The gunshot rang out. As the hulking figure in a mask fell backward, a fierce barrage of gunfire was directed at Bella.
Bang! Bang!!
The chilling sound of the air being pierced grazed her ears. She unleashed a spell she had prepared in advance toward the front.
“Hail Wave!!”
A wave suddenly crashed into the empty air.
While blue magic, which transforms into ice upon use, is not as powerful as specialized attack magics such as purple or red magic, it is not particularly strong in defense either. Yellow magic, which uses earth elements, has much higher defensive capabilities.
Green magic surpasses blue magic in terms of the speed and flexibility of spell deployment.
However, this does not mean that…
If used skillfully depending on the time and place, it can be just as effective as any other magic.
The b*llet aimed precisely at Bella was swallowed by the massive current of water. The bullets, facing resistance far denser than air, failed to penetrate the wall of water created by the magic.
Moreover, Bella’s room was located right in front of the staircase leading to the second floor.
As the flood poured down, those hit were swept away below the stairs.
Bella did not miss that moment.
She was not untrained as the battalion chief medic of the 8th Rapid Assault Magic Infantry Battalion.
In fact, as a battalion chief medic, she underwent even more rigorous and grueling training. She needed to move around the frontlines with minimal weapons to safely rescue wounded comrades.
Bang! Bang!!
Even though she had cleared the lower area, bullets from below struck the railing.
“How many…!”
She didn’t dare to count properly, but it felt like there were more people than when she last checked.
The gunfire from inside suggested that even the forces surrounding them had entered.
Regardless, the situation remained isolated. Bella Meyer dashed quickly along the railing and threw herself into the room at the end.
Bang!! Zzzt!
Just before she launched herself, a b*llet pierced through the space where she stood and embedded itself in the opposite wall.
The enemy was truly intent on killing her.
Could Captain Nikolai Hilbert have been dealt with in a similar manner? Bella Meyer shook her head to clear the image of her own cold corpse being thrown aside.
“I must definitely inform Major Enok Revendale about this…!”
Enok Revendale might have also been attacked.
No, it wasn’t just a possibility; it was certain.
The reason why they haven’t returned to the National Guard headquarters could very well be because of this.
‘Could they have already been attacked?’
Though she didn’t think he would easily fall victim, solving this situation and finding Enok was her top priority.
Even if they were a coup force, they wouldn’t dare cause chaos on the streets.
Gulp.
Bella Meyer swallowed hard and looked at the window beyond the room.
A two-story building.
Jumping off wouldn’t be an issue. It wasn’t unusual for her unit to make a safe descent from hundreds of meters in the air.
However, it was difficult to predict how many enemies were waiting below.
Bang!
As soon as she pressed herself against the door to scout the situation, another b*llet whizzed past her.
She was clearly surrounded. Even if she tried to hold out here, she would eventually be captured.
When they decided to take the risk and start bleeding…
It would be the end for Bella Meyer.
To achieve her goal of surviving and finding Enok, and requesting support from others, escaping from this house was the top priority.
“Anyway, it’s do or d*e─!!”
Bella Meyer snapped her fingers, sending several sharp ice shards into the air.
A Grade 1 Blue Mage could easily manipulate the trajectory of ice and water.
She leaned against the wall and fired the ice shards towards the wide-open door.
Then, without hesitation, she dived toward the window.
Clang!
As glass shattered, green mana erupted beneath Bella Meyer’s feet.
Intermediate Green Magic – Featherfoot.
Seemingly floating down like descending stairs, she met masked men blocking the alleyway.
“Grab her!!”
“Do you think it will be that easy?!”
With her right hand, she generated a wall of water behind her, maximizing pressure to block even small arms fire.
With her left hand, she calmly pulled the trigger, neutralizing the men blocking her path.
Bang!! Bang!!
“Gah!!”
“d*mn it, Mages are such a hassle!”
“Call for backup!”
Ignoring the sounds coming from behind, Bella Meyer charged forward.
First, getting to a busy street with many people was her top priority. After joining forces with the National Guard, they could easily shake off the assailants.
Making this decision, she continued to run through the alleyways.
If this were another city, it might be different.
But since she had been running through the capital, Carayph, like her own home since childhood, she didn’t worry about getting lost.
Navigating through winding back alleys, she leaped onto a discarded box at a dead-end, vaulting over the wall.
Finally reaching a bustling commercial street, the pursuers’ presence became faint.
They wouldn’t dare cause a scene in such a crowded area.
Moreover, due to the d*ath of Captain Nikolai, the National Guard had spread throughout the city.
For a faction aiming to swiftly and accurately carry out a coup, stirring up the National Guard unnecessarily would be foolish.
