Holy Night: My Husband is Definitely a Paladin - Chapter 20
Translated by Elphie
“They claimed that these items that just arrived were paid for by you, Sir Michael. I know you donate all the dungeon rewards to the temple, so I have no idea how this happened…I tried sending them back, but the maids said it wasn’t something they could do. So, Sir MichaelâŚâ
“Isn’t it to your liking?” he asked, seeming unable to comprehend. “I found out that everything needed here has to be ordered separately. In that case, you might need things like this.”
“…I do need them, but it doesnât have to be this fancy. And it doesnât have to be a lot, and, most of all, these are very expensive.”
At that moment, as firm as Irene was earlier, Michael spoke with an equally determined voice.
“Just take them.”
“But… don’t they have to be offered to the temple?”
The Temple Knights couldn’t take things for personal gain. That’s why, even in the past, he didn’t give Irene anything.
“If that’s your concern, then don’t worry. This… It seems like it was sent in my name by a special envoy from the kingdom that provided the room.”
If so, that’s even more troubling.
“Despite refusing to accept offerings several times, it seems they sent them like this. If you don’t mind, Irene, I hope you’ll accept it as is. Otherwise, they might send it directly to me, which will only complicate things further.”
Michael addressed her by her first name again, but this time she missed the opportunity to point it out.
He was a man who acted according to convention. Now that he recognized that it was customary to call her by her first name, he won’t do it any differently. Irene figured that since she only had to endure it for a few days, she might as well not worry so much about it anymore.
She turned her attention back to the mountain of items.
‘Just take them for myself.’
She had never gotten what she wanted when she needed it. But now, when she no longer wants anything, she receives in abundance.
“Then… I’ll gratefully accept them.”
Irene thanked him in a voice that didn’t sound particularly grateful.
Michael silently watched her without saying anything.
* * *
Two days later, Irene was busy making morning preparations.
âToday is the day.â
If her memory served her right, this morning, scouts would report a new dungeon that had appeared overnight, providing Irene with the number of the dungeon she had been targeting.
‘Others will probably aim for the intermediate dungeon that appears today.’
It was the first time during this expedition period that an intermediate dungeon appeared inside the fortress. Naturally, every pair was likely targeting that dungeon.
‘Theyâll want to make a name for themselves early on with good rewards.’
Except for knights who were experiencing this for the first time, those who had been participating in dungeon raids for years werenât just going to sit back and watch, knowing that the intermediate dungeon had a higher chance to yield an artifact. They want to get in before anyone else and reap the rewards.
With so many people wanting to get in, it would probably take quite a while to select the first ten pairs to enter according to the continent’s laws.
‘I should ask Michael to let us go into Dungeon 181 during that time.’
Even yesterday, after finishing the discussion with Michael about the rewards from the dungeon, Irene had this plan in mind. The terms of their contract, documented and notarized by officials from the Alliance of Kingdoms, were as followed:
-
- Once a month, the Purifier can choose the dungeon they desire.
- The rewards obtained from that dungeon belong solely to the Purifier.
- All other rewards obtained from different dungeons go to the Knight.
Aside from these conditions, there were a few other minor regulations, but Irene didn’t pay much attention to them. After all, to Irene, today was the last day, and none of them would for long.
Fully prepared to leave this place, Irene eagerly awaited the report containing information on the dungeon that arrived every morning.
The time came, and the fortress maids came to her with the report from the archives.The document listed the dungeons newly tallied throughout the previous day, their grades, and roughly estimated the type of boss monster.
âThere it is.â
Irene took a moment to look at the dungeon listed at the bottom.
ăDungeon 181 / Lowest Grade / Confirmed Water-Attribute Demonă
The dungeon had appeared in the same location as before. Without hesitation, Irene wrote her and Michael’s names next to it.
