## Chapter 684 – Paladin Kim Kat
Even though the capital city was complicated, I could reach the vicinity of the training center without much trouble by following the map. From the beginning, signs clearly marked the location as the Brass Celestial Society Theological Seminary.
This place is the capital, so the zoning is well-organized, and the directions are excellent. Even though it’s complex, if you know your destination, you won’t get lost.
Anyone who gets lost here is an idiot.
“Oh.”
Anyway, a pure white, school-like building came into view from ahead. The emblem brazenly emblazoned on the wall symbolized the Brass Celestial Society.
That’s the place.
Without hesitation, I headed toward the entrance.
“…?”
Guarding the entrance of the seminary was a lightly armed young man… no. A teenager? He looked quite young.
Do they have the students here stand guard duty?
“Greetings. I am Paladin Kim Kat, directly under the Saintess, here for special admission to the Holy Knight Training Center.”
I spoke to the bewildered young man.
“P-Paladin? Ah! Yes! Welcome!”
Upon revealing my identity as a Paladin, he became excessively polite, snapping to an awkward attention. There was no need for that. Our command structures are different, so in Korean military terms, I’m not even from the next company, just some guy from the next battalion.
He’s young and doesn’t know any better.
“Hehehe, no need to be so stiff. I am a Paladin under the Saintess. Anyway, I’m here for admission today. Where is the training center located?”
“Ah, yes! If you go straight inside, you will find the drill grounds! We’ve already been informed, so you may enter!”
“Understood.”
Even though I told him not to be stiff, his eyes sparkled.
He’s still new, so it can’t be helped.
“But, by any chance…”
Just as I was about to enter, he hesitated and spoke.
“Are you the one who defeated the Great Demon Andromalius?”
The rumors have already spread.
“To be precise, I only fought alongside them. It wasn’t just me; I fought in cooperation with the Holy Knights of the Isvant branch. A capable mage and a very powerful warrior accompanied me as well.”
“Ooh! I see! That arm! I saw it too!!! It was so gruesome and disgusting that I almost threw up from the shock…! It’s an honor to meet you!!!”
This is like meeting a celebrity.
To be sure, it was a pretty big deal.
If this kid saw Andromalius’s arm, does that mean all the believers have already seen it?
“Ah, the honor is mine as well. May I enter now?”
“Oh! I’m sorry for the unnecessary talk…! But you’re not late! The induction ceremony starts in about an hour!”
I arrived a bit early.
If I had known, I would have done it with Hilde as well as Ari.
“I see. Then, good work.”
“Yes!”
Anyway, seeing that kind of reaction made me feel a bit puffed up.
“Hehehe.”
I walked through the seminary grounds.
Is class in full swing since it’s morning? I didn’t see anyone wandering around the grounds. Following the signs to the drill grounds, I saw more than ten armored figures doing something like formation practice.
It seems the induction ceremony will start there.
ㅡThud, thud.
As I walked down, a man who looked like an instructor ran up to me. He wore light armor with the emblem of the Brass Celestial Society, along with an armband and hat that screamed “instructor.”
“Are you Paladin Kim Kat, who is scheduled to enter today?”
“That’s right. Am I too late?”
“Ah, no! Not at all! First of all, welcome to the training center! Detailed explanations will be given after the induction ceremony, so please join the trainees over there for formation practice!”
“Understood.”
Looking over, I saw the instructor on the platform staring at me.
ㅡ…
ㅡ…
He gave a slight bow, and I returned the bow before heading to where the trainees were standing.
ㅡMurmur, murmur.
As I took my place at the back, the trainees turned to look at me and began murmuring among themselves. Judging by the fact that the guard at the entrance knew, these guys probably know me too.
If you’re a Paladin who fought a Great Demon, you’d naturally have a lot of questions.
“No chatter, focus!”
The instructor shouted sharply.
“Ah! Yes!”
“Understood!”
Looking at him, he was a man past middle age.
But judging by appearances, he seemed like a veteran warrior who had seen a lot of combat. He was probably a retired Holy Knight or something. Otherwise, there’s no way to explain that kind of benign serial killer look.
