Countdown: 6

Ruh-oh what does that mean? Stay tuned to find out~

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Hydra and his companions had already left [Grenit] and after looking back remembering that slight threats Taye had casually called out to him about taking care of his sister he shivered. Although it was Hydra’s full intentions on protecting her anyways the overprotective brother was still terrifying.

After leaving no one asked about Hydra’s mood the previous night, nor did anyone ask why Irina was able to continue to travel with them. After all they all knew she was a princess and would take over Laxiss’ position after she inherited her new abilities. Instead what happened Irina changed her hair colour back to blonde and was chatting brimming with smiles at Hydra’s side. When Cline, Valeria and Falcon saw this they couldn’t help but be confused but they made no attempts to find their answers.

The most noticeable change about Hydra’s group was that their numbers had been bolstered by at least another 100 people! The elves that joined the cause of the [Bread Order] was something to be happy about, however this was at the same time a troublesome situation for their Lord Hydra!

They all after all knew that he was able to cook! Now that he was forced to cook for 400 plus people his cooking skill passed all his over abilities by far! In only a few days of traveling, where all the others were happily farming, Hydra was grumbling about having to make an endless supply of food. With that his level in cooking had already reached level 5! Because it was more depressing Hydra couldn’t be bothered to look at the skill itself and continued to work hard preparing all the food and numerous amount of exotic spices from [Grenit].

Even though he was grumbling at certain moments he would take small glances towards Irina and seeing her bright smiling face he couldn’t help but be somewhat happy inside as well. She had just gotten over a huge hurdle and he was naturally paying close attention to her. But was that just all? Somehow every time he noticed that bright smile or when their gazes met coincidentally, Irina would become red and quickly look away, while Hydra’s heart would be ba-dump.

Luckily, the awkwardness went unnoticed by everyone other than Valeria. As a woman her intuition to such things was unnaturally high and even though it pained her to watch she couldn’t exactly deny them either. However somewhere deep in her heart she decided to try hard to also obtain Hydra’s affection! With Valeria added in the mix it was unknown the numerous amount of troubles Hydra was going to be in when a certain someone met up with Hydra. Of course little did he know that the entire world’s balance would be destroyed because of it.

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Days went on and as the group passed through the [Plains of Lathandra] and straight back into the [Kingdom of Valeria] it slight but at this moment Hydra quickly realized that Valeria shared the same name as the kingdom. To him this was kind of surprising but maybe it was normal so he didn’t bother asking and went on with his day and spoke out towards the group.

“Everyone! We will head to the Imperial capital [Elysia]! In the meantime you may all take a rest and stay in group. I will not tell you not to enter the city however be careful as all of you were wanted once. Don’t let me worry about you!”

“Yes! All Hail Hydra!”

“... There’s no need to take it that far.”

Hydra only muttered and as such the bread followers didn’t hear him. But as their gazes of worship was almost painful he couldn’t say anything that would allow them to think differently of him! He understood how much he meant to them as a person after all he was not only their savior but someone they undoubtedly trusted! This was a trust born of Hydra’s own actions and denying that would be denying himself.

“May I ask what you’re looking for in Elysia Lord Hydra?”

“Oh I need a way to level up more quickly, and I imagine the quests at Elysia are the best for this.”

“Ah…. well if you can’t find something let me know, although I now longer run the black market I will still have endless connections and be able to find anything you need!”

“Alright. Thanks Valeria!”

Hearing a word of thanks caused Valeria to blush, in embarrassment she ran away. However before Hydra could laugh at her cute appearance someone who had left him alone for the duration of the trip made his way over.

“Cline! You left me to cook this entire time by myself!”

“Yup! I thought you needed some time to relax after working so hard, I don’t know what happened however now that you look better, I have decided to teach you more seriously in becoming a true leader.”

“Wait. Just wait. Your looks don’t much your honest words of helping me out here.”

“Of course not! As a knight I just want my leader to be the best leader possibly now come! We will study for the entire day and through the night. You’ll be so busy you won’t even get tired!”

“Nooooooo!”

Everyone saw Hydra get dragged by the claw grip Cline had on his shoulder and confusedly looked over, except no one dared to ask what was happening and couldn’t help but whisper to one another. Meanwhile, Pan who was waiting for his food while Hydra was cooking sat there depressed watching his master being dragged away without even having the chance to get fed.

“....Aroooo.”

“Come here Pan! I got some food for you!”

Irina called out to Pan, and in that next moment Pan completely forgot about his helpless master and happily skipped over to Irina nudging his head against her leg while being hand fed personally by Irina.

