Do Your Own Revolution

#088

The Annihilation of the Elcryer Family.

The news that one of the 12 Great Magic Houses had vanished in an instant plunged the Empire into a state of shock.

The Imperial newspaper, numerous private media outlets, and the Revolutionary Army’s informants scattered among them.

Disguised in various identities, they flocked to the Elcryer territory, continuously photographing the ruins left after the battle.

“Look, he’s coming out!”

The moment I stepped out after waking up, a sea of reporters surged toward the train being used as lodging.

“Are you Division Commander Eugene Lorentz?! I’m Ranster from the Imperial newspaper! Regarding this incident…”

“We’ve confirmed that members of other magic houses were also listed in the officially announced list of nobles. Do you plan to apply the same treatment to them…”

“It’s been revealed that Count Elcidore and his family members were deeply involved in the monster research conducted at Elcryer. What do you plan to do about them…!”

“Is it true that His Majesty the Emperor directly ordered this subjugation?!”

This is killing me.

For a moment, I thought fighting the Republic’s forces in a trench filled with poison gas would be better than this.

In the end, I escaped from the wave of reporters with typical responses like ‘It’s a military secret’ and ‘I cannot discuss operational details.’

How did I escape?

I don’t remember.

I just somehow managed to escape.

“So, is Count Elcidore family next?”

In the airship cabin.

Unable to withstand the reporters’ pressure and having retreated to the sky, I nodded at my subordinate officers who were sprawled out in similar states.

“That’s the plan for now.”

“Lupeon is dead, and Claude Elcidore, who was the heir, defected to the rebels… So now this already struggling family has been designated as an enemy of the Empire.”

As Matt mumbled while looking over the Imperial newspaper laid out in the cabin.

“Division Commander.”

Along with the still-unfamiliar title, the captain in charge of operating the airship approached me.

A man wearing an Imperial Army uniform, not Special Magical Power Unit’s.

The man with a Major’s rank insignia carefully approached me and whispered something.

“Light signals? From another airship?”

“It’s approaching us now. We’ve confirmed the Buckenheim family seal.”

Keiren?

No, that couldn’t be.

That man who trembles at the mention of his family wouldn’t be riding an airship bearing his family’s seal.

In that case, there was only one possibility.

‘Duke Buckenheim came personally?’

While I was thinking this, the large airship that had been approaching from a distance quickly aligned its hull with our airship.

“The other airship is requesting permission to board.”

The captain said while looking at the light signals visible through the window.

He’s asking me to decide?

After thinking for a moment, I nodded in approval.

Clank-!

As the metal bridge extended from the other airship connected, a group of knights approached from there.

Knights bearing Duke Buckenheim’s seal.

Looking at the emblem on their shoulders, they were high-ranking knights with five stroke imprints, Knight Order Commander level.

“Dolores Angelio, 7th Knight Order Commander of Buckenheim. It is an honor to meet the renowned hero of the Empire.”

“Special Magical Power Unit Battalion Commander Eugene Lorentz. I didn’t expect a Knight Order to come all the way here.”

I have no intention of exchanging pleasantries.

It means get to the point.

Seeming to understand my meaning, Dolores cleared his throat a few times before speaking to me.

“I bring a message from His Grace Duke Buckenheim.”

“I’m listening.”

“The Elcidore family has been designated as enemies of the Empire. A subjugation operation against them is underway.”

What nonsense is this now?

Hearing those words, the officers behind me frowned.

Of course, I felt the same way they did.

“Are you saying that magic nobles are going to subjugate other magic nobles?”

“When designated as enemies of the Empire, subjugating them is our duty as Imperial nobles. The Knight Order is merely fulfilling that duty.”

Bringing up duty at this point, he must have quite a few things weighing on his conscience.

Seemingly thinking his explanation was insufficient even to himself, Commander Dolores cleared his throat before continuing.

“His Grace deeply regrets that fellow magic nobles and members of the Round Table have caused such a tragedy, and believes they must be held accountable. I hope you’ll accept this as consideration for the Imperial Army, which must be weary from continuous battles with the Republic.”

“Well.”

We know you’re having a hard time fighting the Republic.

Since we’re fellow magic nobles, we’ll handle Elcidore well, so let’s stop here?

What a load of bullshit.

“Among those who shared Count Elcryer’s research results, members of other families were included.”

“I know.”

“Does that include knowing that members of Duke Buckenheim’s family are under similar suspicion?”

“It’s merely the doing of some extremists from branch families. The Knight Order will also do its utmost to root them out.”

He was spouting the same words as Acting Head Martan, who now lay buried in the ruins turned to ashes.

The typical excuse of cutting off the tail – claiming it was a rash action by an extreme minority.

It was their way of saying they would handle it at their level, so the Emperor and Imperial Army should stop meddling with magic nobles.

‘But there’s no way the Special Magic Unit would simply accept that.’

They must know that too.

So why bother telling me this?

While I was thinking this, Commander Dolores opened his mouth to speak to me.

“The remnants of the Elcidore family are currently gathered in a city called ‘Pelgear’ located in the Empire’s western border region. They’re preparing to seek asylum in the Republic there.”

Having no place left in the Empire, they’re trying to escape to the Republic.

It made sense.