“We will resume practice! The Paladin who has just joined us, please follow the instructions!”
“Understood!”
It’s not like I haven’t done this before.
Following the instructions, we conducted a rehearsal for the induction ceremony. Just standing, saluting in the church style, marching in formation, listening to speeches, and so on.
This feels like I’m at a reserve forces training, and drowsiness and annoyance began to pour in at the same time. This is just instinct, so I can’t help it. Me… coming back to a training center again…! The situation is worse than being a reservist.
After practicing for a while, we moved on to the main event, which also went smoothly.
As soon as the ceremony ended, the instructor called me aside. It seemed the trainees were immediately proceeding with the next activity. I followed the instructor into the office and sat down.
“Welcome, Paladin Kim Kat. Congratulations on your admission.”
“The honor is mine.”
He was a retired Holy Knight, but he treated me with great respect.
“We received the official notice suddenly last week, so the preparations may be inadequate, but we will do our best, so please bear with us.”
“I don’t really care about that. I just need to train with the trainees. I’m doing this under the Pope’s orders.”
After exchanging greetings, I briefly heard about the training schedule. As I already knew, it was training aimed at graduating students. Practical combat training and a review of doctrine. Things like that.
I received a request to take care of myself since they couldn’t touch a Paladin like me.
“Then, let’s go. We will provide detailed guidance as needed.”
“Thank you.”
Going outside, combat training was already in full swing.
Trainees gathered in groups, moving and pretending to fight according to the instructor’s instructions.
“This is group combat training. If you don’t train, you might not be in sync in actual combat.”
“They’re doing very well?”
“Because they’ve been doing it continuously. The training center is a place to review and evaluate everything you’ve learned so far, organize it, and learn it again.”
I see.
The instructor, who was moving with me, shouted.
“The Paladin has arrived! Show him your skills!”
“Yes!”
Since I didn’t have a group, I watched the trainees with the instructor from the back. Even though I’ve joined, doing this is no different from slacking off.
It’s better than I thought.
“The Paladin seems to have a lot of combat experience.”
“That’s right. My main job was fighting monsters, bandits, criminals, robbers, heretics, and demons.”
“Hmm…”
“Yes?”
“Nothing.”
The morning passed with this kind of combat training and evaluation. Watching it, it was quite good. The trainees still looked like teenagers, but their movements had power, and their sword tips were sharp.
It was obvious that they had received professional training from a young age.
All they lacked was practical experience.
After the morning session, I ate with the instructor and assistant instructor, and in the afternoon, there were doctrine classes, exams, and lectures on the history of the Order, so I just sat indoors and received education.
For the first day, it wasn’t too intense.
After the indoor classes, it was time for afternoon physical training. I was about to stretch, thinking of doing some training myself, when a trainee approached and called me.
“Paladin!!!!!”
ㅡSparkle, sparkle.
His eyes were just shining.
“What is it?”
“I, my name is Anderson!!! I’ve been receiving Holy Knight training since I was young!”
“You seem like a very diligent friend. I am Kim Kat. A Paladin directly under the Saintess.”
“Ooh!!!”
All the trainees gathered behind Anderson.
Confirming this, he looked at me and shouted.
“How to kill demons! We want to learn that, not this kind of training!! Paladin! Please give us your teachings!!”
“Teachings?”
As expected of young blood.
They heard the rumors about me and were so motivated that they came to ask me directly.
“It seems like the training is quite good, so it would be good to focus on that first.”
“These are things we’ve been doing our whole lives! The Paladin’s presence here is an opportunity! An opportunity to hear firsthand about practical experience! Please tell us your war stories for the sake of these juniors!”
It was a very bold attitude.
But at the same time, I could feel a longing for justice. This guy’s blood is boiling as a Holy Knight. A longing for the original purpose of fighting evil.
“Please, Paladin!!”
Should I say a few words? We’ll be seeing each other for four weeks anyway, so there’s no reason to be uncomfortable. Just as I was about to tell them some stories, the instructor approached and said.
