Do Your Own Revolution

#029.

The Kalhyram Empire is a setting sun.

The economy collapsed as soon as the Great Rupture appeared.

The tyranny of magic nobles who seized power through the gaps.

The collapse of people’s lives, and the subsequent emergence of the Revolutionary Army.

The current empire was so broken that it was impossible to know where to begin fixing it, and no one thought about trying to change such an empire.

The nobles only thought about exploiting the empire for their own desires.

The Revolutionary Army wanted to burn the empire completely and build a new country on its ashes.

However, there was just one person.

Someone who tried to somehow change this precarious empire that no one cared about.

‘Friedrich Franz Kalhyram.’

The legitimate heir of the Franz Imperial family, the first seat magic family, and the master of the empire holding full authority over the imperial army.

The only monarch who could have changed this empire on the brink of collapse.

And in Chapter 1 of [Revolution Empire], he also served as a device showing how the empire’s fate had completely tilted when he was assassinated.

‘But now it’s different.’

The main story of [Revolution Empire] begins with the collapse of the Kalhyram Empire.

And the collapse of the Kalhyram Empire begins with Emperor Friedrich’s death.

However, now that I’ve fallen into the game world.

The emperor hasn’t died yet, and I had enough power to intervene in the direction of the story.

I could break the premise of the main story.

‘Of course, it might be pointless.’

Even if I save the emperor, I won’t be able to extinguish the flames of revolution that have already been lit.

I probably can’t control the magic nobles who have already solidified their power base either.

The exploitation by magic nobles will continue, and the spark of revolution will burst someday.

The Kalhyram Empire has already reached its limit, after all.

‘But at least I can survive.’

[Revolution Empire] has two endings.

Either die in prison after completing the revolution, or face the gallows after failing the revolution.

A gutter story where death is the only outcome either way.

However, by preventing the emperor’s assassination, I can escape from this deadly dilemma.

I can choose a path that the protagonist couldn’t choose in the original work.

A future where I’m not used as a tool of revolution or exploited as a tool of nobility.

Throwing this game’s story into an unpredictable swamp that no one can foresee.

***

During the month-long period, preparations for attending the funeral proceeded without a hitch.

From condolence gifts for the Elcidore family who lost their head, to formal attire for Keiren and his daughter, knights to escort the delegation, and branch family members to accompany them.

After meticulously checking each item and person heading to the imperial capital, Carlos promptly returned to Buckenheim’s jurisdiction.

‘How refreshing it is to no longer have to see that face!’

That’s what Keiren said when he heard Carlos had left.

Although siblings are programmed to kill each other, they still growl at each other whenever they meet.

They might be half-brothers in name, but at this point, their relationship was practically that of sworn enemies.

Of course, complicated matters like delegations and guests were all adult business.

These things didn’t apply to Eugene Lorentz, the energetic ten-year-old child of the new nation.

So what did our young Eugene do during this month-long period?

‘Very good, Young Master Eugene. At this rate, you’ll easily pass the written exam.’

‘Ugh, ugghhh……’

What else could it be?

Military academy entrance exam study.

‘From now on, we’ll focus on solving past exam questions for written preparation, and concentrate mainly on practical skills.’

After looking at my evaluation sheet, Mrs. Maybelle allowed me to leave with a satisfied expression, and I gave a thumbs up while sprawled across the desk.

‘Thank… you…’

‘Not at all. It must have been a difficult schedule, but I’m glad you followed through so admirably.’

It had been three months since I started studying for the military academy entrance exam.

In that short time, I had barely managed to exceed the passing cutline for the military academy’s written test.

To think that I, who had been a 466-level mushroom in Korean, English, and Math, could enter a military academy.

The brightness of my teacher’s boundless grace was almost blinding.

“If Maybelle said so, then I can rest assured.”

And so now, in the armored train heading to the imperial capital.

Keiren, upon hearing my report, wore the same gentle smile as when we first met.

Usually, he would have had a cigarette in his mouth, but what he held in his hand now was a steaming cup of coffee.

When one’s precious daughter is in the same train car, even a chain smoker knows to exercise restraint.

“We won’t need to worry about the practical portion. Not after what you did to Carlos’s only son.”

“We can’t be careless. I heard the military academy’s practical tasks change every year.”

“Haha, so that’s how it’s changed now? In my time, there was only hand-to-hand combat.”

Just as Keiren was about to start his back-in-my-day story, I turned my gaze toward Mari sitting next to him.

Mari’s eyes lit up, seemingly noticing my look.

After I knocked down Delling at the mansion, Mari’s attitude toward me had noticeably softened.

‘Mari. Your father’s starting again.’

‘Okay. Got it!’

Good, transmission received.

Just as Keiren’s rambling was about to get longer, Mari interrupted him by pointing at the scenery outside.

“Papa! Look there! There, there!”

“Hmm?”

What she was pointing at was the cityscape spread out beyond the window.

The view of Central, the capital of the Kalhyram Empire.

“You shouldn’t be amazed just yet, Mari. Where we’re going is the highest place in Central.”

“Really? Higher than this?”

“Hahaha, that’s right. Now, if you look over there…”

I watched the father and daughter chatting with smiling faces.

