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"Is it my idea or does the atmosphere seem strange?"

After leaving the forest, I entered the rear army, and I immediately noticed that something strange was going on. The soldiers seem to be in a hurry. They have alert looks, and the conversations are very serious. And even though they are in the same position as always, I see new faces.

"Don't tell me..."

To corroborate my suspicions, I head towards Commander Cael's tent. Inside, I see him looking very calm, as if nothing is happening outside.

"Oh, how unexpected. The renowned Golden Archer comes to greet his superior. Should I be honored or dismiss this fellow for missing his work?"

Emir: "..."

'Hmm, not much has changed here...'

To start off on the right foot, I walk over to his desk and drop off 10 remnants of enemy soldiers. Plus, the map rolls with the location of their groups.

"You came prepared, huh? Well, whatever. You are not on any list, and no one seeks your assistance. From that point of view, you don't even need to work. But hey, there are people who work late without getting paid extra. Are you by any chance a masochist?"

'Haa, seriously, what did I come here for? At least not to be insulted!'

"Commander, what's going on outside?"

To divert his attention away from me, I changed the subject to the strange atmosphere outside.

Tapping the desk with his index finger, he said, "You already know that the guilds of both kingdoms fought each other to test the enemy's strength, right? Well, everything was going fine until a certain guild made a fool of itself..." He got up from his seat and said, "Good grief, that guild crapped their pants from fear! They're the shame of the kingdom!"

Emir: "..."

'Why does this situation sound familiar?'

"Now everyone is calling them 'The Shitters'! No one remembers their original name!"

Emir: "..."

'Golden Lion Guild… Is that you?'

"And worst of all, this story spread far and wide! Remember the balance of power? It doesn't exist anymore! In everyone's mind, the Castemira kingdom is the weakest!" Cael continued speaking angrily.

"So..." I say without fully understanding what he wants to tell me.

He sat behind his desk and said, "Even if the priests who witnessed the battle between guilds proclaim that the rumor is exaggerated, it doesn't matter anymore. The only way for the Castemira Kingdom to regain its honor is to fight... Be prepared for full-scale war to start in 75 minutes."

'It can't be... My casual revenge ended up fanning the flames of war! Did I go too far in my revenge? But they deserved it! Using the lives of the three annoying beauties as a threat against me is unforgivable. In fact, they should be thankful I still keep the horse poop in my inventory. I originally planned to use it against them! Well, this is not the moment to think about it. There's something more important I need to worry about. Alessia and Delia are in this place. I must get them out of here as soon as possible.'

I turned around and walked towards the exit.

"Hey, where are you going?"

"This is no place for Emilia. I must take her" I replied.

After taking a step, someone suddenly appears in front of me. And, waving his hand, he jabs me with his index finger on my mask.

"Easy man, I know about your relationship with her. I can't make you leave just to protect her, so I used my authority to pull the strings backstage."

Of course, the one who appeared in front of me is Commander Cael. The way he did it was so strange that it really surprised me. It seemed like a small-scale teleportation.

Apparently the [Shadow] class isn't as simple as it seems.

"What do you mean?"

"Fifty" Cael held up her five fingers.

Emir: "?????"

"She has fifty guards guarding her."

Emir: "!!!!"

I quickly looked at my map to corroborate his words. Seconds later, I was again surprised... Delia has around her exactly 50 blue dots, each one located in strategic positions.

And most important of all, Victor is three steps away from her at all times.

''Why are you doing this...? Ah... because of Saint Delia?"

"Hm..." he scratched his butt and said, "Yes and no. I know your abilities, and I'm willing to get you on my side for them alone. But if it also pleases the Saint, then I'll be killing two birds with one stone... Foosh!" He made the gesture of shooting with a bow.

"But we are minutes away from the battlefield. How is it possible that 50 men could be diverted for the protection of a single person?" After I made my suspicions known to him, the commander spoke again.

