Do Your Own Revolution

#127

“I’ll prepare the car. If you could wait just a moment…”

“It’s fine. I want to walk.”

Imperial Capital Ground Level.

As soon as I got off the elevator, a guard tried to guide me, but I waved my hand in refusal.

Going to meet friends in an official vehicle?

I can’t do something that embarrassing.

After putting on a regular officer’s uniform, I headed toward the center of the Imperial Capital.

With my rank insignias and medals all removed and my military cap pulled down low.

Why am I deliberately hiding my identity like this?

Well, obviously.

I turned my head to look at the massive propaganda poster hanging in the middle of the Imperial Capital’s skyscrapers.

More specifically… at my face on that propaganda poster.

“…Haa.”

This is why I can’t walk around the Imperial Capital showing my face.

My face appears without fail in every Imperial newspaper and propaganda material – what would happen if I walked around wearing my rank insignias too?

‘At least in uniform with my face down, it should be hard to tell who I am…’

Thinking that, I walked down the streets crowded with people.

“Performance! Come one, come all! Starting in 5 minutes!”

“Witness the tyranny of magic nobles! Only by overthrowing them can we secure the Empire’s future-!”

“You damn pickpocket! Stop right there!”

The Imperial Capital at sunset.

The scenery here wasn’t much different from when I first possessed into this game.

While the Empire as a nation is changing, people’s daily lives probably won’t change much.

Just the people at the top being replaced.

And…

“Eugene.”

As I arrived near my destination, Matt, dressed in civilian clothes, waved at me.

A large pub located in the center of the Imperial Capital.

This place, run by Matt’s family, was where the Special Magical Power Unit executives had agreed to meet.

“Oh, Eugene!”

“Hard to catch a glimpse of our division commander’s face these days!”

“Please, have a seat. Your place is ready!”

When I went inside, there were many familiar faces I hadn’t seen in a while.

Guille, Ortega, Leopold, Rennie.

And many other first-generation members whose schedules aligned to join us.

At the table with drinks and food, they were spending the day sharing stories about their lives.

“During this leave, I’m planning to visit my mother…”

As the drinking session grew more lively.

In the boisterous atmosphere, Rennie, who had been quietly sipping her drink alone, opened her mouth.

“The move is mostly done, right?”

“Y-yes. I’ve been getting reports and sending gifts regularly, but…”

“So this is the first time you’re going to see her in person.”

She probably hadn’t had the chance to see her face since joining the Revolutionary Army.

After much deliberation, Rennie seemed to have finally made up her mind.

“What does Branvilde say about it?”

“Th-they’re asking if I want to become an imprint specialist for their family…”

“Are you thinking of joining them?”

“Of course not.”

For the first time, a firm voice came from Rennie, who had been stammering and hesitating throughout.

“Even though I left the Revolutionary Army, my hatred for magic nobles hasn’t changed. Especially when I think about what they did to my mom.”

“That’s good to hear.”

“And…”

After trailing off for a moment, Rennie continued.

“The imprint research I’m doing now… I want to see it through with my own hands.”

Creating a seven stroke imprint with her own hands.

Using that to release magic imprints, monopolized by magic nobles, to the public.

That was the ultimate goal of Rennie, the imprint specialist of the Special Magical Power Unit.

‘When we first got her out of the Revolutionary Army, I had no idea she’d be this helpful.’

While I was thinking that, watching Rennie burning with academic passion and determination…

“Oh right. Hey.”

“What?”

Ortega, who had been busy demolishing drinks and side dishes, suddenly blurted out.

“I’m getting married.”

“…What?”

What’s this about all of a sudden?

Marriage? First time I’m hearing about this?

Apparently I wasn’t the only one thinking this, as Guille and Matt asked in succession.

“Have you booked the venue?”

“When is it?”

And Ortega’s answer was…

“Tomorrow.”

…

……

………Tomorrow?

He’s telling us about his wedding schedule the day before?

