Count Tumbu, whose appearance remained a mystery, now stood before Lidya. He wore a suit as if attending a party amidst the city's chaos. There was no sign of trembling or fear in him as he observed his people suffering from the chaos. He treated it all as if it were normal.
Lidya realized one thing from the count's calm demeanor in the coming attack. She had already sensed that the count was no ordinary person, surpassing even the grand marshal. Lidya knew that the count had anticipated their arrival from the beginning. This meant he was also the one who prepared Captain Lyke to guard when they (the rebels) attempted to escape through the underground water channel.
The count's satisfied smile suddenly vanished. It was replaced by a trembling grin, clearly visible to both of them.
"I expected your arrival, the murderers of Grand Marshal Corn Fredrick. I didn't expect that it would be three lowly individuals who killed someone as powerful as him. And after seeing everything happening here, I'm even more convinced of that story." Tumbu glared sharply at Lidya, his face filled with anger.
"And also..." the count glanced sideways at Camel, who stood beside the girl he had just looked at. "Who would've thought... You, Camel, not only brought people to fight in your rebellion, but you also brought terrifying monsters like them here?!" Tumbu expressed this through his thoughts. He didn't expect to be cornered like this just because of the three people brought by the 'eye.' Their strength was truly beyond comprehension.
'Why are mages siding with the rebels?' He pondered the same thing as others before. Only this time, he didn't voice it directly. He wanted to find the answer himself.
"I recruit anyone strong! If they bring victory, I don't care who they are. As long as Duke Asena steps down from his position, that will satisfy me."
Camel's words caused a small surprised expression on Lidya. She wasn't shocked by her suspicions, but by the reason of 'whatever it takes.'
Whatever it takes, huh? Lidya began to get a clear picture of all her suspicions.
Lidya glanced back and forth between Camel and Tumbu. She knew what she had to do now. Whose side she was on could be determined later; now was the time to act with a surprise plan.
"Heh..." Tumbu sighed. He noticed Lidya's suspicious gaze. The girl seemed to be planning something unknown to Camel.
'This is getting interesting,' he thought. Everything the count saw was something that excited him. Something he had never seen before.
"Count Tumbu, surrender! Brttt(spitting)...! although it won't work (mocking laugh)..." Camel said.
In an instant, Camel, who had previously taken a relaxed stance, leaped toward Tumbu and attacked him with his mace.
"Ice barrier!" Tumbu calmly raised his hand and created a small circular barrier. The barrier successfully withstood Camel's powerful mace strike. Tumbu didn't even feel the slightest hint of defeat in terms of strength at this moment.
*Crack!
The mace managed to crack the barrier, but only slightly.
Feeling ineffective, Camel jumped back and landed beside Lidya. This time, he used his skill to attack. His mace glowed orange, and a hot temperature emanated from it. "Fire Enchant!"
He attacked once more.
Tumbu, seeing this, didn't stay in place this time. He advanced towards Camel and moved his hands as if performing a Kamehameha.
"My turn! Blazing Eclipse Luminary!"
Flames and darkness erupted from his hands, burning anyone in front of him with those black and white flames.
"Damn it!"
Camel didn't have time to dodge; the attack came so quickly.
*Cling!
Fortunately, Lidya, who was behind him, swiftly helped. She activated her barrier magic to protect the reckless Camel.
"Lidya?"
"Why? We're fighting together, you know?"
"Hmm!" Camel nodded with a confident smile. He changed the enchantment on his mace from fire to water to exploit his opponent's weakness. "Water Enchant!"
*Slash!
Passing through Lidya's barrier, Camel slashed through the flames like a sharp sword cutting through wood.
"Argh!!!"
Without hesitation, Camel continued his follow-up attack. He attempted to strike the man's shoulder.
"Got you!"
"Not me, but you!"
Suddenly, the ground they stood on was covered in ice.
"Ice Thrust!"
An ice spear shot up from the ground toward Camel's stomach, piercing him.
"Again?!"
Once again, Lidya assisted Camel. This time, not with a barrier but with a counterattack.
A flame struck the spear, melting it instantly.
The ice beneath their feet also melted, creating a pool of water.
Tumbu smiled happily at this. He immediately struck the puddle and, "Fool! Freeze!"
Camel, standing in the puddle, instantly had his legs frozen. He couldn't move his legs.
Even so, he was the 'eye' and wouldn't be defeated easily just because his legs were frozen.
"Freeze in your goddamn dreams! I'm the one who will freeze (kill) you!"
With great force, Camel struck Tumbu's head with his mace. Their proximity and Tumbu's low stance from his preparation to strike the puddle worked to his advantage.
"Hardened Skin!" A voice from afar immediately protected Tumbu with support magic.
Camel was instantly surprised. He recognized the owner of that skill, and he knew where the voice came from. The voice belonged to Juno, whose wrists were bound.
*Thud!
The short woman dropped down as if the bindings were mere toys.
"Lady Juno?" Camel was confused by his mistress's actions.
