Do Your Own Revolution

#037.

“Really… What a sudden proposal.”

I almost stammered.

The proposal Keiren presented to me was that sudden, and it was an offer difficult to refuse.

“Do you understand why I made this proposal?”

“Well, I understand roughly.”

I thought it wouldn’t be impossible for Keiren to devour Buckenheim.

His military tactics and strategies described in [Revolution Empire]’s main story were so meticulous and vicious that no general in the empire could imitate them.

However, there was the biggest obstacle blocking Keiren. That was…

“Because you yourself… are a non-awakened.”

“Yes. That’s correct.”

With those words, Keiren revealed his right arm that had been hidden under his military uniform.

Hole-like scars scattered across his arm.

They were traces of Magic Awakening surgery.

“Buckenheim is a family ruled by mages. Even if I succeed in taking control of the family, if a non-awakened sits in the head family seat, the power structure becomes unstable.”

The position of head of a magic noble family isn’t simply given to someone who leads the family.

The one who claims the seat of the head family must be the most powerful mage in that family.

It was impossible from the premise for Keiren, a non-awakened.

“And you defeated Carlos’s successor, Delling. That’s why I’m making this proposal.”

“If I were to face Delling in the succession competition, winning would be natural.”

It was quite an arrogant statement, but I had no intention of denying it.

Even if Delling changed his mind and grew properly, he’d only be about Carlos’s level, and with the strategy in my head, I could handle that much easily.

“I will use every means at my disposal to seize control of the family, and you will deal with the mages who threaten me. And…”

“When it’s time for the Major General to retire, I would become the head of the Buckenheim family.”

“That’s right.”

My concerns deepened.

An opportunity to become a real noble, not just one in name.

Moreover, I would ultimately be able to control Buckenheim, the first seat of magic nobles, so it wasn’t a bad choice even in the long term.

To be honest, it was a sweet proposal that would have no downsides to accept right away.

However, I knew.

That this man called Keiren never makes a losing deal.

“If I accept this proposal, the method of becoming Major General’s successor becomes the issue.”

“You don’t need to worry. The method is…”

“A political marriage with Lady Mari?”

Having already exposed each other’s ulterior motives, I didn’t bother choosing my words carefully.

Hearing my words, Keiren nodded with a slight smile.

“Rather than handing my daughter over to someone the family chooses, this is much better.”

“That’s unexpected. Given Major General’s personality, I thought you would leave marriage to the lady’s will.”

“‘Be with whoever you want?’ Sorry, but I’m not such a fool who doesn’t understand reality.”

Keiren’s voice turned cold as he continued.

“If you can’t protect what’s important when the moment comes, it’s useless no matter how much you love them.”

“……”

There was a somewhat self-deprecating tone mixed in that sharp voice.

His personality of cherishing Mari dearly and his deceased wife.

Combining these two keywords, I could easily guess the reason.

Keiren was now talking about himself.

“From the moment we enter the succession competition, Mari and I will face endless threats. We might even lose our lives if we fail. If that happens…”

“You want me to protect Lady Mari in your stead, Major General.”

“Yes. That’s exactly it.”

I couldn’t help but sigh.

The foundation of his determination to devour the family was Mari’s safety.

And the reason for offering me the position of family successor was also to protect Mari.

‘So this is how twisted a father with a daughter becomes when someone tries to take his daughter away…’

If I hadn’t kept Irene close, agents disguised as Revolutionary Army would have captured Mari, and she would have been killed in what would be covered up as ‘some accident.’

Keiren would have begun to fall from that shock, becoming the villain I knew well.

The ‘Ghost of the Imperial Army’ who would use biological weapons and poison gas without hesitation.

‘But, this confirms it.’

With Mari’s survival, Keiren’s fall didn’t occur.

The ‘Ghost of the Imperial Army’ obsessed with revenge was never born.

Instead, he points his sword at the family that drove him into a deadly situation.

If it meant being able to strike at magic nobles and take their magic imprint, it was welcome news from my perspective.

‘If marriage with Mari is a precondition, it serves as some guarantee too.’

Both as proof of trust, and as a hostage if needed.

“Then there’s one thing you should be prepared for.”

“Prepared?”

“Yes.”

Having finished my thoughts, I spoke to Keiren with a smile.

“After entering the military academy, I was planning to squeeze various things out of my father-in-law.”

“…Pfft, hahaha!”

Hearing my words, Keiren laughed heartily as if in good spirits.

I decided to accept Keiren’s proposal.

***

There was a man walking down the corridor laid with red carpet.

Imperial Guard Knight Order Commander, Andrei Leonhardt.

When the elderly knight with white hair approached the end of the corridor, the guard who saw him saluted.

“I’m here to see His Majesty. Report it.”

“Actually, His Majesty commanded that when Sir Andrei arrives, he should be shown in immediately. This way.”