“Don’t you want to train?”
“H-Huh!! Ah, no!!”
The trainees were startled and horrified.
“Do you think hearing war stories about fighting demons is more important than training?”
“Th-That is…!”
But then, the instructor changed his expression completely as he looked at me.
“But I would like to hear that too.”
“What?”
“I, I would like to hear it too, Paladin!”
The assistant instructor was the same.
These guys were aiming for this from the start.
“Instructor and assistant instructor…! Everyone, please ask! Paladin! Please tell us your war stories! Please! We really want to hear about Andromalius too!”
“Please!”
“Please, Paladin!”
At some point, the instructor, assistant instructor, trainees, and everyone else completely surrounded me, begging me to tell them war stories. Wait, wasn’t this physical training time?
Anyway, now that things have come to this, I have to step up.
These guys aren’t bad people. As fellow believers, I can tell them stories. If my stories make them stronger, nothing could be better. The Pope said something like that too.
“You asked about fighting and killing demons.”
“Yes! That’s right!”
“Good. I will tell you.”
Thinking about telling them, I felt like my blood was boiling…! Yes! These people want me now!
They are requesting education from me!
Then, as a seeker of Fusion Confucianism, I must teach them!!!
ㅡFlash!
“The body!!!”
I shouted as I threw off my armor.
“A strong body trained more powerfully than anything elseㅡ!!! And swordsmanship using the power emanating from that body! On top of that, a steadfast mental fortitude and superhuman energy must all be freely usable before!!!”
ㅡShling!
“You can defeat demons!!!!!”
As I drew my life-giving sword while giving the speech, cheers erupted.
“O-Oooooooo!!!!”
“Young dreamers! Unleash your bodies!!”
“Unleash your bodies immediately!”
The instructor took my words, and the trainees all released the light armor they were wearing, exposing their upper bodies. Their bodies were very neatly trained.
I am the instructor in this place now!
“Demons will use any cowardly and inhumane means!! They are terrible, cruel, and blood-and-soul-hungry evil beings!! I, Paladin, have fought life-and-death battles with such beings over the years!!!”
“Th-That’s…!”
I looked at each of their faces and shouted.
“Are you ready to hear about it!!!”
“We are ready!”
“Yes! That’s right!”
Taking this opportunity, I will become their true educator!
“How much do you know about demons!”
“They are evil beings who deserve to die!”
When I asked that, the trainees each gave their opinions. Ordinary opinions such as evil beings, blood-craving monsters, and serial killers.
But as a quasi-priest, I have witnessed the `true` nature of demons many times.
“Demons are more heinous than that!”
The story I’m about to tell is very shocking.
After setting the mood, I gave a very detailed and cruel speech about demons capturing and slaughtering young children, and gaining power from their blood and flesh.
“Keuheueuk…!”
“Th-That’s…! That’s impossible…!”
As the explanation continued, the trainees trembled, and the instructor and assistant instructor bit their lower lips until they bled.
I added emphasis to it.
“It’s terrible just to think about it!! They kill children!! Those demon bastards carve out the hearts of young children alive and extract their brain fluid to offer as sacrifices to gain immense power!!!! They massacred over a hundred children to do that!!!!”
I tore at my chest and screamed.
This anger…!
Unbelievable anger!
Daring to kill children like that!!!!!!
“T-To massacre children like that and offer them as sacrifices…!”
“Th-That’s not reality…!!!”
“It can’t be happening!!!!!”
“It’s too terrible!!!!!!!! We have to stop it immediately!!!!!!!!”
“Uwaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!!!!!!!”
A dozen trainees each screamed in horror, tearing at their hair and denying reality. I recited a few more terrible real-life examples to them.
“I, I’m so angry…! I’m so angry!!!!! Such cruel things exist in reality!!!!!!”
“We have to kill the demons!!!! We have to kill them!!!!!!!”
“This isn’t realityaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
Because they grew up purely and righteously in the seminary, the trainees didn’t have the experience and courage to handle these stories.
