Do Your Own Revolution

#109

“Damn it… To end like this, like this…!”

“Remember this! You imperial dogs, the ideals of the Republic will someday…!”

“Execute.”

Ratatatata-!

The rebellion in the imperial capital was quickly suppressed.

The death of the real power Randall and the supreme leader Claude.

The numerous executives who became morning dew at the execution grounds before they could even mourn those deaths.

From my position watching from afar, it was quite a peculiar feeling.

‘Though, it’s not like I particularly sympathize with them.’

No matter how much they talked about their cause and ideals, even newly assigned recruits knew that the current Revolutionary Army was just a puppet of the Republic.

Rest in peace… as if.

Looking at the fresh rank insignia provided by the Imperial Army headquarters, I muttered in bewilderment.

“I finally got it after all.”

As the commander of the Special Magical Power Unit, I suppressed the rebellion, killed the rebel leaders, and uncovered the connection between the Revolutionary Army and the Republic.

A triple axel achievement earned at the cost of risking my life.

The silver rank insignia placed on the table was one of those rewards.

The imperial army emblem shining in silver, and the star gleaming brilliantly in its center.

At the young—no, childish age of eighteen, I was able to wear a star.

Brigadier General Eugene Lorentz.

As a reward for suppressing this rebellion, I became the youngest general in Imperial Army history.

“Brigadier General. It’s time for the meeting.”

“I’ll be right there.”

There was no time to be lost in sentiment.

The Revolutionary Army was both the biggest variable shaking the Empire and a cornerstone that had been suppressing internal conflicts within the Empire.

The moment it disappears, all the conflicts the Empire had accumulated would explode in an instant.

No one knows what will happen to the Empire from now on.

‘I suppose my knowledge of the original work is almost useless now anyway.’

After attaching the new rank insignia to my uniform, I left the room.

As soon as I left my private quarters, I saw figures from all walks of life densely filling the imperial palace.

“He’s out.”

“Eugene Lorentz…”

“A brigadier general? At that young age?”

“Well, his achievements speak for themselves.”

“Even so, that’s…”

Savoring the voices of those whispering about me, I made my way toward the central palace where the imperial audience would be held.

One week after the rebellion in the imperial capital.

The sword handle was firmly in our grasp.

***

The central hall of the imperial palace where the imperial audience was being held.

When the senate members, regular nobles, and representatives of magic noble families all gathered together, the spacious hall was packed without room to even step. Ꞧ𝓪𝐍ŐBЕṤ

“A rebellion in the imperial capital, it’s extremely unsettling.”

“I heard the Republic had a hand in it. To use such dirty tricks while under a ceasefire…”

“His Majesty must have had a difficult time. But to hold an imperial audience after just a week, this is…”

High-ranking officials buzzing with their own topics.

Amidst the crowding of numerous power holders, the magic nobles seated in one corner of the meeting hall couldn’t hide their anxiety.

Especially severe were the nobles belonging to the Buckenheim faction.

Those who had secretly sponsored this rebellion were now feeling as if they were sitting on pins and needles.

‘Why… Why isn’t there any word?’

Among those who participated in the attack on the imperial capital were knights, and the Imperial Intelligence Department persistently caught them.

While a considerable number of knights committed suicide, just as many others were detained in the underground prison of the imperial castle for interrogation.

With the Empire’s best torturers gathered in the Intelligence Department holding them, the game was as good as over.

The information that the Republic and Revolutionary Army were connected.

And evidence that magic nobles had secretly supported such a Revolutionary Army had fallen into the Emperor’s hands.

‘However, for a week after suppressing the rebellion, the Emperor hasn’t raised any issues.’

This was exactly what made the magic nobles anxious.

If he would at least arrest them for treason or send the Imperial Guard Knight Order, they could think of countermeasures, but he didn’t even do that, leaving them at a loss for what to do.

A strange silence.

However, even amid all this, those gathered in the meeting hall could understand one thing.

That the Emperor had obtained justification to draw his sword whenever he wished.

And now that the attack on the imperial capital had failed, the magic noble faction had no way to prevent it.

Though there were no particular movements for now, this was merely the calm before the storm.

The winds of reform were predetermined, and it was the Emperor who held the sword handle.

‘And the name of that sword in the Emperor’s hand is…’

As the nobles thought this, their gazes turned to one person.

Eugene Lorentz.

One who monopolized the Emperor’s trust at a young age and attained the position of general before turning 20.

And one who possessed such military achievements and power that no one could raise objections despite such unprecedented personnel appointments.

“Seven stroke at such a young age… Truly an unprecedented genius in imperial history.”

Eugene, who was attending the imperial audience on the recommendation of the Emperor and Imperial Army headquarters.

What the nobles noticed was where he stood.

On the opposite side of Andrei, the Imperial Guard Knight Order Commander, to the left of the central throne where the Emperor would sit.

Seeing him standing in Keiren’s place, who was currently at the front lines, the Empire’s power holders instinctively understood what position Eugene had come to occupy.