While everyone was silent at this incomprehensible statement.

“…Special Magical Power Unit members. This is a direct order from your division commander.”

Finally taking charge, I gave orders to my subordinates who had reached their limit.

“Get him.”

Crash! Bang!

“Ow! Why! Why! I told you, didn’t I! Why!”

“You idiot! What kind of lunatic tells people about their wedding the day before?! Huh?!”

“What am I supposed to do about not getting leave! I was also nervous thinking I might not make it to my own wedding!”

“That’s not something to brag about, you bastard! Hey! Bring tools! He’s a five stroke mage so don’t hold back! Hit him!”

“Aah-! Aaagh-?! Hey, I’m seriously gonna die!”

In the midst of the chaos of the collective lynching by the enraged executives.

Ortega, poking his face out from the scuffle, pointed at someone.

“If you think about it, this is all your fault, Erich! If you had just given me leave on time…! Gyaaah!”

Ortega was dragged away before he could finish his words.

“Don’t kill him, friends.”

Erich, watching this while sipping his drink, opened his mouth with a faint smile.

“We need him for the war in a month.”

In the few months we hadn’t seen each other, our Erich staff officer had become a splendid devil.

***

For a working adult, a wedding is quite a demanding event even from a guest’s perspective.

What to wear, how much to give as a gift, what to say to the people you meet… There’s a lot to take care of.

If that’s true even in the simplified 21st century, what about a wedding in this diesel-punk fantasy world?

Moreover, what about a military officer’s wedding where high-ranking officials from various sectors are involved?

There’s a mountain of things to prepare.

But this damn friend of mine dropped the news about the wedding just one day before.

Should have used magic instead of fists to massage him. That crazy bastard Ortega.

Anyway, I had to complete all the wedding preparations within the tight schedule of one day.

And naturally, this was impossible with my power alone.

“So.”

That’s why, with a heart full of regret, I had no choice but to reach out for help to someone who had been waiting for me at the territory.

“You called your fiancée, who was waiting eagerly at the mansion, to the capital in the middle of the night? Even using magical power communication?”

“Yes. I’m terribly sorry.”

Mari, looking at me with the most refreshing smile I’d ever seen.

Seeing that smile, I could only silently hang my head.

Scary.

No, really, she might be scarier than the monster queen Arachne.

Why? Is it because I’ve done something wrong?

“By the way, I really have nothing to say.”

After briefly pressuring me with killing intent emanating from her whole body.

Opening my closet in the quarters, Mari let out a deep sigh that could sink the floor.

“Military uniform, military uniform, dress uniform… You really don’t have any other clothes? Even with all that money?”

“Well…”

What good is having money?

When there’s no time to use it.

Though I desperately wanted to argue back like that, I couldn’t.

After all, I was the one who called my fiancée in the middle of the night after months apart to say ‘I need to go to a wedding, please help me with clothes.’

“Isn’t it better to wear the dress uniform since it’s a friend’s wedding anyway?”

“You want to go to a wedding in uniform when your face is plastered all over the Imperial Capital? No way. The protagonists of the wedding should be your friend and his bride.”

At Mari’s firm voice, I could only nod.

Thinking about it, she had a point.

Meanwhile, Mari opened the case she brought and started matching various clothes.

“Okay, this shirt, and this blouse… Just wear what I pick out. Got it?”

“Yes.”

“Really can’t live without me. It’s fortunate you’re the same size as Dad…”

While I was fumbling around getting dressed, Mari handled all the numerous things I couldn’t manage.

Wedding gift money and presents, congratulatory telegrams to send to people.

And numerous other courtesy letters for various purposes.

For someone like me who only rolled around on battlefields, these were things that made my head spin just looking at them.

“Ah~ really.”

After handling all the wedding necessities with lightning speed, Mari immediately came over and fixed my tie.

“You’re about to be a legal adult. You should at least know how to tie your own tie.”

“Yes, mom.”

“Do you really want to die?”

Mari yanked the tie.

