Do Your Own Revolution

#100

“How could you just show up so suddenly! You should have contacted me in advance!”

“You’re making a fuss about me visiting. How am I supposed to send a letter while sitting in an airship?”

At a cafe located in the Imperial Capital academy.

After briefly grumbling, Mari fidgeted with the bouquet Eugene handed her several times before letting out a deep sigh.

“As expected, these are from the Crelliana Flower Shop. Do you know how expensive this brand is in the Imperial Capital?”

“Don’t worry about that. Good pay is our unit’s only advantage.”

Though Eugene said this, his eyes looking at the bouquet couldn’t have been more disgruntled.

“But since I bought it from White Quarter where the nobles live, it was more expensive than I imagined. What kind of bouquet costs more than an airship ticket?”

“The prices in the Imperial Capital are hellish no matter how many times I think about it. Do you know how much a sandwich costs at this cafe?”

“How much?”

“Fifteen thousand.”

“Are you crazy? That could get you a full-course meal in the outer cities?”

“Exactly~!”

Their idle chat continued for a moment.

“Here you go.”

Eugene took out the letter that was his original purpose and handed it to Mari.

“I had some business in the Imperial Capital anyway, so I dropped by while delivering this. I’m glad to see you’re doing well.”

“Ah, this.”

I didn’t expect him to come deliver it personally.

Seeing Mari’s beaming face as she said this, Eugene smiled slightly while tilting his teacup.

“Since someone of Commander rank signed it, no one should be able to say anything about our actions now.”

The organization in the documents Mari handed over was called the Special Magical Power Unit Wives’ Association.

It was a charity organization formed by the wives and children of Special Magical Power Unit members, initially created to counter the defamation and fabrications that the Revolutionary newspapers were making noise about.

“Then it’s basically just a PR organization, isn’t it? Is my signature really necessary?”

“Well, things got a bit bigger as we went along.”

Mari explained to Eugene as she said this.

Special Magical Power Unit.

Among them, most of the first generation members who were with Eugene from the beginning had unusual backgrounds.

Knights who were pushed out of organizations for speaking the truth.

Children of political prisoners.

Ideologists.

There were even some who had ruled the back alleys alone with their fists.

“These are the kind of people they have as husbands or wives. When people like that gather to form an organization…”

“They wouldn’t just be doing PR in the safe zones.”

There’s a saying that birds of a feather flock together.

Their spouses who joined the Special Magical Power Unit and were busy dealing with monsters and the Republic.

As if competing with them, the Special Magic Unit Wives’ Association was gradually expanding their scope of activities.

Visiting monster contamination zones for charity work, providing food and medical support, even handling legal documents and other minor tasks for new members joining the Special Magic Unit.

In other words, they had become an organization that went beyond the level of a simple veterans’ association or wives’ club, handling tasks that members on the battlefield couldn’t manage themselves.

“I somehow ended up becoming the president and started various projects, but since we’re a civilian organization, there are many restrictions on our activities.”

That’s why they needed the certification of Eugene, the founding commander of Special Magic Unit.

Mari took out the documents as she said this.

“Thanks to you, I can breathe easier now. With your signature as commander, there shouldn’t be any concerns going forward, but…”

Just as she was saying this.

“…Huh?”

Upon seeing the complex pattern stamped in one corner of the document, Mari froze in place.

“Husband?”

“What is it, wife?”

“What exactly is this?”

The slowly turned over paper.

There, the Imperial seal was stamped as large as a door.

“You wrote it in your letter, didn’t you? That it would be good to have signatures from other people with authority besides me.”

“Uh, uh…”

“So I asked His Majesty the Emperor. To stamp his seal.”

Eugene, who said this matter-of-factly, added as if just remembering.

“Now if anyone interferes with your wives’ association activities, it’s treason against the state?”

“Y-you…!”

And at Eugene’s added comment, Mari finally exploded.

“You crazy person-!”

What was simply a charity created by wives had now become…

A state-sponsored project directly certified by the Imperial Family.

***

“A signature. I thought I had experienced most things while leading the Empire, but to think there would be something like this too.”

In the Emperor’s audience chamber.

Picking up the pink stationery paper that didn’t match the solemn atmosphere, the Emperor was chuckling as if amused.