Keiren’s proxy in controlling the military.

Eugene had now become a core figure representing one pillar of the imperial faction.

“Is everyone present?”

What broke through the strange tension enveloping the meeting hall was the Emperor’s voice.

The nobles and elders immediately stood up from their seats to show respect.

After having them take their seats, the Emperor began presiding over the imperial audience as if nothing had happened.

The damage situation in each territory due to the rebellion.

Support measures for them, and reconstruction project plans.

The upcoming talks with the Republic, and discussions about them.

Despite the unsettling atmosphere following the rebellion, the Emperor’s demeanor in discussing with the nobles was incomparably composed.

“Now that we seem to have discussed the main issues, let’s talk about something else.”

But that was only for a moment.

After waving away the waiting attendants, the Emperor handed out thick bundles of documents to those seated in the meeting hall.

“Your Majesty, this is…”

The phrase written on the document cover was ‘Imperial Assembly Establishment Plan.’

With expressions saying what was bound to come had arrived, the tensed nobles quickly examined the plan distributed by the Emperor.

“The ‘Imperial Assembly’ was a policy institution that existed in the early days of the Kalhyram Empire’s establishment.”

Along with the sound of pages turning, the Emperor’s explanation began.

“An advisory body where representative figures from all walks of life in the Empire gathered to discuss policies and deliver them to the imperial family. However, it gradually became forgotten and obsolete while dealing with the unprecedented calamity called the Monster War.”

The content was about reviving this organization and reorganizing it as an advisory body for implementing imperial policies by having citizen representatives, figures from various sectors, and territory resident representatives from each territory participate.

It was a declaration to involve the general citizen class, not nobles, in imperial politics.

“Of course, since it’s limited to an advisory role rather than actual authority, it won’t cause changes to the existing imperial power structure.”

Though the Emperor said this, the nobles who skimmed through the documents immediately clutched their heads.

A channel being created where the citizen class could voice their opinions, and these opinions being directly delivered to the Emperor.

This was not at all welcome content for the noble class, especially the magic nobles who had positions equivalent to kings in their own territories.

However, just as they were about to open their mouths to say something, the Emperor mentioned the territorial residents’ rebellions that occurred in conjunction with this imperial palace attack.

“The fact that we couldn’t prevent this attack in advance is, paradoxically, because the Empire’s subjects don’t trust us. The war with the Republic, and the monsters. The Empire has sacrificed far too much to overcome these unprecedented calamities.”

“…”

“The disappearance of a properly functioning Imperial Assembly and the separation between our imperial subjects and us are also such matters. It’s a tradition of the Empire that we’ve kept at arm’s length for the sake of survival as the supreme premise.”

After catching his breath briefly, the Emperor spoke.

“However, now the Empire has changed.”

“…”

“The eastern monster front is being cleaned up smoothly, and the contaminated zone purification project is also on track. With the national treasury having room thanks to the Republic’s war reparations, now the Empire will take its first step toward returning to the glorious golden age that existed before the Great Rupture appeared.”

Let’s restore lost traditions.

This agenda brought out by the Emperor drew favorable responses from the senate members who remembered the old Empire, but the nobles with territories immediately began to oppose.

“Your Majesty. At this point, not long after suppressing the public uprising, to give such authority to the general citizen class.”

“This is giving legitimacy to the rebels’ actions. Moreover…”

“If things go wrong, it could give the impression that the Empire yielded to their public uprising. Not only would it damage the Empire’s authority, but it could also become the spark for new rebellions…”

“Rebels, you say.”

A rebuttal worthy of nodding agreement from the listening nobles.

“You all say such strange things.”

“…?”

However, hearing those words, the Emperor opened his mouth with a smiling face.

“The rebels who threatened the Empire under the Republic’s orders were annihilated just last week. The supreme leader is dead, and the connections with the Republic have been revealed in detail.”

When the rebellion issue that hadn’t been mentioned all along came out through the Emperor’s mouth, the faces of the opposing magic nobles turned pale.

‘You’re the ones who supported those rebels from behind.’

‘Did you think I wouldn’t know?’

While maintaining a smiling face, the Emperor was saying just that.

“This very moment, when the Empire has been cleanly swept, is the opportunity to reward the ‘truly loyal imperial subjects’ who did not participate in the rebellion. Couldn’t you think of it that way?”

“Your Majesty. But that is…!”

Just as the nobles who couldn’t find words were about to speak further.

“House Gloucester supports the imperial family’s decision.”

The representative of House Gloucester seated at the round table said this while placing his right hand, implanted with a magic imprint, on his heart.

The glowing of the magic imprint meant that the Margrave himself, connected through magical power communication, had agreed.

While the nobles were stirring, an unfamiliar voice was heard from the direction of the meeting room door.

“Korhonen also agrees with the imperial family’s decision.”

Korhonen.

When that name came out, the gazes of the representatives from each family and the attendees all turned to one place.

An achromatic Knight Order ceremonial uniform covered by a black fur cloak.

Seeing this strange attire unsuited for the season, the nobles momentarily lost their words.

