Do Your Own Revolution

#033.

“Good day, madam! We met at Castle Chegrund last month, do you remember?”

“We have some fine wine that just came in. Would you like to join us for a drink sometime……”

“A fish farm in the western coastal region? Ho ho ho, well this……”

Lupeon’s funeral wasn’t as solemn as I had expected.

Rather than a funeral hall, it felt more like an outdoor social gathering for nobles.

If a funeral in Korea had this kind of atmosphere, it would be considered a “good death.”

‘Well, dying after catching the Revolutionary Army’s leader would be considered a good death.’

What would Lupeon, lying in his coffin, think about these thoughts from the one who caused his death and stole his magic imprint?

That thought crossed my mind briefly, but it wasn’t my concern anymore.

If he’s upset, he can tear open his coffin and resurrect himself.

“Invitation confirmed.”

“Lord Keiren Buckenheim. It’s an honor to have you.”

Seeing me following Keiren, the servants bowed respectfully.

To think I’m now walking proudly through the front gate of a place I used to sneak into during my Knifehead days.

It might have been a touching moment, but sadly, there wasn’t time for such sentiments.

‘They’re already starting to show up one by one.’

Among the nobles attending the funeral, the servants carrying food, and the occasional street vendors.

Familiar faces could be spotted between them.

Lower-ranking Revolutionary Army members who carried out missions with the protagonist in the original [Revolution Empire].

They had already finished their preparations and were waiting for the Emperor to appear.

“The security is terrible. Suspiciously so.”

Unlike me who was observing the people, Keiren’s gaze was fixed on the soldiers lined up throughout the venue.

“The snipers on the roof don’t even have proper scopes, and the patrolling forces are all regular soldiers. There’s a lot of them, but the quality is completely lacking.”

“You can tell right away?”

“I’ve been smelling gunpowder on battlefields for decades. I can tell just by looking at the rifles they’re carrying.”

Having said that, Keiren spoke while looking at the soldiers standing at attention.

“Those soldiers guarding us now… They’re greenhorns who’ve never seen actual combat.”

After hearing Keiren’s words, I took another look at the soldiers’ attire.

Clean faces and pristine uniforms. Even their boots were gleaming without a trace of wear.

They looked more like actors in military costumes than actual soldiers.

“The Imperial Guard Captain is Niphelheim duchy’s man. That cunning bastard deliberately redirected the elite troops elsewhere.”

Hearing Keiren’s words, I assessed the current situation.

Security weakened by magic nobles’ schemes.

Revolutionary Army already hiding everywhere, waiting for their chance.

Nobles enjoying the reception in the middle of the planned attack site.

The Emperor who would soon appear would be nothing more than a feast prepared for the Revolutionary Army.

“Don’t worry. Walter and our soldiers will handle the primary security. However, if things go wrong…”

“I’ll need to escape with the young lady. I understand.”

Of course, I couldn’t be certain.

There wouldn’t be time to look after Mari while preventing the Emperor’s assassination.

I watched Mari bouncing around holding Keiren’s hand, with Irene following behind her.

“Irene! You’re sticking too close!”

“Hehe! Sorry, Young Lady!”

When I told her to stay close to Mari, I didn’t expect her to literally stick to Mari for three days straight.

Seeing how the two had grown close, I nodded.

At least I had insurance in place, so they shouldn’t die.

Just then, a man wearing a fedora bumped into the child’s side.

“Oh my, I’m sorry. Are you hurt?”

A gentleman who lowered himself and asked in a kind voice.

A handsome man with well-groomed blonde hair and blue eyes.

And the moment I saw that face, I realized something was wrong.

‘Gideon Leonhart…?’

Why would a Westraine Republic intelligence agent be at Lupeon’s funeral?

***

In a space without a hint of light.

The Revolutionary Army members gathered around Vark were reviewing their upcoming operation.

“How’s the deployment of members?”

“It’s already done. We can have everyone move in as soon as the funeral starts.”

“I checked the security forces, they’re terrible. Are the magic nobles saying they don’t care whether the Emperor lives or dies?”

Vark’s concerns deepened as he received the members’ reports.

He wasn’t worried because breaking through security would be too difficult, but because it would be too easy.

Other members seemed to share similar thoughts, as one of them asked Vark.

“Vark. The Imperial Army’s deployment… Doesn’t it seem strange?”

“There’s nothing strange about it. It’s intentional.”

The answer came immediately.

The Imperial Army’s unreasonably weak security.

It was too unnatural to claim ignorance.

“We got a communication from our ‘sponsors.’ The Imperial Army’s main force has all been deployed to the outskirts of the capital. They say it’ll take at least 30 minutes to arrive even at their fastest.”

30 minutes.

Enough time for Vark and his members to kill the Emperor and escape.

“What’s going on? They must have known we would attack…”

“This doesn’t make sense. Have the magic nobles abandoned the Emperor?”

When several members asked this, Vark showed his teeth as he spoke.

“No, it’s worse than abandonment.”

His gaze fell on the Emperor’s insignia on one side of the capital’s map.

“Those bastards are now begging us to kill the Emperor.”

“…!”

“And they plan to leisurely appear after we kill the Emperor and strike us from behind.”

