Do Your Own Revolution

#117

Like overlaying an old photograph, an unfamiliar scene filled my vision.

[Fath… Father…]

Russell, covered in blood, collapsed on the floor.

And Margrave Kassel, sitting there dumbfounded while holding his son.

His white robe completely stained with his son’s blood, he just sat there with a blank expression.

‘This is…’

A vision faded like a black and white film.

The déjà vu from this vision-like scene lasted only a moment before I could recognize what this scene was.

It was from a few years ago, during my junior officer days.

A support request sent by Baron Zicklinte.

The deal made there with the Revolutionary Army.

A non-violent protest, the Baron murdered by the Revolutionary Army’s hands.

And when everything was over, the original scenario I saw in my dreams.

[I just… didn’t want to… live like you…!]

Russell, crying tears of blood, reached for Margrave’s mask with trembling hands.

Four streams of blood running down the metal mask.

After touching Margrave’s mask, Russell met his death in his father’s arms.

‘This is the scenario that would have played out in the original game if I hadn’t intervened.’

As soon as I made this judgment, the vision before my eyes immediately showed the next scene.

Margrave Kassel who killed his son with his own hands.

Automatons returning from the northern glacier, massacring the knights occupying the mansion.

The Korhonen territory engulfed in civil war, and the Great Wall burning.

It was more than enough to infer the situation here.

‘Even without my intervention, Russell’s rebellion would have failed.’

Margrave Kassel had been watching Russell’s movements and would have made appropriate preparations.

The thousand automatons stationed in the north would return to Korhonen territory and suppress the knights Russell had brought.

‘However…’

The civil war that broke out in Korhonen territory wouldn’t be suppressed quickly.

The Knight Order conducting delaying operations from the mansion.

The automatons using any means necessary to break through the mansion.

The longer the civil war dragged on, the casualties would increase exponentially, and as more civilians bled, House Count Korhonen’s authority would plummet. 𝙍ã₦ꝋ𐌱Ęṩ

After such a difficult suppression of the coup, would Korhonen have any strength left to conquer the rift?

Of course not.

[Is this… the result of dedicating my entire being to protecting the north?]

[Are you saying this ending, where I killed my son with my own hands, is the result of my choices?]

The vision now showed Kassel sitting there devastated.

The northern ruler, broken and fallen.

Korhonen was weakened after the civil war, and the Great Wall, collapsed from the war’s aftermath, couldn’t function properly.

‘So the weakened Korhonen would end up submitting to the Revolutionary Army.’

The north’s mention in [Revolution Empire] was at most two lines of text.

A message about Korhonen’s letter of surrender arriving at the Revolutionary Army camp surrounding the imperial capital.

The executives cheering about their growing forces.

That was all.

‘But beyond the Great Wall lies the rift.’

As if sensing my thoughts, the vision quickly showed the next scene.

The place Korhonen had wanted to conquer by gathering all their power.

‘The north’s greatest threat, capable of endangering the entire continent.’

Margrave Kassel’s goal was to eliminate the rift.

And when his son Russell started the civil war, that opportunity was lost forever.

The automaton army was consumed fighting the knights, revolution broke out in the imperial center, and House Count Korhonen’s authority had hit rock bottom.

Thus, Korhonen would transfer control of the north to the revolutionary government.

The Revolutionary Army, who didn’t even know about the rift beyond the Great Wall.

Could they, who had never even set foot on northern soil, stop the coming monster offensive?

‘Of course not.’

The countless tragedies in the northern lands.

The innocent blood spilled between twisted emotions and conflicting interests.

All of these overlapped and intertwined to create.

This scene now before my eyes.

[Aaaargh–!]

[The monsters, the monsters are crossing the wall!]

[Where are the soldiers?! The Revolutionary Army?! They said they would protect us!]

[Run! Hurry and run…!]

[Where are we supposed to run to! We’re surrounded by monsters!]

A burning city.

Monsters endlessly devouring people.

The collapsed mansion.

House Count Korhonen’s banner, torn to shreds on the ground.

Step-

Amidst the scene of pandemonium, an old and sickly hand picked up that tattered banner.

An elderly man in a worn robe and mask.

No, he was just a corpse with only breath remaining, watching the destruction.

[Just as Franz predicted.]

The wave of monsters filling the sky was heading in one direction.

Monsters that emerged from the northern rift.

After devouring all life in the north, they would march toward the imperial mainland to fill their hungry bellies.

The Great Rupture that appeared in the republican capital.

Along with the monster army that emerged when that rift opened.

[Though I fought all those years to change this predetermined future.]

Facing the dark sky where everything had ended, Margrave Kassel pointed a pistol at his chin and.

[It was all futile struggling.]

Bang-!

With the gunshot, he ended his painful life by his own hand.

This was the true ending of [Revolution Empire].

The story after the death of the revolutionary hero, protagonist Eugene Lorentz.

The continent’s destruction.

***

Bang-!

In the backyard of the Korhonen mansion.

With a single gunshot, Russell’s body, bound by magical power chains, crumpled.

The execution was carried out by a member of Imperial Army, Colonel Sandal.

It was a lawful execution conducted in the presence of House Korhonen’s knights.

“Execution complete. According to imperial law, the body of the executed prisoner will be handed over to the family.”

