintess made it herself, it must be top-notch.
“Thank you!”
This… I like this.
Thank you, Vugal.
“You seem to like it. Well, you can use it to kill demons, but you can also drink it. It’ll be quite good for your health.”
“Health, you say?”
“Do you think religious leaders in high positions look young for no reason? It’s all because of their overflowing divine power. Since it’s holy water infused with this Saintess’s power, drinking it won’t be a loss.”
“Ooh!!!!”
A health supplement guaranteed by the Saintess!
Selling this would be incredibly expensive.
“Of course, it’s not for sale, so don’t leak it to the outside.”
“Ugh. That’s a shame.”
Whether I drink it or use it, it’ll be enough compensation for handing over Vugal’s corpse. For me, who lives by the sword, such health supplements are essential.
But can I share this with five people?
Since it’s a health supplement, I want to share it… Well, let’s show it to Risha first.
“Then let’s get back to the work.”
“Just give me your orders.”
“You’re overflowing with motivation after receiving the holy water. That’s a very good attitude. Sometimes, people who move for reward are easier to use than those who move by faith.”
“You’re absolutely right. But… Saintess, you seem to speak a bit scary.”
“Scary?”
Is it because of her eyes? She exudes an aura like a boss somewhere, making me feel like she’s going to order me to do something bizarre.
“…I admit that this Saintess’s impression looks fierce. Well, the task I’m going to assign isn’t that difficult. Currently, incidents caused by demons are happening simultaneously around here. Are you aware of that?”
“Of course, I am.”
“It’s difficult for the church’s forces alone to handle everything, so I’m thinking of using external personnel. Quasi-priests are very suitable talents. You have the ability to handle things on your own without needing to attach forces. You’re perfect for this job.”
It’s true, but the fact that she’s praising me like this means there’s something wrong.
“Hehehe, I’m honored that the Saintess is praising me.”
Listening to her nuance, I feel like I’m a manpower that’s easy to use as a substitute for holy knights.
“But it’s a bit difficult to assign this task to the holy knights… Those hard-headed guys are good at fighting, but they’re not very useful for other things.”
She pressed her temple with her finger.
“If the military unit is that good, isn’t that enough? Fighting is the holy knights’ job.”
“There are many things in the world that require using your head, not just fighting. Holy knights can’t use their heads well in those areas. Especially if demons or heretics are involved.”
Holy knights receive quality education, but they ultimately have the limitations of a violent group.
They go crazy when they see demons or heretics.
They’re incredibly useful for annihilating and destroying evil groups, but otherwise, it’s difficult to use them, according to the Saintess’s explanation.
“Does that mean? It’s not just a matter of destroying something? Then it’s investigation or search.”
Since my main job is an adventurer, that’s my specialty.
“Similar. You’re quick on the uptake.”
The Saintess, leaning back on the bench as if it were her own living room, crossed her legs and exhaled cigarette smoke.
“And you have the sense to resolve things quietly. Can a quasi-priest suppress their anger even if there are demons or heretics in front of them if they have a purpose?”
“Of course, I can suppress it. I can suppress a moment’s anger for the sake of my goal.”
“Hmph, that’s a really good attitude… Holy knights don’t have that flexibility.”
—Grumble!
I remember well how the holy knights tried to freak out when they witnessed the demon gate. That’s why holy knights are crazy. They have anger management issues when they see evil beings.
“A quasi-priest is like a holy knight without flaws, so I really like them. A talent who knows how to compromise in appropriate situations is easy to use.”
“Hehehe, you’re right.”
The Saintess stroked her lips and looked at my face.
It seems like she’s about to start talking about the real work.
“After compiling the information that this Saintess received at this church, I was able to read the circumstances of the appearance of evil groups such as heretics, cultists, or demon summoners. In fact, similar things have happened before. I know because I received reports.”
I know very well that heretics are active around here. There’s no way the Saintess wouldn’t know what I know.
“Among them, there’s one city where it’s judged that they’ve infiltrated. I’d like the quasi-priest to infiltrate that city and ferret out those impure bastards.”
“Excuse me?”
So, it’s a heretic search operation?
It seems a bit difficult.
“No, shouldn’t you have the holy knights do such important work?”
“The holy knights are currently focused on exterminating demons. The search operation is one step lower in priority. And that’s one of the things the holy knights aren’t good at.”
Saintess Kadia sighed as she mentioned the holy knights.
“If I have them do the search operation, they’ll somehow catch one of them and then lose their temper and blow their heads off. That’s the personality of the church’s members. That’s why I can’t catch the tail. It’s a very frustrating thing.”
Well, there’s no way the holy knights would just let heretics go. Even if they try to interrogate them, they’re too violent, so there’s a high probability that they’ll lose their temper and smash them.
“If they kill them without getting any information, the other heretics will hide even deeper. In the first place, the very existence of the holy knights raises their vigilance.”
“I understand. I think it would be like that even if I did it alone, but it seems a bit difficult.”
I understand, but it seems a bit difficult for me to do it alone.
“According to the report, you defeated a heretical group that had infiltrated the slums.”
Ah, Elise and that.
“The fact that you’ve accomplished other things besides that means you have that much talent. This Saintess would like the quasi-priest to take on this task. It’ll take some time, but I’ll make sure to reward you accordingly.”
It’s a tempting job.
Because she promised compensation.
“But what happens if I fail?”
“I’ll be disappointed in the quasi-priest’s abilities. This Saintess has very high expectations. Well, if you fail, it can’t be helped.”
There’s no penalty.
In fact, even if I disappoint the Saintess, it’s not a loss for me.
“The invasion of heretics into the city itself is a common occurrence, so it’s not very dangerous. If you have information and time, you can do something about it. Rather, it’s not a bad idea to leave it alone for a while and then exterminate them all at once.”
I nodded.
“But if you’ve noticed them, you want to solve it. Especially if it’s in the middle of such an incident. That’s why I’m entrusting it to you. I’ll ask the quasi-priest. Will you carry out the mission given by this Saintess?”
The Saintess, crossing her legs to the other side, stared at my face and demanded an answer. She’s still a beautiful face.
Well, if there’s no penalty, poking around is my way, Kim Katz.
“I understand. Since the Saintess is entrusting it to me, I’ll do my best. Above all, I’m very greedy for the reward. Hehehe, it’ll be amazing.”
“Hmph, do you want more than a date as a reward? This Saintess also has a chance to become a woman.”
“Give it to me in cash!!!!”
“Just kidding.”
Anyway, the Saintess assigned me the task of searching for heretics in the city. She says she’ll give me the document with detailed instructions when I return to the church.
