This arc drags on. I read the novels but forgot how long it took for our little Elf to open up to Rudeus again.
Even then it became a slow burn until the escalation during the "rescue-arc"
What is wrong with this world?
The author did not even have the difficult job of drawing his own manga, which sends many of mangaka to the hospital.
Now he (nearly) ruined the future prospects of Usazaki Shiro by having her associated with this mess.
This would only make any normal person commit treason.
Since they did not uphold their end of the deal he could really just leave and decimate the military on his way out.