Chapter 61

Looking up at the second white flash floating in the dark night, I couldn't help but bite my lip. This was unexpected. What is going on? That Saintess, what is she up to?

What should I do? I have no idea which option I should grasp with my own hands. My thoughts keep circling the same path in my mind, and I can't seem to reach a conclusion.

The second flash. The one raised by Saintess Mathia indicates her intention to advance further. In other words, she plans to move into the city.

Something that should not exist is happening. Something that cannot be avoided. She is announcing this to both inside and outside.

That woman is not stupid. She must understand the dangers of advancing at this point. Rather, she must understand that time is on their side and that the passage of time will crush Galue Maria.

Despite this, she still decides to move forward.

I gently ran my fingers along my jawline, taking deep breaths to cool my mind, which was heated with anxiety and confusion.

The residents of the slums, who had been facing the wall, now looked up at the sky, their eyes fixed on the source of the flash. It would be strange if they didn't.

The white light sliced through the night sky with force and then vanished as if it had been swallowed.

"Brother Ruis, this ain't no ordinary thing. What was that all about?"

Wood's voice was almost a whisper. I couldn't just ignore it.

How much should I tell him? How much of my intentions should I reveal? My anxiety was making my tongue tangle. I let the words linger in my mouth, slowly pushing them out with my tongue.

"It's a signal to announce the advance of the Emblem Cultists. They seem to have lost their patience in front of Galue Maria. There's no need to be on guard. The Saintess surely wouldn't consider the slum dwellers as combatants."

Now, while some have been stirred to fight, the slum dwellers are essentially unarmed. For them to step onto the battlefield would be too risky.

Even if they stood on the same battlefield, their morale wouldn't necessarily be the same. Fear and madness spread. If one person runs, another will follow. If two people run, two more will follow. The devil that lurks on the battlefield is always ready to seize the opportunity to grip the human heart.

Therefore, they don't need to make any decisions or resolutions here. The one who needs to make a decision is only one person: me.

I placed my hand on my jaw and frowned.

If the Saintess has decided to advance, it's likely that something decisive will happen tonight, even if it doesn't determine everything. It could be the collapse of the guard corps or the death of the Saintess.

In that case, I can't just wander around in the dark night like a bat. I need to make a choice here and now. To achieve glory and grasp honor in my hands. Even if the plan slips from my hands, I must still accomplish the goal.

"...Wood. I'm going to join their commotion now. It's just that I'm a bit late, but it was always part of the plan. I'll have to pay more to make up for being late."

I narrowed my eyes and mumbled, but it was the truth.

If I am to step onto the battlefield and engage in combat, I need to decide everything here and now.

In other words, I need to decide which side to take: the Emblem Cultists or the guard corps.

Originally, the plan was to let both sides wear each other out and then cut off the head of the Emblem Cultists. That was the intended path.

However, that situation is no longer possible. It's impossible. The only ones who could restore the lost hand are either a god or a devil. Now, I should side with the better option given the current situation.

——Ah, of course. I should side with the guard corps.

My calm mind told me that this was the right choice.

In history, the Emblem Cultists did indeed bring down Galue Maria. So, even if I let things be, it's unlikely that they will be defeated immediately, even with the presence of Helt Stanley.

But they will surely be defeated. If they launch an assault in this situation, the Emblem Cultists will almost certainly retreat, and the Saintess's life might be in danger.

I don't know if this thinking is correct, but the hero Helt, as I know him, will undoubtedly achieve this.

To be honest, the current relationship with the guard corps is not ideal. I even broke the jaw of a lizard in a position similar to a deputy captain. I would have to rely on Celia, who has connections, or take matters into my own hands and crush the Saintess's heart.

Even if I live in the slums, my guild registration and citizenship are still valid.

If I take the head of the Saintess, the leader of the Emblem Cultists who threaten Galue Maria, I will gain the appropriate honor, even if there is some friction with the guard corps. I am aware that this is a somewhat optimistic view.

I took a deep breath, letting the smell of the chewed tobacco fill my nose. A sensation like something crawling through the depths of my body made me shiver. For some reason, I didn't feel like rushing to the battlefield. My feet seemed to be rooted to the spot, as if seeking something. Perhaps it was because my predictions had been off.

Thinking about it, that Saintess really messed things up. Things are not going according to my plan.

But, of course, it's only natural. History is always manipulated by the strong and the geniuses. No matter how much a commoner like me tries to devise plans, it's natural for them to go awry. What's important is what comes next. What hand to play when things exceed your expectations.

I put the tobacco, which I had only chewed a few times, back into my pocket and exhaled a thin breath.

No matter what, just observing the situation won't do. The credit for repelling the Emblem Cultists might end up in the hands of the guard corps or Helt. That can't happen. I can't accept that.

Moreover, if I destroy the Emblem Cultists' army, the threat of them attacking the town will be eliminated. The only problem will be how to recover Fialart.

So, of course. This is the right choice. There are no other options. Isn't it obvious? Is there anything else?

——Why? Why am I trying to cloud my own mind with my own words?

I could see Wood looking at me curiously, having been silent for a moment.

But if I think about it, the work in the slums will have been in vain. It's too late to regret the effort I've already put in. Now is the time to cut my losses and avoid further damage.

Yes, that's right. I should cut them off. The slum dwellers, and even Fialart, if necessary.

My molars didn't meet, and a distorted sound echoed in my mouth.

——Remember. Why did I return to this era? For what purpose?

In the blink of an eye, in a moment that felt like less than a second, a cold sensation enveloped my heart. It was hard to believe that my heart was still functioning, as it seemed to be pulsating wildly, disrupting the blood flow. My eyes narrowed.

Indeed, to deny Helt's glory and diminish his achievements, I should side with the guard corps and take the Saintess's head. Ah, it's not a bad choice. I would be a true hero. My work at the guild would increase, and I would steadily gain trust.

Then, what about them afterward? My eyes opened, and the people in front of me came into view.

The slum dwellers, whose survival is uncertain from day to day. Wood and his sister, Cereal.

If I abandon and trample them, it would be simple. Besides, they won't be directly on the battlefield, and they won't die.

It would just be the same as before. The same life, the same days of looking down, being trampled, and being mocked.

Moreover, my ultimate goal was to save Alyeno. To take the hand of the girl I love more than anyone else, any means are justified. Isn't that right?

"Mr. Ruis..."

I hadn't noticed the sweat on my temples. The voice, which I didn't recognize, belonged to Cereal, Wood's sister. I listened to her weak but clear voice.

"If you're going to the city... now... it's too late. There's a good method..."

Her small eyes clearly reflected my image.

What is this feeling? This sensation of something crawling all over my body. How should I describe the cold touch running down my spine?

"The sewers under the city... a small boat can navigate the waterways..."

Cereal's words were supplemented by Wood and the elder.

As I listened to their words, a deep breath, as if scooping up the mud from the depths of my chest, escaped me.

Ah, I see. Everything made sense. There was no more hesitation in my heart. Well, to say there was none would be a lie, but it was mostly decided.

Yes, why did I return? Why did I step over that humiliating moment and come back to this era?

It is——