Do Your Own Revolution

#024.

The world setting of [Revolution Empire] is a cesspool.

If I were to list all the reasons why, it would fill more than 100 pages of manuscript paper with 200 characters each.

However, if asked to pick the single most important reason among those countless ones, everyone would point to this existence without any disagreement.

‘The Great Rupture.’

A black hole that pollutes the continent’s land and spews out tens of millions of monsters.

It first revealed itself in the midst of that insufferable war.

Hundreds of thousands of corpses from the war merged together to form a massive black sphere, and that black sphere collapsed all existing systems of the continent.

Once-fertile farmlands were covered in slime spewed by monsters, and the monsters that flowed into the sea submerged all fishing boats and cargo ships crossing the ocean.

Yet even in such circumstances, what the humans of this continent chose was another war.

‘Kalhyram started the war! The Empire’s greed caused the appearance of the Great Rupture!’

‘Look at those vicious biological weapons that Westraine used! Look at the countless Imperial citizens they killed! The Great Rupture was created by their grudges!’

The railways that should have been lifelines for humanity became the domain of armored trains armed with artillery.

The airships that dotted the sky headed to battlefields instead of refugee camps, and scattered bombs instead of relief supplies.

The war between the Empire and the Republic continued.

Despite the monsters’ territory expanding moment by moment.

This was why I called this game world a cesspool.

“Wow……”

“……”

Irene, who was holding my hand, let out an exclamation as if amazed by the majesty of the mansion spread out before us.

I had similar impressions while looking at the same scenery.

What was I just saying earlier?

Monster invasion? Continuing war? Cesspool?

No, it seems like none of that exists.

Keiren’s mansion located in Orland territory was so luxurious that it made me think such things were just illusions.

‘I thought the Elcidore mansion was plenty splendid, but this……’

It’s not incomprehensible though.

Elcidore was not a family with deep history, and Lupeon, the head of the family, wasn’t particularly interested in luxury.

His mansion was closer to a fortress, and his vast wealth was spent on maintaining that fortress and the laboratory hidden underground.

‘And Keiren and his soldiers never found that basement.’

Recalling the structure of the Elcidore mansion in the game, my eyes lit up.

It means that now I’m the only one who knows about Lupeon’s laboratory hidden underground.

Someday, there will come a time when that laboratory will be put to good use.

“You seem quite surprised.”

I didn’t bother to answer.

I just turned to look at Keiren standing behind me with newfound eyes.

Seeming awkward under my gaze, Keiren shrugged with a troubled expression.

“Unfortunately, this isn’t my house. It’s a mansion owned by the family.”

To the third son.@@novelbin@@

If this is the kind of mansion given to a son who lost the succession race, what kind of place does Duke Buckenheim himself live in?

No, rather, how many mansions of this scale does Buckenheim own?

Comparing the scenery of the slums with this place, the overwhelming wealth gap became apparent.

“Welcome, Lord Keiren.”

Meanwhile, an elderly gentleman in an immaculate suit approached and bowed respectfully.

“It’s been a while, Walter.”

“It has been half a year since you were dispatched to the eastern front. Dinner has been prepared, please come inside.”

Walter said with a smile, then his eyes turned toward me and Irene.

“However, these children……”

At his somewhat suspicious gaze, Irene hid behind my back.

“They’re children I took in from the battlefield. I’m thinking of adopting them.”

“……”

A member of the ducal family adopting war orphans.

While most nobles would faint at such news, the butler Walter showed no sign of surprise.

“Lord Keiren. Then these people……”

He only showed a worried expression while speaking like that.

Just as I noticed that hint,

“Papa! It’s Papa!”

“Mari!”

A girl with bright blonde hair sprang out from behind Walter.

Seeing how Keiren’s face instantly brightened, she seemed to be his daughter.

“Are you coming home today? How long will you stay? Will you tell me interesting stories?”

“Hahaha, of course! Come, let’s go inside. I’ll tell you how bravely Papa fought!”

“Yay-!”

The two people hugging each other with bright smiles, and the butler watching them with fond eyes.

It was a warm atmosphere different from other noble families.

“But Papa, who are they?”

“Ah.”

Perhaps it had been a while since she’d seen children her age.

At Mari’s curious question, Keiren chuckled and introduced me to her.

“Say hello. This is Eugene and Irene. They might become your siblings.”

“Siblings?”

There would be no benefit in standing stiffly here.

I bowed my head politely, as one would to any noble.

“Pleased to meet you, young lady. I am Eugene, visiting this territory thanks to Major General Keiren’s grace.”

“Ah, I’m Irene……”

Irene, hiding behind my back, seemed to grasp the atmosphere and awkwardly followed proper etiquette.

“Hmm……”

After hearing my introduction, Mari squinted her eyes and stared intently at my face.

From the looks of it, she seemed about eight years old.

We might even be the same age, but her uniquely energetic atmosphere made her appear younger.

“Good. You pass!”

“?”

Pass?

What’s she talking about?

“Don’t mind it. She’s always like that when she sees boys her age.”

“?”

Shaking his head while picking up Mari, Keiren turned his gaze toward me.

Looking where he gestured with his chin, I saw butler Walter slowly bowing his head while looking at me.