“……”

Andrei frowned at the guard’s words but silently nodded.

He had surely come to see the Emperor without notice, so how could the guard have been informed in advance?

Despite serving the Emperor for decades, this strange sense of discomfort that he felt every time they met never got easier to handle.

When the door opened, it revealed a cozy bedroom with a fireplace.

“You’ve come.”

And at a desk placed in one corner of the bedroom, an elderly man was writing something.

This elderly man with a peaceful expression moving his pen was the Emperor of the Kalhyram Empire.

“Andrei Leonhardt. I greet Your Majesty the Emperor.”

Approaching the elderly man, Andrei immediately knelt on one knee.

“No need for such formality, Andrei. Given our relationship.”

“That would be improper. Your Majesty is the master of the Empire.”

“Hehe, this fellow.”

The same conversation continuing for decades.

The Emperor, smiling pleasantly while looking at Andrei, slowly opened his mouth.

“There must have been many events while I was unconscious. What became of the Revolutionary Army?”

When the Emperor asked, Andrei immediately began his report.

“We captured the main perpetrator Vark Urgon and three executives alive, and they are currently being interrogated underground.”

“Hmm.”

“After investigating their armaments, it appears the Republic provided ammunition and supplies to the Revolutionary Army. However…”

“The Republic wouldn’t admit to that. They’d say the Revolutionary Army merely stole their military supplies.”

“That’s correct.”

While continuing his report, Andrei observed the Emperor who maintained a gentle expression.

‘After experiencing such an incident… How can he remain so calm?’

The Revolutionary Army’s magic had come within arm’s reach.

There were reports that he had lost consciousness for two days due to the effects of that magic.

Yet after experiencing such an incident, rather than being angry or afraid, he was writing as if nothing had happened?

As always, Andrei could not understand the Emperor’s actions at all.

‘Come to think of it, his attendance at this funeral was the same.’

This event was practically guaranteed to be invaded by the Revolutionary Army.

Moreover, the magic nobles in charge of security refused the Knight Order’s escort, making their intentions all too obvious.

That’s why he had advised against attending several times, but the Emperor headed to the funeral hall without any objection.

An action no different from throwing oneself into the enemy’s gun barrel.

If that boy called Eugene hadn’t intervened, the Emperor surely would not have survived.

‘I simply cannot understand. Wasn’t this like walking to his own death…?’

While thinking this briefly.

“I heard from the guard. The one who saved my life was a boy from Buckenheim?”

At the Emperor’s voice calling him, Andrei quickly came to his senses.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Perhaps, do you know that boy’s name?”

This was quite an unexpected question.

It was quite rare for the Emperor to show interest in others.

“Eugene. His name was Eugene Lorentz.”

“Eugene. Eugene…”

When Andrei answered without hesitation, the Emperor quietly repeated that name.

His appearance no different from usual.

However, the Emperor’s subsequent action astonished Andrei.

“?!”

The Emperor put down his pen and closed the book he had been writing in.

‘He closed… the book?’

That book had remained open even when eliminating dissidents, when signing for war with Westraine.

Even when it was revealed that the First Prince Heylen’s death was poisoning, when news came that the First Empress Lady Cecil had hanged herself… The Emperor had continued writing in that book.

Yet he closed that book.

He closed it before the ink could even dry, so the pages the Emperor had been writing would be ruined.

“To think the flame that should burn the Empire protected me.”

“…Pardon?”

Burn the Empire? That child?

While pondering these incomprehensible words briefly.

“Sir Andrei.”

The Emperor, having put down his pen, called Andrei with a clearer voice than ever before.

Taking off his glasses and rising from his seat, the Emperor emanated an imposing presence never seen before.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Has Buckenheim’s armored train left the capital?”

“No. All trains parked in the capital are on standby.”

No one could leave the capital until the investigation was complete.

It was an order Andrei had given personally.

“I see. Then that child called Eugene… Summon him to the palace.”

“…!”

Bring an outsider into the palace?

And by the Emperor’s direct order?

Though inwardly shocked, Andrei did not question the Emperor’s directive.

A direct order from the Emperor.

Expressing doubt would itself be an act of disloyalty.

“As you command, Your Majesty.”

There was no objection.

Rising from his position, Andrei immediately left the room and headed toward the capital’s central station where the armored train was parked.

‘This is different from before.’

By the time he got into the car heading to the station, Andrei thought.

‘His Majesty, who had been in seclusion all this time, personally rising and bringing another into the imperial palace…’

Something that had never happened in the decades of serving the Emperor.

While thinking this, the car carrying Andrei began speeding toward the capital’s central station.

“Please hurry.”

“Yes, yes!”

After urging the driver, Andrei sank into the back seat cushion.

Something was happening in this suffocating empire.