Do Your Own Revolution

#036.

“Ugh, my head…”

I got up from my bed while clutching my throbbing head.

I was planning to just pretend to be in pain to gain some sympathy, but it seemed I was actually hurt.

“Where is…”

I looked around at my surroundings.

The place where I had been lying was a well-furnished private room.

A luxurious space with gold leaf decorations everywhere.

“What’s this? Am I in some inn?”

While I was muttering to myself, a gruff voice came from one side of the room.

“What inn? You’re on a train.”

The one who appeared while saying that was Otto, the doctor from Grey Quarter.

“Doctor?”

“I’ve never had a patient like you in all my years. Not even a day after I told you not to overdo it, and you end up like this…”

For some reason, he was dressed neatly in a clean doctor’s coat.

He sighed deeply and tapped the communication device installed in the hospital room.

It appeared to be military-grade equipment, and he seemed quite proficient in using it.

***

“All train operations have been blocked. The reason given is to catch the remaining Revolutionary Army forces. The interior of the Imperial Capital is currently being searched under Lord Andrei’s direction.”

Keiren came running not long after.

According to his explanation, quite a lot had happened during the day I was unconscious.

“That’s unexpected. To think even a noble like Buckenheim can’t move in this situation.”

“Once His Majesty’s life was threatened, they say they can’t leave any trace of the Revolutionary Army. Well, that’s probably half an excuse.”

The Magic Corps, which had been waiting on the outskirts to move in if the Emperor died, ended up just watching the attack on the Emperor without being able to do anything.

In such a situation, Buckenheim’s train being unable to move was less about the search operation and more of a show of force against magic nobles.

“And, above all else, there’s something I needed to tell you first.”

After exchanging a few words like this, Keiren, who had been answering my various questions, turned to me with a somber expression.

“I’m sorry. I was so focused on Mari’s return that I failed to look after you.”

“No, I understand.”

“And thank you again. You, you saved Mari…”

“Major General. Please calm down first.”

I grabbed Keiren’s shoulders as he tried to bow his head.

“If Miss Mari hadn’t survived, the deal between me and the Major General would have fallen through. I saved her to prevent that.”

“…!”

“I acted purely for my own benefit. So rather than thanks, give me compensation for my dedication. That’s easier for me.”

Though my attitude was excessively formal, this was my own way of handling the situation.

Whether I saved his daughter or not, they were nobles and I was low-born.

If Keiren were to bow his head to me over this, there was a risk of earning the resentment of Walter and others.

To them, I was just a stand-in to be sent to the battlefield in Mari’s place.

It wouldn’t be a pleasant sight for their superior to bow to such a person.

‘And personally, this is much more comfortable for me too.’

Just as they saw me as Mari’s stand-in, this family was merely a stepping stone for my admission to the military academy.

A relationship of mutual use, where each takes their benefit and goes their separate way.

A lukewarm relationship where either party could cut ties at any time if things went wrong.

That was the most ideal relationship for me.

After all, giving human trust and faith only leads to betrayal.

Having seen this game’s ending, I couldn’t help but think that way.

“…”

Keiren silently stared at me for a while.

Come to think of it, it must be quite surprising to hear such words from a child who’s only about ten years old.

After seemingly finishing his own thoughts, Keiren nodded and said to me.

“Fine. Then what do you want?”

Hearing Keiren’s words, I thought about it.

I had earned enough money from raiding the back alleys to cover tuition and living expenses if needed.

If I had to pick something I needed, it would be a catalyst for magic imprint transformation… but that’s something even the Emperor himself couldn’t get, let alone Keiren.

It would have to be retrieved from inside the Great Rupture, and who would be crazy enough to go get that?

“I can’t think of anything specific right now. I just woke up, after all.”

When I answered that way, Keiren, who had been watching me intently, spoke up.

“Then let me ask you… a somewhat strange question.”

“A strange question?”

“Yes. Strange and out of nowhere.”

After building up to it like that, Keiren spoke with a serious expression.

“Eugene. What do you think of the current Empire?”

“…Pardon?”

This was truly a sudden and strange question.

Bringing up politics out of nowhere to a ten-year-old.

What’s this? Did YouTube exist in this world too?

Come on, Major General. I understand you’re bored, but about those weird fake news…

“It’s a necessary question. Perhaps it might be a topic worthy of discussing the compensation you mentioned.”

Hmm. Judging by his tone, this didn’t seem like pointless political talk.

Considering Keiren’s usual personality, I probably didn’t need to moderate myself either.

“The Empire…”

As I slowly opened my mouth.

“…is a country that’s falling apart.”

I stated the current situation of the Empire without sugar-coating it.

“A falling country.”

“The ever-increasing monsters, the western front that endlessly devours soldiers while remaining in a stalemate. The magic nobles who will stop at nothing to seize complete control of the nation, and an Emperor who can do nothing under their pressure.”

“…”

“Honestly, it’s natural for a revolution to occur in this country. No, it’s strange that a revolution hasn’t happened yet.”

