After choosing to leave, they regretted it.

"Hehe~ It still tastes the same. It hasn't changed at all over the years~"

Chris, completely unaware of anything unusual, was spreading butter on her bread with an expectant look on her face.

While keeping his expression unchanged, Aize stretched out his hand and casually drew a crooked triangle on the table in front of him.

This is a common code between Aize and his subordinates, meaning that someone is watching.

This sudden incident froze Chris's happy expression on her face.

But only for a moment.

After 0.5 seconds, she returned to normal, pretending nothing had happened as she continued to spread butter on her bread and began to chew it formally.

"Delicious! This smoky flavor is amazing! Smoked sausage is truly one of the greatest inventions... Hmm? Aize, why aren't you eating it?"

Because we were being watched, everything, including the names we were being called, started to act out.

"Wait a moment, I don't like bread that's too hot."

Aize supported his head and fiddled with the sliced sausages on the plate with a fork.

In fact, they are continuing to communicate through code words:

Stay calm and wait and see what happens.

Chrissy nodded casually and continued the performance with flawless acting skills, even licking the butter left on her fingers with a look of enjoyment.

It even looks a little more normal than usual.

It would be great if it could always be like this.

"……Um?"

Things have changed again.

Amidst the noisy voices in the distance, there were some footsteps like drumbeats, as if a certain team was moving forward at an untidy pace.

There was even the noise and shouting that separated the crowd - this could be heard without using the hero's senses, and the person coming was not friendly.

In broad daylight, in the heart of a heavily guarded frontier city, a large-scale attack?

Aize really wanted to see who was so brave.

The footsteps were getting closer. After Aize signaled Chris with a secret code to prepare for battle, he also reached under his clothes and grabbed the hilt of the dagger he carried with him.

Although the special weapon that Villian built for herself was not there, a guy who couldn't even conceal his aura would not be able to use it.

Concentrate your attention and feel the other person's movements.

The moment they were about to enter the store, they stood up, drew their swords, and turned around.

Then--

"Thank you, Lord Aize, the God-chosen Hero, for the favor you brought us yesterday! Merciful Lord Aize! Powerful Lord Aize!"

"……ha?"

Under Aize's confused eyes, the more than 20 uninvited guests who entered the store did not show any hostile behavior.

Instead, the moment they saw his face, they all knelt on the ground, put their hands together, and began to kowtow in an extremely exaggerated and formal manner.

Aize still remembered the skinny faces of some of them, whom he had seen when delivering food yesterday.

"You—are you from the Pure White Saint? What are you doing in a place like this?!"

"The relief Lord Aize sent yesterday saved the lives of our brothers and sisters in the sect. But Lord Aize left in such a hurry that we didn't even have a chance to express our gratitude. This is extremely rude for an envoy from the Supreme God Realm. I have come here today to apologize and make amends!"

After the older elder in the lead finished speaking, everyone kowtowed and knelt in worship, and the sound was so loud that it even drowned out the noise from the distant street.

Why do you say it is far away?

Because people from nearby had gathered over to watch the fun, the entire store was packed.

This really confused Aize. He just stood there stupidly with his mind blank.

And this group's performance art has just begun.

They then turned to the equally confused Chris:

"Miss Christina Karlsade, daughter of the Marquis of Karlsade, the Imperial Lion, Chief of the Imperial Royal Military Academy, and the most loyal servant and helper of the brave Lord Aize! What a great honor it is to see your face today!"

"Servant?"

Chris was stunned for a moment.

Then he smiled foolishly and looked away:

"Servant, hehe, this sounds good too. It makes me feel excited for some reason. Hehehe~ How about we call you that from now on~"

"That's not a nice thing to say! Behave properly! It's the same as calling you a running dog."

"Dog!? Well...it's not impossible..."

"You—forget it, go to the back!"

Realizing that if this group of people continued to sing the same tune, his silly apprentice might really be in danger of being assimilated, Aize quickly stepped forward and stopped her in his own hands.

Then he glared at the other person with a rather unfriendly look:

"So what exactly do you want to do? With so many people rushing over here, it's not like you're really just here to say a few words, right?!"

The leading elder raised his head—after all, these guys are still an expeditionary force in name only, so it's outrageous that there are old men here—and said respectfully:

"Lord Aize, it's like this. Lady Rosalin is preaching at the local church. If possible, could you go with her so that more believers can hear your teachings?"

"Tsk——"

Aize instantly understood what was going on.

