“Kyaaah!”

At the ear-splitting boom, Lucilia collapsed to the ground, covering her ears.

Ension rushed into the tent, grabbed Lucilia’s arm, and pulled her to her feet.

“Are you alright?”

“What was that sound?”

“There’s been an explosion at the supply warehouse. We need to get away from here first. If by chance we get separated due to unavoidable circumstances, use this.”

He spoke rapidly while handing her a small whistle.

“Three short blasts. Then I will definitely find you.”

Without hesitation, Lucilia grabbed the belongings she had prepared and followed Ension.

Outside, flames shooting up everywhere disoriented her vision.

She ran frantically, glancing sideways at the black smoke rising to form tall pillars in the air.

“Put out the fire! We must contain the flames!”

“Send more men this way!”

Bang! Boom!

“Aaargh!”

As soldiers guarding the camp shouted in confusion, flames erupted with an explosive sound from the tent directly ahead.

The explosion was so powerful that the ground shook.

She couldn’t understand why fires were suddenly breaking out in the tents.

The battlefield was some distance from the camp, and no matter how much they were being pushed back, the retreat signal should have sounded already if things were this bad.

Was this the priest’s doing?

They had said everyone from soldiers to knights had verified identities, so how could the priest cause explosions?

He couldn’t have that many people at his disposal.

Various hypotheses became jumbled in her mind.

Amidst people running in panic, Lucilia kept her eyes fixed on Ension’s back as she ran headlong.

Even in this urgent situation, her mind was filled with thoughts about the priest.

If so, it must be the work of those whose identities weren’t verified?

“The volunteers.”

Just as her thoughts extended to that point.

Several soldiers suddenly drew their swords and rushed at Ension.

Though it was hard to see clearly through the black smoke, judging by their movements, they were surprisingly all women, and their skills were formidable.

Fragmented scenes scattered before her eyes.

Blood droplets sprayed in all directions, Sister Bonizella rushed over urgently, and in the distance, she could see Mannea hiding.

Bonizella reported the situation to Lucilia, gasping for breath.

“It seems trouble has broken out.”

Lucilia pretended not to know and displayed a frightened demeanor. With trembling pupils, she stammered.

“T-trouble? W-what is all this?”

“The area around the infirmary suddenly became noisy, and all the volunteers scattered. But… those people attacked our side.”

Bonizella was shocked as she looked at the volunteers who had been caring for the wounded until just moments ago.

She took a deep breath as if she hadn’t known they were skilled assassins.

She still seemed to think Lucilia had no holy power. Even if Baron Aaron Artnal was suspicious, she would believe that only the priest had been exposed, not herself.

‘Sister, stop pretending.’

Lucilia looked for Mannea with her eyes, but she was hidden from view.

What should she do…?

She decided to test the waters.

“What about the wounded? How did you leave them?”

“Some of the sisters are taking care of them. Though patients are important, we also have a duty to protect the lord of Tudra. So please come with me to a safe place.”

Should she pretend to follow?

Lucilia hurriedly looked around.

Ension was busy fending off enemies alone, and Mannea, who had come to warn about

Bonizella’s plot, would be hiding and waiting for an opportunity.

It would be too much for Mannea to handle alone…

If another enemy appeared while they were escaping, how could Mannea evade both Bonizella and the enemy simultaneously?

“Come this way. The infirmary is safe.”

“But all those people are volunteers. The infirmary won’t do if remnants might be hiding there.”

“The priest has already deployed Caldman soldiers to guard it securely. For now, come with me—ugh!”

Suddenly, Bonizella collapsed forward.

Looking back, Lucilia saw Mannea with a pale face, dropping a stone she had been holding.

“Oh, God… f-f-forgive me.”

Trembling, she made the sign of the cross and frantically rubbed her hand against her clothes, still feeling the dull impact of the blow.

Lucilia shook Mannea’s arm as she was about to faint.

“Are you alright?”

“Yes, yes. I’m fine… Whew… I’m fine.”

Feeling intense guilt for using violence, Mannea repeatedly inhaled and exhaled before finally finding stability.

With her eyes half-closed to avoid looking at the fallen Bonizella, she said:

“This place is dangerous. We should first leave the camp and head toward the village for safety.”

“But…”

“You must take shelter, if only for the sake of Tudra territory. Please, my lady.”

Mannea used a title reminiscent of when Lucilia was the marquis’s daughter. She appealed to her as her father’s person and urged escape again.

“I owe a debt of gratitude to His Excellency the Marquis. Though your connection with His Excellency has been severed, please don’t prevent me from repaying that debt.”

She desperately asked to be allowed to help, clasping Lucilia’s hand.

“Please. You must leave now.”

“A sister’s duty is to care for the wounded. Protecting me shouldn’t come first.”

“Even setting aside my debt to the Marquis, I have a duty to protect the lord’s family!”

She said exactly the same thing as Bonizella.

Though the church’s role appeared to be helping the weak and poor, in reality, it existed thoroughly for the nobility.

It went without saying that churches belonging to each territory served their lords.

But as long as Lucilia was the priest’s target, Mannea was also in danger. In fact, it might be safer for Mannea to remain here.

Honestly, she had expected to receive help from Mannea, but not like this.

Lucilia firmly gripped Mannea’s arm and met her eyes.

“I can move with my escort knight, so don’t worry and hurry back to the infirmary.”

But Lucilia knew.

She knew that even Ension was struggling to deal with the assassins who kept appearing.

“Don’t leave the camp and be sure to follow Ension’s instructions.”

Whatever happened, staying by Ension’s side, who was responsible for Lucilia’s safety, was the priority.

Despite the urgent situation, she couldn’t disobey Aaron’s orders.

On the other hand, she thought that sticking to principles might become a burden to Ension.

If the retreat signal sounded, she could go to Tudra with Ension, but no such signal had yet been given.

Multiple scenarios erupted simultaneously in the short time, scattering her rationality.

At that moment, Mannea’s words subdued the confusion.

“The priest has discovered my identity.”

Then she called out loudly to Ension.

“Sir Willar!”

Boom! Bang!

Before Ension could turn around, explosives buried nearby detonated.

Blood flowed from Mannea’s forehead into her eyes.

With her skin torn by fragments, Mannea shouted with one eye tightly closed, covered in blood.

“Sir Willar!”

Ension, who had just thr*st his sword into an assassin’s abdomen, ran over while checking Lucilia’s condition.

As the assassins hesitated at the sound of the explosion, Mannea quickly stated her business.

“I will escort the Baron’s wife to safety.”

The situation was too critical to allow time for deliberation.

Lucilia, barely recovering from the shock of the explosion, asked Ension:

“The Baron told me to follow your instructions. What should we do?”

Ension swiftly turned and cut down an assassin jumping from behind. He had no other options either.

He couldn’t leave Lucilia standing in a perilous place where she might lose her life, so he decided quickly.

“Keep sending signals with the whistle I gave you. I will definitely find you.”

“Understood. Please be careful.”

She couldn’t speak at length for fear an assassin might target Ension’s vital points.

As soon as Ension gave his permission, Lucilia nodded to Mannea.

Only then did a faint relief spread across Mannea’s face.

The two women ran straight ahead, holding hands tightly.