The worst-case scenario was considered in all the plans.
Even after securing the co-king, the worst had been avoided, but there were still plenty of tasks to be done.
And… above all, Bella Meyer.
Her concern continued to hinder me.
Although she had only been detained by the National Guard for a day, I had to rescue her as soon as possible given the involvement of Strigoi.
No.
If the plan hadn’t gone this far awry, I would have overturned the guard and brought her with me long ago.
However, the coup forces were quicker than expected, and the time and leeway given to me were limited.
I had to make a choice.
“F.”
A curse slipped out involuntarily.
Though I tried to appear composed in front of Major Retinharck and others,
my heart was already rotting away.
Bam! Bam!
I repeatedly punched the wall. I felt suffocated, my body trembling. Even knowing I needed to stay calm, my mind wouldn’t cooperate.
The guards had already crossed the line. Bella Meyer was my closest confidante. Would they really leave her alone?
Strigoi? They were irrelevant from the start.
It was hard to even imagine what those d*mn bastards might have done to Bella.
Imagining it might lead me to a point where I couldn’t forgive myself.
‘Major—.’
Her desperate voice echoed in my ears. Her screams, her pale flesh, her disgusting expression as she spread her legs—.
“d*mn it!! Kim Jin-hyuk!! You miserable b*stard!!”
Bam!!
I slammed my head against the wall. bl**d oozed from my torn fist and forehead.
Shouting out my real name for the first time in a while. Was I, this worthless guy, unable to protect someone important even here?
Was I blinded by duty, merely watching her misfortune unfold?
Like back then.
‘It’s fine.’
The face of a comrade who had been tied with a bomb in a closed factory flashed before my eyes.
‘Carry out your assigned mission.’
I could have saved them, but I had to follow orders. Just promoted to captain, I was powerless, foolish, and weak.
Fight beautifully and d*e valuably?
What does dying valuably mean? d*ath is the end.
High-ranking officials might say his sacrifice was worth it, but to his family and lover, was it truly a valuable d*ath?
Even though I saw it firsthand.
Would I close my eyes and turn away again?
Bella Meyer, who believed in me and followed me.
When I lost her, there would be more than just me grieving.
What about Luna? The playful sister she called dear despite her teasing.
And Roxanna? The one who smiled happily between Luna and Bella, could she regain that smile?
Those Eighth Paratrooper Mage Battalion soldiers who rolled on the ground with her, building trust.
Colonel Claude Rain, who fought like enemies but secretly cared for each other.
Medical platoon members who gathered around her, diving into battle without hesitation.
Could I answer their despairing voices when they asked, “What did you do, Colonel?”
“Huuu… Hu…”
No.
This time, I can’t.
I took a cigarette out of my trembling hand and lit it.
To my surprise, my head went cold.
“Major Enok Revendale! As you said, citizens are starting to rise up!”
From afar, the Army Training Camp’s operations officer ran over with a look of relief. When I turned my head, his expression hardened.
“Is that so?”
“His Majesty the co-king should not be put forward at this time… Wha, what?! Your head and hands are bleeding…!!”
“It’s fine.”
I deeply inhaled the smoke, shook off the bl**d from my wet hands.
“Now is our chance.”
“What opportunity are you talking about…?”
“Pick three soldiers who are quick and excel in shooting, and attach them to us.”
“Three? What can you do with just three?”
I looked him straight in the eye and replied.
“We will seize control of the National Guard Command.”
Crackle.
The cigarette burned down.
According to intelligence, those detained in the National Guard Command are not just Bella Meyer.
Those I contacted to stop the coup were not just high-ranking military or government officials.
Those who cooperated after being asked, despite their low rank in the National Guard and Capital Guard Division.
They pretended to side with the coup, passing internal information and situations to me.
“The officers of the mage brigade who disobeyed orders, along with military personnel and government officials, are all detained here. This is our chance now that riots have broken out.”
The coup was relatively small in scale, involving only a few people.
Now, besides suppressing the protests, they must also deal with Petrovna, the palace, Okhraine’s army headquarters, and the National Guard Command.
Amidst the growing suspicion among the low-ranking personnel who were involuntarily involved in the coup, handling such large-scale unrest would be impossible.
Moreover, Wilson Times must be seized, and Sarah Ronald arrested.
Sarah Ronald had already hidden herself after delivering newspapers early in the morning.
This fact would inevitably create a gap in the National Guard’s defenses.
“Stay sharp. Many lives are depending on us.”
“Yes.”
Three soldiers in National Guard uniforms responded heavily to my words.
These were three soldiers who served as drill instructors at the Army Training Camp.
As elite soldiers, they were highly skilled.
Two of them had also participated in the paratrooper training of the Eighth Paratrooper Mage Battalion.
With these soldiers, we could handle the task.
“What are we now?”
“National Guard Service Battalion Fifth Company.”
“Remember that.”
I emphasized their identity again as they nodded in understanding.