I watched Mari taking in every corner of the city with bright eyes without a hint of shadow.

And then shortly after, I turned my gaze to look at the bottom of the city laid out beneath the railroad tracks.

‘…Returning after two years, huh.’

Though it was meant to divert Keiren’s attention, looking back now brought new emotions.

Central.

The protagonist’s hometown and the place where [Revolution Empire]’s main story begins.

I was returning to the city I had left when led away by Lupeon.

‘When I left, I was in the cargo car of a military armored train, but now I’m returning in Duke Buckenheim’s luxury train…’

Leaving as a commoner and returning as a noble.

Wouldn’t this qualify as a triumphant return?

Though I thought that, I soon shook my head with a bitter smile.

‘Triumphant return my ass, I’m walking straight into death’s door.’

The special administrative district located in the center of the capital Central, the imperial capital.

The Elcidore funeral to be held there was an event where the Revolutionary Army’s invasion was expected.

No, it would be more accurate to say it was an event held to lure out the Revolutionary Army.

Lupeon, the protagonist of this funeral, was the Revolutionary Army’s sworn enemy who had killed Maximilien, the Revolutionary Army’s leader.

Pinning medals on such a person’s corpse was no different from poking a hornet’s nest called the Revolutionary Army.

‘The Revolutionary Army will definitely infiltrate the ceremony. And if my prediction is correct…’

I looked at Mari, who was now completely absorbed in Keiren’s story.

The most dangerous existence in today’s attack and the turning point for Keiren’s descent into villainy.

And simultaneously, someone I absolutely had to protect for my military academy admission.

‘According to Keiren, there’s more than enough security personnel. However…’

I couldn’t carelessly trust that security.

If the Revolutionary Army that infiltrates the ceremony uses magic bullets, regular soldiers or lower-ranked knights won’t be able to handle it.

‘The basic plan is to prevent the emperor’s assassination. I can’t abandon that to protect Mari.’

So I decided to take out an insurance policy for Mari.

“Irene.”

By assigning my current maximum fighting power to Mari.

“Yes! I’m here!”

Hearing my voice, Irene, who was munching on cookies in the next seat, raised her hand high.

While wiping cookie crumbs from around her mouth, I said to her.

“I have something I need you to do.”

“Okay! What do you want me to do?”

Not doing it wasn’t even an option.

What she showed me was blind trust.

Like a newly hatched chick recognizing the first thing it sees as its mother, she blindly followed my words.

Just as I had done at the Elcidore mansion, I spoke to Irene with a smile.

“Can you protect Mari for today?”

“Protect? Lady Mari?”

“Some scary people will be coming.”

Speaking thus, I checked Keiren and Mari’s reactions.

Since they didn’t respond, it seemed they couldn’t hear our conversation.

“Then…!”

After hearing my words, Irene thought for a moment, then spoke to me with an expectant look.

“Those ‘bad people’ coming for Lady Mari, can I eat them?”

“Ah…”

Sparkling eyes, lips glistening with appetite.

And sharp teeth visible between those lips.

Looking at that, I spoke to Irene while acting out a gentle smile.

“Of course, you can.”

Come to think of it, I haven’t been able to feed her properly while at the mansion.

She’s done well holding back until now.

I patted Irene’s head approvingly.

“You can eat as much as you want.”

“Wow…!”

Irene beamed at my words.

‘This might turn out to be more profitable than expected.’

Prevent Keiren’s corruption by protecting Mari, while simultaneously securing sacrifices for unlocking Irene’s abilities.

If I can accomplish two things at once, it’s all profit for me.

***

“Are you sure you’ll be alright? A child going alone into Central city…”

“Don’t worry. I’m familiar with it.”

At the VIP quarters prepared by the imperial palace.

When I refused the security personnel, Keiren glared at me suspiciously.

“You’re not doing some double agent work somewhere again, are you?”

“That won’t happen.”

Keiren’s casual joke had a sharp edge to it.

It was something he could say because he knew what I had done at the Elcidore mansion.

“No better offers than the military academy recommendation have come in yet.”

“Kuk, kahaha!”

Jokes must be met with jokes.

After this exchange, Keiren personally prepared a carriage.

“I know nothing about the young master going out alone.”

“I understand well enough, just please depart.”

“Of course. Where shall I take you?”

Hearing those words, I stroked the handle of ‘Heresy’ in my chest.

Currently, the only person who could command the emperor assassination operation was the Revolutionary Army’s vice-commander, ‘Vark Urgon’.

And to counter his magic imprint, I needed to adjust the ‘Wings of Crimson’ embedded in my arm.

And excluding the imprint users of the imperial army and Revolutionary Army, the only person in the capital Central who could do that was…

‘Just one person.’

After finishing my thought, I spoke to the coachman.

“Grey Quarter district.”

“P-pardon?!”

Grey Quarter.

When those words left my mouth, the coachman’s eyes immediately widened.

“Y-young master? I apologize, but that’s the slums. If we carelessly enter there, who knows what people might say…”

“That’s fine, just please depart.”

A customer’s demands must be met.

As the coachman started the horse with a sour expression, I leaned back against the seat with a fresh feeling.

My destination was Grey Quarter National Hospital.

It seemed the time had come to pay back the hospital bills I had left on credit.