Do Your Own Revolution

#079

“Combat over!”

The soldiers who were focused on confirming kills lowered their weapons at Guille’s voice.

They had been quite tense since these were Count Elcryer’s disciples, but their magic formulas weren’t much of a threat.

Two-stroke mages who only used basic magical power bullets and barriers.

These people who fought with quantity rather than quality were no match for the Special Magic Unit specialized in one-versus-many engagements.

“Are there any survivors?”

“We secured five people. However…”

The charred corpses of monsters and disciples collapsed in pools of blood.

Moreover, even the survivors they had captured weren’t in good condition.

“Ah… Ah… Ah…”

“Sir, is interrogation even possible with these?”

“They won’t even answer questions. It seems like they’ve completely lost their minds?”

The disciples showed no reaction, like puppets with cut strings.

My eyes narrowed as I observed them.

“This is…?”

It was a familiar sight.

No, it’s a sight I couldn’t forget even if I wanted to.

I immediately activated [Eye of Horus] to examine their bodies.

What I focused on examining was their imprints, and the form of the magical power circuits connecting the imprints to their magic circuits.

Dozens of magical power branches extending from the imprint to the heart.

However, after confirming this, I twisted my face and spat out a curse.

“Crazy.”

“What’s wrong? Why aren’t these guys talking?”

“I’ll show you the reason right now.”

When the Count, who had pulled out the kukri embedded in an enemy’s face, asked, I immediately drew my pistol and blew off one disciple’s head.

Crack-!

The head flew off with the sound of a bursting watermelon.

Among the flesh that splattered everywhere, there was something peculiar mixed in.

“This is…?”

The Count Gloucester’s face twisted as he picked it up with his protective suit-covered hand.

A mechanical device made of ceramics and metal.

Judging by the circuits and mechanical structure, it appeared to be some kind of communication device.

“It’s a magical power transmitter. They transplanted it after excising part of the brain.”

“They carved out the brain? Then these guys…”

“Yes.”

Though they called themselves disciples, these weren’t really disciples.

They were merely living puppets controlled by Count Elcryer.

“I’m speechless. Elcryer. That bastard treated his own knights like this?”

Count Gloucester expressed his disgust while looking around at their corpses strewn about.

However, as I looked at their forms, I felt something familiar.

The magical power transmitters embedded in their brains.

And the magic imprints connected to them.

This structure was definitely…

“Brand of Dominance.”

I was certain.

This peculiar energy felt from the second stroke of the magic imprint.

And unlike other imprints that only connected to the heart area, the circuit structure extended to the brain’s central nervous system.

All of these matched with parts of the Mark of Control that Elcidore used.

‘The difference being that Elcidore’s imprint gradually manipulated personality while forming voluntary loyalty. But this imprint carved out part of the brain to eliminate normal judgment ability.’

A much cruder and less sophisticated method compared to Elcidore.

However, with this, I could find the thread to questions that had been nagging at me.

‘The imprint Elcidore used to create Knifehead was used on these people, and Irene, who was Elcryer’s test subject, was at Elcidore.’

In other words, it meant that Elcidore and Elcryer had maintained some kind of deal.

‘Elcryer passed research data about monsters to Elcidore, and in return, Elcidore passed on technology related to the Mark of Control.’

Elcidore, who excelled at court intrigue and espionage, and Elcryer, who was conducting all sorts of research forbidden by the Empire.

Elcidore needed new power to gain authority, and Elcryer needed faithful servants to assist his research.

Their needs matched perfectly.

Crunch-!

Of course, that wasn’t all I discovered.

I extracted a magic imprint embedded in one disciple’s arm and channeled my magical power into it.

The biggest characteristic of the ‘Mark of Control’ is that it maintains a constant connection with the one who holds control over the imprint.

If this imprint had the same structure as what Knifehead used…

“Found it.”

It was as expected.

Part of the magical power flowing into the imprint was being transmitted toward a specific point.

“What did you find?”

“What else could it be? Obviously…”

Looking in the direction where my magical power was heading,

I opened my mouth with a faint smile.

“The enemy’s headquarters.”

***

“Huh? Huh?”

“What is this…”

“Your Lordship!”

After traveling for 30 minutes following the guidance of the extracted imprint,

Bewildered expressions appeared on the faces of Gloucester’s knights checking the contamination level meter.