After I said that, Keiren asked me.

“Then in such an Empire, what is your goal?”

“To survive.”

I answered immediately, but Keiren shook his head as if it wasn’t enough.

“I could give you suitable accommodation and stable income right now. But that’s not what you want, is it?”

“That’s right.”

“Why?”

“Because there’s no point in building a house and tending fields in a country that’s about to be overthrown.”

When I said that, Keiren’s expression became strange.

“The country being overthrown?”

Then he said.

“This incident was certainly significant, but not enough to overthrow the country. The Revolutionary Army has suffered unprecedented losses and will soon decline. Yet… you say the country will be overthrown?”

Hearing those words, I inwardly sneered.

While maintaining a serious expression on the outside, of course.

“Even if the Revolutionary Army’s power weakens immediately, the Empire’s unreasonable structure remains unchanged.”

“…”

“Moreover, the Revolutionary Army has left significant marks by killing Count Elcidore and attempting to assassinate the Emperor.”

In the midst of all this, their leaders Maximilien and Vark died so they lost their central figures? The Revolutionary Army falling apart?

What nonsense.

“The Revolutionary Army won’t disappear. Far from disappearing, they’ll gather even faster around a different central figure.”

Though that central figure would likely end up being Westraine’s puppet.

Hearing my words, Keiren seemed to understand to some extent.

“Then…”

However, afterward, Keiren asked me with a puzzled expression.

“Why don’t you join the revolution?”

“That’s obviously…”

The reason was simple.

Because betrayal was predetermined in the future.

Because I had seen with my own eyes how the revolution’s outcome would be corrupted.

Whether the Empire prospered or not wasn’t my concern, it was just for that one reason.

But since I couldn’t say that, I just smirked and dodged the question.

“Because I’m a loyal and good imperial citizen.”

“…Pft! Hahahahaha!”

Hearing my words, Keiren burst into laughter.

Apparently, he quite liked my joke.

***

‘Is this… Is this truly the thinking of a ten-year-old child?’

Just like when they first met, Keiren couldn’t help but be amazed every moment he conversed with Eugene.

His insight into the Empire’s current situation.

His certainty about the future, and clear self-principles.

It felt like dealing with a mature strategist rather than a ten-year-old child.

‘Moreover… those words just now.’

Why not join the Revolutionary Army?

To that question, the boy answered like this.

That he was a ‘good imperial citizen.’

The moment he heard those words, Keiren could guess.

‘This child is different.’

He wasn’t simply venting anger at the Empire’s injustices.

Rather than burning the Empire from below, he was trying to change it from above.

He was using others’ goodwill as a stepping stone to climb higher, aiming to paint a bigger picture!

‘This child…!’

A thrill ran down his spine.

The thought he had when bringing Mari turned into certainty.

The tremendous magical power at such a young age, and the strategy and ambition to back it up.

He was more than worth investing in for his purposes.

“Eugene.”

“Yes, sir?”

Keiren opened his mouth as he looked at the boy’s face.

“From now on, I plan to swallow the entire Buckenheim family whole.”

“…Pardon?”

Eugene asked back with an uncharacteristically surprised expression.

Keiren spoke through gritted teeth.

“The magic nobles pushed the Emperor into a place where the Revolutionary Army’s invasion was clearly expected. Along with his close associates, allowing even the Emperor to be killed.”

He thought it didn’t matter.

With the forces he had, he could surely protect himself and Mari.

His role in this incident was to be bait to blind the Emperor’s eyes.

He thought that if he just protected Mari in this incident, the family would no longer interfere with him.

“However, that was a naive judgment.”

He was included in their targets.

Some of them directly targeted and attacked Mari.

If it weren’t for Eugene, what he would be holding now would be Mari’s cold corpse.

“In this situation, even if I retire and step back from the front lines of power, we’ll have to live with such threats for the rest of our lives. As long as the family remains intact, forever.”

Looking at Mari sleeping in the next room, Keiren continued speaking.

“If that’s the case, I’ll crush them first. That’s the conclusion I’ve reached.”

“…”

“And I’m telling you this because I have a proposal for you.”

“A proposal?”

Keiren looked at Eugene as he said this.

“From the point you enter the military academy, your connection with our family ends. You probably won’t even be able to use the Buckenheim name.”

Eugene silently nodded.

Even as an adopted son, he was still a commoner, and it wasn’t uncommon for people to enter the military academy for similar reasons.

As an example, Eugene’s name was still Eugene ‘Lorentz.’

“So as compensation for saving Mari’s life… let’s make a pact.”

“A… pact?”

“Yes. A pact between the future grown Eugene and the future Keiren who will devour Buckenheim.”

After a brief pause, Keiren slowly opened his mouth while looking at Eugene.

“Eugene Lorentz. Would you consider becoming my official successor, not just a temporary adopted son?”

“…!”

Hearing Keiren’s words, the boy’s eyes widened instantly.

It was a genuinely surprised expression, something rarely seen from him.