The Elf Saint is a NEET, so I Forced Her to Work in Another World

Death Wish (Part 1)

***The Saint's Tree***

"We want the saint! Show her to us!"

"We demand help with our food!"

"Have mercy and shame! Our people is dying of hunger!"

The soldiers of the Elf Saint's Life Guards stood in line, their shields raised to support the barricades they erected so they could block a column of elvish mobs trying to get to the main gate of the Saint's Tree palace complex. While they remained resolute, the repeated insults, chants and teasing thrown at them by the angry crowds increased the tension at the borders they were protecting. Every outsider observing the events at that place were anxious; they knew the situation could go south at any moment...

When the elvish mobs reached the barricades, they stopped. Then, a few of their leaders gave speeches, all were provocative and critical of the 'incompetent rule' of their current saint.

"What do we want?" one of the leading protestors shouted.

"Down with Lady Hinwe!" the crowds bellowed in chorus.

Another leader screamed, "We want a new saint!"

"We want a new saint!" the people followed, raising their clenched fists in the air.

"If those calloused pricks inside the palace won't listen to our pleas for help and will keep hiding Lady Hinwe, then we'll combine our strengths to crash through this shield and vine walls!"

"Yeeeessss!!!"

"And we'll drag out Her Holiness! We'll serve her justice for her incompetence!"

"Yeeeeeeeeessssssss!!! Justiiiiiiccccceeee!!!"

"Who's with me? Who's tired of this farce? The Saint won't protect us! We'll be the ones to protect ourselves!" the speaker then gestured for everyone to follow him, as he started hacking the barricades, trying to chop the vines 'erected' with the Life Guards' magic.

"Yaaaaaaaaarrrrrrggghhh!!!" Encouraged by the brave display of one of their leaders, the agitated crowd followed his example and brought out their farming implements—scythes, rakes, pitchforks...everyone hacked their way towards the shield bearers standing on the other side of the vine obstacles. Others who couldn't reach the barricades because of the relatively narrow pathways picked up stones, pieces of wood and other projectiles, and flung those to the Life Guards. The Elf Saint's soldiers stood their ground, with their magicians casting magic barrier to keep their lines protected.

Some of the angry elves cast fire magic in an effort to burn the plant obstacles. Soon, the chaos worsened by the thick black smoke rising from the flaming vines.

"..."

The commander of that detachment of Life Guards watched from his spot, as the people kept on provoking his soldiers. Though his face remained unperturbed, deep inside, he was anxious of what he was witnessing. He was weighing his options; a move too early could end in an avoidable tragedy, while taking action too late and they could end up with unstoppable events.

A soldier from the frontlines came to him, "Lord Ashen, the company leaders are requesting for them to engage the crowd."

"Their swords will remain in their sheaths," the commander reiterated. "Our orders from the Saint's Tree are absolute. We will not spill our people's blood in this hallowed ground, unless we're attacked with deadly force."

"Milord," another soldier suggested, "How about we position the archers behind the shield-bearers, bows ready and arrows drawn?"

"Yes, we can do that. Send in for the archers!"