Vark became uncomfortable.

Even if the operation succeeded at this rate, they would be playing into the magic nobles’ hands.

However, they couldn’t abandon the operation now.

Lupeon’s funeral was the Empire’s ploy to insult Maximilien’s death.

If they remained silent about their leader’s death, what fool would join the revolutionary cause…!

“It seems all preparations are complete.”

As his worries deepened, a man entered the dark space.

“Our personnel are also ready, whenever the leader gives the order, we can begin at any time.”

A handsome man with blonde hair and blue eyes.

Though he wore the same attire as the Revolutionary Army members, what emanated from him wasn’t the Revolutionary Army’s characteristic passion.

Rather, what he possessed was the cold air typical of those with power.

He was fundamentally different from them who desired revolution.

“We thank you for your cooperation. Without the Republic’s support, this operation would have been impossible.”

“Save your thanks for after the operation. For example…”

A faint smile appeared on the man’s face as his words trailed off.

“After retrieving the Emperor’s head according to our proposed conditions.”

“……”

Hearing those words, Vark stood up with a sigh.

This man named Gideon was one of the ‘sponsors’ dispatched from Westraine.

Having reached out to them for help, it was impossible to stop the operation now.

‘If the operation fails, it’s a futile struggle, and even if it succeeds, we’re being played by them.’

The power struggle between magic nobles and the Emperor.

The Republic stirring up chaos in the Empire amid that power struggle.

In these massive currents, the Revolutionary Army was merely a sword handle being played by their objectives.

Waaaaaah-!

The sound of citizens cheering could be heard from outside.

The sound of fireworks booming loud enough to shake the heavens, mixed with the music of numerous instruments.

Members watching the situation outside gave a signal.

The Emperor had appeared.

“Shall we go, Leader?”

“…Drop the title of leader. I’m merely Maxim’s proxy.”

Vark stood up in response to Gideon’s words.

It was too late to abandon the operation now.

Either kill the Emperor and die gloriously, or die without killing him.

That was all that was possible for him now.

However…

‘However, next time will be different.’

Vark thought of the numerous young bloods remaining at headquarters.

The revolutionary heroes personally trained by Maximilien, and the many promising individuals following him.

They were new recruits who joined the Revolutionary Army after Lupeon’s death, and would continue the revolution even after his death.

‘The seeds have been sown. Then all that remains is to ignite that spark with the Emperor’s blood…!’

It didn’t matter if they were being played in a dirty power struggle.

It didn’t matter if they became puppets of the Republic.

The Emperor meeting his end at the Revolutionary Army’s hands.

That fact alone would remain in history, becoming nourishment for the next generation of revolutionaries.

When the door of the cargo wagon they were riding opened, the capital filled with countless people came into view.

Nobles who filled their bellies with the blood of the poor, and the hideous parasites living off those nobles’ pus.

They had gathered together, cheering the Emperor’s name.

There were people moving busily through the gathered crowd.

The disguised members gradually picked up speed, revealing their disguises one by one and firing their prepared magic bullets.

And-

“Huh, huh?”

“Wait. That…”

“Red flags!”

Among the crowd calling the Emperor’s name, the Revolutionary Army’s red flags rose.

One, two, ten, twenty.

As the flags increased, the Imperial Army’s confusion grew, and the terrified crowd began to leave their places one by one.

It didn’t matter.

Lupeon’s coffin and the vehicle carrying the Emperor were already in the middle of the main road, and the Revolutionary Army had already surrounded them.

The military sword at Vark’s waist was drawn.

The light bursting from [Red Wings], derived from Maxim’s magic imprint, began to blaze fiercely along the blade.

Vark charged in a straight line holding the flag.

His eyes caught sight of the Emperor’s vehicle and the Imperial Army guarding him.

“Kill the Emperor! Shatter the heart of this corrupt Empire–!”

The first strike would be his.

And Westraine’s sponsors would provide fire support.

The positioning was perfect, and all that remained was his strike.

“For the revolution–!”

“Waaaaaah-!”

“For the revolution!!!”

With the cries of numerous members, Vark raised his weapon and charged toward the Emperor’s vehicle and.

With a tremendous explosion, the entire escort procession guarding the Emperor was engulfed in flames.

As the roar that shook the entire capital subsided, the thick smoke slowly cleared.

And what should have appeared next was the Emperor’s shattered corpse.

……or rather, that’s what should have happened.

“I really hoped it wouldn’t come to this.”

“Wh-What…!”

When the quiet voice was heard, a look of dismay appeared on Vark’s face.

What had received his strike wasn’t the Emperor’s vehicle, but a translucent red barrier.

The one who had spread the multiple layers of barriers was a young man who possessed the same red magic imprint as himself.

“Who are you. Why, why do you have the same colored magic imprint as us…!”

Judging by the state of the shattered barrier, the impact on the young man seemed significant.

However, the young man paid no attention to this and growled while staring directly at Vark’s face.

“Vark Urgon. You idiot, do you know what you’ve just done?”

“?!”

What?

Who is this young man?

How does he know my name?

As such questions were about to continue, shocking words came through the young man’s lips.

“You just sold the entire Revolutionary Army organization to Westraine.”