Do Your Own Revolution

#112

Swoosh-

Behind the Korhonen mansion, there was a cliff overlooking the North Sea.

The sea stretched out to the horizon.

A sea that was like hell, teeming with monsters.

Irene, dressed in outdoor clothes, sat at the edge of the cliff, gazing endlessly at that sea.

“Ah.”

Then at some point, as if noticing something, Irene slowly rose from her spot.

The quietly surging surface of the sea.

The massive glacier existing beyond it.

The enormous entrance gaping beneath that glacier.

And from that entrance, a voice calling to her.

“It’s coming.”

Irene, who had murmured quietly, stood up from her place.

The reason she came to this northern land, stubbornly insisting despite being told not to.

The Rupture was calling to her.

***

“You’re planning an expedition to the North Sea?”

“Yes.”

When I asked that, Margrave Korhonen slowly nodded and spoke.

“With a thousand automatons under my control and the numerous weapons and ammunition stored in the territory… I intend to mobilize all these capabilities to conquer the Great Rupture located in the deep sea.”

“Ha.”

I could guess why without him having to explain.

The head of the family was dying, and the heir was suffering from illness.

Meanwhile, with the first son, who had connections to the magic noble faction, watching closely for a chance to take his position, he wanted to try everything he could with all his available resources.

“The drilling equipment in the North Sea is already digging a tunnel to where the Great Rupture is. In about a week, a passage will be created to enter the rupture located in the deep sea.”

“So you plan to deploy the automatons from the territory through that passage.”

The rupture that had been tormenting the north since the first generation.

Margrave Kassel wanted to close that rupture before he died.

If that’s the case, I could guess the content of the ‘deal’ he proposed to me without him saying it.

“You want me to participate in that expedition to close the rupture.”

It was a reasonable judgment.

From what I could see, the expedition the Margrave was planning was his final aspiration before death.

He would need to gather whatever cards he could use.

‘A mage with the seven stroke imprint like me would be especially valuable.’

While thinking this and weighing my options, Margrave Kassel shook his head with a faint laugh.

“I would like to borrow your strength, but… regrettably, that’s not possible.”

“Pardon?”

What was this now?

After going on about the expedition, now he’s saying I shouldn’t participate?

“The passage to be used for dismantling the rupture is one-way. While entering is possible, leaving is not.”

“Ah.”

“If I were to use and dispose of a talent His Majesty cherishes so dearly, I wouldn’t be able to face him in the afterlife.”

We’re going to meet in the afterlife soon anyway.

Watching the Margrave chuckle while saying that, I realized this man was quite insane himself.

Where in the world would you find a noble who jokes about the Emperor dying of old age?

Moreover, those words meant…

“Your Lordship, do you intend to meet your death inside the rupture?”

“Yes. That’s how it will be.”

A calm tone as if discussing today’s weather.

However, the content of his words was anything but.

“Your Lordship.”

I called to him quietly.

“You are the head of House Count Korhonen and possess a seven stroke imprint. For someone like you to lose your life inside the Great Rupture…”

“This imprint I possess will also disappear along with the rupture.”

If the core imprint possessed by the family head disappears inside the rupture, House Count Korhonen would suffer an unspeakable blow.

Like Elcidore. No, it could be an even more serious situation.

If the Margrave disappears like that and the Korhonen autonomous territory falls under the influence of magic nobles…

‘This is dangerous.’

The northern region of the empire controlled by Korhonen was a major hub for mining iron ore and rare metals, and its financial power was considerable.

Normally, it wouldn’t have been strange for magic nobles to have intervened long ago.

However, the military power of the Korhonen territory and the isolated environment of the north – these two factors had been blocking the magic nobles’ intervention.

After all, no fool would station a Knight Order in a frozen wasteland where you could die just from walking.

‘But if the Margrave himself disappears, this precondition crumbles.’

The military power supporting the north disappears, and the first prince with connections to magic nobles takes control?

If that happens, Korhonen in the north would become an enemy of the empire from that moment.

This meant having a huge problem in the north while already having to deal with the Republic and Knight Order.

Even from the Margrave’s position, this situation couldn’t be pleasant.

Nevertheless, he planned the rupture expedition.

Because if he died of old age, even his seven stroke imprint would fall into the hands of his firstborn.

Rather than letting that happen, he planned to disappear along with the rupture.

