Do Your Own Revolution

#089

Screech–!

With the train whistle, the train carrying me departed towards the western part of the Empire.

Not a military train, but a luxury passenger car from a civilian railway company.

A first-class compartment created by renovating an entire passenger car.

Seeing the luxurious sight that couldn’t even be compared to a military armored train, Leopold, the adjutant accompanying me, opened his eyes wide.

“B-Battalion Commander? This is……”

“You followed me without even getting time to rest after working so hard in the Elcryer territory. I should at least treat you this much.”

“Wow! The bed! It’s huge!”

Irene, who had already jumped onto the bed and was bouncing around, and Leopold, who was looking at me with eyes full of emotion.

“B-Battalion Commander. Is this alright? This compartment must have cost quite a bit……”

“Your Battalion Commander has lots of money.”

Although it was an extravagant expense compared to the three-day travel time, I didn’t feel particularly wasteful about it.

‘If not now, when else would I spend money?’

The Special Magical Power Unit was a unit composed of mages, and their salary was considerable.

Among the Special Magical Power Unit, as the Battalion Commander leading the entire unit, I was guaranteed an enormous monthly salary, with all sorts of reward money and additional allowances allocated.

However, there was one advantage, if you could call it that, from moving from battlefield to battlefield: while money poured in abundantly, there were hardly any opportunities to spend it, even if you looked high and low.

Food? Just eat what comes from the supplies.

Drinks? Just drink what comes from the supplies.

Clothes? Want to dress up on the battlefield? Just wear the supplied uniform.

There’s no way there would be bars or inns on the battlefield, and I had no intention of frequenting brothels like other unit members, so my account had become a golden goblin full of deposit records without any withdrawal history.

“Things were so bad that when I booked this compartment, I got a letter from the Imperial Central Bank.”

“What did they say?”

“‘There’s a record of money leaving the account, wasn’t the account holder deceased?’ That’s the nonsense they were spouting.”

“Pfft-!”

The one who killed me, whom even Count Elcryer couldn’t kill, was an unnamed bank clerk of the Empire.

It’s still absurd thinking about it now.

When I go on leave, I should visit the bank first and turn everything upside down.

“Anyway, I don’t get many chances to come out and spend money. So when opportunities like this come along, I need to spend as much as possible to avoid regrets.”

Saying that, I filled the order form with numerous luxury dishes, premium champagne, and decades-old wine whose taste I didn’t even know from the dining menu.

It would take about three days to reach our destination, ‘Pelgear’ city.

I couldn’t carelessly waste this rare time.

How much time had passed as we enjoyed the served dishes and shared drinks while catching up?

Screech–!

At the whistle in the middle of the night, I got up from my seat, holding my throbbing head.

“Ugh, damn……”

50-year-old premium wine?

While connoisseurs might praise it as heavenly delicacy, to a street rat like me, it was just alcoholic rotten grape water.

Ugh, it’s so thick.

If I drink that again, I’m not human but a monster.

‘By the way, why did we stop? We should still have about a day left until arrival…’

While thinking that, I heard knocking on the compartment door.

When I opened the door, standing there was the captain in charge of operating this train.

Seemingly well aware of the value of the compartment I was staying in and the food I had ordered so far, he maintained a polite posture and bowed his head.

“Excuse me for the late hour, dear customer. The knights who just boarded wish to meet you……”

“…Knights?”

What nonsense is this now.

At my words, the captain nodded and extended his hand to point somewhere.

The place where the train had stopped was an intermediate station before entering Pelgear city.

A group of knights had already boarded the large train.

‘Looking at their emblems, it’s Buckenheim… And Nachtval ducal family mixed in?’

The moment I recognized them, I drew up magical power to dispel the intoxication built up in my body.

Buckenheim, and Nachtval.

When knights dispatched from two ducal families of the Empire gathered in one place, it wasn’t an ordinary matter.

“……”

“You… you!”

“Oh, there he comes.”

Leopold, my adjutant, had already passed out drunk.

I, dressed in full uniform, slowly approached the knights and saluted the man standing in the middle.

“It’s been a while, Lord Carlos.”

“Hmm.”

The middle-aged knight receiving the salute with a stern expression was Carlos Buckenheim.

The heir of Duke Buckenheim had personally come leading the Knight Order.

***

“I didn’t expect to meet in a place like this.”

