Do Your Own Revolution

#027.

It had already been two months since I entered this mansion, accepting Keiren’s deal.

Two months.

That time was enough to become somewhat familiar with the mansion’s residents, and sufficient to reconcile with Mari, who had acted like she would never see me again.

“Excellent! You’re now able to apply high school basic mathematics to some extent. Shall we move on to the next level, Young Master?”

With a

Mrs. Maybelle closed the book and nodded with satisfaction.

Mrs. Maybelle had prepared a hellish study plan to fill in my educational gaps, and I was struggling to keep up with that schedule while recovering my body with magical power.

“P-please kill me…”

“If you’re going to die, die after passing the military academy entrance exam! Now open your book, Young Master. For our Lady Mari’s sake!”

Is that something you should say to the young master of the house, you crazy woman?

Even while thinking that, I gathered my wits and opened ‘Imperial Middle School Mathematics Volume 2.’

‘If only she was an incompetent teacher, I could refuse the lessons, but that’s not the case.’

In just two short months, I, who couldn’t even handle elementary school math, had managed to build up enough academic knowledge to somewhat handle middle school mathematics.

In other words, Eugene Lorentz, who received the lowest grade in the evaluation test, had evolved from an oyster mushroom to a golden mushroom in just two months.

…Ah, this is really driving me crazy.

Have I become a mushroom in the head from being called an oyster mushroom so much? Why does everything look like mushrooms?

“Now then, for the next lecture…”

Just as I opened the textbook feeling gloomy.

“…It seems we’ll have to end today’s lecture here, Young Master.”

Mrs. Maybelle stopped her lecture after glancing at the scenery outside the window.

A procession of luxurious carriages had already arrived at the mansion’s entrance.

The delegation that would go to the imperial capital with Keiren had arrived.

Simultaneously, a servant entered the room and bowed.

“Young Master Eugene. Lord Keiren is looking for you.”

With those words, he gestured to guide me.

“That ‘Young Master’ still doesn’t sound natural even after two months.”

Thinking that, I straightened my clothes and stepped outside.

According to Lady Mari, everyone except the people in this household is an enemy.

Then I should prepare accordingly.

***

“I heard the main family was preparing directly… but I didn’t expect you to come in person, Brother.”

Those were Keiren’s first words upon meeting the relatives who had come from the main family.

Unlike Keiren in his neat military uniform, the man wore an elaborate Knight Order uniform and coat.

He was Carlos Buckenheim, heir to the Buckenheim duchy and head of the Knight Order.

“This is an important audience with His Majesty the Emperor. If there are any shortcomings, the entire family will become a laughingstock.”

Keiren’s lips twisted at Carlos’s words.

“How very thorough of you. If it’s such an important position, wouldn’t it be better if you went yourself, Brother?”

“Father personally gave you this opportunity. How dare you show such an insolent attitude instead of being grateful?”

“The Duke giving me an opportunity? There’s a limit to jokes.”

While Carlos referred to the Duke of Buckenheim as ‘Father,’ Keiren called him ‘Duke.’

It was a clear indication of both their differences in succession order and their feelings toward the Duke.

“By the way, who is that child? I haven’t seen that face before.”

While the servants were busy attending to Carlos’s family,

Carlos asked, looking at me standing next to Mari.

“Ah. This child is…”

“I’ll introduce myself, Lord Carlos.”

Before Keiren could finish his sentence, I stepped forward and bowed.

“I am Eugene, recently adopted as Lord Keiren’s son.”

I didn’t add the name Buckenheim after my name.

If he looked down on Keiren, the third direct descendant, there was no way he would look kindly upon me.

“…Adopted son?”

As if proving my prediction right, Carlos frowned with displeasure upon hearing my introduction.

“I found a child with good potential, and I plan to raise him as an officer. When he comes of age in two years, I plan to send him to the military academy.”

“…Hah, unbelievable.”

Carlos let out a mocking laugh after hearing Keiren’s words.

“Picking up some lowborn who rolled around in who-knows-what gutter, and giving them the Buckenheim name? Adoption? Do you have any sense at all?”

Wow, look at the attitude on this bastard.

A lowborn who rolled around in the gutter.

It’s all true so I can’t even argue against it?

“Eugene…”

Keiren called my name at the verbal abuse taking place at the entrance.

What, asking if I’m okay?

Compared to the insults I took during training, this is like classical music.

“I don’t need to hear more. No doubt you did this just to hover around your daughter.”

“……”

“To think you’d stoop to such measures to avoid conscription. This is why Father finds you so disappointing.”

Hearing those words, Keiren responded with a sneer.

“I’m sorry, but unlike you, Brother. I have no intention of trying to look good for the Duke.”

“…Such an impudent bastard.”

While the brothers continued their war of words.

“Hmm?”

One of the young men standing behind Carlos approached me.

Arrogantly raised eyes and golden hair characteristic of the Buckenheim direct line.

‘This guy must be…’

Delling Buckenheim.

The legitimate heir of the Buckenheim family, Carlos’s eldest son.

How old was he again?

I remember he’s about the same age as Claude…

“I heard about you. You’re going to enter the Imperial Military Academy?”

Hearing that, I naturally looked at the badge on his collar.

