“Yah!”
Rumble, rumble, rumble, rumble, rumble, DRAGH!
As urged by the coachman, the carriage started racing towards the battalion like mad.
Even hanging onto the back of the vehicle, this speed was something. Indeed, it had the grandeur of a military vehicle used exclusively for the battalion commander.
Of course, as much as the speed was impressive, the carriage was shaking like an earthquake. However, Lumina, who was seated in the passenger compartment, didn’t even bother to notice.
There was no time for that.
Click.
Out of sheer anxiety, Lumina bit her nails. Her heart showed no signs of calming down.
It wasn’t because she was afraid of the speed.
It was due to worry about Enok Revendale, the squad leader left behind in Chernov City.
‘Those Gabial guys… They’re notorious for messing with soldiers.’
While Lumina was distracted, she managed to join forces with the coachman, who was stuck at the checkpoint, and escape from the city.
Despite the guards blocking the entrance midway, possibly due to the commander’s order to seal off the area.
‘- Just run over them!’
‘- Are you serious!?’
‘- Yes!! Just trample them!’
‘- Hold on tight! We’re breaking through!’
With a sharp command, the coachman responded enthusiastically and succeeded in pushing past the guards and fleeing.
If only they had been a moment slower or if the coachman had hesitated…
Lumina would have been caught by the guards.
‘Really… The commander of the Chernov City garrison was colluding with the enemy?’
She clenched the envelope she received from Alfera tightly.
The Chernov City garrison was far from being a just organization.
They were usually careless with their duties, and they would mercilessly impose fines for the slightest reason.
Up until now, these actions were considered a form of favoritism.
Although they grumbled about the unfair treatment, they never really made an issue out of it.
Ironically, for Lumina, the Gabial were even more troublesome than the garrison.
Not only did they control the market and run illegal businesses, but they also connected Rex and other unsavory individuals within the army, gradually gaining influence.
But this situation crossed the line.
It was clear treason.
Especially since it involved the head of the security organization responsible for a border trading city committing such a major crime.
“…I can’t forgive this.”
Lumina muttered with a voice filled with anger. Despite being part of a demoted platoon and receiving all sorts of disrespect, she never gave up her pride as a soldier.
Thinking about how she had been played by such people, Lumina felt as though flames were burning inside her.
When had she last felt such emotions?
To perform missions for the country and enforce justice. She had completely forgotten about the sense of responsibility as a soldier since joining the 5th Platoon.
The group that uniquely needed her was none other than the Okhraine Army.
Growing up as an orphan without knowing her parents and having no close friends, the army became a new sanctuary for her.
Lumina Blue worked hard to earn recognition from them.
Perhaps her efforts paid off.
Though she couldn’t go through officer training due to her orphan status, she was recognized as a promising non-commissioned officer and was on an elite track.
But it was easy for all the effort she built up to crumble.
Training, comrades, mistakes.
bl**d stains rising before her eyes.
Once a popular star of the battalion, she ended up at the bottom with no end in sight.
She became a member of the demoted platoon.
Still, she didn’t give up. Lumina was always kind and didn’t scold uncontrollable platoon members.
She held onto hope that one day an opportunity would come.
Even with her body and mind as broken as they were, she believed someone would find her eventually.
A year, two years passed, and just before she let go of the last thread of hope.
Enok Revendale arrived.
‘Squad leader…’
She thought she would never feel this again.
Just serving her time and waiting to be thrown out into society.
Her heart began to beat again.
‘Just wait a little longer. I will definitely come help you.’
May you be safe until then.
Lumina clasped her hands together and prayed fervently to God.
‘Fcked!’
Ramur ran toward the garrison barracks without looking back.
He had never seen a mage use magic like that before.
How often do mages cast spells in the city?
Since the use of magic by military mages or officers, whether for civilian purposes or within the city, was strictly regulated by military law.
All the magic Ramur had seen before was limited to lighting fires or watering flower beds.
And not only did he see a waterfall being launched from his hand, but he also heard that hitting someone would make them fly away?
Don’t joke around.
That wasn’t the kind of power a mere lieutenant could wield.
Even without any knowledge of magic, Ramur could tell this lieutenant was at least a Grade 1 mage.
And such an officer wouldn’t be left alone by the military.
‘The National Guard, they must already know everything!’
Ramur’s mind went blank. There was only one option left.
To flee.
Whether crossing the border or seeking asylum in the Soviev Empire.
Only by escaping could he survive.
He had committed countless crimes already.
