Chapter 183
Chapter 183
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 183
Chapter Title: 용사를 피해 튀어라-183화
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 183
Chapter Title: 19. Life is a Series of Escapes (7)
#8 Their Circumstances: The Circumstances of a Certain Pursuer.
“Hmm…….”
I savor the taste of the meat melting gently in my mouth.
It’s delicious.
As expected from a place that earned three stars in the Continental Dining Guide.
The meat quality itself is excellent, but the chef’s fire control is truly exceptional.
The outside is charred to the point where you’d believe it was burned, yet the inside retains its perfect pink hue.
A juiciness utterly unlike the exterior. And even the seared parts carry that flavor commonly called “smoky”—not just burnt.
I doubt even the imperial kitchen head could match this level of fire control.
The chef here is that impressive!
“Two more servings!”
“More……?”
“Of course. Hmm.”
I pop a thick slab of meat into my mouth and flash a happy smile.
“Of course, huh…….”
The subordinate in front of me takes a reluctant sip of wine, her face unenthused.
The portions are small despite the great taste, and she claims to be full after just one piece.
We grew up together, but I simply can’t comprehend her appetite.
“Hmm…….”
“You seem to do nothing but eat…….”
“No. Working.”
“Right…….”
I puff out my chest confidently as the squad leader, ignoring her sigh.
“Just trust me!”
“Can’t…….”
No helping it with this pathetic squad member sighing away. I’m the leader, after all!
“The instructor said it: Blessed are those who believe!”
“He said other things too…… Like, ‘You’ll chop your own foot with the axe you trust.’”
“Did he?”
Thanks to my cohort’s knack for remembering useless trivia, I’m at a loss for words.
“But trust me anyway. Last time, I found the instructor first!”
“Ah…….”
My squad member glares at me with eyes full of resentment.
If I translate that look, it says: “And that’s why I’m in this mess!”
In my view, she’d have ended up the same even without me.
But I know better. She just doesn’t want to accept her fate. She needs an excuse!
No choice, then.
As the good senior, sister, and squad leader, I’ll have to understand for her.
“So, two more!”
“Again?!”
I let out a small sigh as my wide-eyed cohort stares at me.
The last order was meat; this one’s veggies and soup.
A meal needs balance.
Since I added a main, sides must follow. That’s only logical.
“Lia really needs to learn how to eat properly.”
“Anyone else, maybe, but hearing that from you feels unfair…….”
“Not ‘you.’ Your squad leader.”
“Yes, yes. Squad Leader.”
Her grumbling while sipping wine isn’t ideal squad member posture, but our unit only has two rules, so I’ll let it slide.
One of those is the rule set by our superior, Her Highness the Imperial Princess.
First: Capture the instructor at all costs.
But that’s incredibly tough……
“Squad Leader!”
A subordinate bursts in, panting heavily.
Even if magic prevents sound from leaking, this is poor conduct.
This is a normal restaurant!
Given our need for secrecy, rushing in with such a panicked face is unacceptable.
“Lia Squad Leader, running in like that isn’t—”
I meant to warn Squad Leader Lia, but she shoved a paper at me as if to silence me.
And on that letter……
“Church of Nature?”
A very familiar church emblem.
“Yes.”
“Good work.”
Excluding myself and the subordinate I’m dining with, there’s only one other person in the world from our cohort in the Church of Nature.
And I’d asked that cohort for a small favor once.
That favor was:
[To: Mira
Instructor found.
From: Your Cohort No. 1]
It’s the top priority of the organization I lead.
“Found him.”
“Found what?”
“The instructor!”
“Gasp!”
I ignore the subordinate gaping at the word “instructor” and swiftly pull out paper and pen from my pocket.
Cohort love, country love as expected.
I knew my cohort would deliver!
“Where…….”
As I said before, our first rule is to capture the instructor at all costs!
We must devote everything to it.
So, time to send a letter to Her Highness.
[Found him. Current location: Neiden Kingdom. Source: Hero of the Church of Nature, Swin Rel Raina]
Just in case it’s bad intel, I note the source like the instructor taught.
If there’s trouble, it’s all on my cohort.
“Perfect, then!”
“We’re going after the instructor?”
As I stand, my subordinate stares with a mix of anticipation, joy, confusion, and worry.
“No, we’ve got something to do first.”
“Something to do?”
I sigh again at her head-tilt.
It’s time she learned our squad’s other rule, yet she still doesn’t know!
Disqualified as a squad member!
Not that I’d ever let her go!
“Pack it to go.”
I inform her of my duty as squad leader.
“Pack what?”
Even this simple instruction baffles her.
More detail needed.
“The food’s coming out soon, so we pack it to go.”
Ignoring her baffled look, I pay the staff for packaging and request they box it up.
Beyond Her Highness’s rule, the other rule for my Astr Abduction Squad.
The one I set: “Eat first, then work!”
***
The next day, after successfully wrapping up all plans.
I head to see my daughter with a relaxed mind, for the first time in ages.
