– Karin’s POV –

  The town was a ghost of itself.

  Nearly three hours had passed, and the once-bustling streets now lay eerily empty. The scent of lavender—usually calming—felt out of place, swallowed by the thick, heavy air of impending battle.

  Only 200 warriors remained.

  A mix of adventurers, knights, and guards stood ready, fingers tightening around their weapons as the moment of confrontation neared.

  Then—

  “They’re here!”

  An adventurer with far-sight vision shouted from the walls, his voice carrying across the silence.

  Every muscle in my body tensed.

  It begins.

  “Stay calm!” Earl Xavier Senian—the ruler of Lavender Town and Vale City—raised his voice. “Archers and mages, prepare for an attack!”

  The red-haired lord himself stood at the frontline, high atop the wall. A noble leading an army, rather than hiding behind it.

  His presence here was unexpected. I had been meant to take command, but after Freed’s warning about hidden enemies, the Earl had refused to leave.

  Lavender Town held his wife's memory—a memory he refused to abandon.

  But more importantly—if powerful enemies were orchestrating this attack, I could not lead while also fighting them head-on.

  So, he took charge.

  The orcs emerged from the forest—a wave of monstrous flesh, marching with an unnatural precision.

  Their march was disciplined. Their formations—unnatural.

  A true military force.

  Even an Orc King wouldn’t have been capable of this.

  Something—or someone—was controlling them.

  Freed was right.

  This was no ordinary stampede.

  “Fire!”

  At Earl Senian’s command, a storm of magic and arrows rained down from the wall—a devastating first strike meant to cripple their advance.

  Arrows and magic surged forward, glowing streaks of aura and mana painting the sky—each attack meant to cripple the advancing horde.

  *BOOM!*

  ““WHAT!?””

  A massive, transparent barrier flared to life. The air crackled as every magic and arrow crashed against it—only to vanish, leaving not a single scratch.

  The adventurers and mages were surprised, their faces twisting in shock.

  It was then that I felt them.

  “They are here,” I murmured under my breath.

  Not one. Not two.

  Seven figures descended from the treetops, gliding effortlessly through the air before halting above the front line of orcs.

  The orcs stopped marching, as if they were waiting for the command.

  The figures in the sky wore white, their masks grotesque parodies of human expressions.

  One of them—a red-haired man in an angry-face mask—was the first to speak.

  “That’s quite rude of you, attacking us before we even arrived.”

  His tone was mocking, but the malice beneath it was undeniable.

  “Who are you!?” I shouted, stepping forward.

  Then—

  At the center, a black-haired man tilted his head, his expression unreadable beneath the blank gaze of his poker-faced mask.

  “Nice to meet you, Winter Queen.”

  My blood ran cold.

  He knew my title, yet he dared to confront me.

  That means they have the confidence to win against me.

  “We are Clownemo,” he continued, voice smooth yet unnerving. “The clowns who seek to spread all emotions across this world. My name is Poker, and I lead this group.”

  Clownemo.

  I had never heard of them before.

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  Yet their presence suffocated the battlefield.

  One by one, they introduced themselves—each name matching the twisted expression of their mask.

  “My name is Shock.” A silver-haired man in a surprised-face mask bowed slightly, his posture eerily butler-like.

  “Anxi.” A dark blue-haired woman in an anxious-face mask curtsied like a noblewoman, though her twitching fingers betrayed her nervous energy.

  “Hi! Hi! I’m Joy!” A pink-haired twin-tailed girl waved cheerfully, her happy-face mask twisted in delight.

  “I’m Hate. And I hate you guys who attacked our orcs before!” The red-haired man’s killing intent surged, pressing down like a crushing weight.

  He was like a beast in human skin.

  “Hate, your killing intent always makes me scared…” A light-green-haired man hugged himself, trembling theatrically. “I’m Dread.”

  The last to speak was a girl with aqua twin-tails, clutching at her dress as if suppressing a sob.

  “Big sis Winter Queen! I, Tears, might just cry from your scary expression, you know?”

  She laughed through her fake sobbing.

  Seven figures.

  Dressed in pristine white—the men in crisp dress shirts and slacks, the women in gothic-lolita gowns—they stood like eerie specters against the battlefield.

  Their presence made my skin crawl.

  “You called them your orcs,” Earl Senian cut in. “Are you controlling them? Why are you attacking this town!? What’s your intention!?”

  “Oh?” Poker feigned mock surprise. “What a noble appearance! We apologize for overlooking your presence, the lord of this town, Earl Xavier Senian.”

