Do Your Own Revolution-Chapter 161
#161
“They retreated? Even with Duke Nachtval personally taking the field?”
Cracks appeared on Duke Buckenheim’s previously composed face as he read the letter from his informant.
A seven stroke mage.
And not just any—the head of House Nachtval, who rivaled him in experience and prestige, had been routed?
By reserve forces, not even the enemy’s main army?
“What were the casualties on Nachtval Knight Order’s side?”
“Six knight-captains and approximately 120 regular knights, sir.”
“Less than a tenth of their offensive force.”
The Duke easily grasped Nachtval’s intentions.
A strategic withdrawal to minimize the Knight Order’s losses.
They hadn’t retreated because they couldn’t win, but to preserve their strength intact.
“To worry about Knight Order losses at a time like this. I stressed the urgency of the matter…”
The initial shock quickly faded, replaced by displeasure.
Buckenheim and Nachtval.
Who would have thought the power play between these two houses at the top of the Round Table would complicate matters in such a way.
However, he had no intention of letting anger cloud his judgment.
What’s done was done.
His task now was to devise a better strategy to subdue the enemy before him.
“Open it.”
At the Duke’s command, the Buckenheim knights guarding the door opened the way to the audience chamber.
The same doors that once required the imperial guards’ permission to enter when killing Emperor Friedrich now opened at his word.
‘Though it’s regrettable we couldn’t crush them completely… the initiative is still ours.’
With this thought, the Duke strode forward without hesitation and bowed his head.
“I, Buckenheim, present myself before Your Imperial Highness.”
The Imperial throne, where the old Emperor once sat.
Now occupied by the First Imperial Prince, Meldir.
“Du-Duke Buckenheim…”
Though trying to project authority from the Emperor’s throne, he immediately shrank back at Buckenheim’s appearance.
A hothouse flower raised isolated from the world amidst magic nobles.
Nothing more than an overgrown child lacking even basic political acumen, unable to even change clothes without assistance.
The perfect puppet.
“Currently, the Kalhyram Army dispatched to subjugate the Republic continues its siege while ignoring the Imperial summons.”
Even for a puppet, he was still the Crown Prince with first succession rights.
Having paid his respects with utmost courtesy, the Duke looked him in the face and slowly began to speak.
“This behavior by the expeditionary force represents a grave insult to Imperial decisions, and furthermore, I believe it could become a spark of rebellion threatening the Empire.”
“Ah, um, that…”
“Therefore, I, Buckenheim, humbly suggest recalling Marshal Keiren Buckenheim of the Kalhyram Army, who has tarnished the Imperial honor, back to the homeland.”
As complex political terms and rhetoric appeared, Prince Meldir’s face grew troubled.
He seemed to be trying to understand the situation, but that was impossible for him.
In the end, there was only one thing Prince Meldir could say.
“Do as you see fit.”
“I, Buckenheim, receive the Imperial command.”
With Imperial approval secured, the Duke smiled in satisfaction.
With this, the Kalhyram Army, refusing to move from their position while defying Imperial orders, would be branded as rebels for disobeying commands.
The Knight Order now had justification to subjugate the Kalhyram Army.
‘However, at the same time… it’s suspicious.’
The Duke recalled that day when he had pierced the Emperor’s heart.
The Emperor’s right arm, hastily examined.
And the Imprint extracted from his body—[Constellation Gazing at the Stars].
‘[Constellation Gazing at the Stars] is the Emperor’s proof of succession, inherited during the coronation ceremony. If the Emperor diverted it… Keiren must surely possess it.’
And if he held that Imprint, he could have launched a counterattack against this situation.
There were plenty of succession candidates to use as puppets, like Prince Baker confined to his estate.
However, Keiren did nothing.
He simply remained coiled at the Republic’s headquarters, maintaining complete silence.
Why?
As he pondered this while leaving the audience chamber.
“Your Grace.”
Hearing someone call out to him, the Duke turned his attention to the Knight Order Commander approaching from the side.
“All the distinguished guests have assembled in one place.”
“I see… I’ll be there shortly.”
‘Distinguished guests.’
Hearing those words, Duke Buckenheim moved forward with a satisfied smile.
The heirs of heroes who would protect the Empire from the rebels interfering with their rule.
The heads of the 12 Great Magic Houses had gathered in one place.
***
“Thank you all for coming from such distances.”
At the very top of the Imperial Palace was the Emperor’s audience chamber,
And directly below it was a massive hall meant for receiving distinguished guests.
Yet in the center of that vast space stood a pure white round table.
And gathered at that table were the Round Table members who had been scattered across the continent until now.
Dvorak.
Branvilde.
Reznov.
Drexler.
Sutherland.
Though many houses had vanished and been destroyed in the Empire’s upheavals, their power and prestige remained undimmed.
Seven stroke imprint mages who formed the core of Imperial defense.
They were the heirs of heroes who had protected the Empire long before the Kalhyram Army’s formation.
“What of Korhonen and Gloucester?”