A golden medal given to the top student at the Imperial Military Academy.

So that’s why he was acting like that, seems he’ll be my future senior.

“Yes. That’s the plan.”

“Nonsense.”

Ah, I take back that senior thing.

He’s just a rude bastard.

“The Imperial Military Academy is a place only for proven talents. It’s a place that only those who have prepared steadily since childhood can enter.”

“Well, yeah…”

“So what have you done until now? Have you trained? Have you disciplined your magical power? No, you haven’t done anything at all. Am I wrong?”

Well, I am a bit lacking in prior learning.

All I’ve done up until this age is kill someone when I was 8, train with an assassination group for 2 years, and then kill all of that assassination group and their higher-ups.

Oh my, if I’d known it would be like this, I should have lived more diligently.

Right, you rude bastard?

“Delling.”

While I was in the midst of self-reflection,

Carlos, who had been listening to the exchange between Delling and me, gestured to Delling.

Probably meaning there was no need to deal with me further.

With Delling in tow, Carlos slowly moved to pass by Keiren.

However, that didn’t last long.

“What is it? I thought we were done talking.”

“No, I apologize, but the most important question remains.”

When Carlos came close, Keiren grabbed his shoulder.

“I’m asking this not as a member of the Buckenheim family, but as an Imperial Army general.”

“Fine. Speak.”

“Why aren’t you and the Duke attending the funeral in person?”

A low voice that had settled down, unlike his previous mocking tone.

“…What?”

“It’s not just you. Nachtval, Lutes, Elcryer… The heads of the magic noble families are all pulling out of this funeral one after another.”

Keiren’s face grew increasingly fierce as he looked at Carlos.

“Don’t pretend to be innocent. What are the magic noble faction plotting in the imperial capital?”

“…Hah, the nonsense just keeps coming.”

Watching Keiren question him with a murderous aura, Carlos gestured over his shoulder.

“That’s enough, Uncle Keiren.”

Delling, who had been standing behind him, released magical power, pressing down on Keiren’s shoulder.

“Ugh…!”

“Ah, Papa?!”

“Lord Delling!”

Mari standing nearby gasped, and the soldiers guarding Keiren reached for their waists.

“Father is the heir to the Buckenheim duchy. No matter if you’re my uncle, I cannot overlook you interrogating such a person with baseless suspicions.”

“Ugh, uugh…!”

Delling’s magical power was gradually pressing down on Keiren from above.

Even with their opposition, using magical power against the family’s third son?

Keiren’s face twisted with the shame he felt.

“Stop, Lord Delling! Using magic against a non-awakened!”

“Withdraw your magical power! This is clearly a violation of imperial law…!”

The shocked soldiers drew their guns to stop him, but even that was useless.

The knights guarding Carlos drew their swords and blocked their way.

“You’re the ones who should step back.”

“For the Imperial Army to try to intervene in Buckenheim’s internal affairs. Don’t you know that is the true violation?”

“…!”

A magician oppressing a non-awakened with force.

The Imperial Army powerless against the Knight Order, and an emperor who had become a puppet of the nobles.

And nobles who wielded their absolute power as they pleased.

This nauseating sight was the shameful self-portrait of the current Kalhyram Empire.

You’re all really having fun, you idiots.

This is why you keep getting wiped out by the Revolutionary Army.

But the Empire being stupid is a problem for later.

I passed by Mari, who was frozen in fear, and released magical power from the magic circuit I had warmed up.

“?!”

When Delling realized another’s magical power was interfering, his eyes twitched.

When his gaze finally turned toward me.

I released additional magical power, completely dispersing Delling’s magical power that had been pressing down on Keiren.

“Ugh?!”

Delling’s eyes widened at once, seemingly surprised by the unexpected situation.

The surrounding knights also turned to look at me in shock, but from my perspective, it wasn’t much of a big deal.

If I had to comment, I’d say Senior Karin was better at controlling magical power.

“Let me point out something first. Lord Delling, you directly used magical power against a non-awakened, correct?”

“You…!”

“And you forcibly obstructed the Imperial Army trying to stop that through improper procedures.”

While Keiren was at fault for raising suspicions and being disrespectful, it was Carlos’s side that crossed the line by using magical power.

In other words, there are no legal issues here.

Since I couldn’t reveal my magic imprint, I limited the attack attribute to non-elemental.

The spell is Impact of History and Tradition.

Since he’s a noble’s son, no physical injury, but maximum pain.

“Therefore, you started this magical duel, and all responsibility lies with you.”

“What…?”

Having finished my preparations, I exploded the magical power I had condensed at Delling’s chest-

Delling’s body flew in a straight line and planted his head in the lawn outside the mansion.

“…!”

“W-wait just…!”

The knights, soldiers, Keiren and Mari, even Carlos.

While everyone watched with shocked eyes, I slowly walked outside the mansion while adjusting my magical power.

“Stand up, Lord Delling.”

Come to think of it, this was perfect timing.

My magic circuits were getting stiff from studying, and here walks in such an excellent practice dummy for magic training.

“I’ll make you pay dearly right here for tarnishing my adoptive father’s honor.”

Just stand there with your mouth open, Father.

Your adopted son’s service is coming right up.