“I’m so jealous! How I wish I was the Lord Emissary at this moment!”

“Blashipamy! Rich! How dare you wish you were such a supreme existence!”

“Well don’t you wish Irina would hand feed you?!”

“OF COURSE I DO! But not at the expense of Lord Pan’s anger! Thus everyone knock some sense into this fellow brother!”

“Yea!”

“AAAAAAAAHHHHH!”

“Huh? They are awfully loud over there I wondered what happened?”

“Aro?”

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Another few days passed and even now instead of cooking Hydra was having his mind crammed with knowledge he simply didn’t wish to have. That moment when he nearly passed out and Cline smacked the back of his head awake he awoke and angrily yelled at Cline!

“Damnit! I don’t want to do this anymore!!! I want to sleep, let me sleeeeeep!”

“No you need to learn these things specially that your numbers are rising quickly!”

“No! Someone else can do this for me! Like you!”

“Oh? If I handle all the front line, what about the rear? You will still need to protect that.”

“I’ll find someone to take care of that.”

“What about scouting?”

“Find someone…”

“What about supplies?”

“Obviously find someone!”

“Oh? And what exactly ARE you going to do?”

“Play around with Pan, while leading those who can do a better job than me?”

Cline was shocked as he stared at Hydra’s reasoning for not studying. While it was true that Hydra could play the figurehead and lead talented individuals instead of doing the work himself, he still needed those people first thus the situation wasn’t solved. Although Cline couldn’t bring himself to argue seeing Hydra’s serious face answers either. Play with Pan? Lead in the background? Are you serious? With that Cline regained his composure and looked at Hydra before saying “No!”

“Damnit I didn’t want to resort to this Cline! But you forced me!”

“Oh you going to fight me now?”

“Nope. I’m going to run away!”

“Wai-”

Before Cline could even spit out a single word Hydra was like the wind and bolted out of the tent. These tents were something they were given on the way from the Elves. Although elves had no need for the tents it was something of bonus they got for trading with merchants during this time. With no use they felt giving it to others who desperately needed it was better than nothing!

After leaving although it wasn’t yet dark, the brightest hour had long passed, and seeing Irina walking in the distance with Pan near a small forest, Hydra wore a bright smile and yelled out to Irina.

“Irina!”

“Huh.. Wo-”

Hydra’s momentum didn’t stop as he rushed by Irina grabbing onto her hand and Pan and sped off into the forest disappearing from sight while thinking in his mind.

‘Haha this will make you regret forcing me Cline! Have fun chasing me!’

Although Hydra only wanted some vengeance for the tough work he had been forced into and to cause a little trouble for Cline, he didn’t realize how much trouble he was about to cause.

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“Good! You to play that way Hydra? Well I have a way to take advantage of all your followers.”

Just then Cline took out his beautiful long sword and slashed his own chest. Although the wound was superficial it looked incredibly deep and painful spewing out blood like particles constantly. In the next moment Cline groaned and screamed out.

“Help!”

It took mere seconds and the entire army of the Bread Order was organized in front of Cline’s tent. A serious discussion was taking place as Cline Had already had the “help” of Valeria tending to his wounds. Of course Cline explained the true circumstances to Valeria and hearing that Hydra ran with Irina AND Pan she wa furious and decided to help Cline with his plan. Naturally they ignored telling the truth to Falcon who couldn’t keep a secret, or understand the plan anyways. With a pale face and slow movement of his body he used all his energy to scream at the Bread followers.

“YOUR LEADER HAD BEEN KIDNAPPED!”

“WHAT?!”

“WHO IS THAT BASTARD THAT DARES!”

“I’LL KILL EM!”

“Wait, I saw Hydra running in the forest with Irina and Pan no one else was with him them though?”

“BLASHIMY! Rich! How dare you not noticed the invisible enemy dragging the two away! Irina only grabbed on to Hydra as a means to save him! Thus for not saving Hydra you need to be punished! Beat em boys!”

“Ah! Nooooooooooooo!”

After clearing up the misunderstanding Cline stood up with what seemed like every ounce of energy he hand and roared!

“Go! Reclaim your leader!”

“YES!”

Naturally Falcon was furious and the loudest to scream. He even started to mutter scary things that even made Cline cringe. However not even five seconds later the previous group of bandits and rogues rushed off into the distance after Hydra turning back a frazy army similar to when they were in Yorula! Of Course two people stayed put with smirks on their faces. On the other hand was a near crippled person lying on the ground.