“However, unfortunately, knights including myself have no experience fighting against fellow knights.”

Unlike you and the Special Magical Power Unit, that is.

Those were Commander Dolores’s words as he looked at the ruins of the Elcryer territory.

When I waited without answering, Commander Dolores maintained his characteristic expressionless face and said to me.

“Therefore… we would like your and the Special Magical Power Unit’s assistance in this subjugation operation.”

Hearing those words, my subordinates and I couldn’t help but frown.

“Wait a minute. What did you just say?”

“The Knight Order is requesting support from the Special Magical Power Unit?”

Cooperation?

Between magic nobles and the Special Magical Power Unit?

What absolute nonsense.

It would be more realistic to hear a monster say it wants to be friends with humans.

“…Intelligence has come in.”

“Intelligence?”

Perhaps even he found it uncomfortable to say.

When I asked again, Commander Dolores, frowning slightly for the first time, slowly opened his mouth.

“The Elcidore remnants seeking asylum in the Republic.”

“……”

“We’ve received word that the rebels are protecting them.”

The moment I heard those words, I felt my mind go blank for an instant.

A moment of silence.

And what followed was anger.

An incredibly intense anger, too fierce to be just my own, was swirling within me.

“…Ah, these bas-“

Who’s protecting whom?

The Revolutionary Army protecting magic nobles?

And Elcidore at that?

What kind of nonsense is this?

***

They say they’re going to subjugate the remnants of Count Elcidore’s family.

The Knight Order.

And ‘coincidentally’ they’re gathering and moving through territory near the border?

And what’s more, the Revolutionary Army is escorting them?

And who discovered this? The Knight Order!

And ‘coincidentally’! They want to drag me and the Special Magic Unit, who just finished our operation, to fight together.

Who? The Knight Order!!!

“Huu……”

A sigh escaped from deep within my non-existent dantian.

Two hours after Commander Dolores’s airship had departed after saying his piece.

Ortega, who had been mulling over the recent whirlwind of a conversation for a while, opened his mouth with a serious expression.

“This is suspicious. It could be an enemy trap.”

“……”

“……..”

“…………wow.”

And hearing those words, Guille, Leopold, and Matt.

These three looked at each other with serious expressions.

“Look at this. Ortega figured out it was a trap in just two hours!”

“Huh? Guille, that’s what’s surprising?”

“Do these Knight Order bastards not have brains? If a blockhead like Ortega can see through it, they weren’t even trying to hide that it’s a trap?”

“Matt? Don’t you think that’s a bit harsh?”

“For a Knight Order Commander of a Duke’s family to use such an amateur strategy that even Major Ortega could figure it out…! I just don’t understand! What on earth are they plotting?”

“Hey, you bastards, just insult me to my face-!”

You guys are having fun.

While our officers were putting their heads together thinking.

Erich, who had been listening to the conversation, stepped forward and spoke.

“They probably don’t think they need to hide it. Once His Majesty has ordered it, we have to go whether their words are true or false.”

“……”

“The remnants of the Elcidore family, designated as enemies of the Empire. If the rebels are protecting them, the backlash for refusing the request would be too strong. However……”

But even while saying this, Erich clutched his head in frustration.

“It hasn’t even been a week since we finished the Elcryer subjugation. Shells, bombs, magic bullets… we’re out of everything. It would take at least two weeks to get supplies and depart, but by then…”

“The Knight Order would have already finished their subjugation operation.”

Guille and Matt also supported Erich’s opinion.

“The condition of our troops is also a problem. They’re incredibly fatigued from using magic bullets. If we’re going to the battlefield, they need at least a week of rest…”

“We also need to select people to train the next batch of recruits. We need to send at least 30% back to headquarters, but that would create another gap…”

Strictly speaking, Count Elcryer’s family was too big a prey for the Special Magic Unit to swallow.

That’s why we’re suffering from these aftereffects after swallowing them.

In other words, even if we took Special Magic Unit members now, it would be impossible to deploy them as proper fighting force.

Then, there was only one option left.

‘We’ll have to bring in forces from elsewhere.’

Having finished my thought, I immediately spoke up.

“The Special Magic Unit doesn’t need to step in this time.”

“…What?”

“Eugene. What do you mean?”

To my colleagues’ questions, I shrugged my shoulders.

“They said the Elcidore remnants’ subjugation will be led by the Knight Order. Then we should let them do it.”

“Would that be possible? If we refuse their request, who knows what those bastards will say…”

“It’s related to the unit’s reputation too. If we rashly pull out the unit, it could damage the reputation we’ve built up until now…”

“That’s why I’ll go alone.”

I nodded and replied to Guille and Matt’s words.

“Let the soldiers go rest, and I’ll go by myself as the commander. If the Special Magic Unit commander goes personally, they won’t be able to say anything.”

“Isn’t that too dangerous?”

It is dangerous. From the enemy’s perspective, they’d think I’m a gift fallen from heaven.

So…

“I have something to tell the Imperial family.”

“…The Imperial family?”

“Yeah. And you guys have some places to go too.”

As I spoke with the sinister face that villains typically make, Erich and the others slowly sighed.

‘This bastard is plotting something again.’

Their reaction suggested this wasn’t anything new anymore.

These were truly my friends.

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