“They’re abstaining. Saying they ‘won’t interfere in the Empire’s internal political struggles.’ Such lukewarm words even in this situation…”
The seductive voice belonged to the head of House Dvorak, Eliska Dvorak.
A bewitching mage in her prime wearing an elaborate black dress.
But coiled within was a serpent that could manipulate human minds.
“This is outrageous! This is betrayal of the Round Table! We must dispatch the Knight Order immediately for a stern response!”
The one pounding the table while shouting boldly was Count Drexler.
A young mage who reached seven stroke with Buckenheim’s support.
His loyalty to the Round Table had surprised even the Duke himself many times.
“I concur.”
The one who supported Count Drexler’s heated words was a knight in black armor.
A full plate mail that looked straight out of medieval times.
The aura emanating from beyond the armor carried enough dignity to make even trained knights’ knees weak.
This chapt𝒆r is updated by frёewebηovel.cѳm.
“Though the two territories claim they won’t interfere as this is an internal Imperial matter, their actions show clear intent.”
“Does Count Sutherland share the same thoughts?”
“With the massive tiger that is the Kalhyram Army before us, who knows what those old snakes might do?”
As if their opinions aligned, Count Drexler and Count Sutherland spoke in unison.
“Therefore, the Sutherland Knight Order will suppress Count Gloucester.”
“Will that be alright? I heard Kalkas and his knights are seasoned elites.”
“They’re just an old man past his prime and his followers. They’ll be no match for Sutherland’s proud black knights.”
Perhaps due to the grudge of not participating in the Republic subjugation.
A strange anger tinged Count Sutherland’s voice as he spoke.
“In that case, Reznov will handle Korhonen.”
The one who spoke next was a gentleman in a white robe.
“Our children should be perfect for dealing with automatons.”
“Then let’s proceed with that. And the rest… you all know what needs to be done?”
As Duke Buckenheim’s gaze fell upon them, the remaining members nodded.
The magic nobles lacked the numbers to stop the Kalhyram Army’s forces, and had failed to secure supply points.
Though the war situation was unfavorable, sadly this war wasn’t just about pure strength.
What the Kalhyram Army lacked was justification.
Though they were currently holding out demanding explanations for the Emperor’s suspicious death, both the Emperor’s body and Imperial authority were already in magic nobles’ hands.
They could easily fabricate a fake Emperor’s corpse and manipulate the facts.
Therefore, to gain the upper hand in this standoff, there was one thing the magic nobles needed to hurry with.
“The coronation ceremony for Prince Meldir, who currently occupies the throne.”
“Once he officially ascends, the Kalhyram Army, as an Imperial organization, will have no choice but to follow his commands.”
Thus, the objectives of both the Knight Order and Kalhyram Army were clear.
The Knight Order would prevent the Kalhyram Army from entering the Empire while conducting Prince Meldir’s coronation ceremony.
And the Kalhyram Army needed to break through the Knight Order’s defense and recapture the capital before the coronation ceremony.
“The Knight Order has already completed preparations. If we reinforce the defense line, we can hold out until the coronation.”
“Then only one source of uncertainty remains?”
“Indeed.”
The house heads who spoke all thought of one person.
“Eugene Lorentz.”
A mage who had terrifyingly risen to their level through combat experience and rapid growth.
And now, with his release uncertain, he hadn’t shown himself anywhere.
The fact that he hadn’t appeared even in this urgent situation after the Emperor’s death…
“Means he must be plotting something.”
Even as they said this, the faces of the Round Table heads remained calm.
A battle between the massive shield of the Knight Order and the spear of the Special Magical Power Unit.
But the spear that would pierce them was just a defective product created in less than ten years.
Just one person.
Before their power, tempered over multiple generations, he would inevitably be powerless.
***
Western Republic, beneath Westraine City.
The massive egg surrounded by monster remains continued absorbing magical power from its surroundings.
Depleting the magic circuits of Special Magical Power Unit members deployed for security, consuming the magical power of monsters gathered nearby.
Absorbing all magical power from the air, being refined in this way.
One day passed, then another.
How much more time had passed?
Thump-!
Inside the red-tinged egg, an anomaly occurred.
A loud pulsing sound, resonating like that of a living being.
At that moment when the pulse surged, the monster remains scattered around slowly began to crumble.
The red energy contained within the egg disappeared.
The flow of magical power leaking outside ceased.
The egg, gradually losing vitality as if dead, finally.
Crack. Crack.
Little by little, very slowly, began to split.
As if it had consumed everything contained within.
And now, as if it was time to emerge.
The cracking egg slowly revealed a black hole.
Swoosh-
Through the small gap in the broken egg, golden eyes gleamed through.
“Hah…”
Magical power surged.
Yet simultaneously, an alien sensation where nothing could be felt.
Experiencing this strange sensation, Eugene slowly raised his body.
“Let’s go.”
All preparations were complete.
Now was the time to finish all remaining tasks.
Author's Thoughts
Hi everyone, I've completely translated this novel! For those who love this novel and wanted to binge read until the last chapter, you can go to my Patreon "Shop" page. There, I have a product in which you can read them with discounted price!
