Do Your Own Revolution

#164

After the battle of Ruinberg, the Knight Order’s main strategy became focused on delaying Kalhyram’s advance.

Without completely cutting off their supply lines, it had become impossible to subdue the Kalhyram Army in the short term.

That’s why Duke Buckenheim, who commanded the entire Knight Order, decided to accelerate his planned strategy.

“How is His Highness Meldir?”

“After completing all preparations, he’s waiting in the Imperial Palace.”

“Good. Then there’s no need to wait any longer.”

While the Knight Order was blocking the Kalhyram Army’s advance, Duke Buckenheim planned to hold the coronation ceremony for Crown Prince Meldir.

‘It’s true that we don’t have the Imperial proof [Constellation Gazing at the Stars], but with Prince Meldir being first in line for succession, we can suppress any opposition.’

And the moment Meldir ascends to the throne, the cause of this civil war would favor the Round Table.

This country is an empire.

The emperor’s nation.

‘The only way Kalhyram Army could overturn this situation is to find another heir to the throne.’

But could the Kalhyram Army, who had been focusing all their attention on the Republic for nearly a year, have the resources to find another heir and continue the succession race now?

Impossible.

It was too late.

‘All potential heirs to the throne, including Prince Baker who is under house arrest, are secured by the magic noble faction.’

He had ordered any potential intruders to be shot on sight.

With the Imperial Intelligence Department away from the mainland, there was no way to extract the prince from his grasp.

This meant the Kalhyram Army would have no choice but to watch Prince Meldir ascend to the throne.

‘I acknowledge it, Emperor. The cards you prepared after rising again… were indeed threatening.’

In over a hundred years of the Round Table’s rule, it had never been shaken this much.

Elcidore.

Elcryer.

Raikard.

And the two Margraves who they thought had submitted long ago, Gloucester and Korhonen.

Two houses were wiped out, and three houses betrayed the Round Table.

Such damage to the 12 Great Magic Houses was unprecedented, and likely would remain so.

‘But in the end, this is my victory again, Friedrich.’

Looking at the ceremony hall in the upper levels of the immaculately prepared Imperial Palace, filled with nobles supporting the Round Table, Duke Buckenheim wore a satisfied smile.

Focusing all their attention on the Republic, their immediate enemy, they had turned their backs on the Imperial mainland.

A monarch who conquered the Republic.

That petty attempt to suppress the nobility through such honor had led to the current situation.

“Prince Meldir. Do you swear to firmly protect the Empire, upholding the will of the late Emperor, Friedrich Franz Kalhyram?”

“I swear.”

The coronation ceremony proceeded steadily with brief exchanges.

The imperial garments and crown.

Documents containing the approval of the imperial elders were handed over one by one, followed by rigorous verification of bloodline.

Meldir, the puppet he had created.

He was finally about to sit on the Empire’s throne.

“With this, our era continues.”

Watching Prince Meldir adorned in gold, the Duke muttered slowly.

When war disappears, so does the reason for knights to exist.

But that didn’t matter.

They could always create new threats to the Empire.

‘They could use one of the Revolutionary Army survivors to shake the Empire again, or support Republic remnants to create rebels.’

These ‘revolutionaries’ created by his arrangements would spread chaos throughout the Empire.

The Empire, mired in their disruption, would once again seek the Knight Order.

The heroes’ descendants who would protect them from the ruthless enemies threatening the Empire.

Threats scattered throughout the Empire.

Only the Knight Order, with their monopoly on magic imprints, could stop them.

“The glorious age of heroes shall continue forever.”

As he muttered these words, Prince Meldir’s coronation ceremony was nearing its end.

Prince Meldir received the crown from the Council of Elders.

Just as the prince, holding the gleaming golden crown, slowly raised it to his head—

“Ah… What’s that?”

“Hey, look! What’s that?”

“In the sky…!”

Commotion erupted from outside the ceremony hall.

The murmuring crowd and their gazes all converged on one point.

What is it? What’s happening?

As he looked where everyone was staring—

“That’s…!”

Duke Buckenheim’s face twisted severely.

An airship floating alone in the sky.

In the middle of its black envelope was the Imperial Family’s crest, personally granted by the Emperor.

[Emperor’s Spear]

The Special Magical Power Unit that stood at the forefront of the Republic front.

It was the flagship of its commander, Eugene Lorentz.

Thud–!

A red streak jumped from the airship and landed in the middle of the ceremony hall with a thunderous sound.

What descended from the sky was a young man with sharp features.

Wearing a complete uniform, he had the appearance of a hero unseen in the Empire.

“Eugene Lorentz…!”