From the moment she escaped her house safely, their plan was effectively ruined.
‘A state of emergency is possible.’
Bella Meyer recalled the words Enok Revendale had spoken. They had raided a lodging where a serving officer was staying, even using guns.
If linked to Captain Nikolai Hilbert’s m*rder, it could be enough reason to control the entire city using King Orlando Rus III’s authority.
And just then,
Bella Meyer spotted National Guard troops patrolling in carriages ahead.
Furthermore, one of them had been at the water treatment plant with Colonel Lanister Kael earlier today.
‘So fortunate.’
Bella let out a sigh of relief and approached them.
“National Guard over there!”
“…?”
“I am Major Bella Meyer of the 8th Rapid Assault Magic Infantry Battalion. We need to go to Petrovna Palace immediately!”
At her urgent plea, the guards looked bewildered.
“What happened?”
“Just now, my lodging was attacked by assailants. They are likely connected to the incident involving Captain Nikolai Hilbert’s m*rder this morning.”
“Really?!”
“Now! We don’t have time! We need to inform His Majesty the Crown Prince! Report this to the National Guard headquarters immediately!”
The three guards exchanged serious glances. If this was true, they needed to head to the palace where the Crown Prince was staying right away.
“Hurry!”
Unable to resist Bella’s urging, one guard nodded.
“Alright. Get in the carriage. Raven, report this to the Chief Inspector of the National Guard immediately.”
“Understood!!”
Fortunately, the guards were quick to respond. Bella Meyer climbed aboard the carriage. Even if the assailants were present, they wouldn’t dare attack a National Guard carriage in the middle of the city.
As she entered the carriage,
two more guards were already inside. Just as she sensed something was amiss,
“?”
She was violently pushed from behind, causing her to stumble into the carriage.
“Aaah!!”
Before she knew it, a mask was placed over her head, and her hands were grabbed, restraining her.
“Gah, cough…!!”
Her throat was tightly squeezed, making it hard to breathe. Bella Meyer struggled, but she soon collapsed to the ground.
“He said I’d come here if I was cornered in this area, right?”
“What news came from the war hero?”
“Not yet.”
“Let’s take her first.”
The National Guard carriage, with its tightly closed doors,
departed from the bustling commercial street.
*
Chief Inspector of the National Guard, Colonel Lanister Kael, felt like he had missed something.
If Minister Alberto and General Olek Stukov of the Eastern Corps collaborated, overthrowing the government would not be difficult.
The National Guard and the Special Response Brigade led by Major Sony Chepelin functioned as the de facto military under the King’s direct command.
This time, they planned to create a new Motorized Magic Infantry Brigade under Major Sony Chepelin’s direct command, but…
Since there was no organization or personnel, it was still just an empty shell.
Without going through the Minister, the only forces the King could mobilize immediately were these two groups.
That’s why Alberto posed the greatest threat.
If he blocked all reports coming up from below, the military would completely fall to the coup forces.
However, the incident involving Captain Nikolai Hilbert today had too many suspicious aspects.
The key to a coup is how quickly and efficiently power can be seized.
Instead, if such incidents occur gradually, it would only increase the National Guard’s and King Orlando Rus III’s vigilance.
‘Major Luna Aire is also completely silent… Though she’s a prime suspect, we cannot torture her until we have solid evidence…’
Colonel Lanister Kael gnawed on his lip, thinking.
Was it really true that the heads of the Eastern Corps and the Ministry of State Affairs were correct?
Was it only that?
While deep in thought, someone knocked on Colonel Lanister Kael’s office door.
“Who is it?”
“It’s the Special Military Unit Commander.”
Lanister rose from his seat and opened the door. Standing there was Major Kamalov, who appeared exhausted from his diligent work.
“What’s the matter?”
“Commander Zeigmond summoned both of us separately. Commander of the Royal National Guard and Chief Inspector are also present.”
“Understood. Let’s go right away.”
Perhaps the Commander has found some clues.
He had also been the most supportive of Major Enok Revendale’s proposal regarding the coup.
He followed the Special Military Unit Commander to the Commander’s office.
Click-clack.
“But why is the Command so quiet?”
“The Commander ordered us to patrol the streets. It seems related to today’s incident.”
“I see.”
Following was an eerie silence.
‘What’s this?’
Feeling a slightly uncomfortable atmosphere, Lanister entered the Command Room.
He saluted the large round table where Commander Zeigmond Blakovich of the National Guard was seated.
“Honor to the Motherland!”
“Honor to the Motherland!”
After receiving a light salute, the Commander smiled at Colonel Lanister Kael.
“We’re all here at last.”