It must be that woman. She found out about Aize and Chris's plan for today and wanted to ruin it to make things difficult for herself.

Perhaps the affected maid heard the news from the Marchioness yesterday afternoon while taking care of her, and then passed it on to Rosaline through the faith network.

What a mistake. I never thought this guy could do such a thing.

What should I do?

The discussions among the onlookers who were originally unaware of the situation became increasingly heated as the performance art progressed.

"Where did these people come from? They're dressed in rags, aren't they refugees? How did the guards let them in?"

"Your accent doesn't sound like someone from around here."

"What did they just say? Brave Aize? Is Brave Aize the same Brave Aize?"

"Then who else could it be, the brave Aize?"

"Why is the brave Aize here... Could it be that we are about to attack the demons? Can I go home now?"

"Maybe. Look, even the lord's daughter is here."

……

……

……

Aize was in tears.

The expedition was already difficult to stop, and now it has added fuel to the fire.

Rosalin, does she have some deep hatred for the empire and the prince? All the way from the Holy City to here, she was really afraid of not being able to kill him.

Wasn't he really replaced by the Faceless Man?

Forget it, let’s find a way to get out of this first.

The abnormal frenzy seems to be spreading, and if it continues like this, who knows what will happen.

Aize turned around and whispered to Chris:

"There's no one at the back door yet. Didn't you wash dishes here before? Lead the way and run straight out. Once you're out, the farther away you are, the better, and don't stop!"

The blue-haired girl looked up in confusion.

"Run? But I think... preaching seems pretty good too."

"You—forget it! Go!"

I can't care about the mess anymore.

Aize took out a big coin from his pocket and put it on the table. Without asking for change, he grabbed Chris's wrist and ran behind the curtain.

Fortunately, this is a relatively small old store, and the kitchen is really just a simple small kitchen. I walked through a pile of pots and pans and arrived at the back alley with great honor.

Amidst the almost mournful wails of "Lord Aize, where are you going!?", Aize, who didn't know the way, relied on his sense of direction and his limited memory to rush towards the city wall without stopping.

At least this way we can get away from the city center.

Stay away from the church.

After walking through the crowded residential apartment for nearly ten minutes and confirming that he could neither hear any sound nor sense any breath, Aize finally stopped.

"Huh, at least I got out. Why is it like something out of a fucking horror movie? Hey, what's wrong? Are you sane?"

"No, that, I..."

Chris, who was released by Aize, leaned against the wall beside her with a dull look in her eyes, and then slowly slid to the ground like a broken puppet.

Then, his eyes suddenly regained their color and he fell to the ground:

"Uh, what happened just now? How could I...how could I...would I...uh, I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I almost did something stupid again!"

After realizing how outrageous her reaction just now was, Chris's face turned red, and she bowed repeatedly with movements that produced afterimages and sounds of breaking wind.

"But why? At that moment, I felt a little dizzy..."

“…a network of faith.”

Speculating on the ability that Rosaline possesses, an invisible spider web woven by the magic and consciousness of believers that transcends geographical barriers.

As a possible manager, Rosaline can use it to conduct two-way information transmission, thereby collecting information or interfering with the behavior of the target.

But it seems that it is more than that.

After all, Chrissy is definitely not a believer.

But she was able to recover after leaving the scene, so other onlookers shouldn't worry too much.

This means that there is no need to change your plans for the time being, just do what is going on.

It was summer, and after running a bit and sweating a bit, Aize gently adjusted his collar:

"Okay, let's continue our journey, but we might need to change our plans. You... Chris?"

"..."

In stark contrast to her previous enthusiasm, Chris grabbed her upper arm and fell into a sudden depression.

Aize stepped forward:

"what happened?"

"Well, I don't quite understand, but... I feel like I'm a little scared."

"horrible?"

"Well, even I admire that group of people, and they're more fanatical than any believers I've ever met before. How should I put it, it's just... that atmosphere, it feels a bit uncomfortable."

Then you should reflect on your own behavior and consider my feelings - Aize, who was full of resentment after being tormented, thought so.

Of course I didn't say it out loud.

He just reached out and gently touched the other person's head, and smoothed the long blue hair that was tied into a low ponytail.

As gently as possible, I said:

"That's what fanatics are like... But don't worry, I'll take care of this. Just do what you need to do today. Don't let this shit ruin your mood."

"Um……"

Chris nodded slowly.

But just from this performance, you can tell that his emotions have not recovered at all.

Is this also one of the effects of the faith network?

I don’t know, but I have to find a way.