“Why is the Kalhyram Army’s most important figure here alone…!”

As knights rushed to stop the Special Magical Power Unit commander who had suddenly invaded the coronation ceremony alone, Count Branvilde, who was presiding over the ceremony, stopped them.

The opponent was a seven stroke mage.

It meant not to approach carelessly.

Step- Step-

Meanwhile, Eugene slowly walked along the red carpet where the coronation was taking place.

“Im-Impudent! I-I am the Emperor of the Empire! How dare you not show proper respect…!”

Prince Meldir shouted about impudence.

When Eugene’s gaze, who had been walking silently, briefly turned in his direction—

“Hii, hiik?!”

Prince Meldir, wearing the crown, collapsed on the spot.

“That’s far enough, Eugene.”

Just as Eugene was about to take another step after looking at Meldir, a voice came from behind him.

Karl Buckenheim.

Face to face with Eugene, he slightly furrowed his brow at the strange atmosphere emanating from him.

‘This dissonance… What is it?’

A strange sensation brushed his mind.

However, this wasn’t a place where he could back down because of such a trivial sensation.

Checking the knights who had hurriedly blocked the prince’s front, the Duke standing on the platform spoke to Eugene.

“How dare a criminal who defied His Highness the Prince… no, His Majesty the Emperor’s orders show his face here?”

“I have something to deliver.”

To you.

And to the countless Imperial citizens watching this broadcast on radio.

Hearing Eugene’s answer, the Duke’s eyes narrowed.

‘His character has become different from when I met him before.’

The Eugene he had met was someone who hid daggers beneath his smile.

Someone who maintained outward courtesy while constantly analyzing him with his eyes.

But now, Eugene’s demeanor had completely changed.

An indifferent attitude, as if someone like him wasn’t even visible.

An attitude that seemed arrogant beyond mere courage.

“Something to deliver? Any statement from someone suspected of treason has no effect in the Empire. If you continue with this nonsense…”

“Well. Is this really nonsense?”

Saying this, Eugene slowly pulled something from his breast pocket.

“That’s…?”

What Eugene pulled out was a document made of parchment.

The lambskin used for the document was a precious material used only for the most confidential documents even in the Imperial Family.

No, that wasn’t the issue now.

That document.

What was attached in the middle of it…!

“[Constellation Gazing at the Stars]…?”

“You saw correctly.”

Having said that, Eugene looked at the nobles gathered in the hall and opened his mouth.

“What you see before you is the last will left by the late Emperor.”

“…!”

“And the final order His Majesty gave to the entire Kalhyram Army.”

A moment of silence.

But regardless of whether they stayed quiet or not, Eugene slowly unfolded the document and began reading its contents.

Like a judge pronouncing sentence for old crimes.

In a languid yet supremely stern voice.

[In the face of continued wars and the suffering of my subjects, I, old and frail, could do nothing.]

[The Imperial Family and royal members who should protect and govern the nation failed in their duties, and the proud subjects of Kalhyram fell into misery.]

[Thus, feeling great shame, I solemnly declare as Emperor of the Empire and the sole master of the Imperial Family.]

[As of the time this will is revealed, the monarchy and class system of the Kalhyram Empire is completely abolished.]

[The Kalhyram Empire is hereby dissolved.]

***

“…What?”

“No, just now… What… did he say…?”

While all the nobles sitting in the audience fell into confusion, Eugene’s recitation continued.

The status of the Imperial Family and royal members is terminated as of the announcement of this will, and all types of privileges provided to royal members and rights of succession to the throne are permanently dissolved.
The ownership and operation rights of Imperial direct territories and their associated capital are temporarily transferred to the Kalhyram Army, and when a government agency representing the consensus of Imperial citizens is formed, they shall be transferred with the approval of the Kalhyram Army Marshal [Keiren Buckenheim].
Organizations under the Imperial Family, including the Imperial Guard Knight Order, shall operate as independent units of the Kalhyram Army Special Magical Power Unit from this moment, and command authority over these units is transferred to the Special Magical Power Unit Commander, [Eugene Lorentz].
……
With each revelation of the Emperor’s will, the nobles’ expressions grew increasingly pale.

Some protested that these were absurd laws, but even such objections soon disappeared.

What Eugene presented was the Imperial magic imprint [Constellation Gazing at the Stars].

The imprint that only the Emperor could possess held special significance.

This declaration was essentially equivalent to a royal command from the deceased Emperor Friedrich.

“So you prepared such an absurd move. Emperor?”

Duke Buckenheim was so shocked he didn’t even notice the strength entering his clenched fist.

Because of the will’s contents? No.

Normally, such a will wouldn’t matter.