“On my way to the western Empire to command the subjugation operation, I heard there was someone wearing an Imperial Army uniform. However, I didn’t expect it would be you……”

Hearing Carlos’s words, Eugene glanced at the captain.

The captain gave a thumbs up with a triumphant expression.

It made sense.

When such a big shot as a ducal heir arrives, making connections would help with career advancement.

From the captain’s perspective, he was doing a favor by arranging this coincidental meeting.

Though it wasn’t at all welcome from the receiving end.

“Eugene, Lorentz……”

“Young Master Delling. It’s been a while.”

Recognizing Eugene, Delling, who was standing next to Carlos, gritted his teeth.

A gaze mixed with anger and fear.

The shameful memory from several years ago must have resurfaced.

“Oh, so you’re that Eugene? The one who created the Special Magical Power Unit?”

Meanwhile, an unfamiliar voice approached, calling Eugene’s name.

A blue-haired handsome man wearing the Nachtval ducal family’s seal on his shoulder.

Though he extended his hand with a grinning expression, Eugene’s face remained stiff upon seeing him.

‘Zeplant el Nachtval…’

The first son of the Nachtval ducal family, and an unprecedented bastard in this game’s history.

He was looking Eugene up and down with interested eyes, as if he’d found a new toy.

“Eugene.”

Among the knights lined up in the back, a familiar face greeted.

Feilun.

Having at least one familiar face made him feel somewhat relieved.

While exchanging greetings with the knights who had boarded the train.

Noticing that Eugene was alone, Carlos’s eyes narrowed.

“Did you come alone?”

“Yes, is there a problem?”

At those words, Carlos frowned and openly showed his displeasure.

“I heard the Knight Order definitely requested support from the Special Magical Power Unit. But just one person, what is this……”

“I heard this subjugation operation would be conducted under the Knight Order’s leadership.”

Just before an outburst could occur, Eugene cut off his words with a firm voice.

“With this many knights gathered, I don’t think my unit and I would be needed. If you still called us despite that, the role would be advisory rather than direct combat participation.”

“……”

“That’s because……”

Eugene smiled slightly and opened his mouth.

It was a deliberately provocative attitude.

“Unlike our Special Magical Power Unit, the Knight Order hasn’t had experience killing Imperial knights.”

“……”

“What… did you say……”

At those words, Carlos’s eyes sank, and Delling growled while grinding his teeth.

Magical power seeping out from Carlos.

While feeling that and preparing for any possible situation.

“Ah, wait, wait a moment.”

Zeplant, with his characteristic grinning expression, stepped between the two as if mediating.

“Rebels have set up camp ahead of us. In such a situation, there’s no need for us to fight among ourselves, is there?”

“Sending just one person as reinforcement for the important mission of subjugating rebels. This is an act of disrespect towards the Knight Order.”

“Is that so? Hmm, then……”

Zeplant briefly trailed off while holding his chin.

But only for a moment.

Swoosh-!

He immediately released magical power and thrust it toward Eugene’s head.

An attack without warning.

It was an assassination attempt filled with magnificent magical power, at a speed too fast to respond to.

Clang-!

The barrier deployed immediately blocked Zeplant’s sword imbued with magical power.

As blue magical power light scattered and the clash sound spread, only then did the knights who noticed it falter.

“What was that just now……”

“An attack?! Couldn’t even see it……”

Meanwhile, confirming his attack had been blocked, Zeplant whistled as if finding it interesting.

“Ooh~! You blocked it?”

The red barrier still present before his eyes.

In that brief moment, Eugene had blocked his attack.

“Acting all high and mighty to a ducal heir, but you’re not just all talk, are you?”

“Young Master Zeplant! What is this suddenly!”

“Trash, shut your mouth.”

When Delling, standing beside Carlos, startled and tried to say something, Zeplant ignored his words and turned his head.

“With this level of skill, he’s a hundred times better than most knights. I think he’s not lacking as reinforcement.”

“……”

“What do you think? Lord Carlos.”

Zeplant smiled slightly as if asking if he still had complaints.

‘What a thug.’

Thinking that, Carlos clicked his tongue and stepped back.

“If the First Young Master of Nachtval says so, there’s nothing I can do.”

“Thank you for saying so.”

Having said that, Zeplant left towards their compartment, accompanied by the knights.

“Suddenly using magic inside a train, such a frivolous person……”

Delling was indignant, speaking such words.

