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

Fighting Retreat (Part 2)

Just as we neared the port village, however, I saw another commotion going on. The soldiers with me readied their guns, as we heard shouts and gunshots. Tension suddenly rose once again, and our march slowed down. Some officers with me went to check the ruckus.

A few moments later, someone came back and told us, "Sir! Her Holiness! She's in the village!"

"Huh?" I couldn't believe what I just heard. "What do you mean Her Holiness? Are you telling me there a saint visiting us?"

The soldier nodded, "The Lady Hinwe is here!"

At once, I rushed back to the port village, where I saw our lead columns joining in the celebrations at Her Holiness' arrival. True enough, I saw the distinctive dark blue hair of our muse...the Lady Hinwe Tal-Inwir of Cherwoods, going around the place with her maid, the Lady Meanor, and some of their guards.

"What are you doing here, Your Holiness?" I asked the moment I got near her. "I thought you're still back in Chersea! You shouldn't have crossed yet, not until we secured this place!"

"Look, I'm the Saint in-charge of Cherwoods, Kuro!" the Lady Hinwe replied. "Of course, I can always teleport back in, even if Seirna blocks all border crossings."

"Yes, I know! But I did request that you remain there for as long as it isn't safe, Your Holiness!"

The Elf Saint gave me a long stare. It's as if she was saying, "Dude, are you hearing yourself?"

I heaved a sigh, and asked, "I know that look. Let me guess, the Lady Madelaine, Lady Ruro and Lady Natasha forced you to go here and watch me."

"And Lady Seirna too."

"Even that saint?"

"Well, Lady Seirna sent me here so I can see how difficult it is for you and your soldiers to take my palace. She wants me to realize the folly of my decisions."

"Hard life."

"While the other three, well, they'd butcher me if something happened to you," the Lady Hinwe explained, and sighed. "Between the Seductress and those four, I'd rather choose to be here."

"Not that I can't understand where you're coming from," I countered. "Still, you can just stay at the ships; it's safer there."

"Lady Seirna's point is valid. I don't want to sit in the comfort of those ships, while my people are dying in my name," the Elf Saint reiterated. "And also, I concur with the other saints as well. For all we know, you'd be rushing to your death sooner than we can even teleport. And don't tell me I'm lying; one look at your right eye, and I got all the proof I need."

I fell silent with her words, and my hand went for my right eye. Honestly, I could still see in this part of my body, though all I could make out were black, or grey shapes. My deal with Lady Time took out my ability to sense details and colors from this eye, in exchange for 'rewinding' the timeline and saving Meanor.

I inadvertently gazed on the elf maid, whose attention wandered around, even as our soldiers surrounded us.

"Well, it is what it is," I told them, pointing to the infected bocages and trees. "The Seductress' corrupting influence infected these plants, and is slowly consuming Cherwoods."

"I'll knock sense into that guy..." I heard Meanor mutter; I don't know if she noticed, but her hand rested on the hilt of her sword.

"And we don't want to rush things," I added, just to make sure the elf maid remained in senses. "Two times we assaulted the tree palace, and two times we retreated. It's difficult to punch through the defenses."