“…What did you just say?”

“Korhonen?”

As words were coming out like this, one of the senate members who saw the emblem embroidered on the cloak opened his mouth as if in disbelief.

“…Count Kassel!”

“!?”

“Are you saying that Margrave Korhonen has come to the imperial palace in person?”

At this unprecedented event in decades, the nobles gathered in the meeting hall began to buzz.

However, as if such reactions weren’t even worth considering, the count slowly walked into the meeting hall and bowed his head toward the Emperor.

“Head of Korhonen, Kassel Korhonen. I greet Your Imperial Majesty.”

A voice mixed with metallic sounds.

At the same time, it was a voice with an eerie resonance.

“You’ve made a difficult journey, Count. Please take your seat.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The count, welcomed by the Emperor, slowly walked to take his seat.

A chair that had been empty for decades whenever imperial audiences were held.

When the northern hegemon who had never voiced his opinions took his seat, the Buckenheim faction’s representative asked again.

“M-Margrave Korhonen, Your Lordship. What you just said…”

“I said Korhonen supports the imperial family’s decision.”

Hearing those words, both the magic nobles and the nobles supporting the imperial family couldn’t hide their bewilderment.

For Korhonen, who had never made any statements about central affairs, to suddenly come out in support of the imperial family?

However, such thoughts lasted only briefly.

“Ah, yes. So be it, Your Lordship.”

The representative who seemed to have reached communication with the main family muttered into his magic imprint and opened his mouth.

“Du-Duke Buckenheim has also expressed his agreement.”

“…!”

“Ahem…”

Starting with Buckenheim, the heads of each magic noble family conveyed their agreement to the Emperor’s policy through magic imprints connected to their representatives.

“Nachtval agrees.”

“Count Drexler also agrees.”

“Dvorak will also follow Your Majesty’s decision…”

The pretext of restoring the old Empire’s traditions.

The political intention to quell the remaining embers of rebellion.

In a situation where they couldn’t find grounds for opposition anyway, and now with both Margraves who guard the frontiers agreeing.

They must have judged there was nothing to gain by showing defiance here.

Thus, the meeting that was expected to be difficult ended much more anticlimactically than expected, with victory for the imperial faction.

After the representatives left their seats, what remained in the meeting room were the Emperor and his close associates.

Looking at the suddenly empty meeting room, Andrei spoke to the Emperor sitting in his seat.

“They won’t stay quiet.”

“Indeed. Though they’re showing submission for now, where would decades of accumulated power go?”

After saying this, the Emperor turned his gaze to Count Korhonen sitting in his seat.

The large man sitting like a statue.

After silently observing that figure, the Emperor slowly opened his mouth.

“Thanks to you, things went much more smoothly, Kassel. I won’t forget this.”

Count Korhonen silently bowed his head.

However, due to the strange sense of incongruity I’d been feeling from before, I frowned.

‘Is that… really the Count himself?’

No, that couldn’t be.

The Korhonen Margrave would surely be a top-tier magician with a seven stroke imprint.

But the man standing before me didn’t give off any feeling of being such a powerful magician at all.

No, even before thinking whether he was a magician…

‘Is that even human?’

“What you’re thinking is correct, Eugene.”

“Pardon?”

Andrei’s words as he grabbed my shoulder.

At the same time, the Margrave who stood up from his seat slowly approached me.

The black cloak covering his entire body.

But what was glimpsed of the Count’s body between the gaps…

Click. Click.

“…An automaton?”

There was no doubt.

An automaton created with mechanical devices and an exoskeleton centered around a precisely processed monster mana core.

A bizarre doll with a body like a ball-jointed doll, but with a face uncannily similar to a human’s, was looking at me.

“Brigadier General Eugene Lorentz?”

The voice flowed from the expressionless face.

A voice output from mechanical devices while the mouth remained still.

My surprise at the strangely metallic voice was brief. I simply showed proper courtesy and spoke.@@novelbin@@

“I greet the Guardian of the North. Special Magical Power Unit Commander, Eugene Lorentz.”

“…So it wasn’t false that you recovered one of the five imprints. You really did awaken the seven stroke imprint.”

After saying this, the Margrave… no, the doll taking the Margrave’s form turned its gaze toward the Emperor.

“This time, I hope it will be certain.”

“That’s the plan. That’s why I called you here personally.”

Certain? What?

And the Emperor called him?

Why are these guys having another conversation only they understand?

While I was frowning and thinking this.

“Come with me to Korhonen.”

The doll, its facial part clattering, said while looking at me.

It was an abrupt invitation from the northern hegemon with no context.

“Your Lordship. What do you mean all of a sudden.”

Could you turn on some lights before entering?

Just as I was about to wave my hand with that thought.

“If you truly wish to become the master of the Empire.”

A statement that simply couldn’t be ignored pierced my ears.

“There is something you must see.”

I met the gaze of the doll looking at me, having thrown off the mask covering its face.

In that emotionless doll’s voice, there was an undefinable heat burning within.

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