chapter_0211

210 – Resistance

210 – Resistance

Daniel Steiner’s operation has been underway for 12 hours.

An improvised command center set up in the mansion of Count Caledra.

“What is going on? Daniel Steiner’s brigade has been spotted in the north? Didn’t the aerial reconnaissance report that they were establishing positions 200 kilometers to the west?”

“…That was Daniel Steiner’s scheme. He anticipated that the Allied Forces would rely on aerial reconnaissance and constructed a fortified position with air-inflated tanks and boxes.”

Since proper identification could not be made through aerial reconnaissance, they had taken it at face value.

While everyone was in a state of confusion, one of the staff members opened his mouth as if frustrated.

“What about the regiment and the defense forces sent across the bridge? Tell them to hurry back! When can we expect to arrive at Penbarch?”

“I have already ordered the troops to move as quickly as possible. By now, the vanguard should have reached the bridge, so perhaps even earlier than Daniel Steiner’s brigade…”

As the staff exchanged opinions, a liaison burst in.

Gasping for breath, the liaison spotted Caledra, who was sitting at the head of the table with his forehead in his hand.

Saluting, the liaison quickly spoke.

“Urgent report! The sluice gate… the sluice gate has been blown up!”

The staff froze at the news of the sluice gate explosion.

There was only one meaning behind that statement.

“It’s reported that during the crossing, the sluice gate was blown up, causing an armored battalion to be submerged! The division commander hastily withdrew the troops, preventing further casualties, but…”

The liaison clenched his fist tightly.

“Crossing is impossible! Due to the recent heavy rains, the sluice gate’s explosion has caused the river to flood significantly, making crossing impossible for at least four days…!”

At the mention of four days, Caledra sighed heavily, and the staff began to stir.

“Did I hear that correctly? Four days…”

“That’s absurd. Before we can retreat, Daniel Steiner’s brigade will arrive first.”

“What about the defense forces? How many are left in the city?”

The expressions of the staff darkened with despair.

If things continued like this, it was clear that Daniel Steiner would occupy the city.

Among them, Count Caledra bit his lip.

‘Daniel Steiner…!’

He realized too late that he had lost in psychological warfare and had been completely played by Daniel Steiner.

Anger surged, causing his breathing to become unstable.

Watching Caledra, the chief of staff cautiously spoke.

“Your Excellency, if this continues, it will only be a matter of time before Daniel Steiner occupies Penbarch. For your own safety, wouldn’t it be wise to abandon the city now?”

Caledra merely rolled his eyes at the chief of staff.

Feeling an instant pressure, the chief of staff lowered his head, and Caledra turned his gaze back to the front.

“Are you suggesting I hand this city over to him…?”

It was infuriating, but there was no other way.

Caledra, who had been gripping his cane tightly, looked at the ring on his hand.

Inside the clear gemstone embedded in the ring, an unknown energy continued to swirl.

This was the only control stone that could incapacitate Lucy Emilia.

When Lucy successfully manifested her Factor and became a monster, Count Caledra had scientists create this safety device separately.

This was also one of the reasons why Lucy was obediently staying inside the mansion.

The mechanism was simple.

As soon as magical power was infused into the control stone, the gemstone would shatter, and that energy would swirl around.

It would have no effect on ordinary people, but the energy extracted based on the Factor injected into the subject would collide with Lucy’s magical power, causing a powerful backlash.

Unable to withstand the backlash, Lucy would lose consciousness.

‘However…’

This was not a panacea.

According to the scientists, after using it once, Lucy’s body would develop immunity, making it impossible to attempt it again.

In short, this was the first and last opportunity to incapacitate Lucy Emilia.

Continuing to ponder, Caledra stood up, leaning on his cane.

“Handing over the city is enough. Chief of Staff, follow me.”

“…Understood.”

The chief of staff felt an ominous feeling but could not refuse the order, so he stood up and followed Caledra.

–

In the mansion’s bedroom, Lucy was sitting by the window, looking outside as usual.

Namerias, who was peeling fruit beside her, could not hide her anxiety while watching Lucy.

Should I say something or not?

Gathering her courage, Namerias finally spoke.

“Lady, something feels off. Since this morning, high-ranking officials have been pouring into the mansion. They all entered the large room with stern expressions, and there were raised voices.”

Lucy did not respond.

It was not something she could answer.

“Could it be that something bad has happened on the battlefield? That the enemy has won…?”

Realizing she had spoken too soon, Namerias quickly fell silent.

Although she felt sympathy for Lucy, she was, after all, someone raised in the Allied Nations.

So it was natural for her not to view Daniel Steiner’s rise favorably.

However, Lucy, who had some sort of relationship with Daniel, would likely have a different perspective.