Not only did he sell secret transport routes to unknown individuals, but he also threatened and intimidated National Guard officers.
Ramur was certain that if captured by the National Guard, he would be sentenced to d*ath.
Quickly returning to the garrison barracks, he threw off his cumbersome armor and stuffed his uniform, which proved he was a city guard, into a corner.
Think he was going to wear his uniform and flee?
Did he want everyone to spread the word that he was a deserter?
Putting on a robe over his civilian clothes and stuffing all kinds of trinkets into his pockets, he packed his bundle with the hidden funds he had saved.
‘I need my g*n too.’
He couldn’t rely on the city guard anymore. Didn’t he just see how useless they were against a single mage?
Having changed his outfit and gathered money and weapons, Ramur headed straight for the stable where horses were kept.
It was almost dusk, and using a horse, he might be able to evade even the National Guard.
Who would know if he was hiding in the city or had fled?
Surely, they wouldn’t think he escaped the city in such a short time.
‘That female non-commissioned officer must be a guide for the National Guard. Even if they knew, there’s no way the National Guard has contacted them already.’
Ramur thought as he threw his bulky body onto a military horse. “Yah!” he shouted, and the horse galloped out of the barracks, causing Ramur’s lips to curl slightly upward.
He had already done everything he could in Chernov City.
With this money, even if he moved to a neighboring country, he could live comfortably for the rest of his life.
Considering he was already thinking about retirement, Ramur had no real regrets left.
‘Laulo, that brat thinks he’s better than me just because he hangs out with those jerks. Let’s see him try to mess with me.’
There was no real brotherly bond between them.
He had only cooperated with them for some extra income, not out of genuine concern for his brother.
Whether he was executed or tortured by the National Guard, it wasn’t Ramur’s concern.
So he continued running.
The most important thing was the escape route.
At this point, it was likely that both the front and back gates were occupied by the National Guard.
However, during his two years as garrison commander, Ramur hadn’t just been loafing around.
‘Towards the eastern side gate!’
There were two entrances to Chernov City.
But there was one passage that wasn’t commonly used.
As a northernmost trading city and fortress city, it had a secret escape route for safely evacuating dignitaries during unrest.
Since Ramur was originally assigned to protect the dignitaries until the end, he knew about this passage.
‘If I go through there, no one will know!’
Ramur grinned as he realized victory was within reach.
As Ramur reached the eastern side gate of Chernov City,
“What?”
“Is it really… here?”
“I told you clearly.”
Two people stood in the way.
“Who are you? This is a restricted area, get lost quickly!”
Even when he roared in anger, the two figures in the shadows showed no reaction.
“Get lost!”
If he were in his usual temperament, he would have jumped off his horse and slapped the faces of those guys right away.
But given his current situation of being chased by the National Guard, he had no time to waste.
“It’s your fault for not moving aside!”
Ramur grabbed the reins again and charged towards the two people.
Regardless of whether they got hurt or died, he would accept it and urge his horse to dash through the escape route.
But something happened.
Just as the military horse was about to start running,
A huge icicle flew towards it.
Whine!
With a splash, the ice spear pierced through the leather, and the horse screamed and collapsed. Naturally, Ramur, who was riding on top, lost balance and rolled on the ground.
What’s happening?
Ramur looked up with a confused expression, and the mana emitted from the woman’s body turned the space blue.
‘A mage…!!’
When did the National Guard become so fast?
Ramur trembled with fear. He was in a desperate situation, with even his planned escape route blocked.
Caught or surrendering, either way meant d*ath.
Better to d*e first and then flee.
Ramur pulled out his pistol from his waist. His finger pulled the trigger, and flames shot out from the long barrel.
“d*e!!”
Bang!
Even a great mage would d*e instantly if hit in the head by a b*llet.
Ramur had shown remarkable skills with firearms while serving in the garrison.
The trajectory of the b*llet shot straight ahead was heading towards the mage’s forehead.
One shot, one k*ll.
Even though he had lost his voice, eliminating witnesses would allow him to continue delaying tactics.
At this point, it seemed his plan hadn’t completely fallen apart.
But Ramur’s hope shattered instantly.
Clank, clang!
The man standing silently drew out two daggers.
In the blink of an eye, a purple flash appeared. At the same time, a sharp metallic sound pierced Ramur’s ear.
Even seeing it with his own eyes, he couldn’t believe it.
A dagger, a crude dagger at that, had cut through the b*llet in mid-air.
“There’s no chance. Surrender.”