ㅡThwack! Thwack! Thwack!
“Keuheueueuk…!”
Some of them suddenly knelt down and began to punch the hard sand floor with their bare fists.
“I’m so angry…! Anger is rising in my chest…! Because it shouldn’t be happening…!”
“Keueueuk…! Keuhaaaaaaak!!! Keueueueuk…!”
ㅡWhoong! Whoong! Hula hoop!
Some trainees not only tore at their hair violently, but also spun their waists around like they were spinning hula hoops, shedding tears. Extreme screams were the most basic thing.
“It’s impossible!!!!!”
Their hair and tears fluttered.
“Remember that anger!!! That anger is the only source of energy to fight demons!!!!”
These potential psycho bastards…!
These guys aren’t normal after all!
They lost their minds just by hearing some cruel stories!
“Paladin!!! What!!! What should we do with this anger!!!”
“Please tell us!!!”
“Is that why you have been fighting demons, Paladin!!!”
They screamed and asked me.
Asking for the answer.
Asking what to do now.
“Are you angry!!! Is anger rising!!!”
I only have one thing to say.
“Yes! That’s right!”
“Anger is rising!!!”
“I feel like I’m going crazy!!!”
Then there’s only one way!
“If you’re angry, shout!!!!! Unleash your anger!!!!”
So I screamed as usual!!
“Kieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
The scream echoed loudly. The trainees, the instructor, and the assistant instructor all stood still, shedding tears and looking at me.
ㅡ…
When my scream stopped.
“Kieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
“Kieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeㅡ!!!!!!”
“Kieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek!!!!!!!!!!!”
The trainees, who had fallen into a frenzy, began to scream like pterodactyls, following me.
“Kieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
“Kieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet!!!!!!”
They stretched out their chests, bent their arms back, and screamed like deformed self-propelled guns created just to shoot out screams, firing cannonball-like screams.
“Kieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek!!!”
The Holy Knight instructor was the same. He also roared in excessive anger after hearing my story.
“Kieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek!!!”
A chorus of literal screams swallowed the drill grounds, and the overheated screams were soon accompanied by extreme overreaction.
“Demon! Demon! Demon! Demon! Demon! Demon! Demon!”
“Giyaooooooooooook!!!”
“We have to kill the demons!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
“Anger explosion!!! Anger explosionaaaaaaal!!! Ababababababa!!!!”
When have these pure young men ever fallen into such extreme anger?
ㅡWhirly, whirly!!
ㅡPhat!
Starting with the first guy who couldn’t resist the impulse and started running, all sorts of bizarre behaviors began to erupt. The trainees repeated unknown idling, kicks, and punches, starting shadow boxing in the air, and even starting spontaneous push-ups.
“Kuaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!”
The instructor also screamed, repeating meaningless somersaults and standing high jumps. The assistant instructor was the same. He even did a handstand and started moving forward while screaming like a broken clockwork doll.
“Anger! Anger! Anger! Anger of the anger haaaaaaand!!!”
A scene of crazy madness…!
Because they were more pure and fanatical than anyone else, they all fell into excessive anger after hearing my story. It’s all because of education. Holy Knights were all trained to express anger beyond human limits when faced with extreme situations.
That Pope bastard said you can’t judge justice with violence, but he brainwashed the kids like this.
ㅡGrumble.
Anyway, it was almost time for dinner.
It’s time to go eat now.
“Now let’s go eatㅡ!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
“Uwaaaaaaaaaaaaaㅡ!!!!”
ㅡPhat!
Screaming made me hungry.
After shouting that we should go eat, I ran towards the dining hall, jumped, and stuck to the outer wall of the building. The dining hall was on the third floor. Is there a need to use the stairs?
I can just climb up.
ㅡCreak, creak.
I climbed up the wall as if I were rock climbing and entered through the third-floor window. And when I turned around, the frenzied guys were imitating me and starting to climb the wall.
This is a mess from the first day.
“Hurry up!!! I’m starving!!!!!!”