As Namerias hesitated, Lucy smiled softly.

“There’s no need to worry. Even if the brigade commander comes to retake the city, he won’t attack civilians.”

“…Really? I heard the imperial army are demons who just rape women?”

“That’s a rumor. Of course, there are soldiers like that. But at least the brigade commander’s army won’t do that. I guarantee it.”

When Lucy gave her assurance, Namerias felt a sense of relief.

Just then, as she thought it was a relief, she heard footsteps.

“Huh?”

Footsteps.

Lucy narrowed her eyes as she recognized that the sounds coming from the hallway were not those of soldiers coming to change shifts.

At this point, there was only one person who would come leading troops.

‘Count Caledra.’

He must have decided to pull some tricks, judging that the situation was unfavorable.

From Caledra’s perspective, he would not want to hand over Lucy, who was asymmetrically powerful, to Daniel Steiner.

‘If I refuse his proposal…’

He would likely use the control stone.

For Lucy, who theoretically understood the power of the control stone, this was a nerve-wracking situation.

If Count Caledra used the control stone, it meant he was preparing for a ‘disposal.’

If she wanted to save her life, it would be wise to comply with Caledra’s words.

‘But…’

She did not want to return to that miserable past.

There was a man who had shown her that this world was not a painful place.

After taking a deep breath, Lucy reached out to Namerias.

“Namerias. Give that to me.”

“Eh? The knife? Why?”

“There’s no time to explain. Hurry.”

Hesitating, Namerias ultimately trusted Lucy and handed over the knife.

As Lucy concealed the knife in her sleeve, she whispered.

“Namerias. I’m sorry.”

“Eh?”

Bang!

The door burst open, and Count Caledra appeared, accompanied by the chief of staff and soldiers.

“C-Count?”

Ignoring Namerias, Count Caledra stepped inside and leaned his cane against the floor.

“Lucy Emilia. It’s time to return home.”

Despite Caledra’s words, Lucy calmly continued to look out the window.

Caledra, displeased by this, broke the short silence.

“Are you not going to return?”

“…The brigade commander told me to wait in Penbarch.”

As Caledra gestured, the soldiers aimed their guns at Lucy.

A flustered Namerias asked why this was happening, but Caledra paid no mind.

“I will give you one last chance. Stand up and follow me.”

However, Lucy did not stand up.

“You know, Count.”

A low but resolute tone filled the room.

“I will never follow you again.”

As Lucy spoke, she observed Caledra reflected in the window.

She saw Caledra place his hand on the control stone of the ring.

“If possible, I…”

Now was the perfect moment when he was off guard.

After a brief silence, Lucy accelerated her nerves.

In an instant, Lucy sprang up from her seat and threw the knife at Caledra.

Almost simultaneously, the chief of staff stepped in front.

“Your Excellency!”

The knife flew straight and struck the chief of staff’s arm.

‘…How?’

Was the chief of staff also a Neural Acceleration Ability User?

For a moment of realization, the control stone, having absorbed magical power, shattered into pieces, creating a whirlwind around.

In a panic, Lucy tried to run through the wind, but—

“…!”

The moment the wind touched her skin, intense pain surged, and her vision flickered.

Against her will, Lucy knelt on one knee, and Namerias rushed to support her.

“Lady! Are you okay!?”

Her body felt weak.

Gasping for breath, Lucy managed to lift her head and look up at Caledra.

Caledra did not avoid Lucy’s gaze either.

“Is this your answer?”

The chief of staff, with the knife embedded in his arm, groaned, but Caledra and Lucy merely glared at each other.

“You will regret this rudeness for the rest of your life.”

In the cold, settled emotions, Caledra quietly continued.

“Chief of Staff. After gathering the relevant parties, take Lucy Emilia to the laboratory.”

The initial suggestion to return home was merely a test of intentions.

According to the original plan, Lucy, who had been incapacitated, had to be killed here.

That was the fastest way to eliminate future troubles.

But perhaps due to the affection he had for Lucy, whom he had raised as a foster daughter.

Or perhaps because he regretted the money and time spent on her.

Caledra, unable to bring himself to kill her, decided to employ another method.

“Inform the relevant parties. Tell them to erase all of Lucy Emilia’s memories through the chamber in the laboratory.”

It was the same thing he had done when he removed Lucy’s memories of Penbarch in the past.

He did not want to tamper with her memories again, but from Caledra’s perspective, there were no other options.

“Make haste.”

Turning his gaze away from Lucy, Caledra glared at the chief of staff.

“We must finish everything before Daniel Steiner arrives.”

There was no time.

‘The moment anything goes even slightly wrong…’

Everything would be taken away by Daniel Steiner.