When she opened her eyes, Juno revealed her lifeless, glowing eyes.
Lidya, standing far from the three of them, finally understood what gas was present before they arrived here. She also knew what had happened to Juno just by observing the woman's condition.
"Mind break? So you broke her?"
Lidya's evaluation of Tumbu decreased drastically. She no longer cared about finding answers. She only wanted to destroy the count as soon as possible.
"The most effective way to fight is by using the closest person. Isn't that right?" Tumbu said calmly, adjusting his glasses.
The man felt neither satisfaction nor joy in this situation. He saw it purely as a strategy. There was no lustful intent at all.
So this is what it means to do whatever it takes to win? Lidya was furious. Both Camel and Tumbu, Neither rebels nor retainers, were trash who only wanted to win. If that's what they wanted...
"Micah was right about this..."
Lidya's words, accompanied by mad laughter, reached their ears. Those who had been fighting suddenly stopped and felt a terrifying aura around the rooftop.
"... Anything to win~! As long as we're strong~ we can do anything..." The girl's lips curled into a smile.
She no longer cared about this. She didn't want to be the one stepped on; she wanted to be the one step on.
The heat of fire suddenly filled the rooftop. The scorching atmosphere made everyone up there feel uncomfortable.
Fire dust suddenly appeared, swirling around everyone on the rooftop. The dust multiplied rapidly. Until suddenly... The swarm of dust encircled Tumbu and Camel at a fast pace.
Lidya tried to eliminate both of them at once. She and her two friends had to lead; it was the best way to find what they wanted. Not to be pawns of the government clowns like them.
"This is bad... This magic... It's more terrifying than mine!" Tumbu looked hot and panicked. Inside the vortex of firedust, he didn't know what to do next. Any magic he cast would be destroyed inside that vortex.
"Dear, follow me! We can't possibly fight them now! Let's return to the capital!"
"Rian?!"
The woman who had escaped Lidya's rage earlier returned to her husband's side. She came with wounds all over her body. She looked like she wouldn't last long (consciousness-wise).
"Forget about my condition; informing the duke about them is our priority right now!"
"Hmm (nodding)...!"
Tumbu and his wife immediately teleported away. There were no traces of their presence. Their aura vanished instantly from there.
Meanwhile, Camel, also inside the vortex, didn't know what to do now.
"Hardened skin!" A voice from outside the vortex forced its way in.
"Lady Juno?! How can you?!"
"Tumbu has left; I've regained my senses!"
"That's good then... So, what should we do?"
"Run! I'll strengthen your skin too!"
"We should kill this traitor (Lidya)?!"
"Don't!"
"Why?!"
"She's furious because of what happened to me! As a fellow woman, I know how angry she is seeing this happen."
"Tch! But still-!"
"Camel- no, Bonta! Obey me! Let her live because she's angry for my sake!"
Juno called the 'eye' by his real name. With that, Camel could only nod reluctantly. He hated to admit it, but if Juno had commanded it, everything had to be followed.
With that, Juno took Camel away.
"DAMN IT!"
Lidya realized her two enemies had escaped. She slammed her staff to the ground, making a loud *thud!
She exhaled deeply. She didn't want to look ugly now. This wasn't the time to be angry. Someone had to give the next step to those who remained.
"Lidya! What happened?!" Rudi came to get her.
Followed by Micah and Elia. The three of them saw Lidya's fierce expression.
"You're angry and it's not because of me? That's new."
"Micah!" Rudi warned Micah that this wasn't the time for jokes.
"Lidya..." Elia felt worried about the girl.
"Hey... Let's get to the point, what's the next step?"
Micah assessed the situation. With both the count and the 'eye' gone, he could deduce the answer himself. This was the chosen path.
"Rudi... Raise the flag, from now on, this is our country!" Lidya replied with resignation.
"You're creating a country? Without money or people?! That's insane!" Elia objected to the madness.
"Ohh... About that?! I've already prepared for it!" (Micah)
"Prepared for it?!"
"The city is currently locked down for some reason. We can force those left behind to stay. If that goes smoothly, we'll just need to find soldiers. Until we have an army, we have to protect this place ourselves."
Micah's cruel idea sounded reasonable. They didn't care much about the fate of the citizens.
"So we need soldiers?" Elia asked.
"What are you thinking?"
"I know a place where mercenaries are... But..."
"Money?" (Rudi)
"Hmm (nodding)..."
"Don't worry, I know where we can get the yellow stuff."
"Rob?" (Micah)
"No, this city is one of the three main cities of the country, right? That means there must be many valuable items here. Moreover, the vault that we talk about earlier."
"You want to use all of it?" (Elia)
"No, just some of it."
The plan wasn't fully mature, but they had the raw idea and a sense of direction.
"In that case, let's go. There are citizens we need to be silent and make kneel!"
An unexpected beginning unfolded. Raising their own flag amidst a rebellion was a huge challenge. They might face attacks from two sides, or even three. They didn't know when neighboring countries would strike, seizing this opportunity. They had to be prepared.