In that case, my role there would be…

“My job is to clean up after Your Lordship’s plan.”

Hearing my words, the count slowly nodded.

“Whether the expedition fails or succeeds, I will die.”

“……”

“And Korhonen without its head will fall to my firstborn, becoming part of the magic nobles.”

So before that happens…

The count, with a dark expression while choosing his words, looked at me and spoke.

“I will give you all the information and secrets I know. In return…”

“……”

“Kill Russell Korhonen, the First Son of Korhonen.”

A father requesting the murder of his son.

Looking at the Margrave speaking in an emotionless voice, I thought.

This was properly messed up indeed.

***

Clank- Clank-

Even after my discussion with Margrave Korhonen ended, my schedule remained incredibly tight.

In the armored vehicle heading to the Northern Prison.

After lighting the stove like when I first came, I was mulling over my conversation with Margrave Korhonen.

‘I thought I could just announce the pardons and gather the talents before leaving, but this has gotten bigger than expected.’

While thinking this, Colonel Sandal, who was driving the armored vehicle, looked at me and spoke.

“The northern prison is a garbage dump for imprisoning heinous criminals. The empire supports Korhonen with some imperial troops and resources in exchange for managing this place.”

The concrete wall growing closer.

As my gaze fell on it, Colonel Sandal continued speaking.

“The special nature of being an exile location in the north, combined with its notoriety as the empire’s worst prison, has made the northern prison a massive exile location for violent criminals, political prisoners, and anti-establishment activists.”

“……”

“However, that image is merely superficial.”

Bang-! Bang-!

While the armored vehicle stopped at the entrance for inspection, gunshots were periodically ringing out from one side of the prison.

“Prisoners who enter the prison first go through primary screening. Those deemed irredeemable trash are executed before entering the prison. What remains are…”

“Political prisoners or anti-establishment activists. Or those who entered on false charges.”

“Correct.”

After briefly agreeing, Sandal continued his explanation.

“These people undergo secondary screening in coordination with the Imperial Intelligence Department. And until this investigation is complete, they live working alongside Korhonen citizens on labor necessary for running the territory.”

Forced labor in this freezing land.

Whether they’re noble-born or knights, one blast of the northern wind strips away all sense of authority.

In such conditions, living together with the commoners they used to look down on, supporting and dealing with each other, they form bonds with the territory’s residents.

Among them, those with decent backgrounds or abilities were sometimes employed by the Korhonen autonomous government for policy proposals, military reorganization, and other administrative duties.

“Kill all the heinous criminals and dump them at the bottom of the North Sea, then put the talented ones through the washing machine of mines or wall guard duty before utilizing them.”

After hearing Colonel Sandal’s explanation, I drew my conclusion.

“In other words, this northern prison is… a cradle for nurturing the empire’s future talent, prepared jointly by the Emperor and Margrave.”

“You see it perfectly, Sir.”

Sir.

That honorific still doesn’t feel natural at all.

Thinking this, I looked at the scene unfolding beyond the car window.

A circular wall made of steel,

Watchtowers installed throughout, searchlights, barbed wire, and even magical power detection devices.

The Empire’s Northern Prison.

Taking in that brutal scenery, I slowly moved forward.

***

The northern prison I entered expecting a gloomy jail was a much stranger space than anticipated.

While its external image was that of a brutal northern prison, inside lived prisoners who stacked imperial newspapers, all sorts of political books, and philosophy texts, arguing about imperial political issues.

‘Financial officers from magic noble houses, fallen nobles, former Knight Order commanders and retired generals, even Revolutionary Army executives…’

Watching all these people from various backgrounds fighting like dogs gathered in one place, I thought.

It’s exactly like the National Assembly, sh*t.

“Hello. It’s noisy as usual today, isn’t it?”

“Oh, Major General.”

“Major General, please listen to our discussion too. From an imperial army officer’s perspective, how would you view this agenda…”

“Ah, please don’t. I’ve told you I’m not interested in politics.”

I was getting 21st century Korean vibes from these people in this strange game world.

You know, it felt exactly like being caught between adults discussing politics during holidays.

While thinking this, the prisoners who had been discussing various topics among themselves looked my way.

Without need for questions or introductions, people started coming forward one by one.

After examining their faces, I made my judgment.

“It seems you already know why I’ve come here.”

Then there’s no need to delay.