When I waved both arms in surrender, Mari smiled and took my hand to lead me.

“Oh Eugene! The suit looks amazing!”

“You think so?”

“It’s fortunate the size fits. It’s like seeing a young Master Keiren.”

Waiting outside were Irene and butler Walter.

Getting into the car Walter opened for us and driving through the Imperial Capital, the wedding venue soon came into view.

“Hey! I’m getting married first-!”

Ortega, dressed in a tuxedo, waving at us.

And the bride walking behind him.

Seeing her face, fresh as a spring flower, the three friends including me and Rennie looked at each other in amazement.

“What? She’s super pretty?”

“Looking at this, he must have abused military power to get his hands on that lady.”

“For that kind of thing, doesn’t the bride look too happy?”

“He might have secretly developed brainwashing techniques. For someone like Ortega, it’s entirely possible…”

“You guys really have nothing nice to say about your friend…?”

Rennie muttered in disgust while listening to our conversation.

Meanwhile, Matt explained with a serious expression.

A fateful meeting on the street.

The excitement they felt for each other.

Ortega’s pure love that overcame both families’ opposition, and finally the moment when he received approval from his father-in-law…

“No way… Ortega did all that?”

“Wait, forget that, that bastard managed to date while keeping up with that insane schedule?”

“Just you wait, Ortega. Once the war starts, I’ll work you so hard you won’t have time to breathe…”

Erich pushing up his glasses with a sinister smile.

Looking at him, it seems he’s gone off the deep end too.

Bang! Bang-!

“Congratulations Ortega-!”

“You’re being deployed in a month anyway! Don’t die-!”

“Battalion commander! Please compose yourself! Your makeup is running!”

Laughter, fireworks, and cheering people.

As I quietly watched from a distance, a cold glass touched my cheek.

“Being gloomy alone at a place like this again.”

Mari in her wedding ceremony dress.

As I stared blankly at her appearance for a moment, she handed me a glass of champagne.

Whew.

Not sweet, with just the right acidity.

In a situation where we barely meet a few times a year, she even remembered my taste in alcohol.

“After this ceremony ends, it’s war again, right?”

“That’s right.”

After answering that, I looked at my friends scattered around.

“Regarding the bill being pushed forward, it seems some revisions might be needed…”

“I understand. First, this part…”

Erich talking with a group of people.

I hear he’s been contacted by the new National Assembly that’s about to launch.

Though it’s just private exchange for now, it seems Erich isn’t entirely without thoughts about it.

Once this war is over, he might really enter politics.

Thinking that, I watched Guille applauding Ortega.

He’s now undisputedly the second-in-command of the Special Magic Unit.

Even without me around, he’s leading the Special Magic Unit with his own charisma.

‘The five stroke imprint has already reached maximum activation, and the six stroke imprint will be implanted soon. If this momentum continues…’

Within 5 years at most, he’ll awaken the final seven stroke.

When that happens, it’ll be Guille, not me, commanding the Special Magical Power Unit.

“Everyone is looking toward their own future.”

Conquering the Republic and preventing the predicted doom.

The reason to walk that thorny path was gathered here right now.

War is coming.

The people whose futures I changed. The possibilities I altered are slowly starting to sprout now.

And my job is to win.

To crush every obstacle in my way and protect my people gathered here.

These people who either didn’t even have names in the original work, or disappeared before their potential could bloom.

Shouldn’t I at least watch with my own eyes what kind of world they’ll create?

Igniting possibilities.

That’s probably the role given to me.

“I’ll wait a little longer.”

While I was thinking that, Mari, who had taken her place beside me, spoke softly.

“While doing what I can in the Empire… I’ll be waiting.”

“…”

“So, don’t die.”

Mari looking at me.

She was watching me with slightly moist eyes.

“…Alright.”

With that brief word, I clinked my glass against Mari’s.

A promise without a set date, one that couldn’t even be certain.

But thanks to it, I could clearly know where I would return to.

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