Do Your Own Revolution

#040.

“Today is the day.”

“Yes. It’s today.”

Two years had passed since preventing the Emperor’s assassination.

From a street urchin to a villain’s tool, and now to a duke’s son-in-law.

Unlike the Bitcoin-rivaling ups and downs of my life until I turned ten, my life until twelve had been drawing a relatively peaceful parallel line.

Of course, my life was peaceful only because I was still a child.

Looking at the adults’ chaos reported in the Imperial newspapers, it was an absolute mess beyond description.

“I saw the newspaper articles. The Imperial Capital is brutal.”

“How do you think I feel, being directly in that Capital? I’d rather return to the Eastern Front at this rate.”

Keiren, sitting across from me, lit a cigarette while grumbling.

“But, we’ve finally gotten past one worry.”

After the Emperor’s assassination attempt failed, magic nobles’ influence rapidly diminished.

It was natural, considering that the Revolutionary Army appeared at an event where they were in charge of security, and their magic even reached for the Emperor.

‘In the original game, magic nobles filled the void left by the Emperor’s death. That’s how the Imperial family became their puppet.’

But not now.

Of course, when looking at the overall power structure, magic nobles who held regional interests still had the upper hand, but what mattered was that the Emperor was still alive.

A week after the incident, when the Emperor ended his long seclusion and came out, the first thing he did was hold magic nobles accountable.

‘What was the Magic Corps doing when the Revolutionary Army was violating the Emperor’s procession?’

The security chief from the Nachtval family was executed by firing squad, and numerous magic nobles involved in the Emperor’s security were demoted and stripped of their positions.

The Nachtval duchy protested that it was excessive, but the Emperor already had justification.

Not many supported their voice, and Duke Nachtval had to suffer the humiliation of bowing directly to the Emperor.

“Consider it a message sent to magic nobles and the neutral elders.”

“A message?”

“Despite experiencing an assassination attempt, his will remains unbroken, and he cannot hand this country over to magic nobles. That’s what His Majesty is saying.”

That’s what Keiren, who had become my political mentor over these two years, said.

Ah, saying mentor feels a bit awkward.

It feels like Ben and Maximilien might rise from their graves yelling, “You bastard with three masters! Get out of here!”

Is this how the illegitimate child of a brothel with three fathers felt?

How nice to have three fathers, haha.

“And thanks to that, I was able to enter the Imperial Capital.”

“And you got promoted along the way too.”

Buckenheim was able to avoid the Emperor’s blade aimed at magic nobles.

This was because Keiren, who attended as Buckenheim’s representative, had led the suppression of the Revolutionary Army.

‘We hereby award the Imperial Lion Medal to Major General Keiren, who bravely fought against the Revolutionary Army’s surprise attack…’

Through this achievement, Keiren was able to enter the Imperial Capital, and now, two years later, he had established himself as one of the Emperor’s confidants.

With such rapid growth, his position within the Buckenheim family naturally rose as well.

As a result, Keiren’s once-quiet mansion was now bustling with constant visitors, and Carlos, the heir, began to perceive Keiren as a threat.

‘Originally, it should have been Carlos, not Keiren, who entered the Imperial Capital.’

The Revolutionary Army’s attack created numerous holes in the Imperial Capital’s administration.

In the original work, magic nobles dug into those holes, but with the Emperor alive, that wouldn’t happen.

Instead of magic nobles, those who filled the power vacuum in the Capital were people loyal to the Emperor and Imperial Army personnel who had long been at odds with the Magic Corps.

And among them, the one who took the largest position was Major General Keiren.

No, since he was promoted, he’s Lieutenant General now.

[House Cairald caught in illegal drug distribution! Imperial investigation launched…]

[Continuous misconduct by magic noble houses! Where is the nobility’s honor?]

[Imperial Investigator: Part of drug distribution network detected flowing to Westraine. Could be considered high treason…]

‘I knew interesting things would happen, but I didn’t expect it to be this interesting.’

Keiren’s assigned mission upon entering the Imperial Capital was to eliminate remaining security threats.

And what appeared at that timing was the ledger of gang transactions I obtained from the Grey Quarter back alleys.

Upon receiving it, Keiren began arresting the nobles listed in the ledger as soon as he entered the Capital, and suspicious magic nobles had no choice but to lay low.

“It’s amazing. To shake up the Empire’s power structure like this in just two years…”

“Most of it was arranged by His Majesty. I merely followed orders.”

Liar. It was a trap you set yourself.

While I was thinking that to myself, Keiren, rolling his stiff shoulders, asked me.

“So, how is Mari’s condition?”

“Excellent. Couldn’t be better.”

Although I promised to teach Mari magic, I hadn’t actually done much.

Otto carefully performed the awakening surgery, and the magic imprint was the two-stroke magic imprint created by Buckenheim personnel.

Professional mages were in charge of basic training, overseeing magical power increase and magical power control techniques.

‘From the start, I’m someone who uses magic, not teaches it.’

I couldn’t and didn’t want to teach magic from the basics.

There were far better instructors than me in this field, so why should I do it?

