Chapter 184
Chapter 184
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 184
Chapter Title: 19. Life is a Series of Escapes (8)
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#9 Their Circumstances: The Circumstances of a Certain Hero.
"Together, you say?"
"That's right."
I nodded at the instructor's sigh-laden words.
It was the most dangerous option, but in this situation, it was the one proposal he couldn't refuse.
According to Hill, the whole country had already accepted my relationship with the princess as fact.
If I denied it now, I'd just end up as the shameless hero who'd toyed with the princess.
In this situation, the only thing I could do was run.
First, what I could handle alone: bulldoze my way out with brute force.
But that wouldn't end well afterward, so the remaining option was to borrow the power of a pro escape artist! The guy even the Empire couldn't catch! A professional fugitive—the instructor!
And that instructor...
"No."
Neatly turned down my proposal.
"Pardon?"
"I said no."
My mind went blank for a moment.
Was it a feint? Was he trying to trick me?
But the instructor's footsteps heading toward Ellis showed not the slightest hesitation.
"Why?"
My dazed mind managed to ask that much, but it couldn't guess the answer.
Was he giving up?
No, we'd just had this talk, so at least I'd have time to escape.
Even with the Empire's swift mobility, the Church of Nature's top priests had set out this morning.
They'd think it was just an ordinary letter, so they'd move at a leisurely pace.
That meant at least a day, maybe two, before Mira got that letter and reported it to the princess—minimum three days.
Factoring in the time for imperial forces to mobilize, I had plenty of escape window.
So why give up?
Was he at an age where he wanted to settle down?
No, then he wouldn't have run from us.
Did that mean he had some other plan?
But running together should make escaping easier, right?
So why refuse?
Was he seeing some big picture I was missing? Or had he anticipated this?
If so, what should I do?
"Damn it..."
My head swirled with possibilities, forcing a short curse from my lips.
I needed to make new plans assuming the instructor wouldn't budge.
***
Watching the frozen hero, I realized the kid still had a long way to go.
Was his head really sharp, or hopelessly dull? Hard to say.
-Running together wouldn't be better?
-Not at all.
The kid's combat prowess was beyond imagination.
Strong enough to beat down an ancient dragon solo!
But that strength was useless for escaping.
The best escape scenario was just to bolt fast!
You only need force when the escape fails and you're about to get caught.
And right now, we weren't in the Karan Empire—we were in the Neiden Kingdom.
If we ran, the Neiden people wouldn't chase me.
But the hero? Different story. The princess already had her eye on him, reeking of Yan's vibes. The moment he ran, the kingdom's knights and soldiers would swarm.
Yep. It's not the distant law you fear, but the fist in your face!
Just like that, what I had to watch for was nearby Neiden Kingdom, not far-off Karan Empire.
If the princess was already near this kingdom, I'd need the hero's help, but since the news went out today, even at best, tomorrow was the soonest.
In other words, if I slipped away tonight, not even a princess could track me easily.
But run with the hero?
Neiden Kingdom would chase us first, and we'd leave a trail even if we escaped.
Plus, with a hero who draws eyes everywhere, we'd end up caught by the princess eventually.
A hero's job—bark like a dog at divine oracles—didn't mesh with running!
So escaping with this kid held zero value for me.
What overconfidence made him suggest running together?
-He's desperate. And normally, you'd think an ally who can smash dragons is reassuring. Unless you're twisted like the master.
-That's the dumb part. With a dragon-smasher next to you, how much aggro do you think that pulls?
Bards spread the hero-princess love story, but dragon-slaying tales spread just as fast.
By now, rumors blanketed the continent. How many would hunt this kid?
Hiring low-tier mercenaries cost commoners a fortune, but a free dragon-slayer?
Unhappy peasants across the continent, plus most low-rank nobles with weak forces—they all wanted him.
Travel with him, and every soul on the continent becomes a watcher.
-And anyway, I planned to ditch the hero while running. Perfect timing to execute now.
Why did the hero fight the dragon in the first place?
My plan to escape while they brawled!
Power creep went nuts, but per original plan, I'd have slipped away with my daughter, farming again by spring after winter.
