Running Away From The Hero! (Remake) Chapter 275

Evade The Hero and Flee! 275

Side Story – Memories of a Princess (48)

“Wow, I really didn’t expect this… He actually came.”

“He’s on the same level as Sir Ast.”

“Um, Sir Lea? Mine was a tactical strike, but he just charged in blindly.”

We all spoke at once upon hearing about the sudden attack on the front lines—me, Lea, and Ast.

“It’s a good thing we learned from dealing with Ast’s consecutive attacks…”

“That’s why experience matters.”

If we hadn’t experienced Ast’s three consecutive charges, we might have suffered significant damage.

“We didn’t deal too much damage to the enemy, did we?”

If Duke Laisha were to die, it would severely disrupt our plans.

“The soldiers were caught off guard and retaliated fiercely, but Duke Laisha wasn’t harmed.”

“He’s resilient like a c.o.c.kroach. The top military personnel in the enemy army are protecting him. Otherwise, he’d have been dead long ago.”

“Right.”

Duke Laisha’s army is strong.

The knights and sorcerers trained by the late Duke Laisha were among the strongest in the Merdea Kingdom’s army, and the elite soldiers trained by them were on par with the Empire’s soldiers.

However,

“It’s the conscripted soldiers who are unfortunate.”

“There’s nothing we can do about that.”

Their numbers are limited.

The elites, equipped with the finest gear, are not easily created, even for one of the most powerful families in the Merdea Kingdom like the Laisha ducal family.

Thus, most of the soldiers are conscripted.

They are state-supported soldiers and conscripted peasants equipped with weapons to make up the numbers.

“Well, it’s not our concern.”

“True.”

“Well… indeed.”

We nodded at Ast’s words.

Lea seemed somewhat conflicted, but we weren’t playing games here.

This was a war where people died.

Wouldn’t it be better if more enemies died than our own people?

“Duke Laisha is crucial to our plan. We can’t let him suffer too much damage.”

“Yes. The enemy also seems to have realized this and retreated after sustaining damage.”

“If they had any brains, they wouldn’t have attacked in the first place.”

“They must have thought it was a surprise attack. We chose Duke Laisha for his courage, even when everyone else said it was impossible.”

We dressed it up nicely, but it meant we picked a fool who believed in the impossible.

“Right. That’s why we need Duke Laisha.”

But it was true, so we acknowledged it.

We needed a p.a.w.n to achieve victory.

“Charging boldly while the enemy cowers in fear, he indeed shows the qualities of a great general.”

“Right. He must become a great general and our beacon of hope.”

“Are we talking about Merdea or our own army?”

“Don’t ask obvious questions, Lea.”

“Yes, Your Highness…”

Lea sighed deeply, seemingly holding back many things she wanted to say.

“It’s a crucial time now.”

We had retaliated when we hadn’t expected an attack.

As a result, Duke Laisha had a stain on his record with this defeat.

Even if it was a surprise attack, he had sustained significant losses before retreating.

We needed to act to ensure his promotion.

“Sir Ast, how much information have we gathered about the other enemy units?”

“We know their general locations. The enemy has been very cautious, so we haven’t received detailed intel from our infiltrators.”

“I see. Should we have our sorcerers bomb their positions?”

“If the enemy figures out our magic, it’ll be troublesome.”

“Nothing lasts forever. They’ll figure it out eventually, so it’s better to use it now.”

“That makes sense.”

Nodding at my words, Ast said he would prepare the sorcerers for the attack.

“Right. If everyone else suffers one defeat, Duke Laisha’s loss won’t seem significant.”

“Understood.”

As our sorcerers prepared for battle to support our hero, Duke Laisha, a loud knock came from the door.

“Your Highness, may we enter?”

“What is it?”

The soldier’s voice was urgent, different from usual.

“There are visitors seeking an audience.”

Visitors in the middle of a war, even in the rear?

“Who?”

“The Peace Church! Priests from the Peace Church have arrived!”

#64 Their Situation: The Situation of a Certain Villain

“The Peace Church?”

The princess frowned upon hearing the name.

“They’re not here to tell us to stop the war, are they?”

“Isn’t that what they usually do?”

Throughout history, wars have occurred, but none have stopped because the Peace Church asked them to.

Even if the Peace G.o.d loves peace and embodies it, this world is driven by human hands.

The only divine agents who can intervene significantly are heroes and saints.

Though there are as many heroes as there are G.o.ds, they can’t stop wars continent-wide.

Besides, it’s agreed that heroes can’t partic.i.p.ate in wars.

From the perspective of large countries, a hero from a small country could potentially turn the tide, which is a concern.

Small countries worry that large countries will use their numerous heroes to conquer them.

Moreover, if superhuman heroes partic.i.p.ate in wars, it would escalate to monstrous battles.