As always, they could suppress it with power, frame Andrei, and install an emperor to their liking.

Though the Emperor’s final move was certainly dangerous, it wasn’t so great that they couldn’t counter it.

Rather, the most dangerous entity was someone else.

Eugene Lorentz.

The ‘flame to change history’ that the Emperor had arranged and nurtured.

“You’ve done something foolish, Eugene Lorentz.”

The one who stepped forward saying this was Count Branvilde.

Manifesting a sword streaming with light, he pointed the magical power blade at Eugene while speaking.

“It’s certainly shocking that His Majesty had such thoughts, but do you think such things will work now?”

“……”

“No matter how much you have His Majesty’s decree and righteous cause, in the end, everything is decided by power. And right now, there are three seven-stroke imprint mages waiting here, including myself.”

Buckenheim.

Dvorak.

And himself, Branvilde.

Whoosh-!

In an instant, Branvilde began a coordinated attack with five captain-level knights under his command.

A mass formula with twelve five-stroke imprint mages centered around a seven stroke imprint mage.

A great sword of magical power appeared in the Count’s hand, and he charged at Eugene while holding it up straight ahead.

“Even if you are a seven stroke mage…!”

“You can’t survive this unscathed!”

It was a mistake to come here believing only in that superficially impressive document of an Imperial decree.

Saying this, Count Branvilde unleashed his spell without hesitation.

Screech—!

A torrent of massive magical power approaching right before his eyes.

However, seeing this, Buckenheim felt something was off.

‘Something’s wrong.’

In this situation with magic approaching right before their eyes.

Yet why…

‘Eugene Lorentz. From that man… Why can’t I sense even a speck of magical power?’

“Wait, hold on, Count!”

Just as Duke Buckenheim warned, feeling a sense of déjà vu.

Boom–!

The magic cast by Count Branvilde exploded directly against Eugene’s chest.

“Whew.”

Count Branvilde sensed victory amidst the explosion and thick smoke.

But at that moment.

Thwap-!

“Kugh?!”

Eugene’s hand emerged through the smoke and grabbed Count Branvilde’s face.

“I share the same thoughts as you all.”

“…!”

Though Count Branvilde hastily put up a barrier, even that wasn’t enough.

“The will I revealed is just a catalyst to give the Kalhyram Army justification. I never thought you would accept it from the beginning.”

Crack. Crackle.

The barrier gradually crumbled, unable to withstand Eugene’s grip.

Seeing this, the Count’s face turned pale.

Breaking through a barrier created by a seven stroke imprint mage?

With his bare hands?

“Kuh-!”

Crash-!

The Count immediately created distance after releasing a burst of power.

All his previous grandeur gone, he drew up magical power with a frustrated expression.

“And I agree with what you said next, too.”

Saying this, Eugene maintained his indifferent expression while raising his hand above his head.

“No matter how righteous the cause, in the end, everything is decided by power.”

“…!”

“Reform and justice proclaimed without power are just tools to be exploited.”

As he spoke, Eugene’s hand slowly began to glow.

Watching this, Duke Buckenheim stared with widened eyes.

What is he doing?

What is this heat?

Domain? No. That’s not it.

Something more primitive than that…

“So, I tell you this.”

Eugene’s words came without warning.

The knights slowly raised their heads upon hearing them.

“…!”

“What in the world is that…!”

A massive sun hung in the middle of the Imperial Palace where the coronation was being held.

“Mass formula? No, not that either.”

“More magical power than a mass formula… And he compressed that much magical power to that size? Alone?”

While everyone was shocked, Buckenheim looked at the imprint glowing on Eugene’s arm.

Not the seven stroke imprint he possessed, but a single stroke imprint extending to his elbow.

‘Could that be…’

The moment he realized what Eugene possessed, Eugene slowly clenched his right hand filled with magical power as if crushing something.

Boom—!

With an explosion, the world turned white.

An enormous explosion that felt like it would deafen them.

And the heat streaming through it.

When the flash subsided, what appeared before his eyes was the ceremony hall reduced to ashes.

Prince Meldir, the supporting nobles, the knights.

Without exception, they lay scattered on the reddened ground, turned to black ashes.

“…!”

“……!”

Only a handful of captain-level knights with six-stroke imprints and the heads of houses with seven-stroke imprints survived.

Everyone else, mage or not, had melted away in the flames without a single survivor.

“Special Magical Power Unit Commander Eugene Lorentz orders the traitors who harmed His Majesty the Emperor.”

Eugene slowly walked through the ashen world.

Looking down at the gathered magic nobles, he spoke with eyes tinged golden.

“Submit, or die.”

“…!”

“Those are your only choices.”