  The sarcasm wasn’t lost on anyone.

  Poker ignored the Earl’s glare, continuing casually.

  “We are merely doing a job.” Poker shrugged. “Our client has requested a few deaths. These orcs were just to ensure all warriors and mages were coming here, so we can kill our targets easier.”

  My fists clenched.

  It wasn’t the town they were after.

  It was about specific people.

  And then—Poker said it.

  “Your only son and daughter, Earl. Give them to us—and this town might be spared.”

  The blood drained from the Earl’s face.

  “What!?” he growled. “Why are you after my children!?”

  Poker laughed. “No idea. We don’t ask for reasons. We just deliver emotions.”

  My stomach twisted.

  Their goal wasn’t destruction.

  Their goal was suffering.

  Poker suddenly glanced toward the silent streets.

  “Hmm… the town is rather quiet. Are all the people already evacuated, including your children?”

  “As if we will let you know!” Earl shouted again, but he ignored it.

  Poker turned toward his subordinates.

  “Shock, Joy, Anxi… why do they seem prepared?”

  “I already made sure no one left the base until yesterday,” Shock replied smoothly.

  Poker shrugged. “No matter.” Then, he gave the order.

  “Go find them.”

  “Ah, but, Poker!” Joy pouted. “What if they’re hiding among the citizens? That’s such a bother! Can we kill the extras too?”

  Poker waved his hand.

  “Do as you please.”

  Joy’s eyes under the mask gleamed.

  “Yay!”

  The three took off—flying toward the town.

  I reacted instantly—

  *BOOM!*

  A barrage of water blades tore through the sky—aimed straight at them—

  But—

  A barrier materialized again, shattering my magic.

  Damn it!

  They flew past me, into the town.

  I gritted my teeth.

  I wanted to chase them.

  But—

  Poker smiled. “Ah, ah, ah… are you sure you should leave?”

  My fists clenched.

  I could feel it.

  If I left now—They would destroy this place.

  All seven of them are strong.

  I used appraisal on them earlier. Their attributes are over 20,000 each. Poker even has over 40,000. All of their elements and passive skills were hidden. I don’t know about their active skills since my appraisal skill is not good enough, but they probably hide their active skills too.

  I locked eyes with the Earl. Beneath his fury, I saw something else—hesitation, fear. He already knew there was no easy choice.

  “Sorry, Earl. I have assigned some people to guard the citizens. Let’s just hope they can buy time until reinforcements arrive.”

  His crimson eyes calmed down as he nodded, “Then, that’s fine. Sorry to burden you.”

  I apologized to Earl, but he apologized back to me.

  The enemies were not hiding their aura and mana. I’m glad Earl’s clothes give high resistances. If he wore ordinary clothes, he surely would have fainted or even died the moment they appeared.

  But still…

  All the people here will have a hard time defending the town under the presence of their aura and mana.

  “Are you perhaps wondering how to fight us while protecting them?” Poker guessed what I was thinking correctly, but I just stayed silent.

  He continued and gave an unexpected suggestion,

  “Don’t worry, we dislike fighting by using hostages. So, how about fighting us somewhere else? Ah, I mean the three of them. My job here is only to introduce ourselves properly.”

  “Haha! I’m itching to fight!”

  “Haa.. I’m scared of fighting her.”

  “Big sis! Be gentle, okay?”

  Hate, Dread, and Tears replied respectively.

  A moment later, Poker tore a teleportation scroll for himself, then he vanished.

  I didn’t feel his presence anymore.

  He really left.

  “Could you do it?” Earl’s voice made me turn to him.

  His worried look was expected.

  Three versus one.

  Moreover, all of them are strong.

  I forced a confident smile. "If Poker stays out, I can handle them. But if they’re this sure of themselves… they might be more than just a match for me."

  “Then go, no need to hold back. We will handle these orcs.”

  “Big sis! Are you done chatting? I’m getting bored! Let’s start playing!” Tears urged me.

  "Impatient, aren’t you?" I exhaled, rolling my shoulders. "Fine. Follow me. Let’s see how long you last."

  “Yay!”

  I chose a vast greenfield to the east as our battlefield so they can’t use anything to hide.

  And also, the other three will fight against Greg and others at an one or two-hour distance from the east gate.

  If I engage with them at a 30-minute distance from the east gate, I might be able to discern the situation of their battle as well as the one on the north gate.

  With that, I turned and led them east.

  Moving through the sky, we left the town behind—until nothing remained between us.

  The fight had begun.