“Philip, Commander of the Korhonen Knight Order. Confirmed receipt.”

An emotionless, dry salute.

The knight placed his hand on his chest, accepting it.

With both sides observing proper courtesy in their own way, Russell’s coup was completely suppressed.

The knights who followed him would be imprisoned in the northern prison, undergo some ‘education,’ and then be released.

“Is it all over?”

Around the time the knights were collecting Russell’s body, the Margrave slowly appeared.

Two automatons standing in formation as if guarding him.

When I turned my gaze toward the mansion, Reina was slowly bowing her head at me.

‘What are you thanking me for.’

Thinking that inwardly, I looked at Count Kassel.

He seemed lost in regret as he watched his son’s body being loaded into the transport vehicle.

His appearance overlapped with the vision that appeared when Russell died.

‘He can’t break like in the original.’

I spoke to Kassel as he watched the departing transport vehicle.

“From the moment he started the coup, and from the point he became a magic noble’s pawn, I had to kill Russell.”

Even if it wasn’t your request.

As I added that, Count Kassel’s gaze turned to me.

“My goal and His Majesty the Emperor’s is to drive out magic noble influence from the empire. Even if it’s Your Lordship’s son, there can be no exceptions.”

“What are you trying to say?”

“I’m saying that killing your son was my decision, not yours.”

At those words, the gazes of the knights guarding Count Kassel grew sharp.

Kassel’s silent gaze on me.

What that face behind the mask was thinking…

Well, honestly, it wasn’t my business.

“I was the one who destroyed his magic, broke his imprint, bound him with magical power chains like a dog, and killed him.”

“…!”

“So drop this pointless self-blame about your decision causing your son’s death. You and I still have work to do in the north.”

“Sir-!”

Words too harsh to say to a father who just lost his son.

Several knights whose patience had run out shouted at me.

“No matter what, you’ve gone too far! His Lordship…!”

“No, it’s fine.”

Kassel stopped the knights and spoke while looking at me.

“Yes. So this is how you handle people.”

“What do you mean?”

I saw the count’s face behind the mask.

Though his face was haggard, there was a faint smile as he looked at me.

“Self-blame, resentment, regret… You’re trying to overlay these emotions I’m feeling now with hatred toward you.”

“…”

“So that I won’t give up on this expedition. To ensure I don’t abandon protecting the north.”

Ah damn, he caught on.

I guess someone of Margrave’s caliber sees through it quickly.

“The King of the Burning Throne. A flame that changes the future, is it?”

Just as I was thinking that.

After muttering those incomprehensible words, Kassel slowly walked toward me and

Thud.

He lowered himself, kneeling on one knee and bowing his head.

“Y-Your Lordship?!”

“Please stand up, Your Lordship! What is this suddenly…!”

“I, Margrave Korhonen, Kassel Korhonen, hereby declare.”

While the knights were gasping in shock.

Margrave Kassel, speaking in a solemn voice, faced me.

“From this moment forward, House Count Korhonen and the people of the north recognize Eugene Lorentz as the empire’s rightful successor.”

“…!”

“W-What…”

Following the sudden action, a shocking declaration.

As soon as the count finished speaking, those present looked back and forth between me and the count with wide eyes.

However, among everyone here, the most surprised was probably none other than me.

No, really.

What’s suddenly going on here?

“Your Lordship.”

Just as I was about to open my mouth thinking this, a messenger from the glacier region arrived with a report.

“Transport operations and maintenance complete. Automatons 1 through 1,172. All units ready for deployment.”

“I see.”

Hearing those words, the Margrave slowly rose and looked at me.

“Russell’s coup has been suppressed.”

“…”

“My puppet army is in its best, optimal condition, and all of the north’s power is gathered before the rift. And finally…”

Margrave Kassel slowly raised his hand, pointing at me with his gloved hand.

“You are with us.”

“…”

“You, who possess the imperial imprint. The master of [Wings of Crimson].”

Hearing those words, I looked at the sea behind the Margrave.

The endless horizon.

The glacier beyond it.

There lay the rift.

“Therefore Eugene. Successor to the empire recognized by Emperor Franz.”

As I stood there unable to find words, Margrave Kassel slowly straightened his posture and.

Gave an order.

Paid his respects as a knight would to his master.

“…”

“…”

And the moment the Margrave showed his respect, the soldiers and knights lined up behind him all took the same posture.

The soldiers and knights who had fought alongside me to stop the monster invasion.

Looking at their faces, I was finally able to calm my confused mind.

“…Sigh.”

With the Margrave and now these people pushing me, I couldn’t exactly tell them not to.

It’s a bit uncomfortable getting this treatment already.

Just as I was thinking that.

“Our goal is singular. To completely eradicate the northern rift that threatens the empire.”

I straightened my posture as I would before troops, then opened my mouth while looking at them.

“Therefore, by the authority you have recognized, I order all northern troops…”

Like lighting a dry wick, I gathered their gazes through a moment of silence and.@@novelbin@@

“All forces, advance.”

As my words ended, thunderous cheers covered the northern coast.

I now had to depart to burn the seeds of predetermined destruction.

Into the rift.

Into the heart of the monsters.

Beyond the gate to another world, different from this one.

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