“Dad, you look happy.”
“Is it because I get to see my girl?”
“Me too!”
I eagerly stroke the head of my daughter as she rushes into my arms.
Ahh, healing. How long has it been since I felt this healed?
My daughter is healing incarnate just by existing.
“All the work done?”
“Mostly. Now we can be together all the time!”
“Wow!”
Look at my joyful daughter! How delighted she is!
Stealing this tiny happiness from such a lovely girl.
Heroes truly are wicked.
But don’t worry, daughter— the evil hero’s been handled by the former villain!
“What happened to the Hero……?”
“He asked the princess for some time and is holed up in his room, deep in thought.”
“I see…….”
The hero’s companion Selena averts her gaze, her face full of confusion.
She never imagined the hero she traveled with would do such outrageous things.
Or maybe she just doesn’t want to believe it?
You never know. Hero tales often feature elf romances, so maybe she……
-Then you’re the bad guy who broke up a nice couple?
-That’s not it. They’re the bad ones!
Stalking folks who just want to farm in peace? Peeping toms serving a god, ruining my happy life with my daughter!
And they end up a couple?!
Even god won’t forgive that, and neither will I!
“The hero really…….”
“Yes. I swear on the gods, I’m not lying.”
-You don’t even believe in gods……
-But I didn’t lie, factually.
-Where’s your conscience?
My conscience?
Burned away with my childhood fields.
And I truly didn’t lie.
The hero just fell into the trap the princess and I prepared!
“Haa…….”
“Sis, what’s wrong?”
Having grown close lately, my daughter looks worried at Selena’s heavy sighs.
“It’s nothing.”
Unable to tell the child she’s fretting over the hero’s misdeeds with the princess, Selena forces a smile to reassure her.
“Just…… nothing much.”
“Yeah?”
“That’s right.”
There was genuine affection in Selena’s hand stroking my daughter’s head.
Even a former enemy elf disarmed so completely by my daughter’s charm.
As expected of the girl who’ll enchant countless male leads in the future!
Of course, I won’t allow any!
Not unless they’re strong enough to live with me!
-At least someone who can beat the empire……
-Exactly, someone I couldn’t beat.
-Poor girl…… Slim chances……
-Ah, of course, you’d have to pass your test too.
-No marriage prospects for my sister!
-Who knows. Maybe a shuttle-tough guy appears.
Mental fortitude to survive a bat-beating, plus power and forces to defeat the continent’s strongest hegemon, the Karan Empire? Even I’d concede.
My daughter wouldn’t abandon me for a boyfriend anyway—just watch for poison and live carefully.
Though no such male lead exists.
The opponent is the Karan Empire, after all.
Full of geniuses who create on command, led by an emperor and princess who wield people masterfully.
Each one spouts wisdom on using others, assigns impossible tasks, then declares, “This is power!” with shameless pride!
She pretended to yield the throne to her brother the crown prince but likely just made him a puppet for the grunt work.
The crown prince, knowing he has no choice, probably sheds tears while slaving away.
No need to see it. Truly pitiful life.
-What kind of life does the guy chased by such a sister have?
-One already ruined.
My life ended the moment I got the wrong lord.
Of all nations, charging the Karan Empire.
Had my fields not burned, I’d be a normal farmer living normally.
-But that doesn’t sound right……
-No! I’m normal! The world rejected me!
Even the gods acknowledged it!
World’s singularity! The world rejects me! I did nothing wrong!
Knock. Knock.
Someone raps on the door then.
Who? The evil shuttle spying on my daughter with Selena?
Or the princess here to recruit me against the hero?
Or…… the hero accepting fate and offering to marry the princess?
“May I come in?”
“Yes, Hero.”
It’s the hero.
With Selena’s—the room’s owner—permission, the hero slumps in, shuffling weakly toward me.
“Master, I’ve decided.”
“Good.”
Yes. Smart choice.
Give up everything, marry the princess, live cushy royal life.
Not bad for you?
The throne’s successor is set; you get a duke or grand duke title, cozy life with the princess…
“Yes. I’ve decided. I’ll report you to the empire.”
“Have you lost your mind?”
What nonsense is this fool spouting?
Surely not that empire?
No sane person would……
-As far as I know, only one empire left after the last great war?
Ignoring the bat blocking my denial as always, I eye the hero uneasily.
If he’s truly my disciple…… someone I taught!
“You already reported to the empire?”
“Yes.”
Quick to act, huh.
The technique always preached in my past-life army but cursed when done.
And in the worst way!
“When?”
“Right after talking with the princess!”
Yesterday, then.
No, the hero didn’t move, so the shuttle did it.
Damn, a 3cm drop right beside me, and I missed it!
Probably sent while treating people this morning?
That means my location reaches the princess today at earliest, tomorrow latest… And him saying this now……
“Run together?”
“Yes.”
His handsome face beams a fresh smile fitting it—but to me, wickeder than any villain—as he nods.