"We're not talking about just any person," He said, shaking his head.

"She is the fastest and most efficient when it comes to healing. With the mana that a normal priest can heal five wounded, she can heal eight. If we also consider the severe wounds, she can heal three times as many as the others. She is the one who has the best chance of saving someone's life after a saint."

'Haa... Delia, you're standing out too much.'

"But it's not just her... Your arrows are lethal. If I give you an unlimited supply of MP potions and Energy potions, you will enter the War Heroes ranking. The number one gets a medal of honor along with a juicy prize. You have a great chance of being in the top three positions" He said enticingly.

"That's if I don't die."

"Hahaha, yeah," Cael laughed cheerfully.

'What should I do? What should I do? what should I do?'

In normal times, I'd run away like hell, but now... My blood boils for revenge. I can't forget Delia's assassination attempt.

"How long will the war last?"

"Between two days and a week, everything will depend on the deaths and the judgment of both Admiral Generals. Because, in spite of everything, this is not a real war... Remember?"

"...a military exercise if I recall correctly." I nodded my head.

"That's good; you save me explanations."

Because if it's a real war, then the Great Guilds would be involved.

"Go get ready, you have 67 minutes and counting."

Saying that, the commander walks past me and goes back to his desk with no intention of stopping me.

'Why do you think I won't escape?' I wanted to say it out loud, but it is better to remain silent. If I really want to get away from the war, it would be best not to arouse suspicion.

Someone who wants to escape doesn't leave clues.

***

The closer I get to the center of the rear army, the quieter and quieter the atmosphere gets. This hints at something very important... The lower echelons don't know that the war will be waged in just a few more minutes.

The only thing different is that they are conducting military formations continuously without leaving any soldiers out.

"Stop right there. No one is allowed to enter this area."

I tried to approach the tent in which Delia performs her healing, but an unknown Knight stops me.

"I am the Golden Archer, Victor must know about me."

"Golden Archer?" The man looked at me from head to toe and then said, "Go ahead; we knew of your arrival"

From his look, he most likely recognized me from my Perception Inhibitor. Or rather, since he couldn't remember my appearance, he understood that it was me.

After getting past the guard of different soldiers, I managed to get to Delia.

Almost at the same time I looked at her, she discovered me.

"Em-.... Mnn Mnh Mgh"

I covered her mouth with my finger as she was about to say my name.

''Was it the spear that tipped you off to me?'' I whisper to her.

''Mn, she figured you out right away.'' She answers me in a low tone, understanding her error

'It's a good thing Saint Delia's Spear is doing her job. I'd use her as a clothesline otherwise.'

"Victor must have already warned you, or am I wrong?" I say, looking at the man who is a few steps behind Delia

"Yes, I know about 'that'. And he also told me you were coming." Delia say with a thoughtful face

After being silent for a few seconds, she looked at me again.

"We discussed it all this time, and... We want to stay here." Delia said it in a serious tone.

"Why?" I know she wants to help others, but this situation may get out of our hands.

"Because I am happy to help and... Um, we even already planned an escape route; we have everything ready to escape underground."

Noticing my gaze, Delia immediately changed her reasoning, making the escape route known. I'm sure this was due to the spear, as her silence was long enough to make me believe she was listening to someone else.

"Victor... why didn't you say anything to Commander Cael about me attacking you?"

"Because it was all due to my incompetence"

'- Protecting her is the only way to atone for me... I was about to be unable to do so. That won't happen again'

Although he has few expressions, I could read the look in his eyes.

'I know he is telling the truth.'

Emir: "..."

"Explain to me the escape route." I say, turning to look at Delia again.

Delia: "!!!!"

I know Delia understood my words. If the escape plan doesn't convince me, then I will take her away by force if necessary.

Unfortunately for me, the escape route seems to have been created by a twisted mind. I fear that even with my user interface, I would have trouble following it.

That's why...

"...Take care of yourself."

That's all I could say to her.