Do Your Own Revolution Chapter 172

#172

When the Emperor’s will was revealed and the series of events at the coronation ceremony were reported, the nobles of the Kalhyram Empire were shocked.

The abolition of the class system, the dissolution of the imperial family, the stripping of noble titles.

Since it was a declaration to abolish all the institutions that formed the foundation of the empire, not a single noble would welcome it.

“Locust, Eldine, Zaine…… I never expected them to join as well.”

In Lestil, a major city located in the eastern part of the empire.

The moment information spread that Duke Buckenheim, who had escaped from the coronation ceremony, was here, nobles scattered throughout the empire began converging on this location.

Magic noble families who led Knight Orders.

Regular nobles who accumulated wealth by using their titles to secure business rights.

Even the elder imperial faction nobles who had shown loyalty to the Emperor.

They joined Buckenheim’s side, shocked by Eugene’s actions at the coronation ceremony where he had erased nobles without any room for discussion.

“Though their thoughts on the Emperor may differ, they are nobles.”

Once their very identity was denied, they had no choice but to flock to Buckenheim, the center of gravity for the nobles.

Those who were nobles, and those who were not.

The Emperor’s declaration to dismantle the empire had divided the empire’s chaotic power structure, which had been split into four or five factions, into two clear sides.

Watching the scenery of the busy city with numerous knights and nobles’ armored trains gathering in Lestil, Duke Buckenheim smiled with satisfaction.

“It’s an impressive plan, but also a hasty judgment.”

He had invaded the coronation ceremony and killed all the nobles who supported Prince Meldir.

The Emperor.

No, it was a declaration of war against the nobles by the military that upheld his cause.

Nothing can be gained through such extreme methods.

Even with great power, he is still just an individual.

If he turns the entire noble class that holds the empire’s vested interests against him, naturally, the Knight Orders will gather in one place to oppose him.

“Reznov is beyond recovery since the Count himself, who controlled the knights from the center, is dead. Dvorak collapsed simultaneously with the Count’s death.”

Originally, since everything depended on her alone, that was bound to happen.

Though the Duke muttered this, no sign of disappointment could be found in him.

Though the situation was desperate, he was one who had protected the magic nobles for over a hundred years.

Hardships of this level had occurred countless times before.

He had used Dvorak to dominate the previous Emperor’s mind.

Prevented young Emperor Friedrich’s reforms.

Plotted revolution and divided the empire.

Supported the republic and had them weaken the military.

The numerous reformers who had stood in his way.

He was the one who had personally extinguished the many flames that had tried to change the empire.

‘Moreover, this situation is an opportunity for us Buckenheim.’

Now that the heads of the mage houses have disappeared, most of their Knight Orders have gathered around Buckenheim.

Sutherland’s Black Knight Order and Branvilde’s imprint specialists who were standing by in their territories after losing their heads.

And above all, the fall of Duke Nachtval, who was considered his arch-rival.

‘Though it’s regrettable to lose the seven stroke imprint mage, we’ve secured over ten commander-level knights who were below him, and Buckenheim Knight Order’s high-ranking mages are still intact.’

The remaining Knight Orders of mage houses that lost their heads.

The numerous noble families supporting them.

Their infrastructure.

As a result of all of these gathering in one place.

The total fighting power of the Knight Orders opposing the Kalhyram Army was stronger than ever before.

“Looking back, it’s quite an interesting irony.”

Looking at the power distribution map of the empire, the Duke gave a bitter smile.

“What we couldn’t achieve in decades despite our best efforts was accomplished in less than 10 years.”

As a result of the flame nurtured by the Emperor pushing the round table this far, the Knight Orders that had been divided into different forces became one.

To overthrow Eugene Lorentz, their common enemy.

For the very existence they had been so wary of and suppressed to unite the Knight Orders.

What could be more ironic than that?

“At this point, I can’t simply dismiss it as nonsense. Emperor.”

An inflection point to change the future. A flame to change history.

“What I thought was mere bluster is now truly burning the whole world.”

Emperor Friedrich, whom he killed with his own hands.

While thinking of his arch-enemy whom he had opposed for decades.

Creeak-

Someone walked in, opening the study door.

“There were republic dogs’ pawns inside Lestil. After tracking them down, we eliminated them all.”

A man walking in while carrying a long spear.

It was Count Drexler, the twelfth seat of the mage houses.

Red bloodstains were visible all over his uniform.

It seemed he had been interrogating prisoners until just now.

“They were hiding among the joining Knight Orders, collecting information on our side. Now that the republic has fallen, the only one they could provide that information to is…”

“Keiren. It can’t be anyone else.”

So the remnants of the republic had decided to support Eugene Lorentz?

When Duke Buckenheim muttered this, the count slowly nodded.

“Though we can’t be certain since they all committed suicide before interrogation… there seems to have been some kind of deal.”

“That would make sense.”

Though not the empire, the republic’s territory was in the hands of the Kalhyram Army.

From their perspective, having lost their entire territory, negotiating with the Kalhyram Army would be a better option than siding with us.