“…Are these measurements really correct?”

“We’ve checked several times. The contamination level that was at its peak… is gradually getting lighter.”

“At this level, it’s possible to live normally. This should be impossible without purification facilities…”

The knights who said this looked around, but it was just an empty field.

The situation wasn’t even properly detected by my activated Eye of Horus.

“Your Lordship. What do you see?”

“…Yes. I can see it.”

I asked the Count carefully, and he answered while grinding his teeth.

“The contamination level has decreased, but the composition of the contaminated area has changed. As I mentioned before, this is artificial contamination.”

“And its source is none other than this place?”

“Exactly.”

When on earth did they build something like this?

As the Count waved his hand with those words, the space rippled and gradually revealed a building of bizarre form.

“…!”

“That, that is…”

What appeared in the distance was a circular fortress surrounded by concrete walls.

Inside were various facilities including an airship landing pad, quarters, and research labs.

How did we not notice that such a building was hidden here?

“It’s a perception interference formula.”

The one who answered that question was Count Gloucester.

“In its usual form, this magic can only hide one person at most. However, to deploy it over such a wide area…”

Just as the wary Count was muttering this.

“Captain. Over there.”

“Yeah. I saw it too.”

Seemingly noticing they had been discovered, the fortress doors were slowly opening.

Thump- Thump-

And walking out from inside were even more ‘disciples’ than the ones we had just killed.

And in their center, a gentleman in an immaculate suit appeared.

“I never expected guests to visit this remote research facility.”

A voice amplified by magical power.

It was a voice that carried confidence, as if saying ‘come if you dare.’

“Margrave Gloucester. And the Empire’s new hero who’s been the subject of many rumors.”

Black long hair. Refined features no less handsome than any young noble. Even a gentle expression that seemed kind at first glance.

“Welcome, truly welcome, to the Elcryer Monster Research Institute.”

Bowing his head politely with a smiling face was Martin Elcryer, the Alchemist of the Abyss.

He was the man who would become the cause of the Black Sun Incident.

***

Rattle-!

The gun barrels of Special Magic Unit members positioned throughout aimed at Count Elcryer.

In response, disciples stationed throughout the fortress also aimed their weapons, creating a tense situation.

“How very interesting.”

In this powder keg of a situation that could explode at any moment, Count Elcryer was the first to speak.

“I never expected the location of this research facility would be exposed. How did you know the disciples’ imprints were connected to me?”

“Well, I happen to have quite a history with Elcidore.”

A brief informal response.

However, Count Elcryer didn’t seem particularly bothered.

Rather, what caught his interest was Elcidore.

Hearing that name, Count Elcryer cupped his chin as if surprised.

“Amazing. You even discovered the connection between Elcidore and myself?”

“The imprint your disciples were using was similar to Elcidore’s. Right down to how it eats away at people’s minds and turns them into puppets of the practitioner.”

“Ah yes. Indeed.”

Hearing my words, the Count smiled in understanding.

“A thoroughly vulgar person who was obsessed with meaningless rankings and positions, coveting a throne that didn’t suit him at all. His formula was appropriately sinister.”

Of course, it was quite useful as well.

Looking at Count Elcryer as he added that, one person stepped forward.

Boom-!

Margrave Gloucester.

Deploying his imprint and emanating magical power, he spoke in a chilling voice.

“The current head of House Elcryer seems quite brazen. Sneaking onto another’s land without permission, turning knights into that state. Moreover, monster research? Do you think you and your house will escape unscathed after this?”

How do you plan to answer for invading Gloucester’s territory?

To the Margrave’s question, the Count spoke as if just remembering something.

“Ah, you mean those test subjects?”

“…What did you just say?”

“It was an experiment to see if human reason could suppress a monster’s destructive instincts. It was quite difficult to monsterize only the physical tissue while leaving the personality intact.”

Count Gloucester and the knights following him all doubted their ears.

However, as if it didn’t concern him, Count Elcryer continued speaking in an unbothered voice.

“But to attack without hesitation the one they followed like a parent… Perhaps a monster’s aggression really can’t be controlled by human will? It was quite an interesting result. They provided good data.”

“…!”

Hearing those words, Count Gloucester seemed unable to even think of speaking.

Crazy bastard.

On behalf of Margrave Gloucester, I spoke to Count Elcryer.