“I never thought I would end up stamping the seal on something like this.”

“You shouldn’t have done it, Your Majesty. The Imperial seal, for something like this…”

“It’s fine, Andrei. Using the seal that’s usually only stamped on unpleasant matters for something like this is rather refreshing. Besides…”

The Emperor paused briefly before giving Andrei a meaningful smile.

“Come to think of it, this seal will probably only be used for things like this from now on.”

“…Your Majesty.”

“It’s no use trying to persuade me again, Andrei.”

Our era has ended.

The Emperor spoke in a calm voice as he slowly set down the ornately decorated seal.

“I understand what you’re worried about. They are lying low, gradually aiming for my life.”

“This is not something to show off about, Your Majesty. By mobilizing the Knight Order and Intelligence Department, their movements…”

“Calm yourself, Andrei. Being suspicious of those who are doing nothing would be playing right into their hands.”

The Emperor seemed to be thinking about something after saying this.

Taking a sip of tea placed on the desk.

Eventually, a faint smile appeared on the Emperor’s lips as he set down his teacup.

“Eugene.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“You said you recruited someone who calls for true revolution?”

Why bring up Claude here?

When I confirmed this was correct, the Emperor nodded and muttered.

“To catch a loach hiding in a pond, you need suitable bait.”

“Your Majesty? What do you mean by bait…”

Just as Andrei asked with an anxious expression.

“This is an Imperial command, Eugene.”

“I await your orders.”

“Arrange for me to meet the young man called Claude.”

The Emperor issued a truly unexpected order.

“Your Majesty! That is…!”

Though Andrei immediately showed resistance, the Emperor firmly raised his hand.

What he had issued was an Imperial command.

Raising objections would be rebellion against Imperial authority.

“Your Majesty.”

“Do you also object?”

“No. Just…”

From my position, there was no particular reason to object.

Though I had noticed signs that they were preparing something, I hadn’t yet thought about how to respond.

“May I humbly ask your intentions for wanting to meet him?”

“I want to make a proposal.”

“What kind of proposal…”

The smile on the Emperor’s face grew deeper.

It was a mischievous smile, as if he had returned to his childhood days.

***

The Empire.

Even among it all, the night view of the Imperial Capital was considered one of the finest sights even in the game.

Skyscrapers where steel and steam engines were intricately intertwined.

The antique golden decorations wrapping those mechanical devices, and the light emitted by the people living there.

Instead of the starlight that had long since become invisible, the lights of airships decorated the sky like the Milky Way.

But below that.

Past the brilliant White Quarter glowing with golden light, going down below the Red Quarter where the middle class resided, a space completely different from this image of the Imperial Capital unfolds.

Makeshift buildings tangled messily on the cold cement ground.

A place where musty stench and all kinds of garbage and waste from the city flow in.

And even people who survive by picking up the scraps dropped by the luxurious Imperial Capital while holding their breath in those gaps.

This space showing the other side of the brilliant Empire was the Gray Quarter.

This was where Eugene, the protagonist of this game, first opened his eyes.

“Phew-“

Eugene, dressed in a black military uniform, leaned against the back alley wall while smoking a cigarette.

The back alley where Saul had cornered him when he was young.

Though 10 years had passed already, the scratches made back then remained exactly the same, as if time had stopped.

Just as he was lost in thought looking at those scratches.

From within the dark shadows of the back alley, someone slowly revealed themselves.

“To think the meeting place would be the Imperial Capital of all places. What were you thinking if surveillance was assigned?”

“Don’t worry. There’s no one tracking us.”

In the first place, who do you think is watching you people.

Thinking this, Eugene looked at the man who appeared from the darkness.

Claude Elcidore.

Eyes full of wariness and a face frozen stiff.

This man, sharp as a whetted blade, was the leader of the Revolutionary Army.

“Any companions?”

“None. That was the condition after all.”

“Is that so?”

As Claude answered while looking around, Eugene smiled slightly and raised his hand.

Swoosh-!

“You bastard, as expected…!”

Claude’s eyes narrowed as Special Magic Unit members appeared from all directions with guns aimed.

“What are you trying to do here?! Eugene, you’re the one who said we should meet alone, just the two of us!”