“Right? So what problem could there be? What would bring the church here…”

“Hmm…”

Both the princess and Sir Lea focused their gazes on me.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Well…”

“If there’s a problem, it’s most likely your fault.”

Sir Lea looked slightly taken aback, but the princess casually blamed me.

“What have I done wrong?”

“Nothing?”

“Of course…!”

Various thoughts flooded my mind.

Could it be that the church got wind of the rumors I spread about summoning demons?

No, summoning demons and great demons falls under sorcery, which the churches acknowledge if it doesn’t threaten the world.

They do try to prevent actions necessary for summoning demons.

Maybe they’re here to investigate those actions?

Could someone have reported me for making meat shaped like humans and feeding it to Bech.e.l.la and others?

Or perhaps the traces left by demon wors.h.i.+ppers in various places?

d.a.m.n, did I erase those? I think I left them out of laziness…

“Sir Ast?”

“Yes?”

Sir Lea, who was shaking my arm, looked at me with anxious eyes.

“What have you done…?”

“Uh, I’ve only done my best for our army!”

“That’s the problem.”

The princess and Sir Lea sighed simultaneously.

“Even in war, the church’s influence isn’t negligible.”

The church’s combat power is formidable.

In StarCraft, the zealot is the strongest basic unit, right?

Religious fanatics believe they are carrying out divine will, ignoring mines and tanks to charge forward, making them terrifying.

Moreover, they have healers… I mean, priests to back them up.

If not killed outright, they get revived quickly and charge again.

And,

“Do you know how demoralizing it is to have G.o.ds as enemies?”

“I do.”

This world openly acknowledges the existence of G.o.ds.

In my previous life, wars occurred over a single book as evidence of G.o.d’s existence. Here, G.o.ds openly proclaim, “I’m here!”

With G.o.ds definitely existing, they are both revered and feared by ordinary people.

“Ah, the temples are never helpful…”

Except for me.

“Right. They’re always unhelpful.”

And the princess.

“Sir Ast? Your Highness? That’s blasphemy! Priests are nearby!”

Only Sir Lea, acting like a commoner despite being a high n.o.ble, panicked.

“We should let them in, right?”

“Yes. Leaving priests outside during war isn’t good.”

Especially priests of the Peace Church, who preach peace.

Having them around soldiers who could be fighting at any moment could be detrimental.

“Let them in.”

“Understood.”

The soldier responded to the princess’s command.

Then…

“I’ll just…”

“Where are you going?”

“Uh… just to the restroom…”

I avoided her gaze, but the princess spoke coldly.

“Stay here.”

There are still a few things I’m unsure about… I should clean them up…

“Just stay. If anything happens…”

“Extermination?”

“Sir Ast! What are you talking about?”

“Hmm…”

“What are you considering, Your Highness?”

“Sir Lea, if you’re too loud, you’ll never get married.”

“Sir Ast, please be quiet!”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Sir Lea’s killing intent was palpable, so I kept quiet. She seemed ready to draw her sword.

“Your Highness, we shouldn’t provoke the church.”

“Hmm… Alright. If Sir Lea insists, I’ll consider it.”

“Not consider—give a definite answer!”

That was just to tease Sir Lea.

Even the princess wouldn’t harm priests under divine protection.

Or would she?

For a moment, I wondered if the princess might actually do it.

“Your Highness, the Saintess of the Peace Church has arrived.”

“Let her in.”

Just as I started sharing Sir Lea’s unease, the Peace Church arrived.

But before that…

“The Saintess?”

They said priests earlier?

Something unexpected was happening, but it was too late to turn back.

The makes.h.i.+ft tent door opened, and I met the saintess of the Peace Church for the first time.

“Greetings, Your Highness. I am Merina, the Saintess of the Peace Church.”

Merina, the saintess, greeted the princess with formal courtesy. She had striking blue hair and red eyes.

Typically, saintesses are imagined with golden hair and a n.o.ble aura, but she seemed more lively.

Without her priestly robes, she wouldn’t have been recognized as a saintess.

“As a princess of the Empire, I welcome the Peace Church.”

The princess responded with flawless etiquette, not usually seen, acknowledging the saintess.

The saintess appeared to be in her early twenties, while the princess looked like a young teenager, smiling as they shook hands.

“So, what brings the Peace Church to this war zone? You’re not here to tell us to stop fighting, are you?”

“I wish I could say that, but the Peace G.o.d acknowledges that human wars are inevitable. Still, as a representative of divine will, I must ask. Will you cease this war?”

“I refuse.”

“Understood.”

The saintess quickly gave up, as if she hadn’t expected much.

So their purpose must be something else.

“I came here because…”

She spoke directly, not beating around the bush.

“We received reports of an evil presence here.”

At those words,

“Uh…”

“Hmm…”

The princess and Sir Lea’s gazes fixed on me.