Saying this, I addressed the gathered prisoners.

“His Majesty intends to implement a large-scale pardon for this northern prison. He wants you to enter the soon-to-be-established Imperial Assembly and represent the voices of citizens.”

“……”

“Now then, among you, those who want to change the empire, those who want to engage in politics for the citizens…”

What kind of mess is this.

While reading the note the Emperor had written, I briefly spoke like that.

With a slight smile, I corrected my expression and told them.

“Honestly, I have little interest in your ideologies or ideals.”

“…What?”

“What you’ll do after entering the Imperial Assembly is, well, up to you once you receive your position as representatives. You can conduct politics for the citizens, or you can use your position as representatives to embezzle wealth.”

If they were the type to just do as they’re told, they wouldn’t have ended up in this northern prison in the first place.

There’s no point in appealing to such emotions now.

Thinking this, I looked at the gathered prisoners and spoke.

“What I’m proposing to you is a deal.”

Though we suppressed the Revolutionary Army, public sentiment throughout the empire was seething, and the empire’s power holders needed something to appease the angry public.

That’s why the Emperor decided to revive the Imperial Assembly, an old tradition of the empire, and wanted to place these people in those positions.

They’d be much better than the puppets recommended by the magic nobles.

After finishing this supplementary explanation, I continued speaking to them.

“You will gather the opinions of imperial citizens and relay them to the imperial family while also directing the people’s antipathy toward the magic nobles. In name only you’re the ‘people’s faction,’ but in reality, you’ll be inciting citizens according to the imperial family’s instructions.”

“…!”

“And in return, you can enter imperial politics as members of the ‘people’s faction.'”

These people already harbor grudges against magic nobles in one way or another.

Moreover, if they accept this deal, they can become a political group replacing the Revolutionary Army’s void in the empire that’s about to be completely transformed.

Through legitimate procedures, legally, they can restart their ended political lives.

Some might say they’d just be the Emperor’s puppets?

Of course.

What fools in the world would share power they worked hard to stabilize?

“I’ve given you the options, the choice is yours.”

Either build a political career as a member of the new people’s faction.

Or remain a prisoner in this prison.

After I said this, several people walked toward me.

Fallen nobles who opposed magic nobles’ exploitation, intellectuals, businessmen, and ideologists.

While most Revolutionary Army members looked at me with hostility and hesitated to participate, some among them wrote their names on the pardon order I handed over.

“Honestly, I’m reluctant to cooperate with you, who killed Supreme Leader Claude. However…”

“Still, there needs to be a channel to represent the citizens.”

“Yes, that’s sufficient.”

As for political career, it’s just giving them positions in the assembly, which is merely an advisory body.

How this newly born assembly will change depends on their actions.

Whether they’ll grow into a political group leading the empire from the front, or become a fleeting spark that disappears after briefly flaring up due to the Emperor’s whim.

“Brigadier General Eugene Lorentz. May I ask one question?”

Meanwhile, a professor who had signed his name on the document I handed over pushed up his glasses and spoke.

“This means ex-convicts will be participating in the Imperial Assembly… is that alright?”

Hearing those words, I smiled slightly.

“The people gathered here now are people’s politicians who will lead the citizens.”

“……”

“Thinking about it that way, isn’t your imprisonment in the northern prison a medal rather than a flaw?”

At those words, several prisoners gave bitter smiles.

This roughly wraps up the Emperor’s side of things.

What remains is how to handle the deal with the Margrave?

While thinking this, at that moment.

“Eugene, Eugene.”

Irene, who had approached my side at some point, tapped my shoulder.

“What is it? Where have you been until now…”

“It’s coming.”

Coming? What is?

As I thought this, what caught my eye were Irene’s pupils.

Eyes glowing amethyst.

The red light dwelling within them.

‘Don’t tell me this is.’

Monster reaction?

In this situation?

Rumble-

At that moment, as the ground shook, emergency bells began ringing throughout the great wall.

“Large-scale activity detected from the North Sea Great Rupture!”

“W-What?!”

Along with reports of monsters swarming up from the sea, northern knights shouted urgently.

“Though monsters come up every day in this area, there hasn’t been a large-scale attack of this magnitude in 30 years.”

“What in the world…”

Hearing those words, I looked at Irene staring toward the sea and thought.

‘Ah, we’re fucked.’

This is very likely because of us.

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