“That was a lie. Right now we’re confirming if you really came alone.”

“Are you saying you’re breaking the alliance now?”

“Well. Think whatever you want.”

As he was saying this, Matt, who was on standby in the outskirts, sent a magical power signal.

[No civilians in the current area. Same goes for companions.]

If they’re not coming out even with this level of threat, they probably really aren’t here.

Along with Eugene’s signal, the Special Magic Unit members who had been aiming at the supreme leader from all directions vanished.

‘Just from what I can glimpse, there are over a hundred. Moreover, they’re all imprint mages…’

Claude gulped hard as he sensed the magical power of the members spread throughout the entire back alley.

To be able to casually mobilize over a hundred mages.

Have they grown this much in just two years?

While he and his comrades had only just reached the starting line…!

“I’m not the one who asked for this meeting. Someone said they really wanted to meet you, so I called you here.”

“Wanted to meet me? Me?”

“Yes. The reason I brought all our people like this was to secure safety.”

At Eugene’s words, Claude felt puzzled.

If someone needs a hundred trained mages as bodyguards, they must be an incredible big shot.

Such a person wants to meet me?

Not Randall, who is the real power in the Revolutionary Army, but me?

Just as Claude was frowning and thinking this.

“You can come out now.”

Along with Eugene’s voice directed behind him, one person slowly revealed themselves.

“…!”

A simple suit and coat.

An elderly man slowly walking while leaning on a cane made of fine material.

Though he looked like a gentleman from any noble family, Claude could not say a word as he stood frozen in place upon seeing the old man’s face.

“Are you Claude? The one who inherited Maximilien’s will?”

“…!”

Friedrich Franz Kalhyram.

The one who had called him to this back alley was the Emperor of the Empire.

‘The Emperor, right before my eyes…!’

His mind couldn’t keep up with the sudden situation.

No. To be more precise, Claude was closer to using all his strength to suppress the surging impulse.

The Emperor is right in front of him now.

Within reach if he stretched out his hand.

No magical power could be sensed, and he wasn’t wearing any defensive equipment – completely defenseless!

One surprise strike.

With just that, he could strangle the Emperor’s throat…!

“I’m sure I don’t need to tell you.”

But that was only for a moment.

“It would be better not to have any foolish thoughts.”

Whoosh-!

Along with Eugene’s words as he stood beside the Emperor, an incredible torrent of magical power burst forth toward Claude.

Did he shoot out magical power? No, that wasn’t it.

Seeing the magical power emanating from Eugene, Claude could tell.

Eugene had already loaded a spell imprinted on the sixth stroke and was aiming it at him.

What was pressing down on him now was the residual magical power being emitted by the loaded spell.

‘The other soldiers on standby are also on edge. This is…’

Impossible.

After gauging the situation, Claude withdrew the magical power he had raised with a heart that felt like it was coughing up blood.

A sign of no intent to fight.

Confirming this, the Emperor spoke to Claude.

“I heard from Eugene. You said you wanted to change the Revolutionary Army that has been infiltrated by the Republic and carry out a true revolution?”

“…That’s correct.”

A short answer.

Though he used honorifics, his attitude couldn’t have been more disrespectful.

If it were the Imperial Guards, they would have been furious, shouting ‘How dare you be so rude to His Majesty the Emperor!’, but the Emperor and Eugene guarding him didn’t seem to mind much.

Asking the leader of rebels trying to overthrow the Empire to show proper respect would be nothing more than picking a fight.

“To overturn the Empire with the pure will of Imperial citizens, without borrowing the hands of foreign powers like the Republic.”

“…”

“It’s an upright thought. A difficult and painful path too. Since you chose it without hesitation, you must surely be the one who inherited his will.”

What is he saying since earlier?

That wanting to bring revolution to the Empire is an upright thought?

‘No, more than that, those words just now…’

Isn’t his tone as if he had known Maximilien from before?

Speaking just like about an old friend he had long been with…

“To such a ‘hero of revolution’, I would like to make a proposal.”

“A proposal… you say?”

“Indeed.”

At Claude’s questioning, the Emperor smiled slightly.

It was the kind of smile a villain would typically make, full of schemes.

“Would you like to plan an Emperor assassination operation together with me?”

What is this.

What on earth is he saying?

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