-So you're ditching the hero and running solo.
-Obviously.
Sometimes you team up even with few allies, like five sharing a mosquito net. But if they'll eat you the moment you step off the boat? No thanks.
If he ran with me and we parted waving goodbye, fine. But post-escape? Flee a dragon-smasher too.
Fly through the air with magic, smashing dragons—possible to outrun that? Especially after I taught him tracking?
Impossible.
So the hero had to get "married" here.
-"Married" as in, forced into it.
-Exactly.
Doing versus suffering the difference? Huge.
Anyone who's been there knows.
-Yeah. Master's faced shotgun weddings everywhere.
-So for my sake, work hard!
-I got the wrong master~
Hey, without me, you wouldn't even exist.
Or before that—who'd wield a cursed evil god's weapon?
Only someone like me can handle it.
-Feels super off now...
-That's my line.
Getting that critique from an iron bat? My pride won't allow it.
Without me, you wouldn't be here!
-Right. Daddy dearest!
-Sorry, too creepy—stop.
That fake-cute voice echoing in my soul? Goosebumps everywhere.
My only daughter is Ellis!
"Daddy!"
See? My real daughter.
Telepathy must've worked—she came toddling over.
"Let's go home now!"
"Alright."
I ruffled her hair and took her hand, heading to her room.
"Uh, mind if I come too?"
"Sure."
As my daughter and I stood, Selena rose too.
The evil hero's companion stalking my daughter!
But I'm too weak now to stop it.
Ah, the tragedy of weakness!
This is the pain of ancestors colonized without power, our nation's division forcing us into the army.
-What nonsense?
-Just venting frustration.
Especially the army—beyond frustrating.
How rotten do you have to be to wring a canteen budget for decades?
Mine was from the '80s—older than me. Passed it on pristine at discharge; someone's probably still using it.
All while spouting crap: duty to country for every man, go to army and become a real man, no one cares.
Ah, but missing out on defense corruption techniques? Truly regrettable.
A bit more knowledge, and I'd have milked more scams during court life.
As a newbie, the princess caught me a few times, seized most profits. Used that as pretext to shove me frontline in her massive graft ops—life on the line.
When the crown prince sicced Finance on us? Thought I'd hang for sure.
Lucky no evidence, survived... otherwise...
"Urgh..."
A chill from those memories drew a groan.
"Daddy?"
"Nothing, sweetie."
As I reached for her door, the sound made her turn.
I waved it off—nothing—and she tilted her head but dashed inside as the door opened.
"Kids!"
"Nya~"
"Kirrrk"
Seeing her pets—cat and Kkoko—my daughter burst into giggles.
"Wanna play too, big sis?"
"I'm good."
She'd warmed to my daughter, but dragons still awkward—Selena eyed Kkoko and shook her head.
"Okay?"
A flicker of disappointment, then bright smiles as she charged cat and Kkoko.
"Have a seat?"
"I'm fine."
I offered a chair, but Selena refused, leaning against the wall.
"Ar, play with her."
"Yeah!"
"Nya-aaah!"
"Aaah!"
Quiet till now, the iron bat joined—cat and Kkoko screamed and fled.
"Sis?!"
"Play with me!"
"Eeek!"
Daughter raised hands too, fleeing the charging bat with screams.
"Is this okay?"
"Kids play by running around."
"But still..."
Maybe hit by that form before—Selena gawked at the rampaging bat, but I ignored it.
No, her eyes on the bat? Unexpected bonus.
"Nya... nyaaaa!"
Snatched the fleeing cat.
It thrashed and yowled in my grip, but quieted at my whisper.
"Listen up. We're leaving this place soon."
"Nya..."
"You've got a job then."
"Nya~"
Tail wagged at my hushed words—she launched her ordinary cat act.
"Time to explain the plan."
The one variable the heroes don't know.
Dragon pet stole the show, but this one's no ordinary pet!
Beastkin nobility!
Not sword aura, but can wield sword ki—this cat!
"So Ellis's escape route is yours."
"Nya~"
Yawned hugely, pure cat pose—but those eyes gleamed sharper than ever.