“Welcome to Elrond territory. Please, follow me this way.” (+)^[1]TLN: I swear, before it was Orland (올란드) and now it’s (엘론드). A slight mistype, maybe.

With those words, the butler guided me to an annex located at one side of the mansion.

As if word had already been sent, warm tea and refreshments were prepared in the room.

‘So he wants to discuss the details through the butler?’

I could roughly guess.

It probably meant listen to the terms of the deal and stay if I agree, or leave if I don’t.

I felt rather relieved that they were drawing a clear line.

If they had tried to act sympathetic, saying we’re family from today or whatever, I would have thrown away the deal and everything else long ago.

“Cookies! Eugene! Can I eat those?”

“Probably. Just don’t be too noisy.”

“Okay!”

Is this all she can see in this situation?

When I patted her head lightly, Irene charged toward the cookies with a bright smile.

“You are Eugene Lorentz, correct?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Walter, who had been looking back and forth between me and Irene, said as he sat down at the table across from me.

Is he not considering Irene as part of the negotiations?

Glancing at Irene just in case, I saw her grinning with her mouth full of cookies.

She probably meant she’d follow whatever I decided.

My shoulders felt heavier again.

“I heard from Lord Keiren. Awakening magical power at that age, and crossing that death line… We’ll be serving quite a remarkable young master.”

“Please don’t lower your speech. I haven’t agreed to anything yet.”

“Hahaha, regardless, you are Lord Keiren’s guests. As a butler, I cannot speak casually.”

Walter, who rejected my suggestion, seemed to be choosing his words for a moment.

The small talk was over, and now it was time for the main topic.

“Earlier, you greeted Young Lady Mari, correct?”

And immediately, the name of Keiren’s daughter, Mari, came up.

“She is a bright child. Sharp-minded, and found her magical power aptitude at the young age of eight.”

“……”

“Moreover, she dreams of becoming an officer like Lord Keiren, which makes me, as her butler, extremely proud.”

Though it seemed like random small talk, I could gather a lot of information.

She’s two years younger than me.

A magical power aptitude holder.

And her future dream is to become a soldier.

‘I roughly understand what this means.’

I could somewhat understand Keiren’s intentions.

I also figured out why he couldn’t tell me directly.

“However, unfortunately, Lord Keiren……”

“Doesn’t want to send his daughter to the battlefield, right?”

Therefore, I cut off the butler’s roundabout words and said.

“But since the young lady has already shown magical power aptitude, she can’t avoid conscription. Am I wrong?”

“……No, you are exactly right.”

The Empire was a nation at war, a nation with conscription, and this was no exception even for nobles.

Moreover, the Buckenheim family was the first seat of magic nobles who took monster subjugation as their mission.

If Mari awakened magical power at such a young age, there was no reason not to send her to the military.

However, there is one truth that penetrates both the Kalhyram Empire and 21st century South Korea – if you can avoid military service, avoid it.

That’s why Keiren was making this proposal to me through his butler.

“You want me to be registered as Major General Keiren’s adopted son and fulfill the ‘military duty’ in place of Mari. Is that right?”

In other words, ‘Please serve in the military instead of my daughter.’

“Huu……”

A deep sigh welled up from the depths of my chest.

Ah, draft dodging. That deep and ancient tradition.

Seeing my expression souring in real-time, Butler Walter cleared his throat.

“Personally… I don’t think it’s a bad deal.”

Noticing my reaction, Butler Walter added.

“If you accept the contract, Eugene, you’ll immediately become Lord Keiren’s adopted son. You’ll become a member of the Empire’s magic nobles.”

“……”

“Moreover, we’re not sending you to the front lines as a common soldier. Here… He has prepared a recommendation letter for the Imperial Military Academy.”

Saying that, Walter handed me a piece of paper.

Imperial Youth Military Academy cadet selection happening in two years.

There was one empty space in the recommendation list prepared for noble children.

‘Indeed, it’s not a bad deal.’

Noble status.

Imperial Youth Military Academy recommendation letter,

And the economic support from the Buckenheim Duke family that would come with it.

Moreover, considering the development of magical power and magic imprint that could be achieved through this… It could be said there were no alternatives.

‘If I want to build strength without joining the Revolutionary Army, I’ll have to join the military anyway.’

In the Empire, only nobles and soldiers had the legal right to possess and develop magic imprint.

If I were to hole up somewhere in the countryside training magic alone, I’d be reported by the surrounding farmers and sent straight to the northern detention camp.

Rather than that, it would be much more beneficial to serve as a substitute once and receive officer status.

“I understand your hesitation. After all, you’ll have to go to the front lines and put your life on the line.”

While I was thinking this, Walter, who thought I was hesitating, opened his mouth with a short sigh.

“We won’t force you. This is also what Lord Keiren asked me to say. If you’re not interested, we’ll prepare a train……”

“No.”

However, I spoke before he could finish.

These were far better conditions than what I had with Elcidore.

It was too important an opportunity to pass up.

“I’ll do it. However……”

Of course, that doesn’t mean…

“I’d like to discuss a few conditions.”

I’m not going to agree quietly.

• 1. TLN: I swear, before it was Orland (올란드) and now it’s (엘론드). A slight mistype, maybe.

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