“Are you okay?”
“Yes……”
I asked Bella Meyer as I looked at her. Tears glistened in her ruby-like eyes.
“Can you remember?”
“I still can’t fully recall yet.”
I gritted my teeth. In fact, Bella Meyer’s trauma had not been treated.
After two years, even though the habit of occasionally forgetting memories was completely gone, both Bella herself and I had only ‘mistakenly’ thought that we were healed.
In the end, it was just a difference in environment.
“Gah……”
As I gently grabbed her shoulder, Bella winced as the remaining wounds stung.
The moment I saw that expression, my heart felt as if it was being torn apart.
When she opened her eyes on the cold prison floor,
When she was bound by iron chains and whipped during torture,
When she collapsed and opened her eyes again,
I couldn’t even begin to imagine the horror of the emotions she felt.
Anger boiled up from deep within. Did the one who whipped her really not know that this person was the angel in white who saved countless lives in the Quernen War?
If he knew and still treated her like this, then that person is not human.
I would feel no guilt for rightfully disposing of him.
“Please, first rescue the detainees, including the two of you.”
After separating from Bella, I said to the three soldiers watching from behind.
“Sir, what will Colonel Enok do?”
“It’s fine. I’ve been practicing hard for this moment.”
“……????”
“Don’t worry, please. If anything goes wrong and the battle escalates, they will definitely take the people locked up here as hostages.”
Moreover, most of the currently detained personnel are senior officers and veteran non-commissioned officers of the Magic Brigade.
Rationally speaking,
These people are more important to the Okhraine army than the soldiers of the National Guard or the Royal Guard Division.
Infantry can be replenished,
But magic soldiers cannot.
No matter what nonsense the National Guard did with Strige and Kongzhang,
These people who are currently locked up are valuable individuals that the newly reborn Okhraine must absolutely take back.
“This is an important mission.”
At my resolute voice, the three soldiers nodded without hesitation.
“Colonel Enok……”
“It’s alright, Bella. From now on, leave it to me. I couldn’t save you in time, so I can’t expose you to danger now.”
“That’s right…… Bella, you haven’t recovered properly yet. I’m frustrated too, but I can’t help Enok right now.”
Eventually, after Luna was persuaded, Bella reluctantly let go of my sleeve.
“Please wait outside the back door where we came in. I’ll cause a commotion, so there’s no need to worry about the National Guard coming.”
Thanks to finding the back door to the National Guard headquarters’ detention center last time, we almost entered the detention center without bloodshed.
However, there were still quite a few people scattered throughout the National Guard headquarters.
To completely tip the scales in our favor, we must certainly occupy the National Guard building.
That is, we must simultaneously rescue the detained comrades and subdue the National Guard headquarters.
If we have enough manpower, there’s no problem, but if we don’t, it’s honestly worse than having none.
So,
I have to climb up myself and punish the wicked ones who committed atrocities under the guise of being the National Guard.
Even though they are obeying orders quietly now, this could be a major trigger for the soldiers who are starting to feel suspicious about a series of events.
“Luna, we have a lot to talk about.”
“Yeah. Come back safely after sorting everything out. I have a lot to tell you too.”
Unlike the last time when she acted like someone who had lost their mind, Luna Aire was her usual self.
Indeed, something must have happened between Nikolai Hilbert and her.
And there was a high probability that the man thought dead might still be alive.
No.
Nikolai must be alive.
The person who left a message for me at the tavern must be Nikolai.
Why he hasn’t appeared in front of me until now is a mystery, but I judged that it was also part of Nikolai’s plan.
Then,
It’s time for me to take out the hidden dagger.
I unstrapped the sling of the rifle I was holding and inspected my weapons. It was a British United Kingdom Anfield Model L bolt-action rifle with a 10-round magazine, and four extra magazines.
Unloaded, it weighed over 10 pounds.
For two years, I had used the Webley revolver, which had six rounds loaded in the cylinder.
Additionally, I received two Ami knives from Colonel Claude Rain.
My arms were well-equipped. After all, I finally got to use close combat magic in real combat, thanks to what Colonel Claude Rain had taught me.
After checking my last weapon, I looked back and forth between Bella and Luna and said,
“So, I entrust Bella to you, Captain Luna.”
“Don’t d*e. I’ll give you a punch if you do.”
Luna swung her clenched fist in the air. Her hand was bruised and battered with blue marks.
At that moment,
“Bella,”
Bella Meyer grabbed my collar and pulled me towards her. Our lips touched momentarily. A warm breath slipped through the gap and tickled my neck.
She lightly kissed me and pulled away.
Stunned by her sudden action, I stared at Bella.
This time, she hugged me first.
“I’ll wait for you. As always.”
“Yes……”
Bella released her embrace after hearing my reply.
After exchanging final glances with the soldiers tasked with the rescue, I firmly shouldered my rifle.
I slowly and calmly
Stepped into the lion’s den.
*
The National Guard headquarters was in an emergency. Simultaneous protests were breaking out across most of the capital, Kaieph.
No, they were riots.
The newspapers they held revealed the truth of all these events.
The rebellion initiated by the National Guard, the Capital Guard Division, and the Eastern Corps.
The citizens, who had no cause, were driven by groundless fear and endless desire for power, and could not accept this coup.
They had caught and beaten the National Guard trying to order them to disperse, and were advancing toward Petrovna Palace.
The citizens’ anger was like a raging fire.
No matter how much water was poured on it, it would never be extinguished.
Until they burned everyone to ashes, the citizens would never give up.
Just moments ago, they had to drive out the citizens who tried to forcibly enter the National Guard headquarters with tear gas.
“d*mn……! From now on, sh**t anyone who disobeys the orders of the National Guard!”
Finally, the Chief Inspector of the National Guard reached the worst decision possible.
“The citizens?”
“They’re not citizens! Look at the clubs they’re holding. Do they look like citizens to you?”
“But, even so, to order firing on the citizens……”
Click.
A g*n barrel was shoved in front of the officer who voiced his objection.
“Do you want to be buried under treason too?”
“No……”
“Then tell your subordinates immediately! sh**t without mercy!”
He left the commander’s office as if he was being pushed out, and looked at his own hands.
Was this really right? He was the most daring among the Chief Inspector’s inner circle.
Even when he heard that Commander Siegmund was killed, he didn’t waver.
But the citizens were different.
Who knows if their brothers, sisters, parents are mixed among them? Perhaps Brian next door might be there.
The issue wasn’t just about himself. What about the soldiers pulling the trigger?
How many subordinates would comply when ordered to sh**t their own mother, father, brother, and sister with their own hands?
“This is…… This is terribly wrong. This can’t be happening. If this continues, it will lead to everyone’s destruction.”
Since the co-ruler capture operation has been disrupted, the foundation of all operations has crumbled.
What the coup forces are doing now is nothing but a desperate struggle to preserve their own lives.
How far do they plan to run?
First ten,
Then a hundred,
Later, even knowing that thousands of lives are at stake, they will unhesitatingly order shots to be fired.
The packaging of ‘protecting the country’ has long since been stripped off.
It must stop before it gets any worse.
Even if it’s already too late, I must prevent the capital Kaieph from being stained with innocent citizens’ bl**d.
But the one who can pull the brake is only myself.
The young National Guard officer took out the pistol fixed in his pocket.
“God, forgive this foolish soul.”
With these words,