The fall of the republic.

The expanded Kalhyram Army.

And Eugene Lorentz.

Each result had far exceeded their expectations.

“And one more thing.”

“Speak.”

“The Kalhyram Army’s main force has begun gathering in Ruinberg.”

The moment those words ended, the Duke’s fist clenched tight.

The military power that destroyed the republic.

War machines numbering over a million.

If they entered the empire’s interior, everything would be over.

No matter how hard the knights with no actual combat experience fought, they would end up like Sutherland who was executed in Gloucester’s territory.

“The Knight Orders?”

“They’ve abandoned the empire’s central-western region where Ruinberg is located. They’re establishing defensive lines centered on Lestil, the eastern gateway city.”

“Eugene Lorentz. What of him?”

“I hear he’s been secluded in the imperial capital. However…”

The count sat down with a sigh and continued speaking with his arms crossed.

“I don’t understand. Being isolated alone in the imperial capital without any forces under his command.”

“He’s someone who single-handedly wiped out that many knights. Even if they surround the capital, it won’t be any problem for him.”

“Huh.”

Still seemingly unable to believe it, Count Drexler swallowed dry saliva.

Branvilde, Dvorak.

He couldn’t have imagined that the two houses that formed the core of the central noble faction would disappear overnight.

“And there’s something even more serious than that.”

“You mean this spreading through the territories?”

Saying that, the count placed a single sheet of paper he took from his breast pocket.

[Revolution Newspaper] and [Empire Newspaper]

After Eugene had blown away the entire coronation ceremony.

The two media outlets that had been endlessly criticizing each other were now speaking with one voice to condemn them, as if they had joined forces.

The denial of magic nobles.

Evidence of collusion with the republic.

The Emperor’s will, and the magic nobles’ attempts to conceal it.

To the imperial citizens living in the imperial direct territories, the magic nobles had already become traitors who had sold out their country.

“Time is not on our side.”

“That’s precisely why your strength is even more crucial now, Count.”

Saying this, the Duke asked Drexler.

“Is the Blue Lance Knight Order ready?”

“Of course.”

As the count said this, Drexler’s pride, the Blue Lance Knight Order, revealed themselves.

Armor with magic imprinted on it and blue coats.

And knights holding glass-like transparent blue lances.

Duke Buckenheim’s eyes narrowed.

“Excellent.”

The internal purifiers of the Knight Orders who track down and execute the round table’s impurities.

Mages who hunt mages.

If these remained, he had a chance of victory.

“To catch an outstanding individual, use the power of the collective.”

Saying this, Duke Buckenheim smiled bitterly.

“How strange. Though we disparaged it as a tactic used by third-rate mages, now we’re the ones relying on that very strategy.”

The image of Eugene confronting him.

The boy who had stood against him without breaking even when crushed under his magical power.

Remembering Eugene from that time, the Duke spoke.

“If only I had killed him then, things would have been much easier.”

Even while knowing how foolish it was to regret past events, he couldn’t stop such thoughts from one corner of his mind.

However, he couldn’t dwell on the past forever.

Soon after, as if having made up his mind, he looked at Count Drexler standing beside him.

“Ranster.”

“Command me, Your Grace.”

Ranster Drexler.

His masterpiece, whom he had raised by giving a seven stroke imprint to a novice two stroke mage.

Buckenheim’s hidden dagger, secretly nurtured to dominate the round table.

Looking at his disciple with whom he had spent many years, he gave his order.

“From this moment, the Knight Orders gathered in Lestil will follow your commands.”

“…!”

“The united power of the round table. I entrust all of it to your hands.”

An absolute being who far transcended the standards of mages.

Overwhelming power that erased the very reason for magic nobles’ existence just by existing.

The flame nurtured by the Emperor.

They had to extinguish it by any means necessary.

Before it burned down their entire world.

Therefore.

“Use all the power of the Knight Orders to kill Eugene Lorentz.”

The Duke’s resolute words.

The moment the order was given, the knights lined up behind the count all saluted in unison.

“For the Knight Order.”

“For the Knight Order-!”

With that single cry, all of Lestil began to shake.

Thousands of knights moving in perfect coordination and the armored trains carrying them formed lines heading toward the imperial capital.

All the power of the Knight Orders.

The descendants of heroes who had ruled the empire for hundreds of years began gathering at the imperial capital to kill a single person.

“This time will be different.”

Muttering this, the Duke recalled Eugene’s appearance from their last encounter.

A world burning red.

Melting knights and their screams.

That torrent of magical power whose limits couldn’t be seen, and that heat that made it difficult to even open one’s eyes.

And Eugene’s voice looking down at him from the midst of it all.

Submit, or die.

How much time had passed while recalling that scene?

Twitch.

“…?”

At the slight trembling felt in his hand, the Duke’s gaze went downward.

His clenched fist was trembling slightly.

Though he tried to calm it, his body wouldn’t listen.

Soon, he could understand why his body was acting this way.

“Could it be.”

How much time had passed?

He looked at his hand as if in disbelief.

“Am I feeling… fear right now?”