Then what did I teach Mari during these two years?

Practical sparring and feedback.

‘I lost again-!’

‘No, it would be strange if you won.’

From the moment she could use barriers and basic attack magic, Mari and I entered into daily sparring sessions.

Efficient magical power operation, magic circuit output distribution in combat situations, handling emergencies, and even actual hand-to-hand combat.

‘Just throwing magic around won’t work. The preparation movement when spreading barriers, the gaps that appear when using magic consecutively. You need to exploit those to succeed.’

‘I didn’t see any gaps when fighting with you, Brother.’

‘I showed plenty. You just couldn’t see them.’

‘Ugh.’

Although I spoke harshly on purpose, Mari was following the training more diligently than I had expected.

“She has strong aspirations, and her growth curve matches that. While her magical power amount is average… her technique and intuition are probably top-level among her peers.”

“Hmm…”

“If she continues training and increases her magical power, she could become a formidable mage.”

She wasn’t called a genius for nothing.

To come this far in just two years.

Even as I said this, Keiren sighed, seemingly regretful.

“It’s complicated. I wanted to avoid the awakening surgery until the end…”

“Think positively. At least she won’t be dragged to the front lines.”

Because I’ll be dragged there instead.

“Besides, how could we stop someone who wants to protect themselves? She’ll need it more considering what’s ahead.”

“…Right. That’s true.”

The day Mari was attacked became a huge trauma for Keiren.

For that daughter-obsessed man who shouted ‘I won’t allow anyone to put a blade to my daughter!’ to authorize development surgery, that says it all.

As our conversation with Keiren, who had returned from the Capital after a long time, was reaching its peak…

With the knock, butler Walter appeared.

“Young Master Eugene. The train has arrived.”

“Yes, I’m coming.”

Time already?

I got up from my seat, put on a black uniform coat, and draped a red cape over it.

With the hat from the military academy, preparations were complete.

Seeing this appearance, Keiren nodded with a satisfied expression.

“It suits you well.”

“I’m not particularly happy about it.”

Though I wasn’t happy, it was a strange feeling.

To wear the Imperial Army uniform I had gleefully killed in the game, and to go to military academy to become an Imperial officer.

It was a moment when I truly felt I was living a different life from the protagonist.

“Eugene!”

As I stepped outside, Irene, neatly dressed in maid clothes, was waving at me.

Most students entering the Youth Military Academy were nobles, and in this game, nobles meant idiots who couldn’t even change clothes properly without servants’ help.

In such a school for nobles, each incoming student could bring one servant.

‘It could have been trouble otherwise.’

Originally, I planned to bring one of the mansion’s servants, but I refused that idea.

Leave Irene here alone?

How would I know what she’d eat for midnight snacks when I’m not watching?

‘Ah~! I want to eat people for midnight snacks!’

‘Irene. You shouldn’t say such things out loud.’

So I asked Keiren to let me take Irene, and was able to get approval easily.

Thus, while I trained Mari, Irene’s daily routine became learning letters and work.

“We’ll be together for four years at school?”

“That’s right. You might go hungry quite often there, will you be okay?”

“Yes! I’ll be fine!”

Ah, to think this child who was practically a wild animal could now have normal conversations after two years.

I was nearly moved to tears by Mrs. Maybelle’s hard work.

Mrs., you are truly the real master for both Irene and me.

While self-proclaimed master Mr. B and previous life master Mr. M are crumpled in their graves.

“School life won’t be smooth. You’re already famous, Young Master.”

“Yes. I know well.”

Walter, who had been bickering with me throughout our time together, now seemed regretful… as if!

His noble way of speaking really makes me sick every time I hear it.

‘Still, he’s mellowed out a lot since the beginning.’

Thinking that, I handed Walter a document.

It was quite thick, clearly over dozens of pages at a glance.

“This is…?”

“Please give it to Lieutenant General Keiren. It’s necessary for the plan.”

After saying that, I boarded the train holding Irene’s hand.

Four years at military academy.

That should be enough time for Keiren to prepare sufficiently.

***

“Eugene handed this over?”

“Yes.”

Keiren, taking the documents Walter handed over, read them with suspicious eyes.

But that didn’t last long.

Page by page.

His expression, changing with each turned page, was filled with shock by the time he reached the final page.

“…Lieutenant General Keiren?”

When Walter quietly called out to him, noticing his hands trembling while holding the documents, a response came after a while.

“Walter. Prepare a letter to send to His Majesty. Say that I will seek an audience soon.”

“Understood.”

“It’s urgent. Please.”

After Walter bowed and left the office, Keiren looked at the documents again in disbelief.

“Really… What an unthinkable idea.”

It was a dangerous plan.

However, if successful, it could shake the very foundation of magic nobles’ power base.

Their greatest monopolized power.

A plan that could take away the very existence of mages.

“Four years. Might be tighter than expected.”

Keiren put a cigarette in his mouth and placed the documents he was holding on the desk.

[Special Magical Power Unit ‘Knifehead’ Establishment Proposal]

On the very last page of the document thus titled, Lupeon Elcidore’s magic imprint was emitting a blue light.