The National Guard uniform and related information were provided by the National Guard platoon stationed at the training camp.
Those who decided to join the right side instead of the National Guard.
After checking their disguises and equipment, we entered the city through the sewers connected to the Army Training Camp.
Through the clouds, black smoke rose, and distant cries of people could be heard.
The ringing of bells echoed, whether to rally citizens or demand dispersal by the military.
Just a day ago, Caephye was peaceful, but now it was engulfed in massive chaos.
“There aren’t many security forces here?”
“Most likely deployed to contain the citizens. Let’s move quickly.”
Just then, a National Guard carriage was left on the roadside. Whether it was to suppress the protests or arrest anti-coup individuals, its purpose was unclear.
I immediately jumped into the driver’s seat and grabbed the reins.
Indeed, the disciplined movements of the soldiers boarding the carriage.
‘Just a little more, just a bit longer. Bella…!’
“Heeey!”
I whipped the reins, and the horse galloped forward.
The target was the National Guard headquarters.
It was time to tear apart those who betrayed their commander and plunged the country into chaos.
“Come on, come on out!”
Bella Meyer quickly freed the people trapped around her. Most were in a state where they couldn’t speak properly due to continuous torture.
‘There isn’t a single healthy person…’
She clenched her lips tightly at the horrifying reality. If she hadn’t resisted just now, would she have ended up like this too?
She looked at the people staring blankly into space, even though the door was wide open.
“Guh…”
She was afraid.
Memories still hadn’t returned, and the wounds all over her body continued to ache.
Perhaps submission would have been better.
Bella, who had moved instinctively to k*ll a man as if instructed, found everything uncertain in her current state, not knowing where she was.
While she was lost in confusion,
“Bell! Bell…!! You’re safe!!”
A voice came from somewhere. Was it calling her? It sounded familiar, but she couldn’t remember who it was.
Following the voice,
there was another woman chained to the wall like her.
Though she wore prisoner’s clothes, there were no whip marks. Instead, her right hand was completely bruised from repeatedly hitting the wall.
“d*mn, pretending to be crazy almost killed me. Untie me! I’m tired of being here.”
“Who… who are you?”
“What? It’s Luna! Luna Aire!”
“I’m sorry… I don’t remember…”
Seeing Bella’s hesitant response, Luna sighed regretfully.
Luna, who was close with both Bella Meyer and Luna, as well as Roxanna, as a fellow female mage officer.
Thus, she knew about Bella’s condition.
“First, let’s get this off you. I’ll help.”
“Yes! Got it!”
Bella immediately opened the cell door and untied the chains binding the woman’s legs.
Luna hugged Bella tightly as soon as the restraints were removed.
“…You’ve suffered. Really.”
It was warm. Familiar. A ray of light pierced through the fog of forgetfulness in her consciousness.
“That’s what I told him, to keep an eye on you. I’m going to give that punk Enok a good hit.”
“Enok…?”
“Major Enok Revendale. Your captain.”
Blazing!!
The ray of light spread into several branches. Shattered memories began to fit together.
Enok. Major Enok Revendale.
Someone I must never forget.
“…Luna.”
“Hmm?”
“What’s my name?”
“Bell, Bella Meyer. Captain Bella Meyer of the Eighth Paratrooper Mage Battalion.”
She repeated her name. But it was too early to be happy. They were still in enemy territory, and it was impossible to guess how many enemies were around.
“F… These bastards have turned people into corpses.”
Luna grimaced as she looked at the scattered bodies outside the prison.
“Do you know them?”
“Yeah, they’re from the neighboring battalion. Part of the mage brigade.”
She had heard that since arresting her, the Central Corps’s mage brigade forces had been arrested one after another.
Without recruiting the brigade leader, they planned to cut off all their limbs.
“Bastards.”
Luna didn’t hold back her curses. Though she didn’t know them well, they were comrades from the same unit. How long would it take for them to return to normal life?
“We need to get out of here. We need to meet Enok quickly…”
At that moment.
Footsteps were heard coming from the direction of the stairs. Instinctively, Luna blocked Bella to protect her. The footsteps were barely audible. There were three of them.
“Shh. Wait.”
Luna Aire summoned mana. Thanks to pretending to be crazy, she was the first to be captured but wasn’t tortured by Strigoi.
Of course, she was still exhausted from not eating properly for two days, but compared to Bella, who had lost her memory, she judged herself to be better.
Waiting for the enemies to approach, Bella Meyer whispered tremblingly in the darkness.
“…Major.”
“What?”
Luna stared at him as if mesmerized. Unforgettable blonde hair. Bright golden eyes.
Bella Meyer ran barefoot towards him. As she embraced him, the man spoke in a trembling voice.
“Major! Major…! Enok Revendale…!!!”
“I’m sorry, Bella. Truly… I’m sorry.”
“Guh, hick…!! Enok…!!”
Looking at her crying like a child,
Enok pulled Bella Meyer tightly to his chest.