However, Carlos frowned while observing the magical power of Zeplant and Eugene.

‘The heir of Nachtval. And the mage Keiren is raising… At such a young age, already at this level?’

It was skill that showed too much difference compared to Delling.

In fact, Delling was just surprised by the sudden clash, not even noticing what kind of exchange they had.

To grow this much in such a short time…

“Indeed, I should have killed him back then.”

Along with an odd sense of unease, Carlos said that.

The raw gem that bastard Keiren picked up from the street had now become a threat that even he couldn’t ignore.

***

“I apologize on behalf of my brother for his rudeness. I’m sorry about that.”

“It’s fine. I got to see something interesting thanks to him.”

Train compartment.

After the encounter with the Knight Order, the one who came to visit me was Feilun, who was accompanying the Nachtval Knight Order.

“And already a Lieutenant Colonel, now you’re really at a rank I can’t even look up to.”

Feilun said while looking at the rank insignia shining on my chest.

“What are you saying when you’re leading a Knight Order?”

“That’s just the result of desperately struggling to climb up. Though it’s already overwhelming just trying to keep up with our junior.”

After snickering while saying that.

While looking at the scenery passing by outside the window, Feilun opened his mouth towards me.

“How do you see it?”

“What?”

“You know without me having to say it.”

I thought while looking at the approaching Pelgear city.

The joint Knight Order formed by combining Nachtval and Buckenheim Knight Orders, about 200 members in size.

All of them being an elite group possessing three stroke or higher imprints, and when including the apprentice knights and soldiers under their command, the size of the subjugation force would reach several thousand.

Similar in scale to when we subjugated the Elcryer territory.

They organized such a scale of Knight Order at once, and flaunting that action.

Their message was clear.

“Has the Round Table Conference been convened?”

Round Table Conference.

Created when the Great Rupture first appeared, it was the organization that became the origin of the 12 Great Magic Houses.

The twelve heroes who were the founders of each family shared drinks before the battle to destroy the Great Rupture.

A term meaning the union of magic nobles, taken from the round table where they sat around at that time.

Feilun nodded at my words and opened his mouth with a serious expression.

“Magic nobles who had been building different forces are gathering into one huge group. The Joint Knight Order organized for this subjugation operation is both a practice for that and……”

“A show of force sent to the Imperial faction.”

“That’s right.”

The Round Table Conference was convened, and the nobles’ power was consolidated.

It’s saying they can create forces on the scale used to strike Elcryer anytime they want.

So Emperor, don’t mess with us magic nobles.

Well, that’s roughly the meaning.

“But that’s not what’s dangerous right now.”

“Then what is?”

Hearing my response, Feilun hesitated for a moment before speaking.

“The reason magic nobles convened the Round Table Conference was the extinction of House Count Elcryer. And this joint Knight Order being organized is also meant to counter the actions of the Special Magical Power Unit.”

“……”

“You probably know better than me what this means.”

Feilun spoke to me with a hardened expression, as if warning.

“It means the magic nobles now recognize you and your army as a real threat.”

“……”

“In such a situation, you came here alone. It’s too dangerous.”

It’s true that Elcidore remnants are gathered here.

But this subjugation operation was just a formality to lure me in, nothing more, nothing less.

This place was a trap set up from the beginning to entice me and the Special Magic Unit.

And I entered the trap knowingly.

“Listen well. Pelgear city is completely under the Knight Order’s control. It wouldn’t be strange for anything to happen there!”

“I know.”

“You know? Then why on earth did you come here alone…!”

Screech–!

While he was asking that, the train whistle rang out.

“Tch, have we arrived?”

Feilun had to command his Knight Order.

Hurriedly standing up, Feilun immediately ran toward the car where the Knight Order was.

“Anyway, this place is no different from enemy territory. Be careful! I’ll try my best to help too……”

Even in his hurry, Feilun didn’t stop worrying about me.

While seeing him off, the phone installed in the compartment rang.

– There’s a telegram for Mr. Eugene Lorentz. The sender is listed as the ‘Big House’ from the Imperial capital… Shall I read you the contents?

“Please do.”

A telegram delivered to a civilian train.

After clearing their throat a few times, the attendant told me the telegram’s contents.

– ‘Uncles’ from the ‘Big House’ are coming.

A pleasant smile bloomed on my face upon hearing those words.

Coming alone to enemy territory?

As if that would happen.

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