“In other words, you and House Elcryer conducted research on monsters.”

Click-!

Heresy aimed at his face.

While the disciples remained alert, I continued speaking.

“Research on monsters is strictly forbidden by Imperial law, and this applies even to magic nobles like you who hold immunity privileges.”

“…”

“Immediate execution upon discovery. According to Imperial law, you…”

“Hah.”

What interrupted my continuing words was Count Elcryer’s sigh full of boredom.

“Revenge for subordinates, Emperor’s orders, Imperial law, internal politics… Truly, such tediously conventional reasons are sickening.”

“…?”

What the hell is this bastard saying?

While I was thinking that, the Count spread both arms and spoke to me as if giving a speech.

“Don’t you understand what problem lies before us? The Great Rupture that has appeared in this world, that infinite power has emerged and is shaking the world.”

“…”

“Yet the Emperor has misguided thoughts. Far from trying to explore the origin of the Great Rupture, he’s prohibiting it, regulating it, interfering with the pursuit of sound knowledge.”

Sound knowledge pursuit.

Hearing those words, I could vaguely understand their motivations.

Elcryer, bearing the title of Alchemist.

The reason why they, who originally had no interest in central power struggles, actively joined the magic noble faction.

‘They were even crazier than imagined.’

House Elcryer’s interest was just one thing, the Great Rupture.

More precisely, the otherworldly power flowing from it and related knowledge.

That appearance of pursuing only knowledge without any consideration for the harm it would bring to the world.

Perhaps that was closer to what a true ‘magician’ was.

What do I mean?

Nothing special.

Just that they’re completely insane bastards.

“Pursuit of sound knowledge? Don’t make me laugh with such nonsense.”

“…”

At Gloucester’s rebuke, Count Elcryer’s face hardened.

“Your so-called research threatened my territory and turned my knights into monsters. Is this truly the pursuit of proper knowledge?”

“Just three people. Just a few tens of thousands of pyeong of wilderness. Would you oppose me and House Elcryer over such trivial matters?”

“You bastard, how dare you open your mouth to…”

Clap-!

Cutting off the conversation with a light clap, Count Elcryer wore a cold expression as if there was nothing more to see.

“I have no intention or need to ask for your understanding. If something interferes with exploring the source, we simply eliminate it, whatever it may be.”

With those words, a boy walked out from among the gathered disciples.

“What is that?”

“A child…?”

Staggering movements and unstable eyes.

And tentacles writhing on his back.

It was an appearance that really reminded me of someone.

‘The test subject who replaced Irene. So it’s that kid.’

A bizarre appearance with all body hair removed and restrained in a straitjacket.

Count Elcryer, who held the boy’s shoulders, spoke in a kind voice.

“We have guests, Opel.”

“Gu-guests…?”

“Yes. Bad guests who want to harm your father.”

A white-gloved hand undid the restraint around the boy’s neck.

When the straitjacket binding his arms was removed, the boy’s body trembled.

His eyes were overflowing with endless killing intent and destructive instincts.

“Kill them all, Opel.”

“…!”

Whoosh-!

As soon as the Count’s order ended, dozens of tentacles began to assault the soldiers.

“Damn it, here it comes!”

“Take out the machine gunners first! I’ll handle the Count!”

At the same time, the disciples began their attack, and the fortress’s weapons all activated.

When Count Elcryer’s own magic imprint activated, the waiting soldiers’ weapons responded by all spewing fire at once.

Boom–!

Many spells detonating and tentacles darkening the field of vision through the gaps.

And the boy charging toward me.

A faint smile appeared on Count Elcryer’s face as he prepared his magic.

That Opel kid was probably his hidden card.

However.

“…?!”

The Count’s eyes widened greatly when he saw the girl who had appeared beside me.

A girl in her usual outing clothes.

Looking at her, I slowly called her name.

“Irene.”

Irene Elcryer.

The witch who killed Count Elcryer after he rose to Duke, and became the master of the source after devouring the Black Sun.

Looking at the tentacles approaching them with curious eyes, she turned to me and said.

“Can I really eat all of this?”

Unlike Opel from before, she had an innocent appearance with no trace of malice.

Looking at her, I silently nodded.

“Hehe!”

A broad smile spread across Irene’s face at my agreement.

Whoosh-!

And the shadows began to cover the entire space where we were standing.

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